Here I go again!
Last year I made a cream-colored cable knit pillow and over the summer I made an orange one. Both pillows sold on my Etsy shop so this past weekend I made another pillow.
This was once an Izod sweater that I found at Goodwill. I wore it for February’s “red and pink” challenge but I’d originally bought it with a pillow in mind.
I liked the cotton-candy color. I know pink draws a strong reaction from people. Give it a chance. It’s a fun shade.
Today is my friend Sadie’s birthday so I thought it would be fitting to show off the purse I bought from her Etsy shop a few weeks ago. Sadie makes unique purses, wallets and earring holders from recycled fabrics and other materials. Have a look!
I wore the purse with a denim skirt I’ve had for eons. I don’t wear it often , but whenever I do I get compliments on it. It’s got sort of a fishtail hemline and slightly frayed edges. It’s hard to tell in this picture but the white circle on my jacket is the honey badger button Lynn gave me for my birthday. Lot’s of birthday tie-ins today.
Top: Old Navy
Jacket: Express via swapped
Skirt: Sears circa 2002
Scarf: Seattle street vendor
Boots: Candies via thrifted
Purse: Sadie SewBaggins
I carried this purse to Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood. While I was there, I found a neat artistic mobile/windchime/whatchamacalit in a tree. Seattle has a lot of interesting neighborhoods and I like how there’s always a surprise around the corner.
I’ll be wishing Sadie a happy birthday when I see her at dinner this evening. Until then, have a great one, Sadie!
I am not a doormat–but my skirt is! I made this awesome stretchy pencil skirt from two doormats I bought at the dollar store. The mats are made of stretchy strips of fabric (scraps from the garment industry, I believe). I have to give credit to a pair and a spare. I saw this idea on her blog.
Top: Flea market
Skirt: DIY
Necklace: Macy’s
Cuff: Claire’s
Tights: Roots Canada
Boots: Old Navy
Clutch: Victoria’s Secret
I laid the rugs on a table, placed one of my own fitted skirts over it and pinned the rugs so I knew where to sew. Twenty minutes and two dollars later, I had an awesome skirt.
I sewed the basic shape, trimmed the excess material from the edges, and then zig-zagged over the new edges so my skirt would stay together. Because the rug/skirt is stretchy I didn’t even have to add a zipper. I simply pull it on.
This project was easy and fun. I’m happy to showcase it as part of this month’s Ethical Fashion Blogger roundup.
First Thursdays are synonymous with art in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood. My friend, Autumn, invited me to join her and her friend, Amy, this past Thursday. It was cold so we went straight to the Tashiro Kaplan artist lofts. The entire triangular-shaped block is devoted to artists’ spaces and the lower levels are galleries. We got to stay inside and visit dozens of galleries. When the weather is nicer (for two weeks in July) walking around outside is fun. A lot of artists set up booths in Occidental square.
We saw a wonderful installation that filled an entire room.
Cut paper was the medium for this intricate piece.
This installation caught my eye because artist Ellen Hochberg used women’s garments as her canvas. The leaf motif represents the female form. Here, we see the form on garments that span a woman’s life–from infancy and childhood to womanhood. Check out her website for other amazing work in ink and oil.
We used out smartphones to learn about encaustic. These two pieces showing skeletons of a leaf and bird were ethereal. The layered way technique created an otherworld-ness to these pieces.
They say smoking kills, and these paintings, show the subject smoking during a gruesome and violent situation (granted, the cigarettes are hard to see at this scale). I don’t know if that’s the message intended by the artist, but we noticed the cigarette theme and decided to take our pictures next to various paintings in this series. I was trying to juxtapose joy and pain (hence my silly smile). Autumn was far more stoic, and Amy was pretending not to look.
The Seattle Freeze was the theme of this installation. I met artist Troy Gua and chatting with him for a moment about the “cool distance” people who move to seattle encounter when meeting people here. But like the protective exterior of the duct-taped teddy bears, under all that toughness is a soft, cuddly toy. So too, perhaps, are Seattleites.
Autumn and I said goodbye to Amy and then we wandered to Occidental Square, where we found more yarn bombing! This is the same set of work that I wrote about a couple of months ago. This time, I found out who the artist is: Suzanne Tidwell created it.
No art trip is complete without a drink so we popped in at Merchant’s Café, Seattle’s oldest restaurant. It’s hard to imagine that in 1890, it was full of men on their way to the gold rush. The bar is gorgeous, carved wood and stained glass ceiling lamps illuminate the room. It’s a real piece of history.
Other neighborhoods have art walks throughout the month too: West Seattle, Fremont, Capitol Hill, Belltown, Georgetown, to name a few. For artists like Amy, Autumn, and me, art walks are inspiring. They’re also a great way to get out, socialize, and support the local arts community. Before you buy a mass-produced reproduction at a department store, consider an original piece from a local artist. Many are very affordable and there are so many mediums to choose from: paintings, lithographs, photographs, sculptures, and more.
Have you been to an art walk recently? Do you buy art? Make it?
Remember a few weeks ago (or was it longer?) when I went to the Etsy Rain craft show? Everything I bought that day was green, with the exception of this pink cowl. I initially wanted a green one (of course) but when I tried on this one, Rosalind, the owner of Scarf City, said the color suited me.
She had only wool at the show so I ordered a non-wool one (wool makes me terribly itchy). It arrived in the mail a week later. I love it. It’s so soft and it has a great shape. I bet I could even pull it over my head if it gets cold. I think that would make it a snood (a scarf/hood hybrid–no really, it is a real thing; I’m not making this up!)
Hat: Swapped
Jacket: Thrifted
Cowl: Scarf City
Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Forever 21
Clutch: Crystalyn Kae
Boots: John Fluevog
And of course I wore the cowl with green. What can I say? I love green!
Have a look at Scarf City and see what other neat things Rosalind makes. I liked her hats and arm warmers too–they come in a variety of colors. I promise not to buy green ones.
I had a blast at this year’s company holiday party. The theme was a mashup of Alice in Wonderland and masquerade ball. With all the options surrounding both ideas, I knew getting dressed for the party would be fun. I wrote about what I did at the party earlier.
I decided to wear my tiny hat, and I worked in the rest of the outfit around that. This outfit doesn’t scream festive, but the fancy details make it party-appropriate.
Cape: Target
Skirt: Neodandi
Gloves: Thrifted
Spider brooch: eBay
Clutch: Crystalyn Kae
Boots: John Fluevog
Necklace: Miss Michelle’s Family Jewels
Top: Swapped
I am so happy to debut this Neodandi skirt on my blog. I’ve had it for a while and I love it more and more. It’s a pair of men’s pinstripe trousers that have been upcycled into a fabulous fitted skirt. It’s wonderfully stitched together with fancy pleats and tucks and velvet ribbon detailing—and it fits like a glove. Neodandi is a local couture house. And they say Seattle isn’t on the fashion map!
Speaking of local artists, I found this cute Mad Hatter necklace at Miss Michelle’s booth at the Bizarre Bazaar in Capitol Hill just hours before the party. I snapped it up—it was a perfect addition for the theme of the party.
And finally, my amazing, glazed fabric clutch by Crystalyn Kae came in handy. This clutch feels like soft, supple leather, but it’s vegan! It’s dressy yet roomy. I put my phone, wallet, keys, lipstick and camera in the bag and had room to spare. I want one in every color. Crystalyn is a local designer who makes unique bags in fabric, glazed fabric, and recycled leather.
The vegan, local, upcycled, hand-made and/or thrifted and swapped items I’m sporting makes this outfit is a perfect candidate for the Ethical Fashion Bloggers December roundup. You can see the other member’s ethical outfits there too.
I hope you hade fun at a few holiday parties too. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and all that sh–tuff!
Yesterday was a fun day! In the morning I met the coolest chimney cleaner. I volunteered to oversee the chimney cleaning for our condos and the guy who came by was a virtual dog whisper. He talked to my nervous, suspicious dog until he was calm and welcoming. The chimney looks great too!
Then I met my friend Andrea at the Bizarre Bazaar in Capitol Hill. We found last-minute gifts from soaps to jewelry. Andrea bought a great necklace from HardWearables. I found organic soaps from Pirouette Essentials, and as luck would have it, I found Alice in Wonderland necklaces from Miss Michelle.
It was lucky because later that evening I attended an Alice in Wonderland-themed holiday party and the necklace was perfect!
Before the party, Mr. Jean of all Trades and I met up with Tatsuo and Cheryl, two of my coworkers and friends, at Red Fin for pre-party snacks and drinks.
We walked to the venue and met up with Laura and Autumn. After we got there, we had fun bumping into others, some of whom were hard to recognize in their masquerade outfits!
There was so much to do! The events were spread out over four floors. We saw acrobatic acts while we listened to accordions and nibbled on snacks in a faux outdoor bistro.
We passed by giant sets of chess and checkers where people were engaged in larger-than-life games. We saw an artist/chocolatier create a Cheshire cat out of chocolate.
People listened to live bands in one room, and had high tea in another. One room was full of desserts. Another space was a club called Icebar. Yes, there was an ice bar. There was also a DJ and go-go dancers. It was hopping!
The Mr. and I danced until the end of the event. What a fun night! There was something for everybody. It was a long, fabulous day, and we went home tired. Just as it should be.
This really made my day: A few weeks ago, in an otherwise unsightly park in downtown Seattle, where drug use is prominent and no one really visits to enjoy the park, I found knitted trees.
Urban knitting is the textile art version of graffiti, but it’s soft, gentle, and harmless. I’ve heard about groups like “Knittahs,” “Urban Knitters,” and “Guerilla Knitters” but I don’t know much about them. And that’s the point. Under the cover of darkness, these crafty artists cover trees, lamp posts, bike racks, even entire telephone booths with pretty rows of yarn.
It’s incredible how much work must go into this. As a non-knitter (who’s tried and failed) I really appreciate the effort it takes.
The park was a happy place for a while. I will check to see if the installation lasted. It was up for several days. My husband saw it first and brought me back a few days later. People walked by and marvelled. It’s usually the type of place I avoid, but the common thread of admiring the trees, brought people out.
It’s entirely possible that this was a city-sanctioned art installation, but I didn’t see a plaque or sign, so I suspect it’s guerilla art at work. The best kind, if you ask me. There’s something about the unexpectedness of it that makes me smile.
Have you seen urban knitting in your city?
This past weekend I went to Etsy Rain with a few friends. Etsy is a great website where you can buy handmade goods from all over the world. Etsy Rain is the Seattle contingent of crafters. They set up shop at the Seattle Center and that’s where we met.
Supporting local crafters is important to all of us. I have an Etsy shop. So does Sadie. Lynn does too. I’ll have to check and see if Stephanie does.
Left to right: Jean, Sadie, Lynn, Stephanie
I bought a neat pair of green coil earrings from Sue at Phoenix Beadwork. I’ll be sure to wear them in an outfit post this week. Here are a few beautiful necklaces from Sue’s booth.
Then I bought a cool green ring from One-eyed Collie made of candy pieces set in resin. I’ll wear it with the earrings from Phoenix. Here’s a sampling of the other items at this booth.
I almost bought a green cowl scarf at the Scarf City booth but it was on the mannequin so I tried on a pink one instead. Surprisingly, the pink one looked great. I’m glad about that. otherwise I’d have a bag full of green things! Scarf City had other items too, like ponchos, leg warmers and hats.
I was lusting after a “ninja rider” t-shirt from the Retro Pop Namu booth, but when I talked to the shop owner, she said she’d be putting that logo on canvas messenger bags soon so I held out. I’ll be shopping online for that one!
I’ll post pictures of the tiny tam I bought from Alise’s Pieces. I have a tiny hat, and now I have a tam.
Etsy Rain was a great place to buy gifts. There are other craft fairs coming up too.
Update:
Hot tip from Elizabeth Space:
And from CraftyClementines:
Do you know of others? Is your city hosting craft fairs for the holidays?
Sometimes my husband and I pretend we’re tourists and visit popular spots on Seattle that locals often forget about and visitors frequent. Pike place is a very touristy spot, but there’s enough fresh produce to keep residents happy too.
Pike Place Market is over 100 years old and is one of the oldest continually operating public markets in the country. It’s a large expanse of a building with several levels. Flinging fish might have put Pike Place on the map, but I usually skip that section of the market (or hold my nose as I run past). The wonderful flower stalls are more interesting to me.
You can always count on fresh, local produce when you visit Pike Place, but there are tons of artisans too. Whether you’re looking for a watercolor paintings, ceramics, jewelry or textiles, you’ll find it here. The main arcade has rows of vendors selling their wares. Downstairs, the permanent stores offer visitors everything from books to clothing.
The market sits on a hill overlooking Eliott Bay so it’s a great place for a photo-op. Across the water, you’ll see the shipyards, West Seattle and Alki Beach, and maybe even a passing ferry.
Seattleites are a bike-friendly bunch, and you’ll see just how many people cycle to the market when you pass by the make-shift bike racks on the railing near the market entrance.
The original Starbucks, opened in 1971, is right across from the market. It’s funny how long the lines are for an “original” brew. I can walk to at least two other Starbucks (and Seattle’s Best, Tully’s, and Peet’s, not to mention smaller shops like Cherry Street and Caffé Ladro), but this one started it all and I guess they think it’s worth the wait.
If you visit, don’t forget to walk along Post Alley. It is an alley, but it’s well-populated and safe, especially during the day. All along the alley are shops and other stops, like the Market Theater. There are restaurants too. We like to eat at The Pink Door and The Alibi Room, but there are many more places we have yet to try.
One of Seattle’s grossest attractions is in the alley too: The Wall of Gum. You wouldn’t think people would appreciate that, but they have their pictures taken in front of it (and contribute to it) all day long. Eww!
Finally, enjoy the sounds of Pike Place. From a capella gospel and bluegrass to blues and ragtime, buskers around the market add to the vibrant atmosphere with their songs and antics.
Jacket: Guess via thrifted
T-shirt: Old Navy
Scarf: DIY
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Shoes: John Fluevog
What are the best tourist spots in your city? Do you frequent them or do you leave that for the visitors?
Filed under Architecture, Art, Crafts, General
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