Category Archives: Events

November 21, 2012 · 10:57 pm

The Bird on my Table

People who know me know I don’t eat meat. But I do plan on having a bird on my table for Thanksgiving. Or rather, a picture of a bird: A lovely photo of Victoria, a turkey I sponsored through Farm Sanctuary. I figured I’d put the money many people spend on frozen turkeys and donate it to a real live turkey who got a new lease on life.

victoria

Farm Sanctuary is actually three sanctuaries (one in New York State, and two in California). They focus on rescuing farm animals from abuse and neglect, educating people about factory farming, and advocating for animals. According to Victoria’s bio, shy’s shy and curious (she sounds a little like a certain cat in my home who shall remain unnamed).

Besides the photo (which wouldn’t taste very good), the table will be loaded with vegan goodies. I’ll be at my friend Lynn’s, where we’ll eat roasted squash, spicy string beans, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, cranberry sauce, savory stuffing, and pumpkin pie. We’ll have a little Wild Turkey too–in our hot toddies!

wild turkey

I’ll post about the delicious dinner when it’s all done. And I’ll write about the Feast for the Turkeys I’m attending on Saturday. That’s the day I go to Pasado’s Safe Haven for a vegan meal where turkeys are the guests of honor! I’m giddy at the prospect of feeding grapes and lettuce to them. And I’m already drooling over the menu. Autumn Vegetable Samosas with plum chutney, anyone?

turkey

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October 30, 2012 · 12:46 pm

Halloween Costume: Rosie the Riveter

We can do it!

Jean as Rosie the Riveter

And I did. Many thanks to Cable Car Couture for giving me the idea of a simple, DIY costume. This Rosie the Riveter look cost me $1.89 (only because I had to buy the bandana at a craft store). I love this look because it’s simple to assemble and instantly recognizable, it’s work appropriate (I can’t go to the office dressed as a French maid!), and it’s given me ideas beyond Halloween.

For example, I want to wear headscarves on a regular basis now. I just might turn rockabilly. This is so fun to wear and a great trick when growing out a short hairdo.

head to toe denim

Another reason I liked this costume idea is because of the sartorial and feminist implications. Here, I’m a literal and figurative blue-collar worker. That got me thinking about two things: women in the workforce, and the history of denim. I’ll start with denim: In the 1870s, Levi Strauss created cotton canvas pants. The 501s went on to become the world’s best-selling item of clothing. Perhaps it’s because they were durable, practical, and riveted.

Blue jeans were a working class staple that cowboys and railway workers wore. But by World War II, they were an essential commodity and sold only to people in defense–like Rosie!

red headscarf

Rosie is an icon. She represents the thousands of American women who worked in factories during the War, often replacing positions of men who were off to battle. After the war, women were expected to return to more traditional duties in the home or in secretarial roles. Many did, but not all. It was the beginning of an important shift in women’s economic power.

On a personal note, my grandmother worked in a factory in England during WWII. She was just a teen when she made airplane engine parts. I’ll write about her soon. It’s an incredible thought to be a schoolgirl one day, and building bombers the next.

Rosie halloween costume

What a lot of inspiration from a simple costume. Thanks again to Cable Car Couture! Oh, and I joined ColorBlind’s special Halloween linkup. Check out the entries here. I’m also participating in Transatlantic Blonde’s WIWW linkup. All those entries are here.

Happy Halloween!

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October 18, 2012 · 10:00 pm

Seattle’s Space Needle Turns 50

My house and the Space Needle are the same age–and both show no signs of slowing down. Middle age suits these two buildings well.

space needle

Mid-Century Modern design was all the rage in 1962. The Space Needle was built for the World Fair. The fair was comprised of structures and exhibits that showcased science, technology, art, fashion, and the world of tomorrow. To celebrate the half century mark, the owners of the Space Needle painted the top galaxy gold, just like it looked during the 1962 World Fair.

After the fair, the Space Needle remained, of course, along with the other buildings. The area is called Seattle Center and is the home of the Pacific Science Center, Experience Music Project (a recent addition), International Fountain, and the brand new Chihuly Garden and Glass, featuring work by local glass artist Dale Chihuly. It’s also where the monorail departs from.

Just peeking at the Seattle Center site, shows an enormous number of events. In addition to walking the grounds and taking in the art and architecture, on any given day, you’re bound to find music events and cultural celebrations.

point of view

When I first came to Seattle I was disappointed that the Space Needle wasn’t taller. The CN Tower in my hometown of Toronto is over twice its height. But after living here since the needle was 38 years old, I realize that size doesn’t matter. The character, the history, and what the needle represents is what’s important.

Even though the Needle isn’t the tallest building in Seattle, it appears that way from Highland Park in Queen Anne. That’s where I took these pictures. From this vantage point, the needle is in the foreground and the city is behind it. Downtown Seattle is almost a mile away from the Seattle Center.

view from Highland Park

If you’re in Seattle, check out the park–it’s just a strip of land, but has fabulous views. Then, head over to the Needle. Instead of paying (and waiting) to go to the observation deck, I recommend going straight up to Sky City, the revolving restaurant at the top of the Needle. You won’t need to pay for an elevator ticket and you can bypass the lines. Once there, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city and Puget Sound while you eat.

Happy birthday Space Needle!

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September 23, 2012 · 9:22 pm

Bloggers Do It Better: Oxblood

I’m participating in another group challenge. This one is Bloggers Do It Better by Pretty Shiny Sparkly and the theme is oxblood. Now when I recently posted my shoes of that color, Sarah Hulbert of Sarah Hulbert Style called them merlot in her comment. I like that idea much better! My first pair of Dr Martens were called oxblood–the name’s been around a while, and the color is in again is in–but calling it wine sounds much better.

merlot scarf

Today I wore just a touch of merlot, but I was surrounded by gorgeous shades of burgundy, bordeaux, and wine. I was at Portalis, a wine shop in Ballard, WA, tasting wines and learning about a wine-themed novel called Killer Cuvée.

scarf and jeans

Scarf: Cost Plus World Market via swapped (thanks Kristen!)
Sweater: Suzy Shier
Jeans: Me too (from the Frock Shop)
Boots: Urban Outfitters
Purse: JC Penney
Arm candy: Various shops

I chatted Steve Wells, the author of the book, bought a copy, and selected a couple of nice Washington wines too.

wines on the shelf

Just before leaving the shop, hubby and I looked up and saw the most interesting skylight: It was made of wine bottles. Love the colors! This is one glass ceiling I’d be happy to have!

Wine bottle skylight

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September 14, 2012 · 9:06 pm

Skull and Flowers Tattoo

You know I love tattoos, and you know I keep adding to my collection, so it won’t be a surprise that I have a new one.

skull and flowers tattoo

Suzy Todd, at Two Birds Tattoo in Seattle, designed and inked this for me. The outline, leaves, and skull background were done in July. In August, I went back for the paisley and daffodils. The skull is on the side of my left thigh.

I wanted this design because I like the idea of Mexican sugar skulls and the Day of the Dead/All Saints’ Day celebrations. This is a bit like that, but different. I wanted pink and purple paisley to commemorate my Oma (her favorite colors and shapes) and daffodils to commemorate my grandma (her favorite flowers). I’m not sure my grandmothers were fans of tattoos, but surely they wouldn’t complain about the sentiment behind this one.

Speaking of tattoos, I recently went to the Seattle Tattoo Expo with my friend Amy. She’s shopping for an artist who can design a Japanese Maple and sleeping Buddha piece. We saw dozens and dozens of booths with artist from all around the world. A few stood out from the crowd:

The best portraits I’ve ever seen were by Ganso Galvão, an artist from Brazil. If you ever want a photorealistic grayscale or color portrait, it’s seriously worth the trip to South America for his stuff.

Rich White at Action Tattoo in Auburn, Washington, is an amazing portrait artist as well. I’ve never been interested in realistic pieces, but Ganso and Rich and making me change my mind.

Tribal Rites Tattoo in Fort Collins, Colorado had such creative designs and wonderful color. I loved the birds, moths, and other creatures they created.

Of course Suzy was there too–in fact, I saw her getting a tattoo. The tables were turned and she was a client. Two Birds had a booth too though.

All the artists were talented and creative, but Amy didn’t make a decision that day. She was there solely for research. She gathered business cards and looked through portfolios. Talking to the artists is important too; you have to like the style of the work and the person who will be using your body as a canvas.

A week after the expo, Amy booked an appointment with Eddie at Super Genius Tattoo. I’ll be sure to share the end result with you.

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September 8, 2012 · 1:20 pm

Back to Fashion’s Night Out at the Bravern

Last year, the Mister and I went to Fashion’s Night Out at the Bravern. We had so much fun, we did it again this year. First Mr. Jean of all Trades checked in. He looked fine. I was impressed that he left the suit behind and went with a Perry Ellis sweater and H&M slim-fit pants. It was more risky, but it paid off.

check-in

Then we listened to a band. Don’t you just love her shoes?

band

Last year, I drooled over Jimmy Choos; this year, I had my own pair. Of course I wore them to the event. We decided to head over to Jimmy Choo. On the way, I was distracted by the wonderful pattern- and texture-mixing in the window of Tory Burch.

Tory Burch

We went in so I could drool over the gold cuffs and double-wrap bracelets.

bling at Tory Burch

I sipped on champagne…

champagne at Tory Burch

And thought of all the ways I could wear these black riding boots: maxi skirts, tights and minis, over skinnies. Endless options and a classic boot.

classic riding boot

The fall collection is fantastic and the store drew a crowd.

Tory Burch collage

We dropped by Karen Millen too. I love the asymmetrical coats and shapely dresses. Everything has such structure, but was still feminine. A great combination of tough and soft.

Karen Millen

Finally, we made it to Jimmy Choo. I chatted with the wonderful associates who work there.

chatting at Choo

The champagne was flowing here too. Then, the wonderful, always glamorous Sarah Hulbert and her husband arrived. She picked up an extra swag bag for me while she was at The Bellevue Collection’s VIP lounge. So sweet! You can see the bag–red with white text and pictures of models–in this picture.

champagne at Choo

We did the red carpet thing–a must at an event like this.

red carpet

Here you can see my whole outfit. I wore an H&M dress, carried an oversized Asos clutch, and wore my Jimmy Choo shoes. My necklace is from Buffalo Exchange.

There was so much to see–we didn’t even get upstairs to David Laurence. I did pop into Anthropologie with Sarah. After we said our good-byes, I poked into Neiman Marcus and ogled the Stella McCartney bags. Amazing!

What a night! did you go out for Fashion’s Night Out?

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September 2, 2012 · 3:52 pm

Visiting Fallingwater

Two years ago, I traveled to Mill Run, PA with my friend Donna to visit Fallingwater, an amazing home by Frank Lloyd Wright, built for the Kaufmann family. The Kaufmanns owned a department store of the same name and liked to spend weekend in the countryside, away from the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh. Frank Lloyd Wright is probably America’s most famous architect. He designed the house and built it in the latter part of the 1930s.

Fallingwater house by Frank Lloyd Wright

I’d always wanted to visit this home. Thankfully it’s a National Historic Landmark and is safe from demolition, unlike a lot of Mid-Century Modern architecture (including other houses by Wright). Who would tear down an amazing piece of history–art you can live in?

edge of house

The multilevel home is long and linear and seems to float over the falls. Inside, it’s exquisite, yet unassuming. The ceilings are low and the rooms are open. Light floods in and it’s hard to tell where the walls stop and nature begins. That was the idea: To bring nature in and enjoy living with the falls.

fallingwater architechture collage

The Kaufmanns were world travellers. They collected art from all over the world and the decor in the house reflects their eclectic style. You might see a modern Picasso painting in one room, a 200-year-old Persian rug in another, and a 15th Century Madonna statue in yet another.

fallingwater art collage

Donna and I drove from my parent’s house in Cambridge, Ontario through Buffalo, NY and on to Pittsburgh. After a fun weekend traipsing though galleries and shopping districts, we made the two-hour drive to Fallingwater. We wandered through the house and grounds on a guided tour, snapping shot after shot of iconic art, furniture, and the architecture that we’d only read about in university. It was an amazing experience.

fallingwater interior collage

The department store is now a Macy’s, and the Kaufmanns are long gone, but their legacy, and the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, will live on in the woods in Mill Run, PA. If you ever get a chance to visit, you won’t regret it.

multilevel home

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August 4, 2012 · 5:42 pm

Visiting the Twin Peaks Diner

Hubby and I recently visited Twede’s Café in North Bend, WA. It’s better known as the fictitious Double R Diner from Twin Peaks. Coincidentally, this weekend is the Twin Peaks Fest, so I thought writing about my experience was timely.

On the way out of Bellevue, the sun shone beautifully. I’d normally be happy about that but the setting wasn’t right. If I was going to Twin Peaks (aka North Bend), I needed moodiness. Luckily, as we ascended into the Cascade foothills, the clouds loomed ominously. Perfect! I turned on the Twin Peaks soundtrack and listened to Angelo Badalamenti’s compositions, Julee Cruise’s haunting vocals, and off we went.

north bend collage

We found the café, where in the TV series, Cooper and Dale often went for a “damn fine cup of coffee.” Of course I ordered coffee, black (which I later remembered I don’t like), and a slice of cherry pie (which I have to admit was pretty fine).

cherry pie

When I think of Twin Peaks, I think of lodges and owls and one-armed men. Clothing-wise, I thought my Bambi skirt from The Frock Shop was a good choice.

Bambi skirt

Top: H&M
Cardi: Old Navy
Skirt: Kimmi Designs
Shoes: Flexx
Purse: Thrifted
Ring: Gifted

Bambi Collage

I was a huge Twin Peaks fan and watched the show religiously. I’ve been a fan of David Lynch and his work ever since I saw Blue Velvet as a teenager. Do you have favorite David Lynch movie?

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July 28, 2012 · 11:05 pm

The Fashion Truck and SOWA Market

One of the highlights of my trip to Boston was finding The Fashion Truck, a mobile store on wheels that shows up in different parts of the city. Think food truck with clothes!

fashion truck

I’d heard of the truck and vowed to track it down if I was ever in Beantown. When Donna and I visited in June, we walked from our hotel to the SOWA Open Market and found the truck there too.

fashion truck and more

I introduced myself to Emily, the owner of The Fashion truck, and perused the space. The back of the truck has neat spaces for clothes and accessories–and a tent and tables outside, showcased even more cute dresses, tops, and jewelry.

accessories in the truck

I bought a cool pair of aviators, which you can see perched on my head in the following shot, and a couple of wrap bracelets. Emily was great and explained her vision for the store. She curates it with hand-picked pieces and packs a lot into a small space without it feeling cramped. Theres even a fitting room. And yes, an online store.

inside SOWA's artist lofts

Top: Thrifted
Shorts: Lulu’s
Sunglasses: The Fashion Truck
Bag: Nine West via thrifted
Bracelets: Gifted
Shoes: Timberland

But the truck was just the beginning. The SOWA is an open market featuring food, art, vintage clothing and goods, and a host of other fun things. I bought a necklace from the Pearl Shop, and Donna snagged a fantastic gray and rose skirt from the indoor vintage mall. We had cool gaspacho from a food truck, and got lost in an array of jewelry and knick knacks. We even found a cool vintage shop in a retro silver trailer: Haberdash Vintage. Loved their bags, shoes, and jewelry.

sowa collage

Have you been to SOWA or other markets? What do you like shopping for?

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July 18, 2012 · 6:26 am

Boston Blogger Meetup

While planning our trip to Boston, my friend Donna suggested a blogger meetup. I jumped at the chance to meet The Boston Fashionista and Katy Rose of Modly Chic. I wouldn’t have suggested the meetup because Donna’s not a blogger and I didn’t want her to be bored. She is, however, a fashionista, and she fit in well. She was kind enough to take a picture of the three bloggers:

three bloggers

I’m glad she did: Shortly after taking this shot, and while chatting about blogs and travel and other things, the skies opened up and it poured! I’m used to the light Seattle mist they call rain, but this was different. This was a typical east coast downpour.

We were at The Reef, enjoying drinks and a view of the water, so we moved from the patio to the tent that serves as a bar and dining area. Finally the rain stopped. I walked 50 feet to the building where the restrooms are and when I came out, it was pouring again! I had to join Donna, Katy, and Kristen, but I waited–and then I ran! I calculated the risks. I was wearing wedges but they were stable. I could avoid puddles, and I had on a dark top so there would be no wardrobe malfunctions.

It took me about 5 seconds to get back to the tent–but I couldn’t get in! all the sides were zipped up! I panicked and ran from one panel to the next, getting wetter and wetter until finally I saw a hand waving out from between two flaps. I hurried in and was greeted by cheers from all the patrons–and hysterical laughter from Donna.

wet blogger

Luckily, it was warm and I dried off before our meetup was done. Kristen even took our photo and, as you can see, I’m waterproof:

Jean and Donna

Oh, I was so happy when after the meetup, Kristen changed from sit down shoes to transit riding shoes. I’d walked all day in flat boots and changed into my wedges for the meetup. We like style, but we know the value of comfort.

earlier that day

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