Lolafalk

One Designer's Zen is Another Designer's...Root Canal

2011-04-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

I design and produce my own line of handbags, hence I refer to myself as a "designer." Which would lead one to believe I got involved in this whole crazy biz because I like to design stuff. Yeah...umm...not quite the truth. In fact - the very antithesis of the truth. I hate the design process, and by hate I mean I would quite literally rather deal with getting a root canal than sit down with my sketch book and start dreaming up new bag-tastic concepts.

The root cause of this post is that I've just emerged from the black hole of the design process, and am now happily ensconced my very favorite part of what I do - production! Making sh*t! Gettin' 'er done! (that last one is for my Texas friends.)

I looooooooooove picking out fun fabrics, the whole mixing and matching and (bleeping) stuff up artistically to make the colorful little creations that are the very reason why I leap out of bed every day and can't get to my sewing machine fast enough. This is where I'm at now - cranking out the tangible stuff that I can look at and say "yes, dammit...I freaking made that crazy bag."

So it is in my resurrection from this dark tunnel that I offer a sneak peek at some of the fun little items I've been eeking out over the past few weeks, doing that annoying task of (bleah, shudder) designing.

Card Holders...

...with little "finger straps" to keep them at the ready.

Smart Phone/iPhone Sleeves with...you guessed it - "hand straps" to keep your phone handy as well.

And yes, my inspiration is heavily influenced by my tendency to set down and forget both my business cards and phone wherever I go.

I'm OK

2011-04-10T19:55:00.000-07:00

Good poetry (or is this prose?) apparently comes out of heartache. I wrote this almost a year ago and just found it again. Damn.

So I'm posting it for anyone who needs to read it and feel that they're OK too.

(BTW...I'm OK now.)

This isn’t working.

We love each other but we’re not in love.

This past week a relationship lifecycle.

"Hmmm…maybe" is how you feel about this relationship.

Thought we had a breakthrough on Monday, thought telling you what I did meant that we were solid again, tight, fresh and committed.

My expectations were sky high.

I want you to be enthusiastic about being with me.

I want you to want to do things with just me.

I’m going to be OK.

Red Wall, The Aftermath

2011-03-02T07:59:00.001-08:00

As promised in my previous post, here are the before and after shots of my new red wall. It took about 2 solid days to prep, paint and get everything back in order (yeah...I don't waste time).

Soooo worth the time and labor...puts a big smile on my face every time I walk in the door.

Before (= boring)...

mid-paint and...

...et voilà! Glorious red.

All Signs Point To...Red Wall

2011-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

I believe in signs a bit too much, but I like to think that I'm one of those types that is always on the lookout for signs...and therefore they appear to guide my life. Case in point - I've been seriously mulling over the idea of painting yet another red wall in my current apartment. However, not sure if I want to deal with the hassles of painting (set up, clean up, fumes, dry time, scattered dropcloths, kicking over the paint can as I do half the time). But wanting this "color pick-me-up" sooo bad...decisions, decisions...then I woke up this morning and saw this luscious red awesomeness created by RiverGirlsStudio, featuring my red leather Luella shoulder bag (bottom center).

Click here for the full-page view.

So of course you know what that means...heading out to Home Depot for my Behr cranapple. Will post pics of the results later.

No Time to Dwell...2011 Awaits.

2010-12-19T20:38:00.001-08:00

In homage to another passing year, some like to recap the highs and lows of said previous year and then dissect how they'll take what they learned and make the upcoming new year even better. Great if it works for you...as for me, rehashing the past year for the umpteenth time is gonna push me over the brink.

For a rehash of my previous year click here, here, here and here. I'm over it though, 2010 was awesome, yes...but it's OVER. Time to start a fresh sheet of paper and write the next chapter. So here is a list of 2011 goals for the first 3 months, to get them out there and make my lazy butt accountable:

Giving Back: I talk the talk but want to walk the walk. My dearest cause? Boosting the self-esteem of tween and teenage girls...cuz it kills me to see an 11, 12 or 13 year old girl go from thinking she's nothing short of perfect to suddenly feeling like she'll never be good/smart/pretty/skinny enough due to how most females are portrayed on TV, in magazines, or the likeliest culprit...the curse of adolescent angst that every girl has to go through. And yes - I'm thinking of the boy who told me when I was 12 that if my nose wasn't so big I might be pretty. Of course, now I can't imagine life without my quirky nose and wouldn't change a thing. However...I don't want these girls to have to wait until they're at the ripe ol' age of thirty-something to get right with themselves and their bodies. I want to heed these bad feelings off at the pass and don't want to wait until I have my own pre-teen daughter to do so. So this year, I want to start working with this cause and this cause.
Meet my husband: Gross...yes - I just said that. But why the hell not? I'm putting it out there. Oh, and by the way - it'll be at Tea Lounge in Park Slope. Why there? At this point in my life I've learned not to question my intuition. It just is.
Start making my own clothing: Bored and irritated with the of the lack of options out there, given that what I want only exists in my head anyway (hey, that's how I got started with the whole handbag thing). Once I have my 1-year anniversary of living in NYC (Feb 1) I'll start looking for classes to take at FIT - since I'll qualify for in-state tuition rates. Huzzah!
Lead or teach something: A sewing class, a running/exercise group, a Spanish conversation group...something. I forever have shied away from being a leader or teacher, but somehow I know there lurks one within me.
Choose my words carefully: Not because I tend to put my foot in my mouth...more so I tend to blather on and on...when I can get my point across in fewer words. I've been told this point-blank by several well-meaning friends, so it's on the list of 2011 improvements.

And with that final goal - I'm done (no extra blather). Happy New Year - here's to an AWESOME 2011 for all of us!

#reverb: One Moment

2010-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

This post is part of a daily writing project called #reverb10. Find out more & join in this creative exercise here.

Today's prompt: Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

Ah, this is easy. Sept 14, Tuesday. Leaving the office for the last time - the last time - and walking to the subway. Overcast sky, slight wind against my skin as I walked down 14th Street towards 9th Avenue, about 70 degrees. Passing Milk Studios. Listening to iPod, to this song. And the moment occurred precisely 2 minutes into the song. Crescendo bridge. Breeze in my hair, against my skin. Smell of exhaust from passing cabs and buses. Horns honking, idle chatter of passersby. White t-shirt, grey pencil skirt from the Gap, brown funky mary jane Fly shoes. Unable to keep the grin from my face. Scowling faces of passersby who were presumably headed back to the very place I left. Being acutely aware of how weightless, at peace, giggly I felt...and having no recollection of the stress and frustration that place brought me. 3+ years in the making, and it was finally happening. Like stepping from one dimension into another...clouds parted, sun streaming through...one chapter closed and - so officially - one started anew. The blissfully happy chapter that I'm living right now.

#reverb: One Word

2010-12-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

Guts.

Kind of a gross word, but if I had to sum up my 2010 in one word it would be that. Guts. When I think back to some of the things I've done this year, I can't believe I had the guts to do them - pack up a U-haul van and drive 4 dangerously icy days with my then-beau from Dallas to NYC in January; moving here while unemployed; quitting a secure day job to pursue my business full-time; ending the comfort and familiarity of a 3+ year relationship with the person I partially moved to NYC to be with.

In the moments of making these decisions there were some things I knew for sure, but for the most part each instance felt like jumping off a high cliff with no certainty of landing safely. The one thing that resonated with each decision was a Buddhist proverb that always pops into my head when dealing with the unknown:

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking."

And so I walk...and when I'm feeling not quite as strong as I'd like to feel, I just think of the one word that sums up this year: guts.

And as for 2011? Haha, let's see...I think the most accurate word would be...determination. It's kind of a blah word, but I get goosebumps when I think about what it means for me in the coming year. Focused determination to take my business to the next level, to get out of my creative comfort zone, to take more chances, get to know more people, get out there...now that the hurdle of getting settled in NYC has passed, the heartache of a broken relationship is fading, the fear of being trapped in a nightmare day job is no longer relevant...it's time to get laser focused on moving things to the next level.

This post is part of a daily writing project called #reverb10. Find out more & join in this creative exercise here.

Giving Thanks, Lessons Learned, Yadda Yadda

2010-11-24T21:04:00.000-08:00

For turkey day 2010, here it be - what I'm grateful for, and some of what I've learned:

For moving to NYC this year and living in Brooklyn. Every day is a "pinch me" day, I couldn't have fantasized a better life here. I fall in love with my neighborhood every single day...it is so perfect.
For quitting a soul-sucking day job to do what I love - make cool, eclectic little bags that people genuinely like...and want to buy! Another "pinch me."
For finding yoga this year...and getting many fortunate opportunities to take classes with some excellent NYC teachers. Yoga heals - physically, mentally, emotionally...take it from someone who knows.
For unexpected derailments of plans and goals...it's a good lesson to be taught - make plans, set goals...but be fully aware that every day brings the unexpected. Learn to not take the good for granted and understand that the so-called "bad" is - 9 times out of 10 - actually good for you.
Getting my heart broken. Yeah, it's easy to be thankful now that the worst of it is over...but I grew so much because of it.
Working (for extra $$) at one of the funnest, coolest, most positive and uplifting places ever. I won't mention the company's name in my personal blog, but if you're dying to know what this utopia is that I speak of, check out my linked in profile.
Running. Well, exercise in general, but specifically running this year because through it, I made new friends, found a cool place to work and pushed myself to new levels of fitness (12 mile runs 3x a week!) that I didn't think I'd ever accomplish.
The pilot light being lit in my oven (after almost 6 months of living in my apartment without it lit). Now I can make biscotti...which is on the agenda for Thanksgiving Day activities tomorrow.
Sewing. Nothing - nothing - turns my frown upside down like sewing does. I'm getting all dreamy-eyed right now just thinking about it.
...

I'm stumped on 10 - so maybe I'll just save it for my end of the year recap. I have a feeling I'll have a lot more to add to this list by then...

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! :)

The Early Handbag Days

2010-11-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

Was digging though some old pics in my iPhoto gallery today and came across these. I love finding pics that remind me of my early days of handbag-making bliss. From day one of sitting at the sewing machine, I knew doing this was in my blood...and nearly 3 years later I still eat, sleep and breathe it...

I would do this all day, every day if I could. Well, now I pretty much do anyway...

On the left, the original Lolafalk label! I still have one pinned to the corkboard above my sewing machine. To the right - a more polished take as my line has evolved. Stitching in the label is ALWAYS the best part of making my bags.

One of my first sales...a dear friend bought this for his wife. I never packaged an order so carefully...

My first photo shoot! I'll always love small bags like these...even if most other people didn't seem to take a shine to them. These were my little "cupcake" bags.

My first indie market - Urban Street Bazaar in Dallas. Even if most of my sales were from friends, it will always be my "best show."

The design may have improved...but the quirkiness lives on.

The Year of the 360

2010-08-25T15:14:00.001-07:00

As in 360 degrees. And by 360 degrees I really mean 180 degrees, because the impulse is to always say the former, for whatever reason - I make no apologies for my nonsensical tendencies. And really, what this all means is that this has been the year of deliciously delightful, epically painful and ridiculously redeeming topsy-turvey changes in so many areas of my life. Let's review 2010 by the month, shall we...

January: Tying up my loose ends in Dallas, figuring out the deets of Uhaul vans and furniture storage in NYC and making a mad scramble to find a Brooklyn roomshare with someone I've never met before. Seatbelt buckled and ready for liftoff.
February: Leave my lovely life in Dallas for big adventures in the Big Apple; unemployed, struggling to get my handbag business off the ground, happy to be closing the long distance gap on a 3+year relationship with my beau. We'll finally be together!
March: Hard times in the big city. Unemployment stinks. Rooming with strangers stinks even more. But more determined than ever to make this work...Brooklyn is home .
April: Do a few local markets for my bags, find a few local retailers willing to start carrying my stuff. Land a wholesale gig in Paris! Try to forge a studio space out of a 9x6 ft space that is also my bedroom, storage and dining area (when my roommate's bf is visiting)...but I kind of like the challenge.
May: Work has been found, albeit in the very industry I've been working in for the past 8 years and struggling to get myself out of...but hell, I'm just happy to have the funds to get out of rooming with strangers and start to feel "settled" in Brooklyn.
June: The beau is no more. Nothing more to say about that.
July: Doing local markets for my bags throughout NYC, reaction is positive. In the meantime, the day job becomes increasingly stressful and starts turning me into a negative, sullen version of myself that frankly, I just don't like being around. I imagine how other people must feel around me and decide that something must be done. The question is what...
August: Decide my mental and physical health trump a fat salary. Give my 2 weeks to the day job. Decide to take a position in the retail industry and give my bag biz a full-time go. Never felt lighter, happier or more "right" in my life.
September: Enjoy the fact that my schedule is completely erratic, I am pinching pennies, and every moment of every day is spent doing something that I would absolutely choose to do.

And here, today - the last day of September - I sit and reflect, and am amazed at all that has transpired in the past 9 months. Every day feels like an adventure of my own making, be it big or small...I never know who I'm going to meet, what new opportunity will present itself, or what new crazy idea will pop into my head that must be acted upon - and finding the courage to do so gets easier with each passing day. What I do know is that my life is now all about the 360 (i.e. 180) degree spin, 2010 will be a year that I'll never forget, and that I can't wait to see what the coming days, months and years are going to bring for me.

Hopefully...for those of you who are on the fence about doing something that seems scary but will change your life for the better - this post will be the nudge that you need to find the courage to just bleeping do it. Life's too short to not be living it to the fullest.

Goal Setting...Or At Least Attempting To

2010-08-12T17:05:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite bloggers, Elsie from A Beautiful Mess, has kicked off a goal-setting challenge for her readers and I have to say I am ready to try anything at this point. Ambition and drive have never been issues for me, but the practical application of setting goals has never been my cup of tea. There is just something about it that feels like...homework, chores, doing taxes...anything and everything you put off because it is just so much boring work. But of course, it's the work that brings the payoff, whether it's success with a business venture or just getting your lazy arse into better shape. I could do with some goal setting, particularly in the realm of getting myself better acclimated to life here in NYC, getting my biz further along and setting myself free from anchors of the past that still linger.

I like Elsie's plan because it's simple - simple goals that are less results oriented and more about the journey, more about increasing the beauty in your life. That being said, it doesn't mean that I won't try to weasel out of being accountable for mine. So I am putting mine out here in plain view - to be accountable to both my readers as well as hopefully be inspired by anyone else who wants to share their goals for the remainder of the year here.

As a side note: I highly recommend checking out Elsie's blog. It's funny, her style and personality are a shade different than mine (a bit of cuteness overload, if you know what I mean) but I actually mean that in the nicest way - I almost wish I could be like that. I find myself adoring her unabashed openness, and I'd be lying if I didn't say her engagement story crushed me with how sweet it was.

So here are my 4 goals for the rest of this year:

At least every 2 weeks, reach out to someone who lives in NYC who I haven't touched base with since moving here - or a new acquaintance who I think I would jive with - to do something (grab lunch, coffee, a drink, an art exhibit, gelato, fill-in-the-blank social activity). At least one person.
At least once a week, do a group-related activity that relates to health/exercise (running club, yoga, pilates). I've got the exercise goal down pat, but want to start doing it with a group (as opposed to always going it alone. No need to be an exercise loner!)
Get my next phase/season of product photography done for Lolafalk (and I think I've found the perfect new photographer to do so!)
Start cooking more at home - and specifically, working my way through the Spanish cookbook that my sister-in-law gave me for Christmas 2 years ago. Of course, this starts with finding someone to help me light the pilot light for my oven...

So here we are for now - I am fully accountable and have nowhere to hide. Feel free to share your goals here - I'd love to hear what you'd like to accomplish through the rest of this year! Make it fun and attainable - and let the rewards be in achieving the goals themselves. (Chocolate is always a good reward too).

Walking Heals a Heavy Heart

2010-07-04T14:30:00.000-07:00

Or at least it's what I'm finding to be true over these past couple weeks as I feel my way through the demise of a three and a half year relationship. It was amicable, and for all the right reasons...but that doesn't mean there aren't still days when I feel like I've been punched in the stomach and had the wind knocked out of me. Even when you know it was the right thing to do, it's still hard to let go of the warm and familiar and cozy that you just got used to having around.

But there has been a lot of good from it, mainly my newfound passion for walking around Brooklyn and exploring the awesomeness that surrounds me. It is the ultimate remedy to that stomach-punch feeling, and reminds me of all the promise and potential and life that is right outside my door, and how blissed-out happy I am to be here. Brooklyn is healing my heart.

A shot of Lady Liberty in the distance, taken on the 4th of July.

Peeking through the trees to see the lower Manhattan skyline. I love these glimpses of the city that can be seen as you stroll through the streets of Brooklyn Heights.

This ice cream truck is always here...a Brooklyn Promenade staple.

I love this pop of color on an otherwise neutral-colored street. I might need to coordinate a handbag photo shoot over here sometime...

So true, so true.

An alley-turned-secret garden pathway - a neat little discovery on my wanderings.

When I see a cool door I can't resist snapping a pic...

A couple views of downtown BK Heights.

And so, my heart feels a bit lighter. Expect more "healing" pics in the weeks to come.

Under The Bridge

2010-06-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

Exploring my current favorite 'hood in Brooklyn on a hazy, humid afternoon. Behold: DUMBO.

A peek at mid-town Manhattan, en route to my destination.

Lady Liberty in the distance.

My first glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge as I near the heart of DUMBO.

Under the BK Bridge, glimpsing the Manhattan Bridge.

BK Bridge. I'll never tire of these views, hence the many pics of it below.

The Watchtower Building...where presumably "they" are always watching you (the Jehovahs, me thinks).

Another view of the Manhattan Bridge.

Lots of old warehouses down here...converted into über-expensive lofts, as DUMBO is the new "it" spot to live in BK. Not quite sure what the appeal is when you have subway trains - with their deafening mechanical grinding sounds - going over the bridge every 5 minutes.

An adorable carousel found in one of the warehouse buildings as I passed on the street - many a café, gallery or kiddie carousel can be found as you traverse the somewhat desolate (yet oddly comfortable and familiar) streets of DUMBO.

Yummy chocolates and ice cream treats to be found at this renown chocolatier.

The "feel" of DUMBO...

...cont'd...

...very "under the bridge"...

...with some ultramodern storefronts mixed in...

...and some funkadelic graffiti art...of a robotic futuristic angel-devel baby...

...these are everywhere in BK - seeing them everywhere really signifies the essence of living in NY to me, cuz I've never seen 'em anywhere else in the world...

...and some random floral adornments to a street sign post.

Technically "under the bridge." The BK Bridge, that is.

Some hazy views from the park beneath the bridge.

And a little, tiny snippet of beach space.

Interesting foliage that caught my eye. Wish I knew what these were...

Neato vintage car, snapped on my way home.

Snapped a pic on my way back home - I want to remember this quirky-cool indie theater that I just newly discovered to catch some flicks that are more up my alley.

Theater cross-streets (for my reference).

En route to home, before picking up a bottle of wine and getting ready to relax after my DUMBO adventures. Hope you enjoyed the pics!

Chapter Four

2010-06-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

When I first moved to Brooklyn from Dallas, I viewed this change as starting a new chapter in my life - "the Brooklyn chapter" - and had posted about it here. But as time has gone by (nearly 5 months!) I'm beginning to realize it was more like starting a new book, with new chapters being written every month, shaping the experience of being here and how my life has so drastically changed in such a short period of time. From the actual move, to getting the biz established here, to getting a "day job" that pays the bills and isn't completely unbearable, to temporary living arrangements with quirky roommates, to getting my own blissfully beautiful digs (thanks day job!), to making new friends, to the most recent development...being back on my own. Not quite ready to elaborate on what that means just yet...only know that it was for the best and in the meantime I am sewing as though my life depended on it and listening nonstop to this band, specifically this song, off of this album. Deliciously melancholic yet hopeful...perfect for my current state!

So chapter four...I eagerly await to see how you'll unfold. Nothing has been as I expected, but it's all been beautiful, and moving here has been the best decision I've made in a long time. I'm grateful for all of the reasons that brought me here, even if some of those reasons no longer exist.

And in the meantime...snippets of the blur that is the current chapter of my life:

Brooklyn Heights...my lovely-beyond-words new neighborhood.

Making skirts for new furniture...

...and for myself.

Taking pictures of cool doors around the city...

...and odd wooden carvings of bears doing yoga.

Making new logo tags...

...and hitting the trunk show circuit (Spring Crafts in Chelsea here).

And in the meantime, just remembering to breath...to not look back...and to know that everything happens for a reason.

Resurfacing

2010-05-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I feel like I've been sucked into the vortex of helter-skelter, warp-speed New York City living...I've only been here 4 months, but have already lived through about 4 year's worth of experiences. Of course, that's what happens when you move from one location extreme (laid-back, easy livin' Dallas) to another (fast and furious, lean and mean NYC). In the last 4 months I have:

Lived in 2 different apartments - one with a roach-infested kitchen and peanut-butter-stealing roommate; the other a quirkily-cool 3rd floor walk-up with a super-cool Japanese gal - we leave our shoes outside the door à la Japanese culture. Love it.
Landed a few wholesale accounts in local boutiques, which so far have all been pretty successful. Yes!
Learned to hail a cab, navigate the erratic weekend transit schedule and properly insult drivers who try to run me over when crossing the street
Eliminated all shoes in my wardrobe that aren't flats. Heels bite (literally and figuratively) with all the walking required here
Managed to squeak by in a city with one of the highest costs of living while unemployed...
...and just landed a "day job" that will pay the bills (unfortunately, the handbag gig doesn't do that...yet)

And next weekend...I move into my very own apartment/studio space in one of the coolest 'hoods in Brooklyn. More adventures abound! And words cannot express how bleeping good it will feel to stretch and kick and dance and sing and sew...all in my VERY OWN space. Not someone else's....MY OWN. Yes, I am a bit territorial...but ever so grateful that it only took 4 months to get to this point in a brand new city. Pinch me...I can't believe this is all happening...

Kicking (or Punching) the Damn Door Down...Dammit

2010-04-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

Inspired by some of the stories I've seen on one of my favorite blogs (Scoutie Girl), I'm sharing my very own "kicking down the damn door" story regarding how Lolafalk has come to be. I don't know that I have a specific door-kicking moment, a straw that broke the camel's back, a tipping point that suddenly turned my business from hobby to well...a business. For me, I think it's something more along the lines of facing door-kicking (or punching - I'm better at punching) challenges every day: screwing up the courage to approach local boutiques about carrying my line; talking to customers face-to-face at markets and trunk shows and trusting that the words I use to describe my brand and what it means to me come across as genuine and authentic; believing that because I feel so strongly about this being what I'm meant to do that somehow it will all work out.

No physical presence or obstacle is actually in front of me, obstructing my path or holding me back. No oppression from society, culture, laws or authority is preventing me from being all I can be. I am an intelligent, free, strong and driven woman who can do whatever she wants...but there is always that critical voice within, that nagging doubt, that lack of courage and confidence trying to take hold. I'm no different than anyone else in having to face this...but I make the choice to not let it hold me back, and it's a daily choice. A daily struggle...a daily door to kick down. Or sometimes punch in, or karate chop...but by whatever means I choose, I'm proud to say I always come out on top.

Moving Yet Again

2010-03-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

Not from my beloved Brooklyn, mind you. Just neighborhood hopping on over to Carroll Gardens later this week, one of my very favorite areas of Brooklyn. Yay!

Peeking down Smith Street, one of the main drags.

A view of downtown BK, from Smith Street.

Out and about, exploring the 'hood.

A close-up of D's ice cream from the pic above this one. Soooooo deliciously divine. Dark chocolate ice cream from one of the local joints. I opted instead for a white-chocolate-pecan-cherry cookie...not quite up to par with the ice cream, hence not worthy of a pic.

Inspiration Borne of...Laziness?

2010-03-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about what inspired me to start my business, as I get asked this question quite a bit and feel I owe people a better explanation beyond simply saying I have an affiliation for all things "subtly eclectic and understatedly quirky." I love this phrase as a tagline, it has a contradictory nature that reflects the contradictory fabric combinations I use when designing my bags. However, I can't help but feel it's a bit elusive. Maybe once people see my shop it sort of clicks ("ah, yes indeed...this is subtly eclectic and understatedly quirky!"), or maybe (and more likely) they don't give it a second thought. Regardless, I want to be as authentic as possible when it comes to answering this question about my inspiration. What on earth made a marketing account manager who didn't even know how to hem pants 2 years ago suddenly decide to sit down behind a sewing machine and start making bags? In a nutshell: laziness.

Yes, I am lazy. Quite possibly one of the hardest working lazy people you'll ever meet (yet another contradiction) but lazy nonetheless. How so? And more importantly - how does a declaration of laziness relate to this post? Here's the deal: for as long as I can remember, I've never had question or doubt about my personal style or the clothes I want to wear to attain what I might deem my signature "look". It's easy, it's effortless...I know what I like and haven't changed it much in over 10 years. However, there are 2 problems with this (well, problems in the creative sense):

(1) I only want to wear the same basics (t-shirt, skirts, trousers) every day, every occasion. Lazy (and boring).
(2) I only want to wear solids pretty much every day, every occasion. Again...lazy. (*yawn*)

Submitted as evidence (and no judgment on how much I buy from Forever 21 - we all shop there; at least I fess up to it):

June 2006

July 2007

July 2008 (and appearing to be up to no good in this pic)

January 2009

July 2009

Staying true to these rules has allowed me to build a wardrobe that has a timelessness to it...but it doesn't offer that much variety (no crazy patterns, textures, cuts, hems, folds, pleats). I like basic shapes in basic colors. I buy in bulk, and I buy the same brands - t-shirts (Forever 21) skirts (American Apparel and Gap) jeans (Level 99) and the occasional splurge piece that amps things up a bit when the occasion calls.

So when it comes to adding some spiff to my look, I lean (like most women) heavily on shoes, bags and accessories. And herein comes the answer to the question, the conclusion to this long-winded blog post. My wardrobe "basics" are like my blank canvas, waiting for splashes of color to be thrown against them in a sort of Jackson Pollock meets Ellsworth Kelly kind of way - an explosion of colors but isolated to one specific eye-catching area. I wanted - needed - the kind of bags-as-accessories that fulfilled this need of being the "splashes" against the blank canvas of my wardrobe basics. B.H.B. ("Before Handbag Biz") I either couldn't find them...or I couldn't afford them. So because I was too lazy to get out of my wardrobe basics rut, I instead decided to go whole-hog and produce the very thing I needed to give me that certain je ne sais quoi.

Being an art major in college (well, for one semester at least) definitely had some impact on my "blank canvas" sense of personal style.

And there you have it. Hopefully this is a bit more insight into the madness behind the method.

Of $19 Haircuts...and Other NY Adventures

2010-03-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

Moving to New York has me embarking on all sorts of new adventures, and deciding to get a $19 haircut from a student at the Aveda Institute in lower Manhattan was just the latest and greatest. I can't say that I was entirely trepidatious about trying this out; unemployment has got me doing all sorts of things I never would have done before and quite frankly, I feel all the better for the experience in living a more budget-centric lifestyle. Regarding the Institute, the students are all closely supervised, but even with that caveat, they are all pretty cool and confident with their mad scissor skills. At least I can attest to this regarding the lovely gal who was at the helm with my locks - Cristina - who was so attentive, so in tune to the gibberish I spoke to her about wanting my hair to have "points" (you know, points?) and not be "blunt and square" on the ends. She just got me - which is why I will definitely be back to see her again at the Institute come the next time my hair needs more "points" - and when she graduates in May I'll have to follow her to whichever hair studio is lucky enough to snatch her up as a stylist. Un mil gracias, Cristina...for making me cute and spunky again.

Before (ugh, yes...this was the before, no exaggeration). And...

After! Yes!!!!

Brooklyn: The First Month

2010-03-02T11:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday marked my 1-month anniversary of living in Brooklyn, and though I've barely scratched the surface of experiencing all that NYC has to offer, I can't help but feel I've lived a sort of a mini-lifetime at warp speed in these past 4 weeks. There is the obvious adjustment that occurs when moving from a considerably more laid-back city like Dallas to a considerably more fast-paced metropolis like New York, but for a routine-and-ritual-centric gal like me, I'm talking about those little everyday things that add up to some drastic changes, slowing becoming my new routines and rituals - both the expected and unexpected surprises that New York delivers to its novice inhabitants - the good, the bad and the ugly. I've had the privilege of experiencing it all this past month...and I'm happy to say that I've loved every minute of it.

I may be in the middle of most tumultuous period of my life yet - currently unemployed, struggling to transition into the fashion industry, trying to establish some credibility for my handbag business in the über-competitive NY fashion market...but never feeling so driven to succeed in my life. And if I had to choose one word to describe how living in Brooklyn feels amidst this chaotic upheaval in my life, it would simply be... home.

The first of 3 "blizzards" that took place here in February. After 5 years in Dallas with nary a dusting of snow, this was such a delight to see walking out of my apartment in the morning. Having grown up in Michigan, 4-season weather is in my blood.

Of course, 12 inches of snow (and subsequent days of slushy 3-inch puddles of water all over the city) is unbearable without the proper footwear. My lifesavers...my "wellies"...and the first item of clothing/shoes purchased in NY that made me feel more like a New Yorker. These are definitely a staple here.

Ahhh...back to cooking with my favorite guy, albeit in the scary kitchen of the apartment in which I'm currently renting a room (fortunately, a short term living situation).

Scary kitchen or not, we still were able to prevail with a ridiculously divine Valentine's dinner of crab linguine, buttery garlic French bread...

...followed by a decadent flourless chocolate cake, topped with crème fraiche and blueberries.

Strolling the streets of DUMBO (you can barely see the outline of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background). I love the subtle, slightly different vibe of each neighborhood in Brooklyn (well, the neighborhoods that I'm not afraid to venture into, at least).

The infamous Grimaldi's Pizza...there's almost always a quarter mile-long line snaking out the door around dinner time. That day it was about 32 degrees out...and the line was still there.

A quick pic sitting at the Brooklyn Promenade. Freezing our buns off...but happy.

This is iconic Brooklyn to me...the Brownstone. Pretty ones in Brooklyn Heights here, slightly less pretty ones where I'm at in Prospect Heights...but I'll take them any day over the cookie-cutter, ultra-modern, blah boring suburban apartment complexes that pop up like weeds in most other cities.

Between Brooklyn and NYC...so many great doors. I'm planning a future blog post dedicated solely to images of them.

This has followed me through many different living spaces and sewing studios over the past few years. Everyone has (or should have) a motto or saying that gets them through the day...this is mine, currently pinned to the bare wall above my sewing machine.

My temp sewing space...about 70% of the 100 square foot space I have as a rental room. And yes, it is downright lilliputian. I just tell myself that when I "make it big," this will be part of the story of my humble beginnings, hehe.

Itty-bitty! Although I'm sure there are other people in NYC who could put me to shame with a smaller room.

One of my newly adopted treats...Swedish black licorice bites from Chelsea Market filled with...umm...that's a good question. Squishy pink and white fluffy stuff, I guess. So addictive, these may very well replace Jelly Belly's as my sugar drug of choice.

Did a stint at the Brooklyn Flea this past weekend; no celeb sitings but still tons of fun. Definitely a great way to get my feel wet in the NY retail market.

Such a delightful surprise...a red velvet birthday cupcake delivered to my booth at the Flea from the best guy in the world. So rich and decadent, it took us a couple days to work our way through it. Seriously to-die-for cream cheese frosting and a dense, moist cake in the most brilliant shade of crimson. I love punk-rock-yet-refined looking food.

Another delightful surprise...an unexpected birthday gift from a talented new Brooklyn friend who makes handbags as well! You can check out her charming, chic bags at Sans Map.

And the lovely, delicate necklace that I've had my eye on for quite some time...secretly purchased for my birthday by someone who shall only be referred to as Mr. Red Velvet Cupcake. I've said it before and I'll say it again...he's a keeper.

Starting the Next Chapter

2010-02-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I made it to Brooklyn - finally - after feeling like all I've been doing is talking about it incessantly for the past 6 months. And I knew it was going to be a big adjustment, and that there would be unexpected things that I would have no way of preparing myself for...but you want to know the biggest shock of making this drastic change in location, climate and lifestyle? I keep waiting for those symptoms that naturally occur when your life gets uprooted and turned on its head (i.e. sadness, maybe a bit of depression, maybe a longing to be back in Dallas). And yes I feel stress - primarily because I'm job hunting - but the biggest shock is that the overall general sensation that rests on me every day since I've been here is....complete and utter happiness. There is no way I would have done any of this different, from the initial plan hatched last July up to hauling the last heavy box out of the U-haul and up the stairs to my new Brooklyn digs just a few short days ago. Maybe it was just the universe lining up for me, or maybe I'm just getting better equipped to deal with the curveballs of life as I get older. Whatever it is, I just feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be at this precise time in my life. And I can't wait to see what NY has in store for me...

Waxing Nostalgic on D (the city)

2010-01-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

As my time in Dallas grows smaller I'm starting to get these twinges of sadness for the places and routines that, over the past 5 1/2 years, have shaped the memories of what will be known as the "Big D" chapter of my life. Most of these sentimental twinges are influenced by the past 3 years since D (the boyfriend) has been a part of my world, and while I have a bit of sadness for leaving the places and routines of D (the city) behind, the fact that my leaving for NYC will end the "long-distance" chapter of my relationship with D (the boyfriend) is helping to ease my pain. My heart is so very light right now...

A final trip to White Rock Lake, our "walking" place.

Taking pics of little "tombstone" rocks.

"Our" coffeehouse - specifically because they have killer vegan cookies. Despite the fact that neither one of us is vegan, it is still our #1 reason for coming here. Yes, the cookies are that good.

Good eats here too - chicken salad with salt & vinegar chips. Simple and delicious.

Later that day, to Whole Foods for whole wheat pizza crust - the foundation of our fig-fire roasted tomato-proscuitto-feta-basil culinary masterpiece.

Master chefs.

More to come....

The Beauty of This Moment

2010-01-11T18:37:00.000-08:00

This is a quote from some song I really love, I can hear the particular lyric in my head but I'll be dammed if I can remember the name of the song or the artist. Whatever...the point of this is, here in these last few weeks as my time in Dallas grows smaller, I'm simultaneously stressed out with the last minute tidbits of moving the last 5.5 years of my life from a state that celebrates the "bigger is better" aesthetic to a place where $2K/month might get you a 400 square foot apartment, if you're lucky. And I have never been so excited in my life.

While this move has been a long sought-after goal, it's the coming together of so many elements - independently - that are truly like an aligning of the stars. The right time...the right place...the right opportunity...the right career...the right guy...all mixed together with my uncontainable sense of constantly needing to "rock the boat" and keep myself on my toes...only this time on steriods. (The situation, not me.)

Flying out to NYC in 2 days for "business" matters...back to Dallas for one last tying up of all loose ends...then loading up the U-haul and heading on out come January 28th...I can't believe it's really happening. The beauty of this moment...(bleep)...why the hell can't I remember the name of this stupid song?

My Xmas Wish List

2009-12-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

In light of a recent Refinery 29 blog post on fashion's most obscen ely expensive gifts, that got me thinking...I've been good this year. My expectations are reasonable, yet I still keep my expectations low as this is definitely going to be a "budget" holiday season for me. Considering a move to Brooklyn in January, a temporary (but highly enjoyable) gap between full-time "day job" work as I transition to my new destination, and simply the expenses of everyday life...yeah, I'll be doing quite a bit more "fantasy" shopping vs reality shopping. So to those of you on my gift-receiving list, prepare for the year of handmade DIY goodness (I promise to be creative this year, no handbags allowed). And in the meantime, I can still "fantasy" shop for myself...

Entire John Galliano Spring 2010 collection (click here for more - gotta love the runway music)

I want all of her shoes (images via The Cherry Blossom Girl)

This bolero is just a little too much something...it's plastic-coated polyester...and the gal wearing it in the pic is named Pixie. What the hell, throw it in my shopping cart. (Designer: Kay Desmond)

No wedding bells in the near future for me (as D breathes a sigh of relief) - but there is something about this Titanium and Bois de Rose Wedding Band by Zoe and Doyle that just resonates. I think it's a groom's ring...but those little trifling details are irrelevant to me.

A fab statement necklace with a nod to Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Which has incessantly been playing in my head going on 3 weeks now. (Necklace by This Ilk)
Green metallic mini skirt from Rodarte. Mmm...yeah, on second thought...the whole wrinkle-tastic getup. These guys are amazing.

Living the Moment

2009-11-20T17:51:00.001-08:00

Trying hard not to wish away the time right now, because there is so much delicious change going on, it's one of those rare, cataclysmic times in my life where I feel like I'm shedding a skin and evolving into the next chapter of my life. And I want to be so fantastically aware of every single second of what is happening (even the scary moments) because through the highs and lows of making such a drastic change - uprooting everything I've come to know over the past 5 years and starting the next phase in Brooklyn with D and my business - there is a deep calm that can only come from moving one's life in a direction that feels as natural as breathing. And I've had that feeling since day one of making the decision to move out there 5 months ago. Gotta live these moments, live every single millisecond if you can remember to - they only come along a few times in life.

So to tie me over (and keep me in the moment) I like to ponder over images like these below - they're all from periods in my life that, when I look back, I wish I'd lived just a little more in the moments that I was in these places or doing these things. A good way of reminding me to Be Here Now:

Red wall from my very first Dallas apartment. There is just something so immensely satisfying about a red wall, it always made me smile when I'd walk in the room.

Birthday cookies I baked for my 30th. That was a magic birthday.

Coffee table I made with leftover pieces of a bed frame and quirky Ikea legs. Before I discovered sewing and handbags, I knew I wanted to make things; doing these types of DIY projects was helping me get closer to the answer...

More red objets d'art. The red ladder that has followed D and me through several apartments, the chest of drawers he spray painted with Rust-Oleum for me as a surprise, since he knows my love of bright colors and shiny objects.

Walking at White Rock with D, he found a...well, not quite sure what it is. Baby tomato? I remember he was leaving again the next day for NY, and I wanted a photo that would remind me of how perfect the day had been...so I took a pic of our little "tomato". And I can still remember the perfect bliss of that day when I see this photo.

Biscotti involves so much labor and time to make. But one of the most immensely pleasing things for me to bake (and I'm good at it!)

My green Passat - we were destined to find each other. According to the manual, it rolled off the assembly line same day as my birthday, and was from Michigan. I miss this car.

New Year's Eve last year - walking with D at White Rock, fluffy hair, 70 degrees out...

...followed 2 days later by this. Texas, I'll miss your violent weather mood swings.

I'm always "in the moment" when figs are involved.

Inspiration for the Week

2009-11-16T11:30:00.000-08:00

I came across these images over the weekend - well, "stole" from someone else's collection of inspiring images might be a more accurate way to describe it. My good friend Dee, who I can always count on for inspiration with her own photography, is amassing a "lost and found" of images she came across on the internet by unknown artists. In her words (and I couldn't have said this better myself) they're meant to "reflect my thoughts, inspire me to dream and create Art." Only in my case the last part would say "create handbags." Enjoy, go forth...and create!

Complete and utter lazy contentment on a Sunday morning. What I dream about now and anticipate come January.

Someone once told me that earlier versions of my handbags reminded them of cupcakes because they were like colorful little confections...I still relish in the reference.

What I tell myself at 4am when I'm still sewing with no intent to stop.

Looking forward to having someone to eat breakfast with soon.

Dresses made to be accessorized with a Lolafalk.

Winter Jones

2009-11-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's because I spent the first 27 years of my life in the cradle of the rust belt, maybe it's the fact that the holiday season is fast approaching...or maybe it was just the arrival of the November edition of the Anthropologie catalog in my inbox a couple weeks ago...but I have got the the worst jones for winter going on right now. Living in Texas with its 70+ degree temps that carry over well into December doesn't help, although there is that part of me that thinks I should enjoy this last so-called "winter season" down south, since come January I'll be fighting the arctic chill of Brooklyn. I suppose in the meantime to get my fix, I can put together my wishlist from the Anthro catalog and enjoy these pretty winter-centric pics:

Anthropologie Catalog Novembe r 2009

Bjork

tawniwold - Etsy.com

Anthropologie Catalog Novemb e r 2009

Anthropologie Catalog Novembe r 2009
These boots are an early xmas present to myself. I was a good girl this year.

Anthropologie Catalog Novembe r 2009
And these shoes may be next on my wish list. I was really good.

Central Park in winter. I'll be there next year!

And if you want a real glimpse into what I'm looking forward to come January, check out this video that D made last year of the first snow day in Brooklyn. It always makes me tear up a bit, but that's probably cuz I miss him.

Random Thoughts on the "What If's?"

2009-11-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across this blog the other day and fell in love. Missed Connections is a collection of random entries from various "missed connections" websites, curated by the talented artist Sophie Blackall. Her focus is primarily on chance encounters that take place in the NY metropolitan area, and she accompanies each selected entry with one of her own drawings that perfectly captures the longing, hope and humor that go hand in hand with these serendipitous situations - and I know I'm romanticizing the crap out of this, as I'm sure there are plenty of creepy connections out there...but reading Sophie's blog lets me bask in the fantasy of chance encounters with fairy tale endings.

So of course this gets me thinking about all the potential missed connections that could've happened in my life. Nearly 3 years ago D and I met in the last place I'd ever expect to meet the love of my life - a crowded, smokey bar that neither one of us really belonged in - and I like to think for that very reason we locked eyes across a crowded room and eventually (after 30 minutes of I look at you, you look away - and viceversa) made it over to each other to start talking...and haven't stopped since. What would've happened if one of us had lost the nerve and walked away, or figured it was a long shot to meet someone worthwhile in a cheesy bar, or decided to head out to a different bar where people wouldn't be dancing to "Sexy Back" ....these kinds of "what if" thoughts are precisely why I read about other's missed connections and hope like crazy that it's just meant to be.

Love Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

2009-11-06T16:13:00.001-08:00

But neglecting your blog for over a week? Yeah, that's a different story. And I feel pretty guilty about it (a by-product of years spent in Catholic school) but, as usual I have a legit excuse. You see, over the past few weeks I've suddenly morphed into having three full-time gigs: the anonymous "day job" as a marketing account manager, my beloved bag biz, and now...the New York job search (made all the more cumbersome by the fact that I won't actually be living out there until January). Mush all of this together and you can imagine I am one gigantic ball of stress. So please bear with me...and if you know of anyone in the NY metropolitan area hiring an entrepreneurial-minded fashion-centric quirky self-starter with a solid background in marketing account management...give me first dibs.

Everyday is Halloween

2009-10-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Not just a great song by Ministry, but a philosophy to live by. Now, it must be stated up front: I am not one of those live-and-breathe-for-Halloween types; most Halloweens I've spent chilling at home without the least awareness of this alleged holiday (with the exception of this unfortunate Tinkerbell-from-Middle-Earth episode several years ago). That being said...I am amused by the display of complete ingenuity, creativity and (at times) downright tacky inappropriateness of this occasion, at least from a sideline observer standpoint. And so, in homage to the fabulous, wildly original and decidedly distasteful costume depictions that can only be considered acceptable this time of year, I give you a smattering of the best (to me) Halloween costumes seen thus far from an inspired little website called WTF Costumes. And come the night of All Hallows Eve, while most gals are either trick-or-treating with their kids or using this as an opportunity to showcase their inner sexy school girl/kitten/nurse/French maid/nun/sanitation worker/fill-in-the-blank, I'll likely be donning my decidedly less sexy seamstress costume while inhaling copious amounts of Jelly Bellys. My perfect Halloween...and pretty much my perfect everyday.

Everyone's favorite meal on the cheap in college.
Image via WTF Costumes

Oh look...it's another video of a drunk guy on YouTube.
Image via WTF Costumes

Looks like a tense moment during the Showcase Showdown.
Image via WTF Costumes

Just make sure no one tries to shake you or tip you over.
Image via WTF Costumes

Blonde Ambition

2009-10-23T08:42:00.001-07:00

How fitting that I came across this posting yesterday, considering that later in the day I would be sitting in my hair stylist's chair and giving my 1+ inches of dark roots a platinum royal treatment that was shamefully months overdue. Although I neglected to take "before" pics, take a look at a previous "after" pic to reference the magic created by hair stylist extraoridnaire Dee. As grungy as dark-roots-gone-wild can sometimes be, there is about a 2 week period between when those pesky dark strands start sprouting up and when you've gone full-fledged Courtney Love - and that 2 week grace period results in the perfect balance of edgy-chic-yet-still-classy-platinum blond loveliness. Which is why, on the spectrum of blondness that is the subject of this post from Refinery 29, I feel I fall somewhere in between the Avant-Blondes and the Guitar Smashers.

If you're a blonde babe - natural or (ahem) not quite - check out the Blonde-O-Sphere and see where you fall. Heck, even if you are non-blonde check it out...chances are there is a little Courtney Love in each of us, be you a blondie, brunie, jet black or bald.

My Latest "Aha!" Moment

2009-10-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

While doing my Saturday morning blogroll reading catch-up, I came across this posting on the Style Defined blog about Katie Gallagher 's collection from NY fashion week (and yes, I am more than a little behind on my blog reading). If her name sounds not yet familiar to you, just know that she is considered amongst the fashion intelligentsia as one of the young "up and comers." Refinery 29 recently included her in their post "The Six New Designers to Watch Now." As for me, I love not only her collection but also her personal style, and of course that means I have another crush. Especially when she sums up her design philosophy in a way that makes me wish I'd though to say it first because it so strongly resonates with what I'm trying to do as I evolve this thing I refer to as my "designer identity":

"I don’t believe that fashion is the end goal; stories, personalities, moods, ideals, and attitudes are. Fashion, when executed successfully, communicates these attributes quickly and eloquently."

I love this kind of conviction because it just fits with me. Everything I've tried to do in the year and a half that I've been at this has always been guided by intuition. And I feel that if it's coming from a place deep within you that is so authentically you, so much so that you have no doubt or question (or choice) about doing it any other way - then it results in exactly what Katie so perfectly sums up in the quote above. An "aha!" moment indeed.

A Hypocrite Indeed

2009-10-14T13:20:00.001-07:00

My favorite types of blogs to follow are those that offer a bit of quirky insight into the people writing them, which is why my objective with this blog is to give my readers a peek into who I am beyond just being a handbag designer. And this is specifically why I avoid using said blog as yet another means to (yawn) plug my business. People know about this "thing" that I do, and if they don't or want more info about it, there are plenty of links on this page to lead them to where they can get more info. I'd rather use this as a place to express my love of figs, to share the work of artists that inspire me, to go on and on about Brooklyn and, of course, to pay homage to my Vogs.

But...I am sometimes a hypocrite, however only in ways that would never harm anyone else and only once in a blue moon. Like right now. And so I need to post one shameful plug about my business, but only because I have been waiting (no lie) 8 months to be featured as Handbag Designer 101's "Designer of the Day." And as we speak, I'm sitting in a stark grey cubicle at my (yawn) day job right now, and I can't woop and holler like I really want to, so the next best thing is subjecting my (very understanding) readers to this bit of hypocracy. Please forgive. And click here.

Jumping for Joy

2009-10-12T13:02:00.001-07:00

The weather in Dallas over the past week has decided to morph into full-fledged Fall, which is only fueling my excitement for the changes to come for me in the next few months (and possibly sooner, based on a recent - and fortuitous - turn of events that I need to keep mum about in the name of discretion for other parties involved). I know I annoy the heck out of my blog readers by being cryptic about my plans (as though they aren't kind of obvious, if you've been following previous posts). It's not my intent to be coy, I'm toeing the line between wanting to gleefully shout out the news to anyone I pass on the street and keeping a lid on things that are somewhat certain but not yet set in stone, hence I don't want to prematurely "spill the beans." The only thing I will say (to dispel any suspicion) is that it has nothing to do with the ringing of wedding bells or the changing of poopy diapers. It has more to do with an unexpected occurrence of events that has me feeling like I have just woken up from a 3 year nap and now have a brand new lease on life. And realizing that everything happens for a reason (even if it takes 3 years to come to fruition). Which is cause for me to want to leap in the air, much like this gal in the pic above (and that reminds me...I really need to start finding some proper winter-weather gear...)

Can't wait to be able to share the news, hopefully it will be very soon.

An Ugg-Tastic Opportunity To Win Some Fab Boots

2009-10-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

My friends over at Whooga boots have an ongoing "Win Free Uggs" giveaway and I wanted to give a little shout out to it because hey, who doesn't like free stuff? Now I must clarify that these are not the brand UGG Australia (which is actually an American-owned brand); they are authentic Australian ugg boots in the true definition of the word. The term 'ugg boots' refers to a style of sheepskin leather boot; it does not refer to a brand or particular manufacturer. All said and done - if you're like me, you want both style and comfort - particularly in the upcoming cold weather months when a pair of boots like these will keep your feet toasty warm. These boots are also biodegradable and recyclable, which makes me love them even more. And better yet...if you win them, they're free!

Click here for details on how to enter the monthly giveaway.

I Was Doing So Well...

2009-09-28T12:02:00.001-07:00

...keeping up with this blog, but lately things are getting crunchy pertaining to other realms of my life and my postings are becoming fewer and far between. Frustrating, because being the control freak that I am, I am accustomed to tracking - with laser-like precision - what's going on with every aspect of my life at all hours of the day - sort of like having a homing device on the 10 or so random activities/projects/plans/dreams/schemes I have in play at any given moment; I know where everything is at and can track with (relative) accuracy where things are (more or less) going to go next.

But I'm treading in deeper waters now. It's getting murky. And I know this is the name of the game when you're embarking on something that I suppose could be described as life-changing (or at the very least, "life-shifting".) This is what I signed up for when I decided it was time to make this change, embarking on a metaphorical cliff-jumping if you will, as that is what I always picture whenever a person does something representative of living a life less ordinary, like perhaps uprooting themselves to leave a place/situation/lifestyle that has become too familiar, stagnant and uninspired in exchange for something completely new, foreign, uncharted and (for these very 3 reasons) absolutely what I need to do.

It's crunch time.

Four Season Girl

2009-09-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the first day of Autumn, and while that doesn't mean much of a change weather-wise in Texas I still find myself excited with the official designation of a season change. I grew up with true four season weather and while I loved the variety in temperature and occasion to update my wardrobe on a regular basis, the long, hard Midwest winters started taking their toll on me and a little over five years ago I decided to do something about it. Now, five years of living in Dallas is starting to take its toll on me...and I find myself yearning come September for that old familiar crispness in the air, the crunch of dead leaves beneath my feet as I stroll outside, bringing out the down comforter at night...and just that overall romantic feeling that comes with the kind of weather that makes you want to stay in, be cozy and wear stuff like this (although I'd probably be more likely to wear this stuff out rather than stay in):

Tubeway Armies Arm Warmers - gayeabandon

Birch Tree Collar - Ellita

Sage Green Leg Warmers - youmeyou

Brown Cabled Beanie - artish

The Pealady - AbigailAdams

Living in Dallas I never felt I had reason before to bother with shopping for Fall clothes...but things are changing, much like the seasons...

Rain, Rain Go Away

2009-09-14T08:02:00.001-07:00

The weather in typically-sunny Dallas has been so drab-tastically dreary for the past 3 days, and while that's cause for most locals to batten down the hatches, draw the shades and eat lots of soup, I'm finding myself in a state of nostalgic bliss, remembering days - no weeks - of gray skies and drizzly rain from back in my Rust Belt era. And so, as I toiled away in my studio this weekend to a steady soundtrack of rain tapping on the roof and gutters, I began to conjure up a playlist of rain-themed songs.
The cool thing about playlists like this is that they span all genres of music - you're going to hear all kinds of interesting stuff when it centers on one topic. Enjoy, and feel free to contribute any of your favorite rain-themed selections in the comments section. Just no "It's Raining Men."

Click here to hear the playlist.

London in the Rain - Variety Lab
Rain - Madonna
Rain - Breaking Benjamin
Let it Rain - OK Go
I Wish it Would Rain Down - Genesis
I'm Only Happy When it Rains - Garbage
November Rain - Guns N' Roses
Purple Rain - Prince
Here Comes the Rain Again - Eurythmics
Rainy Days and Mondays - The Carpenters

Bonus: Blame it on the Rain - Milli Vanilli

Fig Love

2009-09-11T08:00:00.001-07:00

Although "fig obsession" is probably a better way to describe how I feel about these delightfully bite-sized syconia of scrumptiousness. So deep is my love of figs in all forms (fresh, dried, preserved, pureed, grilled, roasted marshmellow-style over a fire...although that last one didn't go over as well as I'd hoped) that I've developed what I call a "fig recipe radar" - the ability to find an abundance of wonderfully unique and appropriately artisanal recipes that pay proper respect to la figue. And my radar has been in hyper-drive of late, so today's post is dedicated to sharing some perfect-for-Fall fig-tastic recipes that I plan to try over the coming weeks:

Fig, Hazelnut and Buckwheat Financiers with Fig and Champagne Sabayon
Don't be fooled by the name, this has nothing to do with people involved in managing finance; financier is just a fancy word for an über-decadent cake. Brought to us by Aran of Cannelle et Vanille (whose blog I adore - click here for my previous post on her work). And as for what sabayon is...ummm, click here.

Fresh Fig Tart with Rosemary Cornmeal Crust and Lemon Mascar pone Cream
Found on Epicurious; with a 3.5 out of 4 Fork rating, something tells me we can't go wrong with this one.

Figs with Honey, Almonds and Spice
Scroll down past the Italian to get the English version. And this is my kind of recipe - simple ingredients and prep, with an utterly elegant result. Image and recipe courtesy of Alessandro Guerani for Foodografia.

Happy figging!

Yes Indeed, I Fit the Profile

2009-09-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

I am a woman (last time I checked)...and I like shoes. For someone like me who strives to go against the grain and stand out in the crowd (and sometimes tries a bit too hard, admittedly) I am indeed that cookie-cutter, stereotypical gal who obsesses over shoes. And I make no apologies. I'm only sorry that I don't have more money (or any money, for that matter) to spend on them. And so...I guess the next best thing is to share my latest objects of lust with you, fellow readers. And for any of you out there in the same financial straits as me (i.e. you can look but you can't buy), feel free to post links to your "wish list" shoes in the comments. It would feel good to know that there are others out there "suffering" like me...

Esska "Heat"
One of my fave shoe designers, but they're in the UK and only have (very) limited styles available outside the country...such a shame!

"Tinkerbell" ballet flats by Spirocreations
So, so pretty and delicate. I'd be pirouetting like a ballerina all day in these...

Esska "Moon"

Custom Blueblack Derby Shoes by zerkahloostrah
Going through a menswear phase right now, but I've always loved classic derby shoes like these, with a slightly-boxy toe. Oh, I want, I want...

Lookbook.nu

Custom Red Retro Platform Pumps by Zerkahloostrah
So funky! And so perfectly vintage-looking, not like anything I've seen before...

Esska "Mind"

C'mon guys, hurry up and get a store going over here in the US already!

Back from the Borough

2009-09-03T09:49:00.001-07:00

I went, I saw and I said my last goodbye to the city I love. As I'm more of a visual gal rather than one prone to jibber-jabber, here are some picture highlights of the many aspects of this final vacation to Brooklyn (and surrounding areas):

Prospect Heights (just down the street from where we stayed)

Farmer's Market at Grand Army Plaza

Reinventing bruschetta (with peaches) for dinner one night

Blue doors found strolling around Red Hook

Coney Island

Carroll Gardens (our fave 'hood)

Baked bakery in Red Hook

Treats from Baked

Old train car in Red Hook

Ensalada caprese for dinner one night

Fig, pear & manchego for dinner (same night)

Windy pier at Coney

View from Central Park

Pupusas, tamales, orchata and Jarritos from Guatemalan vendors at Red Hook Park

More Guatemalan goodness: rellenitos (plaintains stuffed w/ black beans, topped with sugar. So, so yummy)

Rainy morning in Grand Army Plaza

Red Hook neighborhood strolling

Falafel-stuffed pita from street vendor near Coney. Awesomely good.
Windsor Terrace neighborhood strolling

Saved the best for last: fig/almond cookie from Brooklyn Farmer's Market. I love my figs!

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

2009-08-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

I'll be taking off to my favorite place in just a few days to see my favorite person in the world, in what I cryptically like to refer to as "my last vacation to Brooklyn." While you're chewing on that thought, here are some pics that will give you an idea of why I just simply love this place.

Posts will probably be few and far between over the next week or so, but rest assured I'll have plenty of better pics to share once I'm back in a week.

And good luck getting that Beastie Boys song out of your head.

Park Slope

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Heights

Grand Army Plaza

Park Slope

Lazy Bones, But For A Good Reason

2009-08-23T20:07:00.001-07:00

OK, so I've been totally lax about posting of late...but with good reason. Now, as a rule I don't use this blog as a means to blatantly promote my business, but rules are sometimes meant to be broken and in this case...it's some big (bleeping) news! I've spent the past week putting the final touches on a very big and special project which has finally come to fruition...my official website! And so, rarity of rarities, I am giving one ridiculously shameless plug to the biz. Please, if you have a moment, check out the new site and let me know what you think!

www.lolafalk.com

Yay!

Featured Artist: Emilie79

2009-08-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

As is typical with me, when faced with evaluating the work of an artist that leaves me speechless and enchanted, I am full of visual cues and abstract descriptions but fail to come up with a crystal clear way of articulating how the artist's work makes me feel. And so it goes with a photographer that I discovered while absently clicking around on Flickr; her dreamy, surreal, grainy Polaroid images are like long forgotten memories that somehow come alive again via glimpsing a random everyday object or facial expression...there is a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia in her photos, although I have never seen the people or visited the places that are in them. And juxtaposing some of the images with the most appropriate of song lyrics creates a visual experience that is just...pure...magic.

Here is a bit about Emilie in her own words:
I was an 80's kid. I grew up with a classic 1000 Polaroid camera that my parents used to have, like all 80's parents. It was so much fun. But then it broke, and I never heard of Polaroid again. The name was but a vague reminiscence of childhood to me.
It wasn't until November 2006 that I rediscovered Polaroid, through Flickr - more or less randomly, as I'd never really been into photography before that. It was love at first sight. Didn't even take me a week before I ordered my first SX-70 off e-bay.
I've been quite simply addicted since then. It's been 2 years and I'm not tired yet. I will keep shooting my film with the same passion until the last pack.

There are far too many of her photos with which I am enamored to feature in one blog post; fortunately her Flickr page will give you the full gamut of ethereal beauty she captures with her beloved Polaroid cameras. Please click here to see more.

And thank you Emilie, for letting me share.

(Untitled)

340 and I, a love story

Washing Machine

Will you ever return?

Hard Days

Holga

Ghost

I will fight time and bring you back

Je pense, donc je suis...

Once

Poor Ophelia

Rue Dômat

The Earth is

Violently Happy

This is how our story ends.

If You're Having One of Those Days...

2009-08-12T13:29:00.000-07:00

...or like me, one of those weeks - then I highly recommend checking out this gal's food styling portfolio. The sight of these gorgeous culinary masterpieces created by Aran Goyoaga was enough to get me out of my storm-cloud mindset, so hopefully they will do the same for anyone else who is feeling in a funk. Enjoy! And for daily doses of her to-die-for food photography, check out her blog Cannelle et Van ille.

Images courtesy of Cannelle et Van ille.

Zodiac Voodoo

2009-08-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

I've had astrology on the brain this past week and I think it's primarily based on the fact that I'm feeling really impatient for some changes to start occurring in my life - changes that I'm in the process of frantically and furiously working into fruition, however in spite of my best efforts they are taking their sweet time in revealing themselves. So in these "darkest of hours" when I'm seeking answers, I turn to the mighty wisdom of...my daily horoscope. Here's what's in store for me and my fellow Pisceans today:

Your words have almost magical power today -- as long as you're being indirect. Asking someone for a sandwich has the usual effect, but if you compare their eyes to fireworks, anything could happen!

Ummm...yeah...OK, let's just say some days this isn't the most reliable form of wisdom for me. Perhaps yours will be better; click here to check out your scope for the day.

And back to the subject of all things Piscean, here are a few fish-affiliated faves found on Etsy:

1.Annabelle (Limited Edition Archival Giclee Print) - JessicaDoyle
2. Wall Art Home Decor Murals Vinyl Decals Stickers Fish--Carp 3 - Walldecor
3. Gothic Pisces long necklace - Crushjewels
4. Zodiac Kids PISCES - AnomalyJewelry
5. PISCES SKY BLUE AND GOLD HAND PAINTED ENAMEL BANGLE - SymbologybyJJ
6. Discovery - print 4x6 - Brettisagirl
7. Pisces are Dreamy - Marmar

Frida, Part Deux

2009-08-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

As referenced in last Monday's blog post, the inspiration behind my recent Frida-centric state of mind is an incredibly captivating photo tribute to the great artist undertaken by my talented photographer friend Dee, and as promised here are the pics to back up that inspiration. I must admit, I'm at a bit of a loss for words to describe how these images move me. Perhaps it's the fact that the real Frida lived a life with much heartache, physical pain and emotional upheaval (as channeled through her artwork) yet for all her corporal and emotional suffering she cut a stunning, curious and spellbinding beauty. I see that mysterious and transfixing beauty in these photos, via the lovely Christina Ariz (who I would argue even "out-Fridas" Salma Hayek), and feel an inspiration one step beyond the real Frida. Enjoy, and thank you Dee for letting me share. For more pics, click here.

My very favorite (above)...

...or perhaps this one. I can't decide!

For the Love of Chie

2009-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

Chie Mihara, that is. Not fibbling when I say I love each and every shoe in the line, although the platform thong pseudo-boots below kind of make my toe cleavage wince.

Suma Leather Ankle Heels

These below might be a little more in line with what my toes could handle. I am a Mary Jane gal at heart. And such bright, pretty colors...

Clari Mary Jane Shoes

Gail Mary Jane Pump

Alegra

For more Chie zen, click here and here.

Project Wayward

2009-08-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

So I was going for a play on "Project Runway" in the title and this is the best I came up with. But it resonates, because while handbag design and construction is my...ahem..."bag" if you will, clothing design and production most certainly is not - not yet, at least (wink). So in the interim I'm resigned to taking existing garments in my closet and retooling them to my specifications. And when I say "retooling to my specifications", I mean finding some way, shape or form to incorporate my most favorite - favorite - material in the world: taffeta. I plan to devote an entire post to the subject of taffeta in the near future, complete with pictures of classic 80's prom dresses, and I may even throw in a pic of the bridesmaid dress I was forced to wear to a family wedding back in '94 - complete with a bouffant-style hairdo that would've been the envy of any woman 60 years my senior (I was 17 at the time). Hot stuff!

So here are the results of Garment Retooling Experiment #1: the cargo skirt. Foolishly I didn't think to take a "before" shot, so I had to find an image of a similar skirt and draw in the pockets for demonstration purposes. Before commencing with the embellishments, I took a long look at this drab, boring, olive green number and knew without a doubt that the only saving grace it had would involve something very red and very shiny.

Enough jibber-jabber. Here are the results! And I know these pictures are heinous...the cave-like "charm" of my studio is not the friendliest of photo-taking environments. I promise better pics next post.

Frida-centricity

2009-08-02T19:56:00.001-07:00

With no planned post for today, and feeling extremely bored last night, I decided to troll around on Etsy to see what struck my fancy. I've had Frida Kahlo on the brain of late, as my photographer friend Dee just finished her latest project - a breathtakingly hermosa homage to the great artist - and I can't stop thinking of bright colors, flowers and abstract images. (And once I get her permish, I'll get a post up with some of the awe-inspiring images she captured.)

So here are a few items from some favorite Etsy artists that resonated for one reason or another with my Frida state of mind. ¡Qué te disfruta de verlos! (Enjoy the view, and my questionable Spanish.)

1. Frida ring, brass and rhinestones by ElvesGarden
2. The New Edge 8x10 print by PeggyWolfDesign
3. Cherry Red Hair Clip by WashingtonApple
4. Bloomsbury Long Necklace by Tamar
5. Unique, unequaled, special...or am I just a freak by BestArtStudios2
6. Wooden Desk Planter by ErdeDesigns
7. Ascension Necklace - A Tribute to Frida Kahlo by RosyRevolver
8. Mini Poppies by Poppychicdesigns

I Want a Bike, and Other Cosmic Musings

2009-07-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am a strong believer in signs and also in unconsciously manufacturing your own destiny. I have some big changes coming up in the next 6 months that will be revealed when the time is right; in the meantime, all I can say is that for this big life shift I am in the process of making happen, it feels very zen-like in a "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear" sort of way. Bits of signage in support of the mission have been popping up here and there without provocation, and the latest beacon from beyond has been showing up in my blog feed reader with uncanny repetition. I speak of course of la bicicleta, and the only hint I'll offer regarding how this ties to the changes to come is that a bike is going to come in awfully handy...(image above, courtesy of Bike Snob NYC)

In the meantime, enjoy these lovely posts I've come across from a few of my favorite blogs, all in homage to la bicicleta:

Bicycle Fashion Photography and coordinated bike fash io n from the blog Painfully Hip
Me and My Bike from the blog Garance Doré
London Cyclistas from Riding Pretty

And here are some pics to give you an idea of my bicycle state of mind:

Image courtesy of Riding Pretty

Image courtesy of CopenhagenCycleChic

Image courtesy of Chicks and Bikes

Image courtesy of HungarianCycleChic

Image courtesy of Chicks and Bikes

Image courtesy of Riding Pretty

And of course, I'm open to bike model recommendations from any bikeophiles out there (of a similar style to those in the above photos).

Gigantically Excited

2009-07-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

I love finding out about great new bands, artists and designers that, while they may already be successful in their own right, are new to me, and it seems like the very best discoveries are ones that come to me in the most unexpected of circumstances. And I'm here to talk about a band that I just found out about from Brooklyn (sigh) that is just...incredible. I "discovered" them via reconnecting with a very dear friend that I haven't been in touch with since high school (rest assured it was quite some time ago) who is 1/5 of the group. So awesome to reconnect with this friend who I remember from one of the coolest periods of my life, even cooler to see him still doing something that he loves to do and kicking ass at it.

I'm terrible at describing music in terms of genres; I'm not even about to attempt that here. Just roll with me and take a listen for yourself here to (what I would describe as) the introspective, anthemic, soundtrack-to-the-indie-movie-that-is-your-life-esque sounds of Gigantic Hand and their album Permanent Skin. And thank me after.

Eddie - my old high school bud and guitarist for Gigantic Hand

Can't wait to check these guys out live in Brooklyn when the time comes. For info on the band related to shows, music and the latest news, click here to visit their MySpace page.

Moto-Centric State of Mind

2009-07-24T11:34:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it's the proliferation of motorcycle-esque fashion updates that have been parading my inbox of late, but I've had this unconscious desire to start "toughening-up" the current state of my wardrobe. Although I would say my dalliance into the trend of moto-fashion is more along the lines of "hog-inspired" rather than full-blown motorcycle mama...case in point, my latest boot acquisition, which might not pass muster with the Harley crowd:

"Made" from the Nine West Vintage America Collection

And then this got the wheels turning in my head. If all the fashion biggies are hot on this trend for fall, what's the indie/handmade market's take on it? A few faves I found browsing Etsy under the category "motorcycle:"

Red tartan plaid faux leather sun burst motorcycle jacket

BettieBlues

SL 350 motorbike heather grey shirt

Slowshirts

Black leather cuff with sterling silver riveted accent
Thebeadgirl

Aqua motorcycle jacket
ThrashinThreads

Vintage Marshall motorcycle boots
MotherMidnight

Artisanal Snacking a la Española

2009-07-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Not sure if that title is grammatically correct so native Spanish speakers feel free to call me out. But let's focus first on the delectable dish that is the star of this week's Artisanal Snacking post, straight from a tome that is the cooking equivalent of the bible within the culinary church that is my kitchen: Classic Spanish Cooking by Elisabeth Luard. It is chock-full of recipes that are waaaayyy off the beaten path - delightfully rustic, pastoral, countrified dishes that are the foundation of authentic Spanish cuisine, as discovered by Luard in the many years she spent living in and traveling across the Spanish countryside.

I won't lie - as much as I love the book I will likely never cook half the recipes that are in it, mostly due to the fact that they involve ingredients that I don't think I could handle "handling" in the kitchen: pigeon, chicken livers, tripe, oxtail...(gulp). But I've been cooking and eating my way through the "safe" half of the book with the utmost zeal, and there is one recipe in particular that I keep going back to, each time making it more spicy and pungent. It's almost as though I'm in a competition with myself each time I prepare it, asking "do I dare add more garlic/onions/pepper/sherry?" The answer is always a resounding, "um, yeah....duh." That is how the "kamikaze" version of this recipe was born.

Enough chit-chat. Here is the straight-up recipe for "Ensalada de mariscos" (seafood salad) from the book, followed by my modified "kamikaze" version that should only be undertaken by those who really love garlic and onion-y flavors (and don't mind reeking of it for days after). Prep directions for both are the same. Buen apetito!

Ensalada de mariscos:
1lb mixed cooked seafood
3 scallions or fresh green onions, thickly sliced
1 red or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sherry or white wine vinegar
salt and freshly milled black pepper

"Kamikaze" ensalada de mariscos:
1lb cooked shrimp
1 entire bunch of green onions, thinly sliced and
chopped a bit, so as to further release its pungent, onion-y aroma
1 red and green bell pepper, seeded and diced
6-8 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3-4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
4 tbsp olive oil (extra virgin is best)
2-3 tbsp sherry
sea salt and fresh black pepper

1. Pick over seafood and make sure all pieces are more or less the same size. Toss with the rest of the ingredients.
2. Leave the seafood salad in the fridge to marinate for a few hours or overnight.
3. Serve with fresh bread or (my favorite) water crackers

.

My Heart, My Vogs...

2009-07-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

So I have news - BIG big news.

For those who have been following the blog since day one, you'll recall the dedication of my very first posting to the holy grail of my life known as Fluevog shoes. And you'll also note that my love of Fluevogs for the past few years has been for the most part unrequited. Not because Fluevogs are selfish or withholding mind you...I refer to it as being unrequited for the simple fact that I've been too poverty-stricken to afford the essence of fashionable quirkiness that is a pair of Vogs.

And by now I'm sure you can guess what my BIG big news is. Yes dear readers...I finally bit the bullet and bought my very first pair last week! So intense is my excitement that I have spent the past 5 days with them propped up on my sewing table for creative inspiration, simply just to look at them and revel in the fact that I FINALLY have a pair of my daydream fantasy shoes. I have put the strict rule on myself to not wear them outside the apartment until they have been properly treated and "Lola-proofed" (i.e. protected against my uncanny ability to attract scuffs, scratches and weird motor-oil colored streaks on any cool pair of shoes I own the moment I step outside).

Ahhh...bliss. And of course, here are the snaps of my first pair of Vogs!

I have the feeling this is only the beginning of my Fluevog odyssey...

It's Crushin' Time Yet Again

2009-07-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have a new crush (sorry Kruges) and this time it started off simply based on location. I tend to crush on any cool designer types who live in ultra-fab apartments in Brooklyn, as this is my ultimate crush city (are you sensing any aspiration on my part here? Ummmmm....no comment). But Brooklyn aside, this gal has some key criteria that puts her into my insta-crush category:

-Lives in Brooklyn (it bore repeating)
-Fashion designer for one of the coolest brands out there
-And a personal fashion and design philosophy that makes me hear symphony music in my head, it just sounds so right

I speak of Lisa Maycock, one half of the design team behind Vena Cava. The Thursday edition of my Refinery 29 newsletter delivered an interview with her that made my all-things-Brooklyn-and-fashion-related heart go pitter-patter. The fabulous apartment; the chic Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction-esque bob; the fact that when asked to sum up her style, she provided this simple, brilliant, quote-worthy nugget that is getting printed out and taped to my bathroom mirror:

"Confuse and Amuse." (cue the violins)

Here are some pics I snagged from the Refinery 29 interview showing Lisa in all her confusing and amusing glory:

Uma, is that you?

Back in my "corporate" days, this would have been my dream interview outfit.

Digging that poster in the background.

Be sure to check out the full interview here.

So I Fibbed...

2009-07-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

...and I didn't exactly post vacay pics as frequently as I had promised while touring Annapolis, D.C. and PA last week. I know, you're crushed. But I was just having too great of a time!

So here is a lightning-fast 360-degree glimpse of my trip, because if you're like me you really can't stomach the monotony of looking through dozens of someone else's vacay pics while hearing the minutiae of every place visited, every meal consumed and every hilarious anecdote that you don't quite "get" because you really just "had to be there."

Hopefully these pics will give you an idea of the flavor and vibe of each place I went. Click on each image for a larger view. And if you want more details on any of the places that I visited, feel free to zip me an email.

Downtown Annapolis:

(For pics of D.C., see previous post).

Gettysburg, PA:

Hershey Park in Hershey, PA:

And some random extras...

Greetings from the Cap

2009-07-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post and some pics from our day in D.C. - having a blast in Annapolis and will post more adventures later this week!

Clockwise from top: Posing in front of the Washington Monument; WWII Memorial; statue of Queen Isabel I; my niece's chic little hot pink fingerless gloves; in front of the White House (unfortunately, no Obama sightings); Washington Monument view from the ground up; Lincoln Memorial.

I'm Outta Here

2009-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Well, at least out of Dallas for the next 12 days, so postings may be a bit few and far between. But I'm off to the quaint and charming city of Annapolis, MD for some much-needed bliss time with the fam and hope to post some pics of the adventures that await, as it will be my first time out there and I'll have that un-jaded, dorky, wide-eyed "wow!" view of everything. My brother, his wife and 3 little munchkins live out there; it'll be me, my beau coming in from Brooklyn and my folks & sister and her family coming in from Detroit - all converging into one big house of chaotic vacay-silly madness (and sharing one bathroom). I can't wait!

Artisanal Snacking: Getting Figgy with It

2009-06-28T18:01:00.001-07:00

Figs are the love of my life (and if my beau is reading this, I'm sorry...but you have to admit you kind of already knew this). And speaking of my beau, it was his sister Christina who provided me with my inspiration for this week's Artisanal Snack. Christina lives in Brooklyn, is one of the most immensely likable people I've ever met and has a lovely and delicate Amelie-esque quality about her. However what I find most impressive about her is the kick-ass urban garden she cultivates from the small window box area of her 3rd floor brownstone apartment. A few pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Kiwi, pomegranate and avocado trees; alpine strawberry plants; mint, rosemary, lemon basil, chives, oregano, and a few others I'm sure I'm forgetting...lush, green and gorgeous - who says you can't garden in an urban setting? An inspiration indeed, and I'm honored to feature the snack that she casually posted about on Facebook last week that left me eager to put my own spin on it. Here is both her recipe and my version:

Figs à la Christina:
Fresh figs
mascarpone cheese
prosciutto
apricots

Cut figs in half and put on a cookie sheet face up, arrange the remaining ingredients on top (she liked the apricots with or without the prosciutto), put in the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Figs à la Lola:
Basically the same as Christina's recipe, except I substituted brie for the mascarpone cheese and added fresh rosemary. The result is a rich and decadent appetizer or light main course. My only caveat is that the prosciutto and brie baked together made for a slightly oilier-than-desired result for me - but I am not a fan of the overly-oily. I think most people would find this incredibly delicious and savory. But next time I am going to keep the prosciutto out of the baking process and perhaps add it after the figs and brie have cooked.

Bon appétit! And merci beaucoup to Christina.

High Fashion via Potato

2009-06-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

I love it when I find a really smartly written tutorial for a DIY-style project that is high on my list of to-accomplishes. And man, did I hit the jackpot yesterday while skimming my Refinery 29 daily newsletter: a crystal clear (i.e. lots of pictures and layman's terms) step-by-step tutorial on basic printmaking - using potatoes! Fingers crossed that it might actually result in something that I can wear outside the apartment that doesn't look like I made it in the dark or after drinking a few too many vodka sodas. A coup in and of itself indeed. And from the looks of the dress that was featured in the tutorial (above), I have high hopes that this will be a winner.

I had heard about printmaking with vegetables before but always thought it sounded kind of fluky and not likely to provide satisfactory results - like when I was thirteen and used Sun-In before going out to the pool and expected that afterwards my hair would look like this, but instead it looked more like this.

The beauty of this printmaking tutorial is that it requires really simple supplies, and for the few odd-ball materials that you'll need there are links for where to buy - so awesome, as I love links that take you to exactly where you can buy said items instead of going on a wild Google goose chase to track them down.

I'm going to give this a whirl and promise to share the (sure to be fab) results in the next few weeks.

An Eco-Friendly Shout Out (and Free Stuff!)

2009-06-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

I want to love the Earth more, really I do. But for those of us who aren't automatically in the 24/7 eco-friendly mindset, sometimes trying to "be green" is a lot like forcing yourself to eat your greens - we do it because we know it's the right thing to do, but we're dragging our heels a bit at the extra effort involved. Sure, I reduce, reuse and recycle but know that there is so much more out there that I could be doing, I'm just not aware of precisely what these other things are (and to be honest, I'm not exactly tripping over myself to find this info). Which is why I love it when I stumble upon enlightening and engaging resources that help me figure this whole "being green" thing out, because eco-friendly acts involve quite a bit more then making the claim "I shop at Whole Foods" (and yes, that is my predominant eco-friendly claim to fame).

And this is also why I'm excited that I have a new favorite blog to follow - Sweet Greens. Fellow blogger Jen covers a wide array of topics through the lens of living a more earth-friendly life in a wonderfully engaging, non-preachy format. From learning about biodynamic wines to finding info about which body care ingredients you need to avoid, Sweet Greens is a wealth of information that's easily digestible (and likely bio-degradable). Oh, and she has the BEST giveaways too - yet another great reason to become a fan of her blog!

Speaking of giveaways, you'll want to check out the great one she's got going on right now - click here for the chance to win a FREE Urban Lola Tote! The Urban Lola is my market bag of choice (and not simply because I make 'em) - perfect to schlep to the farmer's market (or Whole Foods) or quite frankly anywhere. Be sure to visit Sweet Greens for the chance to win!

Ode-to-Dee

2009-06-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

Sounds like a lovely melody, but the title of this post actually refers to Dee - friend and photographer extraordinaire (and also the genius hair stylist behind my signature choppy blond locks), and one of the most delightfully enchanting people I know. I love Dee because she is one of those types of people that has this creative zen about them, just by being around them you feel like you are absorbing this electric current of positive energy and it in turn makes you feel like going out and doing something wildly imaginative and adventurous. I aspire to see the world in the same whimsically curious way that she does, and love that I get a first-hand account of this view through her stunning photography. Oh, and she's also a fellow Pisces - an astrological "soul sister," if you will.

Like many, I'm the type of person that often struggles to express what I'm thinking and feeling in words, because words seem trivial and incapable of truly conveying my thoughts authentically. I can describe my feelings in terms of pictures though - images, activities, metaphors that physically demonstrate what's on my mind. And that is what I see when I look at Dee's work - these perfectly captured feelings of elation, conflict, beauty, introspection, romance, peace...all so perfectly disclosed with her unexpected unveiling of everyday happenings that we usually just let slip by as we get on with our routines.

Two Saturdays ago was my much anticipated Deep Ellum photo shoot for Lolafalk, and with Dee behind the camera of course it was pure zen magic. Here are some images from the shoot, as well as some of my favorite images from Dee's ongoing archive of magical Piscean adventures. To check out more of Dee's extraordinary work please click here.

Out of the Closet

2009-06-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Like many artsy-types, I consider the realm of home decor as yet another medium to express my creativity. I'm a Design Sponge addict; I mourned the demise of Domino magazine (R.I.P) and I love to play pretend-furniture shopping while perusing the catalogs of DWR and Anthropo logie. If it's modern, funky, quirky and colorful (and more often than not, ridiculously expensive) then chances are I want it as part of my interior design scheme.

But being of sound mind, tiny budget and even tinier apartment I must be realistic about how I approach home decor. Realistic and über-innovative. Which is how I stumbled upon a genius decorating idea that I've yet to see gain widespread notoriety, even though I know that surely there are others out there who do it. The idea actually stemmed out of a weird little quirk I have, wherein I buy a really funky new article of clothing (e.g. pair of shoes, skirt, shirt, men's necktie, fingerless gloves - take your pick) and I get so excited about the purchase (which I've likely hemmed and hawed over buying due to a tight budget) that I end up not wearing it for anywhere between 6 months to a year. Yes, you heard me right - up to a year. No judgment, please.

Keep in mind it will eventually get worn - I avoid temporary fashion trends like the plague and what I buy typically has a timeless quality to it - but in the interim, the item inevitably sits in my closet. And quite frankly, that's no way to treat a lovely apparel acquisition. And herein comes the genius decorating idea: clothing and accessories as home decor. Don't envision laundry hanging on a clothesline strung across the living room - think more of a museum-style "curation" of lovely wearable items. Pictures would best demonstrate my point; throughout this post I've included a few examples from my humble dwelling.

Anyone else out there who does this, I would love to see your approach. Feel free to drop a comment with a link to pictures of your approach to "home couture."

Artisanal Snacking

2009-06-15T14:41:00.000-07:00

So Sunday's trip to the farmer's market yielded a big fresh bunch of asparagus, as I've been eager to try the snack suggestion that fellow blogger Preeti of Againbeborn was kind enough to leave in the comments section of last week's post. Her version, "7 Minute Asparagus," is as follows:

Pan fry snapped Asparagus with extra virgin olive oil
and freshly grated clove of garlic, after sprinkling Kosher Salt

Now it must be said that Preeti's version stands phenomenally on its own - definitely a candidate for the Artisanal Snacking Hall of Fame. I burnt the garlic and it was still delicious. I'm still figuring out the fine art of proper sautéing, and I love that she had "7 Minute" in the title of her snack, as that gave me a good reference for how long I should be working the asparagus and garlic. But being the artisanal snacking mad scientist that I am, I couldn't resist throwing a few of my own elements into the mix. I followed Preeti's recipe, then added thin slices of Manchego cheese atop a simple water cracker. And...voilà! I give you "7 Minute Aspara-chego":

Fresh asparagus
Garlic cloves
Olive Oil
(follow Preeti's recipe for cooking the above 3 ingredients)
Manchego cheese, aged 1 year (for a harder, sharper flavor, try the 6 months aged)
Water crackers

I know I'm breaking the "3 ingredient max" rule, but I don't really count spices, oils or crackers as part of the ingredients - those are mere "helpers." As mentioned last week, you are left to your own devices regarding portions and assembly, just be sure to add some flourish and flair with the presentation.

Give it a whirl, you won't be disappointed. Thanks again to Preeti - and to everyone else, don't be shy - leave a comment and share your snack.

When Typos are Beautifull

2009-06-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon designer Agnieszka Swiatly's website late one night after catching a glimpse of this stunning, shingled silk confection on the front page of Etsy:

I can't say what I find the most appealing about her - possibly her use of contrasting textures, as demonstrated in this frock to the left (soft, ethereal silk satin mixed with hard, glossy latex)...

...the fact that she's a fellow Polish gal...

...or the occasional (and in my opinion so very appropriate) misspellings that are sprinkled charmingly throughout her website. These are some of the loveliest translation typos I've ever come across, taken from descriptions written about pieces from her collection. I wouldn't dare fix them:

"Beautifull silk dress with latex strips from Caffe Latte collection. Ideal for oryginal woman"

"It's the most original coat from Caffe Latte collection. I made it of wool with cashmere and latex. Big collar is so charakterystic"

"Black dress made of ( poliester+ cotton+lycra). It's look gorgeus in diffirent colour white,red, violet or black"

These same words (spelled correctly) are used over and over (and over) again in the fashion world to elaborate on designer's collections, it's almost as though they've lost their meaning. I love how these simple words have been reinvented in the above descriptions. How fitting that this designer's gorgeous, innovative, sculptural pieces be accompanied by adjectives that are similarly innovative and unique.

For more on designer Agnieszka Swiatly, her "recognized styl" and "indyvidual approach to every project she makes" (yes!) check out her website: www.a-swiatly.com

I Heart Kruges

2009-06-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

I don't crush on celebrities that often, and when I do it tends to be a crush not so much of the romantic sort, but rather a temporary state of admiration for some random, unconventional thing they said, did or wore. In the case of my latest crush, it is a combination of all 3 of these elements. The crush in question is none other than the lovely-beyond-words actress Diane Kruger (aka "Kruges," as I like to call her; I nickname my crushes as though we were tight). Perusing the latest edition of Lucky magazine, of which she graces the cover, I flipped to the section of her mini-interview (her minerview, if you will) and read this fine pull quote:

"A fancy dress with pockets might be my favorite thing. It's comforting to have a place to put your hands."

Pockets. I may need to change the title of this post to "I Heart Pockets," because I really do. And Kruges understands this. You see, I am in agony when I'm out in public, standing still, in an outfit without pockets. What on earth to do with my hands? I have mile-long monkey arms and I never know quite how to place them, and this amplified self-awareness only makes me more self-conscious and fidgety about it. What are my options?

Crossed arms comes across as
aloof and defensive.

Hands on hips is a bit too
much sassy attitude for me.

Hands clasped in front makes me feel
like I'm slouching and introverted.

Hands clasped behind my
back - what am I hiding?

Pockets are just perfect - giving off a casual, relaxed vibe, a place to hook my thumbs Fonzie-style and a place to stuff the fistful (or two) of mints I grab as I'm walking out the door of a restaurant.

So thank you Kruges, for so beautifully articulating something from which I felt I was alone in suffering. It is comforting to have a place to put your hands.

Artisanal Snacking

2009-06-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

I tend to overuse the word "artisanal" quite a bit, particularly when it comes to describing food, but I think that's because I love the images that the word conjures up in my head . For example, when I hear the word bread, I think of a loaf of Wonder Bread, tied up in a plastic bag, sad and soggy as it sits on the shelf under the fluorescent lights of a grocery store. But if I hear artisanal bread, suddenly it morphs into a gorgeous, fragrant, irregularly-shaped, fresh from the stone hearth, crusty on the outside, soft and warm on the inside loaf of heaven. Much like this beauty in the pic above.

When it comes to all forms of cooking, baking and snack preparing, I'm definitely in the "keep it simple" court. But simple doesn't need to equate to boring or uninspired. And so I've made it my mission to perfect the fine art of what I call "artisanal snacking": preparing little bites of 3-ingredient-max nibbles that leverage simple staples, but staples of the finest quality ingredients and (here's the key part) - assembled in the manner of a great chef (i.e. like a little work of art). Then, if you're me, once it's assembled you spend 20 minutes stumbling around trying to set up your camera to take the perfect picture of it for your blog, curse several times then finally just eat the snack out of frustration. Then you go back later once you've calmed down, recreate the snack and retake the pic. This is the sometimes ugly side of artisanal snacking.

But I digress. This will be a weekly feature, as this is part of my Sunday ritual after a trip to the farmer's market for my staple ingredients. Here is yesterday's snack. Oh, and one more thing - you need to give a name to the snack. So without further pause, I present "Basil Tomatorella":

Basil Tomatorella:
(All ingredients purchased at my local farmer's market)
- Buffalo mozzarella cheese (the kind that is suspended in water, not the vacuum-sealed kind at the grocery store)
- Red beefsteak tomatoes
- Fresh basil
-Pinch of sea salt and black pepper (to lightly season the tomato)

An optional add-in (shown in this second pic) - La Panzanella Rosemary Croccantini cr ackers, available at Whole Foods Market.

I've intentionally omitted how the ingredients are portioned out or assembled, as this is an exercise in free-form artistic creation. Also, please feel free to add your favorite artisanal snacks to the comments section, I'm always looking for new ideas.

Laura Dawson, You Were Robbed

2009-06-07T14:55:00.000-07:00

I love this gal's current line - simultaneously moody and breezily summer-esque. Her aesthetic to me has a slouchy, casual-yet-elegant appeal; I so see myself in this simple white t-dress and boots, if only for the fact my staple wardrobe item is a form-fitting short-sleeved men's-style v-neck undershirt (Forever 21 has the best - and at under $5 apiece, perfect for my budget-conscious ways.)

Oh, and about the title of this post - several weeks ago she was booted off the Project Runway rip-off that I've decided to haphazardly start following called The Fashion Show. While I must admit I missed that episode, I did catch the dress that precipitated her getting the boot - and I really did feel she was robbed:

It has a sort of punk ballerina, gothic-Tinkerbell appeal to it. OK that might not make any sense but the point is that it's edgy, it's risky, it's drama and to me this is what the best kind of fashion, art and design portray. If it's not making you scratch your head and question whether or not the concept actually works, then in my mind, what's the point?

Fluevog's the Word

2009-06-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

So here I sit, contemplating the first blog post. It should be meaningful, profound, a bit of a gateway into who the person is behind this blog. Hmmm...thinking, thinking, thinking. What resonates with me, what do I obsess over, what is the first word that pops into my mind?

Fluevog.

Ah yes, of course. Never far from my mind, due to the fact that I have pictures of his shoes taped up in my studio for inspiration, I have his website bookmarked on my computer (for daily visits), I'm a Facebook fan, a newsletter subscriber, a full-fledged 'Fluevoger' (try saying that fast 3 times in a row) and the mere mention of his name makes me giddy and lightheaded.

But do I own a pair? Nope.

I've been smitten ever since our paths crossed 2 years ago as I was browsing through "The Strip" category on Zappos and my gaze fell on these lovelies:
I've never been the same since. I think about these shoes a lot. No, really - a lot. But when it comes to forking out the cash, I'm all talk and no action. Despite the fact that in the grand scheme of shoe shopping they could be considered affordable given what a pair of Manolos or Choos go for, I just can't do it. I've come sooo close so many times to saying "(bleep) it - just buy them already." I've had these shoes in my shopping cart on his website, credit card info filled out, ready to click "Order," standing on the cliff, read to jump off...then suddenly, a pair of hands reaches out and grabs my shoulders to keep me from sailing over that cliff - and I remember this annoying but critical fact: indie handbag designers are poor - and I'm no exception. There's fabric to buy, thread and needles and eyelets and brass purse frames and vegan leather handles and zippers and logo tags and...and...just like that - these gorgeous, funky, weird little shoes start to lose a bit of their luster, and the thought of a new shipment of taffeta arriving in a few days suddenly makes me giddy and lightheaded.

Sigh. Welcome to my world.

However - this isn't the last you've heard from me Fluevog...