Off to the Oregon Coast to shoot Leah’s clothing line with my special girls. It’s been one year since we met at Leah’s fab beach house and I can’t wait to fall into a sea of white with some partners in crime today.
Looking forward to sharing next week~
Have a wonderful and SAFE Labor Day weekend, lovelies…
OX.
Anne Gericke, a German jewelry artist, is amazing. Found her via BeachBungalow8~
So clever! I would imagine it’s a bit like playing dolls when you’re little…so fun to dress up the figures and think of themes for the story inside. I loved making dioramas when I was a kid—shadow boxes are a bit like grown-up dioramas.
I’m feeling the need to make more “Shadow Chic” box jewelry for my Etsy store. I’ve got some interesting silhouettes cut out–they just need occupations and a background to live in. This is the one I wear all the time and it makes me happy.
I’m thinking about bringing some to Brave Girl Camp in October and giving them to women who inspire me…because we really need to remember that “we had had power all along”.
Happy Wednesday, Lovelies…
OX.
Hi, MPG pals–I hope you had a great weekend. We just got back from my cousin’s gorgeous wedding in Gig Harbor, WA… a perfect day for all. I’ve been collecting some fun tidbits for your consumer enjoyment 
Finger Frame from CoolThings.
Something about this skirt that I really love—what a coversation piece! It’s called “North by Northwest” and can be found here.
Fuji’s newest creation—a throw-back instamatic for us nostalgic folks (got a Polaroid for my 12th b-day!)
Lauren Bush has started a company called The Feed Foundation and sells this little gem is on her site. I really love it first of all because it’s darling and second of all, because so much of the moo-la goes to an amazing cause. Check out her gear (and message) here
I’m officially obsessed with this lotion–and also panicking, because I think it’s a not-forever-product…I just might write a letter! I do find myself smelling my own shoulders during the day…luckily, I work alone at the studio a lot.
I found this on a trip this spring to Seattle store called Meadow—great company who makes it: Love and Toast. Gin blossom is my fave “flavor” and I keep it (because it is so, so teeny-tiny) in a side pocket of my purse.
While we’re on cosmetic wonders, this little beauty is the best when your gray peeks out and your appointment is weeks away…like me, whose gray rears is ugly head two weeks (or less) after coloring. It might be time to go lighter…
Find it here.
I found a new blog-land pal who owns a lovely on-line vintage boutique–Vintage Poppies—I am in love with these pillows!
She does an excellent job combo-ing vintage and color. As you know, I’m a color girl.
Have a GREAT week, lovelies!
OX.
It’s called a “micromovement“.
It can change your life in tiny little increments.
What exactly is a micromovement?
“Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy, or SARK as she is known, coined the term “micromovement” as a way to handle procrastination. As she says, micromovements allow her to “still be a procrastinator and also live my creative dreams.” Essentially, micromovements allow SARK and anyone else who uses them to get things done without pressure or stress.”
That said….
Friends…today is the day I decided I wanted to learn to sew.
via.
Yes…those who know me…keep laughing–it’s okay. Really…
I know how ridiculous this sounds.
I
really
do.
BUT…I have decided to make a few changes around here:
1) I will no longer fire up the glue gun when I need something hemmed…curtains, doll clothes, my own shirts, etc.
2) I will no longer make a scary, freaked out face at my kids when they ask me to sew something small for a Halloween costume
3) I no longer will use the lame sentence, “Well…I just don’t sew…there simply isn’t time to learn.”
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Guess what? I dragged my unseamtress-like tuckus to Joann’s today and (gasp) looked through the sewing machine department.
There were indeed a few that looked like you had to have some kind of Ph.D in stitchery to work them…but I did find one that looked like someone like me might be able to figure it out.
Now…as much as I would loooove to own a sewing machine with Hello Kitty on it…( I kid you not)
(found here)
…I don’t think I could take myself seriously hemming on something that looks like it might have a button for some carnival music.
This might be the one (it was recommended to me by a very enthusiastic (“You can DO this”) Joann’s gal)…
I will need to enlist mothers and mothers-in-law for this little adventure, for sure (sorry in advance, ladies)–but I do think a craft store where you purchase it offers a classes…I will most definitely be a “back of the classroom” kid and stay for help afterwards.
Where does this burning desire to put myself in danger of sewing myself to a garment come from, you ask?
As much as I enjoy taking out a second mortgage on my house to fuel the Anthro habit (not really, but you know what I’m talking about), I would love to design and create some items to wear that fit this whole Boho-artist-contemporary- style I’m slowly trying to live into. I think the reason I love Anthro so much is that each piece is so unique and every time I wear something of theirs, the comments are always about how it is creative, fun and original…just how the clothing of a photographer should look, right?
Why not try to make something of my own that might fit in this category? Most likely with crooked seams and botched stitches, but original nonetheless!
If nothing else, the learning process might be kinda fun…it would be such a shame if my kids grew up without ever seeing me sew something (even it is a headband!) for them in their childhood years.
So! Now that we’re making MICROMOVEMENTS (and I mean, eenymeeny steps) toward having a well-loved sewing machine on my kitchen table, let’s look at some fun stuff to make (as long as we’re dreaming big here)~
All hippie chic/boho chic gear from Style Hive:
I would wear this little number below as a shirt over jeans…now does this look that hard to make? Wait! Don’t answer that question…I’m not done living in my fantasy designer dream.
Okay..so that last one is a bit ambitious…love those crocheted flowers—-crocheting, btw, is not on my bucket list..so we might need to just focus on the flower in this one.
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I saw a neat Somerset magazine called “Altered Couture“…
I’m pretty sure if I do anything it will be adding something to a store-bought item…or embellishing clothes I already have.
I like the idea of having lots of ribbon for detailing…
So I think the first order of business will be a headscarf...easy…feminine…lovely.
What do ya think? ‘Wonder if I’ll follow through?
Yeah…..me too.
But, the point is: I’ve always wanted to learn to sew and today I made a micromovement toward it.
What, dear lovelies, is something you long to do do/learn and it just seems too BIG to begin?
Why not, today, make a small micromovement towards the pie-in-the-sky?
My favorite example by SARK is: “You want to travel across the world? Today you should take out your passport and fondle it lovingly.”
I LOVE that! So great.
Begin it! Begin it!
OX.
…sometimes revolve around fabulous interior design.
I’m officially obsessed with my decor projects at Chez Blair…I know I’m driving PH crazy, but I am a MPG on a mission to whip this place into shape. I have so many design crushes, it’s ridiculous—but they all serve as inspiration.
One of my fave blogs Material Girls had this little gem—inspiring, for sure…
“Their journey started back in 2002, when Kathy met Rally Dupps. A backpacking trip through Southeast Asia proved them compatible and an engagement soon followed. Instead of the typical engagement ring, they opted for a six week trip to India. That trip was only the beginning of many more to come for the couple. Travels to Mexico, North Africa, the Middle East, Europe and Turkey soon followed.
When the economy declined, the Dupps packed up and moved to Bali, Indonesia. Their endless travels have inspired their business, Katherine Rally Textiles- a compilation of Batik textiles from Rally, an architect, and Kathy, an interior designer.”
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I think living in 365 square feet of fab design constitutes an UnOrdinary Life…it’s a challenge to be fab when given a postage stamp of a space. This is one of my favorite posts from Apartment Therapy about Beth and her cuter than cute Sausalito Abode.
This was the winner of Small Cool 2010 contest from Apt. Therapy. The international winner was from Barcelona and equally fab~
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Timothy Whealon, uber designer, was featured in Elle Decor and I just loved, loved, loved it.
Yummy kid room…CUTE!
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Robyn Karp (learned about this talented gal on Elements of Style) makes dreamy design scenes for people who love high style.
Yes, another yummy little princess room~
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Things to incorporate into the quest for an UnOrdinary Life that involves good design….
Adirondack chairs (preferably on the beach in front of a vun-der-bar little cottage in a WARM location)
A porch swing somewhere inside the house…(yes..you’ve seen this here before, but I just can’t get enough of it!)
Via the incomparable Anita Kaushal
Larger than life tree house…
…and of course…ANYTHING from Anthropologie…goodness, I’m a slut for that store 
Found a great blog that posted some Anthro catalog images~
I think if I could sum up my style today it would be with this little guy…
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On a totally different note, I wanted to plug my pal (and retreat teaching partner) Elida Field. She has her audition tape for Oprah’s search for a TV host here. I would be grateful if you would vote for her. She would such a great host!
Have a great week, Lovelies…hope your weather is better than ours.
OX.
