Catch Up: February in Phone Pix

I'm sorry, readers; life has been crazy lately (not necessarily in a good way). I figure the best way to recap is with the cell phone photos I've been taking (marco-blogging at its finest). In roughly chronological order.



I got my new pink glasses (they are a bit pinker than shown here). So adult, but I like them.



For Valentine's Day Michael gave me roses and cheese curds. Because he's the best.



We went out for dinner on the 13th and I curled my hair.



I've been very crafty lately. I taught myself to wire-wrap beads and use headpins, these will be in the shop soon.



I also knit this hat with a pattern I made up myself. I might sell it in my Etsy shop in the fall. I'm knitting this same hat in green now, but sans earflaps.



I'm also making my first dress. I'm probably about half done with the muslin. I am going to use this fabric.



Last week I framed up my business certificate, just need to hang it in my study.



I painted my nails a new color this past weekend, MacArthur Park from American Apparel. I really like this color and it matches my couch!



Tuesday I took the Metra out to Joliet and sat at the top, something I don't think I've done since high school. I got anti-depressants...I'm now taking a generic of Wellbutrin. February has been especially rough for me and I finally decided to try medication. People have been more supportive than I thought they'd be, which is comforting.



Nevertheless I'll always have kitty cuddles to cheer me up. :)

Wavy Pixie

I love my hair right now, I really do. I love how versatile and low maintenance being a blonde with a pixie can be. But as I've had this hair style/color for almost a year I'm starting to get a wee bit bored. I rarely keep a hair style or color for a year or longer. I'm not thinking of anything too drastic, but since I curled my hair a few weeks ago I've been thinking of growing it a little bit and wearing it wavy. Right now I'm leaning towards an asymmetrical 'do. Here's some inspirational photos; the first is probably closest to what I'm thinking but I figured I'd post them all.




kind of long for what I'm thinking


this is an updo but still along the same lines


maybe a transition cut?

I'm also thinking of just cutting the sides short and leaving the top long, but I think that might make me look too poofy up top and asymmetrical might look more flattering on my face. It will also grow out nicely (I hope!). Plus if I get sick of it I can just cut it back into a pixie.

Curly Slu

Last week I had the urge to curl my hair. I inherited from my mother a 1/2" curling iron that still works really well, and since I've been dying my hair (and because it's shorter) it doesn't curl as well as it used to even though I have naturally wavy hair. I really like the way it turned out and once it's hat weather I plan to style it this way more often. It had an unexpected vintage look to it (and at first the top/front had a pincurl look). I'm gonna try growing my bob out a little bit and maybe have my part more dramatic so I have some asymmetrical curl action. What do you think?

Oh and here's my obligatory picture with Seymour.

2011 In Review

I'm so sorry, blog, I've been bananers busy this holiday season (and I'm sure I'm not the only one). I've mostly been ignoring NYE, partly because I don't have any plans and partly because I've been catching up at work. However on the last day of the year I'm forced to reflect a little. These were my goals for 2011 from my old blog, let's see how I did.

• Travel! Travel travel travel. I started tearing up on the bus to work this morning, frustrated at how badly I need to leave Chicago for a little while. Ugh.

I definitely did this, go me! I went to Nashville in March, Philadelphia in October, and Michael and I laid the groundwork for a trip to France and Spain in June 2012!

• Sew my first garment from scratch.

So close! I did buy a sewing machine and take two sewing classes this year, and I received a pattern book for Christmas.

• Try to relax, be less insecure about myself and my relationships, and remember that I am loved.

As hard as 2011 has been for me at times emotionally, especially with a lot of my close friends moving, moving in with Michael and our relationship evolving, and making friends/losing them in a matter of weeks, I do feel a lot more calm about my relationships with others. Therapy has played a big part in this.

• Get my driver's license, or at least renew my learner's permit.

Nope!

• Spend less money on clothes and more on experiences and pampering myself (massage, anyone?)

I still buy a lot of clothes (though, ones I actually wear AND I've gotten rid of a lot of them) but I have been pampering myself more. I think it has helped my mood and it's really nice to think "I earned this treat for myself."

• Maybe get another kitty friend for Seymour!

I still want to, I was going to right after Michael and I moved. Maybe after we get back from Europe.

Looking back at these make me feel really good; I gave myself a few positive, life-improving, realistic goals and I met almost all of them!

Goals for 2012:

• The ones I did not do in 2011 (sew a garment, get a cat, try to drive).

• Try to successfully expand Branchbound with metal jewelry, wooden jewelry, knits, and hand-sewn goods.

• Blog more often; take outfit photos on my awesome roof.

• Start running again in the Spring and try to keep at it.

• Purge even more, organize and stay organized, try to live a little simpler (from the woman who bought 5 pairs of shoes this week...)

• Make it a point to go on at least one date night a month with Michael because we deserve to get out of the apartment and have a wonderful time on occasion.

Pretty boring...but what is the point of resolutions if you can't even attempt to keep them?

Wishing you all a happy end of 2011! What are your resolutions? What are you doing tonight for New Year's Eve?

My Life Right Now In Webcam and Phone Pix

Sorry blog, I've been meaning to write! Life has been incredibly stressful and tiring the past two weeks, and I haven't had a lot of down time to sit and update.

I'm already getting in the groove of holiday shop-updates. I'm doing a craft fair mid-November and then the Etsy rush begins so I need to be on my toes! I am going through all of the lace I've amassed, I have tons and tons of lace that I've been either waiting for seasonally, like these snowflake earrings:



...pieces that might not work as jewelry that I've been meaning to turn into brooches, or Christmas ornaments! I'm selling lace ornaments in sets of three, and I'm excited to announce that half the proceeds will be donated to the ASPCA after they all sell. I am very passionate about animal rights and I felt especially compelled to donate after having a scare about my kitty, Seymour. Thursday was a really rough day for me; he may or may not have a lump on his back, and the vet did not have time to examine it during his annual check up.

Anyway, I've also been getting more brass and silver findings to incorporate into my work. I'm always looking to make more smaller earrings and here's a new design I'm rather smitten with:



I just have lots and lots of ideas for new lace jewelry and accessories, and I'm always interested to hear what colors or any other suggestions you have for my pieces. My winter palatte, besides black, white, gold, and silver as usual, include hot pink, ice blue, red, burgundy, and forest green.

I've also taken up knitting for the shop. I just completed this headband, my own creation (pattern and all!):




I'm in the process of a second one, and I've had a few requests for baby-sized ones too. Knitting is perfect for me to work on when I need a break from jewelry, or while I sit with the boy and watch tv.



Like the other day, when I still had some lingering bad feeling from a stomach flu. Wonder Years on Netflix and a simple project to knit in the round is a great way for me to veg out and still feel like I'm accomplishing something. ;)

Last but not least, last Saturday I took a sewing class and made this pillow:



It has a zipper and everything! I'd love to make more, and I might also take a tote bag class there, too. The purchasing of my own machine is highly possible in the near future, once I have time to stop all this crafting and rearrange my study! And I need to get on that, too, I don't know how I'll be able to navigate my study as is when I'm flooded with holiday orders.

What have you been working on lately? What has been inspiring you?

From The Rooftops, Shout It Out

Sunday we finally got some sunlight in Chicago and I took this opportunity to take some shop photos on my roof! Michael and I moved here in August and didn't find out about the roof until about two weeks later; I ran into my neighbor and he asked if I'd been on the roof yet. When we had our housewarming party half of it took place up here and it's frequented by our guests. My building is 4 stories high and the tallest on my block, and since I'm closer to the loop I have an amazing skyline view.



If you're friends with me on Facebook you've already seen this one. I'm wearing my awesome new tee from Blackbird Tees. I did a trade with Jody (the female half of the company); I wore it in some shop photos and I sent her some earrings so she can do the same. I thought the pale colors and lacy design would go perfectly with my jewelry!

Anyway, here's some snaps of the afternoon, Michael goofing around, and our amazing view!











Don't forget, today is the last day to enter BailyBelle's Giveaway!

Longest Jacket Review Ever

I love a good leather jacket. I've been able to appreciate the style since I was 13. I was with my mom at Marshall Fields and it had been a few months after she had been diagnosed with cancer. She found a leather jacket she liked that fit her well and was flattering. She bought it, saying she was treating herself. I think it ended up being her last treat to herself but she wore it until she couldn't leave the house anymore.

After she died I wore the coat for a few years, including a few very memorable events, but have stopped wearing it since it was a bit long for me since I favor cropped styles. My dad gave the coat to his girlfriend last year and she wears it now. I like how my mom's last treat has been worn by two women close to her after she passed.

But I digress. Since I was looking for a cropped style I was fortunate enough to come upon a cropped vintage leather jacket while thrifting...for a mere $3! There were some flaws that I never repaired (because if you're going to wear something beat up it should be a leather jacket, right?). In the past couple years though it's been showing its age in a less favorable way and I figured it was time to look once more for an outwear staple.



I was hesitant about getting a faux-leather jacket but once I tried this one on in the store I was sold. It's from Old Navy, believe it or not (though I like solid pieces and more and more of my wardrobe seems to be coming from there). If you're vegan or not sure you want to invest a couple hundred in a leather jacket (though I would if it fit me as nicely as this one without tailoring) this is a good buy. I like the stretchy waist, and trust me, after wearing a few different kinds of leather jackets this one feels pretty nice for faux leather (not garbage bag-ish like some jackets). The only thing I wish it had, because I live in Chicago and want this for all of my coats, is a zip-out liner. However, this has kept me dry in the rain and warm in the wind and that's good enough for me.

There's something about wearing a leather jacket...it's luxe but still adds a touch of "badass," kind of like wearing some killer boots. I like it with jeans and tall shoes; makes me feel like I own the world. I like a leather jacket with a dress, it tones down my usually over-feminine ensembles.

I'm also just kind of obsessed with outwear. Being warm is important for me, and I'm little but busty so finding a good jacket can be really hard. Needless to say I am also ogling another of Old Navy's new coats, as a toggle coat is missing from my collection...

Let's Try This Again

For some reason I cannot fathom returning to my old blog after an extended, unintentional hiatus caused by a too-busy-to-be-enjoyable summer, so here we are.

I guess blogging became a chore at my last one, something like how it must be a fashion/lifestyle blog. Chicago is not a kind city for the fashion blogger, at least half the year's attire is for survival. And if you work 40 hours a week forget taking outfit photos before work (and days off were not stylish, just jeans/boots/sweater or pajamas). Summer is a little better; cute dress and sandals, but unless I wore a different dress every day of the summer that would get repetitive too.

I don't pay attention to runway shows, and by the time I see one I like it has been regurgitated by at least 5 other blogs, so why bother sharing it once again? I liked doing my wishlist posts, but sometimes my wishlists can be so obvious (plain bag, tights, some expensive dress, maybe some Etsy jewelry, shoes I can't walk in).

My goal for this blog is to follow that trite adage preached at blogger conferences, "be yourself, find your voice." This blog will have some elements of the old blog; an outfit post when I feel like it, shop updates, wishlists. But I hope to also use it to aleve some of the seasonal affective disorder I feel affecting me already, even though it's only the second week of September. This blog will be more personal. There may be a few posts like this one, blocks of text musing on my latest antisocial mood. More camera phone photos (since that's pretty much all I shoot with). Product reviews here and there (I shop so much, why the hell not?). Photos of things I do on my days off assuming I ever leave my house again.

You know, things like that.

Thanks if you've come here expecting me to be "real," because you like my taste, think it's funny when I'm mad on Twitter (instead of completely bonkers), find some part of my life interesting, whatever.

xo,
SL