Stripes & Floral - For You Chloeee!

Stripes & Floral - One Of My Favourite Combinations!

A few days ago Chloee (one of the British bloggers that I follow and adore)  www.unwrittenhollywood.com *check her out!*  was saying she purchased some floral slipper shoes and asked on Twitter  "What can I wear floral pattern slipper shoes with? Been wanting to wear them for days but I can't seem to style them!" 

This was a perfect opportunity for me to extend one of my favourite 'mis matched pattern go to's'  So I chimed in "Why with STRIPES of course!"  To which the lovely Chloeeeee (as her Poppa likes to text to her) *teehee* replied "I've never tried it!!!"
Not that this is anything so original or anything...I don't want to come off sounding as such, just one of my favourite looks, so I was happy to share it with someone who, in my eyes, has such impeccable style! 

That being said I promised her I'd send some photos her way of some of my floral/stripe combos.  One that I did NOT include is my floral skirt with striped shirt..I also did not include any of my cardigan looks...or shoes. I stuck with the scarf/shirt combinations as I was pressed for time after working a long, hard day and this is all I had time to come up with.  

As you'll see I'm a bit of a scarf hoarder.  I have wayyy too many and so one of my resolutions for this year was to 'downsize' my scarf collection and NOT PURCHASE SO MANY in the future.  I did, however, just purchase one from Kohls (as it was only $15 and I had $10 in Kohls cash, thus making it a mere $5..and I really liked it for spring/summer and I don't have anything like it colour or pattern wise)  *Do I sound like I was trying to convince myself that this was a 'valid' purchase??* Probably because I WAS!  

So, here we go..enjoy..and please if you have any pattern combinations that are not so 'matchy matchy'..do send your links my way!

This is my favourite striped shirt..black & white classic from Forever 21 - $18  Floral infinity scarf - Macys $38

Black, red & turquoise square scarf  from Forever 21 - $12

Ragged & worn hot pinkish floral scarf - WetSeal *clearance* $5

Antique floral scarf  Forever 21 - $14

Another favourite striped shirt cream & navy from Forever 21  - $12,  Navy & coral floral scarf  $12
Forever 21

 This is one of my favourite finds from the antique shoppe last year!  At only $5 I couldn't resist! It has stripes AND floral built right in!  The great mint, navy & coral colors are perfect for spring  and this light material makes it perfect for summer evenings on the run..pair it with a basic white t or navy tank and some gladiator sandals and you're good to go!  

Even in the summer I still pile on the scarves..I just go with one of my smallish, very light neck scarves!  I generally find these at antique shoppes or charity shops & yard sales.  All of mine are vintage which makes me love them even more and at only $2, $3 or $5..you really can't NOT buy them! 

Antique shoppe find - scarf from France $5

Antique shoppe find - $5

 This great pink, yellow & light blue scarf is the newest addition to my collection.  I picked it up at Kohls for $5.  I am excited to incorporate this one into my spring/summer 2013 wardrobe, possibly with a striped mint 3/4 length sleeved shirt or a mint cardigan...and a splash of navy. I love mint & navy together!  

Newest addition - Kohls $5 (after using my $10 Kohls cash)

Show me your favourite combinations of patters or colours !!!

Thank you for visiting my blog..and please leave a comment below!

*Angi

where i blog - inspired by Ellie!

Here is 'My Space' BEFORE renovation:

 

 



 

 

 

 

 And Here Is My Space...After

My 'Space' - To Get Creative, Get Inspired, Get Motivated..To Make Shit Happen!

So I decided to make this post after I came across www.elliesfavouritethings.com and her blog post about 'where she blogs'  I liked her honesty when she said "There's no further excuse, I'm just really nosy"  Her space was interesting and by her own account very cluttered..but cluttered in a good way, if that makes sense.  Her space was a nice reflection of her..she seems to me to be very dimensional and her 'clutter' reflects that!  Ellie encouraged her readers to 'share their space' ...so that is what I am doing (enjoy Ellie!) and I am going to encourage YOU (my followers) to please share YOUR space and link me to it! Because just like Ellie..I'm a bit nosy too! 

I however, have to have a clean, non-cluttered space to 'create' in.  This mainly comes from being in a tiny apartment up until the house purchase last year.  In the apartment we were on top of each other and had very little space, there was clutter everywhere..I felt trapped, couldn't breathe...wanted OUT!  

As soon as we found our home it was decided that the back room, off of the kitchen that leads to the backyard, would be 'my space'  I affectionately named it 'the music lounge' as it would be the spot where I could go and listen to my music, practice my guitar (which I need to do more of), harmonica or stylophone. *If you like David Bowie..SEE BELOW*   It would also serve as a makeshift yoga/pilates studio and my place to do anything and everything creative which mainly is connected to my photography projects.  

I collect vintage and modern lomography cameras and I purchased a Daylab last year so that I can do negative transfers...which make quite artsy little prints on unique art paper.

So here is my space...where I blog, shoot & edit videos, meditate, listen to my records and do a bit of hula hooping while I watch and RE-WATCH any given Pretty Little Liars episode.  Yeah, I'm ADDICTED!

My work space...where I blog & browse! 

My Mid-Century Modern Cuckoo clock, a few of my favourite cameras - I've got a bit of a 'habit'

Bird on a wire photo string

Ipod station for listening and viewing anything purchased from iTunes,  $20 torso for blog posts!  Eames rocker, speaker set

Turntable - TV area, books, Jackalope mount (toy version) of course!  

Turntable & Receiver, harmonica, glass plate collodion in frame and stylophone (see below for details) *especially if you are a DAVID BOWIE fan!

$50 MCM chair from yard sale..so big and comfy, perfect for a good book!  Some of my vinyl collection, $5 MCM record storage cabinet from the auction and Buddha to keep me centered! 

Shadow Boxes - Holga, Buddha and some of my British bits! - God Save The Queen!

Books on the outside...Vinyl on the inside!

I bought myself this guitar for my Birthday last year...I'd always wanted one..More vinyl.

This Room 'before' was DISGUSTING! It had brown indoor/outdoor carpeting, dark wood paneling and dirty ceiling tiles.  Everything in here is brand new from floor to ceiling to bamboo wall covering!  I found these nifty "green" wall tiles from http://www.inhabitliving.com  I felt like they gave the room a real  'music studio' feel.  They were NOT cheap and they were NOT easy to install..but luckily I have the smartest, most hardworking,  artist boyfriend who loves me enough to get them on the wall....PERFECTLY I might add!

My 'Art Wall'..If you have a postcard or a cool photograph you'd like to send me, I'd LOVE to display it here!  The three photos to the far right are from 'friends' I've never met who let me display their prints.  Tako from Canada, Thomas from France and Tharun from Indonesia.. Post card from Rachey of www.allthingsrachy.blogspot.com

*

Stylophone = Happiness



LEARN ABOUT THE STYLOPHONE HERE:  

The Stylophone - The Stylophone is a miniature analog stylus-operated synthesizer invented in 1967 by Brian Jarvis and going into production in 1968. It consists of a metal keyboard played by touching it with a stylus — each note being connected to a voltage-controlled oscillator via a different-value resistor - thus closing a circuit. The only other controls were a power switch and a vibrato control on the front panel beside the keyboard, and a tuning control on the rear. 

The Stylophone also appears on a few better-known commercial recordings, most notably David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and "Slip Away" and the commercial rave single"Stylophonia"The Stylophone is also listed as being played by Jack White on the 2008 album Consolers of the Lonely by the The Raconteurs.

.Photo printer, A camera I never use, my beautiful TLR Yashica 120 (works perfectly!) Many books, a photo collaboration book I did with some friends in other countries, a *glass plate collodion photo* made by my manfriend,  headphone, awesome video camera & some apple love!

LEARN ABOUT THE COLLODION PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESS HERE:

Many fine art photographers also use the process and its handcrafted individuality for gallery showings and personal work.

 The collodion process is an early photographic process, invented by Frederic Scott Archer. It was introduced in the 1850s and by the end of that decade it had almost entirely replaced the first practical photographic process, the daguerreotype  "Collodion process" is usually taken to be synonymous with the "collodion wet plate process", a very inconvenient form which required the photographic material to be coated, sensitized, exposed and developed within the span of about fifteen minutes, necessitating a portable darkroom for use in the field. 

Bottom left:  My Daylab!

LEARN ABOUT THE DAYLAB HERE:  
 Superior optics, and built-in filter pack, the Copy System Pro isThis unit has superior optics and is the finest unit for imaging from prints! The Copy System Pro is the perfect accessory for digital photography. Simply take you digital images and print them onto 4 x 6 prints. Then in just 60 seconds your prints are captured onto a 3x4 Polaroid or fuji print. The Copy System Pro works from flat images up to 4 x 6 or even limited 3 d objects. Make quick copies over and over and explore the many creative uses of the Copy System Pro If you are interested in the Artistic Form of Image and Emulsion Transfers with the Polaroid 669 peel- apart color film then the Daylab Copy System Pro is your creative tool. This unit will allow you to take any 4x6 print or limited 3D object and make Image and Emulsion Transfers onto other mediums. Watercolor paper, silk, and any porous material for Image Transfers or glass, porcelain, tile, and plastic for Emulsion transfers.

I'm going to do a blog post on some transfers I've made using my Daylab system! 

Show me where YOU blog...!

I hope you enjoyed your tour of my 'space' & if you have not checked out Ellie her page is:  http://www.elliesfavouritethings.com

*Angi

December Purchases Part I

Dress Me Up In Cozy Tee's And Warm Knits

December was unseasonably warm here in the Midwest so I took full advantage of it by layering up vintage, destroyed tee's with knit jumpers & cardigans daily.  I have somewhat of an obsession with black t-shirts I can't seem to get enough of them.  Especially when they are the softest cotton that has been worn in and somewhat destroyed.  The softer the better!

Most of these goodies are things I picked up in earl December, but me being me I fell behind on my blogging with all that was going on before the holidays.  All of these items have been in pretty heavy rotation here lately as I decided to do a thorough clean out of my closet.  Ridding myself of items I knew I would not utilize in the next few months.  I have to say it does feel quite liberating to go to my closet and NOT be faced with an over abundance of choices.

Mustard Jumper - Forever 21, Destroyed Owl Tee - Forever 21, Black & White Knit Colour Blocked Cardi - Forever 21,  Union Jack Knit Pom Beanie - Primark (UK)

                                                                                         

Giant Spike Necklace - Forever 21, Six Layer Necklace - Forever 21

Polka Dot Knee Socks - Forever 21,  Cozy Cat In Bow Tie Tee - Forever 21

These socks go great with my Chelsea boots & tights!

I loved the destroyed look of this forever 21 shirt...and it's so very soft!

I bought this cardigan extra big so that I could take advantage of layering it up during the cold months.

After the clean out and review of my closet I decided that I probably won't be buying anymore jumpers or knits.  Although there was a studded & spiked black cardi that I had had my eye on since early December and I did pick it up last weekend (photos on my next blog post)  Spring items are out in the store and I have a feeling I'll stock pile spring dresses to wear into the summer months and then utilize with tights and cardigans next fall.  One spring item I do have my eye on is the very pricey, but VERY stylish Matiko Sharon Perforated Bootie!!

If I end up purchasing them they will be in rotation quite a bit due to #1 the cost and #2 the fact that they will go with so many cute spring outfits...even basic skinnies & plain tee's with minimal OR statement jewelry will be given a stylish kick with these babies on my feet!  *Can you tell I'm talking myself into this purchase ...slowly, but surely*

*Angi

Winter Critter Buffet

Nom Nom Nom - Critters Need Yummy Snacks Too!

Seeds...Fill The Trays...Frozen Seed Treats...Ready For The Critters To Enjoy!

So lucky me!  Our new home is a virtual critter sanctuary and everyone knows I LOVE CRITTERS!  With winter upon us and snow quickly piling up outside, I worry about all of the cute little squirrels, birds and rabbits who frequent our yard and trees.

I found a fun activity in a kids magazine last year and decided to give it a go.  Basically you take an ice cube tray (I got mine at Forever 21 for $4.00 and it's shaped like stars) some bird seed and or nuts, some water and some string...and VOILA!  A critter buffet fit for all the little kings & queens of critterville who reside in my backyard. This is something fun, easy and quick you can do to help the animals during the winter. 

These are great treats that the animals can nibble on while they are still frozen or as the weather warms a bit the ice will begin to melt and drop the seeds onto the ground for the critters to find.

Place the ice cube tray on a plate for easy transfer to the freezer...Pour the bird seed into the ice cube tray (a little over half full)

Seeds, Ice Cube Tray & Plate

Pour seeds into try

I used my regular feed that I put 

into my bird feeders year round..you can use nuts (shelled) or any feed that you may have lying around.

I make the treats for the squirrels, birds and rabbits..or any critter that needs a snack. I don't discriminate, I love all critters the same! 

Just make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after touching any feeder or surface where birds may have been! 

Leave room for the water!!

Ready for the water!

Pour some water into the ice cube tray until the water line almost hits the top edge and the seeds begin to float

Take your pre cut string (I used some friendship bracelet cord) but you can use ANY string or ribbon..or if you want to just sit the snacks around your yard you can leave the string out) push the string down into the bird seed.  You can also take one long piece of string and run it across the length of the ice cube tray so that you are able to string 2, 4, 6 or 8 feed cubes from one branch to the next. (See Below)

Add your string or ribbon...or leave it out if you prefer!  They're YOUR snack treats...do whatcha like! 

Place the critter snacks into the freezer and let them freeze until done

Take the critter snacks out of the freezer, pop them into a bowl and take them outside to hang on the trees and place around your yard.

Frozen snack treats ready for nibblin'

Sit back and enjoy the critter show as they eat the yummy snacks you've made for them!

Thank you Angi...eeeek eeek eeek!!

Let me know if you make some snack treats for the critters in your yard!  I'd love to see your creations.  And remember..ALWAYS be kind to ALL animals and teach your children to do the same! 

*ANGI