Treaured Books

These are a couple of my most treasured books, both of which belonged to my dear mom. Although they are not in the best condition, I think you can definitely appreciate the beauty of the vintage-ness. Also, the illustrations (especially in the fairy tale book) are stunning! They offer up some good fashion inspiration. - S

Ain't no stoppin' my 40's craze!

Without appearing to be too vain, I thought I'd display more photos displaying my new 40's inspired hairdo obsession. I apologize for the poor photography, but it's all I got for now. Let me know what you think. Oh, and of course I've been listening to my favorite 40's crooners all the while (Bing, Billie, and Frank - to name a few). -S

Sweet Deals

The Vogue Vigilante ladies decided to start a KAL with this sweet sock pattern. I had a tough time finding a solid color yarn that was the right fiber & weight & cost. But thanks to the lovely ladies of Gauge Knits, I found this nice Merino Wool/Nylon yarn at a discounted price.
My other find this weekend were these adorable (100% Vegan) Madden Girl shoes found at TJ Max! I had my eye on this brand when I found them online and realized they weren't actually leather. Then, there they were just waiting for me at their amazing TJ Max price. I know I shouldn't be making any purchases, but how could I resist that cute blue button, please! Besides, I know I'll get some good use out of them. And won't they look smashing with my new lacey knee high socks:) -S

Retro-fantastic hair!

I was inspired to try out some new 40's style hair. I rarely take the time to make my hair and make-up look super fantastic, but it's so fun to do. The top two pics I took today after checking out some retro styling tips from Casey Brown's blog. The bottom pic was from a few months ago when my good friend, and most amazing hair stylist, Alyssa, came to visit and gave me that tres chic cut. It was so cute, but without a hair straightener, it was hard to keep up with. I think next I'll have to post some classic high school photos when I had (and still do) a 1920's obsession. -S

Eco-Elf shoes with DIY laces!

I got these comfy Simple brand shoes the other day (which are made with all re-cycled materials) and I loved their eco-animal-elfin friendly style, but I wasn't too crazy about the grey laces. I envisioned ribbony lavender laces. I checked around town, but there were none to be found (thanks, Dr. Seuss!). So I stitched up a pair from leftover yarn (crochet chain stitch).  My friend Aaron very politely said they looked a tad like bowling shoes.  The pink laces are a bit bulky, I'll admit, but hey, they're homemade! I'm still keeping an eye out for some pretty lavender ribbon. Here's what the shoes looked like before and after the DIY makeover. --L

Hoo's calling?

Here's the other side-- sleeping owl. I also added a beak that looks more like a nose to the "awake owl" side. I've never embroidered before but I can tell it would be a fun little art/craft to get into. I did this while watching Little Dorrit on Masterpiece which I'm LOVIng right now! --L

Owl Cozy

Here's my first, very simple attempt at knit design-- a cell phone cozy! I also wanted to try out the owl cable. Can you see it? Next time I'll use a solid color yarn so the owl will be more visible. I'll have to make it bigger too, since it's a wee bit too tight for my phone. --L

Elven Treats

During my browse through the chocolate isle at Whole Foods today, I came upon these adorable chocolates! I'm a total sucker for buying things based on their packaging, but come on, this is too cute for words! It's also pretty tasty. I think it's that Norwegian elf in me that finds these so enduring. -S

Latest knitting project

Here's a little glimpse at the beret I'm working on. It's called the Druidess Beret and was created by Anna Bright of England. Her free pattern is on ravelry.com. (a wonderful website for knitters and crochet-ers around the world). I'm about halfway done and I've already learned several new techniques, including bobbles. I hope I finish it before Spring is over! --L

Ring-a-ding

I currently have my heart set on a rotary phone costume for next Halloween, and these pictures have certainly provided some amazing inspiration. Could it possibly be too early to think of Halloween, I think not. Especially since I was unable to celebrate this past year (car broke down, etc.). From the top: vintage photograph (source unknown), Inside a Black Apple print, telephone book dress (designer unknown). -S