molly m designs

i don't wear jewelry often. i have one pair of earrings that i wear on a semi-regular basis, but i would wear every pair of molly m designs. seriously. every pair.

EmersonMade

EmersonMade. love it.

sewing up a storm

i've been working in my studio (a fancy word for my slope-floored and poorly lit sewing room) everyday after work. i've been working through some old commercial patterns and trying out new ones. i have to admit, i can't remember the last time i've sewn this much for myself. i sew almost every day at my job and for the last few years, i could only commit to quick sleeveless tops or super-easy, unlined pencil skirts that i could whip up in a couple of hours and still be in bed by 11 pm. i haven't gone so far as to add sleeves to anything i've made recently (it is, after all, still summer for at least another month), but i've been working steadily though a good chunk of my fabric. to keep a log of the things i've done, i'm planning on posting about each pattern and project soon.

as much as i love the satisfaction (and compliments) i get from wearing something to work that i made the night before, i'm beginning to think that it's time i work on some more challenging projects. i'd like to make a grey wool winter coat (and perhaps a copy of the toggle coat below), some well-fitting tailored button-down shirts (maybe one in a soft chambray for the autumn), a pair of jeans that really fits, some wool pencil skirts with anthropologie-inspired details and actual linings. it's time to step my sewing up a notch and work on quality pieces to build my ideal wardrobe.

wants

all from here. and all well, well out of my price range.

wish list

add this rachel comey bag to the list of things you're going to buy for me (but make it a surprise).

summer wardrobe wish list

i'm going to be taking some wardrobe inspiration from the spring/summer 2010 line by allison wonderland. it's got everything i like about summer clothes--high-waisted a-line skirts, cotton fabric, big pockets, and adorable cap-sleeve tie-front blouses. i've been disappointed by my local jo-ann fabrics selection of summer-weight cottons so i'm going to have to search extra hard (and perhaps pay a little more) for the fabrics i really want.

wish list

i wish someone would buy me 100 custom illustrated calling cards from anna of rifle paper co. it's only $100 for 100 cards, $65 for the custom illustration and $40 for the hand lettering.

pretty please?

wish list

this quote bag just moved to the top of my wish list.

wish list

i want large posters of the work of Stephane Massa-Bidal also known as retrofuturs. i am completely seduced by his vintage-styled graphic design. i am guessing his work will be my desktop background for quite awhile.

wish list

sugar ($130)

alcala II ($130)

i've been spending the last couple of evenings going through past issues of real simple (my favorite magazine after domino) looking for recipes. while browsing, i came across these sandals by born crown shoes which were exactly the type of shoes i was looking for last spring. i like the mid-height study heel and cushioned footbed. (plus, the nude colored peep-toes would be great for making my shorter-than-normal legs look longer.)

i'm putting them on my wish list. they might have just pushed knee-high boots from #1.

wish list

this japanese shirtmaking book just moved to the top of my wish list. if only it was written in english (or that my master tailoring instructor, tetsuo tamanaha, lived on the east coast and could translate it for me).