Workin' on the Winda!

Sneak peek progress shots!

grainy shot- late night knitting...

thursday night television proved to be a solid background for knitting madness....

stretch it out!  cozy slips (as in slippers) are a must while working at home on a nice fall night...

additional supplies... what will she do next?!

xo,
N

Knitted Dove

Another great tag... found in Vagabond today... Knitted Dove...

knitteddove.com

Officially Fall, a Coupla Runaway Tomatoes, and Wise Words

To celebrate Autumn, a few snapshots of Laurel Hill Garden's gourds and mums... and some fun at the PHS Festival on Saturday :)

I love this one

"Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose no regret.
Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is."
-Mary Anne Radmacher

xo,
N

Style Muse: Delfina Delettrez

While this may not be the newest news...the more I see of her, the more I love her...so I thought I'd share. 

Delfina Delettrez is a style crush to many and a source of design inspiration pour moi.  She has that European elegance that cannot be taught (it doesn't hurt to be born into the Fendi fam... but she is making a name for herself!) and a unique, bold, clever, sometimes creepy, always gorgeous line of jewelry.
See for yourself...

And check out this beautiful article -from Harper's Bazaar- highlighting her personal style and her apartment a Paris, here.

xo,

N

London Fashion Week: Peter Pilotto

Some of my favorite looks from Peter Pilotto's Spring 2012 show...  Each piece is amazingly flattering to the female form.  The print, color and texture is impeccable.  I want to see these dresses up close!

xo,
N

Crisp air bringin' on the wardrobe wishlist...

Though the 2012 Spring shows are extremely inspiring and beautiful...I must say, at this very moment, I am much more excited for the immediate future.  This slight chill in the air is getting me in a great mood- the crispiest honeycrisps, the first day you need to put on a jacket, furry slippers at home instead of naked feet, hot tea, long walks outside, cozy nights in- oooo I love it all!  Autumn is a comin'!  I don't care how old you are or what your job may be- don't you feel refreshed, like it's the beginning of school again?  We're all winding down from the lazy-but-busy days of summer, settling into our routines and taking a deep breath.  THIS is the time of year I like to make resolutions.  You can really feel the change in the air. 
I'm thinking about ways to cook all of the delicious root veggies coming into season, spending quality time with loved ones, actually staying in to work on the craft projects I've been putting off, riding my bike all over the city, not being lazy- finding a wrench so I can lower my seat and actually ride my bike, taking time to appreciate the natural beauty of fall, but of course- all the while dreaming of my ideal fall wardrobe :)  You have to have something to wear while doing all of that wholesome autumn goodness!  A few of my current faves (some realistic, some dream world- super stretch):

throw these on with anything and everything

a-mazing. cutout. leather. coat.

reminds me of Bye Bye Birdie "How Lovely To Be A Woman"- perfectly oversized.

replacement for my pink reindeer sweater?!

love these rust colored ankle length J Brand jeans

aaaawwesommmme

thin metal frames- perfect little pop of color

cuddle up with a CHUNKY hand knit blanket, a cup o' tea and a good book!

 
Happy Fall, folks!


xo,
N

DVF and Holly

I've been thinking about Breakfast at Tiffany's recently.  I thought about Miss Golightly when I took a little cat nap one sunny day a couple weeks ago- (I wore my eye mask to shield my beauties from the light...and then thought of giving my solid green mask an eyelift...craft idea!...then I couldn't really sleep because I was thinking of other craft ideas...) - and I have seen her everywhere since!  More than one magazine this month has had a blurb about the movie...and then today, as I was looking though the Diane von Furstenberg Spring show- I found this simple dress amongst all of her other prints, patterns and layers.  Simple elegance- effortlessly draped, paired with a little clutch, kitten heels, and a Holly Golightly hairdo!

Diane von Furstenberg Spring 2012 show here

xo,
N

Old City Windows!

As part of Design Philadelphia 2011, I am going to be designing a window display for Old City Windows!!  From the Old City Business Collective site..."Old City Windows seeks to bridge the gap between visual design and commerce by inviting local designers to re-conceptualize storefront windows, collaborate with the business community and create an interactive environment for public participation."
I am THRILLED to be a part of this and cannot wait for all of you to see my design!
I don't plan on spoiling the surprise... but I will be posting inspiration sketches, photos, materials, etcetera throughout the month...  and the window will be unveiled on First Friday in October!  ...with judging open to the public (that means you!) from October Seventh through the Twenty-Third.

Here are a few of the winners from last year's contest:

xo,
N


related links:
Design Philadelphia
Old City Windows
Viv Pickle (the window I'll be designing)

Art Nouveau and Happy People

Today's inspiration: Old French postcards, notebooks and cute packaging...

The first two images are from old postcards I found years ago (at a Bastille Day fair in New York) and just rediscovered.  They're are my favs- I love her hair and bike gear headdress in the first one...and look how weirdly interesting the next one is!
The french notebook is actually new ish (2007).  Check out the very cool website here- beautiful graphic design and I love their name :)
Please excuse the light/ possibly illegible text on the next card- it reads: My Heart Is With You.  Gorgeous artwork by Patience Brewster.
And this just made me smile...I love happy people...I hope they really are happy and it isn't just a marketing ploy...

xo,
N

A Lacey Wolf and Welcome!

Ginger & Velvet post numero uno!  DIY years in the making: refurbished dress form.  I bought this ol' thang three years ago through a Philadelphia University auction...  very very inexpensive, but the poor (de)form was deformed.

A slice of the shoulder to pop her back into alignment, a bit of padding to make this young lady's lower half proportioned to her chest, un-lopsiding the aforementioned top half; and she's ready for a sleeker outfit...

A lover of all things lace and lace-like, I decided to add pieces of crochet, battenburg, etcetera to my Wolf- giving her some added beauty and textural interest.

Et Voila!

 

...though an artist's work is never complete.  I plan on collecting more lace to patchwork around, I want to find an antique drawer pull or tiny metal trinket to screw on to the top, perhaps a touch of thread wrapping on some of the bottom spokes- who knows?! the possibilities are endlesssssss
stay tuned :)

Grazie for checking out my first project!
Many more to come.

xo,
N