Preppy Love

L-R, T-B

Women's Authentic Original Two-Eye Boat Shoe, Whales by Enormous Champion at Heath Ceramics, Lands' End Canvas, Route 63 Canvas Leather Trim Bucket Bag, J. Crew Vintage Bateau, Kate Spade's Letterpress "Hello" Calling Cards via Crane's, Lacoste Polo Shirtdress, Ray-ban Aviators, Modern Monogram Stationery from Etsy, Mikimoto pearl stud earrings.

Ever since my trip to Boston I've been releasing my inner preppy. I grew up in the Midwest but had a strong sense of the prep aesthetic...mainly because I grew up in (Lake) Minnetonka where all things Muffy and Buffy were worshiped. I had monogram sweaters, Sperry Top-Siders (in both navy and brown), "duck" shoes from L.L.Bean, a "powder jacket", and pink and green Izod t-shirts that I proudly wore with the collar UP. This, and I made braided barettes for a little side income. I experimented in junior high (it was ugly...) and went back to my tried and trues in high school. Only then it was J.Crew and Ralph Lauren, and my uniform consisted of a men's oxford in plaid or chamois, and blue jeans.

My style has thankfully evolved past the full Muffy stage. I'm loving my West Coast punch bright colors and Palm Springs happy tunics with a little NorCal bohemian mixed in. Still though, to this day, I cannot walk by a sailor striped T without stopping. I still wear my Mikimoto pearl studs most days of the week, and I really love a good monogram. Admittedly, I nearly bought myself a new pair of boat shoes on the recent east coast trip. They'd look so cute with my dark blue skinny jeans and...almost. I may settle for the super chic and utilitarian bucket bag from the Lands' End Canvas collection--a special treat, in honor of my new job.

I Heart You: The Art of the Screenprint



This is a little chronicle of my first attempt at silk screening. Last month I attended a workshop at Visual Asylum to create a two-color fine art print. I submitted my design in advance ("I Heart You" won over "Be Kind" on my Facebook Challenge) and the kind peeps at VA burned my screens in advance. I chose a bright, true red and a soft, dreamy blue. There was only one other student in the workshop--he chose brown and the same dreamy blue. His design went swimmingly with mine-"We all have a song" with a bird and a branch.

My very first print was PERFECT, then the blue ink got a little sticky...and, oh well, I created about 20 prints and they are full of charming little (and big flaws). It was SO great. I really loved it and can't wait to try it again. Near the end, we started to merge some of our designs and created some real gems.

Blue

I try to keep this "professional" and interesting devoid of tabloid style commentary. We'll see. Today i'm writing about my favorite color, BLUE. i love blue as a word too. I used to have a T-shirt that had BLUE written in all different languages. Beautiful as kek, bleu, or azzuro. I really am into the Morrocan rich blue that is featured in the recent issue of Elle Decor. Fabrics, pottery and tile. The gardens of Yves Saint Laurent's compound in Marakesh are so gorgeous and SO rich in color. I love it. I told Jarrod we should go there. We'll see.