Stripes - Wu, WOO!

"Mauve Monday" could've also worked for this post. Another great design of a dress from the Jason Wu for Target line. A light-weight shirt dress, with hidden buttons, capped sleeves, pleated front, and a ribbon sash belt. So soft and sweet for spring. It's pretty versatile in that I can wear it dressy or casual but other than a black or mustard cardigan or black suit jacket...I'm not sure what other cover-ups I'll pair it with... hot pink cardi? gray suit jacket? Both those could work I suppose. As for sewing projects which I posted on Friday... I made some headway on a jacket and skirt this weekend... look for updates soon. :)

Have a good week!

Projects: Vintage patterns

I spent that last two weekends preparing some patterns for sewing. I like to lay out a bunch of projects and cut the fabric, then I'm all set for a few months. I have 6 items ready to sew, and they will take some time to work through. A skirt is easy to do in a weekend, but some jackets and dresses I have planned will take a bit longer. What I'm most excited about in looking at this collection of planned projects is the good use I'm getting out of my growing vintage pattern collection. And I'm still really just scratching the surface.
All these are 1944 to 1969. AMAZING!!!!!
I can't wait to make them and show them to you all. be ready to get inspired, friends!

Have a great weekend-- Happy Crafting!!!
xoxoxo

Homemade Delights: Part 2

The Lemon Cake.
I tried this Martha Stewart Recipe:
http://www.marthastewart.com/632498/lemon-cake

Martha's is very pretty.

But as usual (I also skip/omit/change something), I skipped something -- the whipped frosting. I did make the syrup and glazed the cake and topped it with some leftover lemon slices soaked in the syrup. It was so dense and delicious. Lots of butter (YUM) and citrus-y (lots of Zest! and extra juice too.) The extra lemon juice kept the cake very moist. Sadly, I had to retire my spring-form cake pan as the bottom doesn't fit tight and there was a lot of dripping onto the bottom of the oven which led to a VERY smokey house. :(  But the cake turned out fine. YEAH!!!

Baking is fun and the rewards are fantastic!
Get on Board!!! :)

Homemade Delights: Part 1

I made two sweet treats this weekend. Kettle Corn and a Lemon Cake. It was pouring rain so it was nice to cook and eat some comfort food (ie. sweets :)
Please make this Kettle Corn ASAP! It is easy and really satisfies!!!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup unpopped popcorn kernels

Directions

1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, stir in the sugar and popcorn. Cover, and shake the pot constantly to keep the sugar from burning. Once the popping has slowed to once every 2 to 3 seconds, remove the pot from the heat and continue to shake for a few minutes until the popping has stopped. Pour into a large bowl, and break up large clumps.

Part II: Lemon cake details coming tomorrow...
Have a happy Monday.

Made by Me: Gray jacket

I finally finished it, and finally wore it. I made this gray jacket with leftover fabric from this gray dress. I didn't have quite enough fabric for the pattern so I cropped it and it all worked out. My first major alteration of a pattern. I like starting small and building my confidence :) I haven't tried it with the dress of the same material yet, but perhaps in the next few weeks I'll wear that and you'll be the first to know!!

What are you making today???

I also made some pants from this pattern

Back to Normal

Oh, post-travel blues/jetlag/fatigue is so sad, but only lasts a few days, thankfully. I'm feeling back to normal. YEAH! Feeling like myself again. :) Happy, peppy, and dressed for success! I'm so loving this adorable blue dress from the Jason-Wu-for Target line. I went on the opening Sunday with my pal Deanna. It was a MOB scene. (We were both so happy to be with a friend.) I'd never been in such a wrestling match for dresses before. There was some nudging and some bitchy comments around the racks and the line for the fitting rooms. It was exciting, but tiring as well. I'm finally getting to wear all the cute things I found. I usually try to check out the designer lines Target gets -- some have been good, and some disappointing. This is the BEST! I wish I got more than the 7 items I did, but I got the best fitting items I could get my hands on. And since navy blue is my FAVE for this spring, I can wear this dress with my ModCloth cropped sweater and the sweater with some other dresses I scored... more to come in the next few weeks.
Navy is the new Black!

Details: dark blue brushed cotton, sweet pleats with lace trim; vintage button earrings.

MIA Again!

Oh, so lame. I disappeared for another week. Sorry folks. My 3 followers must've been so sad. Are there other readers out there? Do I do this for an audience? It's a passion project, right? The kind you do out of love and not for glory? Sure. We'll stick with that.  I'm back in LA now after an intense and busy week of work-related travel. Saw great shops, clothes, chic European street-style, art, theatre...and had loads of tiring meetings as well. But back to the business at hand. MY personal style choices for living a fashionable life... Isn't that the theme of this weblog? Well, my advice is to do things you love doing and fill your time with those activities. It brings joy, peace, stress-release, and self-satisfaction. For me, it's all about being creative in all my endeavors. Creative and critical thinking, pushing past the obvious and easy, not being lazy or sedentary (in mind and body), being inspired by EVERYTHING! Is it a mind-set? Can anyone get there? Will it change your life? I can't answer that. I'm no guru.

That is my armchair philosophy/pep talk for the day. Here's my stylish outfit.:) Be well.

Jason Wu for Target sweater, white dress also Target, Miss L-Fire shoes via ModCloth, vintage button earrings.

lovely lace on lace...