Well, here we are at the unofficial end of summer, beginning of fall weekend where we all unplug, run out and enjoy summer’s last little pieces before having to worry about bringing a jacket and scarf along. Of course this means my “Super happy summer music” series is ending so I thought I’d add all the songs that I wasn’t able to get to in time. They all make me smile and remind me of the these last few days of summer. Enjoy!
When I lived in Chicago I took the train to work everyday and on my walk from the train to the office I passed by this curious looking cellar door on the ground level of a slightly questionable looking building. There were no signs, save for one small wooden piece that had the words “Urban Spectacle” carved out and placed inside the small window next to the screen door (ya….a screen door in the middle of downtown Chicago.) For almost 2 years I passed by this place twice a day, each time become more and more tempted to peek inside the open screen door to see what was goin’ on. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me and I found myself googling “Urban Spectacles” figuring nothing would come up because how could this even be someone who would know what to do with a website. I was beyond pleasantly surprised when I found that Urban Spectacles was actually the one-man operation of Scott Urban.
He hand-carves and custom wooden glasses frames! I immediately emailed him and asked if I could stop by and his response was “Sure, if the door is open just come on in!” Loved it! Scott made his first pair in 2004, and since he’s amassed a wide collection of custom frames that range from everyday to experimental. Check out his work and his story. If you’re in Chicago around Erie & Orleans in the North Loop, feel free to stop in and say hi if the screen door is open.
I love that little shops like this still exist and it makes me so happy to see people creating beautiful things just with their hands and a little hard work.
I finally found the perfect frame setting for my favorite painting by the lovely Ms. Elsie Flannigan. I’ve had her for over a year now but never had the right setting for it. I came across this old mirror + frame the other day in my closet and when I realized the size was just perfect, I added a fresh bright coat of red and voila! I love how it sits in-front of the frame so you can see the painted sides.
Hi there! This weekend was full of long walks and basically trying to enjoy the last little bits of August. (But that’s ok with me….September and October are probably my favorite months). Ned and I joined my family at my counsin’s wedding at a very adorable little chapel at Fort Snelling. So cute! They even had an entire table filled with cheesecakes at the reception…mmmmm. The rest of the weekend I painted, went for little runs and finished a crochet project for my mom’s birthday. I found some awesome and not-too-spendy chunky yarn that worked just perfectly. Can you tell I really can’t wait for fall?
So my lovely friend Megan came in possession of this mannequin bodice the other day. Knowing I’m a sucker for these kind of impractical-but-somewhat-irresistible items she gave me a call and after much debating I am the proud owner. It’s been stored in the trunk of my car (creepy, yes) for the past week and I’m just not sure what to do with it. I don’t make clothes or jewelry so I’ve ruled out the obvious uses.
I’d love ANY suggestions you guys might like to share! Maybe keep covering it in left over sewing scraps? Maybe a ridiculously over-sized pin cushion? Stunt double?
I need a little inspiration from other creatives out there.
When I came across these lace-inspired pieces from 24 Karas I fell in love. It’s amazing how well these gold & silver pieces are able to still look so delicate and feminine. They’ve got a wonderful aesthetic that makes each feel like a unique piece of art. Check out their lookbook for some more lovely pieces.
