Smmidge Style: Gypsy Fever (ie maxi dress)

I am so excited to have a new blue dress!  1) I love the color 2) I love that maxi dresses are back, and that this one has a waist and some drapey sleeves.  I have a feeling I'll wear the dog out of this dress - as I do most of my clothes - but here is how I plan to sport it in the near future.  Hopefully the cold is gone for good - I'm feeling spring fever and gypsy fever!

dress - Anthropologie ; earrings - Anthropologie (I can't even help myself - but you get the idea- a colorful dangly pair of any sort); belt - jcrew; shoes - jeffrey campbell; and top it off with a vintage Enid Collins bag - my fave.

A Gift to Last: Forage Bow Ties

Hubber is turning 30 on April 4th.  Yep.  I married a younger man, with a lovely old soul, so it all works out . . . anyway - the big 3-0 is important.  What do you do for a man turning 30?  A groovy guy, blazin' trails?  Well, since he might read this, I can't confirm or deny that he'll receive the coolest gift ever.  A lasting gift - something he'll have forever because it's made of amazing materials by true artisans.  A gift that is at once vintage in look and feel (as if it stepped right out of the 20s image of Hubs great-grandparents on the Oklahoma plains) and yet is uber modern and so chic.  IF I were to consider all this, I might give you Forage Bow Ties.  I've been obsessed for a while now (see here) with Shauna and Stephen from Something's Hiding in Here .  They make beautiful product and it's their life.  Dreamy.  Plus they are just groovy, in addition to talented - a mad-hot combo.  So Hubber, if you are reading this, I hope you like Forage in the event that you may (or may not) receive one in your near future. . . the future that is you living in your third decade, or is it starting your fourth?  You get the idea.  C'mon.  Jump into your 30s.  The water's warm.

just a pile of vintage fabrics from which Forage Bow Ties are made.

I mean.  What's not to love.

love.

Oh yeah, someone named Martha thinks they are cool too, and featured Shauna and Stephen and their collection of dollhouses in her little magazine.

Recap - The Flea (2)

my sign - burlap, cardboard, luggage tags, and colorful trims.  some constant materials in my life.  love their accessibility and the mix of soft and rough.

We had a wonderful time at last weekend's Dallas Flea at Southside on Lamar.  There were so many talented vendors assembled with amazing wares - all made for a great vibe all day long.  Here is a look at my booth and such.  Happy Tuesday!

our wares: Smmidge baby blankets and baby "band pants" (in the foreground).

cardboard chalkboards are easy to make and I use them everywhere.  The rack was made by Ben's dad and is so cool with it's rough wood and pipe.

The blankets - made of unexpected mixes of vintage and modern fabrics.  I'm often averse to things matching in the traditional sense, though I will do it upon request.  More on blankets here and here

blanket "camp tags" are my take on the traditional monogram.  We can stamp (heat set screen ink) the name or initials and stitch onto any blanket for personalization.  I love the rough edges.

my card.  I swear, my stamp sets and luggage tags are the smartest purchases I've ever made.

Hubs is a master at working the booth.

It was so fun to meet the shoppers and talk about our offerings.  I really like how the black background on the sign and the chalkboards pops.

What I Wore:  shirt- new Anthro; pants - cropped Forever 21 jeans (love); oxfords - Aldo; layered necklaces including a 1980's strand from my Baba.

I'm working on new pics of this spring's band pants, but here is a visual of last fall's design as modeled by Buggers.  So cute!

The Look of Mildred Pierce

 

Did you watch Mildred Pierce last night on HBO?!  I found it riveting both in story and in look - the costumes (designed by the award winning Ann Roth) and sets were spectacular.  And I seriously can't get enough of Kate Winslet.  Amazing.  I'm counting the hours until the next part of the 5 part mini series (and the first appearance of Evan Rachel Wood), and seriously considering some pin curls in the meantime.

 

 

*Images by Andrew Schwarts/HBO and from this LA Times story.

In other news, we had a fantastic Saturday at The Dallas Flea!  This is the sign I made with the lovely ribbon draping by Brian Morrison (thanks!) - I'm working on a full recap for tomorrow's post, so stay tuned!

Today's Musings

 

Things are really crazy with work and the Dallas Flea prep - so just want to leave you with some images from Pinterest that are driving me crazy (in a good way) (oh. and outside of my usual crazy, of course).  I love Thursdays when they are my d-a-y-j-o-b Friday.  Happy Thursday/Friday.

 

 

 

RIP Liz Taylor

When people say, 'She's got everything', I've got one answer - I haven't had tomorrow.
-Elizabeth Taylor (1932 - 2011)

Dallas Flea Prep

Still here!  So sorry to be tardilish this week.  We've been super busy prepping for the Dallas Flea this weekend!  Hope you can come out and see us.  There are lots of wonderful vendors, and I'm so excited to see everyone's wares and be inspired as well as score some great loot for myself!  

While prepping this is what is playing over and over at our house - Middle Brother - a super group that includes members from our all-time faves (as you know) Dawes.  Amaze.   Hope to see you this weekend!

 

For Japan with Love & Blogger Day of Silence

 

The situation in Japan is devastating, and sometimes you feel helpless when all you do is watch it unfold and still have to go about your daily routine, not knowing how to help really. . . Well some good folks at two great blogs have come up with a genius idea.  Henry & Lucia and utterly engaged and Lydia and ever ours developed a site, For Japan with Love, to help raise funds for disaster relief in partnership with the amazing folks at Shelterbox, as well as the Bloggers Day of Silence to help raise awareness of the disaster.  I'll be participating by donating and not posting to Smmidge tomorrow, March 18th, in silent solidarity with my fellow bloggers and our friends in Japan. Join us!

And a big thanks to one of my favorite bloggers and shopkeeper, Piper at One Sidney Road, where I first saw all the details.

Smmidge Style: Parade Day

So I missed the Ides of March (yesterday) and St Patty's isn't technically until tomorrow and we missed the festivities anyway . . . but alas I thought I'd atleast share our Mardi Gras (2 wknds ago) parade style.  We enjoyed a fabulous Sunday on Mardi Gras that started with brunch with dear friends and ended with the Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade with dear friends.  I don't know about yall, but our comfort zone is definitely casual, and this day was delightful in that way.  We were in great moods, hanging out, not on a schedule and in clothes that were easy (with touches of green, of course.  It is March)  I love it when Hubs can wear his Nike 6.0s (which also look cute with a suit I might add).  And really, I guess the biggest takeaway is don't discount your black jeans and knit hats.  Ok?  Mix your prints. Fit in a parade now and then.  Bring some cheerios.  And find away to have a free and easy day in the middle of March Madness (whatever that may mean to you.)

Ok.  I'm obsessed with the brown 80's Caddy.  I mean, how freakin' awesome is that?? Love it.

Tattoo Envy

I have one [what I would consider] demure tattoo (is that an oxymoron?).  I've been wanting another for a couple of years, but it just hasn't happened.  On days like today when I'm completely crazed and frazzled and wondering. . . it makes me really want to just go get a tattoo and beer and call it a day.  Here are a few that I'm totally loving and envious of currently.  Hope your tattoos and tues. rock.

 images from Pinterest

Smmidge Style: Sibling Chic

Sometimes it's so hard to decide what to wear for a family photo shoot, right?  Seriously, it's hard to decide what to wear to work or even to the grocery store, much less the family photo shoot.  We all carry such high hopes that the images are going to be an expression of our family's life, and style and of the moment in time, particularly when you are watching your kids grow up.  Most of this is communicated through the location and the lens of the photographer.  The rest comes through the clothes, of course, and when you look at your stuff and see zero options (um, I might be speaking for myself) a fresh set of eyes can help.

I'm lucky enough to have a friend in local Dallas photographer, Jenny Watts, who has indulged me on some crazy whims for styled shoots (think vintage chairs in a cow pasture), but on the more practical side (yes, I often DO have a practical side.  shocking) I sometimes help her clients pull looks together out of their existing wardrobes.  Jenny is a master at capturing kids just as they are, so the parents are ahead of the game when they work with her - and sometimes it just takes someone from the outside to see fresh new combos in the closet without buying one new thing (a bummer? perhaps. unless you are freaky busy with all the other things in this crazy life that a shopping trip purely for pics is ridiculous.  seriously.).  I can and will leave shopping lists for added options in case it's really needed, but for these - it was all right there on the hangers.  Speaking of, these are looks I recently pulled for four of the coolest kids in Big D - it was so fun to see these super sibs interact and, in the short time I was in their home, see four personalities light up the rooms.  Here's the end result and I think they look great - having Jenny's talent and the gorgeous kids makes it easy.

I love this so much - and these sibs really do love laughing together.

I love the subtle florals in both the girls' looks - the one on the left needed a little coaxing, but in the end she loved the top (she had never worn) and Mom was happy to get some use out of the purchase! Though one is more sporty and one is more girly, they both work.

All different, but all connected - just like the kids themselves.

are you kidding me?  Die.  So. Cute.

Friday Random Musings

We can do it!

Where I am in my daydreams.

Amazing beautiful creative resourceful.

Ok.  Anytime.

Oh to be with them in that place and time.

Believe.

I love art too, man.

Happy Friday and see you next week!
*Images found on FFFound