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Posts Tagged ‘handmade’

How To Wear : The Scout Tie

Posted in My portfolio, Style, tagged , , , , , , , on September 29, 2012 | 4 Comments »

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I love these little ties for ladies.

They’re such an easy accessory and they can really be the cherry on top of an already adorable outfit. I decided to share with you a few of the ways that I’ve worn mine because I have so much fun with them! Girls can wear ties, too, ya know!

Look one is a girl scout inspired look! I went to Girl Scout camp when I was little and had the time of my life every single summer. The sisterhood, learning about nature, and spending hours every day crafting (not to mention having a campfire every night!) made my time at Camps Whispering Pines, Farnsworth, and Chenoa some of the best times of my life. Now that I’m all grown up I still channel my inner scout on days when I feel like I need a little girl power – that’s not weird, is it?

Look two you’ve seen before! Still, I wanted to make sure that I included it seeing as it’s one of my favourite outfits ever. I think the easiest and cutest way to wear a continental tie is to tuck it under another collar, and my vintage dresses look fantastic with a little somethin’ extra poking out of the neckline! Don’t you think?

Look three is a bit more casual. I like to feel comfortable, but still fancy so this is the perfect style for me. By the way, if you know me you know that I wear this mustard cardigan seriously almost every day. Comfort is my jam and this does it.

If you like the look of these ties, hop on over to my Etsy shop and pick out your favourite one! I love to mix patterns, but match colors, so I’d suggest choosing a color you know you have in your closet. But really, no rules apply! Try your new collar out with lots of tops and see what works best!

Which of these looks is your favourite?

xx.

P.s. You could win something from my shop by entering this contest on Kitty + Buck! Good luck!

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“August” Giveaway with Olive Manna! – CLOSED!

Posted in Crafting, Free Giveaways, Home Decor, Shop Talk, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , on September 6, 2012 | 32 Comments »

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When it comes to giveaways it’s better late than never, right?

The bulk of online stores these days sadden me because of their lack of a regard for their social or environmental impact or their capitalistic tendencies. Yet, there are still shops out there with integrity who seek to make a living doing what they love without compromising their ethics or selling out. I found Olive Manna only just a few weeks ago, but immediately loved everything in her shop {crafting supplies, vintage housewares, handmade decor, even iPhone covers!} and wanted to be able to share her beautifully curated collection with you, my readers. So I contacted her to see if she would be willing to participate in a giveaway.

She generously offered to provide one lucky reader with a $25 voucher to her online shop and a 15% off code {enter JEEZEJULIA15 at check out! Good until Thursday the 13th!} for those readers who don’t win, but would still like to pick something out. Then, she stunned me with her integrity; as is common with blog giveaways, to enter, one often has to “like” a page on facebook, follow on twitter, etc., etc. but Natalie of Olive Manna said she preferred not to gain followers in this way because she wanted to know that those who favourited her shop, read her blog, and kept up with her listings were doing so for genuine reasons. How refreshing! I’m so honored to have Olive Manna working with me on my August giveaway and I’m happy to support her shop for so many reasons.

Here’s how you enter: Just visit her shop and pick out your favourite item then leave a comment on this blog entry telling me which it is! That’s it! No nearly-endless list of social media links, no half-hearted tweeting – just pick out one thing you like the best from her and you could win $25 towards purchasing it! The contest will close Sunday night {September 9th}, so make sure you don’t wait too long to enter! I’ll be announcing the winner sometime next week, so don’t forget to check back in otherwise you may not know if you’ve won!

Good luck, everyone!

xx.

P.s. This giveaway is now closed. Check back this week to see the winner!

{Click photos for sources!}

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How To Wear : A Detachable Peter Pan Collar!

Posted in Style, What We Wore, tagged , , , , , , , on September 1, 2012 | 4 Comments »

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It’s back-to-school time!

Which to me means plaids and cardigans and collars! Mixing and matching these is always a lot of fun, so here are just a few ways you can start to integrate a detachable collar into your wardrobe if you’re not quite sure how to:

This look is very easy to obtain and will work well for our warmer September days {though the nights do get chilly!}. I love matching solids like this to colorblock my outfit, but the tiered top adds a little something to break it up!

I call this look “teacher-chic”. I found this amazing wool skirt while thrifting in Miami of all places! I’d say this is an autumn look if I’ve ever seen one. The pattern on the collar actually pulls in all of the colors of the outfit so nicely, but it’s hard to tell from such a distance. Here it is a little bit closer:And, lastly, my elbow pads heard me talking about back-to-school and insisted on participating. This is a really comfortable ensemble that’ll be perfect for class {or for when you kinda sorta just wish you could go back to those school days again…}.The peter pan collar I used for this look is made from organic cotton and nicely matches nearly everything with its neutral coloring. It’s easy to pop on a collar to round out a look and so much fun to experiment with when styling.

And, they work with any outfit you’d normally put together – tees, sweaters, dresses – the only thing that really matters is that your neckline vaguely match up with the collar. These collars are all pretty basic and match best with high crew-necklines so as long as you’ve got some tops like that, they’ll work for you! If you’re in search of the perfect detachable collar, stop by my Etsy shop to see what other options I have available on top of these three. Fall is {almost} here so it’s time to start layering!

Have a great day!

xx.

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Turtle Love Co.

Posted in Environmental Consciousness, Portland, Social Consciousness, Style, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , on June 28, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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As with fashion, the world of jewelry usually doesn’t support sustainability.

That’s why when I find a company that breaks the mold to uphold their integrity, I simply have to share. The funny thing about Turtle Love Co. is that they actually found me! This past winter, when I was still living in Portland, Maine, one of their employees recognized that both TLC and myself believe in the same things: environmental consciousness, supporting a local community, an appreciation of craft, and a love of vintage. She reached out to me and I was so happy to get to know just one more independent business that was in it for more than the money.

So, it’s my pleasure today to introduce you to Turtle Love Co. – if you haven’t already noticed their button in my sidebar, that is. Based in Portland, this small team of individuals {including my former neighbor – Hi, Ashley!} curates an amazing online jewelry shop that carries only the highest quality and most responsible independent designers. If you’re in the market for eco-friendly handmade or vintage jewelry, this is the spot for you.

These are just a couple of my favourite pieces on the site, but you simply must have a look for yourself! There are so many unique and beautiful vintage items that have been collected, and beautifully handmade pieces right along side them. Check it out!

Have a great Thursday!

xx.

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Memorial Day sale!

Posted in My portfolio, Shop Talk, The Holidays, tagged , , , , , , on May 26, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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10% off from now until Monday!

Plus! Remember those ModCloth and Swap.com goodies that I said I’d give away to the first five sales? Be my next buyer and they’ll be yours! With Father’s Day coming up, wouldn’t a good bow tie or hankie {or a bow tie/hankie set} be a good investment? Just sayin’! Enter MEMORIAL10 at the check out for your discount.

Enjoy your Saturday!

xx.

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Off on a walk-about.

Posted in Style, What We Wore, tagged , , , , , , , on April 16, 2012 | 2 Comments »

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When it’s nice outside, I can’t bear to stay in.

Even if there’s no place that Ryan or I need to go, when the sun comes out, so do we. And it certainly has been bright and beautiful these last few days. Yesterday was the first day of the year that I was able to leave the house without a jacket on {besides those fluke days in the 80s in March!} so summer feels like its already on its way.

My hair’s finally long enough to do some really fun things with it! I tried out a tiny maiden braid with my mini-beehive and fell in love with the look. I am terrible at mornings {thank goodness I have a patient partner}, so I don’t get to do very much before I leave the house for work. On my days off, though, I just love taking the time to play around with stuff like this. I always feel better when I’ve carefully picked out something different to wear and put the time into fixing my hair. It’s not an every day occurrence, but on days like these my outside feels the way my inside does.

T minus 15 days ’til our move, by the way. It won’t be long until we’ll have an entirely new backdrop! Let the packing begin! Anyone feel like doing any of that for us? It’s really exciting to start a new life, but picking up the pieces of the old one can be rather taxing. At least we’ve got our vacation at Sunset Hill House coming up in June!

I hope you’re all taking walks for no reason and watching every little bud wake up from its long winter nap. This is such a magical time of the year!

Have a great Monday,

xx.

Top | Thrifted from Find

Jeans | Handmade by Fables By Barrie

Socks | ModCloth

Necklace | Thrifted

Shoes | ModCloth

Bag | Thrifted from Goodwill

Jacket | My Mum’s from the ’60s

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Pinecone + Chickadee | Favourite Portland Haunts

Posted in Favourite Portland Haunts, Home Decor, Portland, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , , , on April 14, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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When in need of a quirky purchase, Pinecone + Chickadee is the place to go.

Record players, instant cameras and film, typewriters – they’ve got ‘em. They also have a wide selection of new indie art, both local and from Etsy artists across the globe. The atmosphere is relaxed for your browsing convenience, and all of the vintage is in nearly perfect condition.

Named for Maine’s State “flower” and bird, Pinecone + Chickadee is an accurate reflection of what our city has to offer to tourists and residents alike. The bright colours and sunny space allow the shopper to clearly see the details of every little treasure and the mid-century decor really inspires!

Every time I go in, I want to take something home so the central location {right on Free Street next to Find} is dangerous for me! The husband and wife team who own this boutique did a fantastic job pulling it all together. The most impressive part? They have so many different styles of products – kitschy, modern, cutesy, classic – yet they somehow still fit it all into one cozy aesthetic!

Have fun browsing if you have the chance to stop by! Make sure you have a look at their neat shadow puppets {forgot to photograph – shoot!}, and purchase something little, if you can. Supporting local shops is so important because you’ll be helping independent artists and designers accomplish their dreams!

Do-something-cool Saturday!

xx.

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Now Available At Find!

Posted in My portfolio, Portland, Shop Talk, Style, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , on April 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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If, for some reason, The Merchant Company was too far away for you…

my bow ties are now also available at Find! I’ve been pumpin’ these puppies out like it’s my job {oh, wait, it sort of is.} and I’m so happy to make them available to even more people! If you’re not in Portland, hang in there — I’ll have even more varieties in my Etsy shop when it reopens in May than elsewhere in this city.

One of the new materials that I used for this batch was with organic gingham fabric from Worthy Goods Textile. I can’t wait to show you some photos once it’s listed in my Etsy shop, but if you’d like to get a peek ahead of time you’d better pop into Find! It may be worth your while to stop in anyway if you are in the area. I was poking around the racks yesterday after dropping off my ties, and ended up taking two new things home. That place is absolutely irresistible, I tell you!

Happy Saturday!

xx.

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The Merchant Company | Favourite Portland Haunts

Posted in Favourite Portland Haunts, Home Decor, Portland, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , , , on April 5, 2012 | 2 Comments »

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Wonder what it would be like to step into Etsy?

I used to. Meandering among such beautiful vintage and handmade pieces as adorn that website would be magical. Enter: The Merchant Company, a vintage and handmade haven. Mystery solved.

The shop space is very large giving you the feeling that you’ve stumbled into some kind of a wonderland. Vintage collectors and makers can rent out a table to fill with their wares and amazing owners Dunja + LeAnna keep an eye over the shop while we venders are away making + finding more wonderful pieces to sell. Each little booth is different than the next with clothing for men, women, babies, as well as decor, stationery, jewelry, and so much more!

If you need a gift, a reward for your hard work, or something to do to pass the time, the Merchant Company can remedy your problems. I visit about once a week and always get lost in a new little nook of the store. There is so much packed in here that it is very possible you’ll never see it all. But, the only way to know is to try.

Notice anything else of mine {besides the bow ties} in these photos? There is something! Oh, and don’t worry, I’ll keep selling here even after I move. I’ve got a plan in which I’ll continue sewing my own pieces and helping Dunja so I can remain a merchant here. It’s also a good excuse for me to keep coming back for a visit – sometimes I really love this silly little city.

Have a great evening!

xx.

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Vintage Aprons | Product Spotlight

Posted in Shop Talk, Style, Vintage + Thrift, tagged , , , , , , on March 24, 2012 | 2 Comments »

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I’m closing up my Etsy shop in just one week…

and so many of my charming little pieces still haven’t found homes! Today I thought I’d take a moment to show off my favourite listings: my vintage aprons. Now, I wouldn’t be totally upset if no one bought these babies and I got to keep them all for myself, but let’s face it, I don’t really need more than one beautiful apron as much as I am tempted to keep them, and our apartment is much fuller than we’d like it to be. So, if you’d like them they’re all yours {+ they’re on sale}!

Each of these was hand selected by me because of their charming qualities. They were each handmade decades ago by someone with a very steady hand and fancy style. For more details about the aprons just click on the corresponding photo below and you’ll be whisked away to the appropriate Etsy listing. Last night I sold 5 items in my shop, so make sure you don’t wait too long before making your move!

Here’s hoping they get to travel the globe! These past few months must have been pretty boring, just sitting on my shelf. Spring + summer are excellent times to host gatherings and these light colours will make an beautiful match for garden parties + cocktail hours.

Hope you’re all well!

xx.

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