what's your tale, nightingale?

lauren moffatt fall 2012

A quick post.  Just saw Lauren Moffatt's preview of her fall 2012 line from Erin.

I couldn't help but quickly jot down some of my favourites.  Go to Calivintage's post for more pictures!

 

 

 

sometimes i wonder...

We call Naomi our little teenager.  She is merely 5 but talks and acts like she is 12.  Her vocabularly surprises me and she constantly picking up on the latest trends or talking like she knows what is going on... (source of influence unknown) 

Her latest interests include wearing bows, talking in a british accent, using my cable knit scarf as a capelet or wearing my mother's penny loafers because they are "in".  

Since I started a "Naomi" board on Pinterest, she has been bossing me around as to what should be on it or not. 

Beneath all that sass, she has the sweetest and most instictive heart.  As I have been feeling a little down due to my recent surgery, she would come to me when she senses my sadness and hugs me.  For that I am thankful.

So for her... I have been obsessing about the summer 12 line for Bonpoint - this incredibly pretty French line.  Kids grow at such an amazing rate that I wouldn't be able to justify the money for this, but I can still dream or use it as an inspiration for my daughter's wardrobe.  The great thing about Bonpoint is that it is so awesome that if they had it in my size, I would wear it in a heartbeat.  I cannot get enough of the ditzy floral prints, shorts, and jumpsuits.  Not to mention an olive parka with a gingham scarf?  Such a mini-Madewell outfit!

For my older son, they also have a boy's line (more on that later).  For those who have babies, please go look at their babies line.  Yikes, the smaller the clothes, the cuter they are... 

collette dinnigan a/w 12

I first discovered the Australian designer Collette Dinnigan through a pin.  Upon further investigation, I found the difussion line Collette by Collette Dinnigan.  Some people say that difussion lines can damage the main label, affect the integrity and image of the main line.  In this case, I did not find it so.  I found the difussion line more refreshing and wearable (for me).   

 

I love the use of lace, the dancing bird print (put a bird on it!), and the hats she used throughout her lookbook.   Just like always, I have a love affair with white dresses.  That is why I could not decide between the lovely white lace Cubana dress or the refreshing beautiful Cubana cotton lace dress... Oh the colour! 

h e l l o

hello, there.  I cannot believe it has been over a year of absence.

It has been a whirlwind of a year.  I have experienced loss, achievement, mourning and much much joy. I have dived into my career, but for personal reasons I recently had to put on hold.  I loved my job but there were other things that needed more of a priority... for now.

I have went through an ectopic pregnancy over a year ago and have still been dealing with the complications of it since.  I recently went through surgery and am recovering in bed (as I type).

But I refuse to be a Debbie Downer, my life is still tremendously blessed.  I have my lovely family who has been with me every step of the way.  I am enjoying my life as a wife and mother - cooking, cleaning and even planning our remodeling (!!)

There were many times I have logged onto my blog and even started typing, but have never posted it. I wanted to restart this properly.  I will not pressure myself to post or feel guilty when I do not.  Things on my blog might have a different focus.  My style has slightly changed, although I hope in a good way.  My outlook on life has matured and changed me in how I purchase things.  

However, I have not stop gathering inspiration from all over the places.  Yes I still frequent your blogs, your tumblrs, and most of all PINTEREST.  Unfortunately for my husband, I am addicted.  It didn't help that they made an app and a "Pin It" link for your iphone.

For now, please bear me with.  I have plans to spruce up the blog again, slowly but surely.  

Enough sap and emotions!  Inspiration time! 
I recently discovered KT (Katy) Smail's illustrations and I loved her runway drawings of the S/S 12 designs.  KT is a Scottish illustrator who now lives in NY, where she continues to draw tragic girls with broken hearts, faraway lovers and dusty dresses (swoon).   

 

 

What made me love her even more was when I found illustrations she has done for campaigns for children's clothing lines!  

 

 

I've figured out that the last picture was from Woven Play.  Does anyone know of the children's lines of first two images above?  Me = Stalking and adding more and more kids' clothing inspiration daily to my Pinterest account.

I hope you are all doing well.  Come on back and/or drop me a line when you have a chance, and don't forget to join me on Pinterest!

amusing product designs

These have nothing to do with fashion, but I always like product designs that are clever or amusing.

(all images belong to Daizi Zheng)

comfort in Nest

There has been some great transitions going on in my life - new job, monkey boy is going to kindergarten, and the husband is going back to school.  Juggling these things into my schedule leave a lot less time for this blog.  On top of that, I have been going through some medical emergencies, leaving me running back and forth to the doctor's office & the hospital.

That is why I have been so absent.  Thank you for those who have been helping us out as much as possible.  It has been most appreciated. I do intend to start blogging again slowly, so thank you for bearing with me.

As I had mentioned previously, I was asked by my lovely friend Cristie to help her in her Nest photoshoot earlier this summer.  (She is the one modeling the Dexter bags!  She is so pretty!)  I always rave about these bags, but they have done it again!  Every season Cristie & the Nest team come up with more and more designs that leave me wanting them all.  Now I am in NO way a professional model (as you can tell from my photos!)  It was a lot of fun for me & my monkeys -- even for monkey girl, who was a bit of a grumpy pants that day...

Stylists:  Cristie & Tynelle from Nest
Makeup Artist:  Erin Skipley
Photographer:  Melissa O'Hearn

You might ask why I even need a diaper bag because I no longer have babies that need diapers.  I adore the many compartments in the bags.  I am a "worst case scenario" type mom.  (raised by one, now i AM one... Hi Mom!).  These are the things I put in my bag - advil, allergy meds, band-aids, wipes, tide pen, iphone, iphone charger, USB drive, crayons, water bottle, stamps, and MANY other knick-knacks.  Nest bags keep them all organized for me.

Not to mention that these bags are lovely and beautiful.  I have been a mom of 5+ years.  There are some really unfortunate looking diaper bags out there that are expensive and not of good quality.  Nest does not compromise style, quality, and functionality - which is EXACTLY what stylish moms look for.

Thanks to Cristie, I am getting the Hudson (in Chocolate) and the the Dexter (in Navy) -- both my favourites this season.  I have been using the Elliott (in Grey) for a while now and I love it so much.  There is something SO comforting for me when I use a Nest bag.  I know it looks absolutely lovely and I never have to worry that I am missing anything because I know I've packed it all in there.

I love my Nest bags.  Did you get that?  Was that clear?  I'm not sure...
For more information of all the bags that they have, go to their store & blog.

happy 7th anniversary, husband!

Today is my 7th year anniversary with the husband.  Since we've had the monkeys, new "couple-like" pictures of us barely exist in our library anymore...

I did manage to find some old engagement photos from 8 years ago... (Yes, i was wearing cargo pants wth birkenstocks... how very Seattle of me...)




...and some new filtered iPhone photos of the husband walking around in the zoo with his camera.

Thank you for always buying me coffee (my liquid kindness) so I can be a decent human being in the morning.  Thank you for being patient with me.

Happy 7th anniversary, husband.

a sneak peak into Nest's bags

A little while ago, my friend Cristie asked me to help her out with her photoshoot for the Nest Diaper Bags.  I use these amazing bags all the time, even though my children are past the diaper stage.  These handbags are both gorgeous and functional.

They held the photoshoot in the Historic Flight Foundation in Edmonds.  The scenery was great with the vintage planes.  And while I am no professional model in any way, I had fun and almost died attempting in walk in those black Christian Louboutin pumps in my "Black Quilted Bag" outfit...

These are the behind the scene shots (more here). 

(all behind-the-scene photos belong to Cristie & Tenelle from Nest)

The monkeys got a chance to be in the photoshoot too.  They had fun and was entertained by Curious George while we were doing hair and makeup.

Photoshoot pictures to follow...

so behind

There are no words to express how much I miss writing and putting up inspiring pictures.  You know it by now, you've heard it all before from me...

Balancing my career and my family is tough but I still want to write whenever I can here.   I am going through another shift in my career, so there has been some adjusting in my life - hence the prolonged hiatus.

I have packages that I have been meaning to ship, little swaps that I have been meaning to start, giveaways and such...but I will get to them...  Please bear with me.


(all images from Style.com)

When I came across Sonia Rykiel's Resort 2011 line, a smile lit up my face.  She "took inspiration from the Côte d'Azur this season, specifically an Art Deco hotel in the town of Juan-les-Pins, where she vacations".

How lovely.  I wish I could walk around town (and wishing it was Paris) with these girly but not overdone outfits. The color palette is superb -- I am really fond of the in-between hues browns and reds (not too soft, not too harsh).  I also want to own all the shoes that are styled with these outfits.

I could hardly believe summer is almost ending, it felt like it just started in Seattle.  But the upcoming season is my favourite.  Layers, sweaters, fun tights, socks and boots!  I could hardly wait!

milk from a thistle

Dear friends,

Maybe you are still here, maybe you're not.  I would not fault you if you had wandered away.  My life has been incredibly busy lately.  As you all know, I am a mother of two juggling with my career.  I am still keeping up slowly but surely on your writings, your inspirations and your emails. 

My little monkeys are growing up so quickly, and I'm beginning to see more and more why I need to spend more time with them.  And if you can believe it, I'm turning the big 3-0 in a couple of weeks, which has me shaking in my knees.  I have this feeling that I cannot have any more excuses to not being mature (oh my!), and an increasing urge to my responsibilities of being a good mother & wife.

However, a BIG thank you those who are still reading.  I promise to slowly catch up to emails and inquiries!  

In the meantime, I am still here!

Much love,
Eunice

 


 
 
I have great admiration for designers who believe in creating by hand and using their own designs.  I recently came upon "Milk From A Thistle" designs.  Australian designer Danielle Atkinson hand draws her fabric designs and screen print them onto her garments. 

"Cloud trapeze dress" wins me over with its whimsy.  The intricate details on Landscape" amazes me. 

I cannot wait for the next dreamy season.

bravo's the fashion show - seattle casting

On Saturday April 24th, Bravo's The Fashion Show is hosting an open call here in Seattle from 10am to 5pm at the Art Institute of Seattle!  Bravo and the production company Left/Right, Inc. are conducting a nationwide search for a select group of fashion designers who will compete head to head in the ultimate fashion competition series.  Hosted by Isaac Mizrahi, The Fashion Show will give designers a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their work seen by icons of the fashion industry and viewers around the world!

Attending the open call are fashion experts such as Joan Kelly, Producer of Seattle's Fashion First and Jennifer Egan, Nat'l VP of Business and Mktg | Gen Art as well as a surprise celebrity judge!

Applicants can meet at the Art Institute of Seattle - North Campus, 5th Floor 2600 Alaskan Way (Corner of Alaskan Way & Vine St.)

 

In order to apply for the show, you must be 21 years of age or older.  You can be a fashion school grad or you can be self-taught; you can specialize in haute couture or street wear.  What matters most is that you have a creative vision for your designs and the technical skills (sewing, sketching, etc.) to back up that vision.  The winner of the competition will receive a cash prize!!

Attending a casting call is the best way to be considered for the show!  Applicants who attend these casting calls will be required to bring a portfolio of their work, three articles of clothing that they have created and which best showcase their designs, a current resume, one piece of government-issued photo ID, a non-returnable photo of themselves, and a completed application form.  FOR MORE INFORMATION and TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION, go to www.BravoTV.com/casting.  You must bring your
completed application and all other supporting materials to the casting call.  

This is Open to the public!

Twitter:  dLtcasting
Email:  The FashionShow2@gmail.com

I am excited to see the talent that will come out from Seattle!