I love me some craft and artisan fairs, especially when they happen during the fall. I’ve been fortunate to have spent the last two weekends enjoying a ‘true’ fall, with seasonally brisk temperatures, beautiful blue skies, and trees of every autumnal color while also exploring two quaint historical towns full of creativity… Continue reading “When I paint my masterpiece…”
Earlier this month I showcased some ‘High,Low, Sew’ red suiting looks. which could really work in any season depending on the fabric. Now that it is officially fall, my fashion mind is turning toward all things warm, including two more Fall 2023 trends: leather and long skirts. I’m seeing the leather trend play out in pants, shirts, dresses, skirts, and jackets available at every price point using authentic skins and synthetic fabrics that look as good as the real thing.
A circle skirt is one of the easiest things you can make, and that may be a good thing since I haven’t seen too many options for sale. What I have seen a TON of is leather, especially in pants and motorcycle jackets. I’m not going to lie: I am never going to attempt to make anything from skins, mainly due to my sewing machine’s ability to handle heavy work. I am planning on making a circle skirt though, using synthetic leather, since those fabrics are easily handled by any of my vintage sewing machines.
As for the jacket? I am a Moto momma all the way. I stole my first motorcycle jacket from my dad when I was a young teen and never gave it back. It took me 10 years to wear that jacket out before moving on to two other much-beloved versions I also wore for decades. Sadly, I’ve outgrown both over time, so lucky for me I can buy, or make, a replacement this fall. Now I just need to find the perfect pair of rock-and-roll boots to wear with both and I am set!
Labor Day always makes me think about fall, and adding some key pieces to my fall/winter wardrobe. That might have to do with fondly-remembered annual back-to-school shopping trips with my mom and sister, which always involved a train ride into the city, a visit to Wanamaker’s to see the Eagle and wander through their high fashion floors, lunch at Trio’s (where I always had a grilled cheese with ripple chips, a pickle and a chocolate milkshake) and a stop to see my fashionable grand-mom at the clothing store where she worked.
Back then, we mostly shopped for jumpers and Peter Pan collared blouses, since I wore the same style uniform to school for 12 years. Once I hit college I adopted my generation’s uniform of jeans, concert T’s, and hippie dresses. Nowadays I am drawn to classic, some would even say uniform-like, styles. The top 10 2023 fall fashion trends, which include anything colored red, boxy blazers, clunky earrings and classic suiting, are perfectly suited to my style.
With this post, I’m replacing my ‘Recreate the Runway’ feature (check older posts here, here, and here) with a High/Low/Sew feature. Style has nothing to do with the size of your pocketbook, and great fashion can be found at any price point if you know what to look for, or can make it yourself. As a practitioner of high-low fashion years before it was a hashtag trend, my periodic High/Low/Sew posts show that no matter what option you choose, you’ll be perfectly suited for any occasion!
Do you like to hop in your car and drive, with no particular place to go? I can’t think of anything better than heading out on a road adventure, listening to some tunes with my favorite people beside me, talking about nothing and everything as the scenery rolls by. It’s the actual definition of a joyride [(joi-rid): a ride taken for pleasure (as in a car or aircraft)] and I’ve decided to add more joyrides into my life, starting out with a easy drive to Wildwood NJ on a quick shoobie trip to eat fresh crabs, smell the salty ocean air and experience the Boardwalk… Continue reading “Under the boardwalk…”
From L to R Row 1: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, Louisville BatsI was listening to the radio on the way to work, scrolling for something worth listening to, when I heard the words ‘monkey rodeo’. Of course, I immediately went back to the station because hearing ‘monkey’ and ‘rodeo’ used in the same sentence is the aural equivalent of a great meme. Turns out, the hosts were remembering when they had seen Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey performing at a minor league baseball game. Sadly, it appears Cowboy Monkey Rodeos may be a thing of the past, but there’s all kinds of other cool reasons to spend a nightwatching the Boys of Summer do their thing… Continue reading “Look at me, I can be centerfield…..”
I love neon, so when I was offered an opportunity to read an advance copy of the 3rd Expanded Edition of Neon Nevada by Sheila Swan and Peter Laufer I said ‘yes’. Shelia and Peter have been exploring and documenting the neon scene in Nevada since the 1970’s, with this newest edition of their work, published by University of Nevada Press, available October 24th. The book is equal parts history, travel monologue, visual homage, and love story spotlighting the magic of neon.
Neon lighting first became popular in the States in the 1920’s and as the couple writes, were ‘”…the pre-World War II television: it could sell anything and it did.” While neon signs appeared on storefronts and theater marquess across the country, these electric jewels came into their own in the desert towns of Nevada. In their travels across the state, the authors visit Wendover, Reno, Laughlin and everywhere in between in their quest to locate artful pieces, capturing their beauty for posterity. The book is full of pictures which span the decades, paying tribute to signs that no longer exist or capturing images of restored faded beauties from the past.
These are nighttime travels for the couple, when ‘the desert night sky and two lane roads, punctuated with occasional neon signs, create a mood unique to Nevada’. I felt their disappointment when they found old favorites gone without a trace, or frustration at finding a gem lying in a state of neglect, no longer able to light up the night sky. At other times, I celebrated with them as they located old signs restored to their former glory or discovered new ‘special glows in the night’ blazing away.
Creating neon signs turns out to be something of a lost art. There are few masters of glass bending still practicing the craft. It’s expensive and labor intensive and takes years to master. Making one minor mistake during the bending process might mean the entire piece has to be scrapped and started again. In Reno, the authors were thrilled to see work created by Jeff Johnson of Neon Art NV. They reminisce about two of the most iconic neon signs ever made: the ‘Welcome to Las Vegas’ and ‘Vegas Vic’ signs. These pieces were made by Young Electric Sign Company (aka: YESCO), who have been creating signs which light up Vegas and the desert for close to a century.
The authors also recognize the important work done by The Neon Museum of Las Vegas. ‘The two acre Boneyard is now filled with relics on loan from YESCO’s graveyard along with pieces collected and owned by the museum – more than 250 signs dating from the 1930’s, most in an advanced state of decay’. For lovers of neon, seeing the old masterpieces safe, even when they need restoration, is comforting. These signs are symbols connecting us to the past, with rich stories that go far beyond the product they once advertised.
I thoroughly enjoyed Neon Nevada and recommend it to anyone interested in neon, southwest travel, or an endearing love story. I sense this is the couple’s last neon road trip, so it’s a poignant way of paying tribute to their love for neon, and for each other.
Are you going to see the Barbie movie this weekend? It’s definitely a ‘must see’ for me. Here’s why… Continue reading “I’m just a backwoods Barbie…”
Last week I gave you an insider’s itinerary of things to do if you ever visit Nashville. Until then, here are some of my favorite Music City themed books you can read to feel like you’ve already been.
You may not be able to go home again but you can certainly visit. That’s what I recently did, when I returned to Nashville for the first time since moving out of state. It was a very art-centric 3 days, which had me seeing art, buying art, celebrating art, and spending time with some of my favorite people whom I’ve made art with.
Is visiting Nashvegas on your travel bucket list? Maybe you’ve thought of rocking out at Bonnaroo or the CMA’s? Or maybe you’ve dreamed of a giant weekend bar hop, centered around Lower Broad where cowboy boot wearing about-to-be brides and grooms drunkenly celebrate their last days of being single. Take it from a long-time resident, there’s a lot more to do in Nashville than that. Here’s an alternative itinerary for exploring the city at large, in case you’d like to experience Music City like a local…
Continue reading “I’m the #1 fan of the man from Tennessee…”
I’ve been enjoying a nice, long break and taking it a bit slower than I usually do. Eating lots of great food, watching ‘must see’ movies [Being the Ricardo’s, Don’t Look Up, Nobody, The Last Duel and in a few days, MacBeth], and spending time with those I love are the best presents of all, and the perfect way to end 2021.
I’m not a resolution kind of gal, but I am a BIG list maker. On my list for 2022; travel to San Diego, Denver, Charleston, and Apalachicola, reading, painting [the art kind] and lightening up. By that I mean getting rid of some of the clutter and excess I seem to collect. I’ve spent the morning cleaning out my internet ‘Other Bookmarks’ folder (aka: links to things I will get around to reading eventually). Here are a few things which made the cut that you might enjoy…
Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2022!
*What Are You Doing on New Year’s Eve? – Ella Fitzgerald
The Grey Goddess 