A Fall Tea Dress

I wasn't planning on doing a sewing project right now, but I have been accumulating so much beautiful fabric for the past year that I thought I would use a day or two from my vacation to start using it.  I began with a fall apron and it inspired me to keep going and finish this Tea Box print dress.  I have loved tea boxes and biscuit tins for most of my life and spent some happy childhood years helping my mom build her collection which now hangs all over her kitchen wall.  I even collected a few for myself along the way and was delighted to see a few of them turn up on this print.  Even though the theme isn't necessarily fall, the colors certainly feel autumnal and fit perfectly with the landscape.

Outfit Info:  Fabric from Hancock's-Paducah. YeMak Cardigan.  Sewing Pattern is Butterick Retro B5748. Bettie Page shoes.  Viviene of Holloway Petticoat.

Stepping Away

It's that time of year when I start packing my bags for our annual get-away.  Yes, each year we take a few days for some alone-time, but also some much needed rest and relaxation and believe me when I say I take it very seriously.  Although it may sound very dull for those who use their vacation time on adventuring, I prefer to spend these days sleeping up to 13 hours in a stretch, taking long walks in quaint neighborhoods to admire old houses, sharing quiet meals, having a day at the spa (including sauna, hot tub, and massage), and just generally making life slow down for a while.  I look forward to this trip every year, and as I write this post I've got one foot out the door.

Outfit Info:  Lily Houndstooth Dress from Dolly & Dotty, Shoes are old, Petticoat is by Leg Avenue

Collectif Returns?

The Collectif fan groups are abuzz with the word that Collectif's new owners will be re-vamping and re-opening the brand in the coming weeks.  There will be changes and many of them sound positive such as expanding their size range.  I know there is reason to doubt, but I really hope this gets the brand back on track and better than ever.  In celebration of this event, I thought I'd don one of my very last Collectif purchases.  I've always loved the Dolores style and who can resist Atomic Space Cats?  These are the things that drew me to the brand initially and I hope, hope, hope they come back better than ever.

All of a Kind of Autumn

There are some lessons we just never learn and the fact that Fall arrives whenever she pleases is a lesson I am finally starting to grasp.  I'm forever trying to hurry autumn along here on the blog. I want beautiful colors and crisp mornings, but this year I am content for summer to hang around a little longer.

This year we're working on a little construction project and the last thing we need is to be dealing with the cold weather and the endless rainy days.  So, if fall can just stay put for a few more weeks, I'm more than happy to set up some pumpkins and use my Lightroom skills to turn the greens way down in order to create an autumn look while still keeping summer close.

Naturally Midnight made herself at home in the background.  She's very photogenic and she knows it.  Truly I think when she saw my black cat bag perched on the table she felt a little competitive, and hopped up there to push this usurper aside and show her how it's done.

Today's outfit is a thrifted Unique Vintage dress.  My style is rather colorful, and I love that, but there are so many things in my wardrobe that just don't seem appropriate for my current job, so I am always on the look out for more subtle prints and styles that still feel like me, but are also right for the office and this dress fit the bill perfectly.  And I think I'll leave it at that for today's post.