Embroidered Vintage

    I've always loved those boho dresses covered in embroidery and so airy and light they dance in the breeze.  When I was a kid, I secretly hoped that my parents' travels would take them deep enough into the southwest for them to buy me one, but sadly they never did.  Instead I had a lovely pair of beaded moccasins that I wore until there were holes in them and life was good.
    I've never really actively pursued owning one of these dresses since then, but sometimes great things just come to us if we wait.  I don't remember how I stumbled onto this vintage dress about eight years ago, but it was love at first sight and I saved oh so many profits from my Etsy shop to afford it.  It is still my favorite example of an embroidered dress and one of my daughters has already called dibs on it. 

    For this outfit, I wore my vintage glass emerald earrings that I made myself, a beaded pink cardigan from American Eagle Outfitters and and my rocket dog flats from ModCloth.

Some other embroidered lovelies:
Floral Embroidered Gauze Dress at Forever 21 for $24.90 in sizes S M L

Whispers of Romance Dress at ModCloth for $64.99 in sizes S M L

Myra Dress at ShopRuche for $52.99 in sizes S M L  *currently out of stock, but sign up to get restock notifications.

Artist Spotlight: Daniella Fishburne with Fried Fish Photography

    I can't remember exactly what I was looking for when I first saw her work, but I instantly felt like I'd stepped into some beautiful, other world.  The genius behind these gorgeous images is Daniella Fishburne  at FriedFishPhotography.etsy.com and I am so happy to be able to share her work and little bit about the artist behind these breathtaking images.  In her bio on Etsy Daniella says,

"I’ve been drawn to art for as long as I can remember. My childhood memories are filled with sketch pads and clay covered hands, but nothing seemed to capture my heart until I discovered photography.  I've always had an active imagination, ever since I was a little girl. Imagining the impossible, I would often get lost in my own little world for hours. For some, this may seem like a waste of time, but I like to believe that anything is possible and, after years of daydreaming, I am finally able to turn my dreams into reality.  In 2014 I began exploring my own inner life, thoughts, and feelings through a 52 week self-portrait project. In that sense, this body of work is very personal, almost like a visual diary."

Composing a dream, turning the ethereal into the real is such a enormous undertaking and yet, image after image she succeeds and we get lost in her daydreams too.

Bleu Avenue:  Thank you so much for talking with me.  When I look at your photos, I feel like I'm looking into a dream. From what do you draw inspiration?

Daniella:  Thank you for taking the time to share my work. A lot of my inspiration comes from daydreaming. Sometimes I drift off into my own little world and it can get me into trouble. I often find it difficult to focus, but my art allows me to channel those thoughts into something productive, so being a chronic daydreamer actually turned out to be a good thing. I love being able to create the imaginary worlds I dream up and share them with others.

B: There is magic in daydreams.  I love to see that light in my girls' eyes when they're dreaming up some story or drawing.  They're big fans of strong women, so most of their ideas involve regular girls that turn into some kind of super hero.
    I guess everyone has a particular idea that they like more than others.  To what theme are you most drawn?

D:  I think I'm most drawn to the sky, especially the night sky. I love watching clouds float by and I'm absolutely mesmerized by the moon. I think those elements have become a common theme in my work. I like to believe that anything is possible and I hope that my work inspires others to believe that too. It also provides a nice little escape from reality.

 B:  There is a sort of process involved in creating something and as we do something over and over, that process gets refined.  How has your work or your vision for your work changed with time and experience?

D:  I think everyone’s work changes as they grow as an artist. My work has become increasingly more surreal and my editing techniques are a lot more subtle since I first started. I had a tendency to over use textures in the beginning, but with time and practice I'm learning that less is more.

B:  Absolutely, as we learn, we grow and as we grow we learn.  It's a blessing to have friends, family, or mentors to help guide us now and then along then way.  What has been the best advice you've been given or tip that you've found either for your photography or another area in your life?

D:  Always follow your heart. You are the only one who knows what’s right for you. If your intuition is steering your life in a new direction, don’t be afraid to follow a new path. Change is scary, but if you follow your heart, then you’ll always end up right where you’re supposed to be.

B:  You've mentioned in your Etsy Bio that you'd like to publish a collection of your photos in a coffee table book. What else do you think the future holds for you artistically?

D:  I still hope to publish a coffee table book someday and I’d also like to see my work on book covers. I recently signed with an agency that works exclusively with publishers, so hopefully one day soon I’ll see my work sitting on a shelf in my local bookstore. I also have a small series that will be published in "Somerset Digital Studio" in the fall, which is a wonderful magazine dedicated to digital art. I'm very excited about the future possibilities, but at the end of the day what I really want most is to inspire others to believe in themselves and the possibility that dreams really can come true. The key is perseverance.

B: Very true, the best way to achieve your dreams is to hold tight and keep working toward them.  Thank you so much for talking with me today and I look forward to seeing that book and all your future photographic creations.

Find out more about Daniella's work at www.daniellafishburne.com/blog/ 

And Shop her photo prints at www.friedfishphotography.etsy.com

Up and Away: ootd

Perhaps the obvious choice for a title, but I am loving this balloon purse by Sleepyville Critters.  True it's not big enough to hold much more than my wallet and phone, but it is such a great accessory.  Also, I need to mention that this dress by Geode is currently 50% off at ModCloth.com

This dress is slightly roomy in the bodice, but nothing too serious.  On the pros side of the dress, it has lovely details and color and is very easy to dress up or down.  Overall, I highly recommend it.  These shoes are also on sale at ModCloth right now.

Par Avion: ootd

    Not a new dress, but a new style.  This dress by Fervour was my first ModCloth purchase and still my favorite after two years.  I usually wear it as-is or with a pale pink cardigan, but I had a notion that this little beauty might look even sharper with a blazer and a crossbody purse.  I can't over sell the need for a blazer or two in one's wardrobe.  Cardigans are wonderful, but they'll never give you the shape or polish that a good blazer will.

Shop the Look:
For these hairstyles  I used Kayley Melissa's tutorials

Par Avion Dress by Fervour

 Academia Ahoy Blazer by Sunny Girl at ModCloth

From the Round Up Cross Body Purse by Nila Anthony at ModCloth

Stacked Ring trio made by me.

Oh, My, Oh, Myra

    This is the Myra dress by Esley and it's available at ShopRuche.com  It's a soft cotton and falls just above my knees, so those are two pros if you're looking to buy this little beauty and overall, I'd recommend it.  It's also worth noting that new members at ShopRuche get 20% off their first order.

    I really like ShopRuche.  Their prices are really good and usually they charge less than places like ModCloth for the exact same dress.  Their sales are also pretty good and their coupons are constant.

    I happen to fall outside the range of S-M-L, so my options on shops that carry my size can be limited.   When I saw this Myra Embroidered dress was 25% off of the regular price, I decided to buy it even though it didn't come in my size.  It was a good price, there's always a chance I can tailor it and if not, I can return it.

     I don't shy away from a little tailoring, and I encourage everyone to be bold in that regard.  A few darts in the back can fix the top and a new seam down the side can fix the waist.  

    Dresses that go lower than my knees really aren't flattering for my height, so I always take up the hems of longer dresses.  Sometimes, you have to work with a piece to make it just right.  And, it's worth the extra effort, especially if you really love it.

And I do love this dress, so I ordered it in a bigger size and I'll just make a few adjustments to make it my own. 

Shop the Look:

Myra Embroidered Dress at ShopRuche.com 

Qupid Heels

Kling Purse

Earrings & necklace, and rings are made by me.

Artist Spotlight: Debra Poth with Deebs

Today my featured artist is Debra Poth of Deebs.etsy.com   Debra creates beautiful "paintings" without any paint.  Instead she uses wool fibers to bring to life her portraits and landscapes of nature.  I am so excited to be able to share her work.

Bleu Avenue: Hello, Debra, thank you so much for joining me today.   You say that art was a way of entertaining yourself as a child. Are you self-taught in the many mediums you use?

Deebs:  Thank you Leandra for the interest in my work and for the interview.  My only background in art as a study was in high school. I am self taught in many mediums and am an avid cross stitcher and needlepointer. I do embroidery, counted needlepoint and other forms of stitchery. My love of fiber and threads lead me to needlefelting, and I was hooked from the start. That was about 8 years ago when I taught myself. I had seen some needlefelted animals being produced by others, but I was more interested in the 2D form. I have collected books on different art forms, and love the magazines as well.

B:  You create these beautiful portraits and landscapes out of wool. When you began working with wool fibers, was that where you intended to take it or did these paintings come about as part of a progression?

D:  Some of my creations come from photographs, and I use at least part of a photograph for inspiration. I've been known to start a felting thinking I'm going to make a seascape, but it ends up being better as a landscape! I start with a background and let it take me where it wants. An artistic license lets me do whatever I want or feel, and that's OK. Sometimes I will have a newly purchased batt of wool and I start something because I want to use that color or texture. Then I figure what would look good on top of that background. I do many pieces just out of my head. When I first started I was worried I would run out of ideas. But now years later I have done over 700 pieces!

B:  Wow!  You know you've found your passion when you just keep getting inspired.  What themes do you pursue and what emotions do you most want to convey with your work?

D:  My love of the natural outdoors is my favorite theme to work. I've never been a portrait artist, so the seascapes and underwater scenes are fun for me. I love the streams, rivers and lakes I suppose because my husband has always been an avid fisherman and our house is full of those things. I love doing birds for whatever reason...doesn't really matter, they just make it fun, especially the chickadees. I love flowers as well and I have a big garden of them every year that I tend to. I like the emotion of tranquility and peace and just an overall feeling of 'sweetness' in my art. 

B:  That definitely comes across, your paintings feel so serene.  You live in the Pacific Northwest, how does that influence your designs and do you think the overall look of your work would be different if you lived somewhere completely different? 

D:  The Pacific Northwest has always been my home. I've always lived in the burbs or the country and love it. Washington State has so many different areas to visit. The west side is ocean and rainforests, islands and mountains. Then the valleys where we live, then more mountains before going to the arid dryness of eastern Washington. Totally different looks from one part of the state to the other. A little bit of everything here. If I lived elsewhere I'm pretty sure my art would take on that scene as well. Especially in the southwestern rocky areas. But my love is the trees, birds, and rivers.

B:  What is the most memorable response you've had to your work?

D:  I've had many compliments from people that have purchased my work on Etsy, and it has worked out well for me. My husband and I have a business that we tend to, so my time for selling is very limited. Etsy has provided my with a way to share and sell my work. I don't do fairs and such at this time because of the time it takes to do those things. I also have donated several pieces to fundraisers, and have given many items as gifts. Those gifts provide some of the best compliments. I had one lady who purchased a felting for her mother for her birthday, and she wrote me and told me how happy her mom was to receive the gift. That makes me happy, when people are happy with my work. That makes my day....and why I still produce my art. It has become my love, my relaxation.

 That is the very best kind of pursuit.  Thank you so much for talking with me.


Find Debra's art at www.deebs.etsy.com 
or at http://www.flickr.com/photos/DeebsFiberArts/

On a Barrel Roll: ootd

    I finally managed to purchase this dress by Bea & Dot.  I've been interested for a while, but not enough to make a move.  Then it went on sale...and sold out.  Then one came back in stock in my size...and sold out again.  The next time one came in stock, I bought it.   Sooooo, after months of watching and waiting, it's finally mine, and I kind of wish I hadn't waited so long.  I love the color and the print isn't overwhelming like I thought it might be.  The strongest strike against it was all the reviews that complained of a tight fit.  By the time I bought it, it was a final sale, so if it didn't work, I was stuck with it.   But, never fear, this dress is a great fit for a small chested girl like me.  It is snug, but I kind of like that.  Maybe now I can bend over without having to hold my hand against my dress to prevent the peep show that inevitably happens if I don't.

     My first idea for this dress was a simple orange grosgrain ribbon as a belt and a muted orange purse.   They don't exactly match, but too much matching is kind of boring anyway.  For jewelry I opted for pearl earrings and necklace, and though you can barely see it, my favorite carnelian cameo ring that I made a few years ago.

I really can't sing the praises of cameos enough.  Yes, I do own roughly one bazillion and I made most of them myself.   There is something so classic about them, I'll wear them with anything. 

    I also tried this darling envelope purse by Kling with this outfit, and while it goes great with the blue, in the end, I preferred the orange bag with the orange belt.  Still, I am really happy with this purse.  I haven't had the chance to put it to the wear and tear test, but I love the design.  Plus, the strap is removable so it can be a shoulder bag or clutch. 

It's available at ModCloth for $49.99 or at Unique-Vintage for $48.00

 Shop the Look:

Dress by Bea & Dot from ModCloth

Heels (old) are by Nine West

Pearl Earrings are from Walmart Jewelry Counter

Ribbon Belt available at craft stores

Lipstick is Cover Girl 307 Seduce

Too Much Fun in Airplanes: Dress Review

    I should really title these posts "ootw" (outfit of the week ) since I don't do them daily.  Let me start my post with the dress review and it is this: Don't Buy It.  It's currently still retailing for $89.99 and is no where near being worth that much.  I purchased it on Ebay from a seller who said she'd only worn it once.  Yet when it arrived there were places all over the dress where the dye had bled.  It was especially noticeable under the arms and around the belt where she had evidently been sweating.  I need to point out here that I contacted the seller right away and she immediately apologized for not noticing the marks and offered me a full refund if I returned the dress.

 

    I went to ModCloth and looked at the reviews for the dress and basically everyone who had a problem with it said the same thing, the dye runs when you wear it.  So, I contacted customer service and told them the problem.  They instructed me to wash the dress in cold water with a detergent made for dark colors.  Now I had to decide whether to return it, since I never would have paid even $30 for it had I know about the dye stains, or, try to save it since it is one of the rare dresses by Emily and Fin that actually comes in my size.  I decided to try washing it and it worked pretty well.  The worst stains are very faint and the rest aren't visible anymore.  I would like to applaud ModCloth for the great customer service.  Prompt and helpful, it was so nice!

For this dutch braid crown, I used Kayley Melissa's Tutorial on Youtube.com

Summer Strawberries & Cream: ootd

 Ah, June.  Summer is here and we're already enjoying a few ripe strawberries from the vine.  Almost time to bring out the blankets and baskets and go out picnicking.  It also means it's time to dust off those airy white dresses and find as many ways and opportunities to wear them before summer ends and they go back on the shelf.

I love to buy basic pieces and then see how many different combinations I can create.  This Ivoire dress by Tracy Reese is one of my all time favorites.  I want it to get as much wear as possible, so I'm always looking for new combinations.

    I love the way a cropped denim jacket can make a dressy dress (which this certainly is) look more casual.  So, I had an idea to put this dress with my denim jacket, some red canvas wedges, and a strawberry woven purse.  I started searching for the right shoes and purse, but before I bought any of them, I made a quick collage of everything to see if I liked the look.  This is the combo I landed on:

I tried different purses and shoes in this collage until I found exactly the right formula and then I purchased.  Unfortunately, since the purse was a resale item, the seller took my money and then never shipped the item.  Not to worry, I did receive a full refund from the resale marketplace, but since this purse was so important to the look, I was kind of stuck.  

    I decided to press on with my idea and make my own version of the purse.  I purchased a simple basket for less than a dollar and using the photo of the purse as my guide, I made the strawberry scene out of felt.  

    I sewed all the felt and then glued it to the basket along with a strip of red felt to the handle with high-temp hot glue.  

    So, I didn't get the cute, funky purse, but I do have a great basket for berry or flower picking and all for about $2 and one hour of my time.  And I still put together the outfit I was dreaming of.

My chunky cameo ring is from this trio set that I sold in my Etsy shop:  BlueSunEmporium.etsy.com

I'd love to see your do-it-yourself accessories!  Send them to me and I may use them in a future post.