Artist Spotlight: Liese Chavez

Snow White

It's been far, far too long since I've done an artist spotlight post.  Like so many good things, my spotlight posts have gotten shuffled to the way side as life has been rather busy these last few years.  But, since life doesn't show any signs of slowing down, it's up to me to make the time for important posts like this.  So, I thought today' Id reignite the flame of artist spotlight posts by showcasing the work of Liese Chavez.

Castle in the Clouds

Of her own work and the world she has created Liese says

When I was small, I remember lying on my back under a side table in my Grandparents' house. The tabletop was a round slab of marble, out of which grew a lamp with lead crystal teardrops dangling from a filigree bloom. There was a circlet of these crystals beneath the lamp as well and I watched the front parlor glow in the half-light reflected from these tiny worlds of faceted glass. 

Cat House

In that private world just a few inches from the floor, the chairs all had carved feet on the bottom and way above me near the ceiling I could see the undersides of little animal faces in the corners of the moldings. I would climb up the steep stairs to the dusty attic with crates of 45 records and the secret-seeming low doors to mysterious things in storage in the eaves. 

Bite Me & Up Periscope

Sometimes I would hide myself in the tiny sewing room under the stairs or spend hours pawing through Grammy’s costume jewelry, trying on clip-on earrings and peeking into lockets. One day I came into my grandparents’ house and everything looked different. The tiny details were still there, but I was too tall to see them so intimately anymore. Some of the magic had disappeared. I have been trying to get back to that magical world ever since.

Piggyback Ride

This is where my heart is home. These paintings and drawings hold all the nostalgia and strange faces of my past. As a child I wanted to know what was inside, what was under, what was behind things. I still do.

The View

Climb the steep attic stairs with me, let the smell of old faded minks tickle your nose and peek with me up onto the high shelf filled with hatboxes and secrets…
-Liese Chavez

Blind Mouse 3

Find more of Liese's work at LieseChavez.etsy.com

Travel Dresstination Passport

When it's terribly chilly and gray outside, we could all use a little holiday.  Maybe you're planning a little getaway, or maybe you just need a mental holiday from the gloomy weather and the hectic work schedule.

KarinaDresses has just released their Resort Collection and it is full of pretty prints and stylish cuts.  I love this Megan dress in Passport.  The coral is so warm, I'm dreaming of sunny beaches already.

Today I've been blessed with such gorgeous weather, I decided to spend the day walking around the downtown, shopping and relaxing, which is just like a mini-vacation. 

I'm irresistibly drawn to the rich colors in this Megan Dress in Passport print and even more so at this time of year, when I need a break from bare trees and brown fields.  

But I also love how these dresses look wonderful dressed up with heels or dressed casually with sneakers or sandals.  With a Karina dress, I'm prepared for anything.

When it comes to travel woes, my biggest pet peeve is the way that no matter how carefully I pack my clothes, they always come out horribly wrinkled.  That's not a problem with KarinaDresses.  

These dresses always come right out of the package wrinkle -free and ready to wear, which means I can roll them up in a suitcase and the minute I get to my holiday spot, this dress is ready to wear, no steaming required.

So, wherever you're going KarinaDresses is your perfect Travel Dresstination.  Check out the full Resort Collection at KarinaDresses.com

Shopping Info: Megan Dress in Passport from KarinaDresses new Resort Collection 2020

Travel Dresstination: Paradise

A few years ago I lived on a tiny island that remained in a year round state of winter.  After two years without sunshine or sundress weather, I decided to plan a little winter get-away to a tropical island.  What a difference a little sunshine can make! 

Ever since then, I try to take a winter vacation as often as possible, just to keep my mood (and vitamin D levels) up during the dreariest part of the year.  But, during the years when a mid-winter holiday just isn't possible, I fill my home and my wardrobe with sunshiny colors instead, and a whimsical print goes a long way toward putting a smile on my face. 

You know how much I love novelty prints, and what could be better for your Travel Dresstination than the beautiful teal and turquoise Margaret Dress in Birds of Paradise from KarinaDresses.com Resort Collection.  I accented this dress with a multi strand turquoise bead necklace, handmade yellow dahlia earrings, yellow headband and yellow heels.  Hello, Sunshine!

The Margaret Dress is a longtime favorite style of mine.  It features a V-neckline, tie waist, and a longer hemline.  Like all KarinaDresses it is figure flattering on any shape and features that breezy, wrinkle free fabric that I love because it can be tightly packed into a suitcase and come out looking crisp and ready to wear.  Not to mention how great these styles look dressed up with heels or more casual with sandal, sneakers, or flats.  I think I'm ready for my winter holiday now.  Check out more great vacation dresses with Karina's Resort Collection 2020.

Shopping Info: Margaret Dress in Birds of Paradise from KarinaDresses.com, Claire's Wide Jersey Twisted Headwrap - Yellow from: Claire's, Necklace from Pioneer Woman's Store

Catching Unicorns

This dress was on my Unicorn list for ages and now it finally became available.  I didn't purchase it years ago when it came out on ModCloth because they didn't carry my size.  

Since them my sewing skills have improved and I'm very good at gauging whether or not I can alter a dress just by looking at  photo.  This one seemed doable, so I got it for a steal on a resale site and it's in excellent condition.  

I thought it also looked pretty seasonal with that bright red belt and buttons and since there are always tons of family photos during this time of year, the dress' portrait theme didn't seem too far off either.

It's nice when we've searched for something for so long and finally acquire it.  I know it's a small thing, just a couple of yards of cotton, but there is a sense of satisfaction that goes along with finding that dress that got away and as far as hobbies go, I think this is a pretty good one and one that also makes me look pretty good too.

Shopping Info: Retrolicious Portrait Dress and Heels from ModCloth

Wish Upon a Star

 Stars

BY MARJORIE PICKTHALL

Now in the West the slender moon lies low,

And now Orion glimmers through the trees,

 Clearing the earth with even pace and slow,

And now the stately-moving Pleiades,

In that soft infinite darkness overhead

Hang jewel-wise upon a silver thread.

And all the lonelier stars that have their place,

Calm lamps within the distant southern sky, 

 And planet-dust upon the edge of space,

Look down upon the fretful world, and I

Look up to outer vastness unafraid

And see the stars which sang when earth was made.

Shopping Info: Glory of Love Star Printed Maxi Dress in Navy from ChicWish, Star Layered Necklace from Forever21, Gold Glitter Flats from ThredUp  Use my link to save $10 off your first purchase.

Happy Anniversary Winter Mint

The blog just turned five years old.  It's strange the way it feels like forever and somehow not so forever ago all at once.  I thought in honor of Bleu-Avenue's fifth b-day I thought I'd do a throw back to my very first blog post called Winter Mint.  (You can see it here)  

I wasn't really sure where to begin, so I just chose an outfit and topic at random and did a little write up on it.  I stood in front of a blank white wall, blank white floor and next to the only sunny spot in the house to take those pics and then used a digital background to add some color to another wise hopelessly boring background. It took me about an hour of editing per photo which is why most of those early posts only contained one to three photos.  If only I knew then what I know now about photo editing!  

That first post turned out to be all about wearing pastels out of season, and, well, five years later I still love winter mint and refuse to restrict certain colors to particular time of year, and still love putting together all sorts of outfit combos and snapping a few pics.  I no longer use digital backgrounds or take photos indoors really.  

My current home has not sunny spots whatsoever, so I have had to learn how to do outdoor photography and to work with the lighting and the weather and most recently I've been learning to use Lightroom.  I wish I'd been using all these years, it's really helped improve my photos. 

So, what's next for Bleu-Avenue.  I have no idea.  SO much has happened in five years.  The blog has changed in some ways; I've changed in a lot of ways too. Not to mention the fact that I'm reaching (have reached?) an age when society is bombarding me with messages of my irrelevance.  

And yet, I'm still here.  I'm not making any future plans for the blog, instead I'd just like to keep doing what I love for as long as it's still fun.

Thank you for reading, laughing, crying and styling with me these last five years.  And here's to many more

dot, dot, dot, question mark

Shopping Info: Gingham Suspender Skirt from Collectif.co.uk, Velvet Crop Top In Seafoam from Forever21, Flats from CharlotteRusse

A Journey to a New Year

A Journey to a New Year 

by Sumira R. Arain

First day of the New Year.

It's time to shine for a new day.

Forget your past,

Your sorrow, your pain.

New ideas are waiting ahead.

It's time to recall all your memories,

Beautiful dreams that remain uncovered,

Painful parts of life when your heart gets crushed.

But don't be afraid.

The future is in your hand.

Hold it in your hand.

Start your race,

A new journey,

That leads you to success.

You will rise again

You will shine again.

Happy New Year!

Shopping Info:  Diamond Printed Midi Skirt in Gold and eyelet top from ChicWish, gold flats from thredUp.  Use my link to sign up and save $10 off your first purchase.