We Heart Liberty.

And every print they have - we only wish we could use every one! Check out the latest additions to the website with 3 items in one of their fantastic spring prints. (not this one, this is a classic that we used on the collar for the original patty polo).

Visitors!

We love having office guests. What we love even more than a visitor is one we can put to work. Today we had this fantastic combination. Our friend Chip Davis stopped by - in town from our nation's capital on business, and sat down for a little necklace sesh. Thanks for sharing your beading capablilities with us Chip!

Our Newest Officemate.

Meet Teacake! Here is the man of the office--a mascot and an entertainer. I drove up to Maine to get him this weekend, and we're buddies from here on out. Sleepless nights and all. Teacake (or TC) is a character from one of my favorite novels - Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. We'll keep you updated, he won't be this size for long :).

I wish I was -

- out standing in a field. Happy spring! I read about this company probably a year ago, and ripped out a tiny blurb on them and their website and forgot about it. I found it recently in a pile of papers and checked out their website. I can't think of a greater concept than a traveling dinner party that uses locally farmed produce to eat, often local chefs to cook, with and local wine to drink, that sets up shop on farms, on beaches, in barns, or in any "field" really. It's a bit pricey for a struggling artist - though worth every penny if you as me. Their 2008 schedule will be posted today in honor of the first day of spring so I thought I would share it with those of you that aren't familiar, and perhaps their coming to your area. Before I had heard of them I gave my mother a fully serviced dinner party for her birthday last year in June. In the middle of cooking with my friend Jenny and sister Kathryn while staring at the dining room table, I announced I thought we should have it outside. Kathryn and Jenny both thought I was sort of crazy for insisting on picking up a long table from my father's house, collecting chairs from all over, and debating white sheets and pink tableclothes to cover the table with. We even had to improvise with "side boards" (my mother's antique tables and trays) because the table was so narrow. But to my mind, it couldn't get more romantic than a candlelit dinner at a table under a weeping willow by a creek at dusk - with the lightning bugs making the evening sparkle. Wine, murray's cheese and laughter. I'm doing everything I can to tell myself I can't afford this -- but if you can, please go to one and let me know how it is!
The photo is taken from their blog, and is a dinner they held in Vail at Pie Ranch. This is their barn before dinner, which was eaten after lessons on the local plants and a short hike to a spectacular view.

Rainy Day.

In an effort to look less miserable and be less miserable during the rain I treated myself to this springy umbrella from pare umbrella. It may cost more than the $3 black one I bought on w3rd and 6th, but this morning I didn't have to fight to keep every point tacked down as I battled the elements and the cutesy gingham and wrapped white handled brightened my mood. Now I can concentrate on finding the biggest puddles (can't get enough) to slosh through thanks to my uber protective Wellies, and I have a little patterned sunshine hanging over my head.

Yum.

This morning I started throwing things away in my room and I couldn't stop. It was a great spring purge that will make room for a new puppy. Included in the trash pile was about 2 years worth of Bon Apetit and Food and Wine Magazines. I know I'm crazy for holding onto them, especially with a small apartment and all the recipes accessible online. But there is something about flipping those glossy pages and the beautiful pictures that makes me hold on to them. I mean, what if tomorrow I realize I need to make the Thanksgiving roasted turkey with chive butter, and sage and squash stuffing that's on page 159 of December '06? Let us not forget that could only be after the epiphany of that recipe and the issue and the page... I got it, I threw them out.

This issue in particular I had held onto mainly for this cover picture - how beautiful are the deep black-purples, peachy creams, greens and aquas? I want to wear this cover palette. And of course I want to eat this cover image. Even the name sounds like a Langston Hughes poem as it rolls off my tongue - "Skillet Blackberry Cobbler with Peach Ice Cream." I have to enunciate every last sound and the words transport me to a far off place. Cooking magazines are works of art far beyond the gorgeous casserole the will guide you through. I guess I just need to learn to enjoy them for a shorter time and then let them go (RIP collection).

PS. A Miss Regina Readling was very insulted yesterday that names are so often mentioned on the blog, and her was NOT in reference to the "friend" that sent me thesartorialist.blogspot.com to take a look at. Thanks for sending it Mama! Loving it.

This outfit is Genius.

picture courtesy of thesartorialist.blogspot.com
sar·to·ri·al /sɑrˈtɔriəl, -ˈtoʊr-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sahr-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective
1.
of or pertaining to tailors or their trade: sartorial workmanship.
2.
of or pertaining to clothing or style or manner of dress: sartorial splendor.
3.
Anatomy. pertaining to the sartorius.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with his site, or have read some piece of the extensive press he has gotten. I read about this site a while back and was always meaning to check it out and never really did. In fact, I've ruled out reading a lot of blogs (I have a short list I can't resist) in the interest of getting work done. But recently a friend sent me the blog again and suggested I take a look. This time I did, and now I'm hooked. This blog has rejuvenated a sense of purpose in my morning dressing routine that has sort of fallen by the wayside. For as long as I can remember I have been very specific in how I dress...to the extent of insisting we purchase fabric for my 5th grade graduation dress and make it, because I could find nothing I was satisfied with(Sorry mom). Some attempts are failed, but are attempts none-the-less. And while I don't ever like to dress too drastically, I usually tend towards a look that is different than my neighbor, whomever they may be. For instance, going to a preppy all girls school gave incentive to my hippie phase, going to a "crunchy" sporty college gave incentive to my dressed up/bordering on trendy phase, and coming to a city where there are edgy extremes and lots of trendy girls, Ive returned slightly to my preppy roots. It wasn't until very recently that it clicked as to what had spawned these changes in my style. This is embarrassing/probably not advisable to admit, but in the last year or two I have derailed a bit. Between working out of my apartment, often trudging through the cold, and being forced into sneaker wearing due to injury, I have become lax about my ensembles. I even often find myself in yoga pants and sneakers. The Sartorialist has reminded me of why it sometimes SHOULD take me a few extra minutes to get out of my apartment in the morning. It has reminded me of why I enjoy working in this artistic medium in the first place, and it reminds me of how the slightest line, print mix, pop of color, can make Jane or John Doe, in everything from Target to Prada, strutting down the catwalk that is every street in New York City, a temporary genius/artist in their own right.
The Sartorialist posted this picture from New Delhi. How great that this outfit could work on the streets here style wise and season wise, and what a fantastic mix of girly prints and menswear and the perfect - is it winter? is it spring? weight and palette

Dog - a - holics

With dogs on our minds over here at headquarters... My friend Kelly just sent me this website and I figured I would pass it along to you all - dog-a-holics.

Are you a dog-a-holic???

Do you talk about your dog the way other people talk about their children?
Do you spend more money on your dog than on yourself?
Do you take your dog with you everywhere you go?
Yes, you do?
Welcome to the club!

Cute site - check it out!

Road trip?!

Driving up to Maine and taking home one of these cuties is all I can think about, so I thought I'd share them with all of you...

More Friends!

Our cute little bucks have already joined us on our tags and on the blog, but they're finally on the website as well! We can't get enough - a whole little army - and look forward to them frolicking on shirt, hats, cards and more.
Thanks again Vanessa!

Our Newest Web Venture

You can now find Dakota Martin reversible scarf tops at Shop Intuition - a site we have always loved as a source for where our favorite celebs to stalk are buying their goods. We love how they lined up the colors for a gumball like array, and check out the "different view" shot - great picture of scarf top tails!

Happy Spring forward everyone! Enjoy a 6:57pm sunset tonight!

Gretta's Got It! Date wear

Watch this video!

Ladies! If you find yourself panicked putting an outfit together for a date? Well stop because tonight 7's style reporter Gretta Monahan shows you the best looks in dateable duds in "Gretta's Got It." -- Gretta picked a black Dakota Martin scarf top and an Allison mini in navy as her two of her favorite pieces from the store First Date!

First Date is located in Andover, MA. First Date owners Keri and Brianne divided the store up into sections - Sunday Stroll, Just Cocktails, Soiree, and Rent a Movie - such a cute idea for a store! Check out - www.shopfirstdate.com

Why?

I bet you're asking and trust me I'm asking myself. Why do I have 4 pairs of yellow shoes? Yellow isn't even my favorite color. I put a pair on this morning in honor of this nice weather, and I looked up on a shelf and another pair of yellow shoes caught my eye. It does cause a moment of pause when one realizes they have 4 pairs of yellow shoes, so I slipped the flat ones off, and lined all four up on my window sill for a group shot (I hope my father doesn't read this - he will be disappointed in my lack of practicality). Clearly they are something I enjoy though - I realized 3 are associated with birthday purchases - 2 this year - oops. So I guess as far as shoe color goes, to hell with practicality - I'll keep the collection going, and let my yellow make my step a little springier than any other color.

(next over purchased items of clothing I could discuss - navy pants and clutches... or should I say satchels, Al?)

Greetings!

This Wednesday afternoon! I was reprimanded yesterday by a reader for not posting this week... My apologies. She said I couldn't expect a loyal readership if I didn't post religiously. So I'm back. My head got lost in fabric and beads. I used the title greetings in honor of the new Linda & Harriet Greeting cards that just came out. I've been dying for L&H to produce such a thing. I of course use their stationary exclusively - who wouldn't? But eeeevery once in a while I begrudgingly trek into a card store for a specific event. No longer! Now I can specifically thank, celebrate, or wish anyone a happy birthday with serious style. I ordered packs of 6 to be sure they weren't swept up before I got my paws on them. When the receipt came in my inbox it looked like this. And I felt like there was a little party in my inbox! And you know how I love lists - so interesting what repeating things like that can evoke. I wanted to share my outlook party with all of you (I especially love the grand finale of "woohoo, woohoo, woohoo, woohoo, woohoo, woohoo).