lula snapshots and a dotted swiss sewing project

It's that time again.. Issue 10 of Lula is out! I picked it up earlier in the week when Neil and I were having a Borders date. Here are some snapshots of a few of my favorite things.

Issue 10 is beautiful as always, filled with polka dots, bow ties, and plenty of hair inspiration. A highlight is its birthday spread. Lula just turned 5 this year, and there's a lovely celebration shoot complete with party dresses and vintage inspired swimsuits.

When we hit up Borders, I also read a bit of the latest issue of Nylon as well as Elle Magazine's Spring/Summer 2010 Collections issue. I'm not a big collection or runway person.. they can get overwhelming. Smaller designers and collections, I tend to like more.

But I gave Elle a shot and read through it to see if anything caught my interest. The layout was great. Ralph Lauren S/S 2010 surprisingly had a lot I was into.. mismatched chambray and denim, liberty print, 1920's glamorous flapper meets tailored golfer looks. Overalls and sheer baby blue tops. Mostly, the prairie style look that's hard to avoid right now and even harder to dislike.

There were interviews with interesting people liking interesting things.. specifically for me, pastels and bloomers. I'm still on a furious search for a bloomer sewing pattern that's high waisted and not too long so I can make some out of my tan velvet fabric I bought recently.

Nylon was sort of a bust. Not much I was into, and words like "fierce" (when used to describe something cool, not used to describe a lion) and "Lady Gaga" (self explanatory) make me turn the page pretty fast. But there were some good parts to the issue - such as its homage to white lace, which I still can't get enough of, and some pretty underwire gingham swimsuits (also in Lula) that immediately became my ideal suit to compare all future bathing suits to this summer.

I wanted to share my future sewing project with you guys, due to start soon.. I bought this lovely pattern from Myra Melinda, a fun Etsy shop filled with vintage greats (free shipping on sewing patterns!). It's a 1950's dress pattern with a full skirt and three variations. I'll be making the sleeveless version (can't decide if I want to make the detachable collar or not) in the pink dotted swiss fabric for a spring wedding coming up. The catch? The wedding is a week from Sunday. If I'm going to be making this in time, I'll have to work quickly.

And I have to announce this because I can't wait much longer.. I have finished my handmade jumper! I ironed it out today and it's ready to be worn. I'll be posting plenty of pictures on Saturday.

Mule Days, a country festival in Columbia, Tennessee, is happening tomorrow, so Neil and I are going to meet up with my mom and enjoy some flea market shopping, carnival food, and fun (and of course cheesy) fair events. I've decided to wear the jumper to the festival and take some photos there! There might even be a clogging dance.. although I don't exactly know what that is. We'll find out!

vintage red velvet at centennial park

Photos by Neil!

Racing Green Wool Skirt - Vintage (gift from Ash!)

Cream Ruffle Tie Blouse - Target

Cut Out Oxford Heels - Urban Outfitters

Cream Polka Dot Knee High Stockings - American Apparel

Brown Skinny Belt - Forever21

Red Velvet Ribbon - Vintage (yard sale)

This past Monday, Neil and I took a trip to Centennial Park, namely to see the sun set on Nashville's Parthenon - and to take these blog pictures there. Ever since I posted my cold weather wish list last week, I've wanted to try out a frizzy, romantic hairstyle, so I crimped my hair a bit, pinned my bangs back, and tied a red velvet ribbon in my hair. I'm going to vary it up a bit next time.. I want to make hair bow clips out of that lovely velvet ribbon and braid my hair on the side, and I also want to try a loose up-do with frizzy, silent film hair - a bit like this pretty Victorian hairstyle.

The wool tulip skirt was a happy accident.. my sister Ash had found the skirt in a thrift store and when she washed it, it shrunk. So, she gave it to me! I hemmed it a bit shorter and now it might be my favorite new item in my closet.

After Centennial Park, we crossed the road and had a Borders date!

Monday was also the day that Neil heard some good news.. he interviewed for a seafood position at Whole Foods last week, and he got it! This has been a dream of his for awhile now.. I swear he's applied to fifteen different positions at Whole Foods in the past few months. What he really wants is to become a Whole Foods regional buyer or specialist, so he can be in charge of choosing which wine or cheese or produce the store sells. Now that he's working there, he's one step closer to his goal!

And that's good news for me, too. We now get 20% off everything at Whole Foods. All of that fantastic cheese just became a little bit more accessible.

It's fulfilling to know that both of us are on a path towards doing what we absolutely love.. and in the meantime, feeling content with where we are. So while we were at Borders, Neil looking through cookbooks and me looking through fashion magazines and Joseph Campbell books, things felt right. That sort of feeling you get when you're surrounded by things that you identify with, that are a part of you. Coffee, folklore, fashion, Neil. To be yourself and to be complete - nothing beats that.

And speaking of fashion magazines.. I bought (a Norse mythology collection and) Lula! It's inspirational and full of redheads. I've started making some hair pieces that have been inspired by the magazine, all of its lace and goodness and old world glamour. Posting on them soon!