Scarf Love, Part Deux

Now I am thinking of the silk scarf.  It is, afterall, 75 degrees here this week.  In the morning I can get away with wrapping a gauzy number around my neck, but by early afternoon it feels like a self-induced sauna.  I know, to have such problems.  I am working on embracing this temperate challenge to open my mind to different forms of expression (in fashion).

Welcome Back, Silk Scarf.

I found some lovely images online.  Some realistic, some not so much unless you are Iris Apfel or en route to a Comme des Garcons show.  Embrace the accessory.  Always.  Happy Scarfing*.

*if you're in a latitude where you are still wrapping the cashmere kind, don't worry your silk days are as close to popping up as those daffodils...

Courtesy of the folks at Kate Spade.  Good reminders and how-to imagery.  I love pictures!

The dreamiest way to wear a silk scarf.  And the dreamiest way to nap. 
Hermes (of course).

This is a real statement.  Made in a statement-kind-of-place (note the plethora of cabs).

Love the ikat.  Again, statement look (note the buildings = NYC).  I admire it but I would look like I used a scarf instead of a towel that morning...and forgot.  Don't be afraid to try new things...but know your limits. 

If you are afraid to embrace your inner silk scarf wearer, there's always the option to frame! Gorgeous!  Wall of Hermes.  Love.

Bonne nuit mon ami! 

Happy New Year!

Today in celebration of the Chinese New Year I will be donning one (or two...or all three?) of my Kenneth Jay Lane Dragon bracelets!  Aren't they gorgeous?  Even the fangs are hand-painted with white enamel.  Can you get over it? 

It's the year of the water dragon, and there's no more appropriate welcome in SoCal than with unusual downpours in the desert today!  

A Statement on The Winter Fashion Rut

I am in a fashion rut*.  When this happens I need to remind myself to seek out the help of those streetwise fashionistas being photographed around the globe.  It's true my current professional lifestyle does not require such eloquent dressing, but I can still make a statement with one giant necklace.  It's unavoidable to the eye and in my experience immediately lifts the spirits (while hopefully not weighing you down, some are so heavy!). 

Enjoy the necklace inspiration below.  Remember (to myself and others) that the corresponding outfit need not be complicated; a simple grey t-shirt and white jeans will do*.

(*I am in a late-Spring-like climate and yet it is January and natives all around me seem to be wearing winter gear. But it's 73 and sunny outside. Oh the difficult dilemmas I have to sort out, I know.)

Petite for a statement piece, but packs extra punch in with highlighter yellow - a favorite color of mine that I love to treat as a neutral.



Gorgeous. Piece. Of. Jewelry.



Love the bold look over demure and classic crisp white blouse.

The Queen of Fine Jewelry wears a classic torsade of gems with a simple sweater. That's how to do it ladies!

Yabusame porcelian horse necklace from Anthropologie.

Adia Kibur neon green and rhinestone multi-strand necklace from Shopbop, $174.

losselliani mussed up strands with deer horn detail (love me some antlers) available at Shopbop, $674.

Happy Birthday to Dixie

My beloved yellow Dixie dog!  (wearing grass skirt and leis of course)

Hooked on a New Print

I have always admired fishing flies - bold colors! texture! creativity! 

Throughout my life I have pondered collecting them while examining my grandfather's fishing hat or flipping through the Fall Orvis catalog.  At flea markets they are gorgeous and beckoning (now I know why the fish bite), if only they weren't sharp to the touch and otherwise useless in my daily life.  Until now!

 

Vibrant! Beckoning print of larger than life flies!

Silk printed pants, the softer side of fishing flies.
Genius.

Going Big in 2012 at the Urban Barn in Southern CA

Happy New Year!

I am opening 2012 with a wonderful and inspiring gem located in Escondido, California (a 30-minute jaunt from San Diego proper and approx. two hours from LA - worth the drive folks!).

Welcome to the Urban Barn - a co-op of thirty "booth" style spaces of incredible vintage accessories and furniture - reworked and original - as well as new items of clothing, accessories, gifts, and more.  Not only will your creative juices flow but you will be inspired by the layers of incredible pieces available in price points from $2 to $600+.  Have a look below, as my mother says "a picture is worth 1000 words"...but I cannot refrain from adding some words of my own...

Urban Barn located at 155 W. Crest St, Escondido, California

Genius and gorgeous - a large chandelier in this vintage birdcage.
Enormous warehouse doors open this indoor-outdoor showroom to larger-than-life displays.  This store makes Anthropogie look amateur.  Incredible.

A "booth" space with a Shabby Chic/French/Vintage look - furniture and glitter and antique mixing bowls! 

Dying. For. This.  A Happy Birthday tiara.  It's vintage.  I LOVE.  A mere $48.

Gorgeous display of German glass glitter.  Shakers ranging from $6-20.  This is the good glitter people.  You know the stuff that makes disco balls look dull.

Entrance to the outdoor space - incredible cement garden finds as well as plenty of vintage furniture. 

Shell cake.  Whomever has this space is seriously gifted with shells, and has incredible amounts of patience.  This shell cake is stunning.  A gorgeous gift for the seaside bride or bridal store. 
Note the dress form covered in a shell bathing costume behind. 

I am a sucker for vintage iron lawn furniture.  I grew up with it (and complained about it since it was not "new" and
cushy or neon in the 80s) but now I have a real appreciation for these pieces.  They are used beautifully at the Parker in Palm Springs and look incredible around a croquet lawn.  Hello!  This settee above is perfection. 

Trust me this vintage shopping adventure is worth the trip if you find yourself floating around SoCal.  I have already been there twice in 24 hours buying an incredible marble cheese cloche for $8 and a stunning black and white marble cafe table with an iron base for a steal. 

Run, don't walk. 



...and a few more ideas...

Here are a few more ideas of gifts for other people.  Or maybe for myself.  Either way, here's some cool stuff to check out...

Best Friendship Bracelet Ever.  Excellent.  How did I not think of this look when I was 11 and making these things semi-professionally?  I need one of these immediately if anyone is listening.  Oh right, this is not supposed to be about me anymore.  These are presents for other people.  Shoot. 

Alexa Pulitzer Stag Alphabet correspondence cards, $75.  BG
These are incredible! 

Boissier candies, $15. I really just like the tins. I am sure the candy is nice, too. Great looking stocking stuffer.

Rablabs Agate and Gold rimmed cheese plate, $450.  BG.  Gorgeous. 

John Darien luggage tag decoupage trays.  I Love Graphics and Fonts and Design.  These are wonderful. 

Unicorn Stocking from Barney's Lady Gaga collection.  I love whimsy.  It makes me want a safari collection of stockings...hmm. 

Pancracio chocolate sardines in porcelain container.  I do not like fish, especially fish that comes in a can.  These fish are the exception. 

Michael Wainwright bowl, $385 @ BG.  Love. 

Man Gifts

It seems kind of a challenge for me to know what to buy for a man.  What is a man gift?  Considering my taste and tendency to lean strongly towards items I prefer, it can be a challenge to edit my choices according to someone else's wants... Therefore take this variety with a grain of salt (or a shot of Gosling's). 

This post's disclaimer to Mr. M, please don't fret when you read this; barely anything from this list is making it under our tree (wink wink).

Needlepoint men's "slippers".  Yes they look like spectators.  It's pretty great.  I agree. 
(Mr. M loves his spectators that he wore during the second half of our wedding.)

Best book cover of all time - it's woven fabric.  It's an old book, hard to find, but looks amazing in a vignette! 
I did marry some adventure but have not read this story...yet.   

Verdura carved coral and gold strawberry cufflinks.  About $11 Large.  Carved. Coral.  Stunning. 

Stingray iPhone covers - gorgeous!  I love the variations on iphone covers.  And iPads.  Seriously it's the cover options that make me want an iPad.  Really. 

Duuu nuh...duuuu nuh.  Genius cufflinks. 

You know how I feel about this can, and what it contains, and the fact that it is seemingly unavailable in Southern California.  Mmm hmm. 
I wish I had some empty cans because I would consider doing an entire Christmas Tree devoted to Dark'n'Stormies. How great would these look against the pine? 

Last but not least, a gift of some time on the beach would be a nice present.  See even this bull likes the beach.  Doesn't he look relaxed?  I can sense it in his blank stare.  Very zen moment. 

Sugar Trunk Show This Weekend at TOGS in Greenwich, CT!

Hi Friends!  TOGS in Greenwich is happy to host a trunk show for Sugar this weekend, Dec 9-13 (Today through Monday) at their most recent location, 113 Greenwich Avenue. 

There's lots of little treats available for sale including earrings, colorful rings (see below), and unique necklaces including an incredible piece composed of links of pink angelskin coral. 

Chrysoprase nugget ring in 18k gold vermeil, $210. Sugar

TOGS @ 113 Greenwich Ave in Greenwich, CT

*Also, Tara Quinn Reilly has graciously offered her home as the site for a private trunk show on December 17th that will feature colorful and unique pieces of Sugar jewerly via our RI proxy, Genevieve Biswas Rozansky, and also exquisite treasures for home and family from Lizz De Villegas' collection.  Please email me at heidi@shopsugar.com for more information about this event. 

Heidi's Christmas List

All within reason I believe (wink wink).

Martin Katz stackable rings. Pink Sapphire or Peridot please.  And I might need like yellow diamond or white diamond to break it up.  And maybe a black diamond one for my alternative days.  Oh and then navy sapphires and white diamond ones for stripes!  Yes! 

Eddie Borgo cone bracelets. $600 for the gold-plated version.  I would wear this everyday.  (Oh and I would wear the stacked diamond and sapphire rings daily, too.  I need more appendages or a body double.)

Rick Owens distressed leather jacket.  To go with the black diamond stacked rings.  Gorgeous. 

I am building a look here folks.  Alexander McQueen purple mink miniaudiere.  Did I mention it's mink and would look incredible with above mentioned jacket and stacked black diamond rings?



Simon Paul Scott hoof and paw candlesticks.  Come on.  These are INCREDIBLE.  (Available on the Seventh Floor @ BG)



1977 Mercedes 450 SL Roadster.  Hello. 

Rolex Oysterdate pink face with stainless steel.  Pink Face.  Need I say more?  And it's vintage 1980s of course. 
(PS would look great with...black diamond rings...rick jacket...McQueen's mink clutch... It's beginning to sound like the 12 days of Christmas... Oh and driving that '77 Benz?)

I prefer the pink but this is a 1970s Rolex Oysterdate with an orange face and alligator bands.  Did I say anything about it being made in the 1970s?  Disco Deluxe.  Chic.

Will you be needing my shipping address or measurements? 

Merry Happy.  I hope your holiday is coming along as nicely as mine.  The only present I really wanted arrived a bit earlier than expected. 

Imagery for Imagination

I was looking for something to post quickly that would send a shiver of inspiration down my neck and into my fingertips...in order for me to get a bit of creative work done.  I think this should do it...

Happy (working) Sunday!

Design by Jan Showers

Nature vs. Nurture

I have never been the garden girl.  I appreciate a good garden and I adore flowers.  But gardening has never been my thing.  Maybe it's the dirt or the fact that I can kill every green thing that moves into or adjacent to my house.  I think I just want to show up and have it all blooming and perfect kind of like I live at the botanical gardens.

These little spots below are divine.  I could see myself enjoying the butterflies and whatnot there.

Those adirondacks are perfection.  Don't they just melt away your cares by looking at them?

I love Zinnias.  They are amazing.  Love.  Sunflowers are great for about a day until their heads get so big they cannot stand it anymore.  I love a playhouse in the garden.  My friend Melissa had one growing up, and I thought it was pretty normal to have a little house in the garden that was all yours.  That was really NICE and I wish I had an adult garden house now.  Maybe once we plant some roots...(SSM will be tending those due to my inability to get any root-bearing thing to thrive.)