Miss Modish- Mojo Maker

Take a Walk with Me...

...around my neighborhood, on a foggy fall morning.

kitty photo Friday

monkey kitty, originally uploaded by jena:rator.

Let's just combine kitty photo Friday with my weekend sign off, hmm? It is done.

Well sheesh, this week has been a doozy for me, phew! If you've been waiting to hear from me via email for awhile, I'm sorry! I'm going to try to tackle my inboxes this weekend. Other than that, I can't wait to catch up on some sleep, perhaps start watching Rome, which another friend lent us... oh, and sleep some more.

Thank you for all your awesome support with my little announcement yesterday! And rest assured Modish, the blog, will stick around for as long as I can make it happen.

Oh and, if we were ever to have a lunch date, this might be what we'd talk about. {thanks Adele!}

Hasta pasta and see you Monday!
<3 jena

Well, I've decided, it's time to grow up (sorta)

Remember how I ever so slyly closed my vintage shop on etsy a few months ago? Well, I'm finally here to tell you why! I've been busy in the background for the past two years working with the web-design team at Aeolidia to offer their clients marketing and PR services. So when I say I have lots of work to do, that's usually what I'm referring to!

But I've been holding out on offering any of those same services to clients on my own for a long time because, well...do I want to be a "marketing consultant?" or a "PR rep?" My gosh, those things sound so grown up! Like a real job, job! And I don't want one of those, yuck!

So I played on etsy and had fun with my little shop until I found out- shit, this is a real gig! This is a lot of work! I couldn't juggle photographing new items and shipping out orders with making marketing plans and still having time to blog here... so, I had to make a choice. I had to think about what I'm best at, I mean really deep down naturally good at...

You see, I'm not counting on being a blogger forever. It's a possiblity, but who knows how the internetscape will change in the next 10 years? 20 years? I feel like I need to figure out a longer term plan, not just something to make sure mortgage is paid this month. I need to create a business that can support me for years to come!

So I'm growing up. And owning up to my innate talents instead of running away from them. And I'm here to introduce you to my new site for Miss Modish, Marketing & PR!

I realized that I can be whatever definition of "marketing consultant" or "pr rep" I want to be. I can redefine it. I can do what's best for me and for my particular niche of clients. And that's ok. And I think both of us will be the better for it.

I hope you'll check the site out and subscribe to the feed if you'd like! I will be posting there once weekly(-ish) on marketing schtuff and will soon have a newsletter to share more great marketing tips and tricks and nuggets to keep you goin when the mojo is in short supply. The site is still a bit in progress- it should be more fleshed out by the end of this weekend... but for now, I need one more cinnamon roll, and a nap!

Oh, Freaks & Geeks

We just got done watching the entire, sadly short-lived tv series, Freaks & Geeks and it was SO GOOD! I had never even heard of this show until Ronit lent us the dvd box-set of the series (one little lonely season only, boo) It's Judd Apatow's version of high school life in the 80's, and it's SO funny and super endearing. It was cancelled after only one season, perhaps because it was too realistic? (talk of drugs and sex, oh my!) Anyway, it's awesome, and I want to spread it's awesome gospel just in case I'm not the last person on the planet to have seen it.

Any Freaks & Geeks fans out there? Who's your favorite character? I kind of love them all, but the geeks are my fave- little Sam is so cute and Haverchuck is so awesome and genuine. And I was a little like Lindsay growing up- straight A's geeky girl who started hanging out with the "burn-out" kids for awhile (mostly because my best friend was dating one) And Daniel (James Franco), god, major swoonfest! Plus he has the coolest clothes of the whole cast, by far.

I seriously wish they'd bring it back to tv! :(

Clementine

More gemstone lovelies for you, this time, the real thing- from Clementine's oh so lovely holiday line which was just released this morning!

I have a major fascination with raw gemstones, rough cut druzys, agate geodes and basically anything that's naturally shimmery and sparkling. Clementine has it all! Plus lots of simple silver and golden pieces that are perfect for everyday.

Carly Waito

It's gemstone day around here today! First up, I just had to share these stunning pieces by Carly Waito. They totally stopped me in my tracks because no, they're not giant hunks of rock- they're little oil paintings! (of giant hunks of rock) And they're fantastic, hmm? I think she captured the light, energy and little intracacies of each stone so beautifully. {via automatism}

the kind of sneaks dreams are made of

I reallllly wish these were my size. Somebody buy them, please. From approproiately named, kellyshoestrings.

hosiery snosiery

Ooh la la lah lille boutique. I looooove your tights! Even at $65 bucks a pop ($ouch!)

The lille boutique is a local little shop here at 1007 E Burnside, but they also sell their goodies online, out-of-towners. I might have to head to the brick and mortar store tho, just to check it out- I've never been! I know that it's a lingerie shop and I think it sounds decadent and looks pretty. And I bet it smells like peonies inside. Or maybe angel farts.

I better hide my wallet before I walk in there. Sounds dangerous.

(psst: the tights at the very top are called "angel fart tights"- I cannot take credit for that one!)

Little Winter Scores!

{the sweet Anabela & Geoff from Fieldguided}

Little Winter this past weekend was a big success! It looked gorgeous and was crowded the whole time I was there, which means hopefully everybody sold a lot. I was a bad blogger and only took a couple pics (lots of other people took good ones tho- find them in the flickr pool here!) I was just too busy having fun meeting everyone, and was concerned about getting back to my broken-knee mister stranded at home. I did shop though! Here are the goodies I came away with, and no, none of them are gifts. Hah! 

I got... 

• Some pretty wall decals from Shanna Murray- they're for our bedroom if we ever get around to decorating it...
• A dreamcats calendar! from Fieldguided. I had no resistance.
• A print from Oh My Cavalier of a woman riding a wolf - I used to want to be that girl, I was obsessed with wolves growing up!
• Some cute letterpress thank you cards from Tokketok
• And, a beautiful original painting and little gocco print from Amanda Blake. I've been drooling over her shop for ages and have been waiting til I had a home of my own to buy an original from her- and now I have both! It's of a woman with reddish hair holding up a little yellow house- too perfect!

Would that I could have purchased something from all the talented vendors, but I loved being able to meet everyone and see their awesomeness in real-life, close up. Everything they make is even more gorgeous in person, and everyone was super nice! 

What I love about fall

Happy Monday! I found out last night that my "kitty photo friday" pic made it to explore on flickr a few days ago! That's the first time that's ever happened to me and seriously, it was exciting! I wonder how they found me? I don't know, but it's awesome. It made me laugh with giddiness! I started checking out all the other photos that made it to explore that day and there are some amazing ones...here are some of my faves! The ones that remind me most of what I love about fall.

{ok, that kitty doesn't exactly remind me of fall, but how could I resist her?}

Happy Weekend!

flowering succulent, originally uploaded by jena:rator.

The weekend, she is here. She will host a great craft fair. She will be layered in rain. She will let me sleep in on Sunday.

Hope you have a good one and see you back here next week!
<3 jena

kitty photo Friday

boogie in green, originally uploaded by jena:rator.

Outfitted

Gorgeous chartreuse velvet cape: Heather Treadway, handmade (available at Aequanimitas)
Lace skirt: vintage, from Golden Rule
Ring: Jamieson Diemer, handmade
boots: Steve Madden (mine)

SO, this is kind of a cheater outfitted, because I don't actually own any of these clothes and I have been wearing sweatpants everyday this week in reality, but... last weekend my wonderful photog friend Ronit put together a Renegade Fashion Shoot with 4 girls modeling, lots of cool vintage clothing from Golden Rule, handmade clothing and jewelry from local designers and lots of fun! The results were awesome. I'll share more pics of everyone else later, but wanted to focus on this cape for now because this cape. is. amazing. Oh how I wish it could be mine!!!

Locals- check it out in person at the Aequanimitas official grand opening tomorrow night- it's First Friday at the 811 Burnside complex there will be lots of talent, music, dance and shopping to behold!

Sweet Haven Homestead

Wolfie & the Sneak (one half of which is Renee, our petals & pedals writer here) have been hard at work on their annual calendar, which may be more gorgeous this year than ever. And they've also released a new line of goodness called Sweet Haven Homestead which features hand-crafted goods made with materials straight from the earth.

Everything in the line has one thing in common: "indebtedness to our grandparents for providing us with the means to live gently upon the earth." I love that idea! So far they have hand-hewn wood shelves (that I want) and handmade pinhole cameras- they're working on baskets and other beautifully hand-detailed items. Can't wait to see what else is up their furry sleeves!

Miss Modish Muses: Vintage OSU ladies

I was just perusing the Oregon State University Archives on flickr and wow oh wow, what fantastic photos they have! I fell in love with these ones featuring young college ladies in what appears to be some awesome classes and University events circa 1920ish.

Fiber furniture weaving? Yes, please! Principles of Costuming? Sounds fun! And just look at those awesome archer ladies- sheesh, I want that photo framed on my wall! Although I'm glad we women no longer have to wear dresses everyday of our lives, I do think a lot of these girls look awfully spiffy. And spiffiness can be in such short supply these days ;)

A mag, a swap & a little winter!

Holiday season has officially begun, it appears! There's lots of holiday goodness happening this week- so, here goes:

In case you haven't seen it yet, Ez over at Creature Comforts just released a special holiday magazine called Gifted and it's goooorgeous. Stunning! With over 200 pages of diy projects, shop profiles, free printables, and a beauty of a gift guide, it should give you loads of great ideas for the holiday season. I am so impressed- I think it's impeccable, and I think Ez needs to publish a magazine every month ;) I'm honored to be featured in her blogger's dish section (on pg 22) along with some amazing blogger company!

And, it's that time again for the Freshly Blended Ornament Swap! It's the fifth year, and I've participated the last few years and it's so much fun! You make 10 ornaments and send them off to 10 addresses that are supplied to you, and then sit back and wait for 10 pacakages from other swappers to hit your mailbox! It's so fun to see what you get! These houses above are ornaments I made for the swap a couple years ago, and I'm pretty sure I'll play again this year, eventho I'm really busy- it's nice to have a crafty distraction. You gotta sign up by this Sunday to participate!

And this weekend here in Portland is the Little Winter market! The list of vendors is really exciting, it'll be hard for me not to buy something (for myself) from every single one- gifts, must think gifts! There's a little pre-party to meet everyone on Friday night from 7-9 at West Elm. And then the market will be open on Sat & Sun at the Cleaners, right by the Ace Hotel (details above) I'll be a greeter at the door on Sat from 2-6- come say hi!

Nurse Modish

{nurse effie, by the black apple}

Welp, the mister got hit by a car while riding his bike home from work yesterday. Crikey! I hate those calls! But am always glad when he's the one calling and he sounds relatively ok on the other end of the phone. The guy rolled through a stop, didn't see him at all and ran straight into him! The mister got flung off his bike and landed right on his knee, but luckily that's the only thing that got hurt (well, his bike is outta commission now too :( And after spending 4 hours in urgent care last night, we learned he has a break in his kneecap! Fun! He doesn't need surgery or anything tho, just has a big brace and won't be having much fun for many many weeks, looks like.

Anyway, I have no posts ready for today, obvoiusly, and I have to catch up on all the work that I was supposed to get done last night. And as soon as sleeping-broken-knee-beauty wakes up, I'll be playing nurse! So, I'll see you back here tomorrow. In the meantime, send some speedy recovery vibes to the mister please, if you have some to spare!

<3 j

Blogstar: Anja of Clever Nettle

I discovered the Clever Nettle blog from the vintage shop by the same name which I've been coveting for ages now. Run by miss Anja, her taste is so sweet, her photography is gorgeous (and seriously seems to be getting better and better everytime I look) and she's a fellow Portlander which automatically puts her in the awesome box- she writes about cool places and people around town often, and I like that!

Where do you live? A house in Portland, Oregon (but originally from British Columbia)

Where do you blog from? Usually the couch, an old golden floral number that has been destroyed by cat claws.

How long have you been blogging? I've had online diaries (hello livejournal, xanga) since I was still in highschool, but my current blog has been around for about three to four years. The main difference is that I don't use my blog to complain as much as I would as a teenager, ha ha.

What's one of the oddest/sweetest/craziest or most memorable comments you've ever received?  The nicest stuff for me is when I can tell that I really have a lot in common with someone who is commenting/reading, and it's even better when I know I'll get a chance to hang out with them someday! I've only had a couple mean comments, the funniest one was on a post I wrote about being sick of seeing Zooey Deschanel everywhere online, and it simply said, "Bitter." haha!

What's one of your favorite posts/or fave series on your blog & why? I'm really excited about a Portland Street Style feature that I started recently, I still only have one post (gotta make more!) but the experience of meeting Madeline and taking her photo was so fun and silly that it totally stands out in my memory.

Who are 3 other blogstars, in your book?
Some recent favorites: Miss Moss, Rosemud and Fancy Fine

{all images from Clever Nettle and linked to their original posts}

Mermaids

I just re-watched the movie Mermaids last week- it was one of my favorites when I was a teenager. Have you ever seen it? It takes place in 1963, so the clothes and sets are awesome. It stars Cher as a sometimes awful, but somehow still loveable, single mother. Winona Ryder as a her disgruntled and disappointed headed-to-the-convent teen daughter. And little kiddo Christina Ricci as her seriously cute as shit little swimmer daughter. And it's pretty good! Not earth-shattering or anything, just a fun to watch, good story that's well acted. And Christina Ricci, I'm telling you- just too cute to believe!

The final scene has them all dancing around the kitchen (which has the greatest formica table I've ever seen) to this awesome song and it makes me really, really happy.