Miss Modish- Mojo Maker

Blogstar: The Maker's Project

Blogstar is back, ya'll! Only it's going to be a little different this go-around because I just don't have time to be well planned enough for the interview part. So, I'm just going to share a bit about why I think each blog is so swell. Okey doke? Ok!

So, without further ado, my first blogstar of the new year is this beautiful new photo blog by Jennifer Causey, The Maker's Project. 

{Morris Kitchen, ginger syrup makers & mixologists- from The Makers}

Jen lives and works in Brooklyn and is surrounded by so many inspiring artists and talents, she decided to start photographing how they make their magic and learn more about the people behind the work. 

{Robicelli's, bakers- from The Makers Project}

As Jen explains: "In this hectic, industrialized modern world, I am constantly seeking handmade and artisan-produced products. I love discovering people who embrace a more tactile way of living, so I decided to start photographing them. When my project began, I knew I was photographing people who make things, but I soon realized I was also photographing people who make things happen."

{Saipua, florists- from the Makers Project}

This is just a tiny glimpse of what you'll find over on the Makers Project. There are tons more photos to see, plus each set is accompanied by a little question answer section at the end to get to know the makers a bit better. It's pretty darn fantastic and only just beginning- I know I'll be checking in regularly!

Kitty Photo Friday

Lulu just can't resist cuddling up with a pile of freshly washed socks! 

There is some blue sky aching to peek thru the clouds right now. Come on blue sky, come on! I'm off to pick up some painting supplies for the Get Your Paint On class which starts on Monday. Perhaps my make/do post next Tuesday will be a little painting? Hmm, we'll see!

Have any creative plans this weekend? I feels like spring is right around the corner! 

<3 jena

Annie Novak is not your garden variety farmer

I do a whole lotta web browsing looking for interesting posts for Petals and Pedals. Sometimes it takes me on a journey 12 blogs away with no trace of gardening evidence to blog about. Like this morning. . . gardening inspiration turned to interior design blogs which led me to The Selby, and just when I told myself to refocus, I came across the incredibly stylish, exponentially inspiring Annie Novak

Novak isn't your garden variety farmer. As the founder of Growing Chefs, a farm-based educational program (with a super cute logo, I might add), and Rooftop Farm farmer, the lady has her hands full.

This description is from the Growing Chefs website:

A lifelong vegetarian, Annie spends several months of the year traveling and investigating different ways people grow and eat their food around the world. She's followed blueberries and cows through New Zealand, sheep and hops through Argentina, quinoa and llamas through Peru, cassava and fish through Fiji and the Cook Islands, and chocolate through Ghana. Her current interest is to visit all the countries in the world in which one can harvest salt and grow pepper.

(Images via The Selby- lots more to see there)

Looking for more information on rooftop gardening straight from the mouth of experience? Read Novak's posts for The Atlantic. Do you dream of turning energy zapping roof tops into an agrOasis and raising urban chickens of your own?

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

The Cat's Meow

:: photo source

Making me purr this week:

This gorgeous silk blouse from TopShop- love the hem and pockets, am dying for this peachy color

This new line of necklaces from A Alicia made with vintage kimono fabric and handmade ceramic beads. Ugh- want! (the one on the right would go great with the peach blouse, hmm?)

This Photo Booth book by Babbette Hines, recommended by a reader from yesterday's post (thanks Shelley!) I ordered it!

This beautiful pleated bag from Quote. Canvas + leather = ooo

These tightrope walker necklaces by Klimbim, a brand new brand from Berlin. So unique, instantly loveable. 

Bella Figura asked me to pick my favorites from their new invitation designs and this beauty is one of them!

This vintage sweater in pretty dusty rose, from Capricious Traveler

Paintings by Becca Statdtlander (all of them really)- inspiring for my painting class! {via wolf and willow}

These s/s 2011 looks from Chris Benz and their perfect "subtle 70's" vibe

This Spaces book from the editors of Frankie- ordered this too.

This Earth & Sky necklace, a collaborative effort from Stone & Honey and Satsuma press. So pretty + comes with a "birds of a feather" letterpress card.

Baked kale chips from Smitten Kitchen (her photo)- I made these this past weekend and dang! We scarfed them down like potato chips, so yummy. 

Hey, what's going on in this post? I think my aching for spring has officially begun.

Miss Modish Muses: Vintage Photobooth Solo Pics

I'm kind of obsessed with these vintage photobooth photos, all found in the aptly named flickr group. All these people are so stylish in their own unique ways, reflecting the time they lived in- I could look at them for days and days.

photo 1 : photo 2 : from Akrausha's collection

photo 1 : photo 2 : photo 3 : photo 4 : from Snapatorium's collection

photo 1 : photo 2 : from My Darling Dinosaur's collection

photo 1 : photo 2 : photo 3 : photo 4 : from loveday lemon's collection

photo 1 : photo 2 : photo 3 : photo 4 : from Atypical Art's collection

photo 1 : photo 2 : photo 3 : photo 4 : more from Snapatorium's collection

It seems I'm most attracted to the pics with just a solo person in them, which is funny because I've never gone into a photobooth by myself. It seems a bit scary to me, being alone in there with a camera- I'm not sure why. Perhaps I should add a solo photo booth trip to my childhood wonder must-do list!

What do you think of these? Have you ever taken a photobooth photo alone? And why don't we have awesome backgrounds in our photobooths anymore? They're so great!

Miss Modish Marketing Tips: guest post on OMHG

Hi! Just a little note to let you know I have a marketing post up today over at Oh My Handmade Goodness. I mention it because it was really fun to write and I want lots of people to read it! 

In it, I talk about the 4 things I'm doing to market my business this year (that you should do too) and here's a hint- they all sound like a whole lotta fun. I figure the only way we can stay continually inspired to market our businesses, is to make the marketing part fun, too! Read how I'm doing it.

Eco-Friendly Find: BlueBirdHeaven

As both a graphic designer and compulsive organizer, I have a fascination with antique printer's type drawers. So many adorably tiny compartments paired with the aesthetic of an old printing shop...what's not to love? Which is why I'm shocked that I've only just discovered BlueBirdHeaven.

Jessica of BlueBirdHeaven salvages old type drawers and transforms them into incredibly lovely jewelry displays... perfect for organizing your pretties while brightening up a bedroom wall.

Liz Grotyohann is a co-founder of cosa verde, a marketplace for handmade, environmentally-conscious goods.

make/do intro- create something with me!

After signing up for the painting e-course last week, it became apparent that I'm going to need to actually make time to paint. Every single week. Ruh-roh.

Making time- one of the hardest things for me (and all of us?) to do. But, I'm trying this year to really make my behind the computer time more efficient, more work focused and less "let's see if we can explore the entire internet in one sitting." I really need more moments to myself that aren't had behind the computer. More moments to try new things, to cook, to write, to knock some things off this list. 

So, I'm starting now. I'm going to try to develop a habit of doing. Of making just for making sake. I'm creating the space for myself, at least an hour a week, to do something just for fun. Cooking, gardening, crafting, painting, house projects- whatever my little heart desires, as long as it's something creative that doesn't involve a keyboard or mouse.

To give it a go, last night I pulled out my old jewelry making supplies from their much neglected drawers. I pulled out some brass chain and pretty vintage beads from my collection of goodies and made a couple (super easy) necklaces! 

And you know what? It felt great. And took probably less than hour!  

Instead of making do with the fact that I have little time these days for creative pursuits outside of work, I'm going to just make/do. Make something. Do something. Create something.

I'm going to allow myself the time to be hands-on creative more often because in order to change bad habits, you need to create better ones in their place, right? 

What about you? Have a project you've been meaning to get started? One you've been meaning to finish? Find a great tutorial on a blog you want to try out? A new recipe you've been itching to make? 

Let's do it together! Let's create some creative mojo for each other, inspire and motivate each other, keep up that New Year momentum all year long.

Let's make just to make- if you're in the business selling the things you make, try making something just for yourself, or to give to a friend. Learn a new skill or try a new craft. Keep sales and customers out of the equation entirely and free yourself to just create for creation sake, like you did when you were a little kid!

I'll be posting my make/do projects each Tuesday from here on out (some may include a tutorial :) and would love to see what you guys make too! So please, join me! Make something this week, just for fun, and share it with us in the comments next Tuesday! I'd really love for you to post about it on your own blog and leave us a link in the comments so we can all check it out. 

Sound fun? You in?

Kitty Photo Friday

kitty in a basket, originally uploaded by jena:rator.

Well, happy weekend to you all! It's so grey and rainy and dreeaarry here. I feel kinda, meh. And now the mister seems to have caught my cold! We'll probably have another lovely weekend of staying in and watching movies. What have you got planned?

Meet you back here on Monday! :)
<3 jena

Run-In With a Seed Catalog

Maybe i'm just getting the itch a little earlier this year, but the seed catalogs are lookin' extra good. Maybe it's the paper flipping, the little bits of reading I can do while tending to a toddler. Every seed description seems to be a tiny romance novel and Fabio is played by Tasty Evergreen tomato seeds. Reading one description is the closest I get to finishing a task these days, so I savor each one and anxiously await each new morsel. 

More than a few other people are ogling the glossy catalog sheen. Vintage Chica is doing some seed homework. Both she and Chiot's Run captured the magic of the Baker's Creek catalog, perhaps the most  drool worthy one I've seen this year. While less apt to entice you with the quicksand of pretty pictures, Stony Run Farm's endorsement of the Fedco catalog is worth a mention, as is their tagline: "This is not a fancy picture but an actual reality."

What are you eyeing? Is sifting through seed catalogs a favorite past time or a waste of time?

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

The Cat's Meow

:: photo source

Making me purr this week: 

This bright Pendleton print shirt from Lazy Oaf 

These Morning Mountain and Night Mountain prints by Tabitha Bianca Brown 

These orangey-peachy polishes from priti- fireglow, september charm, festival gitana

This true colors dress by Cristina Pires

These beautiful hand-woven belts from the Andean Collection (via ecouterre)

This set of gocco prints by Beci Orpin, from the Art 4 Heart auction (all proceeds from the sale of these, and other art items, go to benefit the Queensland flooding disaster relief)

This adorable whale tissue holder by Sparkly Pony

This mint & brass necklace by Kim Dulaney

This pretty handmade feathered headdress by Headmistress (as modeled by pretty ginger blogger, Jacklyn)

These beaded barettes from General Store

These great pouches by Scout & Catalogue

These gorgeous balloon shakers by Masayuki Kurokawa, at Merchant 4 

Have any favorites? I really want to try one of those nail polishes, but hmm, which one first?

Own+Adore: Magic in a bottle

So, I'm kinda not feelin outfitted this year! Is it the fact that I have pretty much lived in pjs and yoga pants since Jan 1st? Perhaps. But it's also because that was last year's little project for myself, to photograph one outfit a week, and I did pretty good! Good enough for me. 

So now, I'm ready for a new little photo project of sorts. I still want a way to share my favorite clothing and accessories with you tho, but I thought it could be more interesting to not just see a piece in an outfit, but also hear about where I got it, why I bought it and why I love it so much. And that way, I can talk about other favorite things too, like the home decor, art and beauty stuff that I own, and adore. 

So with that, a new column is born- own+adore. And first up on the list to share? 

Argan oil is like my little beauty secret. I have been telling all my real-life friends about it and now it's time to share it with you bloggy friends, too. I've been using it as a face moisturizer, instead of cream or lotion, since the fall and it has done a world of wonders for my skin. 

I have naturally oily, acne-prone skin so believe me, the last thing I thought I should do was put more oil on it! But I read all about how it's great for skin like mine and decided to just try it.

I use just a few drops on my face after cleansing and my skin stays moisturized all day and get this- it's LESS oily! My face is clearer than it has possibly ever been in my life. I have no more clogged pores around my nose to obsess about. It seems to erase tiny lines and keeps my skin so soft and supple.

I swear, it's like a little vile of miracle juice, people. So much so that I've been adding a few drops to my shampoo and body lotion too lately. 

Love love love it. I have the Josie Maran brand and would definitely recommend it, but you can find argan oil available from lots of different brands, big and small. And I know Palace sells some here locally. 

Have you ever tried it? What did you think? Freaked to put oil on your face? 

Mini Marketing Lesson with Tree & Kimball

I'm working on a Shop Makeover plan for a Miss Modish client. In that, my focus is on branding- I'm going through each and every element of her shop to devise how they could better come together to form a really definable and unique brand, so that she can really start talkin' to her target market and sell more.

Seeking out great jewelry product photos to show as examples, I headed to Lisa Bruemmer's shop, Tree & Kimball. Her photographs echo so well the girl that she's selling to- vintage loving, super feminine, younger women with a penchant for romanticism. The setting and styling of her photographs really reinforce her brand identity and at the same time, let her work really shine. The stacks of stained paper and lace are the perfect complement to the bright and bold colors of her designs.

I swear I fell asleep with visions of colorful lace dancing in my head. I just can't forget about them. And that, my friends, is the effect of strong branding. 

And you know what's the 2nd effect of strong branding? The fact that I just ordered a couple pairs of earrings. It was almost like I couldn't stand not to. Her luscious color selection is to die for and all I can think as I peruse her shop is want, want, want. 

Does your shop have that effect on customers? Are your product photos doing their best to speak to your target customer and enhance your brand? 

Eco-Friendly Find: Swedish Guy Design

I have fallen in love with the housewares from SwedishGuyDesign. A green builder by trade, this mister has taken to crafting some amazing homegoods from reclaimed French wine barrels.

That wine glass rack? Leaves me speechless. Find more here.

Liz Grotyohann is a co-founder of cosa verde, a marketplace for handmade, environmentally-conscious goods.

The Labyrinth + hopeful promises to my little girl self

We watched The Labyrinth this weekend- I haven't seen it since I was a little girl and I forgot what to expect, but honestly, I thought it was still quite impressive! Besides Jennifer Connolly and David Bowie, all the characters are Jim Henson puppets and they are really really amazing. David Bowie's pretty awesome too, of course :) The sets, the puppets, the "special effects" were all so inspiring to see as they were made with someone's HANDS, not CGI.

It felt so imaginative and fun, it seemed to take me back for a bit to my little girl brain and my little girl dreams- all those things I hoped to do someday when I'm all "grown up." I felt of rush of creative spark and the need to learn something new purely for fun sake- so, I signed up for Mati & Lisa's Get Your Paint On course and I'm totally stoked.

I've always wanted to learn how to paint but have just never tried, thinking that I'm not that great at drawing so I'll probably be not that great at painting either, but how will I know if I don't try? And who better to teach me than two artists who I already admire, whose work graces my very walls!

But, I don't want to stop there. I'm taking a cue from the The Labyrinth and telling my too-busy-for-fun-adult-self "You have no power over me." I'm going to accomplish some of those little girl dreams I had for myself yet.

So, dear younger-me deep down inside, I hope beyond hope that I will someday still:

• go to a wolf howl in Yellowstone and howl at the moon with them
• start playing piano again
• write a song
• learn to speak (enough to get around) Italian and eat pasta all over Italy
• go scuba-diving somewhere warm and tropical
• see a broadway play on Broadway in NY
• learn how to paint
• finish a whole embroidery piece
• take some dance classes
• go camping in Yosemite
• go back to Macchu Picchu
• ride a sled pulled by dogs
• learn how to tie-dye
• ride a horse
• meditate beside a real Tibetan monk, in Tibet
• do a full bow pose in yoga
• go on a silent retreat
• see Radiohead live
• visit Jim Morrison's grave in Paris
• go on an African safari
• plant some irises in my yard
• see the green rolling hills of Ireland in real life
• write a book
• learn how to surf 
• drive a convertible along Hwy 1
• pet a koala
• climb a volcano

Some of these will definitely happen, some are still hopes for the someday. But now that I have my mister, it'll be even more fun to try to accomplish these things with him!

What about you? What sort of dreams did you have when you were young that have gotten pushed aside by the day-to-day grind? Which ones are you going to try to make sure still happen?

Kitty Photo Friday

Our friends Shayna and Lori rescued these little kittens! They named them eenie, meanie, miney and mo! They're now off at a foster home and getting lots of love- they may have feline leukemia :( so they can't be around any other kitties, but they'll have a safe and welcome place to go here in Portland, no matter what.

Well, thanks for joining me here this week! I ended up getting sick and spent yesterday with a miserable fever, so I'm just gonna be laying low this weekend and resting up. Hope you have a great one and I'll see you back here on Monday!

<3 jena

Permaculture Dreamland

One of my personal pledges this year is to finish projects. I want room for new: new ideas, new projects,  new blank spaces for possibility. The first project I've attacked is my Permaculture Design Certification. {Ahem, baby steps. . . my goal is to complete the design, not the implementation of the design.}

To finish up the certification process I have to do a master plan for a permaculture project. In my case, the project is our yard: just under an acre of potential. Potential space for gardens brimming with edible and medicinal plants, multi-functional architectural elements, natural habitats for the critters, several 3 bin compost systems, rain water collection and irrigation. The dream goes on and on. 

Having a 1 year old, though, makes it hard to find a lengthy stretch of time to sit down and finish the design. My solution? A Google presentation. I can work on it during down time at work, then work on it during nap time at home. Even better? I'm not distracted by the physical outdoor work since our entire yard is currently covered in a thick layer of ice. One of the beauties of this project is its long-term scope {it is, after all, for my own yard}. I can dream, jot, and eventually refer back to the master plan when I'm ready to get to work.

Are you using the cold winter to plan your outdoor space? Daydreaming of an edible yard? What puts the fun in functional in your yard?

Renee Garner has a passion to make things grow, although her brownish thumb wants her to believe otherwise. When mud pies aren't on the menu, you can find her doodling the days away at Wolfie and the Sneak.

The Cat's Meow

:: photo source 

Making me purr this week:

This chunky faceted ring by Orno Jewelry

Cat Alphabet! from Jamie Shelman

The Olivia Cowl from Taylor House (& hurry- she's closing up shop on Jan 20th to go study abroad!)

These antique kilim pillow covers by Sukan

These artist designed iphone cases by Deanne Cheuk, Cinda B & Hannah Stouffer

These gorgeous wool blankets from Mexchic (via All the Mountains' guest curator post)

This brass wolfie necklace from Beatrice Collection

These gorgeous totes by infusion

These pointed black brogues from Kate Kanzier

This handmade black pyramid ring by mirta

Miss Modish Muses: Louise Brooks

Our first Miss Modish Muse of the New Year!

I was initially looking for some vintage photos of women wearing menswear (I still may do that post later) and I stumbled upon this photo of Louise Brooks in a suit:

and I just couldn't stop there...

She strikes me as such an individual- a trend-setter, not a follower. She popularized this bob haircut of hers- women just had to have it after seeing how alluring she was on screen, wanting to be like her. I've really never been interested in watching a silent movie for some reason, but I'd give it a shot to see what she's like- to see what woman caused such a stir in society back then. 

{can you spot her in this one?}

 

So gorgeous. I wish I could see her in color. I bet those lips are painted red, red, red. Have any of you ever seen a movie of hers? Which would you recommend? Have you seen any silent movies before? My interest is piqued. 

Oh and look? She wrote a memoir called Lulu in Hollywood. Another thing I have to check out!

Color Me Happy in Golden Triangles

Tonk boots at Gargyle :: triangle gold ring by Acesstory :: Rococo earrings by Little O :: tribal gold headpiece at Spanish Moss