Studio Kiekje

The Uniform Project

[I found out about this via  Clever Nettle (which is a lovely blog full of vintage fashion inspiration, and always makes me want to run off to Portland).]

The Uniform Project is the idea of Sheena Matheiken who will wear the same dress for a year. The dress is a simple black one, made by a friend. (Several copies were made so that they could be cycled.) Sheena describes it as an "exercise in sustainable fashion" and relates it to the school uniforms she grew up wearing in India.

She writes, "Peaking through the sea of uniforms were the idiosyncrasies of teen style and individual flare. I now want to put the same rules to test again, only this time I'm trading in the catholic school fervor for an eBay addiction and relocating the school walls to this wonderful place called the internet."

Sheena is also doing this project to raise awareness about the Akanksha Foundation which is devoted to bringing education to under-privileged children in India.

There are more than ten months left to go in Sheena's project, and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with! Here are a few of my favorites so far:

 

 

The dress can be worn with the buttons either in the front or the back... and the buttons allow it to be worn as a jacket as well. Such a simple, but smart dress!(Apparently it also has large hidden pockets...because Sheena doesn't like to carry a purse.)

Dress sketches

I'm sketching some dresses for some illustrations I have in mind.

(This is from my sketchbook so please excuse the scanner fog!)

I had a very particular look in mind - something loose and summery and a bit quaint. Like something a girl in a Carl Larsson painting would wear. 

I looked to some of my Flickr favorites for inspiration, and  it didn't disappoint.(Of course I won't be directly copying the photographs for the final drawing, but this was just to get a sense for how the clothes should be constructed) I would be quite happy with any of these dresess in my wardrobe!

 

         1. brown dress, 2. mustard gingham, 3. Thrifted Dress - $5, 4. a lot

mystery basket

I haven't been around for the last few days, because I've been preoccupied with my new job! I'm working this summer in my school's department of Special Collections. So far, I love it. I've already had the chance to work with an artist's archives, as well as give a presentation on a series of 16th century prints and a travel book from the 17th century. The people who work there are so friendly, and there is even rumor of pot luck days!

I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

When I came home from work on Friday I discovered a mysterious basket on my desk chair.

 

When I looked questioningly at Sean he told me that he had seen it on the side of the road, and thought it might be something I liked. Upon opening it, he definitely knew he should bring it home.

So I opened the basket...

 

And GASPED.

A picnic basket! With red-handled silverware and red ruffly plates!And a gingham tablecloth with matching napkins!

Sean deserves many kisses.

Now, to plan some perfect summer picnics... I will make lemonade, and Sean will pack sandwiches. And maybe we'll bring cherries or nectarines.

And I will need a picnic frock of course.

 

This one from Grosgrain would do nicely. (The always brilliant and generous Kathleen is giving it away here.)

picnicly yours,

Angelique

Butterflies in her hair

It bucketed down snow here in Pennsylvania on Sunday and into Monday morning. I don't want to say too often that I'm ready for winter to be over, because I know I should appreciate each season. But still, winter seems to be the one that lingers the longest, right? Especially when it seems everyone is recovering from illnesses.

That's why I had a particular pang for Spring when I saw the new issue of N.E.E.T Magazine this week. N.E.E.T is an online indie fashion mag, which I really like. I find it much more inspiring and creative than the fashion in supermarket magazines.

 

It's the butterfly in the model's hair that is really getting to me. I want to have butterflies in my hair too!

 

And I want to carry tulips in a tote bag too!

Can I make my own hair-butterfly? Maybe if I painted a small one on sturdy paper and attached it to a barette? (Has anyone done this, or seen it done?)

Or am I just letting the snow go to my head?

Pfffft. I don't care. I will wear butterflies in my hair once it's Spring!

Orla Kiely for Spring

Still sick...

Latest in internet distractions is Orla Kiely's Spring 2009 line, which came out this past week (I think?).

Here are my favorite looks:

 

(images from Orla Kiely)

I think the red and blue outfit is my favorite.

Boots

Just a quick post to share the boots which I would wear to bed if I could...

 

They were a much appreciated gift from my parents. I think my Mom might have picked up on my longing for some knee-high boots while I was home. I'm still amazed at what a difference they make in keeping me warm compared to regular closed toe shoes (I suspect this may be something the rest of the world has already discovered).

Sean had to laugh at me today when I described my look today as kinder-chic (like kinder-garten); a term I coined to describe the days when I want to look like a vintage European school-girl. Which is more days than I should admit to probably. :)

Back to Blogging!

Dear little blog, It has been far too long.

A belated happy new year to all of you in blog-land! I've been back home for a little bit, but I still have the memory of Floridian warmth to combat the current wintry conditions here in good ol' PA.

This is the view out onto "our" Magnolia tree. I must admit that though I've been living away from Florida since I was 18, snow is still a wondrous and magical thing to me. Frozen stuff! Which falls out of the sky! Amazing.

 

Actually, these pictures are from yesterday. The current snow situation is a little less amazing and a little more slushy. But, I have my new boots to help with that. I have great sartorial affection for them, and my perpetually cold toes are grateful too. Perhaps I will take a picture of them tomorrow, as I will undoubtedly be wearing them again, for about the tenth day in a row.

While watching the snow yesterday, Sean and I played with the gift I gave him for Christmas, which is really a gift for both of us: a vintage portable record player. (It's been restored by a professional, thank goodness!)

I gave it to Sean with a few thrift store records, and it's been fun playing with them, even the few that have some scratches. Sean pointed out that it makes listening to music an activity rather than merely background noise, and I definitely agree. Confession: the player may have been ostensibly for Sean, but that vintage Mary Poppins record was bought entirely to delight me.

On another note, I just had to show this beautiful blouse made by Kathleen at Grosgrain:

 

I've admired her children's clothes many times, but this is the first time I've seen her make an adult garment. I think it's just beautiful, and she styled it perfectly too with the butterfly necklace and her hair in braids. Here's a link to her post, where there are even more beautiful pictures of it. 

Sartorial envy, people. I haz it.

Hel Looks, Face Hunter, The Sartorialist etc.

This recent image from Face Hunter is very vintage-y, lovely and ladylike. It reminded me that my friend Sarah had mentioned that she was looking at street style sites in order to get inspiration on how to mix old clothes in new way. It's an interesting experiment to try to revisit one's wardrobe rather than buy new clothes, especially in the recent economic climate. And if one is talented with a needle (or a sewing machine), the possibilities are even greater. I have also found that these sites are much more interesting for me than fashion magazines, and I feel better for avoiding some of the commercialization that certain magazines are peddling.

Sarah mentioned the Sartorialist and the awesome flickr group wardrobe_remix. I told her about Face Hunter and my favorite street style site, Hel-Looks. Hel-Looks shows street style in Helskini and it has  some great looks:

 

 

(Perhaps my favorite!)

 

(I really like her button necklace and handmade-looking corsage)

This selection definitely reveals my personal taste towards tights and skirts and/or dresses. But there is a variety of looks available. You should check out any or all of these sites if you like clothes or feel the need for some wardrobe inspiration.

I think I'll be ready to show that drawing I mentioned tomorrow, and I can't wait to share the best dumpster diving find we've had yet! (Well, it was sitting next to the dumpster, so there was no actual diving involved).

Chuck's Boutique

Remember this post? In which I discussed the television show Pushing Daisies, and why it delights me so?
In that post I also happened to mention that part of that delight happened to be Chuck's clothes, which are tremendously fabulous (and tremendously technicolor).

Well, I'm not the only one who noticed! Casey's blog recently pointed me towards Chuck's Boutique, where there are pictures of many of Chuck's ensembles. Please allow me to dork out for a moment:

 

 

(This winter outfit might be my favorite)

 

 

There are many more...I actually had trouble limiting myself to 4. Rumor has it that Pushing Daisies might be in danger of being canceled like so many of it's "different from everything else on tv" predecessors (Here's looking at you Arrested Development!). If you're interested, it plays on Wednesdays at 8 pm Eastern time on ABC.

Oh dear, I feel a bit like a commercial. Still, I really do like this show!

I'm off to finish baking some oatmeal cherry cookies for election shenanigans with friends tomorrow. I thought cherries seemed more patriotic than raisins. Probably because of the whole George Washington not telling a lie thing.

Have a good election day! (No matter who you're voting for)

Pumpkin Part 2, and stripe-y socks

Here is the promised post about my pumpkin soup recipe which I've been making since my last year of college, with compliments from all. It's actually super easy, and everyone seems to love it. I think it can be changed quite easily, but I like the original recipe just the way it is!

 

Pumpkin Mushroom Soup

* 1/2 lb mushrooms sliced (I used shiitake)
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 2 Tablespoons butter or oil
* 2 Tablespoons flour
* 1 Tablespoon curry powder
* 3 cups chicken broth
* 1 can of pumpkin (should be about 15 or 16 oz)
* 1 Tablespoon honey
* dash of nutmeg
* salt and pepper
* 1 cup evaporated milk

Saute the mushrooms and onion in the butter or oil. Add flour and curry and stir. Gradually add the broth, stirring. Add everything but the evaporated milk, and cook, on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, (still stirring!). Add the milk and heat through without boiling. Enjoy!

Moving away from one favorite (food) to another favorite (clothes) - may I present to Studio Kiekje viewers, my new socks:

 

They are from the much adored Sock Dreams. I thought they were subtle-y witchy and thus appropriate for pre-Halloweening. I can't tell you how much more enjoyable the cooler weather is since the discovery of Sock Dreams. I know I'm not the first one to rave about them. (Emily of the Black Apple is also a huge fan).  Still, if you don't know about them - they are amazing. They have every single sock, stocking and tights option you could imagine, and they offer free shipping (joy!).

 

I've been thinking of occasionally sharing some of my clothes on this blog. I really love clothes, and it makes me happy to wear things I think look cute. But I've been a little self-conscious sharing that here because of foolishly worrying that I might appear shallow. But this is a blog which is supposed to be predominately about the things that inspire me and the things I make, and I have to admit, that clothes are a part of that for me. So here I am, smirking slightly, in my somewhat witchy outfit. (Perhaps if a witch was living incognito as a librarian) The black cardigan also has little sequins scattered on the shoulders, but that didn't show up too well in the picture.

Bashfully yours,
Angelique :)