Draft Your Own Tote Bag Pattern, a Tutorial

You may or may not know that I am currently enrolled in a Handbag Design course at Mass Art. It's a Summer class so it's twice a week, condensed and sort of a pain in the butt... It's a Summer class so undergrads are permitted to mix with us continuing ed peeps, and I have to say that between the ages of 20 and 30, you certainly do a lot of maturing. I mean it. When our very "matter of fact" instructor is giving you instructions, he means for you to listen, so he doesn't have to repeat himself 4 different times, but unfortunately that isn't how this class is trending... oh and also, one of them wore a bikini to class the other day, ugh, but I digress (thanks for letting me vent!)... all that being said, I am learning a lot and enjoying it for the most part. On our 3rd class, we finished our first bag, the classic tote handbag... since it was so simple to draft the patter and to actually make it, I thought I would whip up a tutorial. Be advised that this post is a lengthy one so don't get overwhelmed. Just stick with it and you'll have a new tote pattern in no time!

Maxi-mizing my Summer with Karen Kane

You might remember the dress I wore for my birthday date, that sassy tie dye maxi dress? Well, that was the first maxi I ever had the opportunity to rock... I am pretty short, 5'2" on my best day, so maxi dresses aren't what I gravitate towards for Summer wear until I met the dresses from Karen Kane. They were kind enough to share that sassy birthday maxi with me as well as this super funky tribal print maxi dress. After wearing these super comfortable and simply adorable Made in the USA dresses, I am a convert. I kind of don't care that I am short and you know what? I wore flat sandals with this tribal print dress... because I am standing tall and proud err short and proud! Please do me a favor and check out Karen Kane's dresses. I am already on the lookout for my next addition.

• Tribal Print Maxi Dress c/o Karen Kane
• Jean Jacket by GAP (similar)
• @PrimandPropah Necklace from Survival of the Hippest
• Fedora Hat from Consignment Shop (similar)
• Black Patent Sandals by Sofft (similar)

Where is your favorite place to buy dresses?

Throw a Summer Party, Entertain Like a Champion

Guys, I love Summer. I love the extra daylight. I love the abundance of fresh food at farmer's markets. I love heading to cookouts with friends. It's just a fun time of year. In spite of the fact that it rained for a month and now it's sweltering hot the next month, I was determined to make the best of it by throwing a superbly smashing Summer soire! We have been grilling a lot lately so I thought I would switch things up and go with a a more finger foods oriented dinner. This dinner party was going to be fantabulous. To beat the heat? We went the "fresh" and "cool" route.

Gilt City Boston Warehouse Sale

Just like earlier this Spring (which was a success!), I am going to be hitting the shopping scene hard with my girl Erin at one heck of a sale hitting Boston. I am talking about the Gilt City Boston Warehouse sale. You know Gilt City, of course you do. You being the ever fashion conscious shopper that you are, know about Gilt and the abundance of awesome deals that you can get, in an area near you. Me? I happen to be near Boston which makes this particular sale sort of perfect don't you think? Tickets go on sale today, so be sure to grab yours so you can get your shot at amazing deals and a super fun shopping event. Friday tickets go quick so make sure you get on it girrrrl!

Do You Feel Like You've Wasted Too Much Time?

My man is in California for a week+ attending two back to back conferences in his field. He works in software, there are lots of 0s and 1s (get it? binary code?) and these types of conferences keep him and his colleagues sharp and constantly learning. On one of his calls home (mostly to talk to the dog), we were discussing how we sometimes feel like we have wasted too much time, as in "where have the last 10 years gone" kind of time.We are both in our 30s now, thanks to the man's 30th birthday bash earlier this month. We are mature adults for the most part ;-) but often think about the things we wish we had done sooner, got a jump on. Part of me wishes that I really had pushed to go to design school right out of high school. The man wishes that he had done more programming for fun/designing his own software sooner than now. We look back on the years of time where we both believe that we have nothing to show for it... but you know what? We are being too hard on ourselves.

Had I gone to design school at 18 years old, would I have had the motivation, determination, dedication and all the other 'tions that I have now have with years of professional experience? I can honestly say that no, I wouldn't have made the most of it. I have a great appreciation for the work that I am doing in school now, because it means so much to me and is a labor of love. The man is in the same boat. He has worked hard to get where he is professionally. Being successful has allowed him the opportunity to explore the interests that he wants to cultivate, but he wishes that he had cultivated them sooner. Whatevs, people! Our lives are a journey and we get to places, junctures if you will, where we make decisions to do the things we love. It's the journey that gets us to these junctures. I don't want to live my life regretting the time that I have imagined that I have wasted. It's not wasted time, because it has gotten me to this point in my life where I am really hitting my stride... and after all, the time you enjoy wasting, is not wasted time.

Sizzling Summer Shoes

I haven't really had the opportunity or the necessity really, to purchase new shoes this Summer... which is totally not me haha! There have certainly been shoes that have caught my eye, mainly a pair of graphic booties from earlier this year that Elissa from Style Wire grabbed at the GILT Warehouse sale. I am happy to report that I found a pair in my size on Ebay and I am hours away from winning them (keep your fingers crossed for me!)... but I digress. There are so many more that I am crushing on, that I just had to share... and all are under $75. Perfect prices for sizzling Summer shoes, am I right?!

• Charles by Charles David Reverse Sandals

• Gypsy Sandal in Natural Cozumel Linen by Blowfish Shoes

• Levity Austin Platform Sandal

•  Splendid Nickerie Oxfords, 

• Bensimon Limited Edition Sneakers

• Diba Rosey Floral Wedge Sandal

• Adrienne Vittadini Clementine Wedge Sandal

• Coconuts All About Flat Sandal

  Which pair is your fave?

   

White Hot Summer Looks

I am sooooooo digging white clothes lately. Do you guys ever go on PeopleStyle Watch and vote for your favorite looks? Well, I personally was drawn to all the celebs wearing white in recent weeks. They look so fresh and sassy, whether young or a more mature woman, whether very slender or a gal with curves... they all look great! From Olivia Munn (one of my new style crushes) to my "old" stand by Emma Roberts ;-), all my faves are rocking the white this Summer. Check out what I mean...

DIY Citronella Candes, a Summer Staple

Since we moved into the new house, I have become acutely aware of something that I wasn't used to in apartment living... and that's bugs. All different kinds of bugs you see but mostly the ever pesky mosquito. I literally went to Home Depot and spent a paycheck on bug spray, Off products and citronella candles. I realized very quickly that it was not in my change purse's best interest if I spent my entire Summer purchasing citronella candles sooooooo I bought everything a girl would need to make enough candles to last the Summer plus!

Your Friday Bon Mot

Outfit Post: Birthday Tie Dye and Ice Cream

Yesterday was my birthday. It wasn't a milestone birthday by any stretch but I had a new dress and I had a new bag so girrrrrrl, you know I had to convince the man to do something special for the occasion. The man surprised me by taking me to a yummy bistro and feeding me wine and ice cream. It was a pleasant one, for sure. Something I was the most excited about? Was showing off this smashing Karen Kane tie dye maxi dress, Made in the USA, baby! It is literally the softest jersey and really makes a statement. Check out what I mean and please don't think any less of me for pulling the "Angelina Jolie Leg" bit with the slit in my dress. I just couldn't help myself! This dress will transition from Summer into Fall quite nicely I think.

The "Help Me Choose My New Haircut" Giveaway

So I do love to keep my buds ever in the loop about my hair choices haha but I am at a standstill you guys. I know I want to cut my hair shorter but I can't decide on the style. I have been eyeballing lots of different do's over the past few months and crushing on one more than the other, depending on the day.... so you know what? I am going to poll you guys and whichever one is the favorite overall is the one I am going to go with. For real! So you know, I am going to go to a very light blond so these choices are based on cut only.... though Tilda's color is what I am going for in general.

Your Friday Bon Mot

Next Up, Handbag Design

Source

For the past month or so I have had no classes. To be perfectly honest, I sort of forgot that I was going to school for Fashion Design. Sure I took the fabric dyeing workshop last month but I haven't had to drive to Boston at least once a week every week for a semester and yes, that has been a nice break. Weeeeell, that ends next week. I am taking an accelerated Summer course for Handbag design. I am super excited to be taking a class where we will learn how to make totes, clutches, handbags and who knows what else! I am hoping that I like it as much as I think I will and almost as importantly, I hope I am good at it!

*Accessories are a major part of the fashion industry. This course explores handbag design as an accessory specialization, covering a brief history of the handbag, understanding how to research present trends, and creating individual handbag designs. Using industry standards, students design and construct a clutch and soft shoulder, as well as other handbags.

What do you think? Fun, right?