sommertime...

Cyber Monday...and all that

2010-11-29T06:50:00.000-08:00

Good lord I've been a bad blogger. How have you been? I've been fine. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and the extra days off were simply delicious. I kept thinking about how lucky I was to have the extra time to do nothing at all, and then I did nothing at all. A lot of reading, relaxing, watching movies and yes, a little bit of shopping. We all need those diversions, right?

Well, here's another one - it's Cyber Monday (and all that nonsense) and Etsy has recently launched coupon codes. How awesome is that? I'm taking advantage of it (and so should you!) - 20% off my Etsy shop until Wednesday, December 1 at 6 pm PST. Use code CYBER20.

Friday Flickr Favs {and major randomness}

2010-10-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Oh so pretty on this dark & dreary Friday (FRIDAY!) morning! We've had the strangest October weather this month; seriously cool, foggy & rainy, when usually it's hot and dry and the foothills are fighting those nasty wildfires. It's coming, I'm sure. We haven't even had our yearly Santa Anas yet, so I'm sure November will be a humdinger. I'm not complaining, at all. I love this weather.

And interestingly enough, I've been strangely disconnected from the web. It's interesting and strange to me only because for the last 11 years, I've been online constantly; updating my website, checking emails, communicating with customers, etc.

Of course I'm online at work, but in a different way. And when I come home, there have been (many) nights I haven't even checked my business email, my blog readers or Facebook. This is a huge turning point for me, and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I've been reading a ton, and knitting (photos soon). While I might feel so disconnected, on the other hand, I feel so connected to life, once again.

When I get past the fact that I have to be so much more organized about my free time on weekends (which means running every single errand, planning weekly meals, grocery shopping [the bane of my existence] & laundry), I feel like returning to work full time was the best thing I did. Would you believe, I am so much more relaxed. Seems like a huge oxymoron, but it's true.

The weeks fly by, and here it is Friday (again!) and I love having the whole (free) weekend in front of me! I've been cleaning out my studio - it's a frustratingly slow process, mainly because I have the attention span of a knat with regard to this particular task. If I could just close the door on this chapter of my life and walk away, I would. But my husband keeps opening it and asking if we are going to be able to ever park our cars in the garage again....

Soon, my love.

Completely crushing on...

2010-10-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

What Goes Around Comes Around Natalia Jacket at Piperlime. I've been jonseing for a leopard print jacket for years and constantly check eBay & Etsy for vintage. I love the cut of this one, and that little collar treatment and the 3/4 sleeves gives it just enough character to almost appear vintage. Not so crazy about the price.

Even still. It's killing me.

More Etsy Sale Goodness...

2010-10-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

Did you know there's jewelry too?

Made during one of my many breaks from sewing, and having decided it was a fun break, made quite a bit.

Too much fun. I realized today that there's actually more that I still need to upload. That will be my project next weekend...

But that's not what I wanted to say tonight. What I wanted to say is that all the jewelry ships for free.
That's right.
Free shipping on all necklaces and earrings...

On Etsy: the clearance continues...

2010-10-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

I am positively thrilled with the lovely people who are taking advantage of my mega clearance sale on Etsy! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

When I decided to close my business, I had so much inventory that I seriously wondered if it would ever be gone. I thought I would be selling aprons for eternity. Alas, many local customers have come to my rescue and stocked up on holiday gifts. Smart cookies, my customers.

But the real star was my old Spanish tutor, who goes on a mission every spring to Nairobi. A few years ago, she purchased a few of my aprons to give to the women there, and apparently, they loved them. The next year, those 12 women met her at the airport, wearing my aprons. That just warmed my heart beyond belief. They were actually disappointed that she didn't bring more.

Last week, she came over and bought out my stock of half hostess aprons to send to them. I'm just beside myself, and made her promise to send a picture of them all wearing aprons! Wouldn't that be an amazing sight? Picture 120 women wearing your creation. I'm giddy just thinking about it.

Well, the sale continues - this morning I marked down the dishtowels to $14.00 for a set of two. All the quantities are listed, so you can buy as many sets as I have available. They're darling, really, and super absorbent.

Available here - while supplies last. I can say that now.

Saturday at the fair...

2010-10-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

I am loving my weekends these days. Life is so much easier (and more relaxing) when you don't have to work 24/7. This was the first weekend in October, which meant it was time for the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair!

This was the first time in 7 years that I didn't do this fair, but of course, I had to visit. I'm glad too, because as a vendor I never had the opportunity to walk around. Even if a friend gave me a break, I'd shoot down the street and back because I never felt comfortable being away from my booth.

Saturday started with a sprinkling of rain, which turned to gorgeous sunny skies, as it usually does for this show.

I love catching Kelley unaware.

ahh, better!

Jill and Jana were there...and I stocked up on thank you cards! Jill has a great assortment of lovely stationery.

and of course Joelle.

It was so great to see my show pals! I thought it was going to be weird walking around a fair I always attended as a vendor. I thought I would miss it and be kicking myself that I wasn't participating (with my meager inventory). But I didn't feel that way at all. I was so happy to be moseying down the lane, without hurry, and without worrying about whether I was going to meet last years' sales or surpass them.

As a matter of fact, when we finished our loop, I sort of couldn't wait to get out of there. I think it was the crowds, which never bothered me as a vendor, but drove me crazy as a visitor (go figure). I can't wait to talk to my friends and find out how the event went this year. Because for as many people I saw, I didn't see that many bags with purchases. I hope everyone did well and had fun, because this was always my best show of the year.

and this is coastal....

2010-09-27T05:55:00.000-07:00

not okay.

Sunday on the trail

2010-09-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

This morning, my friend Karen & I hit the trail. We call this 'the loop', but I think the real name is maybe Peacock Flats. It's actually a fire trail at the end of Crenshaw Boulevard, right at Del Cerro Park. We call it 'the loop' because a) it's fun, and b) if you take it all the way, the fire trail ends at the bottom of Portuguese Bend Road in the gated community of Rolling Hills. We usually walk up that to Crest Road, and take it back to Crenshaw and return where we started from. Although it feels like a half marathon, it's only about 3.5 miles roundtrip.

It's a great hike, much of it with scenery like this, but the hills are grueling. The expected high temperature today was 97, so we started out at 8 am. I think it was maybe only 87 at that point. Instead of taking the full loop, today we stopped at the gate and turned around. The thing about continuing through that gate is that you go up a long, windy drive that's really steep. Walking back on the trail is a little less steep, but it's a gradual hill that doesn't end. By the time we were almost done, I was seeing stars. But this is the reward:

Over ten thousand steps before 10 am! All that in an hour and forty five minutes. It's an exhausting way to start a Sunday, but worth it on so many other levels! I hope you are enjoying your weekend! XO

The week remixed: 9.24.10

2010-09-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

And here I ~~thought~~ was hoping we were well into fall...it's not to be just yet (heatwave)

monday | tuesday | wednesday | thursday

and casual friday...

stay cool my friends....

Leather samples and me.

2010-09-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

I made an interesting color observation today while perusing the Spinneybeck Leather sample book.

Interesting indeed. (I promise, I'm almost done with this.)

New on Etsy - Convertible Necklaces

2010-09-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

I've spent the day photographing, photoshopping and listing - I'm trying to get all my remaining inventory uploaded to Etsy before laziness sets in and I talk myself out of it. I made these necklaces last spring for my last shows of the season (life) and there are only three left!

Convertible necklaces that can be worn two ways - doubled short, and undoubled long. Fun, right? Two looks in one. Very thrifty if you ask me.

...

One of a kind, and available only right here....

Bittersweet...

2010-09-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

but mostly sweet :)

Just uploaded on my website...

I'm not even going to say it...

2010-09-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

You know I'm going to say it. But before I do, let me tell you a story about a cardigan. I've been obsessing over a certain [color] cardigan from Nordstrom - the new Halogen Boyfriend. Looks cute, right? So last weekend, armed with a couple of Nordstrom Notes, I headed over there all pumped up to buy said cardigan. But when I tried it on, I was less than impressed. The color is not a real [blank], it's more of a goldish green. And the length was a little long on me (even though I'm nearly 5'6". Ok, 5'5" and three quarters, but we're going with 5'6"). I was so disappointed.

But of course, I couldn't let it go, no, I could not. I started combing online looking for a cute cardigan in a nameless color.

And then, on Sunday, in desperation, I succumbed to the Lands' End website. Where, low and behold, there is a YELLOW CARDIGAN AND IT'S ON SALE FOR $19.99.

Even with shipping it was only $25. And it's perfect. The sweater is totally lightweight (which is great for Southern California) and the tight vertical ribs are super slimming and keep their shape well. It was perfect with my GRAY TROUSERS.

My life is complete. Until the next obsession, of course.

Window Shopping: Again with the Yellow and Gray

2010-09-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Just keeping the theme alive here people...

completely swoon-worthy.

Fall Style

2010-09-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

It happens every year...I start to swoon over the same colors...gray and yellow. This year, the get-up is a little more professional. I already own the trousers and the buttondown, but I'm totally digging the cardi, and dammit, those shoes are killing me.

Hello fall.

Picking up [the] sticks

2010-09-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

I keep my knitting in a bag next to the living room sofa, mainly in the hopes that while I am watching the nightly news I *might* pick it up and get myself through a few rows. I started these socks [Spring Forward] last March, and I chugged along quite well....down the leg, the heel flap, turning the heel, and then somewhere after the gusset, halfway through the foot, I put them down and and haven't done a thing.

I hate putting down knitting for so long. That knitting bag glares at me for weeks, that turn into months, and then when I pick it up again, I have to remember where I was. I was this close to ripping out the entire sock.

What stopped me? That pattern. I love that pattern. I must have picked it up and put it down 12 times yesterday. I, like many, was once again glued to the t.v. yesterday, as I am every year on the anniversary of September 11. [I refuse to blog on that day because I feel like anything I could possibly say is so insignificant to the event itself.] I didn't get much done yesterday in the way of knitting, there was just too much to think about. But today was a good day to pick it all up again and push myself through a few repeats.

So today, a beautiful fall day here in Southern California, I've picked up my sticks again. The sock lives on. There may even be a second one in my future.

Friday Flickr Favs: 9-10-10

2010-09-10T06:53:00.000-07:00

I completely ignored my remix duties this week, mainly due to loaning my camera to friend last weekend and not getting it back until last night, but that's another story altogether....favorite inspirations from Flickrland. Click on the photo to see it larger, or visit the Flickr page for the links and credits here. Happy Friday!

Window Shopping: Mad for Plaid

2010-09-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Really, nothing says Autumn like plaid, right? I love plaid, and yet, I have very little of it in my wardrobe. I think I might have to change that this season. And the weather gods have blessed us with a respite from the heat, we will have glorious temperatures in the 70's this week. But, as any Southern Californian knows, it will be short lived.

Lately, I'm gushing on this type of thing....

From left to right ~
Row 1: Tartan Cupcake Liners (for reals); Mustard and Lace Wristlet; Vintage Dress; Plaid Cowl
Row 2: Vintage Shirt; Nano Case; Vintage Skirt; Plaid Earrings;
Row 3: Pumpkin Plaid Coat; Plaid Messenger Bag; Plaid Pea Coat; Vintage Tartan Dress
Row 4: Wool Felt Wallet; Plaid Purse; Kicky Flats; Vintage Plaid Apron

Sunday in Old Towne

2010-09-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Oy. I must be getting old. Yesterday one of my college boys had a late afternoon meeting at school, so we took the opportunity to deposit him there and then walk to the Orange International Street Fair a couple of blocks away.

Not so much of a street fair, but more of a giant beer garden...not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's your gig. It takes place in Old Towne Orange (known for it's cute antique and gift shops) and each street has tents down the middle selling food and beer from different countries. I think I was just more surprised that there wasn't a designated beer area, like there is at most street fairs.

Actually, it was one of most crowded events I've ever walked through (with the exception of the Strawberry Festival, which has it's own fenced in beer garden).

My husband was in beer heaven, and promptly acquired a mandatory wristband so he could continually hold a cold, frothy beverage. Thank goodness we met up with our friends, Ralph and Shari, or I don't think I could have lasted the 4 hours Colin was at his meeting! See? I am old!

Granted there was cool street music flowing everywhere, and it ranged from the amateur...

to the more professional set up....

to the kitschy (Lederhosen anyone?)

to the cute and fun (they grow up so fast people!)

I keep noticing, as I get older, I have a harder time dealing with huge, drunken crowds. It's sort of like sensory overload. And after we had made the rounds about 3 times, we headed back to Chapman to wait for Colin where we found a nice spot on the grass and an impromptu jazz concert.

This is totally more my style! It turned out that these musicians didn't know each other at all, but just brought their instruments and started playing, and other musicians came and went, and it was lovely.

A perfect jam session! ♥

Currently Reading: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

2010-09-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, like biting into a good, thick book during a long holiday weekend. And I'm so happy that my long weekends are no longer filled with producing as much inventory as possible for the upcoming holidays. No. Long weekends are for relaxing and reading (and laundry of course, but that's a given).

I've been waiting a long time for Jonathan Frazen to write another book. Eight years ago I devored The Corrections - a fantastic story about a wildly dysfunctional family. I love dysfunctional families. I love reading about dysfunctional families. Because I think everyone thinks their own family is wildly dysfunctional, but really, they aren't. All family's are strange and quirky and everyone has their own Uncle Buck hidden away somewhere.

So I've settled in for the three days of blissful laziness to read Franzen's latest dysfunctional family epic, Freedom. I'm not very far, and it took me a while to reacquaint myself with his writing style, but so far, I'm content, and cringing at the antics of yet another set of fictional characters going off the deep end. It's good. Really good.

On another note: Scott & I ran to theater yesterday afternoon to cool off and watch my boyfriend, George, in his newest movie, The American. Huge disappointment. Y A W N.

The week remixed: 9-3-10

2010-09-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

The week in clothes - the working wardrobe, if you will. I'm waiting for the weather to change, but seriously, our summer just started. I have another 2 months before I will really be able to bring out the cozy sweaters, and even then, we'll have flashes of summer periodically.

Like the swinging hormonal internal temperatures of 40-something woman isn't enough.

My go-to easy dinner: Ina's Chicken Parmesan

2010-08-31T06:31:00.000-07:00

School starts today all over my land, meaning my family. And if you are in the throes of the school year and trying to stay organized, on top of life and provide a ~~decent~~ delicious meal at the end of the day, then it's imperative to have a few simple recipes in your arsenal. This is one of mine. Ina Garten's Parmesan Chicken. It's the epitome of easy, and what I love about it is that it isn't a heavy chicken parm, with lots of cheese and sauce. It's simply breaded chicken breasts (I buy the thin chicken breasts and then don't have to pound them), sauteed and served with a mixed green salad on top with a lemon viniagrette.

Dinner on the table in a half hour. You will be a rock star. Try it.

(photo: ina garten, food network)

Saturday night in the city...

2010-08-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday night we dragged our sorry selves off the hill and into the city. Everyone one of us. Including remaining teenage boys and one home from his first week at college (oh, the beauty of local education for the first time college mother!). My pal Kelley was a vendor at a new-ish event called LA Craft Experience, which was located right in Chinatown, which is an awesome place anyway. This event is so much different from any either of us had done before because it pretty much takes place in the evening. Yes! The event goes from 5 pm to midnight. (I'd die.) We got there around 6 and it was really just getting started.

I had to visit my pal right away. I feel like I never see her anymore now that I'm fully employed. *sigh*

I love going to Chinatown, there's so much color and so many little knick knack shops with so much.....crap, it's hilarious.

There was a huge line of food trucks on a little side road. We didn't partake because we had our hearts set on Chinatown Chinese food, but let me tell you, by the time we went back that way (after dark) this area was packed and the lines were 10-20 people long. What a trend this has become!

(I've heard the Patty Wagon below is awesome)

So, we had dinner and then went back to main area, and man 'o man. I have never been to Chinatown after dark and if I thought it was colorful and cool during the day - it doesn't hold a candle to Chinatown after dark.

Check. Out. The. Neon!

Unbelieveable awesomeness. The event was in collaboration with Chinatown Summer Nights, which was sponsored by our local NPR (and my favorite radio) station, KCRW. They had DJ's from the station spinning records in a couple different locations, and there was dancing at one. It's such a great idea, and it is so good for the community to get out there and support these little establishments. Everyone was busy, the food trucks were jamming, and there were just people everywhere.

Also, I got some love from my ~~boys~~ men.

They were so sweet to actually agree to a photo with me. This doesn't happen very often, I have to gloat.

It was a great time and a great Saturday night. We'll have to drag their asses somewhere else very soon.

And the tutorials will live forever....

2010-08-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

My friend Katy had a great idea last week. I was lamenting the fact that when I close my Typepad blog, all those fun refashion tutorials that I did will burn and die. They were fun, I still like reading those old posts and I'd still like to continue refashioning pieces of clothing if and when I get a chance.

So, since I really couldn't do what I had in mind through this page on Blogger, I set up another blog called Sommertutes ....but, the point is...the tutes live.

Don't worry about bookmarking that site, everything will be listed under Show 'n Tell up there on the navigation bar.

The week remixed

2010-08-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

The end of August, and summer has finally arrived in Southern California. Scorching temperatures this last week, and I was thanking my stars that I was indoors in the nice, comfortable manufactured air office. Today, of course, I woke up to dense fog, which means that at least for the weekend, we will be comfortable. Happy, that.

This past week we found ourselves delivering one college boy to his new home away from home, and even though it's only an hour away, I still had an empty spot in my heart! It will take some getting used to, for sure! I can't tell you how happy I was to pick him up last night, and right now I am joyfully doing his laundry. That's a first.

Enjoy the last weekend of August my friends!

ReMixed

2010-08-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

This is one of my newest obsessions, Wardrobe Remix. Well, I should say, renewed obsession. I played around with it a few years ago, but I have a hard time with challenges like this. For me, it's all or nothing, and even though it isn't necessary to post a picture everyday, I still feel like I should.

If you don't know, Wardrobe Remix is a group through Flickr, where you post what you wore that day. Some people are diligent about it, others dabble. What I like about it is that it makes you look at your closet with a different eye, trying to come up with different outfits using the same pieces so you don't always get into that 'uniform' rut. I can be so guilty of that.

And I use the word obsession because every night I start to think about what I'm going to wear to work the next day, and this forces me to be a little creative. I'm lucky that I don't really have to get super dressed up for work. Most of the people in the workshop wear jeans, even the owners. But I'm in the front office, and customers, clients and designers stop by, with an appointment or not, so I always try to be presentable.

The remix group is definitely a fun place to check out, get new ideas on dressing and clothes and of course, get inspired. There's a few other fun clothing groups: Daily Outfit Diary, The Working Closet, I Love Clothes, My, What is that you're wearing, Wardrobe Fun and What the Hell are you Wearing.

Any others I should know about?

Weekend Style

2010-08-15T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is killing me. Found via Simple Song - Vintage Loves by Free People. My kind of style.

Talbot's Evolves

2010-08-15T07:47:00.001-07:00

Have you seen Talbot's lately? They are surprising me these days. When I was shopping just before I went back to work [to fill in some gaps in my working wardrobe, and see what was out there] I stumbled into one of the stores and nearly fell over.

Of course they still have their stock of country club clothes for that crowd, but they've added some very hip and fashionable pieces. This morning the fall lookbook landed in my inbox, and I have to admit, if I had the funds, I'd be buying a whole new wardrobe.

What I do now.

2010-08-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

It's not complicated work, but I like it. I was hired as an administrative assistant, essentially, but I think I quickly proved that I could be used beyond that realm. So besides general offices duties (you know, phones, filing, organizing projects, etc.) I also interact directly with our clients, many of whom are interior designers, some of whom are direct clients (those are mainly the restoration jobs). I love it.

I love keeping a handle on the various stages of a project. I love watching a custom sofa being made from the woodshop straight through to the upholstery - it's amazing to see how precise and exact a job it is. The owner of the business is a fourth generation furniture maker, who still does things the old school way. And he takes the time to explain to me exactly what is being done in various stages, and why.

The fabric we use is not the same kind of fabric I was used to dealing with in my business. Most of what I worked with was quilting weight cottons and (what I now know is, low quality) home dec fabrics. In my new job, we are working with linens that wholesale from $75 to $150 a yard; silk velvets at $400 a yard. That's wholesale!

We did a set a of 14 dining room chairs for a very high profile client in that silk velvet! The fabric alone was $10,000. I died. So far, that has been my favorite project. We did an entire house for this [celebrity] couple - all the window coverings and much of the furniture. The kicker was when my boss had to go there one afternoon for a meeting before the final turnover and invited me along. It was by far the most spectacular home I have ever seen (even if everything was covered in moving blankets!).

So, as you can see, it's quite a change from what I was doing, but amazing. Seriously, I have to pinch myself. Often.

New Adventures

2010-08-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

Well, hello. Things are in a flux and life is changing. Has changed. After 11 years of running my business, Sommer Designs, I am putting it behind me and moving on. I went back to work, outside the home, two months ago and it has been one of the best decisions I've made. I wonder, now, if I should have done this years ago, but that's one of those hindsight issues. I was so wrapped in moving my business forward that it was never a consideration. And, really, I was so happy working my own gig and I don't regret a moment of it.

So, what now? I've been blogging for 5 years over at another platform, but will probably be closing that account soon. I loved it there, but now that I don't have to market my business as strongly as I used to, I have a hard time justifying the expense. So here I am, back at Blogger where I began blogging 6 years ago! Full circle sort of thing.

My interests have also changed in the last year - I'm not as interested in promoting my own wares and crafty projects. I'm sure there will still be some knitting posts thrown in for good measure, but that's about as crafty as I plan to get.

I now work full time for a family owned custom furniture, wall and window covering company. They also restore & reupholster classic modern furniture - think Eames, Herman Miller, Knoll and all that good stuff. I am immersed in good, clean design. I love it. I've learned so much.

So, I'm thinking this is where I will share some of my finds from the interior design world that I am now a part of. Another new obsession is what I am wearing to work, because after working from home for 11 years, I'm damn happy to get dressed up to go to work. I'm trying to get back into Wardrobe Remix on Flickr and I also take part in 365, which is a picture (usually self-portrait) a day.

I don't expect anyone but myself to be at all interested in this blather.