(IM IN THE MOOD FOR PARENTHESIS)

I seriously need more free time.

I have so many ideas and no time to create, photograph and post them! (Not that people are flocking to this blog by hundreds and demanding MORE MORE MORE, but as usual I am so much harder on myself than I should be... though I guess most people are.)

Good news, though! The days of crunch time 8 hour sewing frenzies are... well... continuing, but so very soon I shall be sewing my own designs again.

Every day I get more ideas. Its an interesting way to design. I usually design as I sketch, but this time its all cerebral, my thoughts creating shapes, and my blurry vision ("is that a..? Oh wait no. Where are my glasses?") suggesting things I would never have come up with if I had 20/20.

The rugs on the floor at work have inspired a sheer top with front tapestry detail, folds in curtains have made me embrace the idea of casual but floor length maxi dresses (and I haven't touched long skirts with a ten-foot pole in years), and oddly, I cant stop day dreaming about chiffon, a fabric that has up until now totally given me the creeps.

So Sapphire Cordial Spring/Summer 2010 (I know, it sounds so far away!) feels like it may be a departure for me from my usual satin satin satin (but really, I still can't get enough... there will likely still be a couple pieces).

Also, I'm straying from jewel tones in favor of earthy browns, soft creams, dusty greens and peachy pinks, and planning more separates, like sheer beachy cover ups, high waisted (of course) tulip skirts and short shorts, my personal take on the harem pants phenomenon, and even a bathing suit or two (!).

I have these amazing flowing chiffon scarves with hoods blowing in the desert wind in my imagination too.

***

I'm going on a mini vacation next week to the woods of my youth for inspiration, solace and mom time. I plan on having everything sketched and scanned by my return... finally something to show for all this talk!

xoxo

BUSY BUSY BEES

Its pretty hard to make time to be creative with two+ jobs. I haven't even had the energy to put thought into what I'm wearing since like...Valentine's Day. And I worked that night too, but the tips were good, maybe because I was wearing this:

Its amazing how much better I feel about my entire life if I try at all to not look like a complete slob. 

Ok, so the mini-dress is long sleeved and I think from the 70's, though it appears to have lost a few inches from the hem since then...I got it at Atelier (where you can buy Sapphire Cordial, if I haven't mentioned that..)

I know you can barely see them, but the shorts underneath are Velvet Leaf, Becky and Laura Carter's glorious all organic label...which I coincidentally work for. The kitschy goose necklace is from Bows and Arrows and the gold tassle situation is from Topshop in London last Valentine's. It seemed an appropriate day to bring it back into rotation. 

The hat is the Naik Fur one I'm alwayyyys wearing. The little Jessica McClintock-y (its not hers, actually) floral jacket underneath is one I've had forever and gotten endless "Did you make that"s ...and ruling over all is my roomate's amazing suede jacket (the fur collar is fake, incase you were wondering...I'm not sure why it matters though, since the jacket is suede and cows and leopards and rabbits and minks are all created equal.)

*Disclaimer: I didn't start this blog with the intention of chronicling the wearing of my own outfits which I didn't even make, but well....I guess I don't really have an explanation. 

I won't do it often. 

But once in a while, you just look in the mirror and get really excited about how you miraculously styled yourself. If you're still reading, you know what I'm talking about. 

There's an art to dressing, there really is.

Anyhow, I've been drawing a lot, which is nice. I was going to post a couple, but I haven't made it to a scanner yet, and cheap digital photos of pencil drawings don't really do them justice.

I'm dreaming up some awesome chiffon-hood-scarf-wrap creations. 

It shouldn't be long before I've got something to show for all these thoughts I'm thinking while at work.

PS: Despite how ridiculously busy I've been lately, I'm going to attempt to post more often. Starting.....now.

I NEED MORE TECHNOLOGY

Badly.

I should be able to roam the streets of Sacramento with a soundtrack in my heart. Well...there is one in my heart, I just cant actually hear it. And even if there is an amazing song stuck in my head, its usually just the chorus and I can't remember the rest. 

If only I had and ipod, I would be listening to "Bluish" by Animal Collective and "I Love the Valley O" by Xui Xiu on repeat. Forever. They both make my heart swell and my breath catch. 

I want to live inside an independent film with these on the soundtrack, along with some ambient vocals by my boyfriend Thom Yorke recorded especially for this purpose (Thom would totally do that for me, he's so thoughtful).

The film would have lots of long shots of me staring out windows. 

I'd be dressed in multi-layered multi-textured neutrals. Kinda like this:

Specifically, I'd be staring out the windows of trains, second-story apartments (on windy days with trees outside), through caravan curtains, and portholes. There would be no plot. 

Just glowing sounds and wide-eyed far away thoughts. 

I Luv the Valley OH - Xiu Xiu