Happy Holidays!

We’re about to head out the door for Michigan. I’ll be taking a break from blogging while I am home and am excited to spend time collecting some great material for the new year.

Thanks so much to everyone who has been following me on LGTM. Since starting this project 6 months ago, I’ve had so many rewarding experiences like guest blogging for Design*Sponge and Lucky Magazine and, meeting so many wonderful people out there in the blogoshpere.

Wishing you all a happy and wonderful holiday! Thanks for making 2009 such a wonderful year, I can already tell that 2010 is going to be great!

Hot Under The Collar

Sadly when making my Christmas list, I neglected to ask for one of these amazing mbellished bib necklaces by New York jewelry designer Lizzie Fortunato.

I have been smitten with her fabulously cool jewelry line for a while now. There’s something about the way she combines a variety of different media into each piece for an effect that is bohemian, feminine and edgy. It just makes me swoon.

Fortunato is no stranger in the fashion industry. Her work has been featured in just about every notable magazine you can think of, she’s got a great following for sure. Even though her line an be purchased at some of the best stores in the country. Each piece has a powerful personal vibe. The beautiful collage of materials offers a one-of-a-kind feel that seems like it was made just for you.

I especially love the lookbook for her Fall/Winter 09 collection which features work by one of my favorite photographers, Anna Wolf.

In other exciting news, my Room/Outfit post from last week is featured today on The Style Files. Thanks Danielle for linking to me! I am so happy you like the outfit I created for your photo!

Midnight Rambler Necklace; Bounty of Fortune and Fame Necklace; West of My Future Necklace. All pieces by Lizze Fortunato for F/W 09.

Looking Good!

I had a great post planned for today but a violent bout of food poisioning has left me more than a little worse for wear.

In lieu of my original post, I am leaving you with this lovely lady I found on Stylesightings, taking a sip at the Tribeca Grand.

I love her look, it is so sweet and ladylike. I’d love to wear something just like this for dinner over the holidays. The only problem is that it is waaaay too cold in Michigan for pointelle tights!

Horns of Plenty

I hope everyone had a good weekend! I am proud to say that I have finally finished my Christmas shopping and and am impatiently waiting for the holidays to just get here already. It has been a busy couple of months and I am ready for a break!

I still have a few things to tell you about before taking off for the holidays though…like these!

I am totally smitten with these fabric upholstered antlers from Brooklyn taxidermist Melissa Dixson.

Dixson brings a unique perspective to her field. She obtains the animals she works with through humane sources and has and though her work is in the style of hunting trophies, she brings an artistic temperament to each piece. Her beautiful and personal touches are what make her work both appealing and sentimental of the animal it features.

I love the way she juxtposes feminine fabrics with the rustic antlers. I would be thrilled to have a set of these hanging in our apartment.

Dixson is a prolific worker and updates her Etsy shop often.

Room/Outfit + Style Files

Todays Room/Outfit inspiration comes again from The Style Files. The second I saw this image on Danielle’s always-inspiring blog, I knew I had to create an outfit for it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about easy holiday party dressing lately. Ways to take it up a notch by using pieces I already own and putting them together in fancier ways.

Inspired by the understated sophistication in this dining area, I created a look to do just that. The knit Rag and Bone skirt with simple white T are fancied up a little with layered necklaces inspired by that incredible coral branch chandelier. Look-at-me red shoes from Opening Ceremony bring the whole thing together just like the legs on the table in the photo.

This is definitely one of my favorite Room/Outfit looks. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Have a great weekend, see you on Monday.

Image from The Style Files. Outfit clockwise from top left: Anthropologie Hot Chill Wrap; J.Crew Glimmer Tights; Coral Branch Necklace (via eBay); Alexander Wang Mini Pocket Tank; Opening Ceremony w5 Flap Shoe (on sale!); Flotsam and Jetsam Spanish Galleon Ring (via Catbird); Rag & Bone Layered Orion Skirt (via Shopbop); Meredith Wendell Small Python Pouchette (via Kirna Zabete); Anthropologie Candy Store Necklace.

Sugar and Spice

Food items are one of the best gifts to give for the holidays. Homemade food gifts are a particular favorite because they are always from the heart.

With food, packaging and presentation can do a lot to make  the gift look as good as it tastes. I’ve seen a bunch of inspiring ideas on the web recently. Here are some of my favorites

1. S’mores Stack – This gift takes ingredients from the supermarket and makes them so special with charming individual packaging tied up with bakers string. (Twig & Thistle)

2. Color-coded goody bags – Who doesn’t like candy? It’s always well-received, especially when the bag is color coded and sealed with a little stamped gift tag. It’s one sweet little package. (Once Wed)

3. Frozen Cookie Dough – I love this idea of giving frozen logs of cookie dough to throw in the icebox for a gift that keeps on giving long after the holidays are over. (Country Living)

4. The Secret Ingredient – This typeset recipe for shrimp & grits with a bag of grits from a local farm is a great package. I love the concept because you can replicate it with so many things: pancake or waffle mix, dried pasta, wild rice, oatmeal, anything really. (Design Sponge)

With some great packaging, you can take something from home and make it better than anything you’d find in a shop.

Looking for Comfort

Tonight I baked. I made pumpkin butter for tomorrow’s potluck at work and gingerbread cookies for my book club’s holiday gathering while Andy and I listened to the Low Christmas album.

I’m sorry I don’t have an illustration to share but I hope these lovely photos from Jen Gotch will make up for it.

I discovered these through Julia-Pure at Heart, one of my most favorite new discoveries in the blogosphere. They led me to Jen Gotch’s website and Flickr page. Both are seemingly bottomless pits of inspiration and pretty things.

Jen also happens to be 1/2 of the duo behind hair ornament phenom Ban.do. I’ve been a big fan of their feathered and jeweled hair accessories for a long time now. Of course it’s only fitting that I love Jen’s photography as well!

Here are some of my favorites from the Ban.do shop!

Worlds Collide

Today in his Creative Couples series on The Strange Attractor, Andy interviews Seattle couple Justine and Joel.

Both accomplished fine artists in their own right, Justine and Joel have joined forces to open Cairo gallery and shop. The lively space features art by young and promising artists from Seattle and beyond.

For two people with so much artistic talent as individuals, it is no surprise that Cairo is a smashing success and a rapidly rising star on the Seattle gallery scene. Read the full interview here on TSA.

Drawing at left by Justine Ashbee

Cairo Gallery storefront (below)

Five Favorites: Poketo

Ok, we are officially getting into the holiday crunch! Those of us still shopping for gifts are no doubt looking for something special to stand apart from the rest.

It’s ok, don’t worry, inspiration is on the way. Enter Poketo, the shop features clothing, accessories, housewares, etc featuring the works of up and coming artists. Best of all, it’s highly affordable. A perfect place to pick up some gifts that are unique and cool.

Fox Brooch $30

It’s no secret that foxes are pretty fantastic right now. I love the simple abstracted lines of this pin. To give to your favorite wild thing, click here.

Bear Bookmark Tabs $5

For the voracious reader, these adorable tabs keep your place and keep you company while reading. To view, click here.

Poketo SPACETIME Wallet – Damien Correll $20

Poketo is probably most known for their artist edition wallets. This style by one of my favorite graphic designers Damien Correll is just $20 so you’ll have plenty of cash left to fill it. Check it out here.

Blackbird Fly Twin Lens Reflex Camera $140

Not only does this camera look cooler than cool, it also takes great photos. The old school format allows you to take photos in three different formats including full frame so you can actually see the sprockets of the film on your photo. Neat! Click here.

Still of the Day Dreambook $20

I’ve heard of dream journals before but this is the first daydream journal I’ve ever seen. I love the simple, beautiful cover. Perfect for your favorite dreamer. Take a look here.

From left: Fox Brooch, Bear Bookmark Tabs, Poketo SPACETIME Wallet – Damien Correll, Blackbird Fly Twin Lens Reflex Camera, Still of the Day Dreambook.

Looks Good To Me Holiday Print Shop

Thanks to everyone who has placed orders in the LGTM Holiday Print Shop!

There are still styles left so if you are interested in placing an order, please do it soon while there is still time to ship.

Each illustration is handpicked from the archives of LGTM and printed on archival paper in a limited edition of 15. Signed and numbered.

Price of $35 includes shipping to anywhere in the US.

Happy shopping!