Faux Leather Lace Shoulder Bag

Honestly I can’t remember when the inspiration to create a faux leather lace bag came to me. All I can remember is that the materials were bought about a year ago and have been collecting dust in a corner somewhere in my place. One day I finally found the courage to do something with it after realizing I might have to donate it if I am never going to get to it (… and now you know what motivates me – losing control of my hoardings.)

After a year of letting it sit around, it took me one day to sew it and two weeks to find the chain making this project’s time approximately one year and three weeks.

On the night of the finish product, I was so proud! The moment I was done placing the chain on I put it on immediately and started searching for anything that would fit my new bag. Wine in hand (FYI… wine also motivates me) it was easy to prance around the house and pretend I was at a party with my new bag.

All play and dress up aside; I started to wonder why it took me so long to get to this bag. Am I just a professional procrastinator or what was it about finding time to do something I truly get a joy out of that’s stopping me? Truth is sometimes I am too much a dreamer and not enough of a doer. I’m going to try to hold on to this feeling of creative satisfaction as my new motivation and get started on those floral pants in the other corner… stay tune!

 

the Walrus and the Carpenter

 

It was 40 minutes prior to opening and two couples were in line outside of the Walrus and the Carpenter restaurant. Could it be that Anthony Bourdain really up the ante on this place when he featured it in his show a few weeks ago? I wasn't sure as it was my first time here. Unwilling to wait in line for 40 minutes I bribed the beau for some coffee at Café Fiore our favorite coffee shop just a few blocks away. When we returned 15 minutes later the line was wrapped around the corner and 10 minutes prior to opening, the line was through the hallway and out the door. However,we did get in fairly quickly after the doors opened.

I’m not a big seafood person so this place was not a good fit for someone like me but the beau did enjoy himself with some oysters, steak tartar and cured fish while I nibbled on my salad. I did try my very first oyster ever and couldn’t bring myself to like it. There’s just something about the texture that makes me want to barf so for the night I played the girl on a date who orders only a salad and picks at it throughout dinner, something I’ve never tried doing before and I tell ya I’m certainly not cut out for it. The salad was delicious but after dinner I ended up at whole foods eating a burrito bowl. Next time, the beau will have to go with friends who will appreciate the food.

photos taken on iPhone 5

The Love of Black and White Film

I love how nostalgic black and white film can make any moment even if that moment is as mundane as walking through post alley on a gloomy day...

The Seattle Great Wheel

I have been patiently waiting the past six months for the perfect day to test ride the Seattle Great Wheel. The perfect day for me would include no crowds, no lines, no rain and such day did exist - Superbowl Sunday. The city was a ghost town as we walked through the market and down to the pier. To my liking, there were absolutely no lines or crowd, only a handful of couples who probably had the same idea as us. As I climbed into our little private cable car, I begin to realize what I was about to do - go a hundred feet high on a rocky cable car when I am terrified of heights! Once we were settled into our cable car, the operator kindly informed us that if we weren't enjoying ourselves we could press the emergency button and he would stop for us. On the way up I almost had to push the emergency button once five times. No soothing words from the beau was going to help me. However, once we made our way to the top, the beauty of the city made me face my fears and my selfish love for photographs saved me. I can't remember if it was the sound of the loud shutter or having to concentrate on manually focusing my lens but with every press of the shutter button and winding of my film I felt a little braver... 

Here Comes the Bride

What a fun and exciting time for my little sister who will be getting marry this August. A few weekends ago we spent a Sunday afternoon dress shopping with her entire bridal party. It was fun for us but a little overwhelming for my sister because each dress she tried on just didn't feel 100% right. Although she was feeling that way, you wouldn't have been able to tell. She looked gorgeous in every dress she tried on... 

PS - Today is also her birthday... Happy Birthday, Sis! xo

If You're a Bird, I'm a Bird.

My good friend, Jodie asked me to shoot photos of her and her beloved for their Christmas card this past December. Initially I hesitated mostly because I've never shot photographs of a couple before. Most of my work has been around runway shows and fashion related events where I am not responsible for directing the subjects in front of my camera but positioning my frame to capture what my heart saw. Because Jodie is a good friend I wanted to do this for her and after our session ended I was really glad I did. This photo shoot wasn't so different from shooting the runway shows that I love because I can easily see the love between Jodie and her beloved. Jodie and I have been good friends since high school therefore we've been through so much together. From the awkward teenage issues to the 'what should I do with my life' phase and then there's the heartbreaks and tears we've shared over the relationships that didn't work. When it comes to love, today we are both in a much better place and you can really just see the happiness in her face in these photographs. It wasn't difficult for me to capture the pure joy that was oozing out of my friend from being in love. Her beloved can make her laugh with just one silly stare and he can instantly comfort her with the simplest touch of his hand. For my friend, Jodie I hope that she will always be this happy and that love will always be by her side... 

 

 

"If you're a bird... I'm a bird..." - Nicolas Sparks

Smith Tower

... on a typical overcast Seattle winter day... 

Have a warm weekend! 

What's in My Bag

Every girl who has a blog has done a 'what's in your bag' post. Today I am cleaning my purse and jumping on the bandwagon. Aside from loose change and receipts this is typically what's in my bag. I've been carrying my Michel Kors tote every where for the past year or so and I love it to pieces. It's the same size as the Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag and it can carry so much stuff! Here's what in my bag... 

PS - I'm selling my Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag in the damier azur print. If you're interested, please email me - loveyouablog@gmail.com. 

Making Photographs

"You don't take a photograph, you make it." - Ansel Adams 

One Saturday, I spent hours in a dark room immersed into making photographs. There is something so magical about film. I love the whole process of seeing my images come to life - developing my own film, cutting my negatives, creating a contact sheet and from that selecting the images I want to print. I know I am taking Ansel Adam's quote so literal but this process is what makes me fall in love with photography. I can spend countless hours in a dark room and lose total track of time. Unfortunately, I don't do this enough so I've pinned a self portrait of myself and my latest contact sheet on my inspiration board (the real pinterest)  above my desk so that I am reminded of how much I love film and also as a reminder to continue my passion. 

Sydney

 The cold weather in Seattle makes me miss Sydney terribly. On this specific day it was close to 100 degrees as we made our way through the Botanical Garden and around the harbor. Until next time Sydney!