Me in Melange

Oh, my spring craftiness!

Are you seeing this cuteness?  This is a result of my spring creative surge.  We hung them on all our windows in the store and they look just darling!  So, I thought I'd share my little project, which turned out to be VERY time consuming because of course i had to make 18 of them....but on the bright side, I did get to play creatively, AND I got to do it late at night while watching old episodes of Prison Break (and I love watching my t.v. boyfriend Wentworth Miller).  

Here's what you do....

1.  Buy plain old clothespins.  Old school, cheap.

2.  Take apart the clothespins, throw away the metal thingy, you don't need it.

3. I dyed all the clothespins in batches of Rit dye (which is crazy fun because you can get so many different shades and if you like working with color it is a blast). 

4.  Glue two clothespins together, back to back with wood glue.  Let them dry.  Then you glue those puppies together in a circle.  I used gobs of glue, for fear that they'd bust apart, but in hindsight I might have gone a little crazy.  Superglue doesn't work--use wood glue.

5.  They are cute without anything in the middle, but I took various fuzzy yarns, balled them up and glued them inside the centers with a little tacky glue, and then we hung the entire flower from green yarn (sort of stem like).

Voila, done. 

Sign, ME {lv}

 

Tees by Tina

I can't lie....the name is NOT my favorite.  In fact, when the rep said she had a new line called "Tees by Tina" I completely ignored her and wasn't interested.  Couldn't get over the name.  BUT...I did get over it, and here's why.  These tanks, camis and leggings are like the Margaret O'Leary Magic Cami that we all adore.  The difference is the length....they are longer, don't ride up, and work really well for layering.  They are one size fits all, and that really does seem to be true, they fit most people just fine.  They are a great "smoother" of bra lines, and they give you a feeling of coverage which is nice.  I've gotten so use to wearing a layering cami or tank, I feel positively naked without one, and I'm definitely colder!

Anyway, check them out...don't let the name scare you.  I guess at least the name is simple, and to the point.  They are tees, and they are by Tina :-).  Signed, ME {lv}

{smooth tank, in black and cream}

Margaret O'Leary in the future!

  This might be irritating to those of you who are living in the "now" and can't imagine the distant season called spring, 2012.  For planners, like me, I can't help but excited about the future line of a beloved designer....even if it IS 5 months away!  Margaret O'Leary has the most amazing spring collection, it is an understatement to say I went a little crazy when I ordered.  The colors are beautiful....pinks, blues, gorgeous greens.  I picked a couple of my favorites to show off...the Venice Maxi Skirt to the left in a cotton voile in the most gorgeous and sophisticated nude color.  I also loved the versatility of the Plaited Coat below in the denim color.

 
Margaret O'Leary is one of those rare, and truly special designers that has staying power.  She has been around forever (I remember shopping a store in Seattle 15 years ago that carried her sweaters), and she has re-invented her designs and styles thru the years without compromising her quality, or the unique touches and detailing that makes her sweaters extra special.  I'm a fan, what can I say.  Signed, ME {lv} 

Trina Turk, you are just killing me!

Ugh, seriously....she is just KILLING me with her amazing, fantastic, super talented self.  Her spring line is off the charts darling and even though fall/winter is my favorite time of year (because of my obsession with boots and cashmere), her spring line is so amazing it actually makes me EXCITED for spring (despite the fact it is forever away).  So...just so you can drool a little with me....3 of the lovelies that we will be getting in February!  Signed, ME {lv}

 
   The Kearney dress and Millicent dresses (in blueberry)!   
 


  The Monique caridgan with the Thea lace trimmed tank peaking out!

Getting on the bus.

OK, we are officially embracing Twitter, Facebook, and something entirely new to us "Google +1".  I won't pretend I really understand all the ins and outs, but I think the upshot is that if you tweet about us, "like" us, or "+1" us, then more people will hear about us, and that is good :-).  Take a look at the new little buttons under each item, they are on every page and allow you to tell the world (or at the least your posse of friends) that you have a little Melange love.

So get on the bus with us!  Signed, ME {lv}

Now I get it!

I'll admit, when Mai Couture sent me samples of their blush and bronzing papier, I just didn't "get" it.  Why do you want a piece of tissue with blush on it?  Why wouldn't I just use my normal blush, which I like fine thank you for very much.  I had the same reaction to texting a few years ago...now I wonder how ever communicated without it. 

I used my free samples until they were mangled scraps of tissue, devoid of all color...I squeezed out every last drop of these awesome little sheets of goodness.  Then I searched them out, and ordered it for the store.  I LOVE how easy it is to apply anywhere (and there is nothing like a little blush color to give your face a pick me up), and I love how the color looks, very fresh, sheer, with just a faint shimmer.   It doesn't seem to sit on your skin like a powdered blush does, and it isn't as dense as a cream blush--it is the perfect in-between.   I can fit the sheets into my slimmest little clutch, it is my new "essential"...my go to cosmetic :-).  For me, pinks work best, the "uptown" has a mauve undertone, and the "prettyful" is pink that is a true pink, but not too blue based.  Sunset blvd. has a beautiful peachy tone.  The bronzer is ingenious, I didn't use it for weeks thinking I'm way too pale now to carry it, but in fact it is subtle, and has lots of shimmer so it gives you that glowing sunkissed look.   Highly recommended.  Signed, ME {LV}

 
    
 Uptown          Prettyful      Sunset Blvd    Bronzer


 

A Velvet summer for me!

I just finished writing orders for Velvet's April and May deliveries and I'm really excited about all the beautiful styles...their spring and summer styles are fantastic this year in particular!  We are getting spring in now (shipment arrived today actually), but I thought I would give you a little preview of the really cool patterns coming for summer!

        

Just a tiny taste of the great colors and prints coming!  Signed, ME {lv}

Getting excited for February already...

We just firmed up an Eileen Fisher "essentials" trunk show starting February 10th!  This will be so fun, because it will focus entirely on the EF basics, and all of her essential can't-live-without pieces for your wardrobe.  Washable stretch crepe, heavyweight rayon, denim, organic cotton....I'm excited already!  This will be the perfect time to investigate what your wardrobe needs in the "key pieces" category.  Mark your calendars!  Signed, ME {lv}

PJ Salvage cuteness.

  Grinning with a post-Christmas present high in the wee hours of the morning, I snapped this picture of the girls wearing their matching PJ Salvage cupcake robes, and underneath they have their cupcake pjs that match.  They were so excited for their "sister-power" outfits.   I just love buying them matching things....I'm wondering if they will think it is as cute when they are in their 20's?  Hope so, because I'll probably still be doing it.

Signed, ME {lv}

Happy New Year Vodka.

Thought I would share my Happy New Year craftie project.  Well, actually, it was my Merry Christmas project too.  I made a bunch of these for the holidays and gave them to friends as a gift for all sorts of things (Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, thank you, etc.)  I think they turned out so cute, and I have to say, after a few weeks of being infused with the cranberries, the vodka was pretty darn yummy.  I found a recipe that walked me thru it and it was super easy (just google infused vodka, there are a million different recipes). I just mixed a little sugar, with fresh cranberries, then heated them until the cranberries were about to burst, put them into the bottle with a funnel, added vodka, and put a stopper on it.  Done.  I designed the label myself (after buying labels from onlinelabels.com--they have a software that helps you print your design on whatever size labels you ordered).  I bought the bottles online, and what you can't see, which is super cute, is that each bottle is a different translucent color---yellow, green, blue, red, with contrasting stopper colors.  You can find bottles easily and very inexpensively...and the stoppers I found at a cooking store and will work with most bottles with small openings like this (they were made by Rabitt, the wine accessory company).  Presto....instant gift!