w a n d e r l u s t i n g s

shooting star hair barrettes at rodarte

2012-02-23T09:26:00.000-06:00

once you have gotten over the initial shock of the dare i say garish makeup from the rodarte nyfw f/w 2012 show, you might appreciate the 40s messy & teased bob along with the lovely shooting star barrettes and the giant gold hair pins. they were so fantastic. but you won't be able to find these puppies since they were custom made for the show. i am considering designing one of my own and having it cast...that's how much i love these.

images via frou frouu and wwd.

alexandra grecco :: pure loveliness

2012-02-23T08:59:00.000-06:00

i have always loved this little etsy shop. her pictures are always so dreamy and so are her products. bits of vintage flair mixed with girly muted colors - ahhh. so chic.

when her new pictures started popping up in my etsy feed, i was so hungry for more! these whimsical little shots and outfits and accessories make me feel so giddy!

check out alexandra grecco here.

sean avery's creatures

2012-02-22T16:53:00.001-06:00

i am so in love with sean avery's stunning creatures.

most of them are comprised of::
wire frame
cd fragments {roughly 100 per creature}
hot glue
paint

who thought those things would make such gorgeous art!

check out more of his work here.

historical modern living :: chicago bath house

2012-02-22T16:25:00.001-06:00

it's not everyday that one of chicago's historical public bath houses goes up for sale - let alone rent. but alas, as i was browsing rental properties on craigslist {i'm moving this summer} i came across this amazing place right in the heart of wicker park.

as of right now, you can rent {or buy:: $2.3 million} the three bedroom/three bath renovated space for $5,000 a month over on chicago apartment finders. it's garden was landscaped by craig bergman and won a best urban garden award. judging by the pictures, it must have.

now i am very particular about renting old places, so the first question that comes to mind has to be::

i wonder what kind of ghosts haunt old bath houses?

yup, i went there.

get ready for takeoff

2012-02-22T12:39:00.000-06:00

these pretty much blew my mind. galaxy patterns +plus+ those shapes?!

...mind. blown.

by a very talented setareh mohtarez

photo diary :: some february love

2012-02-19T22:55:00.001-06:00

i know not everyone's on instagram, so just in case, here's a little looksie through the eyes of my phone. if you are on instagram feel free to follow me @wanderlustings. this is basically last week and a bit more from february.

orange ya glad??

2012-02-17T10:20:00.001-06:00

that's right:: gimme gimme some orange lovin'

at times, i am in a muted-color mood but definitely not today! i am hankerin' for some bold colors - especially orange. my bedroom used to be one hot mess of bright orange walls and i absolutely loved it. here are some of the things that would help to satiate my craving...

1. pendant fixture // 2. illustrated mug // 3. battenburg lace top // 4. vintage book

5. coral lampshade // 6. lovely illustration by lucille // 7. stud and scallop vintage blouse // 8. ikat fabric

polar bear club

2012-02-17T00:03:00.001-06:00

i wonder if he's warm...

these were some of the pictures i took this past weekend when i went to brookfield zoo. the underwater viewing area is such a beautiful room and the light just seemed to hit everything perfectly. then mr. polar bear here decided to go for a swim - jackpot. everyone ran over to that tank and luckily, i caught some of him playing in the water.

it's amazing to me how massive these creatures are - how adorable they are - how innocent they look - but how dangerous they can be. craziness. i loved seeing his fur get wet and watch it float around him like a big, glowing aura. it was so beautiful. he even carried his little bone over to us and then carried it off with him in that last picture. like a little puppy.

what a wonderful day.

bangarang!! baby bonsai treehouses

2012-02-16T10:09:00.000-06:00

how incredible are these bonsai treehouses created by takanori aiba?!

they're mind-blowing.

learn more about him and his amazing work here.

girl crush :: kate foley nyfw f//w 2012

2012-02-16T09:47:00.000-06:00

kate foley, buyer for opening ceremony, and i must be sisters from another mister...

because i rarely see anyone who dresses like me in photos from fashion week. but when i happened upon her thanks to the lovely alicia of cheetah is the new black, i was utterly delighted to find a kindred spirit among the sometimes rigid fashionista {ehh, i used 'fashionista'} crowd.

tights with chunky platform sandals, babydoll peasant dresses, tapered trapeze tops, lacy and leather skirts, leveled layers, etc. i am so happy to see it all!

i've always wondered if i was too casual, folksy or cutesy - but hey! this just proves that there's room for us fashion free spirits in nyfw and design houses everywhere. thanks kate for paving the way!

who is your fashion kindred spirit??

no fine lines between fashion designer and artist

2012-02-16T08:52:00.000-06:00

i was stunned when i saw images of this installation piece comprised of a lit wax sculpture of a woman sleeping in a bed. the details in the shadowing and precise texturizing of the piece have caused audiences to be both fascinated and disturbed by such a realistic portrayal.

as i looked further into this erie piece, i found out that the artist {or shall i say artists} is//are none other than the belgian fashion design firm a.f. vandevorst. the sculpture was displayed at the 2011 arnhem mode biennale.

it certainly takes a beautiful mind to conceptualize wearable art let alone conceptualize and then execute something like this.

vday observations

2012-02-16T00:06:00.002-06:00

all the fellas fumbling cards and flowers

while all the gals are getting gussied up

on the train ride home.

-valentine's night-

i saw a delivery man out today

with obscenely large bouquets in hand.

must have been from the men

who'd forgotten.

-the morning after-

poster

a royal pain in the arse...

2012-02-15T12:27:00.000-06:00

what do elizabeth I, henry VIII, anne boleyn and shakespeare have in common?
{history lessons aside that is}
...that i can wear them as panties.

that's right.

so, i can't decide if these are tacky or not but either way, i am smitten.
and they're like pokemon :: gotta catch 'em all.

available here.

dark sirens in the east

2012-02-14T15:18:00.000-06:00

these mussed and tussled up coifs from creatures of the wind have me swoonin'. so glad nadia of frou frouu was there to capture this with her photo skills.

lanvin love :: black & gold

2012-02-14T11:36:00.000-06:00

wow, are these puppies a work of art or what?!
they're half off over on ssense which means they're no longer $1,400 but $745. i'm thinking i need a sugar daddy when i see things like this ;)

swan lake :: vintage sunglasses

2012-02-14T11:22:00.000-06:00

i am pretty sure i need to find a genie to grant me three wishes so that i can get my hands on a pair of these this summer...

soooo adorable! if anyone knows where i can purchase a pair, please let me know!

image.

happy heart day!!

2012-02-14T04:00:00.000-06:00

happy v-day ladies and gents!!
i thought this sassy little fox would do the trick for you today ;)
i know he made my day. and what's valentine's day without a little red?!

will you be my valentine?? xx

foxy///abstract

a day at the circus...with a headdress

2012-02-13T23:07:00.001-06:00

i'm sure you are already aware of my intervention-worthy etsy addiction...
which leads me to how i probably came across this lovely shop styling from sabrina tach.

i love the models white bob and freckles but most of all, i absolutely love the costuming. bright pops of color agains a vanilla-y backdrop and leotard. so eye-catching and the bags are pretty nice too.

i totally want to rock that first costume for halloween this year - i love feather plumed structured shoulders.

manmade street geodes in la

2012-02-13T12:58:00.000-06:00

i can't tell you how much i love this project from paige smith, an artist and graphic designer living la. she's taken to the streets of the city and installed her handmade geodes that have to be inspiring every person that passes them by.

i am not quite sure what i would do if i saw one of these in chicago. most likely faint or pet it since i'm not accustomed to seeing pretty things in the loop. if you are around the la area and would like to spot a few of these, she's mapped them for you.

below is a photo of paige's process that she shares on her blog as well as a photo of her installing a geode. how adorable is she as well?!

see more of paige's work here.

give your valentine a heart attack with these DIYs

2012-02-13T09:18:00.000-06:00

1. LAWN HEART ATTACK

2. POSTAGE HEART ATTACK

3. HOUSE HEART ATTACK

4. NO HEART ATTACK -- JUST LOVE :)

how amazing are these adorable DIY valentine's from the amazing brittany jepsen over at the house that lars built {my new obsession}?! i think i might need to do that lawn one ---- super duper cute! i'd freak {in a good way} if i woke up to hearts on my lawn!

abstract patterns

2012-02-13T08:23:00.000-06:00

hello there and happy monday!

i have been visiting lots of museums lately and i must say that i absolutely LOVE dressing for a day at the museum. i will usually wear something that's a bit victorian vintage to history museums {or at least something retro} and i like to wear really modern or deco///nouveau prints for art museums and galleries - believe me when i say that they're a dime a dozen in chicago - which is actually really nice.

i came across this lovely lady and stylist shirley kurata thanks to the house that lars built and was nothing less than inspired by all of the graphic prints she boldly wears. i have also been eyeing these lovely bags by tarco. the abstract design mixed with those colors and embroidered textures makes me want to just jump for joy.

rainbow brite

2012-02-10T08:45:00.003-06:00

shazaaam! hello friday morning!
my name's caitlin and i am ready to get this weekend started!

pink wall///neon dress

an ethereal kirsten dunst for vogue italia

2012-02-10T08:41:00.001-06:00

haven't seen her in a while but my is she looking lovely.

kirsten dunst: true heart - vogue italia by yelena yemchuk

etsy shop love :: mother may i?

2012-02-09T16:38:00.003-06:00

i was stunned when i saw these photographs - in an etsy shop no less!
they're unbelievably lovely. i'm not one to ga-ga for aprons but wow, this shop sure makes me want one.
the art direction and styling is just fabulous. i am loving the sweet little parisian prairie girl feel with the straw hats and kerchiefs and that wallpaper is just heavenly. sigh.

visit the shop here to see more!
x mother x

scout & catalogue :: lookbook love

2012-02-08T21:49:00.000-06:00

scout & catalogue has a lovely new lookbook, but unfortunately no new products in their shop - such a tease. their lookbook pics have been all over the blogosphere the past couple of days but not my favorite ones...so i thought i'd show you the images i've been lusting over.

superpower :: ultra-sleek bohemian

2012-02-08T08:59:00.000-06:00

ooh la la! i believe that this outfit will help me be ultra sleek -- as in superpower ultra sleek and stylish. i think that would be a pretty nice superpower. imagine never having to question your outfits again! does this match? is this too tight? does this make me look like a lady of the night?

okay, so maybe not everyone questions their choices as much as i do but it would definitely take about 15-20 minutes off my prep time in the morning. my next superpower would then have to be neutralizing loose bunny hair because i am literally covered in it when i walk out of the house thanks to snuggling the buns before i leave.

now this outfit is just about perfect but i would like to make note that i would probably also include some thick knitted tights with this ensemble and a chunky beaded or metallic necklace that just about drapes the neck.

what would you want your fashion superpower to be??

all items from plumo {my new love} but more specifically :: clutch//clogs//dress

turquoise//teal dreamin'

2012-02-08T08:48:00.001-06:00

warm spells have been happening around here and i just can't help daydreamin' about spring and summer. you know bright, bold colors and sunny dispositions. beaches and parks. my vintage cruiser with my wicker basket attached. long walks and late nights. i can't wait for it all. but until then, i think i'll just make myself giddy with anticipation for the next 4-5 months. ;)

what season makes you weak in the knees?

heels//courage//room

style post preview :: my moon my man

2012-02-07T23:44:00.000-06:00

i might like to rock a lot of polka dots but who doesn't?!

i was feeling a bit spherical so i just had to pop this awesome moon art behind me. it totally plays off of my outfit. full post very soon!

lovely art from here.

tools of the trade :: self-taught jewelry designer

2012-02-07T09:41:00.002-06:00

do you have a self-taught career? it had never really occurred to me until i sat down to do this post but i am most definitely in a self-taught career and hopefully, it will be my full-time gig one day!

i am very proud to be self-taught in a lot of different things. it's what makes me, well, me! i feel like this day in age we have so much learning power at our finger tips. a lot of things i've learned from searching tutorials, scouring youtube, etc. it's amazing!

one of the main things i taught myself is jewelry design and manufacturing. i believe it was the lovely samantha over at wandering threads that mentioned she'd love to know how i learned my metal and jewelry techniques. so i thought it would be wonderful to share that with you today.

wanderlustings originally started as a bridal hair accessory line if you can imagine that. the items were lovely and sold really well. but it was hard to keep up with because so many requests were all custom orders. wanderlustings, since it's inception, has always been just me - except in rare occasions when my mom, sister or the honey come help me at a show or my dad helps me solder. i still do custom orders once in a while because amazingly enough people still contact me after seeing some of my pieces. i randomly find my pieces as inspiration on larger blogs which is such a huge compliment! i more recently found my hair pieces featured on lulu frost's blog and the decorista! it's such an honor.

i loved embellishing everything i wore; from adding bow ties or scarves on handbags of mine to switching out buttons on my jacket. so naturally i would be affixing hand-picked silk flowers to combs, right?! not such a logical leap i know but it is one of those merry mishaps that resulted in something beautiful.

unfortunately, i got too overwhelmed and burnt-out on bridal orders. but my interest had been piqued by jewelry crafting. at first i dabbled in period pieces like victorian ruffs - metalwork intimidated me so much that the only other option i could think of was the safety of fabric.

i gradually started to incorporate metal into my fabric pieces and after many googled tutorials on metal tools and process, i made the full leap into metalwork. i picked up tools at hobby lobby and experimented with techniques - made LOTS of mistakes and have honed new skills at every turn. i even took a metal class where i gained a lot of helpful tips and tricks.

right now, i am working on lost wax casting - something that has always intrigued me. once again, this was a googled technique that i learned all about through research and emailing other artisans who happened to be very sweet and helpful.

i love sketching and painting so drawing out my designs and then carving them is such a gratifying experience. the carving part is the hardest since i have never done anything like that before but i am slowly getting the hang of it. i would really love to have an elaborate studio some day where i could do all of the casting in-house but it is insanely expensive. so it looks i will have to work towards that goal in the somewhat near future.

you can see the post on my metal class here.
you can see the post on some of my process here.
my old floral hair combs can be seen here. {have to be logged into facebook to view those i believe}

i hope you enjoyed this post. feel free to let me know if you have any questions or would like to hear more about other topics you are interested in!

lovely workspace image from here.

a year worth blogging about

2012-02-04T00:29:00.001-06:00

so guess what?! february marks the one-year anniversary of consistent (and frequent) blogging! i am so excited and so proud that it happened so naturally. i love blogging - it makes my world go 'round and i am so happy that i could share things with you. this next year, i have a feeling, is going to be even more exciting!

but before we're onto this bigger and brighter year - i would like to send off last year with a bang. well, by bang i mean more of a recap of what i thought were some of the most special moments i shared here on wanderlustings ;) so here we go!

in february i took my first metal class and posted lovely pictures of the workshop i was in. the one class that i took helped me understand a lot more than i originally knew about metalwork. it was wonderful.

i visited the most amazing antique mart that i had ever stepped foot in. i am still kicking myself for passing up that vintage botanical kimono. nuts!

and even did my first fashion week critique - rodarte being my absolute favorite.

oh! and i attended my first cupcakes and champagne bash with christina and calli thrown by the marvelous jen and joanna. it was so much fun and i met so many wonderful ladies.

let's just call march the month of concerts, shall we?
i got to watch my cousin play at the house of blues. for an encore, he ran to the back of the auditorium, jumped up on the sound booth with his guitar and serenaded the crowd.

i got to see crystal castles - which was the first of two times i saw them this year. alice, the lead singer had apparently broken///sprained her ankle the night before at a show. so a burly security guard carried her out in his arms and she hopped around the stage like it was nothing waving her one crutch in the air - i've never seen anything quite like it and it made me love them even more. that giant backdrop of that little goth girl and the weird strobe lights made it all the more spectacular.

this show was insane. before i saw steve aoki's set at the congress i was a bit apprehensive because he has always seemed a bit too mainstream for my liking. partying with lindsay lohan and all that jazz. but holy cow is he amazing. at one point - maybe when this picture was taken - he ran off the stage climbed up to the balconies (which is really high!!) from backstage and dove off of the balcony into a yellow water raft that people had been crowd surfing in the entire night. when he landed in the raft confetti poured from the ceiling (as you can see in the second shot) - wow. what a moment in time. it was insane. steve aoki is insane. that video of him doing that stunt went viral the very next day.

i was able to do my first feature on a local chicago store that i was passionate about called brimfield in the andersonville neighborhood. it was wonderful getting to talk with the owner and her new puppy.

this awesome picture is from my favorite visual inspiration post to date :: mad world.

i rekindled a long lost love affair with thoroughly modern millie that included carol channing at her best of course as muzzy.

bought this amazing diy zodiac embroidery kit from miniature rhino and made it for andrew's housewarming. it was so much fun and so pretty!

harry potter to the extreme!

saw lord huron for the first time when andrew and i went to schuba's on a random date night. i don't think i've ever been so mesmerized and inspired by a single band before.

i started making items in bulk (from what i could). this was the best decision yet and made me waaay more business-minded in terms of my jewelry line.

i also learned how to take nicer pictures - thank goodness!

did a 'what's in your bag?' post. probably one of the most fun posts i've done creatively speaking.

got to devour amazing food from jam, check out street art and see health at pitchfork all in one weekend!

i dressed as hermione (complete with time-turner and all) to the midnight showing of harry potter and the deathly hallows part 2. i was so sad. but it made me happy to see all the other fans dressed up as characters and also i got to keep my harry potter 3D glasses - they were the same style as harry's - such a cute touch!

i did my first polyvore curation and i have been hooked ever since!

i was featured on refinery 29 for the first time thanks to this trending report on navajo prints.

did my first 'pseudo' style post.

my sister got to come with me to lollapalooza for the first time this year. needless to say, it was one epic lolla. which included !!!death from above 1979 reuniting!!! beautiful days and nights, skrillex, feed me, bloody beetroots, deadmau5 performed during a thunderstorm, mud baths from the storms -- just utterly blissful and surreal as usual. (see rest of the pictures here)

totally stepped up my jewelry creativity right before renegade handmade with the help of my dad and some long nights of gem polishing and soldering.

had an unbelievable time at renegade preparing and being at the actual show with my boothmate lydia of pierogi picnic. during this show, i sold wholesale to a company that has stores all over california - i was so excited. i also got to meet some amazingly stylish people there as well!

visited san diego for the first time for work and didn't want to leave. i'd move there in a heartbeat. (see more pictures here!)

threw my first surprise party for the honey's big 3-0. it was fun but it sure was stressful - won't be doing that again for a while...

another renegade under our belt, lydia and i had a lot more fun at the holiday renegade. i think because we weren't stuck in sweltering heat nor were we being baked alive in a tent ;)

i almost needed a polyvore intervention during the holiday break.

had some of my new pieces featured in INK magazine.

wow, what a fabulous year this has been! so glad you could join me and i hope you'll stick around for more :D

top image from marc by marc jacobs via fancy fine. edited by moi.

style files :: nouveau vogue

2012-02-02T23:28:00.001-06:00

i tried to get creative with this fashion post title...ever heard of the band nouvelle vague? well their cover of dancin' with myself is one of my favorites and i think it even used to be kat von d's opening credits to her show.

nouveau is totally the theme of this asos dress i picked up on super-duper sale after the holidays. how anyone wouldn't want this bold dress, i don't know but i am certainly glad that it reached my closet!

i am not sure what it is but i have been sooo attracted to anything art nouveau as of late. my next line is going to be focused primarily on that theme. i can't wait!

i paired it with a wanderlustings tribal necklace, a navy bow belt from anthro {also super-sale last year}, my brown coach boots from dsw and my awesome fabric & handle bag.

i wore this lovely little number to the chicago art institute a few weekends ago. it was the perfect ensemble for that outing if i do say so myself. i matched all of the lovely nouveau style metalworks i was photographing there.

i can't wait for the weather to get warm again so i can take pictures outside. the lighting in our place is just awful. oi!

Nouvelle Vague - Dancing With Myself by larydarrel

tats and all

2012-02-02T19:20:00.000-06:00

how awesome is this tattoo?!

i am lovin' the placement

and the design.

from here.

handmade tribal clutches

2012-02-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

i am digging these oversized tribal clutches from indie goes pop.

green thumb

2012-02-02T13:59:00.000-06:00

get in my house, please.

right now.

images from here and here.

curious curations

2012-02-02T09:26:00.001-06:00

so first off...are you noticing the adorable hedgehog noshing on treats in the first curation?! how freaking adorable!!

okay, so...

i absolutely love organizing things - call it what you will {ocd?!} but i just can't help myself. i coordinate knick-knacks on my desk all the time. so photos like these really seem so endearing to me. here are a few of my favorites that i have been collecting. just click through the pictures to be taken to the source.

oh, and below was my stab at a curious curation a few months ago. ah how i wish i could curate for a living. maybe one day...

effortless and cozy chic

2012-01-31T23:33:00.002-06:00

WOW!!

this lady's style is just perfect and so effortlessly french. not to mention i am having some major bang envy right now which isn't helping any ;)

sophie blackall :: missed connections

2012-01-31T23:15:00.001-06:00

i have always been intrigued by sophie blackall's illustrations mainly because of the interesting stories that go along with them. i never have read through the missed connections in chicago on craigslist but i think that maybe i'll start.

have you ever written a missed connection?

or thought about writing one?

the bunny page has been updated!

2012-01-31T22:21:00.002-06:00

yay yay yay!
i have updated the bunny page!
you can find out a bit more about my three buns now :)
it's funny but all of the facts found there are 100% true about charlie, lola and alphonso...

one page down, quite a few more to go!

i heart pretty much anything with cameos

2012-01-31T08:46:00.000-06:00

so i have been in love with cameos ever since watching anne of green gables and road to avonlea when i was little. i was completely obsessed with victorian brooches that had them. i also remember my parents getting me a play-doh {type thing} cameo maker when i was little. you could marbleize them and everything - it was insane and i totally wish i still had that little tool.

but my love affair with cameos has not diminished in the least over time. in fact, i seem to grow fonder of them. people are doing such unique things with them//reinventing the cameo like the earrings above from bergdorf's i believe. and i saved that image of the bakelite cameo from jean jean vintage. love the colors.

i actually went to go pick up a few of my items from a store i sell my jewelry in and picked up some older cameo rings i had made. they don't really fit my brand anymore but they are still lovely. you can see one of them right here. and if you're interested in purchasing, please let me know. i have four of them left :)

the lawrence look

2012-01-30T11:04:00.000-06:00

i just can't decide if i like her, her vintage clothes or this little space with the beautiful painting and plants the most. i loves me some inspiration!

in my studio

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

i have been sitting on so many lovely images since buying a professional camera. it's practically loveliness overload because i can never decide which photos to select, edit and post. but these are clear winners. it's basically of the moodboard above my work desk as well as a lovely plate from anthro that i use to collect jewelry.

i'll point out some bits i love:

-hermione's timeturner

-vintage doilies

-hand carved wooden birds

-metal scraps

-lovely business cards

-in-progress metalwork

-fun fortunes

-pretty tags

-fabric scraps

-some of my work {flowers and metals}

what is on your mood///inspiration board?

rustle up some inspiration

2012-01-29T11:12:00.001-06:00

so i was up early this sunday morning thanks to a lovely neighbor deciding to snow blow our entire neighborhood. it would really be a sweet gesture if it weren't for a few things like:

a. he wakes me up at least three out of seven mornings a week with some kind of noisy contraption

b. leaf blowers are not environmentally friendly and it peeves me every time i see someone use one

c. it's not really necessary to use a leaf blower or shovel the cement after a dusting of snow

okay, so maybe these are silly things now that i write them but i'm a bit cranky from being woken up.

i am trying to finish up the list a mile long of things i have to do. need to pay my bills, make some spreadsheets, follow up on orders, edit blog photos for this week, exercise {on my way to do now}, clean bunny cages {super-fun!} and play with the buns...okay now that one is super-fun.

while i was trying to find some new inspiration for jewelry, i happened upon a photo i saved from the blog sock monkey and gee. my friend gypsy turned me onto her blog and now i just can't get enough. it is by a girl named megan who wears the most adorable vintage///thrifted outfits and writes her posts in song lyrics or quotations because she things they sum up what her pictures say better than she can - which i think is uber-endearing.

the picture above is one of my favorite recent outfits from her. i love that dress with the black bow and tights and off-white pumps...oh, and the fact that she's taking her photos in that beautiful graveyard. so lovely.

what are you up to today?

trampoline vintage

2012-01-27T21:38:00.000-06:00

i am actually super-hesitant to even share this etsy shop with you because i covet absolutely positively everything in it. but i just have to; it's too darn cute. the owner, kim, has such an eye for interesting antiques and fun nostalgia. and the photography is so memorable -- i even hoard the pictures...i may have a problem... ;)

i bought this vintage pendleton stool {below} from the shop.

ga-ga gorman!

2012-01-26T06:45:00.000-06:00

in my mind, gorman can do no wrong.
the melbourne based brand from lisa gorman is probably one of my favorite fashion lines. and lately she's been dishing out the most interesting patterns and shapes. her new arrivals are no exception.

which are your favorite?
i just can't decide!

dear golden vintage: kitten hair

2012-01-26T00:14:00.001-06:00

i have such a lady crush on lauren of dear golden vintage. besides having a killer vintage etsy shopped that i've stalked forever, she has the most natural style of probably anyone in the blogosphere. no makeup, mussed up hair and new nerdy glasses.

today she blogged about this sweet little hairstyle that i can't help but envy. she called it messy sex kitten hair. i think it's utterly adorable and am totally going make this my do for tomorrow ;)

quaint bundled up style

2012-01-23T13:01:00.001-06:00

i absolutely love the way these two parisienne ladies {that were photographed over on stylesight} paired their adorable coquette coats. i could totally be wearing either of those ensembles:

one:
///leggings///
///booties///
///sweaterdress///
///narrow belt///
///adorable coat///
///black marc jacobs bag///

two:
///black platform booties///
///black tights///
///jewel tone coat///
///colorful vintage handbag///
///floral scarf///

way to stay warm ladies in an ever-so effortlessly chic way.

modern bohemian accessories

2012-01-22T23:59:00.000-06:00

whoo boy!

these are just a few of the modern

bohemian accessories i have been coveting

lately. i love the delicious mixes of vibrant colors

and offbeat metals - they're so fabulous!

one::necklace

two::bracelet

three::vintage scarf

four::handbag

five::studs

six::hoops

giveaway update!

2012-01-22T23:30:00.000-06:00

thank you to everyone who participated in the january//february giveaway maulani//handmade nest!!

i have randomly picked a winner and dita from handmade nest will be in touch with you soon!
winner :: valentina liebe

congrats valentina and thank you dita for sponsoring this giveaway!!
be sure to check out the handmade nest and maulani for more whimsical treasures!

addicted

2012-01-20T13:04:00.000-06:00

lately, i am sooo addicted to instagram. instagram and thrifting.
you can follow me @wanderlustings

new designs

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-06:00

i have the worst lighting ever in my house. there is probably a 1-2 hour time frame one day a week where there is optimal lighting for photos. so i have desperately been looking for new ways to make this work.

well, i've come to find that the starbucks near my work is the perfect place! haha! the perfect lunch hour: scone and a latte, instagram and my jewelry...doesn't get any better.

these new pieces will be in the shop soon. the top two are made from salvaged iron curtain rods mixed with filigree, copper wire and a semi-precious stone and a vintage copper teardrop respectively. the bottom two are my other new experiments with semi-precious stones - they're made to mimic collars when you wear them. i think they're pretty neat :)

wanderlustings in INK magazine

2012-01-19T09:19:00.004-06:00

once in a very blue moon, i find that when i'm least expecting it, i happen upon some amazingly talented people. people that you never realized were so nearby yet so hidden from my view. people that you never realized could perform creatively at a level to which i believe is humanly impossible. people who are far beyond their years in running a successful, creative endeavor. enter john troxel. editor in chief, photographer and one of the co-founders of INK magazine.

john is graduating high school this year. that's right. he hasn't even gone off to college yet but he has achieved something so huge and done so with such an unwavering vision in such a short amount of time. it's still dumbfounding to me. i can't wait to see what he'll do in a few years. i'm sure i will be speechless again.

so it is with great pleasure that i show these pages of the last issue of INK magazine with you which was handpicked by issuu this morning to be on their front shelf. i think the way john transitioned my older flower pieces seamlessly with my new modern jewelry is perfect. i honestly could not envision the two styles meeting with such cohesion but he certainly proved me wrong.

good luck john in all that you do!

bang envy: zooey

2012-01-18T16:50:00.001-06:00

i already had some pretty bad bang envy when it comes to zooey deschanel's locks but this is just too much! sixties bouffants plus cute bangs?! just stop it zooey! stop it allure magazine!

i pulled a britney the other day after my hairdresser refused to give me bangs. now i have little audrey bangs in a not-so-good way and have been having to bobby pin them back...awfulness.

this is coming from a girl full of sadness and a cowlick right smack dab on the front of her head. i just wasn't meant to have bangs...sniff, sniff.

here's me with ken paves clip in bangs...the envy is palpable.

update!!!
i found these super helpful articles on styling and cutting bangs when you have a cowlick. i have to remember these for next time!

how to style and cut
longer side swept bangs like this work perfectly
heavier bangs to solve that pesky cowlick
how to blowdry and style them

i hope this helps!

moonrise kingdom

2012-01-18T12:34:00.001-06:00

i simply cannot wait to see this. it looks darling per usual.
and speaking of darling -- how cute is her dress in that first pic?
sigh.

DIY: painted geometric clutch via tick tock vintage

2012-01-18T09:42:00.002-06:00

i absolutely love veronika from tick tock vintage and now, i love her even more thanks to this awesome tutorial over on her blog.

1940's glam: anjelica huston

2012-01-18T09:25:00.000-06:00

i saw this on pinterest and was amazed! and then was even more amazed to learn that that's none other than anjelica huston photographed by the talented bob richardson for vogue paris circa 1971. i like how the style is definitely 70's but with more of a 40's glam twist...heaven!

image via annyhall tumblr.

little castles on the hillside votive diy

2012-01-17T09:46:00.003-06:00

this is one of the sweetest DIYs i've seen! thanks to clever lass over on fellow fellow...

style post: vintage oriental 60's coat

2012-01-16T18:28:00.000-06:00

i love this jacket. i bought it a few years ago at clothing optional in the lakeview neighborhood of chicago. the zipper bottoms don't separate like they should but i don't mind stepping in and out of it until i bring it in to get it replaced. i've worn this to flea markets before and people seem to go nuts for it! i usually like to wear it with a belt but it doesn't look too bad without one either. here i'm wearing it with a black dress, black leggings, vintage boots, marc jacobs bag and vintage bauble necklace.

i really need to head back to clothing optional and find a few new gems!

photo diary: my birthday weekend

2012-01-16T09:59:00.001-06:00

some highlights from my birthday weekend -- i can't believe i took so many photos. i had so much fun!

snowstorm c a k e surpriseparty b e s t f r i e n d s

bunnies g o l d brightcolors d r i n k s gifts

illustrations j a i l b r e a k necklaces a d v e n t u r e

teenietinysnowmen c o l o r happiness

for the home///for the home///for the home

2012-01-12T09:10:00.001-06:00

hello again! i am back to share some more fun stuff on my fantasy birthday wishlist :) this is actually tons of fun by the way - i hope you find some stuff you can use! today, i wanted to share things that i would use in my home. i'd say my style is a pretty good combo i'd like to coin as post-modern bohemian. {click on any of the coordinating item descriptions below to view the product} enjoy!

bohemian treats:::
-tiger bookend
-ink blot mug
-wooden alarm iphone dock
-hay plus 9 quilts
-anthro scarf splash

postmodern goodies:::
-pillow
-rabbit bookends
-antique reproduction phonograph
-mixed media vase
-colorful rustic mug
-mural wall hanging

thanks for looking and don't forget to enter the giveaway!!

new look: comfy///cozy folksy

2012-01-11T22:49:00.000-06:00

happy thursday!!

here's another lookbook post :D

upcycled ochre sweater top by pierogi picnic

lace top from target sale

linen dress from target

burgundy tights from forever 21

cowgirl boots thrifted

fabric & handle bag

*sorry about the linen wrinkles*

shoes///shoes///shoes

2012-01-11T10:10:00.001-06:00

in honor of my birthday this weekend, i am 'giving' myself these shoes via my blog ;) these are the funky ones i have been having a love affair with as of late. below are the folksy shoes i have also been lusting over. i'd say i'm a pretty even mix between funky and folksy, so it's pretty fitting!

funky shoes {row by row; left to right}:
-rachel comey pegasus
-underground london blue leopard
-unknown - image from here
-rachel comey rogue boot
-irregular choice duke the 2nd
-minimarket ikat wedge
-rumble granny boot
-jeffrey campbell snake print flats
-unknown - image from here
-vintage fisherman sandals
-pierre hardy suede wedges

folksy shoes {row by row; left to right}:
-durbuy leather fringe clog
-rachel comey perses platform
-vintage granny///elf booties
-toms leopard fleece botas
-sanita leather and knit clog
-rachel comey magpie shoes

well, there you have it! hope YOU found some to lust over!

and don't forget to enter the GIVEAWAY!!!

talk nerdy to me tuesday

2012-01-10T14:41:00.003-06:00

i thought that this was such a magical, beautiful tidbit of knowledge to share today.

image found here.

new look: i've got the blues

2012-01-09T22:54:00.000-06:00

dress: vintage from etsy
belt, leggings and ring: forever 21
cowgirl boots: vintage from flea market
necklace: wanderlustings
clutch: shara porter

i n s p i r e d . b y : s h e r l o c k . h o l m e s . g y p s y . s t y l e

2012-01-09T10:17:00.001-06:00

i can't believe i am going to admit this, but i have already seen sherlock holmes: a game of shadows three times already and may be going back soon for a fourth round. not only is it extremely entertaining but the costuming and set design are phenomenal. my personal favorite, however, was the gypsy set and style.

actress noomi rapace madam simza in the film and wears the most wonderful clothing throughout. it's almost like she channels a 70s vagabond and boy does she do it well. i was drooling over her full faded, but colorful skirts and scarves with vests and boleros, tapestries and belts, beads braided into her hair and her fingers and ears loaded with gold and silver and fabric - oh, and who could forget her hats and boots?! and in one of the last scenes, she is dressed up and there are multiple tiaras strewn in her bun. so effortlessly beautiful.

all images from google image search of the film.

i n s p i r a t i o n . b o o s t

2012-01-09T09:39:00.000-06:00

good morning lovelies!

i am not really sure how to describe or categorize this inspiration boost but it all comes from the ever inspiring confetti garden. hopefully, you'll find some inspiration today to get those creative juices flowing for the rest of the week. i am working on a catalogue for wanderlustings - i am pretty excited and pretty confused because i have sooooo many ideas for it - which honestly, sometimes makes things worse.

be sure to enter the giveaway!!

this giveaway is closed

2012-01-08T21:03:00.000-06:00

sorry, this giveaway is now closed.

one of our very dear and talented readers here on wanderlustings, dita of maulani and one of my favorite blogs: handmade nest, has graciously given us multiple accessories to giveaway!! and boy are they fabulous! so here is what one very lucky reader will receive:

here's what you must to do to be entered into this giveaway:

follow dita's blog handmade nest
check out dita's etsy shop
come back here and in the comments type in which item was you favorite {from her etsy shop} and why and be sure to leave your email so i can contact you if you win!

to up your chances of winning, you can also receive some bonus entries by:

adding dita's etsy shop to your favorites
liking her facebook page
following her on twitter
adding her other etsy shop to your favorites

all entries must be received by friday, january 20th by 11:00 pm {cst}. a winner will be chosen by an online random number generator and announced thereafter. best of luck to everyone!!

sorry, this giveaway is now closed.

f a s h i o n . p o s t : h o u n d s t o o t h

2012-01-08T09:23:00.000-06:00

hello lovely people!
i've done it again - woohoo!
i actually really am getting comfortable doing these now. as i've gotten to be in my mid-20s, i absolutely hate having pictures of myself taken. i never used to be like that in college. but everyone has their insecurities and this little lady over at scathingly brilliant really inspired me to, well, get over it!
yay for having insecurities and telling them to back off!

so what do you think of the houndstooth? it's so comfy from h&m...

w a r d r o b e : P O P ! ! !

2012-01-07T22:32:00.000-06:00

i came across kristine's blog kristine or polly today and felt so inspired by the colorful bursts in all of her outfits. she truly has it going on with her style. it really makes me yearn to boost up my wardrobe with colorful items. by the way, those green tights are making me swoon!

go check out her blog and get inspired!

i n s p i r e d . b y . h u g o

2012-01-06T23:20:00.000-06:00

yesterday, andrew and i went to see hugo - which i was more than a bit apprehensive about since the ads i saw hadn't really seemed intriguing and this weekend i was already roped into seeing tin tin with my grandma - aw grams. but to my surprise, i was stunned and touched by this beautiful, sweet film. i have always been a fan of rich set decor and costuming and hugo fell nothing short of the greats - baz luhrmann included. Not only was the film inspiring aesthetically, but it's story was so moving that i felt so much lighter after seeing it.

i soon came to learn {thanks to andrew} that the film, and the book before it, is based entirely on the life of visionary filmmaker georges melies. martin scorsese directed hugo and paid a wonderful tribute to melies' story. knowing that the hardships melies faced were all true only made the story more passionate and moving to behold. melies truly was a visionary and believed that film {an extremely experimental medium in his day} should be as spectacular as our dreams. he was imaginative, brilliant and fearless.

for your enjoyment, and mine, i searched the web for georges melies' work. i have provided some images below with side by sides of melies' work {and true life as depicted in the toy store photo where he worked - forgotten after the war} and scorsese's interpretation of melies. it is amazing to behold. please go out and see this film - you definitely won't regret it.

all images are from a google image search of 'georges melies in hugo'

b o h e m i a n . c l o s e t . v i s i t

2012-01-06T13:10:00.000-06:00

this lady has got it goin' on!
and i have another site to stalk: closet visit
it is my uber guilty pleasure now.

this pretty lass is beatrice valenzuela,
a shoe designer and hair stylist living in
echo park in la. i wish i could live in all of
her clothes. she's absolutely lovely.

p a r t y . o n

2012-01-05T16:34:00.002-06:00

wow. today, well, this week actually, has been such an incredible blessing.
i have had so many wonderful things happen just in this week alone that it makes me feel
like all of my dreams are so close within reach.

the lesson i've learned:

you'll never know until you try.
put yourself out there - what have you got to lose?!

i used to be so afraid of rejection and sometimes i do still hurt when i don't hear
back from a blogger when i send them my work. or i don't make it into a fair that
i wanted. but you reflect, learn and improve. simple as that.

oh, and don't forget:
don't change for anyone and follow your heart. i've learned that although my style
and inspiration might not come from the most traditional of places but if you stay
true to who you are, you will feel such a sense of pride about yourself.

so today, i am just going to bask in this feeling.
and party on.

lovely images from confetti systems and confetti garden

f i r s t . o f f i c i a l : w a n d e r l u s t i n g s . l o o k b o o k . p o s t

2012-01-04T23:45:00.000-06:00

okay. so let's just pretend we don't see how awkward i am taking photos...shall we?
but i am super excited that it's my first, fancy lookbook post!! finally!
and this is my absolute favorite outfit - why, you ask?
well it has:

ruffles
the color green
sparrows
vintage boots

just to name a few things!

next time i promise to ease up on the brightness//contrast settings in photoshop!
but anywho - - let's see what i'm wearing:

ruffled dress///forever 21

green lace tunic///threads for thought

cream belt///forever 21

burgundy leggings///forever 21

boots///vintage-thrifted {similar}

leather pouch///handmade by shara porter

necklace///wanderlustings

ring///vintage from my grandma

p h o t o . d i a r y : h o l i d a y s

2012-01-04T09:38:00.002-06:00

hello everyone! i am sorry that i have not been here as often as i usually am, but i have been pretty sick. it's some sort of bug that lingers - the worst kind by far.

how were your holidays?! i hope you got everything you wished for and got to spend tons of time with the ones who warm your heart. ♥ for being sick, i actually accomplished quite a bit! i had been wanting to see the lincoln park zoo's: zoo lights for a while now so andrew and i trekked on over there. it was marvelous! that's actually the picture with all of those rainbow color lights in the second row. they lit up in waves to music - it was breathtaking.

my extended family and i enjoyed a cookie baking day. that pretty iced cookie in the second row was decorated by my talented sister, calli. she used to work at a bakery. i think she should open her own shoppe but she's too modest to ever agree :)

i tried pin-up hair! it was so much fun {that's the first pic} and i received so many compliments!

and see all of those santas?? that's in one of my neighbor's yards. it's a tradition. the family used to collect santas that people were giving away and they put them in their yard now. it's so fantastically kitschy. i took andrew to see it on christmas eve and he was definitely beside himself. they must have a couple hundred all lined up and shining bright!

i snapped a picture of andrew this holiday weekend because he was making dinner for me. i love cooking but it's really nice to be with someone who's always so excited to cook me delicious veggie meals. yummm.

that picture of the green bunny was a blogger gift exchange i joined this year on oh, hello friend. my gift exchange partner was the lovely melissa of paper ink press. she knew that i love green, anthro and bunnies - so how perfect is it that she got me a green mug {which i had been eyeing for quite some time} with my initial on it from anthro, a green bunny tea towel from fuzzy mug and she didn't even know how much i loved chai tea but she got me some! so i had to camp out, make some jewelry and use all my new goodies - it was heaven!

i found this AMAZING vintage pendleton stool on etsy and just had to have it. i have been wanting a stool for my bunnies to use because they like to climb up to my bed to say hello. it's super cute, so i thought i'd help them out while adding a little woodsiness to the room.

lastly, i got such a lovely surprise from my wonderful friend jihee over at the soaktree. she knits beautiful accessories and sent me one! i was sooo excited when i saw her logo stamped on the package - i knew instantly who it was from. it was a burgundy flower that had a pin and a clip so you could wear it two ways. i put it in my hair right away and snapped a few pics. i also wore it pinned on my skirt the other day. i will be sharing it in an outfit post coming up!

so this was a summary of my fantastic holiday but i want to hear about yours!
anything fun///exciting happen to you???

o b s e s s e d . w i t h . p o l y v o r e

2011-12-30T20:56:00.001-06:00

i literally spent all day on polyvore today.

sadly, i had a lot of other stuff that i should

have gotten done on my day off - but oh well!

i exercised the creative part of my brain and put

some awesome outfits together - well, at least i

think they're cute ;) and i hope you to as well!

just click through the image to find out where the

items are from. and if you are already on polyvore

or are thinking of joining, be sure to follow me!

oh and by the way, which one is your favorite?

t h e . t r u e st . b l u e s

2011-12-30T08:30:00.002-06:00

i have really been inspired by blue lately.
all different kinds of blues.

during high school, i took a fashion class where
part of the lesson was learning what season you were
and therefore, what colors flattered you. i was so drawn
to bright pops of neon and color back then that i never wore
very flattering colors for myself. now i feel like i've gotten to
know colors better and be fearless of jewel tones {which i utterly
adore now}. these handsome blues are no exception...

images from here and here.

l o o k b o o k . r o u n d u p : NYE . e d i t i o n

2011-12-29T23:10:00.001-06:00

{click through the pics to be taken to that lookbooker's page}

so who's ready for the ball to drop?!
have to admit, i haven't done much prep work...
mainly because the honey and i still don't know what
we're doing yet. so many dear friends have invited us out
but we are having trouble saying yes to everyone.

i know that whatever it is that i do,
it will surely include a cute and glitzy
outfit. so i decided to pick some lookbookers
that really seemed to have the perfect NYE outfit
no matter what their style is - so whether you're a
hipster, prepster or just an all-around glitzer... i hope
you'll find a look here that really inspires you to put
together that perfect outfit for that very special evening.

you can't go wrong with something shiny for the evening...

so what are your plans for NYE?
are you staying in or going out?

t a l k . n e r d y . t o . m e /// n o t . t u e s d a y

2011-12-28T19:55:00.000-06:00

wow. the holiday has me really confused.
i literally thought today was tuesday and that
i was so going to be on time for my
talk nerdy to me tuesday post...
when in fact i was already late.

so my apologies. today is definitely not tuesday.
{thank gosh because tomorrow is my friday!}
but i thought i needed to leave you with
some nerdy bit for this week.
i don't want my precious friends
to suffer nerd withdrawals!

so here you go:
girly tetris!!!!!

does it get any better?
i think not.

talented artist: bianca green

e x c i t e m e n t ! ! !

2011-12-28T13:20:00.002-06:00

oh my word,
i can't tell you how many times
i have started a dang blog post this
past week and haven't been able to finish one!

i have no idea why.
there could be many reasons:

the holidays
i've been sick
handmaking presents
blogger's block
uninspired

okay, so maybe i do know why.

and i'm not even going to attempt to pinpoint the cause.

so i am very sorry i wasn't here sooner

but i'm back!

i hope you had a lovely holiday spent with

the ones that make your heart warm.

i know i did.

i will share some fun pics from my time off

hopefully tomorrow.

as for the excitement bit:

i received a rather exciting email today

from a large company wanting to get my baubles

out there. i am very excited and very cautious at

the same time. oh yes, and very thankful

that they've taken notice

of wanderlustings.

so we'll see! i'll share more with you

when the details are all worked out.

but for now, i'm just going to stay

pretty, dang excited!!

images from here and here.

l o o k b o o k . r o u n d u p

2011-12-22T04:00:00.000-06:00

i love this lookbook post - it's almost ENTIRELY dresses.
i very very rarely ever where pants or heaven forbid, jeans - i mean, i wish
i could but i just can't seem to - totally not my thing. so this post is very much
relate-able to my style - and it can be yours too if you're trying to find some wardrobe
inspiration for the holidays - i know i sure am!

just click on the pictures to be taken to their lookbook pages!

let me just say that that last look is sooo my friend christina -
she dresses so chic all the time i can't even try to keep up :)

by the way, one of my goals for this new year is to start posting
my own looks on here. it's actually really hard for me to do
because i am very self-conscious and super-judgmental
of myself - not a good way to be. but i am going to suck
it up and get over it because everyone keeps requesting
that i start posting looks! what do ya think??

so any fancy holiday parties you'll be dressing up for?
do you know what you'll be wearing yet?
i wanna know!

t r u n k . l u g g a g e

2011-12-21T09:37:00.001-06:00

so i was doing some ~~very~~ last minute christmas shopping

on state street yesterday while on my lunch break.

per usual, i found myself at urban outfitters

{which now come to think of it i went to twice yesterday - sad}

but saw this cooperative rolling luggage during my visit and

totally giggled with delight when i saw the pink one.

i just had to roll it around and i did -

complete with looks from strangers.

let me just say that harry potter

definitely needs one of these

for his next trip to hogwarts.

it wheeled around quite nicely.

i am starting to think that this might

very well become a practical gift to

myself...my birthday's coming up you know!

e v e r y t h i n g ' s . c o m i n g . u p . e r m i e

2011-12-21T09:20:00.000-06:00

i think these frocks by jennifer parry dodge.
the blogger turned fashion designer named the line
ermie after her great aunt.

the garments are handmade in limited editions and
feature original prints using water-based pigments on
natural fiber textiles.

i have always been inspired by interesting prints on clothing
but these really get me. i would live in that second dress forever
if i could.

i n s p i r a t i o n . b o o s t : l i t e . b r i t e

2011-12-19T09:07:00.001-06:00

i know it's really early in the morning
to be electrifying you with neon colors
but i was just in the mood for some vibrancy :)

winter is so dull and boring sometimes --
i felt i needed to shake things up a bit

which is just one of the reasons why i am
wearing tons of colorful baubles today {as seen
in the picture below} mixed with bright and cheerful
indian prints -- take that monday!

hope you all have a wonderful monday!

p h o t o . d i a r y : h o l i d a y . f e s t i v i t i e s

2011-12-18T10:32:00.003-06:00

hello wonderful people!

just thought i'd pop in and share some photos
from these past few weekends - more specifically:
from when andrew and i visited magnolia bakery
and from my family's christmas cookie bake-off.

my sister is an amazing baker - she's the one who
decorated that cookie in the first picture.

well, i hope you and your loved ones are
having a fabulous and festive weekend!

k i n f o l k . m a g a z i n e : m a g i c a l . f o r e s t

2011-12-16T09:08:00.001-06:00

i absolutely love chelsea fuss' work.
i am an avid {frolic!} - er.
so needless to say, i am absolutely
loving her new work for kinfolk magazine.

these pictures make me think of a period film.
i love the opaque grey tights with the lace, plaid, flannel
cape, braided hair, lace sleeves and doe eyes.

does it get any dreamier?

i must admit that i haven't picked up a copy of kinfolk yet.
i thought it was online magazine and kept clicking the image to
make it open. wow. face//palm moment for sure.
a true child of the tech age.

but honestly, this magazine has amazingly talented
contributors so it just has to be brilliant.

photography by: lisa warninger
wardrobe by: lauren hartmann

t e r r a r i u m . p o s t c a r d s

2011-12-16T08:57:00.002-06:00

i have completely fallen in love with these
sweet little postcards from quill & fox.
they are just so whimsical.

i love terrariums // colorful things // plant life // illustration
so this is definitely a win//win for me!

now if i can just figure out who i can send them to...hmmm.

check out their full shop here.

g i f t . g u i d e : t h i s . o n e ' s . f o r . t h e . g i r l s

2011-12-13T15:16:00.000-06:00

so the lovely lydia of sprout chicago and pierogi picnic asked me to put together a list of interesting gifts for women that full under the category of being: handmade // sustainable // local {chicago}

i had quite a fun time picking out lovely things for the post!

visit sprout to see all of the lovely gifts above and where you can find them.

thanks lydia!

photo via sprout chicago.

t a l k . n e r d y . t o . m e . t u e s d a y

2011-12-13T09:30:00.000-06:00

probably my favorite classic book ever.
romantic, forbidden and spooky -- perfect gothic fiction.
in case you haven't read it, please do.
it's not fluffy pride & prejudice.
and if you don't feel much like reading,
{at least you're reading this post}
you should rent the new jane eyre that
came out last year - it was epic!
{my sister and i saw it twice in theaters...shhh.}
or the old bbc version is great as well.

cccchhheck it out!

by the way, how epic is the design of both the book cover and the movie poster?! insane!
click through to be taken to the sources.

s h o p . m a k e o v e r

2011-12-13T09:02:00.000-06:00

it was about time, right?!
oh boy, did i ever hate the pictures in my shop.
i had used chalkboard paint on cork board which was a
super bad idea. turns out it just looks like asphalt. so needless
to say i wasn't very happy with my background in the pictures.
it wasn't at all what i envisioned.

but now i am super happy!
this is exactly what i envisioned.
the moss and the slate against the shiny metals.
it makes me swoon! so what do you think?

oh and i have finally put up almost all of the new items
i've been working on. you can see the entire shop overhaul
and look at all the new items right here.

thanks for checking it out!

i n s p i r a t i o n . b o o s t : t h e s e . a r e . a . f e w . o f . m y . f a v o r i t e . t h i n g s

2011-12-12T09:53:00.000-06:00

hello awesome people!
i hope you had a lovely weekend!

i spent mine at a party with the honey {fancy dress included}, filling the house full of bright christmas decorations and baking cookies with my extended family. it was truly a spectacular weekend!

i also woke up to the most terrific lighting in my room on sunday morning so i just had to do an impromptu photoshoot for wanderlustings jewelry. it has been so dreary on the weekends that i haven't had the opportunity yet. the pictures turned out lovely. i am so happy with them. i will make sure and post some of them here later on today -- or if you can't wait, you can check them out in the shop.

my mom bought me a lovely pair of burgundy wedge booties from h&m this weekend. but they're not mine until christmas :( i want them on my feet like yesterday. my sister and i are so bad at keeping gifts until we're actually supposed to get them. needless to say, she's already given me my christmas gift: copper sateen sheets. if you have never slept on sateen before, you really must do so before you die because it honestly feels like heaven, or clouds, or angel wings -- anyway, you get the picture!

...
ok, so all of these lovely pictures here make me feel so lucky to be a girl. they are so magical, dainty and cozy. i love all of them so much. but most of all, i love that ending quotation. i want only a few things out of life most of which seem reasonably daunting and difficult to attain. but if so many others have the will to make it happen, why can't i?

...what would you like to do if anything was possible?

all of these amazing images are from the wonderful confetti garden.

v i n t a g e . s a i l b o a t . c o i n . p u r s e

2011-12-10T23:17:00.001-06:00

hello everyone!
i hope you're having a nice weekend.
i just wanted to pop in and share this adorable
vintage coin purse i just purchased with you.

when i saw it online, i was completely smitten
with the colors and prints on the purse.
so of course i had to have it.

i didn't realize it was in the shape of a sailboat
until my sister mentioned something about it resembling one.
which it totally does!

and then, icing on the cake...
it's almost like an origami, secret compartment, coin purse.
as you can kind of tell from the pictures above, you unbutton
the coin charm, slide it down and then unfold the 'sails' and voila!
you have your own sweet little coin holding compartment.

i absolutely love this sweet thing!

b o h e m i a n . g y p s y . h o m e s : p a r t . t w o

2011-12-08T19:02:00.000-06:00

the next lovely home i would like to share with you is that of emily chalmers.
you may have heard of emily before - her shop: caravan style is definitely one of my online shopping crushes. it's clear to see from these pictures that she has an amazingly eclectic, bohemian style.

let's just be clear, i would get my teeth extracted to own that chair with the floral tapestry and leather. and i might maim people to own that handmade bed she sleeps on every night -- but don't judge. please.

i love the curtain she has cascading over her workspace. that would be such a great way to create some separation in a studio space. there are some fabrics i have had my eye on for quite some time...do i sense a diy coming on?

all photography by the talented inga powilleit.

b o h e m i a n . g y p s y . h o m e s : p a r t . o n e

2011-12-08T12:40:00.001-06:00

whoa! eclectic overload!

i just about jumped out of my seat when i came across this amazing home.
photographed by the talented inga powilleit, the people of the labyrinth masterminds show off their infamous taste.

i just want to roll around in all of the curtains and drapes that are slung everywhere.
that and inspect all of their curious curations strewn about the place.

l o o k b o o k . r o u n d u p : s t y l e . c r u s h e s

2011-12-08T09:02:00.001-06:00

wow!
i am so excited by some of the 'new to me' lookbookers!

some trends i am loving right now that are shown above:

statement skirts
bow-tie tops
knitted outerwear
tights with chunky sandals
over-sized grandpa sweaters
primary colors
busy patterns

hope you enjoyed this lookbook post as much as i did!

just click through the image to be taken to that lookbookers page...

hint: you can shop their looks from there!

m o d e r n / / v i n t a g e . t e c h

2011-12-07T12:00:00.000-06:00

i think these designs are truly amazing.
vintage speaker horn docks for your iphone or ipad.
the price ranges from $600-$1,000 but hey, if i had the extra dough, i would totally have one of these puppies in my home!

check out the rest of made-craft's work here.

i t ' s . a . w o r d f u l . w e d n e s d a y

2011-12-07T09:21:00.001-06:00

i'm going to be honest.

i am not a patient person.

i'm sure a lot of you are going through the same thing as well. it's hard to muster up some determination when you're not sure what you want out of life or if you do know what you want, but just don't know how to get there.

i have had wanderlustings {my accessory line} for a year and a half now and it has taken quite a few unexpected turns and morphed into many different things {this blog being one of them}. it is hard to edit all the ideas i have and stay focused on the bottom line: i want to have a successful indie jewelry line that keeps me employed full time. if my blog is an added bonus then fabulous!

it's super hard to turn down opportunities that might be fun but only distract you from your goal. it's really disenchanting to see your stuff being copied by other designers and large stores. how do you stay focused when that happens?

i always feel like time seems to be running out. i want this happen now. i want this to be my reality right now. but i have to remind myself that nothing happens overnight and rome wasn't built in a day. i just have to persistent and consistent to make my dreams a reality and hopefully, one day, it will all pay off.

what dreams are you reaching for?

image one, two

t a l k . n e r d y . t o . m e . t u e s d a y

2011-12-06T08:56:00.001-06:00

yeah, sorry. i went there.

since i started 'talk nerdy to me tuesday'

i haven't used any dinosaur humor!!!???

what the heck gives?!

ever since i was a little girl,

i have wanted to be a paleontologist --

that is until i learned you have to go to foreign lands

and camp out for months at a time

sometimes with wild animals stalking

you just to be on a dig.

deal-breaker.

i think my obsession began when i was in kindergarten.

my dad would walk me over to the local library

and we'd look at all the books in the kid section.

naturally, i was drawn to the dinosaur books.

i still can classify many of different types of dinosaurs

upon request. it may be a sickness but i wouldn't have

it any other way.

recently, at a dinner party, the topic of cool dinosaurs

came up and someone mentioned the dinosaur that spits tar

venom in jurassic park -- to which someone called it a raptor...

PEASANT.

not a raptor for sure.

i was embarrassed for not knowing it's name.

it was never in any of my books.

but i did inform them that they are still around

today but definitely don't spit tar venom.

but you can guarantee we googled it on our phones.

and apparently 'tar-spitting dinosaur from jurassic park'

is quite a popular google search because it populated our question.

and it is with great pleasure that i can now

name that dinosaur and will share it with you here

in case you have any dinner parties where this comes up.

dilophosaurus - and there is absolutely no evidence that they have ever spit venom.

they still have little guys around today that look just like them, just click here to see the google search.

they're kinda cute.

image from here.