Lilac Saloon

New & Exciting!

New Layout!!

What do you think?  I've only viewed it on my own computer... so anything that seems weird to you - PLEASE let me know!!  Also, if you view my blog quite often, try refreshing your browser so it will re-load the pages images (otherwise, it might not look different to you yet!).

Also...I'm adding on another blog to the Lilac Saloon family.  She's called Pretty Patterns!

It's going to be completely pattern focused.  I'll sometimes share patterns that I come across whilst wandering the web.  I'll share photos/scans of cool vintage fabrics that I have in my collection or that I discover in thrift shops.  I'm also going to be creating digital patterns that will be available for download!  These can be used on your blog, digital collages or digital scrapbooks, for printing out... whatever you wish!  They will all be seamless so they can be repeated without that ugly tiling effect.

It's my first time offering something for download and using Paypal in this way... so I would really love to have a "test subject" of sorts.  If you volunteer yourself, I'll refund you the $1 and you can keep the pattern for free!  One or two volunteers... any takers??

I hope you guys like the changes that are happening around here.  I'll be pushing for even more in the new year!

xo

Surface Texture

How amazing are these textures??  I'm so in love with repeating patterns, especially if they're textural like these are.  Aren't they inspiring?

(Scan from Surface Magazine, Design issue, 2005}

Scalloped

What are your thoughts on this pillow?

I didn't take a good enough photo of the back, but there are 2 panels of black and white prints, separated by a strip of turquoise binding.

I made it a few days ago.  Should I keep going and make more options like this for the shop?  Or are there enough pillow covers out there in the world?

I'm listening and would love to hear any thoughts on this design direction and if it's worth investing more time and materials to make a little collection of these!

    

Midnight Oil

I've been working like crazy today!!

Finishing a custom apron order and inventing new products!!  I have been working for about 16 hours now and almost non-stop for 12 hours except to eat some leftovers for dinner!  Phew.  Braids, bows, knots, folding, cutting, ripping, drawing.

I've been mostly experimenting and making prototypes, so all that work and not much to show for it - but it's important to get through the brainstorming before production can begin!  I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

I hope to share soon what I have been working on.  It's been a while since I've shared some pics with you!

Chain Reaction

Introducing the beginning of a collection of Chain Mail accessories for Lilac Saloon!

Chain mail is extremely tedious to make.  It's basically impossible to get paid "by the hour" when selling these pieces so we promise you're getting a STEAL!  We've done testing to achieve maximum shine and softness from the metal.  We tumble the rings (which we make by hand) in walnut shells or rice.  This shines them up and also softens the point where the ring connects.  Without doing this, the metal turns your hands a bit black, and also feels scratchy!  We don't like this so we go the extra mile.

  

The zipper is carefully hand stitched onto each individual ring!

This piece is really fun to experiment with layering.  It can look totally different depending on how you outfit it.  It could create really gorgeous contrast to wear it over something really ruffly and feminine.

 

This can be custom ordered to fit you.  The one in the shop is a size small and was made to fit me (there's a little give, it's just slightly bigger than me).  If you are in love with this and are not my size, we can get your measurements and make one just for you!

This is a great option if you're looking for a unique statement piece!!

This bow inspired chain mail necklace, hanging from a delicate silk ribbon, walks the borderline of tough and girly.  This piece is a rectangle with a twist!  Literally, it's twisted.  You can wear it twisted, as a bow, or untwisted as an organically drapey rectangle.  It looks cool both ways but I just love the bow.

Super dramatic necklace, incoming!!!  This piece is just ridiculously sweet.  It's pretty weighty, but in a great way.  It feels awesome to wear.  It's substantial and bold.  Beyond that, it's smooth with such a cool texture to it.  It's definitely my favorite child.

It's super long, in a good way.  You can wear it wrapped in any formation you can dream up!  It's a matter of playing in front of the mirror until you create your favorite look.  But really, no matter how you wear it, you can not go wrong.  This one is pure awesome.

You can find these Chain Reaction accessories in the shop!!  If you've never worn chain mail before you should definitely put one of these on your wish list - it's absolutely fun to wear.

Visit Lilac Saloon on Etsy to browse the Chain Reaction collection!!
                  

Chain Reaction

We've been working on some Chain Mail designs for quite a few months now.  We actually started them back when we still lived in Ohio, still worked our "day jobs" and didn't have a shop to sell anything in!  We were just already starting to play, to dream.

We made a first prototype and did a photoshoot, just to see if we liked the idea.  Also, it was just a ton of fun!  I never shared the photoshoot, because I wanted to have a "real" version of the product to sell first!!  Guess what?  We have it.  So here is that first "test" photo shoot and prototype chain mail accessory!

 

Saturday, I'll post the new photoshoot of the chain mail pieces that will be going into the shop!  The look is lighter than this one but the hair is just as big, I promise.

Learning to Crochet

I spent a couple of hours the other day learning how to crochet.  I used a book and then of course a few youtube videos.  It helps to SEE things be done.  The drawings never cut it.

I learned a few different types of main stitches and how to make the adjustable ring that makes up the center of the flower.  I made one small flower as practice.

And then I created this monster flower on my own, using the techniques I learned.  Kinda cool, no?

I love the colors.  Once I learned how to make the little flower, my boring white yarn wasn't cutting it.  I quickly ran to the nearest yarn retailer in town.  That happens to be a store called Alco.  Never heard of it until moving here.  It's sort of a random, catch-all store.  But... it has yarn!

It's not bad yarn either... it's pretty decent!

I am thinking it would be cool to make a big blanket out of crochet flowers.  Like... flowers this big.  Make 20 of them and then connect them all into a blanket.  Dramatic!

      

Latch Hook Rug

Normally when you see a latch hook rug, it's a bit dated and a lot bit kitschy.
Teddy bears and kittens and Santa's face, oh my!

But... I saw THIS...

And it opened my mind to whole new possibilities!  How amaaaazing is that?!

I want to make one!  I just don't want to spend $500 buying all the colors of yarn needed to make it.  Ha.  Has anyone else seen any other cool examples of this?  I'd love to see!

The Making of Striped Gloves

A little behind the scenes look at turning something old into something new!

I'm thinking I want to do a photo shoot with these inside that old train!  How sweet would that be??

Striped Gloves

Remember the gloves I got from the antique shop the other day?

I think this photo is GREAT inspiration for a way to modernize the white pair!!

I was thinking I could paint the stripes on using black fabric paint and then embellish them a bit.  I'll share photos if they turn out well!
 

Let The Games Begin

Yesterday was my first day working from home.  I had a schedule and some goals and I halfway tuck to it but ended up modifying it a bit to go with what felt right.  I made some different things than I had originally planned to make but I had to go with my instincts as opposed to following the schedule.  I don't think creativity can be scheduled so I suppose I should make really loose schedules if I am to make them at all!

I allowed messes to happen.  Scraps started to pile up.

This is my only co-worker at my new job:

She's more hindrance than help sometimes...

She has to let me torture her as payment.

I wanted to feel, at the end of the day, like it was productive and successful.  I think I worked a bit too slowly but it was 91 degrees out today and we don't have air conditioning.  It was harsh.

As the piles on the floor started to build, I could tell I was actually doing something.  Maybe my measures of success will be based on how large of a mess I make each day?

Petals being cut for a Peony bouquet.

Today is my day 2 of working for ME.  I'm a pretty good boss so far but I won't take any slacking off so I've gotta get to work!!

Happy Tuesday!

 
             

Studio Toogood

Designing and styling progressive, forward thinking interiors and sets that will blow you away is a group called Studio Toogood under the direction of stylist Faye Toogood of London.

I love their vision.  I love what they are all about.

"It's distinctive approach disregards convention in favour of something altogether more brave, joyous and impulsive."

Their use of color is absolutely impeccable.

They take a simple concept...and then completely NAIL IT!

They even did the "Prints Charming" display for Liberty of London.  Amaaazing!

Dragonfly Reflections

My dear blogging buddy, Kelley, of Dragonfly Reflections had a giveaway on her blog at the beginning of February.  She was celebrating her 500th blog post - which you have to admit is pretty awesome.  

She handmade a pack of cards and they are soooo cute.

Oh, by the way, I won the giveaway!  I was so impressed with the cards when they arrived in the mail.  Not only did she make the cards but she made the little container for them as well.  Adorrrable!

Kelley - are you selling these, or what?  Because you need to!!!

Thank you, Kelley!!  I love them so much!       

Megan Smith Jewelry

One of my bestest friends in the world has the same name as me, Megan.
We met in Junior High and became friends in High School.

I faintly recall the nickname "Giggle Twins" floating around.  It might have had something to do with the fact that we were laughing constantly through Chemistry and English without an ounce of self awareness.  If we were happy that was all that mattered.  Plus... who DOESN'T crack up during a rousing lesson of Stoichiometry??

 

Megan is an Elementary School Teacher now and I'm so proud of her.  I can't imagine a better person to teach kids how to be awesome.  She's also a jewelry designer!  She is the one who made my jewelry for my wedding day.  It was seriously the coolest *and exactly what I wanted!!* jewelry, ever.

She has just opened up her Etsy shop *finally!* and I'd like to invite everyone to check it out.

Little Miss Megan

They are all handmade with love and the money from your purchase will go 100% toward helping a poor, poor teacher of our children become just slightly less poor and much more happy.

 

Chain Mail

Evan's dad is a crafty guy and often takes on new hobbies.  One thing that he does that I'm especially fond of is chain mail.  His most recent project is a dress for Evan's sister.  I saw it for the first time this weekend and fell totally in love!!  Maybe someday... I will have one of my very own *hint hint*!  ;)

 



         

Pretty Pleats With Sugar On Top

One design detail that I am always consistently drawn to is pleating.  It adds a certain texture to the garment that is both structured and feminine.  They can look hard and soft at the same time.  They're less girly than ruffles but they give the same dramatic effect.  

I've shopped Etsy and found some favorites to share.

Larimeloom

Red Doll

Art Lab

 

yystudio

Peeko Apparel

 

Don't you agree?  Pleats are fantastic.
I love these designers for using pleats in an excellent way!

Fabric Gift Bows

After seeing this amazing tutorial on How About Orange blog, I thought... I want to make those!  

(This photo is from the How About Orange tutorial!!) 

But... I always think just a liiiitle differently.  So I thought... I want to make those... out of FABRIC!

I was a little concerned that fabric wouldn't have the same oomph that the paper ones have.  I thought maybe they'd be sort of floppy and droopy.  I tried making one quickly with some normal quilting cotton.  Guess what?

Yeah - It's totally awesome!  Eeeeee!  I was so excited that I decided to make more.  I don't even have any gifts to give out right now.  I guess I'm just stocking up bows for the future at this point.

The fun part is experimenting with different materials and different prints.  My favorite one is the polka-dot one because it's so darn cute.  The easiest one to make was the red one because it's made from grosgrain ribbon.  

In the How About Orange tutorial she talked about using glue dots or staples to hold the bow together.  I used Fabri-Tac fabric glue and it worked like a charm.

Go ahead now and get bow making.
      

Incentive: Apron

A friend of mine has been trying to lose her "baby weight".  After 2 kids, the female body just doesn't like to go back to the way it was.  Unless, that is, you're Heidi Klum.  In THAT case, you walk in the Victoria's Secret fashion show only four MONTHS after giving birth.  I didn't make that up... she really did just do all that.  

Anyway, back on track.  My friend wanted to lose 20 pounds.  She was having trouble losing the last couple of pounds so I told her I'd make her an apron if she did it.  Well guess what?  She totally did it!  

Keeping my word, I made her an apron in her favorite colors: pink, black and green.

I think she loved it.

I hope she uses it to make things like fancy salads and grilled chicken with low-fat marinade and not... oh... crisco covered cake with donuts on top.  That would be counterproductive.  That wasn't my goal.  

This apron is so fun to make!  Who wants one??

Motonari Ono

There's something so special and different about Japan Fashion Week, to me.  New York Fashion Week gives me the feeling of glamor, but Japan Fashion Week is more edgy and full of oddity.  I love it so much more.  I'd rather see anything else than see another pretty satin gown.  Nothing bores me more than a pretty satin gown!  

I came across Motonari Ono yesterday while browsing the JFW photos.  They're not too avant garde.  They're actually really wearable.  But they still have that something about them, that special different edge.  They have a dark, boudoir feel that I'm really loving.

I love the tiny polka dots on this top.  And I love the styling.  Doesn't something about this say Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" to you?

Amazing jacket and amazing shoes.

I love this top!!  I love the shoulders and the high collar and the ruffle cutout.  And the color.  And the shoes.  Haha.

This belt makes my jaw drop to the floor.

Love the tuxedo feel of this, but with lace!

That placket!!  And oh yeah... I'm definitely going to need to do that to a pair of my own shoes.

Amazing jacket and I love that long ascot collar!

So delicate and pretty.

Yet again - another jacket to die for.  Like, for serious.

I can't control my drool.

Alex Box & Rankin

While browsing online today, I came across some...

INNNSPIIIII-RAAAAA-TION!!!!!!!

Oddly enough, up until today, I had never heard of Alex Box.  She's fantastic!  She's the Make-Up Artist behind the UK brand Illamasqua.  She does the runway make-up looks for the likes of Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and Karl Lagerfeld.  

She just released a book of breathtakingly artistic make-up images shot by photographer, Rankin.  Due to the respect of their copyright on their images, I dare not post them here!  Instead, I'll link you to Rankin's website where you can drool see for yourself!!

Try NOT to be inspired by the color, texture and creativity that is ooooozing out of these photos.

.........

Amazing quote on the Illamasqua blog:

ODE TO MY ALTER EGO

MY ALTER EGO IS THE PERSON I WANT TO BECOME.
SHE'S DARKER, BOLDER, BRAVER.
SHE'S A MORE INTERESTING VERSION OF ME.
SHE DOESN'T HOLD BACK.
SHE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN.
SOMETIMES, I LET MYSELF BECOME MY OTHER I.
WHEN SHE WALKS OUT AND TAKES OVER,
I FALL IN LOVE WITH WHO I AM.