Monday, January 31, 2011

Ghosts I've Met



While shopping at the Ballard farmers market I met Sam, Angela and their little one Easton. Such a sweet family. Sam Watts is the singer and songwriter of Seattle band Ghosts I've Met. If you haven't already heard his band on KEXP I highly recommend checking them out their Myspace page to listen or at Yer Bird Records to read how Sam and his band's stunning cast of contributing musicians came to be. Bottom line though; his music is absolutely breathtaking... go listen for yourself.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Friday, January 28, 2011

Irina



Irina- 6th & Pine downtown Seattle
I love the contrast of her romantic flowy layers of clothing with her short structural hair cut. And these boots are fantastic, part riding boot part victorian lace up. I crossed paths with Irina during a much warmer time of year a while back and used the photos for a Hill Style feature. Her style seems to incoporate unique layering no matter what time of year it is.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

City's Best!


I was recently interviewed by City's Best Seattle writer Courtney Shannon Strand. She contacted me earlier today to let me know that her feature on Seattle street style bloggers is now up. I was so flattered that she chose to use my photo for the article. You can read it here. Thanks Courtney for the awesome write up!

Share on Facebook
Share:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Karolina




I met Karolina while I was doing my weekly farmers market stock up in Ballard. She works with Nash's Organic Produce. You may recognize the booth by their beautifully arranged wooden baskets of leafy greens, root vegetables, and cauliflower.

I wrote a few weeks ago on CHS about my intrigue with the style of the people who work for these farms. As someone who bases my wardrobe equally on function as I do on style I think I am drawn to the way that Seattle's produce sales people put together an outfit. Well worn jeans and cozy layers always with a unique touch. A smudge of dirt or a mended tear only add to the character of their clothes.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Monday, January 24, 2011

Hill Style- Amanda King

Amanda King Farmers market

Turns out I never posted a link over to this Hill Style feature from a few weeks ago... Ironically, it ties in well with my post for tomorrow.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Wild Mushroom Obsession

A few weeks ago The Don and I decided to try out a recipe for Wild Mushroom and Carmelized Onion Sheperd's Pie with Mushroom-Pinot Noir Sauce that we found in Vegetarian Times Magazine because we wanted an excuse to buy the amazing mushrooms we see every week at the Foraged and Found booth at the farmers markets around the city. Well, I figured it would be pretty amazing from looking at the ingredients but what I didn't know was that this would literally be the best thing we have ever cooked.
If you love mushrooms as much as me, brace yourself... The recipe called for 3 Portobello caps, 1 1/2 lb wild mushrooms, 1/4 oz dried porcini mushrooms, and 2 1/2 cups homemade mushroom stock (recipe here). We went to the University District farmers market in the morning before cooking began and spent a long time discussing different options for the Wild Mushroom portion of the recipe with Foraged and Found. We ended up deciding on a mix of Hedgehog and Black Trumpet to avoid the excessive moisture that probably would have occurred if we used the Chanterelles that were also snagging our attention at the booth. After picking up all the other ingredients for the pies from different booths around the market we headed home to start this great endeavor.
Although labor intensive, this was such a fun recipe to construct. Each pie was a little work of art. A layer of this mushroom then a layer of that mushroom, all topped by buttery Yukon Gold potatoes and freshly grated Asiago cheese. I am so glad we decided to cook them in small dishes rather than in one large dish. It was so rich that we each ate one dish and were able to give one away to our friend Eric and save two for ourselves to savor throughout the rest of the weekend.
The real star of this recipe ended up being the Pinot Noir sauce. Since making this Shepherd's Pie I have whipped up two more batches of the sauce separately to use on other things. It is so full of flavor and deeply savory.
Well, now that I am revisiting this I am pretty ready to make it again. I wonder if it freezes well. I would love to make a double batch so that I could have them in the freezer waiting for me anytime I get a craving...

Share on Facebook
Share:

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Sara Green- Spill Jewelry


Sara Green- At Pike & 11th on Capitol Hill
This sweet girl is the creative mind behind Spill Jewelry. Her pieces are hand made here in Seattle. She made the earrings she is wearing. Oh the creativity never ends in this city. I love that I when I stop someone and ask them where they got one of the items in their outfit it is not uncommon for them to tell me they made it...

Share on Facebook
Share:

Friday, January 21, 2011

CHS Hill Style Feature- Alanna


Check out the rest of my photos of Alanna here. Brrr, it was so dang cold this day.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Anthony, Jenny, Julie, Jordan & Katie




Just a few weeks after talking with Anthony over email about Meghann Sommer's jewelry line we happened to cross paths again outside of the Oddfellows building on Capitol Hill. As we were chatting, one stylish friend of his after another walked out of the building and joined the conversation. I was totally enamored with each and every one of their unique outfits so the photograph obsessed side of me came out and I excused myself from the conversation to snap some photos of the group.

Julie has also made an appearance on It's My Darlin'. We met just around the corner from here in October. Small world, this Capitol Hill...

Share on Facebook
Share:

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Devona


Devona- In front of Westlake Center downtown

I hear a lot of people say that they don't look good in hats. I think it all comes down to how you feel in them. This is not a hat that you could walk around feeling self conscious in and still look good. You've got to wear it knowing that you look fantastic. I'm assuming that Devona felt that way because, in her hat, she is stunning. It was close to impossible for me to choose a photo because she looked great in every one.

So wear your hats with pride readers. I think you will be happy with the outcome... and with the extra warmth this winter.


Share on Facebook
Share:

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Michelle




When I passed Michelle on a Friday evening and saw her bold patterned dress peeking out from under her coat I had to see what it looked like. She undid her coat and told me that when she found the vintage crushed corduroy dress it was a full length but she knew it would look amazing short so she bought it and made it her own. How right she was! This is what makes vintage and thrift shopping tricky... There are a lot of treasures hiding on those racks that just need the slightest tweak to make them a piece that will remain a favorite in your closet for years to come. Keeping this in mind while you are hunting opens up a lot of opportunity and makes the experience a lot more fun. And if you aren't much a seamstress (like me) a good tailor makes all the difference in the world. I highly recommend Adam Tailoring and alterations; both the Pioneer Square and the Rainier Ave location. The ladies on Rainier Ave have created an endless number of custom fit vintage pieces for me out of the all of the great (but sometimes oddly shaped) thrift store finds that I have brought them.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Jason


Jason- At Broadway & John on Capitol Hill.
Share on Facebook
Share:

Monday, January 10, 2011

Julia & Minjae




I passed Julia and Minjae on my way home from grabbing some produce down at Pike Place Market. I kept swooning over all of the great details of their outfits. Minjae's glasses, Julia's felt hat, their "his and her's" suede lace-ups... what a lovely duo. And, good timing on my part. Minjae had just gotten his new glasses in the mail earlier in the day. Seeing his inspired me to finally make a decision between the two glasses I have been deliberating over for the last few weeks. Soon I will be wandering the streets with a new nerd chic pair of specs... all the better to see you with my stylish pretties.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Homemade Fig Newtons


A few months back my friend Piper sent me a batch of homemade fig newtons and the second I tasted them I immediately knew that I had found my new favorite cookie. Well, after talking about them incessantly since then The Don and I finally gave baking them a try. The recipe Piper used came from Maida Haetter's Cookies. Maida calls them "Big Newtons" (Pg 228 in the new book). They came out so well and, just like the ones Piper sent, they were filled with the sweetness of fig, honey and natural fruit juice. I highly recommend this recipe and this book for that matter. I must admit that they were pretty labor intensive but they were really fun to construct and left the apartment smelling almost as good as the cookies taste. Once cut, they look like little pieces of art so they make a great gift when piled up in a pretty box.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Pun(c)tuation By Tarboo


What is your shirt's story? This may seem like a unimportant question initially but there is a lot behind that piece of clothing that you are wearing. The material had to be produced, the fabric dyed, the pattern cut, the seams sewn and perhaps the shirt was then shipped a VERY long way so that it could be hung on a rack with twelve other shirts just like it in the middle of a store with four floors filled with endless other racks. This is often times the story behind an item of clothing and along with this basic story another piece is usually forgotten. The story behind the person who may have been paid very little and worked many long hours in order to ensure a competitive price. It is extraordinarily easy to separate yourself from this path that is taken by most of the clothing in our stores. I am most certainly guilty of it. I find myself seeking out basics on the cheap or going the inexpensive easy route to get a style that I know will be out as soon as it is in. Never a very rewarding endevour. Why do I bring all of this up? Well, as I mentioned I would be doing in my post on Saturday I got a chance to spend a couple hours talking with Matt Noren, Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes and their friend (and the muse behind one of their designs) Tilson at Pun(c)tuation Gallery on Capitol Hill. Matt and Maikoiyo have come together in a creative collaboration to create Pun(c)tuation by Tarboo; a line of clothing with a much different kind of story then the example above. Both Matt and Maikoiyo have a deep interest in well made clothing that stands the test of time both in style and durability. During my visit we talked extensively about Northwest heritage brands such as Filson and Pendelton and about the beauty of the history behind these companies. Both Matt and Maikoiyo recognize that the way these brands have always created clothing is rare thing today and they want to take part in bringing people clothes that lasts as well as clothes that their customers are excited and proud to wear. After looking at the product that they are creating for the shop it is easy to see that Seattle has a new classic on their hands.

It is also rare nowadays to know your salesperson. While talking with Matt and Maikoiyo it quickly became clear that their goal wasn't to just sell me a shirt. They wanted to know about me... Why I dress the way I do, what is important to me when I buy a piece of clothing, what sorts of items I have been looking to add to my wardrobe... I honestly can't remember another time that a salesperson asked me these things. They explained later that thier goal lies much deeper than simply selling an item when someone comes into Pun(c)tuation. They hope to develop a relationship with their clients so that they are able to create a community of people who know where their clothing came from and are excited to tell others the story behind it. By fostering an interest in the art of handmade clothing and helping people notice the detail of a well made pocket or an antique button they hope that the items they sell will be well loved and live on for generations because of their timeless style and undeniable durability (the unavoidable result of fine fabrics and hand sewn garments).

Now, I have the difficult task of choosing which of their shirts I am going to make a part of wardrobe. They recently started making a women's line (although, you readers well know that I would have purchased one of the men's shirts in a heartbeat anyway) and I can't wait to add another shirt to my current rotation of about four favorite tops that I just can't seem to stop wearing. On Tuesday though I certainly wasn't leaving empty handed. I purchased a beautiful scarf handmade by Maikoiyo's girlfriend Ashley who was the stunner standing with him in the photo I posted Saturday. Her scarves are quite the masterpiece. When I held it for the first time in the shop and felt the fabric and construction I got so excited about wearing it in and making it my own. Here it is on my chair at home waiting for me to wear it when I go out later.


You can check out Pun(c)tuation Gallery at their website and Tarboo Inc. at theirs or, even better, stop in! It is a pretty special experience. These guys really care about what they are doing and it shows.
Share on Facebook
Share:

Lebowski Sweater

Pike & 10th on Capitol Hill

I love the cowl neck collar on this sweater and that it is big enough to wear all crossed over and wrapped around. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect chunky robe sweater to add to my wardrobe. Yes, I know, I was talking about this last winter. I went out and scoured a few thrift stores on Monday but... I should know better than to think that I would find something when I am out looking for it specifically.

It's been so crisp and cold out recently that my sole concern when getting dressed has been staying cozy and warm. It has actually ended up resulting in some fun and unexpecteded outfit pairings.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Monday, January 3, 2011

Von



Von- Between 14th & 15th on Pine.

Share on Facebook
Share:

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Maikoiyo & Ashley




Maikoiyo & Ashley- In front of the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle.

Maikoiyo is the creative director of Pun(c)tuation gallery and clothing shop. Ironically, this Tuesday I am meeting with Matt Noren who is the founder of Tarboo Inc clothing which is sold at Pun(c)tuation. So, coming soon will be a post on this creative space that Maikoiyo is a part of and the timeless heritage style shirts that Maikoiyo is now collaborating with Matt on (the shirt peaking out under his coat is a Pun(c)tuation by Tarboo). Small small world... We live in a city filled with such a wonderful collection of creative people. It is apparently impossible to take a walk without crossing paths with (or in my case taking photos) of one of them. I love that.

Fun fact: Maikoiyo's bag was actually the diaper bag that his parents used when he was a baby and his coat once belonged to his father. Both such great pieces.
Share on Facebook
Share:
© it's my darlin' | All rights reserved.
Blogger Template Crafted by pipdig