Movie inspiration: Water for Elephants

I read the book "Water for Elephants" a few years ago .. so it wasn't recent enough in my head to make me want to watch the movie with any real excitement.

BUT -- watching the movie made me remember what a good book it was! The movie definitely does it justice, but the best part was the 1930's wardrobes and costumes!

It's basically a romance set in a traveling circus in the 30's ... super glamorous.

LOVE the headpieces!!!

There's also some fab evening gowns ... definitely worth a watch if you come across it.

Inspiration on a rainy day

(top three from vogue.com) 

These shoes I'm debating on whether or not to sell ... they are pretty much my idea of a perfect bridal shoe and ... they fit!! But, I don't want to jinx it, either.

New Year's Party anyone?

Inspiration (part II)

Congrats to our ThePaperButterfly giveaway winner, MissAlyssa!

Thanks so much for entering everyone!! I definitely want to do more giveaways soon, so stay tuned :)

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IN OTHER NEWS::::::::::

Look at this. Just look at it. I found it on Brides.com and just swooned when I saw it!

It made me think about "inspiration," you know. Sometimes, just a color or a pattern or a song can trigger some creative impulse ... but other times, there is an actual physical design or piece that really speaks to you.

I know it would be totally wrong to downright copy something like this ... but it does inspire me to get MORE creative!

What can I do that will take someone's breath away like this did for me?

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Also: THE WALLPAPER IS GOING UP THIS WEEKEND!!! WHOOT!

I will definitely have to photo-document the debauchery.

:)

Style icon: Meg Ryan

I happened upon "Sleepless in Seattle" on TV this afternoon before I had to trudge through the snow into work. (16" around here today!!!)

Why did I never notice before!! Meg Ryan's hair in that movie is to-die-for!!

This is what I'm going for with my hair grow-out attempt: Loose, long layers with messy updos. She has this great effortless look in the movie ... like she's never touched a bottle of hairspray :)

I tried to find a clean shot of the back of her hair on the Interwebs ... but no luck.

I recommend you Netflix it if you haven't seen it in a while... definitely worth another look! She also has this super-cute shabby chic kitchen in it, too!!!

Oh -- and another, more recent one ....

Hmmm.... I'm feeling the pull of the scissors!!!! AHHH!!!

tutus and feathers

I guess every little girl wants to be a ballerina at some point in their childhood. The idea of transforming into this magical, ethereal creature that gracefully bends to pick up flowers at the end of a performance can't be beat.

I still hang on to this obsession just a tiny bit. I think I quit ballet too soon ... and I really wish now that I had stuck with it! Especially since I turned out to be naturally skinny and non-stacked!  Ah well. Such is life.  

BUT --- on the upside --- ballet is chock full of whimsical inspiration! I'm especially enthralled with "Swan Lake." The white feather look is just too perfect. 

I know I said I was going to do an "Alice in Wonderland" line ... (and I've made some pieces if you look carefully!) But I think it's going to be Swan Lake all the way for the winter months :)

Whatever you want to call them ... heroes, idols, inspirations .... everyone has people they look up to. I was thinking about originality the other day (mostly, the current issue I'm dealing with of copycat/haters) and I was realizing that someone emulating me or my style really is a high honor.

(If only they weren't stealing my dreams and my income.)

Anyway, trying to keep things on the sunny side.

Here are the people I've looked up to and how they have changed over my life.

FAMILY: My mom and dad and big sister (obviously!) They are the people who taught me how to be myself, how to care for people and what It means to love. I remember putting on my mom's make-up when I was little...making a mess. And always wanting to do ANYTHING my sister was doing. And thinking my dad was the smartest person in the world when he made up bedtime stories to tell me.

PUNKY BREWSTER: I think every little girl my age wanted to by Punky at one time. She was just SO COOL and so far beyond her time. And my goodness...that vest and those bandanas around her knees!!

ANI DIFRANCO: Ani represents the first "breakaway" for me from only wanting to listen to the same type of music as my sister through my middle/highschool years. I thought she was so beyond amazing ... and her lyrics first made me want to be a writer. Sidenote: I used to have a nosering because of her!

WALT WHITMAN: Oh, my idealistic and poetic college years. I was an English/Poetry major and thought life was nothing but a collection of stanzas. I read "Leaves of Grass" cover to cover ... mumbling the words out loud like I was in some kind of trance.

MARTHA STEWART: Snapped back to reality after school...working retail ... but starting to get more in tune with my creative/artistic self. Martha represents the full spectrum of togetherness/ success (minus the whole prison thing) and sophistication. I remember thinking 'why can't I do something like that?'

EMILY MARTIN: (the Etsy seller "TheBlackApple.") I chose her to represent "THE ETSY SELLER" ideal for me. I remember when Lauren first sent me a link to etsy and wrote, "Possibly the coolest thing ever."

Whoah. was she right or what. I remember looking at TheBlackApple and just being blown away that people were buying these things this girl, just like me, had made.

I remember staying up late that night and sketching out drawings, ideas for shops, possible names and just feeling this tremendous sense of possibility and destiny.

I like to think that there is much more ahead. Where I am now is just the adolescence of my business and artistic journey. Maybe I will be someone's "Martha Stewart" someday.

But if I'm only ever Emily, that will be just fine with me.

All about Alice.

I search for inspiration everywhere and in everything. I find a great deal of inspiration outside of reality. (In dreams, fairy tales and costuming, etc.)

But the absolute best is when fantasy and reality come together.

I love the thought that one can be at once in a normal life and suddenly slip into another space through a rabbit hole......or was it all a dream? And in the same token, one can put on a hair accessory or item of clothing and feel transformed.

The idea of logic is never certain...and it is in this idea that true creativity is found.

Anyway, the point of all this seemingly pointless rambling is that I'm planning to start on an Alice in Wonderland line!!

Alice in Wonderland (or Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) has always been a favorite of mine. I started with the Disney cartoon version and eventually read the original Lewis Carroll. '

The new Tim Burton movie is coming out soon (which looks so amazing, by the way) and I LOVE the idea of creating a whole line of goodies based on one central idea!

Whattayathink??

First love burns the brightest

I'm sure you all know by now of my love for period romance movies ... And this little gem is on my list for sure! The costuming just takes my breath away.... notice the little butterfly clip in the second picture?

So.... It came out last week, I think. But Rich and I already have plans to see "where the wild things are." Soo.... I feel bad dragging him to this, especially since I made him watch "the notebook" hehehe :)

Enjoy the view .......

Random crowns in real-life (sort of)

From time to time, you get in a design rut, and nothing can

cure it but some good 'ol fashioned Googling.

Here's some finds!

Angela Lansbury--- circa 1949

Milla Jovovich!! (Looks like she could of used me!!)

Random photo from google. I love the wild look!!!

Don't think most can pull this off. Definitely not me!

inspiration post

REMINDER!!! Comb sale continues through the end of the month!! Plus, if you follow my blog, you get free shipping (Check out  THIS POST for details, or MY SHOP) ---:)

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Here's some things that have caught my eye recently and have gotten the wheels a'churnin'!  .... enjoy :)

Some famous designer...forget which. Could see this being done with wire hangers...

Princess Bride... sigh... this would require serious beadwork, of which I have zero patience.

Royal Ascot Ladies' Day .... kind of like the Kentucky Derby...but BETTER.

Vintage flapper-era wedding headpiece. I may actually attempt a repro of this with old lace and wire. I love how it looks like it was upcycled from a tablecloth or something. Very shabby chic :)

I'm so trendy!

I've been collecting examples of crowns from various catalogs and such as they turn up. And look! Three! They are from Urban Outfitters, Free People and Anthropologie catalogs, respectively. (I think...)

Really, just the top one is a true crown, per say, but you know.  It's like collecting bits of proof

In other news!! The big vacation is coming up! Rich and I spent the past 6+ months (the entirety of our relationship) planning a big super gianourmous trip to London. 

BUT, my fear of flying there, paired with my fear of flying back, has edited this into a jaunt down to Virginia. 

We're thinking of doing the Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, and Virginia Beach circuit over about a week.

I feel myself getting stressed out already. I fear I am just not able to have a relaxing vacation. I will sincerely try though :)

another inspiration post!

I went through a little spell a bit ago where I was feeling a bit of the "Etsy Burnout." It was a combination of lots of orders, plus little time, and other stresses in life. But it's OK  now. 

The main symptom of "Etsy Burnout" is a lack of inspiration. Like, feeling as if you are just cranking out stuff instead of working through a creative process. 

But, all is well again and I am once again excited to create! I could tell it was all good when I started sketching crowns during meetings at work :)

Here is some inspiration from last week!

KENTUCKY DERBY! 

Lots of lovely hats. Don't you wish women wore hats all the time like in the pre-1960's? It has to come back...it HAS TO!

ENCHANTED 

(These next two are from me and Amanda W.'s cheesy movie night Monday.) Dig the ribbons?

MOMMA MIA

The whole movie circles around this wedding in Greece! (Not big fat Greek---blue and white island Greek) And there's a really nice veil/crown combo to see!! :)

Style Icon: FRIDA KAHLO

Maybe, if she were still still alive, Frida 

would buy one my more flowery pieces :)

My favorite painting --"The Two Fridas"

From The House of Mouse!

weep you no more sad fountains

If you've been following my blog for any length of time whatsoever, 

then you are well aware of my movie obsessiveness! 

Here is my newest one: "Sense and Sensibility."

 (Are you sensing a trend?)

Anyway, apart from the amazing regency fashion and sweeping English countryside,

 this movie has amazing actors and a happy, heart-swelling ending that blows my mind!

Here is my favorite scene:

See if you can spot the new item in my shop that is named for one of the characters!!

 I will give you mad props if you can :)

www.whichgoose.etsy.com

Oh, and anyone want to build me a website? 

Here's what I've got so far www.whichgoose.com lame, I know !

Divine inspiration

I've got a pile of custom orders on my desk right now, and what am I doing? Procrastinating by writing a blog! hehe

I thought I would write a bit about inspiration for pieces. (Although sometimes, such as now, I just have to wait for them to come to me...)

These are some pages from one of my favorite books ever! "The mode in hats and headdress." 

It's from 1946 and details the fashion of head wear from the 1400's up to "present." 

Way cool. And lots of great ideas! This feather one on the left is seen in lots of my designs. 

So, once I get a general "feel" for what I'm going for, I usually sketch something out. This one is for a wedding...very natural--with some whispy vines and pearls. Should be nice!