behind the scenes: design

I am still super new to all of this, but I thought I'd share some photos in creating the Flor Silvestre collection. There isn't really a right or wrong way to come up with designs...I kind of just go with it. I start with fabric or a moodboard...usually a combination of both. Hmm...it's kind of like a chicken or the egg situation for me, but here was my moodboard:

Then I started sketches and went fabric shopping with Val. When I found the liberty of london print I knew it would be the key fabric for these garments. It's just so perfect. I used to hate sketching. I'm not naturally good at it so I really have to try. And be patient. I much prefer sculpting fabric/draping, but sketches are really helpful to see all things together and actually create a cohesive body of work. It's also just such a standard thing that you use to communicate your ideas. So, I force myself to do it and I'm slowly starting to like it (and kind of getting better).

Then I worked on patterns--a combination of draping and drafting and copying existing garments (like, if I like the way a skirt is, a pocket detail, etc.). I prefer draping, but I'm trying to do more drafting and just learn more of the technical aspects of pattern making so I can get better at it. In my past jobs I would just give the patternmaker measurements and sketches...and often talk it out since I was always over there, but doing it on my own I have to just learn--trial and error. It took me much longer than I anticipated and in the process I changed direction and cut out some bodies.

Once I had some patterns I cut and sewed muslins, fitted them on my sister (I knew she would be my model) and then edited, adjusted, etc., etc. Once I felt I had the patterns where I wanted them I cut out the actual fabric. And sewed 'em up!

More fittings, more adjustments... eventually I finished the garments. I learned a ton during this process and am super excited to start on a fall/winter collection. I think practice makes perfect, so even though I'm still figuring a lot of things out, I know I'll eventually have a flow that works for me.

Still curious about fashion design? Check out how we planned our photoshoot...

create: jewelry cabinet

I've seen some gorgeous jewelry cabinets around, but I never found one I loved. When I first moved into my house in Shaw I stopped into Simon Vintage and found lots of unique pieces. I bought a shelf and this awesome drawer that they literally took out of a huge old pharmacist's cabinet. I had explained to them what I wanted to do--make a vertical jewelry cabinet. They said it would be perfect. Once I found the drawer, I took it home, cleaned it and spray-painted it. I picked this green because, well, the hardware store near my house doesn't have that great of a color selection. It's a bit too Easter, but it is growing on me. I then added some nails for necklaces, though I could probably add more. I asked the hardware store how to attach it to the wall and they gave me these hooks and anchor screws. I borrowed a stud finder and found the studs, then attached the anchor screws to the wall. I added some nails on the side for long necklaces. Before I knew it I had a brand new jewelry cabinet attached to my wall! Before I had this piece I didn't wear much jewelry because I never took time to look through what would look best with my outfit. Now I can easily browse everything I own. (I also am less likely to lose jewelry because everything has a place). I've also added nail polish, trinkets, and matchbooks!

Have you ever made a jewelry cabinet? How did it turn out?

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Simon Vintage

1911 9th Street, NW Washington, District of Columbia 20001 (202) 629-2517 Mon-Fri 2pm-7pm Sat-Sun 12pm-8pm

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Eating in Helsinki

I was only in Helsinki for about a day. Luckily, I found some great spots to eat at--special thanks to my airbnb host for his great tips!

The salmon soup at Cafe Bar 9 was amazing. I had it with one of the local beers and some bread. This cafe/bar was full, but not crowded. You have to order at the bar, so don't sit at the table reading for twenty minutes wondering where you waiter is like I did.

I stopped at Moko Market because I heard there was coffee inside. And there was! Kaffa Roastery is in the back. Their coffee is amazing and definitely worth a visit. Plus, you can order pastries at the Moko Market side and take it over. Moko Market itself is really cool--like a Scandinavian Anthropology. I loved the artwork on the walls and the variety of home wares.

I grabbed a toast burger at this street food truck on my way to the ferry station. I thought I took a photo of it but I can't find it -- so here's the truck! I also have no idea what the truck is called, but if you are taking the ferry over to Tallinn, it's the truck right across the street from that station. Nothing like non-American fast food!

Have you been to Helsinki? What did you eat? Read what I ate in Copenhagen...

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Cafe Bar 9

Uudenmaankatu, 9 00120, Helsinki, Finland Mon–Fri 11am-2am Sat–Sun 12pm–2am

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Kaffa Roastery

Pursimiehenkatu 29 A 00150 Helsinki, Finland Mon–Fri 8am-6pm Sat 10am–5 pm Closed Sundays

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DC Art Scene: Art all night + (e)merge

One of my dreams is to just travel and attend art shows. I love love love it. We recently had art all night and (e)merge here in DC. They were both fantastic. I took photos at both, but I must have had one to many drinks during art all night (which, I think is understandable considering I hosted a chili+cornbread dinner at my house and the event went until 3am) because this is the only photo I feel ok publishing:

The next weekend we headed over to (e)merge, a huge art event that intends to connect the collector and emerging artist. This year it was at Capitol Skyline Hotel near the Waterfront in SW. Val and I biked over on a Sunday and spent hours wandering the hotel rooms. On the way, we found some public art as part of 5x5.

We said hi to our friend Fawna who does fine art printmaking and is off on an epic adventure right now.

We ran into people we knew, or kind of knew, or lived in places we used to know -- like Ana Schmidt who had a landscape acrylic painting of Arenas on view. AMAZING. I used to live in Sopelana and teach in Getxo when I lived in the Basque Country. Really, quite crazy. I was staring at the painting thinking, this feels familiar, and then I looked closer and recognized the bridge, the maze-like neighborhoods, the port...I looked at the title and sure enough, it was Getxo. I'm still kind of shocked by this coincidence.

We met artists and gallery attendants that sometimes looked bored and sometimes chatted with us, like Justine Otto. I was asking her about Hamburg and she was sharing her experience of DC and apparently we were talking for too long because my sister claimed she went through the rest of the rooms and came back in that time frame (lies!). Anyway, I love Otto's work and I hope you check it out!

We also met Mercedes Teixido who was doing a site-specific letter writing piece where a person reads and she draws two copies of the same thing using a contraption that was used by Thomas Jefferson. Here's Val reading her article about the female body being exhibited so people could learn more about anatomy.

There was a garage, called the 'lower level', that house more installations. We loved this interactive piece:

And this column:

And this:

And upstairs this photobooth set up (where you had to pay to get your picture taken). I really liked the concept, but not the awkward moment when the artist kept asking us to take a photo and us not really wanting to and being confused. Or I was confused, Val just turned around.

When we started to get tired, we got coffee.

Then we got tacos.

Then we went to an opening at Blind Whino and ended the night at DC9.

Me taking photos of myself.

Other people taking photos of us.

WE MISS YOU FAWNA!

October gems

It's fall! It's so exciting! I love leaves! I've been spending my free time exploring DC and sipping on some tasty treats in my neighborhood--like almond milk lattes and rosé with a side of whiskey. Here are our October gems:

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The Washington Memorial the one and only

Walking across the mall and looking up in awe at this monument never gets old. This month we're doing a little site seeing in our city. We hope you explore the gems in your city, too!

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All Souls Bar a corner bar

For Shaw locals, this is a godsend. We love the All Souls special and the cheddar pecan cookies.

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Compass Coffee they have almond milk

It's really awesome to have another coffee shop in the hood that has internet, good vibes and sustainable coffee.

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Check out our August gems post and let us know--Where are you exploring and quenching your thirst this month?

this morning

I took this photo in Copenhagen and I can't stop thinking about the detail in that window and the columns. Sketching in the AM is the best, especially when it's still dark outside. This is what I did instead of go on a run...