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Inspiration/I Made This: If You Have ‘Em…

amanda_lee — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 02:23:21 +0000

I’ve been busy. I’m still around, though. There’s more coming, I promise.

Inspiration: 11.11.08

Cool Stuff My Friends Made: Matt Risher’s Animus

amanda_lee — Sun, 15 May 2011 17:19:52 +0000

I absolutely love hanging out with people who make creative work without wringing their hands about what it’s gonna be, how to do it, whether it’s any good, etc. That’s why Matt and I get along well. He starts stuff and gets it done.

His web series is a futuristic, sci-fi-tinged look at what happens in our future when someone else is ruling us. Go check it out.

Inspiration, 9.28.2010 [I am so overloaded right now]

amanda_lee — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:34:07 +0000

[source]

It’s been a rough week. I’m glad I’m still alive. Back to regular posting shortly.

Inspiration: 9.11.2010

amanda_lee — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 23:02:51 +0000

[via Jay, of course]

I talked at length with Jay about where we each want to be before thirty – geographically, professionally, socially, artistically – and he shared this list with me that he had blogged awhile back. It’s a list of everything he wants in a city or a situation by the time he’s thirty, and to be honest, it’s almost as though I wrote it myself. This is why we’re friends.

Inspiration: Labor Day! 9.6.2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:11:21 +0000

[source, forwarded to me by the inimitable Jay]

How’s your Labor Day, kids?

Inspiration: 8.27.2010

amanda_lee — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:19:21 +0000

[source]

Inspiration: 8.16.2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:51:32 +0000

Sounds like today was sucky for a lot of people. [Not me, but I do feel busier than normal.] This is a good thing to keep in mind.

Inspiration from Les Paul: 8.7.2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:17:01 +0000

[source of original photo]

Linkspiration: 8.4.2010

amanda_lee — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 15:34:28 +0000

Upon Chris’s suggestion, I started using Delicious to manage my links. For awhile I Tumbl’d, and I’m still an avid starrer/sharer on Google Reader to bookmark the things I wanted to come back to, but this allows me to tag and sort a little better. So here’s some of my favorite lately.

[source]

Creative Melbourne souvenirs that don’t involve koala, boomerangs or Vegemite sandwiches.

Crocheted taxidermy by Elaine Bradford.

Five great online sample sales, four of which I’d never heard of. Nice work, Jennine.

It might be Shark Week everywhere else, but it’s Panda Week at the San Diego Zoo. One word: PandaCam. Say it with me: d’awwwwwww.

Apparently nonprofits are quicker to adopt social media marketing than universities or businesses.

Now a question for you guys: Do you like it when I do link posts? I used to kind of throw them up when I didn’t have time to write full-on posts, so a lot of times I used it as an excuse for not actually writing anything. Thoughts? Accusations? Things you’d have to whisper if there were grown-ups around? Tell me how you feel, guys.

No related posts.

Decor Inspiration: The Chroneos House

amanda_lee — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:23:25 +0000

Last weekend I spent some time with Molly and Ben, two of my oldest friends and hands-down my favorite couple in the world. Every time I visit we have an awesome time cavorting around Louisville, eating crazy meals, and sipping hot toddies on their porch. They’ve been hard at work on decorating their house, and I wanted to share it with you, because it’s so inspiring and cheery and relaxing.

Arched doorways

Open shelving below the television. Perfect for LPs, which they have a lot of.

Molly’s yarn stash.

Deco-style dressing table in their room. They found this in the garbage in great shape.

Welded wall art

My MacBook and Molly’s Hackintosh atop a Singer sewing table. I think Molly actually owns the sewing machine that went with the table.

Katrina – one of a handful of kitties that live at their house.

Open shelving in the sunny yellow kitchen. [Full disclosure: that bottle of sweet tea vodka on the counter? Yeah, that's mine.]

Lighting

Apparently this neat little crocheted bin is from Ikea. I’m going to try and replicate it.

Ben did some magic on Chris’s hard drive while we were there. Computer parts overtook their kitchen table.

A vase of swirly sticks. I think they’re supposed to be flowers. Either way, damn cool.

What our Sunday morning looked like – MacBook, drinks, seashells.

You can see more from this trip on my Flickr page. [Do you have an account? Add me!]

Inspiration: 8.1.2010

amanda_lee — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 02:44:13 +0000

Today is the first of the month, and I’m starting it in a brand-new apartment.

[source]

How was your weekend?

Links a la Mode: 7.30.2010

amanda_lee — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:29:00 +0000

I am so lucky to be included again in this week’s Links a la Mode with my amazing colleagues from Independent Fashion Bloggers. Just look at what this talented bunch whipped up:

Amanda Lee: How to Do More With the Clothes You Have [Instead of Buying More]

An Early-Life Crisis from Academia to Art: One blogger’s 26th design project on my quest to teach himself to sew and reach 52 in a year! Also includes my own sleeve sewing tutorial and this week’s project stats.

Beyond Fabric: A thought on online shopping. Is it worth building your wardrobe online?

Blah Blah Becky: LOVING iconic British brand Whistles’ AW10/FW10 lookbook

Brooklyn Posh: starting to love thyself: the health/weight debate

Beautifully Invisible: 10 curvy women – past and present – who are the epitome of sexy.

Dramatis Personae: Ch-Cha-Chain- Coveting & Craving Chain Jewelry
Fashion Limbo: 90s nostalgia after a party on a boat. Jessie goes through some memorable teenage-hood highlights.
Independent Fashion Bloggers: Fair Compensation Manifesto
Intrinsically Florrie: Looking to the French pâtisserie Ladurée for design inspiration.
Make the World a Prettier Place: A More Polished Look. Are women tired of distressed jeans and messy buns? It is time to leave this trend behind and dress up – even for everyday life!
Malvestida: The Headdress Day. A day that’s all about sharing creativity!
Mariel’s Castle: Experimenting with the newest nail trend
Oranges and Apple: On glamorising vintage life
Retro Chick: Friday Frock Love: Poppy Valentine
Scene On the Street: NYC: Mod Scientist
The Coveted: American Living $250 Gift Card Giveaway
The Demoiselles: UK department store shuns retouching…why can’t we live in the UK?
The Embellished Life: The History of Handbags. Do you have a hankering for handbags? Enlighten yourself with the heroic History of Handbags on The Embellished Life!
The Fashion Police: Why size should never be a fashion statement
What 2 Wear Where: Mad Men Mania: effortlessly polished Betty Draper

Enjoy, cuties!

Inspiration+Moving: 7.28.2010

amanda_lee — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:55:18 +0000

[source]

“Home is where you’re comfortable walking around without pants.”

I’m going to be moving Friday and Saturday – heading to the first place in fifteen months where I can be pants-free without fear of disapproving glances from the people that live with me. I’m pre-posting an outfit pic featuring those amazing shoes, plus some other surprises. But I really can’t wait to get my stuff out of boxes and get back to work. Yes? Okay.

Meanwhile, why don’t you take a look at a couple of wise words of times past on packing and moving? You know you want to.

Pre-Move Decluttering: Packing Without Screaming

7 Things You Should Do Before Moving to New York City

Wish me luck. What do you guys do when you move? Are you super-organized at packing, or do you throw everything into boxes in no particular order? Any tips or tricks or hacks or curses?

Six Items or Less

amanda_lee — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:42:24 +0000

I spend a lot of time thinking about what I wear. Not only am I a fashion blogger who occasionally appears in photographs on my blog or elsewhere, I perform onstage often in situations when my physical comfort and confidence directly affect the quality of my performance, and I’m employed in an office that, while permissible, requires a modicum of professional dress in its employees. [Would that I could show up to work in a sunsuit and wedge sandals.]

In general, a lot of us spend a lot of time on our clothing. We spend a lot of time caring for it – keeping it clean and in good shape, sewing on buttons, repairing hems that come down. We spend a lot of time shopping for clothing that’s appropriate for different situations or that demonstrates our personalities to everyone that sees us. We spend a lot of time trying on different combinations and seeing what works. For some people this is wasted time; for others, it’s fun or relaxing. [To boot: please bring me all your shirts that have missing buttons. I love sewing on buttons. Afterward we will have a fashion show and I'll style each shirt a dozen ways. Fun? You bet.]

And the time we spend on our clothing is exactly the issue that the Six Items Or Less project is concerned with. Each participant chooses a wardrobe of six pieces [not counting work uniforms, sleepwear, underwear, and outerwear] to wear for an entire month. The instructions page gives the option for participants to make their own rules, which on the surface seems like a bit of a cop-out. The lack of hard edges means that it might stretch to the size of anyone’s closet, no matter how expansive. After further reflection, though, I think I rather like the absence of any hard lines. It’s not an anti-fashion or anti-consumerism project. Instead, the project focuses on simplicity and self-knowledge: What do I like to wear most? Why can’t I wear that all the time?

I don’t think this project is the answer to someone who currently owns 72 pairs of jeans and needs to pare down [they need a personal organizer], or someone with an average middle-class paycheck who’s impulse-bought $6000 worth of shoes in the past month [financial advising, ahoy!]. Instead, for people who already have a pretty good handle on their closet clutter and their personal style, it’s an opportunity to think more consciously about what they wear and what they buy, and why.

And, oh man. I’m in lockstep with their driving forces. I’ve worked hard in the past couple of years at reducing my consumption, proving to myself that I can get by on less. [Weren't wejust talking about that?] From day one, I’ve been all about honing in on my personal style so I feel confident and comfortable in everything that I own. And you know I love to clean out my closet, making sure to keep only what I like most.

My predilection for fashion means that six pieces would be a stretch for me, as does my tendency to buy only the kind of clothing that can be worn both at work and after hours and my habit of changing clothes twice a day. I’d be doing a crazy amount of laundry; or maybe I’d buy seven of the same dress, since the rules say that multiple copies of the same garment can be counted as a single garment. But it might be an interesting proposition to limit myself to ten pieces or so. Thoughts? Would you like to see something like this? Did you participate in Six Items or Less or would you ever?

How to Do More With the Clothes You Have [Instead of Buying More]

Cincinnati [and beyond!] Design, Fashion, and All Sorts of Win

amanda_lee — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:42:19 +0000

I went to a couple of craft fairs in the past couple months, and I wanted to share some of the goodness with you. You know you love handmade goodies, right? [All the photos below are courtesy of the vendors.]

SomeWeirdCrab makes amazing little plush toys and pillows, including some stuffed animal heads mounted like taxidermy, but way cuter.

If my dog weren’t already spoiled enough, I’d have bought him every last thing from Lyonesque – adorable dog toys shaped like meat and veggies, plus a few toys for humans too.

I’ve mentioned Abbydid before – she makes plushy little creatures, some of which are designed to hold your lip balm, your USB drive, or your cell phone. All of them, however, are huggable and sweet. [When Nick was in town last weekend, he became a proud owner of an Abbydid-created USB drive holder. D'awww.]

Steph Hagen’s Precious Pages is your one-stop shop for everything you need to decorate your walls and brighten your day.

More handmade plush thingies from Mr. Sogs – a little weirder, but no less adorbs. [Yes, it's worthy of the abbreviation.]

Chris told me he was going to get me a super-cute Ali’s Paw Print of my dog for my birthday. He’d love that. So would I.

Screen Queen had a huge array of screen-printed prints, bags, pins, and stickers that were equally creepy and pretty. Also, their business card has a dead rat on it, so of course I love them.

At Stop Traffick, your purchase is handmade by victims of human trafficking, and your purchase supports their recovery. Go get some already.

Inspiration: 7.8.2010 Do Something Already

amanda_lee — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:39:02 +0000

[source]

Inspiration: 4.12.2010

amanda_lee — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:47:53 +0000

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[source unknown. can anyone help me out? let me know.]

Inspiration: 1.27.2010

amanda_lee — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:02:09 +0000

Inspiration: 10.26.2009

amanda_lee — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:07:57 +0000

[source]

Things I’m Loving Right This Minute

amanda_lee — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:09:21 +0000

[taken by me at Sunday brunch]

My last two pieces I posted over at Almost Four Stars—a bit on Kid Cudi and a track review of a song that’s saved my life this summer—some of the strongest writing I’ve done lately. Brunching with friends, coffeeing off our hangovers and flinging witticisms a mile a minute. Writing in bed in my new apartment, where my room—completely decluttered for maximum relaxation—feels like a vacation spot. Andromeda Mega Express Orchestra. Hot oxford heels. Supportive friends who think I can do anything. Finally moving on after being stuck on something unproductive all summer. The Pizza Dog. Getting my yarn stash down to almost zero in preparation for winter Etsying. Making plans for a vegan, boozy, amazing Thanksgiving. Knowing that the season premiere of my favorite show precedes my birthday by three days, and that the next performance of The Minor Leagues comes three days after it. Making travel plans for next summer, starting with the west coast. Being back in New York as soon as possible. Crossing things off lists, making new ones, thinking bigger, and impressing myself.

What are you loving?

Minor Leagues Updates + Last-Minute Show Tonight!

My New Productivity Hotness

amanda_lee — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:16:11 +0000

The last few weeks have been utterly crazy; so much was slipping through the cracks like so much kitty litter through the slats in the scoop [because, y'know, I'm responsible for two cats now, part-time, and the only thing stopping me from resenting the extra responsibility is that a) they're lovely creatures, really, and b) their litter box is directly adjacent to my studio space, so if I want my knitwear not to smell like kitty litter or worse, I gotta scoop that a few times a day]. I stopped myself so many times from sitting down to make a list of loose ends, because I knew I’d just forget something. Yes, it had gotten that bad. I was juggling more balls than I can count, people, and no amount of meditation or targeted action seemed like it could help me.

Fortunately, Merlin [bless him!] has my back. He’s prepared a list of incompletion triggers that you can use to evaluate all your commitments and turn them—and the stress associated with their incompletion—into actionable items. I sat down with this list and an hour later I had a plan.

I need to say “no” more often. It’s an issue for me, and I’m working on it. But until I perfect that art, I have this list to help me get it together whenever I’m nearing a GTD breakdown.

Inspiration, or a Brief Note on Productivity: 11.17.2008

Inspiration: 08.17.2009

amanda_lee — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:39:43 +0000

“I’m going to do it. And I’m going to give it as much time and love and work and cold coffee as it takes.”

—Jay Hathaway

Inspiration: 6.2.2009

amanda_lee — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:22:18 +0000

“You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself into one.”

-Henry David Thoreau

A Reiteration: Why Fashion Is Important

amanda_lee — Thu, 28 May 2009 02:24:35 +0000

I’ve touched on this before in one of my Inspiration posts, but then a couple weeks ago this happened on Britain’s Got Talent. And I think given that, it bears repeating.

How you look matters, people. And since we’re not always at liberty to change our own height, weight, bone structure, skin condition, or disability, nor is any one of us going to completely change the mindset and habits of immediate judgment inherent in every human being on the planet, the fact that it matters isn’t going away anytime soon.

And because of all this,fashion matters, too. What you wear is the only capacity in which on a daily basis you make decisions that communicate who you are, what you value, and how you feel. Obviously, every decision you make communicates those things, but think about it—does anything change as frequently or vary as much as the things you choose to wear?

Think about it. Your fashion choices demonstrate how you want people to perceive you—are you hiptastic, or do you have other things to worry about? Do you take your professional ambitions seriously, or do you have any at all? Are you confident, meek, sexual, reserved, wealthy, poor, individualistic, or a trend-follower?

What’s more, what you wear demonstrates how you perceive yourself. Do you feel good about your body, or do you dress to hide your so-called problem areas?

Fashion is a key showcase of your consumption choices and thus, your values. Do you go crazy for trends, or do you look for pieces that can be worn over and over again ten years from now? Do you pick out disposable pieces, or do you buy for lasting quality? Are you a green shopper? How does child labor and third-world manufacturing affect your buying decisions? No matter what your values are, they’re evident in what you wear. When I see a girl wearing skinny stonewashed jeans, for instance, I can tell she places a high value on current trends. Someone wearing head-to-toe organic cotton clothing and TOMS shoes likely values the environment and economic charity at least as much as fashion-forwardness. New Yorkers (or tourists!) who wear sneakers instead of heels definitely value their own comfort over their trendiness.

Also, think about it this way: it’s impossible to dress in a way that communicates absolutely nothing about you. If you dress as though you don’t care, the people around you might not be able to see how interesting and unique you are—less able than, say, if you wore your favorite colors or styles every day. If you follow a uniform code to the very letter, you’re still communicating something about yourself—your affiliation with the organization whose uniform you’re wearing [and also perhaps your loyalty to it—that you value the organization you belong to more than you value your individual expression, or maybe just that you value your job enough to follow the rules and thus not be stripped of it]. Likewise, if you choose not to wear anything, you’re making a pretty specific statement about your values and your feelings about your own body! And if you go really grungy (read: you skip on teeth-brushing and shampoo once a week at most; you wait six months or so before doing your laundry; and every item of clothing you own is stained, stretched out, and torn), you’re being unabashedly honest about the fact that you don’t give a damn about what you look like [or what anyone thinks of it].

[Sidenote: I used to know someone like this. And I'm not entirely sure how he held a job or met anyone, because he looked a hot mess all the time. I'm not talking about wearing clothing that was out of style or unflattering…I'm talking about holey, smelly, unlaundered clothing paired with once-weekly showers, if he was feeling super-motivated. Ew.]

So don’t ever let anyone tell you that fashion is dumb. It’s not.

Inspiration: 05.04.2009

amanda_lee — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:08:48 +0000

Last night Robert and I watched an amazing film about two people who fall out of love over the course of one evening:

It was visually stunning and melancholic. I highly recommend it.

Toward the beginning, the protagonist Giovanni tells his terminally ill friend, “I no longer have inspirations, only recollections.” Love it!

What did you guys do this weekend.