bird's nest hat

it's been over 2 years since i originally made this paper bird's nest hat on the fly for a "silly hat contest" where i was employed at the time. i had two of my co-workers come over the evening before the contest and we pretended we were on project runway and were only allowed to use things we found around the house to make the most couture-yet-whimsical hats possible (we were too poor to actually buy any supplies!) so, we basically turned it into one of my favorite project runway challenges - the one where they have to shop at the grocery, hardware or party store for fashion supplies instead of the normal fabric shop.

at the time, i was living in northern california and volunteering at an established letterpress studio. they had mountains of edge trimmings under the 'guillotine' - years worth of thin shavings of high quality printmaking paper that i had started taking home with me, convinced that someday i would find a purpose for them. i thought of them right away for the hat and gathered a small bunch of the shavings to color with pastel chalks - yellows, greens and pinks - before rolling and tying them up into a nest shape. next, i clipped a few feathers from a feather duster and stuffed them in at a few spots to look like molted feathers. i had a small craft store bird in a bell jar in my room as a decoration, so i took him out and glued him into the nest. for the 'veil' i actually used a piece of screen mesh - the kind you use on your windows when you cut your own screen - and sewed on a handful of swarovski crystal beads to take away from the fact that i was wearing window screen on my head… ha, ha.

i didn't end up winning the contest, but i did get a ton of compliments (someone even asked if was going to get married in this hat) and felt really proud of what i had made in just one evening using a little creativity and whatever was on hand. i made another one of these paper bird's nest hats recently, which is what made me dig this one out of my curio-cabinet to start wearing. i reinfornced it a bit, and made sure everything was more properly adhered before taking the hat out for a spin - my first time actually wearing it in all seriousness with a matching outfit. i sort of fell in love with it all over it again - such a perfectly quirky springtime accessory.

have a great weekend!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

*outfit details: vintage 1980's cream dress // vintage cream lace-bottom slip // vintage pink belt // vintage pearls // calvin klein nude heels // forever 21 ring

new year's resolutions - 2012

personal // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\
☆ continue detoxing - finish flushes & try to stay 80% - 100% raw
☆ successfully integrate exercise into my daily routine - rebounding, kettle bell swings, stretching, yoga
☆ get back to using EFT for clearing negative emotions & limiting beliefs - work on breathing
professional // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\
☆ improve photography, lighting, modeling and photoshop lightroom skills 
☆ successfully design & construct a half dozen pleated skirts w/ original screen printed fabric
☆ start experimenting w/ video and make one lookbook video for the flying carousel by end of year

artistic // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\
☆ start sketching & brainstorming designs for screen printed fabric - GOAL: 6 original designs
☆ practice constructing & experimenting w/ various pleated skirt shapes, lengths, fabrics, # of pleats, etc.
☆ work on paper hats & paper jewelry (old designs & new!)

fun // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\ // \\
☆ take a real vacation - a summer trip in july for 1-2 weeks - maybe toronto? 
☆ continue to crochet & improve skills for relaxation and fun - keep experimenting & learning!
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

thanks for letting me share my 2012 new year's resolutions with you! i think putting them out there is really going to help me keep the goals in the back of mind as the year goes by and all sorts of unexpected twists & turns begin to unfold. i tried to make this year's resolutions challenging yet achievable and also tried to include a mix of specific and vague goals so that i have a bit of wiggle room as life happens.

i have a tendency to make these impossible lists of dream goals every year with incredibly specific parameters and am always disappointed when i don't reach them. this year, i'm setting myself up to achieve my goals in a more relaxed & enjoyable way that leaves room for spontaneity and my fickle heart. i have an amazing feeling about this upcoming year - i can't put my finger on it but i think it's really going to be one of years chock full of unexpectedly delightful surprises! i hope you are all feeling as optimistic & excited for new beginnings as i am...

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆
*images: deep sea press

christmas won't be christmas without any presents

the christmas tree is up, decorations are out, candles are lit and the first of the presents are starting to be wrapped tonight as i sip on hot chocolate and watch my favorite christmas cartoons. i just love this time of year so much!! 

here's a little collage i put together to share a few favorites from my vintage christmas gift tag collection. one of the things i love best about the holiday season is the opportunity to pull out my vintage ornaments, decorations, papers & gift tags and go through them all - i always forget how many cute holiday things i've collected over the years and they just make me so happy. vintage christmas stuff is the best! 

hope you're feeling cozy & merry & bright!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

america's thanksgiving day parade

for the past few years, our eagerly anticipated holiday tradition around here has been attending america's thanksgiving parade in downtown detroit on thanksgiving morning. what a fabulous way to start off a day of celebration and thanks! i can't think of anything more fun than giant balloons, clowns, horses, unicycles, marching bands, floats w/ skateboard ramps and the big head corps - giant papier-mache head people - all parading down the street in gratitude & anticipation of the holiday season. 

the thanksgiving parade is "a celebration of spirit and storybook wonder" and the parade company's world-renouned papier-mache head collection is pretty much the most amazing thing i've ever seen & why i look forward to going every year. here's a bit of background on the heads from the parade company website: "these colorful artifacts were originally acquired from artists in viareggio, italy with some dating back to the 1940s. the ever expanding collection of nearly 300 heads are restored by the seasoned artists at the parade company that have been trained by the talented artisans from viareggio."

based on the last few parades, we knew where the papier-mache heads are stored afterwards so we strategically waited at the end of the route to take pics. i can't tell you how crazy it feels to see these guys coming around the corner - surreal & trippy doesn't even begin to describe it - and, i couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably as i took the parade pics. the big heads really come to life when worn and it's hilarious to see the interactions between the characters and parade-goers. above, are a few pics from the parade and some close-ups of the papier-mache heads taken after the fact. 

truly amazing, don't you think? i just love them to pieces!!

i hope everyone had a fantastic thanksgiving holiday!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆