Instead of my (not so usual) "Things I Love" entries, I've decided to change them to a new format called Gratitude. Every Friday I am going to compile a short list of the things I am thankful for, things that put a smile on my face, or just little things I'd like to remember that happened in the past week.
+ my boyfriend
+ coming up with wonderful new ideas (with the boyfriend)
+ working on new designs and ideas that I am satisfied with! A real shop opening is coming, I promise.
+ rain rain rain! I love the rain.
+ teuxdeux.com
+ Ecoholic. Great book I purchased last week! I'll probably write a more thorough entry on it.
12.11.2009
12.07.2009
Felt Snowflakes
I love these felt snowflakes in hot pink and white by purl bee. They'd also be cute as gift tags for the holidays! Try making your own with their tutorial. (photo: The Purl Bee)
Wishlist
Here are a few pieces I've been dreaming of adding to my wardrobe...
clockwise from top left: toast cardigan, clarevivier messenger tote, thief and bandit tee, french connection skirt
Marled woolly cardigans to throw over everything, a simple bag to hold everything, cool t shirts with interesting prints, and high waisted skirts with a slight tulip shape. Also on my list, nubby socks to pair with opaque tights and my new boots, polka dot tights, a black turtleneck, and peter pan collared plaid shirt (it exists, I just don't know where to get it).
11.18.2009
The Story of Stuff
Have you heard of The Story of Stuff? If not, I urge you to watch the whole thing on their website. Here is a little clip of the entire 20 minute video.
Fall Boots
Whoops, I disappeared there for a while. In all honesty, after I opened my etsy shop I became very discouraged with myself and my work. Not quite sure where I was going with it and it sort of led to a rut. But enough on that topic...
In a recent post I wrote about how I cleaned out my wardrobe, with nothing left but my favorites and essentials. Now that it's slowly getting colder, it's time I add a few pieces for fall and winter.

Boots by scriptandserif on Polyvore.com
Boots have definitely been on my mind lately. After my trip to Portland I realized that all my shoes didn't really cover my feet! For every day wear I usually slip on a pair of ballet flats or moccasins, neither of which cover the top of my foot or even allow me to pair them with woolly socks. As much as I love the Clark desert boot inspired wedges on the left, I think I'd wear a pair of flat boots more often. Unfortunately I haven't really found one that fits the bill. I did however come across a pair of my ideal boots, except they have a heel!
Other than looking for my ideal boot, I'd like to learn more about the process of them being made. What's the difference between a moderately priced shoe and a designer shoe? Is it the quality of materials? Craftsmanship? I'm sure both play a part, but what about ethical production? There are plenty of clothing designers that design with the environment in mind, and we are often given a glimpse into their production. Some examples of such are not using sweat shops in third world countries and using organic materials. But what about shoes? How and where was the leather sourced? Where were they assembled? How do I know quality pieces are being used? As passionate as I am about ethically produced clothing, it is much harder to find information about the origin of my shoes.
11.09.2009
Etsy Shop Opening
Today I finally listed an item in my etsy shop and boy was it harder than I thought it would be! Photos look completely different in the small thumbnails they create. I had such a hard time coming up with a description of the card too! Tomorrow I'm going to go back and take all new photos and try again. The whole thing is a learning experience and I realized I need to step up my game by about 1000%.
11.04.2009
A Lasting Wardrobe
One of my summer outfits. Striped top: from Loehmann's, Skirt: American Apparel, Vest: H&M, Necklace: For Me, For You by Kate Miss.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about my current wardrobe. Over the past two years I've slowly weeded out my closet, getting rid of all the things I no longer wear, are the wrong size, or are beyond repair. But now I am left with a near empty closet. It was fine during the summer because when it's that hot you don't really care what you wear, just as long as its loose and comfortable. But now that the weather is finally cooling down (except for the heat that arrived last week!), I really need to start filling up my closet with things to wear.
My biggest problem is that my clothing budget is about $0. Even more so, I am so, so tired of wearing poorly made clothes. I've become more aware of garment production, from sweat shop documentaries to sewing things myself, and I really just want more quality pieces that will last me a long time. I'd also prefer to support smaller businesses, or people who genuinely care about the things they make.
I used to shop at stores like Forever 21 and Nordstrom BP all the time. But where are all those things now? Not in my closet. More often than not, I can't even remember what trendy, poly blend shirt I bought from there. Not only is this a waste of money, but what about the environmental impact disposable clothing creates?
Sometimes I think I'm asking for too much. In my dream world, I'd like well made garments made from natural, organic fabrics. I'd like them made by designers I want to support, not from sweatshops. Oh, and I want them to be cute of course. Am I asking for too much? They don't even have to be organic, but it would be nice.
I could really go on about this topic for ever, but instead I'm going to break it up into separate posts so it's not too overwhelming. If you have any thoughts you'd like to share on this, please feel free to e-mail me at sunshinebysara AT gmail DOT com. I'd love to hear from you!
10.30.2009
Moonwalker by Mociun
I am in all sorts of love with this skirt. During our stay in Portland we visited the boutique Frances May. Among many other lovely garments, this definitely caught my eye. The print is so mesmerizing in a dark, yet dreamy way. Check out the skirt and many other amazing prints at Mociun. (photo: Mociun)
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