Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Further proving my point...

I searched the interwebs (i.e. facebook) for some 'what I wore' type photos after a search of my computer revealed that I have never previously taken photos of my outfits. And here is what I found...

Coffee table dancing with my friend CB after the Geology Banquet '09. I have to admit that he takes the style cake in this photo, I'm just proud to be on the same coffee table as him. Dress- Ross, Scarf- thrifted, Fav red shoes- Ross, Sketchy geologist friend- found somewhere on an outcrop.


Tree hugging at Sewanee homecoming, Fall '06. Dress- Anne Taylor Loft Outlet, Cardigan- Old Navy circa 2000, Flip flops- Teva, Sunglasses- probably Target, Tree- Carya ovata


Photo op at the sorority house (it's true), Sewanee homecoming '08. I love, love, love this dress and can't wait to wear it more now that it's spring! Dress- vintage, Cardigan- the Gap, Scarf- gift from my sister from Ecuador, Purse- Etsy, Friend- the lovely and talented Dr. Rickman.

Further proof that if it's a little crazy, I'll definitely be wearing it, and likely at an inappropriate time.

On Personal Style

Ever since I can remember, I've wanted to wear crazy things (just ask some of my embarrassed friends). One of my mother's favorite stories to tell about my childhood affirms this point. Now, I was born in Chicago and grew up in Cincinnati, where midwestern practicality is the major driving force behind the (non) fashion scene of light wash jeans, hoodies, and tennis shoes. However, my mother's family is from northern Georgia and one year when we went to visit them I caught a glance of some pageant girls and immediately demanded that I have a dress equally frilly, lacy, and outrageous as theirs. So, my mother succumbed to my (I'm sure very insistent) demands and I came home with a royal blue pageant dress. Apparently I wore this dress to all sorts of inappropriate occasions, such as birthday parties and school pictures, shocking and appalling midwestern housewives all over the Windy City. Through high school, college, and grad school I was always toning down my inner crazy girl style because I was tired of hearing comments about how crazy my clothes were (after all, I'm supposed to be a super serious scientist), but now I'm ready to re-embrace my inner style child! So watch out, blogosphere!

I'm planning to (at least attempt) to do some style blogging, kind of like what you might see on What I Wore, Sea of Shoes, or Academichic (all these ladies provide some of my style inspiration). Now, I don't want ya'll to confuse this with fashion blogging, 'cause I'm not about to claim that anything I'm wearing is fashionable. I'm just claiming that I'm learning to love my inner crazy girl and I'm letting her out for long enough to pick out my outfits every now and again. Because of my serious scientist ways during the week (when I am always out playing in the mud and rain, or at least trying to convince people that I am a super serious scientist), this is likely to be strictly a weekend type of activity. Anyways, I hope ya'll enjoy and, at the very least, find yourself saying to yourself when you are getting dressed, "Well, at least this outfit isn't as crazy as what Megan wore last weekend!"

So... without further ado... what I wore last Saturday night (v1 and v2, I'm very indecisive)...


Shirt: Vintage, thrifted
Cardigans: Both gifts from my Mom, from the Gap
Belt: Gift from Mom
Skirt: Upcycled from a pair of Old Navy jeans
Shoes: Ross (Chinese Laundry)

Why: Every Saturday night here in Asheville, there is the most amazing late night '50s dance party at a local bar, The Admiral. Although I hate staying up late, I have to make an exception for this event. And, of course, I have to put on my party shirt! Excuse my picture taking skills and my hair, I'm working on both of them.

Monday, March 30, 2009

I'm sorry...

but what happened to my Monday? Seriously, how is it already noon?

Also, Petey says "Happy 'its spring and I'm shedding all over your house' day"

Sunday, March 29, 2009

I never thought I would say this...

but I miss academia! I need a spring break so badly! I'm trying to publish a paper from Master's thesis, the shops are in desperate need of updating, Petey could use a nice long walk, and I'm really itching for a paddling or backpacking trip. Where does the time go? If only I didn't have to work a 9-5, think of all the things that I could be accomplishing...

Other than being slightly stressed out, I did have a great weekend and I hope that the rest of ya'll did also!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Photos, Photos, Photos

Thanks to everyone for the feedback on the business card. I'm actually thinking about doing something a little different with it now to make it a little 'greener'. The thing about business cards is that they are just so darn wasteful (lots of energy and resources to produce, hard to get printed on recycled paper, and then mostly just thrown away)! I'll let you know my grand plan once I work out the details. For now, here are a few photos of recent events, with more to come (I can't give away all the fun at once, I have to keep you coming back for more)!


This is why they call them the Blue Ridge Mountains. Taken from near Mt. Mitchell on Friday night.


Moore Falls in Pisgah NF.


Bridge in Pisgah NF.


Tent-a-palooza '09, which just occurred in our front yard. My roommate got a new tent I acquired the lovely teal and yellow 1980s tent from him. Don't worry, I still have the most awesome tent of all time, my North Face Tadpole 23.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Oh, my!

It's been a whole week! My only excuse is that my father was in town this weekend, and we spent the whole time exploring. We went to Mt. Mitchell (the highest point on the east coast), Pisgah National Forest, and even cleaned my car (certainly the highlight of the weekend). Pictures are forthcoming!

But, for now, please let me know what you think of the business card that I just drafted up. I have been laboring over it for hours and now I can't even think straight enough to tell how it looks. Photoshop has become the bane of my existence! Is there any pertinent info that I am leaving off? Would you check me out if I handed this to you at a bar or craft show (I mean my shop, not me!)?


Please excuse the low quality web friendly image and my attempt at some internet privacy (the white box over my phone number)!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Big Decision!

So I've been putting it off for a while, but its high time to get Petey a harness. He is a sneaky little fellow and his neck is much bigger than his head, allowing him to escape his collar the most inopportune times. I've been chatting with Pam of Big Doggy Bling about a custom harness, and now I just have to decide which color and pattern Petey wants. Too bad I can't just ask him (well, I tried, but he is also indecisive)! What do ya'll think?


Red Vintage Trim...


or Blue Monkeys??

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Photo Shoot!

Julie (representing her future) as a high powered, cigar smoking,
small dog owning, red velvet blazer wearing attorney.


Petey also couldn't resist helping Jen model the red 80s robot jacket.


Me helping Cameron pin on her (too big) dress.

Link
Wow! The GreenVioletVintage photo shoot went great! I'm not sure if it was the mimosas, or if my friends are just natural models, be we got some amazing photos. Here are some "out-takes", I'm off to upload some images at the shop. I hope my customers like the change!

Friday, March 13, 2009

Big Weekend Plans!

As you can see from some of my previous posts, I've been spending my weekends having way too much fun and not working on my shops at all! I've been getting a lot of feedback from the Etsy Forums about how to take the best photos to sell my vintage clothes. The consensus seems to be that everyone wants to see the clothing on models! So, I've bribed some of my girl friends with the promise of mimosas and chocolate in hopes that they will come over tomorrow and help me do a big photo shoot. I have SO many vintage clothes stored up that need to be re-shot, not to mention photo edited, and posted on Etsy. I also need to devise some sort of storage system, because all these clothes are taking over my house! This is going to be quite the project! I'm hoping I'll get most of my stock up by the end of the weekend because, as everyone likes to remind me, if it isn't listed, then it won't sell!
Does anyone else have any exciting Etsy or non-Etsy related plans for the weekend?

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Coolest Thing Ever!


Seriously! Check it out.
A jacket that converts into a tent. This takes transformers to a whole new level! Some people are so creative... sigh...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Photos from the Weekend

Petey goes (and loves) canoing!


The waterfall on top of which we camped.


I love my tent!


Grafting apple trees with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee.


The shade house that we built to house woodland plants.


Tonight's urban sunset.

Spring has sprung!

Sorry (once again) for the lack of posts! This weekend was lots of fun, but totally crazy. The weather has finally gotten nice and I spent the last few days outside. On Saturday, I went canoeing and we had the first cookout of the season. Petey (my dog) went canoeing with me and I got some great pictures that I will post soon. He decided to jump out of the boat and went for a little swim, but I think he leaned his lesson (that cold water is no fun for swimming)!

On Sunday night, I went camping with a few friends in the beautiful Nantahala Gorge. We slept right on top of a little waterfall!

Monday, I had a peer training day for Americorps. We went to the Center for Cherokee Plants and learned a lot about foods that are culturally important to the Cherokee. The Center is on the site of the Cherokee's traditional Mother Town - Kituwah - or "Gathering Place." It was really fascinating. We also learned how to graft apple trees and grafted a bunch of heritage apples. I got a junaluska apple tree, which has a lot of mythology and history surounding it.

Ok, pictures of all the awesome things to come soon!

Friday, March 6, 2009

So Excited!

I just woke up this morning to my first Etsy sale ever. I sold this dress to Mjaubeibi who lives in Norway, of all places! It was only up in the shop for about 6 hours and when I went to bed, it only had 3 views. I'm so excited! Now I have to go figure out all this international shipping stuff, which I was hoping I could could put off until after I had a few orders under my belt. Though I will be a little sad to see this dress go!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

This is Fishy...

Did ya'll know about this? Sometimes I forget that the majority of people don't spend all day everyday thinking about environmental issues like I do. This is an issue that I have seen talked about in the scientific literature for a few years now, and didn't realize that it hadn't hit the mainstream media yet. To me, its so indicative of how every little choice we make can have a large impact on the environment, and we may not even realize it!

Basically, pharmaceuticals that we ingest daily (for example, birth control pills) aren't fully absorbed by our bodies and end up in our pee. This goes to the waste water treatment plant. Because legislation is several years behind science and technology, we don't regulate pharmaceuticals that are discharged from waste water treatment plants. It all goes right into the stream! So, the estrogen (or psychotics or anti-biotics or whatever) is absorbed by fish and other aquatic wildlife and wrecking havoc on the ecosystem. Read the article for more info on how this is affecting fish!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Weekend Adventures

French Broad River, Hot Springs, NC


Petey's managed to avoid falling off of the unexpected cliffs.


A gnarled tree on windswept point, Lover's Leap.


The Great Smokies!

Last weekend one of my closest friends from undergrad was in town and we went up to Hot Springs, NC on Saturday. It was Petey's first hike! The scenery was beautiful (proof above!) and afterwards, we got to soak in the hot springs. It was a great mini vacation!

Recent Happenings

Last week, my friend Julie finished taking the bar exam (to be a lawyer)! She had been studying for months and months, actually ever since I met her in August when I moved here. I'm so excited that she is done! We had a big celebration at a local bar on Wednesday and I made some cupcakes. They are the prettiest food that I've ever made, so I had to take some photos:




Don't you also love the vintage cupcake tin that I picked up at goodwill? Yesterday morning when I wke up, I thought it was spring. It was damp and warm and smelled earthy. However, here is what it looks like today:


I guess that spring hasn't sprung quite yet. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!