Light Load, Style Heavy

My European adventure is just a couple days away and so I would like to provide you all with fair warning: the next month or so, Stringbean Studio will be more of a travel blog than a rambling account of musings... so if you aren't interested in all the FUN I'm going to have, you might want to re-route your blog-reading circuit.

I want to dedicate this entry to a very important question:

How does a girl with an obscene affinity for fashion that is about to set off on an extended trip overseas go about packing lightly and style-heavy at the same time?

Call me vacuous and empty-headed if you must, but this is a question that I have been turning over in my mind for weeks. I am confident that I have devised a solution which I will share with you in a collection of tips:

1. Solids, solids, solids: Even though I am not much of a pattern-person, I enjoy the occasional print every here and there. Make sure that when you are packing, you refrain from including seven animal-print garments. If you wear the same cheetah-print top over and over again, it is inevitable that you will turn into a cheetah by the end of your trip. Ani-morphing might be some girls' idea of a good time, but in all seriousness, if you bring too many prints, you will probably end up hating your wardrobe and that would be sad. You have to be kind to your clothes.

2. Versatility: If you can, bring items that you can wear in more than one way. This will allow more space in your suit-case because a single item will be able to account for more than one outfit. Take scarves for example. Scarves are so effing rad. I can think of at least nineteen ways to wear a scarf. Alright, well at least three or four. You can wear them as headbands or turbans, belts, tube-tops (if you got lil' boobies), or the standard, tie-around-the-neck way, which would probably look really cute in Paris.

3. Wrinkle-free stuff: You want to stick to fabrics that will not wrinkle too much when you are frantically shoving things in your suitcase because you need to get from your hostel to the train station in 15 minutes. Cotton blends are your friends!

4. Accessorize: This one is pretty important I think. You might want to leave your nice jewelry at home (you don't want to get mugged in a dark alleyway in the middle of the night, get roofied, and find yourself in a sex brothel in the morning, do you?). However, remember that jewelry is light in weight (unless you are Lil Wayne), so be liberal with packing it. Keep in mind though that detangling chains is a bitch. And when it comes to shoes, you should probably leave those 6-inch turquoise stilettos behind. Think comfort, and linger in the neutral realm of colors. A special note on purses - I recommend bringing two: a large day-bag and a smaller "going-out" bag. Both purses should have zippers so you don't get jacked.

5. Don't bring stuff you are only going to wear once: That's dumb.

Job + Hobby = Jobby

Yesterday was a serious day at the thrift stores. I've been sewing my lil butt off the past couple of days getting a new batch of Lazybones lovelies ready for the Bay tomorrow! Here are some of my favorite looks from today!

Missy Pink Lace Prom Dress

Harper Cotton Sundress

Maxie Mini Dress

Penny Sailor Dress

This endeavor has already proved to be a learning process (especially being a one-(wo)man show). As a buyer, I have to keep my eyes out for practical sizes, colors, patterns, and most importantly, potential. As a seller, I try to list my merchandise simply, yet eye-catching at the same time. Today was the first day that I assumed both roles as model and photographer. It was a bit difficult at first... in this self-timed picture, the wind blew my backdrop contraption over:

I am quickly coming to learn that this is a trial and error (or accidental success in some cases) sort of deal. I am also learning more about efficiency and patience. Even though this new "business" is not even 2 weeks old, it has driven me to the conclusion that I must strive to do what I love. That way, it won't even feel like work!

Bonsoir et bisous. (*Note to self: touch up on some French)

A Fine Feathered Frenzy

Last night, after a couple of margaritas, my hands were feeling a little bit anxious, so I set them free on feathers, scraps of leather, semi-precious stones, memory wire, chains, jump-rings, and abalone shells. Here is what happened:

These feather hair adornments were almost as much fun to make as they are to wear! So far, I have discovered three different ways of wearing them. You can clip them into your hair with bobby pins and let them dangle freely, wear them as a headband, or use them to tie your hair back into a ponytail. Now that's some versatility!

I am feeling a little under the weather today. This June-gloom isn't helping me feel better either. However, I don't really mind overcast skies when I don't feel well. Somehow, it serves as a validation for me to stay home all day and watch movies in bed :)

Perhaps I will even do some more feather-crafting today...

Lazybones Vintage Sneak Peek!

Here are just a few favorite looks from our first shoot!

Vivian Polka-dot Sundress

Stacey Floral Sundress

Audrey Velvet Cocktail Dress

Mana T-shirt

Blanca Peasant Top

All of these looks will be available on E-bay in a few days!

I have some exciting (at least for me anyway) news to share with you all, but first, check out these lovely projects created by skunkboycreatures:

These adorable creatures make me happy that I have an extensive collection of scrap fabric.

OK, now for the news...

I am currently in the midst of launching my very own online vintage clothing store. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time and finally I have the time to take this idea out for a spin. The name of the store will be called:

Today is my first day of shooting. I can't wait to give you all a sneak peek!

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

Yesterday, I spent over an hour at REI (also known as ARP - Amazing Return Policy, yuk yuk yuk).When I was being rung up, the cashier asked if I found everything alright. I replied, "Yes, but I have to get out of here because I'm actually starting to like this store."

I guess I should tell you why I bought a backpack and waterproof hiking shoes. I'm going to Israel on Birthright with my cousin Dani and backpacking through Europe afterward (specifically, France, Italy, Spain, and Amsterdam). We will be gone from the end of June until early August. I will be bringing my computer with me on the trip and blogging overseas about our adventures (haven't decided yet if I will start an additional "travel blog" or if I will just continue using this one).

Packing for the trip shall be quite the endeavor... especially since I have never traveled in this manner before (only bringing a backpack). On a trip like this where we will be moving around a lot, I want to pack light of course. However, I also want to retain some level of style. It's Europe, after all. If any traveling fashionistas out there have any packing tips, I would love to hear them.

Saw Miike Snow at the Belly Up last night and in other news, some critical eBay auctions end today (when I say critical, I mean that they are critical for my wardrobe). Will post pictures of my winnings later.

And now, here is a picture of a cat with a whale in its mouth: