Hello Again! And my introduction to scrapbooking

Hello there. It appears that 19 months is a bit too long to take off from blogging. Because I spent the last hour drafting a new post and then seemed to forget the mechanics of posting and lost everything without saving. And I do not have the energy to start over! So this will be the abridged version.
1. Last time I posted I was living in Puerto Rico. I moved to Cleveland, Ohio last summer.
2. I haven't sewn anything since I moved to Cleveland because I was too lazy to finish painting my crafting room for five months.
3. I signed up for the lovely Holly Becker's Blogging Your Way workshop (also run by her husband Thorsten, and friend Leslie Shewring). I hope to learn some new techniques to inspire me to focus more on the aesthetics and to post more frequently.
4. I discovered digital scrapbooking in April because I wanted to work on my photography and photo editing skills and I enrolled in some of Jessica Sprague's helpful courses.
5. I started a digital scrapbook to document the three years in Puerto Rico and got overwhelmed with the thousands of photos I wanted to include.
6. I then discovered Project Life and thought it sounded a bit easier so the PR book is on hiatus while I instead document life in Cleveland.
7. After too many hours scouring the internet for Project Life inspiration (project life gallery, flickr, and google searches), I've found the ones I love most are by Ali Edwards and Liz Tamanaha. Both have customized their books and added some clean modern style.
8. Below is my Cleveland Project Life book

a. My camera is currently recovering from a photo scavenger hunt last weekend in which she spent 2 hours outside in a downpour and I am forced to rely instead on my iphone.
b. My Project Life binder is a doodlebug storybook album from Archiver's.
c. I'm trying to stick to a music theme in honor of Cleveland being the home of Rock n Roll- well the home of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. I made jukebox labels for the cover window. As an Elvis fan I loved the entire jukebox filled with EP's songs at the Rock Hall...
d. Will post photos sometime next week of the first spreads I've attempted.

9. I'm disappointed in myself that this blog was supposed to serve as my creative outlet, and yet after losing my first draft, I had to resort to the fabulous "sitrep" style writing of my military life just to get 'er done. There's a hottub and cocktail calling my name.
Mary, OUT.

Addicted to Vera

While I was researching my last Vera post, I decided I needed a few more pieces in my collection. Unfortunately for my wallet, that was only too easy with the help of etsy and ebay. Here are my newest scarves.





I almost think I'm going to have buy myself a scarf every month as a treat, there are just too many gorgeous ones available...

Vera Scarves & Such

One of my favorite craft book series are the 99 Ways books. I have both the 99 Ways to Deck out Your Denim book, and the 99 Ways to Cut, Sew, Tie and Rock Your Scarf book. The scarf book introduced me to Vera Neumann scarves, which I have been collecting obsessively since.

I thought I would post a few photos of my scarf (& napkin) collection and a roundup of the best Vera information I have found online.



First link is The Vera Company which now owns all Vera prints and is trying to resurrect the brand, selling the designs to Macy's (very nice table linens) and Anthropologie (clothes, scarves, and housewares). The most exciting is their announcement that they will be releasing a book (with lots of photos!) in March 2010. They also have their own blog which features lots of scarf tying tips. (Although my favorite scarf tying guide is the Play Time with Your Hermes Scarf pdfs)

My next favorite resource are the flickr groups Vera Neumann and Vera Textiles which feature hundreds of stunning photos of Vera designs.



Design*Sponge visited the Vera exhibit at a NY Anthropologie.

The Smithsonian featured Vera at a 1972 exhibit and even commissioned her to design a poster, which has sadly sold out.

The W Magazine posted an article with Anthropologie's Chief Merchandising Officer, Wendy Wurtzburger, about their collaboration with The Vera Company. Check out the photo of the beautiful Central Park scarf.



Scroll through all of True Up's posts tagged with Vera Neumann for some lovely photos.

Retro Age Vintage Fabrics posted a 1964 article about Vera and her husband.

Fizzy Lizzie has a beautiful overview of Vera information, including how to date her pieces based on the signature.

The design site Ars Longa, by Scott Lindberg, also features some great Vera information. You might recognize Scott's enviable collection of Vera designs from the flickr groups.

Miss Modish wears a gorgeous Vera blouse.

The Fashion Lawyer interviews Susan Seid of the Vera Company.

Ouno Designs creates patchwork bed quilts from vintage scarves.

Most importantly, my favorite resources for buying Vera are Etsy and occasionally I'll try my luck with Ebay.

Lastly, for general scarf knowledge, my new favorite website, Corporette, answers the question How to Wear Silk Scarves? and Brooks Brothers has another lovely scarf styling guide.

My flickr favorites:



1. Vera Linen Set, 2. Vera Scarf, 3. vera mod napkin, 4. Vera at the Smithsonian, 5. VERA napkin, 6. Vintage Vera at Anthropologie, 7. Vera Neumann Scarf, 8. Vera Neumann Daisies, 9. Vera napkins, 10. Vera napkins x 4, 11. Vera Neumann Scarf, 12. Vera Neumann napkin, 13. Vera Neumann napkin, 14. Vera napkins, 15. The catch of the day!, 16. thrifted vera napkins, 17. vera butterfly napkin-rectangle, 18. Vera Pink Butterfly Round Placemat, 19. vintage vera neumann floral napkin, 20. Vintage Vera Neumann Tea Towel - Kitchen Linen Calendar or Wall Hanging 1982, 21. Orange and Red Vintage Vera 1, 22. Vera Neumann Scarf, 23. vintage vera for mikasa plate set, 24. Vintage Vera Neumann Mikasa Tea Cup and Saucer Set

New Denim

I was almost out of my stash of denim, so it was time to restock. I also treated myself to some Gutterman thread, which I am excited to try. And of course I had to get some hook and eye closures for some upcoming sewing projects. I can't tell you how good it was to be back in the mainland where I could shop at Jo-ann's!

Paper Swap

I joined a "Found" paper swap back in July, it was organized by one of the participants in Elise Blaha's Get Crafty workshop. These are just a few of the fabulous items I got. Don't you love the banana bag? And those bird stickers remind me of Martha Stewart. And I love the Japanese papers at the bottom- they have great texture.

The Get Crafty workshop was really great, I have lots of good ideas for future projects. Elise has another workshop coming up, this one is only $15 and lasts 4 weeks. You should check it out.