Street Fashion Photography

I have a little something different planned for today's Saturday Blogger Love.  Instead of a blog, it's an article I read online, that got my brain going.  

I have fashion on the brain right now.  I read this article over on Refinery 29 about the evolution of street style photography, and where it's going in the future.    I remember looking at Bill Cunningham's photos in college, and thinking they were reminiscent of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) photography group that thrived during the great depression from about 1935 -1944.  The FSA program was formed during the New Deal, and photographers were hired by the government to document the daily lives of the common people.  Amazing photographs capturing the true essence of that era were created by great photographers like Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans.  The photos were meant to be used as educational material, and for the media to help the public fight against poverty in rural America.  Bill Cunningham's photos definitely send an entirely different message, but there is a familiarity between the two styles.  Here are a few examples of my favorite photos from the FSA group.

Photo by Dorothea Lange, 1937

Photo by Russell Lee, 1939

Photo by Dorothea Lange, 1936

Both photos by Walker Evans, 1936

Do you see the similarity I see?  The FSA photos and Cunningham's street style photos both tell a story about the people of America, albeit two completely different stories.  Whether America is poor or doing well we like to dress fashionable.  Look at the man in the suit!  I can't imagine there were too many people that could afford a full suit in 1939, but that doesn't mean they didn't own them.  Maybe it's not a good thing that we are willing to spend more on clothing than we are on quality food, but that's a whole different topic!  

As for the future of street photography, with everyone becoming a photographer, and/or fashion journalist/blogger, there will be a lot less room at the top.  But!!  I don't think that means that people will ever stop wanting to know how other people around the world are living.  Street fashion photography doesn't just say 'hey, this is what's in. wear this trend!', it speaks about the current culture, economy, and values of everyday people.  Just the other day I was on Chictopia checking out what ladies are wearing in Romania.  I love that at the tip of my fingertips, I can look at what's current in fashion anywhere in the world .  It truly blows my mind.  Just amazing.  So obviously, I don't think street fashion photography is going anywhere.  

That's all for today,  happy Saturday and Happy DIYing, chris!  

Fun Friday Fascinations #7

Happy Friday!  Here are some of my fabulous finds of the week.  

Allison over on Dream A Little Bigger posted this fantastic DIY.  I love projects that take something that one person may have thrown away, and turn them into a drool worthy item.  It makes me rethink furniture and such that I don't like the looks of hanging around my house.  Like my coffee table!  

I've been thinking about accessories a lot lately.  I don't have many, and this would be a fun place to start.  Lydia Purple made this great tutorial on how to make a woven plastic bead bracelet.  I don't know why, but I tend to think of my accessories in term of if I could make it, rather than flashy gold and bling pieces.  

Love love love this owl necklace over on Angle Dust Jewelry.  The color and design is perfect.  

I've been on the look out for a fun pair of high waisted bikini bottoms, and this Urban Outfitters suit is the perfect look I was going for.  I love the blend of 50's design style, and 90's grunge colors and prints.  It couldn't be more my style.  :)

I've been hunting mushrooms for a few seasons now, but too afraid to do much than admire.  I'm ready to take the next plunge!  I want to start identifying all the lovely delectable out there with a field guide.  

I really want to find some true morels!  Don't they look awesome!  

My sweet tooth has been ravenous lately.  Maybe this yummy mashup of Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Brownies would satisfy my chocolaty urges.  Mmmm.  

Hope ya'll have a lovely start to your weekend, and Happy DIYing, chris!  

Jack of All Trades ... Master of None.

I have a lot of interest and passions.  I've always thought that was a good trait, because I've always had an easy time learning new things.  Wait, are you missing the connection there?  I do that a lot.  Things connect in my head, and make complete sense, but then I say them out loud, and everyone is left confused.  Back to my point, learning new things has always been easy, because with my many hobbies and abilities I understand how to do a vast number of things.  All those tidbits of knowledge help me grasp new concepts easily.  This is going to sound super hippie dippy, but I've noticed a lot of things you do in life are interconnected.  Like understanding chemistry can help your gardening, or history can help your math skills.  Or maybe more obviously anatomy can help a dancer, or understanding architecture can help an interior designer.  

As important and useful as those things are, I have been busy gathering many skills while not honing my true talents.  To be honest I'm not even sure what my 'true talents' are.  When I graduated high school, and left for college (wow, ten years ago!) I thought I would get a degree in psychology, and be a psychologist or social worker by now.  When I got to college I realized I didn't enjoy all the dry psycho-analytical scientific readings, or the arduous papers that followed them.  My college encouraged the students to take a well-rounded course load.  I tacked on an Intro to Visual Arts course my first semester, because I loved my photography class in high school.  Half the semester I was in an Intro to Drawing class, and the other half I was in an Intro to Architecture class.  I loved those classes the most, and I would put my all into the assignments.  I knew early on that I wanted to spend all my time in the visual arts building.  I was able to get into a beginning photography and printmaking classes my second semester, and I stuck with that path.  I love both of those art forms.  They truly are interconnected.  Photography wouldn't exist if it wasn't for printmaking.  

My one issue with both these crafts, is they are super expensive, and not easy to get into independently.  Yet there aren't many entry level jobs out there either.  Sometimes I wish I had gotten a degree in graphic design.  Or maybe I should have combined my degree with education, and given into becoming a teacher.  I guess what I'm saying, is I'm not sure how helpful my degree has been.  Sure I learned a lot of things, and I'm glad I gained that knowledge, but am I glad I gained all that debt?  Did my college degree help get me where I am today?  I'm not sure that the answer to those questions is yes, and that's depressing.  

It kicks me in the butt, and screams I need to make a change with my life.  That is a big part of the reason I started this blog.  On the onset of this thing I was not well connected to the blogging community, and I didn't know how many people were already out here doing this.  It's seems shameful to admit now, but it's true.  So when I started I didn't think anyone would read this, little less that I would find so many people with similar interest.  Though with all these amazing blogs, and finding Pinterest and Chictopia and the Gawkerverse, I feel like I'm losing myself in the sea of creativity.  

A friend recently asked me what my plan is.  I felt completely vulnerable, and didn't know how to answer her.  I've been thinking about my 'Plan' for a LONG time, and I know where I want to be, but I'm afraid to put it out there.  I'm terrified of failure, and I don't want to open my heart for all to see, only for it to be left out in the cold.  A big part of me wants to type up my goals in a bullet point list, and post them for the whole internet to see.  A larger part is petrified of my accountability to that list, and the idea of someone asking me if I've reached XYZ goal yet.  What if along the way my goals change?  What about that list then?  Plus if I'm afraid to tell a friend over the phone, isn't the internet way too public and permanent?  

I feel totally accountable to this blog, especially since I named it 365 Days of DIY.  I don't think it would be possible for me to skip a day of blogging.  Honestly, I have pangs of regret that I haven't been able to post a new DIY every single day.  Sometimes I worry I'm letting down all the people that followed my blog because of my Paper Pulp Seedling Cups post.  Like maybe they expect me to be less into fashion and material things, because I also enjoy being sustainable and thrifty.  Those two things seem to be totally contradictory.  How can I make a list of clothing and cutesy products, yet be concerned about recycling and not buying more non-necessary material goods?    I guess that's just who I am.  I hope you enjoy reading my blog and keep coming back, because each follower I gain or like on facebook I get encourages me to work a little hard.  I truly appreciate anyone who takes time out of their busy lives to read my words, and look at my photography on a regular basis.  Thank you readers!!!  Happy DIYing, chris.    

Layer Up! Even in the Spring!

Who says you have to shed the layers in the Spring?  Personally, as a layer junkie, I never stop piling on the layers of fabric.  I love to blend different colors, textures, and patterns.  In the Spring, I am wearing just as many layers as in the Fall or Winter, but now my layers are made of light weight materials. For me layering is essential in the Spring and Summer.  As I move between air conditioned buildings and the hot humid outdoors, and deal with the ever fluctuating weather I like to be prepared.  I'd rather have too many layers on, and have to shed a few due to the heat, than to shiver my butt off.  

This outfit is a perfect example of my addiction to layering.  I have FIVE layers on, not including the leggings or cardigan!  I didn't wear the cardigan for most of the day, but shortly before we went for a walk we had a BIG thunderstorm.  Lots of rain and thunder, which made the temperature drop a few degrees.  I probably could have gone without the leggings too, but I have some unattractive poison ivy I'm trying to cover up.  Plus I don't like shaving my legs, when I have poison ivy rashes.  Thus, the leggings were a necessity today.  

I don't normally wear white.  I'm way too messy for white.  I bought this dress to wear in New Orleans on our Honeymoon.  I got a ton of compliments from strangers when I was wearing this dress.  I don't think I've ever received that many compliments before.  In my life, combined.  Maybe it was New Orleans, maybe it was this dress.  Either way I feel pretty when I wear it.  :)  Before the trip I thought I'd dye it when I got home, but I think I'll keep it white for now.  

I've had these shoes for a couple years now, and they only cost fourteen dollars.  Besides the one hole in the toe, they've held up great!  They even do well in the rain!  Even though everything was soaked, my feet made it through the neighborhood and home dry.  Whenever I go to shoe stores they always try to sell me those little peep-toe socks.  I take personal offense when this happens.  I feel like they are passive aggressively telling me they don't think it's 'cool' to see my socks.  I like my mismatched socks! And no, thank you sales-girl, I would not like to hid my fun socks in my shoes!

 Cardigan -- H&M

Top Three Layers -- Macy's

Bottom Three Layers (blue & pink slips) -- Vintage thrifted in Shoreditch, London

Black Leggings -- Target

Shoes -- Dirty Laundry

You can kind of see all five layers here.  The top three are white, then a blue slip, and on the bottom a pink slip.  I love this cardigan, it's a bit baggy, but I love the color.  It matches my eyes.  Ick! I was just looking at my hair in this photo, and I need those slit-ends removed, badly!  A.S.A.P.

It's been really rainy here lately.  I feel like every week for the last month has been overcast and damp, and the weekends have been sunny and humid.  I love thunderstorms in the Spring.  We get a lot of residual rains from the hurricanes in the south.  The wind changes frantically, and there is a yellow/greenish haze to the sky, then all of a sudden the rains rush in, and you can taste the ocean on the rain.  There is an energy in the air that can't be described, but it's thrilling, and whenever I'm away from the mid-atlantic area I miss this weather.  Hope everyone is have a great week thus far!  Happy DIYing, chris.

My Favorite Photos

Yesterday work asked me to help out in the office today, and I didn't have a DIY prepare for today. I really wanted to jump back into some hands on projects with both my feet today!   Hahaha, so silly!  Though, I need a day to plan and organize my supplies/materials.  I also need to clean and do laundry.  Anyway since I didn't have a chance to create any new images for today's post, here are some of my favorite photo I've taken over the past couple years.

 Near Camp Pendleton, CA.  Road side pit stop.

 Lyndon, VT.  Our friend's bees.

 Guggenheim Museum, NY.  On our honeymoon.

 Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA.  Also on our honeymoon.

 Northern Neck, VA.  Family vacation, this was outside our rental house.

 Northern Neck, VA.  If you stand at the end of the pier in the previous photo, and looked to the left this is the view.  Gigantic birds nest on top of the gazebo.  The men seemed to think they were osprey.  I took TONS of photos of them, but none of them are my favorite. :(

 Northern Neck, VA.  This is the view looking to the right.  This is the second time my family has vacationed in this home, and I love this part of the house the most.  Obviously, the view is part of the home, right?  I could spend every sunrise at the end of that pier.  Camera in hand.  Of course.

 Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, LA.  300 year old trees!  Another Honeymoon pic.

 Mississippi River, Vacherie, LA.  Across the street from Oak Alley Plantation.  Love those clouds!

 French Quarter, New Orleans, LA.  I love the peeling paint, the colors, and the composition.

 New Orleans, LA.  This was taken outside our hotel.  We stayed at the Renaissance New Orleans Pere marquette Hotel.  We really liked it, the room was giant, great service, and the lobby decor was modern swanky.

Another New Orleans photo.  This one was taken in a cemetery in the Garden District.  I love their cemeteries, but I've always had a fascination with cemeteries in general.

Chestertown, NY.  Taken while visiting friends.  I love blue skies and fluffy clouds.  When I lived in California I really missed dynamic clouds.

Okay, that's it for today, happy DIYing, chris.  

Spring Eating

For today's Nom Nom Monday I wanted to share one of my favorite cookbooks.  It's called Everyday Food: Great Food Fast, by Martha Stewart Living Magazine.  One of the reasons I adore this book, is because the recipes are categorized by season.  Food tastes great when eating seasonally, and there is no arguing with that.  Plus my body craves different types of foods with the seasons.  In the spring I like to eat light, more salads, cold pasta, and fruit.  I don't want to spend much time cooking, and I'd rather eat light food and graze all day, than a couple heavy meals in a day.  

These are my two favorite recipes from this cookbook, leaf-lettuce salad with parmesan crisps and sauteed chicken in mustard-cream sauce.  For a starch we added in a light garlic and herb pasta.  

All the greens are from our garden!  I love eating food that we grew with our own hands.  There is a freshness that can't be compared.   I made the salad dressing with homegrown parsley, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, a garlic clove, extra virgin olive oil, water, and a little salt & pepper.  I liked this dressing a lot!  Actually, I'm going to make it again to use as a dip for tortilla chips.  The hardest part was picking all the parsley, I used a jammed packed 1/4 cup of leaves.    

I love to make parmesan crisps, so simple and yummy.  All you need is shredded parmesan cheese and parchment paper.  Make mounds of cheese on parchment paper, cook in oven at 350ºF for 10 minutes, rotating halfway through.  Remove from oven, and let cool.  The crisps taste great in salad or soup, and even on their own! 

Season chicken breast with salt and pepper.  

Heat a skillet with a couple tablespoons of olive oil.  Once it's warm, place your chicken in the pan, and cook for a total of 10 - 20 minutes depending on the thickness of your breast, turn only once.  The above picture is what your chicken should look like shortly before it's ready to be flipped over.  See how it's turned white on the bottom, but still pink on the top half?  

This is a finished chicken.  The skin is slightly crispy, but the inside is soft and juicy.  I honestly don't like chicken all that much, but this is one way I enjoy it being cooked.  So simple to do, and the results are fantastic. 

When I finished cooking the chicken I cooked this lovely mustard-cream sauce in the same skillet.  Another simple recipe using  Dijon mustard, dry white wine, heavy cream, and dried tarragon.   This sauce cooks up quick, and it even tastes great on pasta!  

That's all for today! Hope ya'll had a great start to your week, and happy DIYing, chris.