Ohana Flower Print Dress

This was one of the first photo shoots that I took while in California.  I made this dress over a year ago and I was waiting for the right place to photograph it.  I've been saving it, because it doesn't really fit any location in Indiana (cornfields and soybean fields don't really fit the "beach" vibe). It's just a simple halter top with a gathered elastic waist and straps that tie.  When I saw the lines of palm trees, I was immediately glad that I waited for this location, because it fit right in.

Etsy Shop update:  

This dress is for sale in my etsy shop.  A few of the clothing items that I shot while in California I'll be putting up for for sale in my shop, once their posts go up.  You can buy this dress here 

All photos taken myself

 Also looking back on these photos I think that I was subconsciously channeling my childhood movie obsession of Lilo and Stitch.  What do you think?

Have a happy Saturday and more California pictures to come! 

The West Coast: Coronado CA

This last week was an exciting time of traveling and working!  I was hired for the fun job of photographing Dr. Fuhrman's Summer Health Getaway near San Diego, California.  My mom works for Dr. Fuhrman so she was there as well last week (she lost 90lbs 5 years ago!), and it was fun to spend that time with her.  We arrived last Tuesday and flew out this past Tuesday night.  It's so strange to think that just the other day I was in California, and now I'm back to the flat lands of Indiana.  On the last day my mom and I went into the town of Coronado to explore.

^photo taken by my mom

The energy of San Diego is so cool and laid back.  Everyone is friendly and there's a strong sense of community, even though a lot of the people are tourists.  There are little packs of 10-year-old boys riding around on miniature skate boards everywhere; ready for any type of adventure that might be waiting next.   It made me automatically think of Rocket Power only in real life form.  The street style is brilliant as well!  Everyone either looks like they're straight out of one of the local boutiques that line Orange Street (the main hub in Coronado), or from a Vans lookbook.  The more I travel and check out the different styles the more I realize that I want to travel everywhere just so I can collect these fantastic images in my head for future references.  It's so inspiring to go into different cities and collect the different vibes from the environment and people.

During the breaks in my work schedule I took a few of my own photo shoots along the beach.  I'll be posting them all throughout the next couple of weeks so stay tuned!

I hope your summer is lovely and warm!  Also happy 4th of July!  

Boogum Now Baby - 70s inspired bell bottom pants

The 1970s!  I have fallen in love with the carefree style that resonated all throughout that era.  Hair was natural, make-up was sparse/inferior to the tone of one's born eyelash color.  Everything was loose and comfortable, and the colors were vibrant hues of mismatched prints and patterns (and not to mention that the art was fantastic!).  That decade has been popping into my head as inspiration all week, and I'm absolutely smitten. 

I made these pants by drafting out a pattern using an old pair of pajama bottoms.  I haven't learned how to draft pants yet, but I've been learning by cutting up old pants, and taking notes on their construction.  I can't wait till I can finally take a pattern drafting class at SCAD and learn the correct way!  For now though, this has been working.

I used the pajamas as a basic start pattern, and then I changed the measurements to create the shape that I wanted - well fitted bell bottoms.  The fabric is a printed jersey knit that I found in the $1.50 section of Wal-Mart.  Because I wanted the waist area to be well fitted I used an invisible zipper, instead of inserting elastic around the waist band.  That way I could get a more well fitted look at the top so it exaggerated the flared knee even more.  These are the most comfortable pants that I have ever worn, and I'm planning on making more in different sizes to add to my Etsy shop later this summer.

All photos taken myself

Also I made a new e-mail for anything blog related.  If you have any inquiries or would like to send a note you can reach me at: estherfromthesticks@gmail.com
I usually reply within a day or two. 

I hope you're enjoying summer!  

There's a sunset brimming over the sky

Late spring is always my favorite time of the year!   School is usually out by May and June, and the evenings are long.  It's always such a refreshing time, and it reminds me of my tomboy youth when I would run around the garden for hours.  During those times, I never had anything specific to keep me entertained; just enjoying the outside kept me occupied enough.  I was outside the other day, enjoying the weather when I decided that it was the perfect settings for a photo shoot.  It's strange to think that in just a couple of months I'll be in another state with a completely different environment.  

All photos taken myself

Outfit: 

Denim shirt:  Gap - gift

Overalls:  Thrifted

Converse:  Thrifted

Right now I'm in the middle of working on a dress for a client.  I'm hand drawing these Sharpie doodles all over the dress, and it's taking me longer than I expected.  I'm excited about it though, because it's different than what I normally do.  I can't wait to post more photos soon! 

^Preview on instagram 

Orla Kiely Inspired Skirt

All photos taken myself

Outfit

Hat: Thrifted Gift from my sister

Sweather:  Thrifted

Skirt:  Esther from the Sticks

Belt: Forever 21

Heels:  Sears 

I made this skirt a couple of years ago based off of an Orla Kiely design.  It was during the time when I was obsessed with everything made from her.  Every collection has a beautiful vintage nostalgic feel that I can only compare to the feeling I get after watching a Wes Anderson film.  The way she works with prints and colors is genius, and she'll always be one of my favorite designers.  

The skirt was made using a linen fabric I found in the $1 section at Wal-Mart (where else).  It's a simple gathered skirt with an invisible zipper in the back.  There are two layers on the skirt that overlay each other and hidden pockets in the sides of the skirt.  The bottom hem line was finished using hand made 1 inch bias tape made from muslin.  I know that muslin is normally used for mock ups, but I liked the color, plus it saved a bit of money.  Here's a tutorial I made a while back for The Drifter and the Gypsy on how to sew bias tape.  You can check it out here.

My graduation party was this last weekend.  Ever since I first started sewing in the 7th grade I've been going to Wal-Mart to buy my fabric.  Not only are there really cool fabric finds, but also the ladies who work there are incredibly kind and lovely.  So I was very excited when I saw that Susan and Jackie from the fabric department came to my graduation party!  I was truly blessed by their presence, and I felt so honored that they came.  If you have a fabric department in your Wal-Mart get to know the ladies, because they are truly some of the nicest people you'll ever meet!

Thanks Susan, Jackie, and Evelyn for all the hard work that you put into your department!  I have loved getting to know you!  

All the cracks in the walls remind you of things we've said...

I love swings!  It dates back all the way to my childhood.  I've spent a lot of time on the swing.  Even today, every time I need a break the swing is the first place I think of.   It’s just always reminds me of calm and safety.  When Daniel was still alive and going through psychosis the swing was a place for me to get away. 

During one of his early psychotic episodes he went through a phase where he'd organize these chaotic piles of everything that he owned.  He would put mounds of random things, but “organized art” in his mind.  Every pile had a system.  It took over a whole room in our house once.  One day my mom told him that he needed to put everything away.  Of course, he didn't agree and suddenly he started yelling and quickly became incoherent.  I went into my room to get away, but I kept hearing these muffled bangs – he was throwing objects against the walls.  That’s when I decided to go outside for a while.  I used to go to our backyard and swing for hours, because it was safely away from the chaos inside, and the rocking motion always soothed me.

I used to pretend that the ropes were arms and that someone was holding me in that moment - rocking me back and forth trying to calm my cries.  It always worked.  So whenever Daniel would go into his violent spurts I would go sit on the swing, and pretend that I was being held by someone.  Then in the safety of the rope's arms I would pump my legs as fast as I could, thinking that if I pumped hard enough I could fly and touch the clouds that I was trying so hard to reach.  To this day swinging is such a calming motion for me. 

^Photos taken last summer by my incredibly talented and cool sister Ruth over at Yaro Photography.  Missing her today, but I can’t wait to see her in August!  She’s coming home to visit for an entire week!  I’m sure we’ll have many new photo shoots to show after that week.

Summer Wanderlusting Vibes

Summer has always been my favorite time for reading.  Whenever I read a book it has to be at the right time when I don't have any other projects going on, otherwise I feel like I'm not fully focusing on the book.  Right now I'm in the middle of a book called Gypset Style by Julia Chaplin.  It talked about the intriguing style mixture of the carefree Gypsies, with the luxury of jet setters.  Gypsetters are usually creative people such as artist, writers, musicians, who travel to get away from their usual life in a busy city to refresh and regain inspiration.  They take boho style to the extreme in such an effortless looking way that's mesmerizing and enchanting.  After reading about them, I've noticed my own thought process about style starting to change.  I've started layering more and playing around by mixing colors.  The next book that's on my list is about the costumes design for Mad Men so I'm sure in a week my style will completely change to the big crinoline skirts of the 50s.  But that's what I find so great and fun about fashion; it doesn't have to stay the same, nor should it. 

Outfit: 

Chiffon lace blouse:  Thrifted

Embroidered little girl's vest:  Thrifted

Blue beaded suede belt:  Thrifted 

Burnt orange suede shorts:  Forever 21

Guess sunglasses:  Thrifted (they still have their prescription in them, so I can't really wear them. ha).

Bracelet:  Hammy down from my mom. 

Hat:  Thrifted and then fixed up. 

All photos taken myself

 My favorite part about thrifting is turning an item into something totally different than what it first started as.  This hat has had a bit of work done on it.  When I first found it while thrifting a couple of years ago, it was tan with embroidered, pastel flowers on it.  It looked like something I would've worn for Easter when I was 8-years-old.  I fixed it up by seam-ripping the embroidery stitches out and then dyeing it with watered down, acrylic paint (because it's cheaper than dye).  After that I added feathers and some of my own bead work and now it's completely new hat. 

Happy Monday and I hope the start of your summer is full of new adventurous hope!