Category Archives: just plain love

This week on Swirl!!

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Ah yes… my never-ending obsession continues;). I can’t help myself. This lovely sale site keeps introducing me to fabulous new (to me) designers. Keep it coming!! (and if anyone knows who designed those shoes in the photos below… give me a holler. They are GORGEOUS!)

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Ruffle Stripe Dress by Thread Social, $219 (on sale from $495) – buy here

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High Waisted Skirt by Thread Social, $179 (on sale from $360) – buy here

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Gold Rush Fedora by Hat Attack, $39 (on sale from $75) – buy here

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Raffia Tote by Hat Attack, $39 (on sale from $95) – buy here

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Scarf by Hat Attack, $29 (on sale from $80) – buy here

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[as always, images courtesy of Daily Candy Swirl]

Unabashed Apparel

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Twitter is a magical place. I know, I know… you’re thinking, ‘this gal is crazy!’ But I’m serious;). Maybe I’m not online 24/7 tweeting about my every move, but I am on there daily, checking out news stories, learning about new shops, and discovering new designers. Last week, I got a ‘follow’ notice from Unabashed Apparel. I clicked on the website to learn a little more and was taken to a charming site with some pretty darn fabulous designs. Wearable, stylish, eco-conscious… everything a gal needs these days. I sent a quick note off to mastermind, Sarahbeth Larrimore and received the nicest response in return.

From our first interaction, I knew I’d made a  friend in Sarahbeth. She is kind, generous, intelligent and creative. The kind of gal who you meet and feel like you’ve been friends with for years. A read-through of our conversation below will show you what I mean! Please enjoy, send a hello to Sarahbeth and buy some of her fabulous designs!!

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Unabashed Apparel

the website :: the blog :: the online shop :: the tweets :: the fan page

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Meet Sarah Larrimore, the brains, the brawn and the beauty behind Unabashed Apparel

[hint: she's the one on the right!]

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Just Plain Lovely: Where are you from?

Sarahbeth Larrimore, Unabashed Apparel: Rural Cackalacky. I mean Ru-Ral

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SS10

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JPL: Where do you live now?

SL: Asheville NC

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JPL: What do you love most about your area?

SL: Living in mountains so old with such a great great grandfatherly feeling, and a very vibrant and community driven arts scene in town.

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JPL: Where does the name Unabashed Apparel come from? What does is signify?

SL: We’d need a novella for that one. [JPL note: for a start, check this out]

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JPL: How did you get your start in clothing design?

SL: My godmother is one of the most talented seamstresses I’ve ever known and she was always sewing up amazing creations for me growing up. I started dreaming up my perfect and favorite things I wish were out there when I was a wee teen and then got interested in how you create patterns to fit the dreaming. I loved simple beautiful pieces – couldn’t find them and started drafting, draping and generally going about everything by the seat of my pants. Man – I cringe to think back on those early trial and error years.

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JPL: What were you up to before Unabashed Apparel came to be?

SL: I seriously have always designed and created. There wasn’t really a before – there were experiences bending my road this way.

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JPL: Tell me a bit about the organic and eco-conscious side of your business.

SL: The fabric industry is incredibly toxic and harsh on the environment and workers. We have a lot of work to do towards better standards and safer practices environmentally and for humanity. Organic farming solves some of the problem. There are still fair trade issues and issues of waste. We have to both work to improve the industry and to change the way we view clothing and its lifespan. Cradle to coffin, I want to know I’m doing my best to design and produce clothing that is conscious, responsible, and lasts, if that means it takes longer and nets less monetarily – I’ll take that trade with a hearty smile. I am an environmentalist, a humanitarian and a fashion designer. All of those are equally important to me when it comes to my business. But you know what – organic burlap can so be sexy trussed up the right way.

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JPL: Where did the concept for your current line come from?

SL: S/S 2010 – was all about my favorite things: daybreak, swedish design, linen, the first star in the evening, and that capable can-do woman of the 1930s.

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JPL: What are you current favorite designs in your shop?

SL: Ah – the floor length linen shirtdress and the simple scoopneck tee. Oh and the lambsear henley. Ah – one more… that crinkly starlight dress. I wear the heck out of it. I layer it with everything and throw it in the wash. It looks better a bit worn.

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JPL: I noticed something on your blog about a wedding dress… do you do custom designs?

SL: I create 1 or 2 custom wedding dresses a year when I have a bride that just gets to me. I love a wedding and when I have someone come along and say words to me like: “rich red – party dress wedding gown” – and “You make it look fabulous and decide everything else” – how can I say no? If the project really speaks to me I’ll do it.

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JPL: Do you work on your own, or do you have helpers?

SL: I design all my bits. I draft, often dye and always sew it all up. I expect to have a couple of great gals to help me out on the sewing production part of it soon. I’ve been working on Unabashed Apparel for 9 years now and I have to say, without the help of all the women in my life I would really be lolling about on the veranda wailing and gnashing my teeth. The Unabashed people I know pat me on the back, dust me off and sometimes say, ‘that looks like crap.’ I depend on all of them. Some of them help with communications, marketing, and repping the line. I have a fabulous stylist and they all work for clothing. As my friend, Apple, reminds me, it takes a village, and there are always free rooms in mine…

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JPL: Do you work out of a studio, or out of your home and what do you like most about your work space?

SL: I have the best of both worlds. I have a small farmhouse and the entire upstairs that was once the farmer’s 3 daughter’s bedrooms is my studio space. There are lovely gabled eaves and a sense of the young women who told their secrets and dreams to each other. The most important thing: I have a door to shut when I need a break or to clear my head.

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JPL: Who are some of your favorite designers?

SL: I adore Maggie Norris. She is such an amazing American Couturier. Nicole Miller, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen for your staple large designers. Alabama Chanin – wow – just a thank you to that gal. She totally understands and is a founding creator of the need for responsible, conscious, and beautiful fashion design. Gary Graham. Kara Larson makes a line of dresses that are fabulous and answered the questions of a young gal just starting out. Both the designs and the story behind Rodarte please me to no end. Eileen Fisher… she created something simple that women really needed.

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JPL: Define your personal style… how do you feel that affects your own designs? From where do you draw your inspiration?

SL: I’m a Southern girl picking up hay bales in faded denim and a navy merino wool wrap, a New England daughter of the Salem witch trials, a history major in a linen shift studying the timber and mud in the Moravian buildings from the 1700s, a Scandinavian modern artist who refuses to wear anything but grey and white, a curvaceous bartender with wine painted nails playing the fiddle on a fire escape in NYC, and a West coast gal wearing blue ticking and plaid, steering a boat alone out on misty waters. A tad disheveled – with a too-loud laugh. Bosom friends and heartfelt talks over wine and bonfires. The quiet and solitude. My designs are certainly a dance between my style and the influences of the unabashed women I know. The seasons, literature, historical dress, and a bit of fairytale or a long southern yarn thrown in for good measure weave their way in.

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JPL: What advice would you give up and coming designers?

SL: I think what I’d say to them I’d say to anyone working towards their heart’s desire: You have to design for yourself. If you don’t you’ll be lost when rocky weather sets in. Don’t design for fame or money, design because at the end of the day, that’s what you’d be doing anyway. Look to your elders. These women have been sewing to clothe themselves, their families and in great artistry. They have so much to teach us.

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JPL: I love that you do gratitude Fridays on your blog… how did that come to be and how long have you been doing it?

SL: Thank you. I had a moment when Unabashed apparel was finally in its stride – finally what I envisioned and evoked the style and fulfilled the need I saw out there. I poured it all into the business and was exhausted – writing out the things I have to be grateful for restores me.

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JPL: If you could pick anywhere in the world to visit right now, where would you go?

SL: There’s a small island you can’t get to but by boat with 1 greying and decaying fishing shack and nothing else off the coast of NC. I’d give a lot to have a tiny boat and go there. Ask me again in the fall – I’ll say on a road trip up to the coast until the car can’t go any farther in Maine.

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JPL: Lastly… I saw a few sneak peek photos (on your blog and on Jana Busbin‘s site) of the SS11 line and am in loooooove. When can we expect to see those designs in stores?

SL: It is such a measure of restraint to be so excited about a line and not be able to show it!!! I’m still itching to debut the fall/winter 2010 line. It will start to debut in July – we’re so excited about it. There’s a whole hint of story that goes with it. As far as S/S11 – it will start to peek around the corner in late January. Ah the torture!

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the favorites

Author: Toni Morrison, Neil Gaimon, J Ruth Gendler

Musician: Patty Griffin, The Wailin’ Jennys, and the now defunk The Duhks – my heart’s still broken.

Drink: Bloody Mary – the more olives and the hotter it is the better. I couldn’t live without coffee.

Flower: ​Spring – Muscari & Lambsear; Summer – Hollyhocks, Sea Holly & Nasturtiums; Fall – Lumina Pumpkins; Winter – Dark Hellebores

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** Many thanks to Sarahbeth for being such a lovely gal;)

[all photos by Jana Busbin for Unabashed Apparel - please check her out!! fabulous photographer with a lovely blog!]

This week on Swirl!

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I haven’t posted a Daily Candy Swirl ‘oh la la’ for a while and feel it’s sorely overdue. Again, if you’re not familiar with Swirl, check it out and sign up for the emails! It’s free and it gives you notices about fabulous deals on swoon-worthy designers. Yes yes… there are plenty of those sites out there, but why not trust the one with such a fabulous affiliation? And no, I’m not getting paid by Daily Candy to gush like this. I genuinely think they are just plain lovely;).

So, in case you haven’t signed up, or maybe haven’t been paying attention, here are a few gorgeous things that are still available this week at Swirl:

Butterfly Dress by Harvey Faircloth, $179 (on sale from $475)

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Bucket Dress Paulina by Harvey Faircloth, $149 (on sale from $315)

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This Just In Sandals by BC Footwear, $29 (on sale from $55)

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Evil Eye Scarf by Otrera, $79 (on sale from $198)

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Swallowfield

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I love Etsy exploration. True, it can sometimes be overwhelming. There is such an excess of amazing, it’s hard to know where to start. As you know, I’ve been targeting my searches of late… focusing on this great state of Maine. I’ve been pretty impressed with what I’ve found and downright giddy about a few incredibly talented creators.

I stumbled across swallowfield and was instantly drawn to the colors and the composition of the featured prints. Portland based artist Jennifer Judd-Mcgee is the genius behind the illustrations. Her style is unique and undeniably intriguing. I’m fascinated with the detail she incorporates into each piece and find myself wondering what the original would look like up close. Here’s hoping I one day get to find out!! I reached out to Jennifer, in hopes of learning more and was lucky enough have a quick chat.

Stop, read, and learn about the lovely Jennifer!!

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the etsy shop :: the blog

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the interview

Just Plain Lovely: Where does the name swallowfield come from?

Jennifer Judd-McGee: It was the name of my mother’s childhood home + farm in Pennsylvania. I love the way it sounds.

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Munjoy Hill, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Do you recall a moment in your life when you first defined yourself as an artist?

JJM: I think it was when I realized the doodling I was doing during long work meetings was making me a whole lot happier than the job I had been doing for years.

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Good Morning Sunshine, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Tell us a bit about your background as an artist…

JJM: I took a lot of art classes in college, but have only been seriously making art since 1997, long past my college days.

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By The Sea, $10 – buy here

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JPL: From where do you draw your inspiration?

JJM: Well, I am so lucky to live in Maine! There are gorgeous patterns in nature all around me. I am also inspired by ramshackle houses and a sense of community. A lot of my art is heavily patterned with little neighborhood scenes.

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House on a Hill, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Where do you create your art?

JJM: Anywhere and everywhere. But mostly at my dining room table or basement studio, in lieu of a real studio space. Can’t wait for the day that I have a space outside of the house.

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Bloom and Grow no. one, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Where are you from?

JJM: Bar Harbor, Maine

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Tapestry, $26 – buy here

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JPL: Where do you live now?

JJM: Deering center, in Portland

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From Seeds to Blossoms, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Do you have any favorite Portland spots?

JJM: I love everything about Portland and the surrounding area. Kettle Cove is a favorite place to draw while the kids splash around in the tide pools. I love walking around back cove, too. I love SPACE gallery and everything they do. And lately we’ve been loving the green elephant & el rayo for dinner, especially the latter’s corn on the cob!

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Our Town, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Who are your favorite artists?

JJM: There are too many to name! but a few current faves are Anna Hepler, Lisa Solomon, Cassie Jones, and Laura Berger.

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Red Ace, $18 – buy here

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JPL: How would you define your personal style? Do you think that has an effect on your artwork?

JJM: My personal style is pretty eclectic. Mostly a combo of patterns and a fondness for mid-century design, I guess. I think it definitely plays into my art in a lot of ways.

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The Distance from Earth, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Do you have any favorite color combinations?

JJM: Turquoise-gray and red is a favorite, and I also love mustard and gray together.

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Sow, $18 – buy here

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JPL: What are your current favorites in your Etsy shop?

JJM: I have a bunch of new work in my shop right now that I’m liking, like summer flowers and a long and winding road to name a few. Sow is one of my all time favorite pieces, too.

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A Long and Winding Road, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Do you collaborate with other artists?

JJM: Yes, I love to collaborate! Lately I’ve been working a lot with Sarah Parrott on custom wedding invitations, and it’s been super rewarding to see how stuff turns out.

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Summer Flowers, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Where do you sell your work?

JJM: Etsy, Supermarket, Rare Device, Nahcotta, Lisa Hall Jewelry, Spruce and Gussy, and Eyebuzz Fine Art all have some of my work right now. I’ve licensed work to several companies that have put my stuff on products, too, like ipop magnets and modern twist placemats and coasters. it’s really fun to see those in stores now. I’ve also been really happy lately to be doing some regular illustrations for maine magazine.

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280, $18 – buy here

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JPL: Do you have any ‘daily reads’ websites that you would recommend to my readers?

JJM: I have a lot of favorite blogs, but perennial art-related faves are design sponge, but does it float, poppytalk, hula70, 3191, and dear ada. I’ve also been loving lisa congdon’s collection a day blog this year.

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the favorites

Author: oh, that’s too hard. I have so many!

Musician: The National of Brandi Carlisle

Drink: Kombucha, or on a hot night, a rum + tonic with lime. :)

Flower: Ranunculus

** Thanks so much to Jennifer for taking the time to answer a curious gal’s questions. All photos are courtesy of the artist herself and should not be re-printed without permission.


my mom

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My mom is the type of mom who will cut the crusts off of your grilled cheese sandwich when you can’t bear to eat that non-cheesy part on the end. My mom is the type of mom who will learn who you are and what you love and always remember it. My mom is the type of mom who will travel 6 hours to help a daughter pack up her life and move… no less than 5 times. My mom is the type of mom who will teach her grandchildren how to be creative, to trust their instincts, and how to make silly faces from across the room. My mom is the type of mom who plays games, makes jokes and will beat the pants off you in a game of scrabble. My mom is the type of mom who will dance with a friend across a whole baseball stadium just because it makes her smile. My mom is the type of mom who will do whatever it takes to help out a friend in need. My mom is the type of mom who makes me smile. Her strength, courage, generosity, wisdom, and all around love-a-bility have given her a pretty remarkable life and have made her a pretty remarkable woman!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful mom!!

(and here’s to many more!)

I love you!

right NOW on Swirl

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It’s Swirl Steals, Daily Candy Swirl‘s very first clearance event! There aren’t too many items left, but I couldn’t help but share this stunner of a dress. I’m not sure I could pull this one off on the streets of Portland, but if I were back in NYC, this would be mine in a heartbeat. Paired with my Tashkent fuchsia Shaun heels??? *sigh* Sometimes I miss the big city;).

Ame Grommet Silk Dress, $139 – buy here

[link will likely only be valid if you're registered for DC Swirl... so do it! do it now;)!]

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the Shaun

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Jack’s Greenhouse

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Saturday was a gorgeous day to be outdoors. Sunny, not too terribly hot, and a nice refreshing breeze. I spent the better part of the morning outside working in the garden with my mom. It’s that time of year… the time to tidy up the flower beds, do a little weeding, spread a little composted manure (yes, we did lots of this… and yes it makes me giggle to call it poo), and determine what might need to be added to make this year’s garden even more spectacular than last’s. Our initial assessment ended by lunch and we rewarded ourselves (along with my step-dad) with an afternoon excursion to Bucksfield, ME to visit Jack’s Greenhouse.

I’d never been to Jack’s, and was instantly taken by one greenhouse after another of every vegetable I could think of and some of the most breathtaking flowers I’ve ever seen. We went from one room to the next, taking in the sheer magnitude and trying our best to remember exactly what we were after and what could be found where. My objective? Two hanging plants and maybe something extra to put out on the porch for the summer. I left triumphant with a beautiful spray of yellow hanging flowers, a basket full of magenta violets, and 12 little Salvia plants, ready to find a new home. Photos of the happy little blossoms in their new habitat may be available next week, after I make my big move. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, I couldn’t help but share a few (yes, these are only a few!) of the photos I snapped while browsing the aisles. If you’ve got a spare Saturday and a budding green thumb, I would highly encourage you to take a visit.

Norman F & Anna Jack Farm‎

123 Earl Jack Road, Buckfield, ME 04220

(207) 336-2973‎

Map

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the wild unknown

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It’s no secret that I’m a huge design*sponge follower. I’ve found so many amazing designers, DIY projects, and just general inspiration from the fab Grace Bonney, it’s hard to keep track. Last week’s weekly roundup featured the wild unknown, called out for the unique custom sketches and wedding prisms, hand-crafted by artist Kim Krans and certain to be the hit of any collection of summer wedding gifts.

The main page of the site quotes the following:

So I cut off my hair and rode straight away, to the wile unknown country where I could not go wrong. – Bob Dylan

Can’t really argue with a site that starts off on such a good note;).

I’m pining away for one of these, but will likely settle for gifting one to friends, soon to be married!

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[all images from Kim Krans and the wild unknown]

youth, revisited

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Well… an old favorite spot, anyway. You Mainers may be familiar… or at least you Portland folk! Two Lights State Park is out in Cape Elizabeth. A gorgeous little seaside spot just past South Portland, Cape Elizabeth is home to a number of stunning beaches and more than one towering lighthouse. It just so happens, however, that this one in particular holds a special place in my heart. When I was a wee lass, I spent weekends with my dad on Portland’s West End. He had a little apartment on Pine Street, which was not only home to some pretty awesome rock posters, but also a hand crafted loft bed, complete with shelves for my many books, lights for my reading and story writing, and pink carpeting. I was clearly the coolest little gal on that block. We filled our weekends with things like pizza nights, ‘double features’ at the old Maine Mall movie theatre, walks with the beloved Maggie May (best dog ever), and trips out to Two Lights. We’d  spend hours rock-jumping, investigating barnacles and the icky seaweed, seeing how close we could get to the water without actually getting splashed by the waves crashing against the rocks (pop), and making up silly songs to sing while hopping from edge to edge (me). It was a grand old time and not something to ever be forgotten.

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I hadn’t been back there in years… over a decade at least. It took a brilliantly sunny day with a strong warm breeze to bring me back. J had never been out there and after a foiled birthday trip, agreed that it was the perfect day for an adventure. We didn’t stay long, but had time for a little exploration, some light rock-jumping, and some barnacle examination. Childhood… meet Adulthood. :) It was lovely!

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