A Moment With Melissa...

Hello! It's Melissa, again! I thought I'd take this opportunity to tell you guys about one of the ongoing photo projects I have. It involves my daughter, Zoe, (I think all of them do) and her birthday. Here is the plan. Every year I do a simple portrait of Zoe around her birthday. My goal is to do it every year for the rest of my life. As time goes on I think it will be something she'll really appreciate having. I know I will.

What am I doing with these pictures? Right now I have a canvas for each year. The innocent 1 year old, crazy 2 year old and my big girl 3 year old...

My hubby, Miles, jokes that we are going to have a house covered in canvas by the time she is 17. I don't think I'll get one a year because that might be overkill, but if one year is particularly awesome I'll replace one of these with a new canvas. I'm also making a scrapbook with all the photos.

Since we're on the subject of birthday photo projects I do have another one! My goal is to seek out cool numbers and take Zoe's photo in front of it when she is the right age. For example she is 3 now so here is our 3 photo...

In case you are wondering... Yes, I will be doing all these photos for the new baby, too! If not in 12 years I'll be hearing "Why are there so many pictures of Zoe and none of me?"

So, those are my ideas. Hopefully I've inspired some of you to do your own little photo projects. You don't have to be a professional and it's something you'll have forever.

KATE MOSS FOR LONGCHAMP

To celebrate the launch of her first "Kate Moss for Longchamp" signature collection, Kate Moss and Longchamp hosted a private party at The Ritz Club on Wednesday, 27th January 2010 during Paris Couture Week.

In a décor of zebra stripes (zebra carpet stretching the length of the club, zebra walls …) referencing the codes of her collection for Longchamp, Kate Moss – accompanied by the Cassegrain family, who own the famous French house, welcomed more than 700 guests, and a live performance by London duo Queens of Noize kept the dance floor moving well into the early hours.

For Jean Cassegrain, CEO of Longchamp, and Sophie Delafontaine, Artistic Director, the party was also an opportunity to play host to the French and international press and leading figures from the world of business.

The Kate Moss for Longchamp collection was unveiled on a wall of moving images, its glamorous designs fusing Kate's inimitable style and personality with the savoir-faire of Longchamp. The collection will hit Longchamp boutiques and Bloomingdales 59th Street in NYC on February 11th.

Thursday out to lunch outfit

Headband: Twigs & Honey
Cropped jacket and tank: Anthropologie
Boyfriend jeans: DL1961 from Gilt Groupe
Heels: Kelsey Dagger from Gilt Groupe

The Dish with Trish...No.2

I LOVE SCRAPBOOKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So that pretty much sums it up, but for my dish today, I will elaborate on that a bit...

I have always loved doing crafty things and I come it very honestly as my mother has always been a crafty lady and was always making things while I was growing up. She made my clothes, dolls, stuffed animals, about a million and one slip covers, curtains, foot stools out of coffee cans, leather bags and belts, macrame, the list goes on.

I actually had never done any kind of scrapbooking until just a few years ago while we were waiting to adopt a baby and all I had to do was sit and wait. It was making me insane and I had to DO something. So I figured I would make a book about my husband and I that said baby would enjoy having in the future. So I started with our baby photos and continued through the time we met, got married, bought a house and now were waiting to become parents. It was a wonderful way to occupy my time and I spent countless hours at the dining room table cutting and pasting like crazy.
From there I made a book for our unknown baby with photos of the nursery and the phone(because I wanted it to ring so badly!) and our house. But then I came to a point where I was done and did all I could do until that point, so I had to wait some more. But the good news is that the phone finally did ring and Isaac came into our lives! Even better news, I would never be without something to scrapbook, although now I would be without all of that time to scrapbook.
Mariah and Melissa thought I should share some of my latest pages with you, so here they are...





I originally used only the tradiational 12x12 double layout system and always scrapped chronologically. But then I was introduced to the D ring binder and everything changed... now I could scrap just a single page and go out of order and still have one year all together! It was revolutionary! But mainly it opened up my creative juices and made it much more doable.

Isaac's first two years don't have a ton of pages because I was locked into the 12x12 layout and it took forever! But now I get so much more done in a lot less time. Although, I can easily spend 2 hours or more on a page. I tend to agonize over every little detail. But it's fun for me, and it's like therapy!

I like to scrap single or double photos and work more on the design elements. I also enjoy just a random event or great photo. I do birthday and Christmas every year, but I don't feel obligated to do every holiday.

I have a terrible memory, so I know that I will be happy to have all of this in the future, to help me remember how Isaac was at different ages. People always say that kids grow up fast, but this is ridiculous!

I like to use my own hand writing instead of printing from the computer so that it keeps that home spun look to it. Also, Isaac will know that I wrote those words for him. This layout was about how rough the 3's were, scrapping doesn't always have to be fun stuff, the point is to remember and document life, warts and all.

This photos was taken last summer and all three of the kids are already so much older looking, these are Mariah's cherubs with Isaac in case you didn't recognize them...

Even something as simple as a new pair of shoes was fun to do because it symbolizes his growing and I always remember the awesomeness of a fresh pair of sneaks. My fist pair of Nike were tan with a blue stripe (1979?)and I remember them like it was yesterday, if I had a photo I'd be so excited!

I have lots of these kind of photos, but putting them all together like this really brought the whole feel of Isaac's personality together, he's a riot!

This little swirl was stiched on there, such a fun element. Doing it was probably way more fun that it even looks!

Such a classic moment that was emblazoned in my mind anyway, but now he will get to enjoy it too!

So thanks for sharing in my other passion, although it includes photography which is the ultimate bonus!
I will give you my must have list in another 'Dish' post as to what tools and products I like to use as well as some great resources if you are looking to get inspired and scrap-it!

Got my new bracelete by junghwa (my big sis)

I love them. So cute. So dainty. Yellow!

Get your own, HERE.

Oh, you know I love a good sale

I spy some lovely things at great prices at Anthropologie:

Muted Light Earrings

Shine on Earrings

Pavo Maillot

Late Afternoon Pullover

Painted Cottage Sweater
Speaking of Anthropologie, I just joined a fun new flickr group: Anthropologie: Personal Style

Tibi Sneak Peek -- Talking with Tibi designer Amy Smilovic plus Fall 2010 Inspiration

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week is right around the corner & we all are counting down the days. We just couldn't wait to talk to Tibi designer, Amy Smilovic on what to expect this season and to get a sneak peek at the Fall 2010 Inspiration. After all, Amy is one of our favorite designers.

Fall 2010 Inspiration

Napoleon and Josephine. Tibi’s Fall 10 collection is about the appeal of opposites – masculine meets feminine, draping paired with structure, and neutrals with high contrast brights. The color palette is inspired by the photographs of Peter Beard. Gelatin prints, where slippery colors merge, intertwine and appear cracked and crumbled with imagery of animal skins and wildlife. Deep ink, terra cotta, burgundy, and every shade of sand mix with bold pinks and electric turquoises.

Cupcake Mag: What can we expect from the Fall 2010 Collection?

Amy: The fall 2010 collection is such a great collaboration of colors. Bold, contrasting neon jewel tones pops from rich swirls of soft neutral notes and the contradiction of flowing delicate fabric and bold embellishments, feminine draping and masculine structure is so what I want to wear right now.

Cupcake Mag: Biggest trends for Fall 2010?

Amy: For Tibi, Fall is all about contrast – Rich colors and bold embellishments, hard lines paired with draping sweeps of fabric and a ton of attitude in a very feminine way.

Cupcake Mag: We have chatted a few times and we always forget to ask - Where did the name Tibi come from?

Amy: Tibi was my original partner’s grandmother’s name. She and I started the company together but she left after a year to pursue other opportunities. I always loved the name and the ring of it, so I kept it.

Cupcake Mag: What are 3 of your "fashion essentials" and must- haves in your closet?

Amy: A fabulously structured tweed coat paired with a gorgeous, flowing, jewel-toned, ruffled top in silk and super chic army green suede skinny trousers with deep pleats is the perfect combination of strong and soft.

Cupcake Mag: Right now, if you could wear one designer's clothes who would it be & why?

Amy: That would definitely be Proenza Schouler I love their bags and shoes right now!

Cupcake Mag: What advice do you have for those pursuing their dream in the fashion industry?

Amy: For those interested in a design career or any creative field, just take anything that inspires you and turn it into something tangible, something sell-able. Don’t try and be anything you’re not, it’ll never work. I didn’t think I would ever own such a successful and profitable company so if I can do it, anyone can! Don’t let those fears get in the way.

Cupcake Mag: Any exciting plans for the future?

Amy: Right now I am in the office processing my inspiration to turn it into my next line and enjoying my time at home with my husband and two wonderful sons!

Stay tuned for our upcoming coverage of the Fall 2010 Collection from Bryant Park in February! In the meantime, visit the TIBI website here.