A peek into my closet after I cleaned it out pre-swap
I was part of a clothing swap last night and I was shocked at how awesome it was! There were 4 of us with different styles (from boho to girly) and different shopping philosophies (investment shoppers to trend lovers), but we were all pretty much the same size and that was what mattered. Each of us brought a bag of clothes in good condition and something for dinner. We discussed over pre dinner nibbles our plan of action and decided to dump everything on a couch, showing items to the group as we all unpacked them and then just dig in and start trying stuff on. We were all nervous that a throw down would occur over certain coveted pieces, but amazingly it went seamlessly. Everyone was honest about what looked good, what needed to be tried on a different member of the group or what was to go into the donate bag. All in all it was a great success, we each had a new pile of clothes which we knew looked great on us and there was only a small bag left over to donate...which oddly enough, its mostly button downs and trousers, well as we're all self employed designers, I suppose not so surprising that we no one needed office garb. After the swap we had a great dinner, enjoyed an evening of girly gossip and vowed to have another swap with the next change of seasons! If you have girlfriends in similar sizes, I highly recommend it!
The bowls are increasing!! 1 bowl = materials for 1 necklace (but sometimes for up to 20 and that's hectic)
As anyone who owns a shop, is a maker or is involved in retail knows, the holidays are an entirely different time for us in it then for regular folks. For instance, I usually buy gifts for my own loved ones on Christmas eve as I am so busy getting jewelry out into the world up until that point, that I typically forget. I also have never decorated for the holidays as I wouldn't notice if was there or not. However, and I say that with a deep breath...I am hosting Christmas for my family this year and as we are spread all over the US (Austin, San Fran, NYC and Boston), this means that decorations will be expected.
Luckily the fam will all arrive at different times throughout the 24th, so I plan on putting everything off until after my last ship day and show which are both on the 22nd. I can do it all in 2 days, right? Let's stay positive as its getting chaotic all up in here as you can see above (it remains organized no matter what throughout it all thank goodness, but its still chaotic in that there is so much to do!!). The next three weeks is going to be intense! The reality though is that I love it, I love the flurry of orders that comes in every day and the shows and weekly markets at this time of year when everyone if feeling festive. Here's to the kick off of an amazing Holiday Season everyone!!
Last night after dinner...note Adam's Movember 'stache and imagine my asking over and over if it's December yet.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Adam and I got the photos from our elopement back and had a wonderful time reliving that night, it was sweet to do so on a day for remembering what we are thankful for! We had dinner out with family and then I had to bunker down in my studio as we are in the home stretch to the holidays and with a show every weekend this month, a sneakpeeq sale coming up and the usual online madness...well, one has to be prepared! Speaking of prepared, if you are getting your shop on this weekend, enjoy 25% off AND Free Shipping at with blackfriday2012 through Monday.
Well here's to hoping that this year my hard drive does not crash on Cyber Monday...because that was fun, ugh. Although it does serve as a nice reminder to back up your computer often...fortunately I do, and only lost work from a few days. It could have been SO MUCH WORSE. I however was a diligent watcher of Sex in the city years ago and the sad mac episode gave me nightmares. So not only do you get great savings today, but a useful PSA! My work here is done...have a great week end!
Sierra's outfit: Dress - Tiny for // Shoes - (in purple though which seem to be gone) // Jacket - that I've had for years // Bag - Vintage // Necklace - by Manic Trout
Adam's outfit: Pants - Dries Van Noten from // Shirt Modern Fit - // Boots - Vintage Lizard from
I'm one of those people who thinks they would be much happier knowing what was coming. You see, I like to be prepared. Truth be told, I know its better and more interesting not knowing, but thinking of what could possibly happen causes so much anxiety at times!
I've been running a mad dash for the past week trying to get the house pulled together before the chaos of the holidays, and I think it's going pretty well so far. As there are only 5 weeks (5 weeks!!) of left for the season at Manic Trout and a show every weekend until Christmas, it's time to chain myself to my studio. So not to leave you out of the loop, below are some pics from the house as it is now. Adam bought us both and the fish eye is perfect for capturing an entire room, so I have been snapping the progress on my phone.
photo of our bedroom courtesy of Adam Fujawa ()
The bonus of eloping is that instead of paying for a wedding, you can buy new furniture! We upgraded from my full to a king and added bedside tables and new lamps as well. The curtains were from my past two living rooms the trunk and chair (not show) were also in the living room. Unfortunately, the wall papered border must remain as it's a rental and the owner put it there :/ My collection of framed photos I've collected will soon grace the walls.
I'm in love with the living room mainly because the recessed ceiling lights are on two switches and have dimmers and I'm pretty obsessed with light. I have had the couches for years now but just upgraded the pillows for this move. I always configure the sectional differently for each new space I move into (this is the 6th), currently, there is one piece removed and in the bedroom. That amazing table was made for me by a friend and the rug is the only wool rug that made the move from NY, as I adore both the color and pattern. The console and TV are new, the tables behind the couch were last my bedside tables and the pink antique cupboard was last in the bedroom. I still have to set up the surround sound and we're on the lookout for the perfect sun burst mirror to hang between the two lamps. Paintings will soon hang on the other walls.
The kitchen is rather amazing. Polished granite counters, ample room for my excessive dishes and filled with light. We've already had people gathered around the island on more than one occasion, which I love as it reminds me of the house I grew up in!
My studio is up and running and about done. I hung the photos (by Jai Mayhew from a photo shoot with this past Winter) last night and they added an awesome touch. The only additions were the shelves and bins at the end of the room. Everything else is a mix of antique and ikea. My tv still has to be mounted on the wall and I have another bamboo rug to put down...otherwise it's all done. I'm loving the space and the natural light so much!
The stacks of paintings, mirrors and photographs waiting to be hung on the walls mingling with the speakers and boxed components of bookshelves. We want a bench/coat rack thing for where the paintings currently are leaning and still need to buy dining room chairs. Compared to the list I had in my hands 2 weeks ago, this is a teeny tiny to do list and should be checked off in no time!
I'll save the rest of the rooms for another day...how do you like it so far?
The rest of the "essence" items in the staging area (the dining room)
Wow, it feels like I have been in a timeless void for the past week...sheesh! Moving officially mopped the floor with me, I'll admin it. I spent almost all of my time over the past two weeks packing and unpacking, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! A month ago, I wisely planned hosting a little soiree at my new home for the Austin Craft Riot this Thursday night and I was right that it has been awesome motivation to get everything pulled together. Most of the rooms are unpacked, except for the books and dvds, and the "essence" pieces as I love to call them, which I have just started to sprinkle liberally around the house. You know what I'm talking about...brass critters, lamps, art, photos...the things that make a house a home. They are currently dominating my dining room table and have to be moved by Thursday as many women will have to be seated at the table (see, motivation!).
The studio mid progress...one side of the room had started to have furniture in place
Its been a great deal of hard work but I took a break Friday evening when my sweet husband who chooses not to get involved in the moving process besides hiring movers, realized that I could not move my head from side to side and booked me 4 hours at the spa. I also was set up at the market all day Saturday, followed by date night Saturday night. Without these breaks, I may have had a bit of a breakdown. There however is nothing better then seeing a room empty of boxes to fuel you to keep going, well except for Adam shouting "I love our new house and you're amazing!" every time he's the progress I'm making, its lovely to have a cheering squad, even if it's only one person!
The studio is just about done!
Besides the fun of setting up a new space, I've been having a great time mixing all of the new furniture into the mix, and as my taste is consistent, I have to say that it mixes pretty amazingly. I hung the curtains from my past two living rooms in our bedroom and Adam thought I bought them to match the new bedding. I love re appropriating furniture to new rooms as well and thats been so much of the fun! The last of the new furniture should arrive tomorrow and I'm hoping to have the art up by Thurs night...I'll snap more photo's then. The only items left on our list for now are new dining rooms chairs (I'm over whelmed with all of the choices), book shelves as I had to figure out where I want them and what size we need and a bench/coat rack thing for the entry (I dreamed about them last night). After that we'll move onto the back yard and deck, where so far all we have done is put up a hammock. It's coming along though! If you want to see peeks as they happen, you can follow me on Instagram @manictrout as I post photos regularly there!
1. Flip flops for a pedicure
2. A specific pair of pliers for jewelry making
3. A dvd, because Netflix stopped working one night
4. 3-qt pyrex pan
5. A bandaid
I'm in a packing state right now similar to a wave...not everything is packed, but the stack of boxes has been growing higher each day. The "sort of essentials" are going into boxes now and I suddenly seem to need them all (although I have resisted the urge to get them). I have a pretty busy week ahead of me, so I am trying to pack as much as I can tonight and tomorrow. We pack the moving trucks (it's an under a 1 mile move, so I am renting two trucks, 1 for boxes and 1 for furniture) next Wednesday. However, there is a chance we'll get the ok to move in early and I would rather be prepared for it. Part of me hopes we get the green light for an early move in so I can start setting up the new studio asap, but part of me wants the time to pack too. We'll just have to see how fate feels about it.
I've been having a slight love affair with lockets recently. There is something so fantastic about them, a bit romantic, totally sentimental and a teeny dash of mysterious make them an awesome accessory. This month's giveaway is the spectacular , featuring opulent Carnelian, vintage brass chain and the most incredible locket I have found to date.
How to enter:
1. Share your love of Manic Trout (either or your favorite piece of Manic Trout jewelry) via Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.
2. Leave a comment on this blog post telling me where you shared (you will not be entered without this step).
3. Cross your fingers and hope that you're the winner selected at random on Tuesday, October 30th!
The winner will be announced here on the , as well as on and and will be emailed. Contest closes at midnight Monday, October 29th. Only one entry per person please.
1. Frozen yogurt (and the soy equivalent) are only as good as the topping you choose.
2. Wedding bombing the restaurant where you first met is awesome.
3. Teaching Adam the trick of avoiding laundry by buying more underwear was brilliant (and saves me from doing laundry every week)
4. Packing sucks. Actually moving sucks.
5. I have a crazy low attention span for concerts of bands I don't care about. However, for the bands I love, I would stand and dance for hours and hours.
6. As soon as you pack something and stack six boxes on top of the box its in, you'll need it.
7. No matter how many times I move with Faye, she always freaks out when the boxes start being packed. She seems convinced I won't take her with me.
8. The bed you sleep on seems absolutely fine until you order a new, much larger one. Then every night seems like hell in the current one.
9. 99% of the time, my gut is right. That I often doubt it is the problem.
10. I need to exercise everyday. It's incredibly obvious when I don't that it has a huge and positive effect of my mental state. Yet for some stupid reason, its always the first to get cut when I am crazy busy.
WORKING ON: Not enough of anything. Trying to get it all done. Failing. Yesterday managed to buy a new bed frame, mattress, kitchen table, couch pillows and the awesome guy above. It felt amazing to tick so much off my list at once.
THINKING ABOUT: The holidays, the spring line, packing, decorating the new house and so many tasks that are involved with it all.
ANTICIPATING: Moving into the new house (renting) in 12 days...woo hoo!!
LISTENING TO: Wild Belle. Saw them at ACL last week and fell in love.
EATING: Have fallen off the candy wagon...hard. Trying to get back on, but sugar is a bitch of a mistress.
THANKFUL FOR: Finding a home, just in the nick of time before my lease was up!
PLANNING FOR: Where to put my current furniture and the new furniture arriving when we move in!
READING: The Reluctant Metrosexual: Dispatches From An Almost Hip Life by Peter Hyman. Not sure how I feel yet, just started.
WATCHING: Last weeks episode of Grey's right now while typing...keeping an eye out for Manic Trout!
