Fashion Friday - Flip-Flops – The Do’s & Don’ts

To me, the flip-flop is a must have in everyone’s wardrobe. However, how to wear them and when to wear them seems to be a seriously overlooked conversation. So, yours truly is going to break it down for you.

Flip-Flop sandals are very casual footwear; they're usually made of rubber or foam, or some other material that you can get wet; they're nearly always flat, or have a wedge heel, and they're typically less expensive than dressier thong sandals.

Thong sandals on the other hand come in a wide variety of different materials. They feature different heel types and heights, and can be quite elaborate, and sometimes expensive.

So, when do you wear flip-flops, how do you wear flip-flops, and most importantly, when do you not wear flip-flops?

In my opinion, flip-flops get a bad rap, and some will tell you that they're never appropriate. But the fact of the matter is there are times when flip-flops are not only appropriate, they're actually ideal.

Nothing beats a pair of flip-flops at the beach. Its summer folks! Who wants to tread through the sand in heels or loafers? Who wants to get their favorite, albeit expensive shoes wet? If you plan on getting near the water, stick to flip-flops, but look for stylish options that set you apart from the crowd. The beach scene can offer high fashion too.

When you're not working, there's no reason you can't wear flip-flops during your daily routine. Trips to the gas station, grocery store or just hanging out with friends at the local coffee shop all qualify as flip-flop material, but if you travel in high end circles, step into a pair of dressy thong sandals or casual pull-on’s.

So, when do you not wear flip-flops? Many work places have dress codes, and you're probably aware of yours. But even if there's not a rule against flip-flops in the office, they certainly don't provide the most professional look. They're easy to slip into a bag, making them great for wearing to and from work, but while you're at the office, it's definitely in your best interest to stick with a more polished look.

Last, but certainly not least…get a pedicure if you wear flip-flops. Not only will your feet feel better in them, but they will also look better!

The Rochester Examiner Article - The fresh face of bridal

There's a new bride in town...

Check out today's article here:

The Fresh Face of Bridal

Food for thought - Rhubarb Muffins

This morning as I sat with my coffee on the back deck listening to the birds wake up, I fondly reminisced about the holiday picnics held under the large maple trees at my grandmothers house.

I remember fresh linens sprawled across a large table under massive maple trees. Kids cheering and playing in the background....and dozens of cars lined the driveway like taxis on a busy New York thoroughfare.

Time stood still for an entire afternoon. We had it all back then; family, food and memories to last a lifetime.

It's amazing how food can stir memories in each of us.....

With that, here is recipe that I bring out every year when the rhubarb is fresh, and the thoughts of those special days under the maples are even fresher.

Rhubarb Muffins

1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 egg beaten
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups rhubarb, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup olive oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine brown sugar, oil and egg in mixer.
In a small bowl combine buttermilk, baking soda, salt & vanilla.
Add milk mixture to sugar mixture alternatively with flour, mixing well.

Fold in rhubarb and nuts.

Spoon mixture into greased and floured muffin pans.

For the topping combine the following ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, very cold, cut into pieces
Top muffin batter with topping.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick pulls clear when tested.

Now, Go and enjoy your family!

Promo Thursday - JCaccamisePhotography

With Spring in bloom and Summer on its way, I thought it only fitting to promote a site that has been capturing elements from these beautiful seasons.

JCaccamisePhotography by artist Jamie Caccamise.

Jamie is a mom, a wife and an amazing photographer. In my conversations with Jamie I discovered that she has a true passion for capturing those priceless moments that one has when they are raising a family. Although she labels herself an amateur, the examples of her work below say otherwise.

"A good snapshot stops a moment from running away." ~ Eudora Welty ~

Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.  ~Dorothea Lange

When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration. ~Edward Steichen

Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs.  ~Ansel Adams

You can see more of Jamie's work by visiting her blog site:

JCaccamisePhotography&Stuff

Fashion Friday - A Dude's Guide to Denim

Sadly, quite a few men have a big issue with choosing the right pair of jeans...including yours truly!
So many cuts, from 'carrot fit' to 'straight leg', and so many different washes.
Is it any wonder men get confused when buying jeans?

If you were to look inside my closet I would suspect you'd say the last thing I needed right now was another pair of jeans.
Skinny fit, straight fit, loose fit, black denim, raw denim, grey denim, distressed, not-quite-so distressed… they're all there, a dozen or so pairs in total.
I say this not out of mere boasting for my love of fabric, but with a fair amount of self-reproach, for each is a testament to haphazard and desperate buying over years, and very few of them are being worn today.
Like many men, I have a love-hate relationship with denim. I know what I like, but I have no idea what suits me.
The biggest thing I have learned is that expensive jeans arent always the best purchase.
I purchased a pair of $300 jeans at a local men's boutique...and they fell apart after the second wash.

I found a great article at Dogfunk.com that enlightens the average "dude" on how to choose the right jean for their body.
Dogfunk-Guide-to-Denim

Once you've mastered the art buying a pair of jeans, its knowing how to wear them that really counts.




Photo from GQ

Here are a few things I have learned...and may it help my dear brothers and the women who love them.

Jeans at work

For those of you lucky enough to have casual Friday at work, or even those just comfortable enough to wear them at work, is to stick to raw denim rather than distressed and not to overcompensate the look by going too formal with the shirt and blazer.
The key is to not look as though your top half is going to a wedding and your bottom half is heading to the garage to perform an oil change.
Loosen the tie a bit boys!

Jeans around town

Yes, we all have that favorite pair of jeans with the holes in them that we just cant say goodbye to.
Wearing them to the store for a quick beer run is ok, but to the mall or a restaurant with your significant other is an absolute No, No!
No one wants to see your hairy knees or portions of your tighty whities....

There's a lot of help for us out there boys. Dont be affraid to try them on. If you like how your butt looks in them chances are he/she will too! Get advise from a store clerk or solicit advise from someone shopping. Women will tell you the honest truth...and you'll be happy in the end that you took their advise.

The Rochester Examiner Article-Bow ties are back!

Bow Ties are back..
Check out the article here;
http://www.examiner.com/diy-fashion-in-rochester/bow-ties-are-back

May Day Giveaway - Winner Announced

Congratulations Jeannie!

Coming Soon!

Beginning in May I will be offering men's neck ties, bow ties and wallets in my Etsy Store.

Stay Tuned!!!!

Spring Garden Maintenance

Every season brings a different set of chores in the garden. Spring is an exciting time for me as I prepare for the beauty of the garden as it awakes from winter hibernation. It can also, however, be a bit overwhelming to know how to prioritize the gardening at this time of year. So I have a helpful list of chores that helps me...and I hope it helps you too.

Pruning
For early blooming shrubs such as forsythia and viburnum, prune them as soon as blooms have passed. Early spring is also an ideal time to prune your roses.

Deadheading
Remove spent flowers from bulbs, but leave the rest of the plant as is for the time being.

Weeding
Pull weeds from your beds and borders before they have a chance to take hold and spread.

Composting
Tend to your compost if it has been neglected over the winter. If you do not have a compost bin, spring is a great time to start one.

Tools
Spring is a good time to prepare your tools for the oncoming gardening season and to make any necessary repairs or new purchases. You will be happy you have done so when summer sets in.

Plant
Spring is a great time to add new plants to your garden. Be sure, however, that all threat of frost has past. Plant such things trees, shrubs, hardy annuals, and summer blooming bulbs.

Fertilize & Mulch
Fertilize and mulch beds and borders. Spring is also a good time to fertilize fruit trees. If you applied heavy winter mulch for protection from the cold, you will need to clear it away.

Staking
Stake plants that may be prone to wind damage during the unpredictable spring weather.

Lawn Care
Spring is the best time to start a new lawn from seed. For established lawns, you should start mowing in the spring, but don’t initially cut the grass very short for the first few times.

I hope these tips will give you a good idea as to where to focus your attention in your garden this spring. Enjoy!

Wardrobe Wednesday - Choosing the Right Suit

Spring is here and Summer is quickly approaching. It's the season for weddings, proms, graduations and many other formal celebrations.


Wearing a suit is a true statement of manhood. It can prove to be the difference when applying for a job or even grabbing yourself a date. So this nerd is providing you with a simple guide to choosing the right suit to help you leave out the most common errors when choosing the most important item in your wardrobe.


Mismatched Collars and Ties
The trend for skinny ties involves shirts with pointed collars. The wide cutaway collar seen here requires a chunkier tie and a larger knot like a Windsor, not the half-Windsor! (Ties are another story)

Poor-fitting Jackets

This isn’t the 1980s guys! Shoulder pads should always sit directly on top of your shoulders and finish above your shoulder’s end. A jacket that is too large will swamp your frame, giving it little definition and making an expensive suit look cheap; a poor fit is why politicians often look bad in designer tailoring.



Tie Length
The point of the tie should just touch the top of the belt, and never hang lower. This basically means that you don’t want the tie flapping around and getting in the way when you use the bathroom. You also want to stay away from the nerdy school boy look by wearing your tie far too short. Not a good look men.

The Casual Belt
The darker brown leather is mismatched with paler shoes. The belt is also made from distressed leather, which is too scruffy and casual to be worn with a suit. Tailoring should be about clean lines. (And remember: women are like hawks when it comes to noticing details) so neglect the accessories at your peril!

Short Pants
The hem on your trousers needs to brush the heel of the shoe and sit on the upper third lace. While there is an emerging trend for rising hemlines and ankle-cut trousers, you have to be very “experimental” to pull it off as you run a major risk of making it seem as though your pants are having an argument with your shoes. Socks should only be visible when seated, never when standing. NEVER!




Suit Pockets
Only use your suit’s inside pocket and even then not for anything heavier than notes and credit cards. If the outer pockets are stitched shut, leave them so. Keys, wallets, phones and iPods distort the line of the jacket, pull on the buttons and shoulders, and stretch the fabric. Need I say more about that? Yuck!

Colored Socks
The sock should match the shade of the suit or be darker, which will help to make the leg appear longer. Patterned socks can be fine, but only if the background shade is the same tone as the suit, or the same tone as your shoes. Otherwise it’s like the novelty tie: drawing major attention to your questionable taste in accessories.

Shoes
Footwear should be of the same tone as the suit or slightly darker, like the socks, to elongate the leg. Light tan with a dark suit is too big a contrast and can make your feet look enormous. Men, as much as you think that's a good thing, its pretty dorky.

Happy Suit Shopping!

Studio News - April 8th 2011

Okay, so you make women's purses.

What do you make for men?

These are the questions I hear all of the time.

My early sewing career was with a local men's suit factory.

I started in sleeves and worked my way into custom tailoring.

It was a wonderful way to learn fashion, sewing and design.

So, yes I create for men. I just haven't done so in a few years.

With that said...

I received a wonderful opportunity this week to create a set of bow ties for a wedding party.

The bride was not seeing what she envisioned....go figure.

So, with my pencil and sketchbook in hand I began to create something I haven't ventured to do in quite a few years. (We wont say how many kids)

Below is a quick studio pic of the final product.

Of course yours truly cant just slap a sticker on it and call it a day.

He goes full bore with instructions. Dork!

The fabric is actually quite nice.

Soft crepe linen with a tangerine geometric pattern.

The May Day Giveaway

May Day has always been one of my favorite days of the year.

When I was a child I remember my mother picking wildflowers and placing them in a basket at my grandmother's door step. She would knock on the door and hide. It was exciting to see my grandmother's face when she opened the door to that lovely surprise.

Although May Day has never been a prominent holiday in America its tradition remains in the hearts of many with British American heritage.

To celebrate this lovely coming of Spring I thought it only fitting to host my first Giveaway.

The lucky winner of the May Day Giveaway will receive this fun Travel Bag.

The Travel bag is a great bag for holding those minimal essentials when you're traveling, or shopping.

Made of a fun and modern fabric with a matching lining.

The bag measures 6.5" wide and 9" high.

There is a 5" pocket on the front and back. 

It's easy to participate and all you need to do is follow 3 simple conditions.

1. You must be a follower of my blog, Gerald's Room. (Through the Google Friend Connect gadget found on the right column of my blog)

2. Click on "I Like" on my Facebook page. Or heart my Etsy Shop for those without a Facebook profile.

3. Leave a comment below on which is your favorite handbag, purse or accessory from my Etsy Shop. 

Please leave me a seperate comment below when you have completed all 3 steps and please include your email address so that you can be notified if you are the winner.

The closing date will be on May 1st at 12 am EST. The winner will be selected by a random number through random.org.
(please note, this is open to US Citizens Only)

Good Luck!

Studio News - April 4th 2011

They have finally hatched! The Spring Fling Clutch!

I wanted to create a clutch that was inspired by the colors of Spring....with a kick!

These brightly colored fabric combinations create the illusion of what it would be like to be inside a bag of jelly beans!

My ode to Spring....

Made of a rich spring cotton fabric and lined with a sweet corresponding cotton.

Accessorized with a silk Gerber daisy pin.

Dimensions:

8"x 3" purse frame

9" wide at bottom

5" long

2" gusset

This is the perfect accessory for an evening out, a bridesmaid gift,

or even a lovely accessory to a Spring dance.....

Discount on quantities of 4 or more.

Inspiration Wednesday - The Road Home

My latest custom order was a labor of love.

Inspired by the classic tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.

The story simple, the inspiration timeless.

Dorothy and her dog Toto are caught in a tornado's path and somehow end up in the land of Oz. Here she meets some memorable friends and foes in her journey to meet the Wizard of Oz who everyone says can help her return home and possibly grant her new friends their goals of a brain, heart and courage.

10 Ways to Inspire Creativity

Everyone can get into a creative slump. Here are ten ways to stimulate your creative juices and generate fresh inspiration.

Create art in a new place
Grab your sketchbook and head to a part of town you usually don't visit and plop down on a curb, bench or car hood and start to draw what you see.

Try something new
Do you usually paint in oils? Try pastels. Draw anime? Try drawing flowers. Do you work with leather? try cotton or burlap.

Read
Try reading something totally different from what you usually do, even if it is just a magazine article on an unusual subject. Keep doing this at least once for several days. The new and different information will get your mind thinking about new subjects, unlocking new avenues for creativity.

Go back to your roots
Think about what you used to draw or create as a child. Try your hand at it again, using crayons, of course. This exercise moves your mind from the strain of "adult art" and allows it to be more creative in the process. All the while you are still creating art that may be used as preliminary sketches for something more grand.

Go Radical
Don't just try a different medium, try a virtual medium! If you've never dabbled in computer art of any kind, now is the time to give it a try. You don't need to buy fancy software.

Teach
We artists are so into learning new techniques that sometimes we forget it is also important to switch gears and teach. This will put your mind on a totally new track for a while. I'm not saying you have to go out and teach to a classroom of students. There are many sites on the internet with forums where artists can share their ideas and takes on techniques.

Get Chatty
Creating can be a lonely, solitary job sometimes. Get out and talk with others about your craft or join an online chat group. Your brain may be crying out for conversation

Rewind
Instead of trying to make something new, look at something old. Go through your old sketchbooks, portfolio, and finished art pieces. Maybe revisit and old piece and re-do it.

Take a mental break
Do something other than obsess about your creative block. Go for a walk, go eat lunch, get some errands done. The important point is to get your mind on something else to give your subconscious time to work on the problem. You may find an idea just comes to you while you're doing something else.


Give yourself a blank slate
Cleanse your mind by cleansing your mistakes. Erase a botched drawing. Paint over a fouled oil. Rip out and toss a fizzled sketch, tear apart that botched blouse.

Three Ways to Overcome Winter Blues

“Winter Blues”
The mere mention of it has me stirring in my seat today.
Have you ever met someone that has no idea what you're talking about when you rant about it? Its a very exclusive club. You know who they are. The people who don’t feel blue whatsoever during the winter months. You can easily recognize them.They’re the ones running around with their Starbucks, all bundled up and smiling when someone says there’s snow in the forecast. However, dealing with the “Winter Blues” is a very real problem for many people including me. So here are three suggestions that I have followed from time to time when I feel like driving off the road after two hours on that snowy road to work.

First and foremost here are three "DONTS" that will bring you way down.
1. Don't coop yourself up. If you pull the curtains, close the blinds and don’t get out of the house unless it’s an emergency....DONT!!
2. Don't dwell on warmer climates and warmer months. Stop setting beach scenes as your wallpaper and getting misty eyed each time you look at it. DONT!!
3.  Don't complain until your lungs give out. I'm not talking about the "baby its cold outside" phrases. Its winter and yes its cold. I'm talking about the full belly aches and nag attacks that you drop on your co-workers and friends until you feel like a big pity party complete with vodka! We all do it....I did my share 30 minutes ago. DONT!!

So here they are.

1. Fall in love with the season! Okay, if you’re feeling blue, this may seem like a stretch – but your happiness depends upon your open mindedness.  Remind yourself of the things that only come around when Mother Nature turns down the thermostat:  NFL, hockey, homemade soup, bread, chili, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, college football, college basketball, prime time premieres, skiing, snowmen, sledding, apple cider, hot chocolate,  no yard work. Watch DVDs, play Scrabble, Uno, Life, Trivia Pursuit, or Monopoly.  Grab the most difficult looking jigsaw puzzle in town and set up a special table just for it.  My mom would do that every winter. In fact she's probably doing one now. 
2. Talk about it. Grab someone’s ears and talk through your feelings, even if it’s dog's ears.  I talk to myself on my two hour drive home. By the time I reach home I have exhausted those pent up emotions and feel less inclined to take it out on the ones I love. Sometimes, when we let our emotions have their say, we’ll find out what’s at the heart of the matter.  The root of the blues may be a case of grief.  Winter often brings a longing for people who have passed away. People make the mistake of thinking that talking about these loved ones makes the feelings worse. Au contraire!  Talking about loved ones we miss keeps them alive in our minds and hearts. Sometimes I pull out old recipes from my grandmother and bake, bake, bake! Why not? I'm certainly not going to turn that oven on in the summer months!
3. Get out of the house and, most definitely, get out of the office. Try to keep things as normal as possible.  If you enjoyed a daily walk at lunch time during the warm months, bundle up and waddle around the trail in the cold months.  The sunshine, such as it is, will do you as much good as the activity will.  Getting regular doses of both does a body good.. One of the many things I love about winter is the eagerness of the birds. Sometimes on a snowy Sunday morning I listen for the birds as they wake up. I revel when its time to walk to the mailbox and grab the Sunday paper. My little dog Jack waddles along side me and we both take in the world as it wakes up for the day...snow and all.

Also, change the way you look at things, if possible.  For example – it’s not cold, it’s  brisk!  You aren’t freezing your butts off, you’re being rejuvenated!  You don’t hate the frigid conditions, you embrace the wintriness! Okay, I hear your laughter and detect a frosty attitude. I just went outside to mail a package and I saw that it’s starting to snow again.  This calls for a celebratory cup of  tea! Now get out there and have fun with winter.

Studio News - March 3rd 2011

It's Friday and I'm already working on my weekend schedule in the studio.

Several wedding clutches and laptop bags just waiting to take a ride on my sewing machine.

I'm hoping the sun is good to me this weekend as I have many new bags to add to my lovely Etsy Store!

I was handed a wonderful opportunity to create a tote based on the characters from the Wizard of Oz.

I have been sketching and sketching and I think Ive come up with the right concept.

My thought is to have Dorothy and her trio of friends skipping down the yellow brick road on the front side.

On the back side have them heading toward the beautiful emerald city. I plan to hide little elements such as the witch, toto and the ruby slippers throughout the bag. This is a work in progress.Stay tuned.

Behind the Seams - Pincushions

How many of you have one of these in your sewing room or repair basket?

If you look around my design room you will see pincushions in various shapes, sizes and colors. I have been making and collecting them for as long as I can remember. For me they serve many uses. Opposite the obligatory pin catching, they can be quite whimsical and inventive. Many of us spend several hours a day in our sewing rooms. The subtle nuance of an interesting piece of art that you impale your pins into can be just the mental vacation one needs.

For me, it all started while working in a small alterations room many years ago.  I didn’t have a pincushion so I stuffed an old teddy bear face down into a coffee can with his legs and bottom hanging out. That poor creature suffered my wrath everyday for 3 years. It brought me many hours of joy when my 70 year old boss winced at each stabbing. I digress.

Pincushions have been a staple in sewing rooms everywhere for centuries. Their value serves in both function and art.

The first pincushions were first recorded in history during the Tudor reign in 15th century England. Metal pins were a very costly and precious item in those early days. Before the 15th century pins were kept in small cases made of bone, ivory, or silver.

During the Tudor era, simple stuffed shapes started to be used instead of the cases. Fabric too was highly valued. Scraps were used for both quilting and pincushions. They began by being made of colorful and elaborately decorated silks and linens, replete with tassels and laces. During the Victorian era there was a great deal of emphasis on the parlor room and it became the perfect place in which to display the novelty pincushions of the era. Pincushions were made in the shape of shoes, fans, dolls, teacups, umbrellas, fruits, and vegetables. They were hung on the walls or placed on occasional tables.

Today there are entire shops, blogs and books devoted to these whimsical and timeless treasures. Here are a few:

Softies Central - Blog

The Purl Bee - Blog

Details by Des - Etsy Store

Making Fabulous Pincushions - book by Jo Packham

What does all of this mean to you? How about a challenge? Send me your pictures and stories of your favorite pincushion. Where does it sit and where did it come from? Did you make it yourself? Be inventive! There is always a story behind the seams…