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We head to San Francisco to tour Chloe's bright and organized craft space.

"I moved here from New York where there is notoriously not enough room for anything, so I think my favorite thing about my space, is literally all of the space."




Tell us about your space?
My craft room and I are located in my home right outside of San Francisco, CA. I moved here from New York where there is notoriously not enough room for anything, so I think my favorite thing about my space, is literally all of the space. The space has no doors, and is kind of an open area between the houses kitchen and living room. I imagine it was, at some point, a dining room. But since my boyfriend and I usually eat at the coffee table or at In n Out, it seemed like an unnecessary use of the room. The room isn't shared with anyone, but whatever I'm listening to throughout the day, is a sound that is shared through out the entire house.

The room is large enough to do the following things in:
+build a fort
+inflate an rather large air mattress in
+sprawl out on the floor in, and draw or paint while laying on my belly
+ set up photo lights and a backdrop, for shooting
+build IKEA furniture in (extra cardboard pieces and all)

It is NOT quite large enough to to the following thing in:
+ a cartwheel

I'm lucky enough to have my work sometimes involve crafting, so yeah. I guess you could call it both. I spend most of my time in there editing photos, assembling construction papers, and making dolls.

What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I started by replacing the original brown carpet with a white one and painted the room from a dingy yellowish white, to a ultra bright white! Changing up an environment really inspires me to keep changing and creating, and I LOVE bright white places. I feel like the color white can turn a room into a blank piece of paper, just waiting to be colored and drawn on! 

I made one wall black and I keep only a few things there. Sometimes, having all of my pens and paints and colorful scraps surrounding me can be really exciting, but when life starts feeling overwhelming, so can my inspirational clutter. When I feel like that, it's nice to just turn my chair around and have a more minimal look come from the same room. 

I also have about 10 different light sources in my room. Most of them are strings of light because, to me, they make a place feel lively or calming depending on how you look at them. I like having lively things around for inspiration so I love when Harvey the pup hangs out on my lap, when my boyfriend walks through the room, and I've also given all of my plants eyes and named every one of them "Gus". 

How do you keep organized?
When I'm working on something, I usually form a mess and clean as much of it up at the end of the day, as I can. Even if what I'm working on isn't complete. Tucking fabrics back in drawers, taking photos off of my desktop and putting them into temporary folders, ect. Waking up to an organized room where I can find things, motivates me to keep it up. When I'm completely done with a project, is when I seriously fold up those fabrics and archive things onto the hard drive.

I also have started organizing my mind by writing out all of my daily/ weekly tasks on individual post-it notes and leaving them on the window in front of my desk. It feels so good to finish something, pluck that post it from the window, and have a better view of whats going on outside!
 
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
Instead of shopping around for office supplies, I like browsing through the kitchen section of places. I use bright cookie tins or cans with appealing packaging to store my pens and markers. If my eye is drawn to it, I find that I'm more likely to use whatever's in it, then if I were to tuck it away in a drawer. 

I also keep a lot of things in travel bags. I turned one of my old hard shelled cosmetic cases into my camera storage. Fold up cosmetic cases with clear pouches are perfect for holding my little watercolor and gauche tubes. 
For things that do end up going into drawers, I keep them from sliding around with the help of some paper plates and string! I made a tutorial for Whole Foods on how to make a fruit basket with these supplies, and have been using these little baskets to help separate little things in big drawers, instead!


Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
I don't keep anything in my room that I don't love having around but a couple of my favorite things are:
+My old radio that I adapted to be a speaker for my iPad tv
+Yoshimoto Nara clock that has a different Nara drawing flipping through every minute
+Twinkle lights that scale my black wall and make it look like outer space
+My Grandmas old passport photo. She's so elegant.
+My SD card reader, because I would be lost without it

I have things I've made scattered all though out my room. I think having your own work around helps remind you why you're unique. A couple of my favorite things of mine in the room are:
+A polaroid of Mickey Mouse that I took while I got to hang out with him on a Disney cruise
+The Gross Ghost mask that doubles as a photo light stand, pretty nicely
+My doll named Litter Lee. He's litter-lee the cutest! He comes on adventures with me, and collects scraps that we find along the way for me to take photos of, at the end of the day. 

How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I try using my Pintrest but it sometimes just feels like the internets version of shoving things into a closet and saying "eh..I'll deal with this later". Instead, I make tons of ongoing lists. If I have a title for a list, I find myself subconsciously thinking up things to fill up that list page, through out the day. 

Where do you look for inspiration?
I find a lot of inspiration by watching documentaries about people who never stopped doing what the love. I'll turn them on while I'm working and find that by the end of it, I'm smiling and inspired to keep doing what I love. A couple of my favorites that are on Netflix now are:

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
+ an office chair that was sleek and colorful AND good for my back 
+ a separate spot for a photo studio
+it would always smell like gardenias 

Make sure to check out Chloe's blog »

Outfit details:

  • Dress - Thrifted, DIY'd
  • Jacket - BB Dakota
  • Belt - Thrifted
  • Shoes - PacSun
  • Hat - Hand made by my sister
  • Tights - Urban Outfitters

Hem Vintage Finds:

Recreate the look with Jessica's How To Easily Hem Vintage Finds tutorial:


How would you describe your style?

My style is whimsical and colorful while also being edgy and girly.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

My favorite piece is probably my spiked + floral headband. I wear it with just about every outfit I can. It's so comfortable and adds the perfect amount of flair to every outfit. 

Who are your style icons?

I have a hard time admiring celebrities and people that are possibly professionally styled. Though I am incredibly inspired by my real life friends and all of the incredible fashion bloggers that I know. I think I am most inspired by Keiko Lynn and Southern (California) Belle. 

Do you have any favourite designers?

I am not much of a designer person, but I am always inspired by Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, and Rachel Antonoff. 

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

I like to shop anywhere that has a sale rack. 

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I am a very petite girl (under 5'0) so I usually have to hem my dresses and skirts. I like buying long thrifted skirts and making them minis -- I always have something unique. There is immense power in the art of chopping and hemming pieces!

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

Accessorize! Accessories take an outfit from blah to wow in a matter of seconds. If your dress is shapeless, grab a sparkly belt. If you hair looks boring, grab a big bowed headband or a hat. As far as mixing it up, the easiest way is to maximize your wardrobe. Have a favorite dress? Wear it as a skirt, with different blazers, swap out the shoes, do your hair differently. Find an accessory and make it your signature thing. For me, the spiked headband and hats are my go to items and they always help mix up an outfit and also make it very me.

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

I  love Ashley of http://southerncabelle.com, Elana of http://room-334.blogspot.com, Samantha of http://thebangedblonde.blogspot.com/., Jen of http://www.jennifhsieh.com/. Honestly, I could list favorite bloggers all day! 

Check out Jessica's blog at Midwest Muse »

Outfit details:
  • Collar - DIY (see below)
  • Purple jacket - I made this to wear at my sister's wedding, inspired by classic Chanel boucle jackets.
  • Green top - this is from Topshop! I allowed myself to buy it as it's something I wouldn't be able to make.
  • Jeans - from a charity shop. I flicked white fabric paint all over them using a toothbrush as I wanted them to look like they were covered in stars. It didn't really work but I like them anyway
  • Shoes - Underground

DIY Stand Alone Collar

Recreate the look with Rosie's How To Make A Stand Alone Collar tutorial:


How would you describe your style?

A bit of a mess.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

Probably a crazy cyan and gold chain patterned shirt I made with fabric from Walthamstow market earlier this year.

Who are your style icons?

Clementine from Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Tank Girl, Elvis 

Do you have any favourite designers?

Marc Jacobs, Jonathan Saunders, Mary Kantrantzou, Luella Bartley, Jean Charles De Castelbajac,

 

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

As much as possible I try not to buy new clothes. If I am able to make a piece of clothing, I won’t let myself buy it. That means the only clothes I buy are knitted pieces – jumpers and cardigans. Topshop is a very tempting underworld of cool clothing so I allow myself a knit from there every now and then. Most of my jumpers come from Beyond Retro or charity shops.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I tend to make things from scratch as I am a fabric fiend and love the potential that every piece of fabric promises. I like to imagine things that don’t exist then bring them into being!

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

Never underestimate the value of a colourful pair of socks!

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

I like to see the DIY projects that Geneva from ‘A Pair and a Spare’ comes up with. She is very inventive. I do love a bit of Susie Bubble – she is not afraid to go crazy with colour. 'Charity Shop Chic' as I am in awe of her ability to turn ugly things into beautiful, functional clothing! Recently I have enjoyed looking at the experimental outfits of Annika from The Pineneedle Collective.

Check out Rosie's blog at DIY Couture »


This week Charley recreates the chic look of Andrea from the movie, Devil Wears Prada.

Nestled chronologically between Sex and the City and Gossip Girl (with the same stylist as the former), The Devil Wears Prada is a witty, gritty insight into the cut-throat world of fashion journalism that couldn't have come at a better time to give us our fix of fashion inspiration. Despite its angle, this film is a pure feel-good outing that shows how hard graft can eventually earn you your big break in journalism, and how looking catwalk-fabulous can be – literally – just another day at the office! The costumes are genuine designer pieces, so the detail, use of fabrics and eclectic combinations never fail to dazzle; from sculptural cropped jackets to quirky tweed berets and Chanel signature pearls. I chose the top ten DIYs that captured those elements and can inspire you to add a touch of opulence with ease. How the devil will you wear yours?




We head to Brooklyn, New York to explore We Can Re-Do It blogger, Kat's arty and organized studio.

"I love that my studio is big enough to accommodate everyone in my house."




Tell us about your space?
We turned the largest room in our apartment into the studio/craft room, as everyone in my house is always working on something. My daughter gravitates toward fiber arts, my partner is a cartoonist and I do a little bit of everything. It was important to us to have a work room that accommodated us all, otherwise our creative projects quickly start to take over the entire apartment! Sometimes that happens anyways. From day to day I find myself working on many different projects. A lot of upcycling tutorials, pattern making and creating finished accessory pieces: jewelry, shoes, handbags.

What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I try to mix my supplies into the decor as seamlessly as I can. Aside from the tools, threads, and other essential work items (always within arm's reach) there are plenty of odds & ends, photos, figurines, and general fun stuff that's there just because I like to look at it. The eclectic mix feels very "me" and  keeps me feeling relaxed and cheerful as I work.

How do you keep organized?
I have to treat myself a bit like a child. Organization seems to be the polar opposite to my natural state of being, but it has to be done or you end up wasting a lot of time. I've found that having a container for each category of supplies is incredibly helpful for me. The way I have it set up now, it's more difficult to be disorganized than just putting the supply where it's supposed to go anyway!

Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
Get a label maker. My label maker was my best friend there for a while. Having the words written across the box makes remembering what goes where a no brainer.

Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
The funny old school photo of my kiddo, the framed picture of Barnabas Collins, the old Brett Favre figurine, the turkey photo, the dream catcher I made this past summer. 

How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I'm obsessed with Pinterest! I still collect a lot magazine clippings as well, but yeah, Pinterest is pretty much my favorite thing around.

Where do you look for inspiration?
New York is a damn fine place for getting inspired. Just walking down the street is usually all I need to get my brainstorming on. The museums, parks, people: inspiration is everywhere.

If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
It would be nice to have a giant cutting table and industrial sewing machine fit in here, but all in all I'm pretty content with the space as is. Probably just more decorations. There's always some statue or print I find on Etsy that I think should have a home here.

Make sure to check out Kat's blog at We Can Re-Do It »

Outfit details:

  • Hair - DIY (see below)
  • Blouse - vintage nightgown worn as a blouse from Salvation Army
  • Skirt - Salvation Army
  • Fascinator - small vintage/antique shop in Ithaca, NY
  • Shoes - Seychelles "Make A Scene"
  • Rings - from my mother

DIY Rag Rolling:

Recreate the look with Alex's Rag Rolling Hair tutorial:


How would you describe your style?

My style is pretty well a mix of 60’s and 70’s patterns/prints and silhouettes, a little Victorian extravagance and plenty of school girl vibes. If it's a pinafore, I'll love it. If it's a patterned pinafore, I'll love it even more. If it's a patterned pinafore paired with a lovely 1900's style (or even the real thing) blouse, well, I've found my life-mate.

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

I have this camisole negligee from the 1920’s which I’m totally in love with. It's made of a lovely mint silk, with beautiful cream lace details. It honestly doesn’t get a lot of wear because it's so delicate, and kind of has no place outside the bedroom, but it lives on my wall, and I stare at it a lot

Who are your style icons?

To be honest, there used to be a time when I could rhyme off dozens of people. But these days I find myself hugely inspired by other bloggers. I find real people, with their own real voice truly inspiring. But, if I had to pick one (or two) icon(s), it would be Jean Shrimpton, Sylvie Vartan, and every Pre-Raphaelite babe ever painted.

Do you have any favourite designers?

Samantha Pleet, no doubt. I feel like herself, her vision and her designs embody everything I love about fashion. She keeps fashion important and artistic, while having the most amazing aesthetic that I feel an affinity to.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

Hmm, this is always a hard one for me - I do not shop new very often. But if I do, I like to keep it local and support independent shops/brands in (and close to) my neighbourhood in Toronto. The Future of Frances Watson, Philistine, Robber, to name a few. Oh! And the internet, obviously. The Loved One sells quite a fair bit by some of my favourite designers. If I'm looking for something specific, I can usually find it on ASOS. And if I'm going off about internet shopping, then I can't leave out Modcloth.

Do you make or customise your outfits?

I used to live for customizing my outfits, but that has faded a bit with time. My mother is a wonderful seamstress, and taught me a few tricks of the trade, but she lives a ways away from me, so it's hard to keep up with lessons, and I get lazy. I've made a skirt or two in my day though. As a teenager I used to adorn myself with all things "goth", which was a highly DIY fashion aesthetic. However, those days are gone. 

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

I don't really feel that I'm qualified to give tips on how to dress yourself. In my opinion, it's just figuring out what you like and incorporating that into your styling. For myself, I love patterns/prints, so I try to mix up my outfits by combining a bunch of different ones. Hats are always a nice touch to an outfit, and large bows, man, I love wearing a large bow tie with a button up shirt. But these are all personal to me - to each their own. I think the most important thing is to stay true to yourself, and not be afraid of what others think. I think those are the things that make someone stand-out -- Just being wholly yourself.

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

Hannah and Landon

Boots & Pine

Fancy Fine

It Girl, Rag Doll

Olive, My Love...there are alot, I have a fairly large list on my blog.

Check out Alex's blog at Larkspur »

Outfit details:

  • Hat - mrp.com
  • Hair Clip - DIY (see below)
  • Bag - Cath Kidston
  • Ted Baker shoes - TK Maxx
  • Dress - H&M
  • Cardigan - dotti

DIY Galaxy Sweatshirt

Recreate the look with Erica's glitter hair clip tutorial:


How would you describe your style?

very quirky and feminine. i love a good print, and pop of colour, and refuse to leave the house without either in my outfit! i always dress for tea, and don't own trousers that aren't part of a pj set. i am firmly a tights-only girl - even in the dead of summer! a friend once told me i was like "tea cups and bruises", because even though i dress like a girl, i have the mouth of a sailor...

What's your favourite piece in your wardrobe?

that would be like picking your favourite child! i expand my wardrobe on a weekly basis, so to pick a favourite would be hard. i did recently have a dress named after me by online boutique Bonne Chance Collection (see it here!), and they so kindly sent me one of my very own. so, if i had to choose, i'd have to pick her. after all, she shares my name - how much more self involved could i get?

Who are your style icons?

zooey deschanel is my number one icon for quirky cool. i want her life. she's got such a great mid-century vibe that i just love. i am also dead keen on shopping in rachel berry's wardrobe. yes, she's a character, but my god - doesn't she have some amazing pieces? like that magenta ted baker mac she larks around NYC in? girrrrrrl, gimme.

Where are your favourite places to shop for new clothes clothes?

online; it's where all the bargains are. trawling the sales racks amid hundreds of other bargain hunters is no longer my favourite past time. now, it is typing the word "sale" into google and hitting "i'm feeling lucky!". i also love hitting the local charity shops on the weekend, and picking up pieces that i can alter to fit - or if i'm really lucky, fit me like they were meant for me!

Do you make or customise your outfits?

occasionally! i took a beginners sewing class this year so that i can really get stuck into altering more vintage and second hand pieces, but for the time being i mostly alter by hand. adding or changing buttons and collars, shortening hems and fixing sleeves are all done with a needle and thread until i work up the courage to try a real pattern!

Do you have any great tips for mixing up and personalising an outfit?   

wear what you love. seriously! i wear what i want to wear, not what's cool, or what's trendy. your confidence is the best outfit you can wear. so cliche! but honestly, i always get compliments when i wear a smile! and when i wear glitter. 

here's a tip: always wear glitter.

Which other fashion blogs do you love to read?

my absolute favourite is Scathingly Brilliant - Kate has amazing style, and since i started reading her blog, i've definitely increased my own style game. i take a lot of inspiration from her, and she's introduced me to a number of new shops that are now firm favourites - like Bonne Chance! i also love reading Briar Rose Blog and Mermaidens, as both Megan and Kailey have incredibly feminine style; total idols.

Check out Erica's blog at being erica »

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