Mint Florals

And just like that, it's spring. I know that we don't exactly have real winter here in Southern California, but it was getting quite cold for my weak bones for a while there. Don't get me wrong, I so look forward to layering up each year, but I was ready to put my tights away. Luckily, I sold some stuff on Poshmark and used the earning to get this sweet Kling dress just in time for California spring to start. It has been in the 70s every day for the past week, and it looks like it's here to stay. I figured that the arrival of spring begged for an appropriate outfit, so I decided to go all out. We're talking a bright cardigan and a floral headband with an equally floral dress. Oh yeah, I went there.

This weekend was fairly uneventful, but relaxing. I baked some peanut butter cookies, saw Get Out with my brother and his fiance, and visited my other brother's family. I normally hate horror movies (I'm a giant wuss), but knowing that Jordan Peele was behind Get Out and seeing the stellar reviews convinced me to give it a chance. I can't say that I'll start watching horror movies now, but I am glad that I took a chance on this one since it was excellent. Highly recommend.

Red Top + Ballerina Skirt

Short post (as has often been the case lately) today, as I forgot to write this when I meant to. I've been busy working, doing holiday things, and most importantly, gearing up to go to Vegas this weekend. I am definitely not a Vegas kind of person, my parents offered their fancy time share right off the strip to me, my brother, and our significant others. While it's usually not my thing, it was hard to pass up a free room and a weekend away with some of my favorite people. They're the perfect group for me to go with, as none of us are into clubbing and all just want to drink, eat, people watch, and maybe see a show. I actually used to go to Vegas a lot as a kid when my parents would take me, but I haven't been back since I was 14, meaning that I've never actually been there while of drinking age. Wish me luck. 

Like most people, I definitely get caught up wearing darker colors once winter hits, but I'm trying to brighten it up every so often. Obviously a bright red top and a skirt covered in ballerinas is the way to go. I sure think so.

Let's Chat With: Sarah Duyer

It takes a lot to get me to want to wear a T-shirt. Rather, it takes Sarah Duyer to get me to want to wear a T-shirt. It's never been my clothing item of choice, but I couldn't help but excited over Sarah's animal/feminism line of shirts. Cute and empowering, I jumped at the chance to style one and chat with Sarah, who as you'll read, is incredibly inspiring. Enjoy our chat, and be sure to check out Sarah's shop when you're done.

Q: How and when did you start your shop?
A: I started my Etsy shop when I was in college, I think around 2008. When I first started I was selling hand-sewn bags and some prints. I took up ceramics while I was in school and started selling some of my work online too. It’s interesting to look back through some of my older orders, my store has gone through a lot of changes over the years but it’s nice to see how my work has evolved. 

Did you always intend for your clothing items to have a feminism focus?
The idea for the design came before I really decided to turn it into a clothing item. Street harassment is something all women have to deal with, especially living in a city, and the angry feminist animals were born out of my own frustration with it. I wanted the designs to comment on real issues that women face, but in a funny way. Printing my designs on shirts also allows the wearer to respond to street harassment without engaging the harasser and kind of pushes back against the myth that a woman’s clothing choices mean she was “asking of it.”

Your ceramics are so unique. Do you create in any other mediums of art as well?
Thanks! Ceramics was really my primary medium in school but I also took a lot of classes in painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photo. After I graduated I was working for a shoe store and making money on the side painting custom shoes for people for a little while. I have been working on a series of paintings of animals wearing sweaters since I was in school, too. I don’t have nearly as much time to paint as I used to but I still like to experiment with other media when I can. Also, since I have been more focused on building a small business with my ceramic work, having projects in other media make for a nice change of creative outlet.

How would you describe the Sarah Duyer customer?
I think my customers are people who are as frustrated as I am with the inequalities in our patriarchal society, but that is a pretty broad and diverse set of people. I love showing at craft shows because I really enjoy meeting the people who buy my shirts. Lots of people come up to me to tell me how excited they were to see something that addressed their same frustrations, and I really like that these simple designs resonate with so many different types of people. Different customers are drawn to my work by different things, be it my ceramics or my shirts, but I like having variety in what I make. Also, I think that a lot of people who are drawn in by my shirts aren’t necessarily looking for ceramics but are excited to see the different faces of my work, and vice versa.

T-Shirt: c/o Sarah Duyer, Skirt: Kling, Shoes: UO, headband: borrowed from Whitney

How does living in San Francisco inspire what you create?
I moved to San Francisco because I wanted to live in a place with a strong and supportive arts community. SF is a really beautiful city that has a lot of great public art and murals and neat stores that support local artists. I’m thankful to have found a great community of artists here who inspire me and push me to continue making art. A lot of what drew me to San Francisco unfortunately doesn’t exist here anymore because of high rents and the growth of the tech industry, but there are still a lot of things I love about it. I even designed my “In Fog We Trust” patches as a tribute to SF and its infamous fog, Karl. 

Do you have any favorite pieces in particular in your shop?
It’s a tough choice but I think if I had to choose it would probably be the cactus mugs. Each one is hand decorated and unique and I love the way the texture of the clay works looks against the glossy glaze. 

Be sure to keep up with Sarah's shirts, ceramics, art, and more by visiting her shop, website, and blog!

Sarah Duyer Facebook / Instagram / Tumblr / Shop / Website / Blog

Ballerina

Could this skirt be any dreamier? I've been eyeing it online for too long, and I finally got it with a discount from work a month or so ago. Kling has become one of my absolute favorite brands, which I've spent far too much time stalking when I'm supposed to be working. I spend all day drooling over expensive clothes at my job so it's always nice to distract myself with brands that are at least a little more in price range. Of course, my price range is nonexistent now that it's essentially the holiday season. With my family (including three brothers, two sister-in-laws, parents, and five nieces and nephews), plus best friends, Jon, and gift exchanges, I have too many people to buy for. Add in that I'm paying more bills this year than ever before, and I may just be in deeper than I can handle. The worst part? I still insist on buying everyone thoughtful gifts. I can't break the habit. I even signed up for the Reddit Secret Santa because I love the idea of buying a random person a gift they'll love, even though I can't afford it.

...would it be weird to crowdfund my Christmas presents? I think people would donate to Kickstarter devoted to buying my nieces and nephews awesome toys, right? 

Current Uniform

After months of shocking amounts of self control and determination, I finally broke down. I online shopped. I tried not to, I really did. However, when all of my favorite websites are having massive sales and I'm feeling uninspired while looking at my closet, I don't think I'm really to blame. Okay, I'm definitely to blame. I bought a few things recently, and I really shouldn't have, but I got good deals and I'm actually not broke after paying my first month of rent. I'm not really sure if I'm justifying this to you guys, myself, or my mom, but regardless, I don't feel THAT bad. How could I, when my Ruche purchase consisted of this absolutely perfect dress by Kling and equally perfect sandals? This is basically my dream dress, and it was made for summer. Plus, I've been searching for a pair of simple brown sandals for too long.So yes, I did find my new summer/year/life uniform. Thank you for noticing.