Seattle: Sunday, February 5, 2012

Category musings

meet the blogger – allie – n+t contributor

0 comments Filed in musings, street style Tagged with , , , August 31st, 2011 @ 5:30 am

past fashion choice most cringe-worthy?
I used to wear Calvin Klein overalls in high school. From Costco. Why? Why?! Although now overalls are apparently coming back. Yeesh.

clothing item you can’t wait to purchase?
A new pair of brown leather boots for Fall!

what’s your take on seattle style?
It can thoroughly be improved upon. A little less fleece, please. We’re a major metropolitan city! Let’s start dressing that way! Leave the NorthFace for recreational activities. Although I respect that our city doesn’t take itself too seriously, style-wise. Fashion is supposed to be fun, not uptight.

white belts, yes or no?
Oh Lord, it really depends on the context, but usually it’s a big no.

name a song and cocktail that were made for each other-
French 75 and “Le Foule” by Edith Piaf.

inspiration addiction – pinterest – virtual hoarder

0 comments Filed in musings Tagged with , August 26th, 2011 @ 11:01 am

although i have very little extra time with the newest addition to our life, a full time job, and sleeping… i’ve been making time for PINTEREST.  are you addicted?  i downloaded that app faster than you can say ‘pin it!’ and every night before i start snoring away, i pin a few little tidbits.  here’s a few inspirations…

jill is one crafty mother, and my kid is totally ripping off her kid’s costume.  add a mustache… done!

you probably don’t know this, but i have a pen habit.  see the tutorial for this pen can lazy susan, or be inspired to make your own.  i went to value village one afternoon, and spent about $25 to make this… (crap cell phone pic, apologies)

fall is on it’s way (did we ever have summer?) i’m finding tons of images of covetable style…

this weekend i’ll be scheduling some posts… as you’ve seen, some lovely ladies have decided to join me on n+t, can’t wait to have them here for some style sighting company and contributing their personal style inspiration.

tired mom – kam – north seattle

3 comments Filed in musings Tagged with , August 18th, 2011 @ 9:51 pm

i pretty much HAVE to post photos of my kid.  and i could go on and on about how awesome he is, and cute… but pictures say it all.  labor… long.  baby… big.  but it was all worth it.  now i have this rad little guy to hang out with, and we’ve been having fun.  and of course i’ve been accosting him with my camera.  what are moms for?

above: the first week.  babies scream.  who knew.  but when they’re not screaming, they’re sleeping.  and they’re pretty cute.  for more photos Read more

call to action – local bloggers – seattle

1 comment Filed in inspiration, musings August 2nd, 2011 @ 9:15 am

wow.  if you’ve ever had a kid, you know i’m not kidding when i say, i didn’t even realize 5 months went by.  if you haven’t had a kid… please understand that time, and it’s passage, have new meaning for me.

i wouldn’t trade a single second of everything that’s transpired.  being pregnant… sucked.  but you know the upside? your very own baby.  it’s been a pretty crazy ride, but now it’s time to get back to all things style in our city, and putting up some inspiring content on needle+thread.

i’m putting it out there that i’d love contributors.  want to write about local retail?  love to take photos of your fashionable friends?  do you like to illustrate or draw?  if you live in seattle, and have any creative inklings that are (or are not) related to fashion and/or style… drop me a line.  my only goal here has been to show what the people in our city are like… walking the streets, going to shows… i want to continue that, and would love for you to help me.  looking forward to hearing from you!

k.

excuses, excuses and lack of brain cells

2 comments Filed in musings October 11th, 2010 @ 10:59 pm

what a month (ok, who am i kidding, two weeks). when i posted that last photo… i’d just come back from a work trip to north carolina. i put my hours in, but i did take a day to venture over to ashville, where i got to see this little shack they like to call BILTMORE. biltmore is the largest personal residence in america.  one of the vanderbilts had it built when he got back from his honeymoon, he was 33.  i’m 35 and i can count the number of rooms in my house on one hand.  personal underachievement aside… it’s an amazing house, and i hope to make it back to ashville.

then my parents came to town.  5 days with them, then my in-laws flew in.  lots of eating, some shopping, and a few home projects later, everyone hopefully had a great time, and now it’s just me, the dog and my husband again.

being the absentminded girl i’ve been lately (see: pregnant) i forgot my camera on every single outing.  crab pot?  nope.  sea plane? no luck.  my husband’s first adventure to babies ‘r’ us.  didn’t even go.  but i did reap the rewards.  i now have a new bff, the snoogle.  i didn’t know what it was either.  as with all things kid-related, i’m slowing becoming aware of the universe of possessions i’m really going to have to come to grips with owning… a stroller among them.

i’m headed to a few events this week, and hope to capture some shots.  if you’re a fan of betsey johnson and/or nonie creme, nordstrom is hosting both ladies for an event on wednesday.  and then thursday, come support (ha ha) an event for your… awareness?  beats for boobs looks promising for some stylish shots (among other things) and although i haven’t been ‘out’ out in ages… i’m looking forward to sporting some of the new clothes i picked up to mask (stylishly) my distending middle.  i felt the little ‘it’ on saturday, and it was truly a moment of awe.  there’s a person in there.  and before you know it, he or she will be here (and subjected to my camera).  i literally cannot wait, but am lucky i get to.  give me time to buy all that stuff.  :)

time off – back at it – the 411

14 comments Filed in musings Tagged with , , September 28th, 2010 @ 6:58 am

hey there… you might have noticed i’ve taken a little time off.  after posting near daily for a year and a half… i decided it might be deserved.  i’m also in the midst of being pregnant.  which is how it seemed to happen for me.  you’re not pregnant, and then suddenly you are, and it’s such a strange, unexpected place.  your skin is freaking out, your organs are freaking out… your internal clock gets all out of whack, and you start realizing… these jeans you’ve worn for the last few years… are no longer your friend.

i think of all the photos i’ve taken of beautiful pregnant ladies… and i have absolutely no idea how they did it.  although it doesn’t seem to be a down side that i get to do some clothing shopping… i’m at a loss for what my look is.  will be.  i’m sure it’ll come to me.

and so… the recent time off.  i promise i’m not quitting.  or leaving.  photographically, i still have more i want to say about the style in our city.  it just probably won’t be as prolific.  i still see people daily, but i’m being a little more choosey.  i think there a few new shooters out there who are doing a great job (have you seen the PI has a street style section?), and it leaves me with the idea to edit, cull and make it a little more meaningful what i do post.  as always, i hope you enjoy what i find, and i look forward to bringing you pretty pictures of our city and the people who live here.

to style! to seattle! to babies! xoxox- n+t

coastal style – seely brothers – bainbridge island

1 comment Filed in musings Tagged with , , , September 16th, 2010 @ 7:56 am

i receive hundreds of PR emails a week.  at first… i enjoyed them.  now… they’re getting a little tedious.  only once in a while, does one strike me, and i think… yes, this is something i would actually feature.  half the time, i wonder if they’ve even looked at the site.  i do only post seattle specific content.  i really only like to post photos.  and i doubt you, dear reader, could care less about which celebrity is wearing what earring, or weather new shops open in vegas.  hardly relevent to us.  and on behalf of you (and my sanity) i delete.

but yesterday i received an email about a campaign that nautica is doing, and they’re featuring some locals.  so since it interested me (and i dig the campaign).  i thought i’d share.  i have some nit-picks: if it’s ocean2ocean, why are they on the lake, it’s not the most scenic shots of our land… but it does seem somewhat ‘lifestyle’ and these boys do actually seem like they’d wear the clothing, plus it works for the activity, and so- here you are.  let me know what you think, if you care to, and thanks to nautica for including needle+thread in their mailing.  i didn’t receive anything in exchange for my post (missed my free umbrella by not being at the bainbridge ferry this morning- DUDE, i need a free umbrella!), i just thought it was a somewhat honest approach to a medium i usually find pesky.  plus, you know.  i like to feature the locals.

local wares – sunday ballard market

0 comments Filed in musings August 23rd, 2010 @ 3:30 am

i thought i’d venture away from downtown yesterday and see what i spotted in the neighborhoods. since we all know what rainwear looks like, i didn’t stop anyone. it was a utilitarian day. and although i’ve thought of chronicling some ‘quintessential’ seattle staples, a) i don’t want anyone to take it the wrong way, and b) we all know what they look like. i’ll keep my eyes peeled this week for something to post… i hope to venture to the ID for lunch one day, and i may be at SAMremix this friday, we’ll see how the week goes.  in the meantime, enjoy some market shots…

can’t believe it’s already dahlia time of year. they filled both flower booths… these were my favourites.

hairy carrots.

thank you – seattle – xoxox, n+t

7 comments Filed in musings June 8th, 2010 @ 7:28 pm

when i started this blog, i was sitting in my basement, looking for jobs online.  i decided that i’d always wanted to wander around and take photos, and since i had just been laid-off from what i considered to be my dream job… i wanted to be proactive.  i’d been looking for a job at that point for almost 3 months.  i thought… oh, i’ll be able to do this even when i find a job in a few months.

fast forward 18 months later.  i never thought i’d be where i am.  i’m still wandering.  i’m still stopping people who wear something i admire, or come across stylishly to me (until yesterday, i was still unemployed).  i’ve met so many amazing people, and beyond all of that, i’ve discovered a part of myself that i never would have found if i hadn’t lost my job.  i’ve done things i’ve been afraid to do.  i’ve had many FREE glasses of champagne… and i now carry my camera with me every single day, and rarely does a day go by that i don’t photograph something with it.

i’ve pushed myself, i’ve evolved, and the best part is… i see new directions.  i don’t feel stagnant, and i’m inspired EVERY SINGLE DAY.  this blog is by no means life changing to any of you, but it has changed my life.  literally.  i’ve realized just how important it can be to do something you passionately love… it doesn’t have to be one thing.  maybe one day i go take photos, another day i attend a show, the next day i sew or draw, and some days i sit on the couch with a blanket and my dog, and read.  it’s come to me, to be aware; to not plod, and to by no means compromise.

today i was hired.  and although i will now be working every day, i don’t want you to think for a minute that i’ll abandon this project.  if anything, i will tenaciously guard and foster this pocket of inspiration.  i may have to be more selective about the events i attend (can one girl work full time AND attend 5 events a week?), i may have to give some things a miss altogether.  but since i’ll be working downtown (jumping up and down and twirling in circles about THAT) i will wander some of my favourite corners, camera in hand…

this site has always been about capturing this city… in a myriad of ways.  thank you seattle for letting me take your photo while i found my way… xoxo- kam

happy blog birthday – 1 year – needle+thread – seattle

7 comments Filed in inspiration, musings Tagged with , , April 3rd, 2010 @ 12:36 pm
From needle+thread

i’ve looked through some of my earliest posts, there’s probably no one more critical than me… that being said, i’ve come a long way.  i’ve learned a ton, both about my camera, and myself… and really what more could you ask?  i’ve been invited to some cool events (some are coming up) i’ve been contacted by people all over the world, and right here in seattle.  i’m glad you find inspiration here.  i’m glad you’ve visited… i hope you continue to check back.  this has been an evolution, and when i needed it most, a labor of love.  i love grabbing my camera and walking around our beautiful city… below- my very first post, above- the very first picture i took… here’s to another year of visually capturing all parts of seattle… i hope you have a great weekend!  xoxo- n+t

from april 3rd- 1st post of needle+thread

i’ve lived in seattle for 9 years.  before that, i lived an hour and half north of here, and when i came to seattle, one of my favourite places to meander was the market.  even now, as a local, it never seems cliche’ to me to go there to connect to my city.  i never get tired of wandering there.  poking through new corners.  going a little further than i went last time.

a new goal has been to document some seattle fashion. seattle is a land of individualists. people who don’t conform to the rules of other cities. it’s a joke that we wear fleeces and socks with sandals, and i won’t even argue with you, i own more fleece than i did when i lived in arizona. and my tevas are beloved, although i would sooner set fire to hair than wear them with socks. but i get it.

i want just a little bit of what my city looks like here. from the man selling produce with the wicked style, to the girls walking around in herds starting the new grunge. i love living here, and i’ve always loved people watching. this is my way to connect to where i live and be inspired.

special little gifts – valentine’s – seattle

1 comment Filed in inspiration, musings Tagged with , , , February 12th, 2010 @ 4:25 pm
From needle+thread

we all have our favourite haunts, that being said, a few last minute ideas for finding your sweetie something special…

Read more

loss of a fashion hero – alexander mcqueen

4 comments Filed in inspiration, musings February 11th, 2010 @ 9:55 am
From needle+thread

burning down the house by lachapelle (alexander mcqueen and isabella blow)

From needle+thread
From needle+thread

mcqueen spring 2001 reminiscent of ‘the birds’

who knows why we pick the people we do to associate to. you see something in what they create and relate. strive to elevate your own creations. they’re a bar that you’ve set in your head.

a couple years ago, i lost one of my favourites. isabella blow was mad and i loved her. and who knows why. there’s very little a girl from arizona has to do with a woman who grew up in england. but there was just something about her. every once in a while i’d do a google search and see what she was up to… i loved coming across photos of her in vogue. i remember when she found what she claimed to be the next big thing, and bought every piece of his first collection…

i remember the genius of alexander mcqueen. right after i started fashion school he had that crazy collection involving an insane asylum. all the models had heads wrapped with bandages… it makes me laugh just thinking about it. there were so many clever ideas. and they were cohesive. crazy, but cohesive. more recently i completely forgot about work for a half an hour (or more) to watch his last fashion show streaming live on the web, only to have the thing crash because everyone and their mom wanted to see alexander’s live fashion show too. i’ve loved seeing those dresses pop up here and there in real life versus the world he created with the show. he had such a following. so many people loved him.

it’s disheartening to lose heroes. sadder still to think he took his life. his amazing creations will be remembered, his unique genius never duplicated.

absence makes the heart grow… oh, you know.

2 comments Filed in inspiration, musings Tagged with , , , January 27th, 2010 @ 9:55 pm

so… i took another break.  and i have to say my mind has been abuzz with all the could, should and going to.  774 pictures, 27 business cards, 3 flights and several wanders later, i’m back from the outdoor retailer trade show in salt lake city and have so much to do.

i did manage to snap a few pictures of some stylish people.  the vast bulk of my pictures are going to be compiled into a trend report (there actually was some *very* cool stuff i saw).  i found several bags that will be mine (osprey, ellington and dakine, next year’s model… boo).

and so i’m back.  new directions, new pictures and of course… new style.  bear with me as i post some from utah.  i know it’s a seattle blog, but… it’s also mine.  and i can do whatever i want. ; )  as always…thanks for stopping by…

xoxo-
n+t

the update – seattle tradition – christmas

7 comments Filed in inspiration, musings Tagged with , , , December 8th, 2009 @ 9:30 pm
From needle+thread

EVENTS-
dec 3rd-17th (thursdays) – downtown – an improvised christmas carol – have you been to unexpected productions? HI-larious, and their interpretation of a christmas carol is SO FUNNY. i think i went 3 times the first year i found it. they take suggestions from the audience for elements of the story, and it turns a story we’ve all heard a zillion times, into something unexpected, fresh and FUNNY. GO!
dec. 4th – downtown – figgy pudding caroling contest – if you’ve never been, it’s worth a stroll through, or stay for the whole thing. i love that they block off the streets and you can wander and listen to all the groups sing. here’s some info about the event.
dec. 4th – top of queen anne – holiday magic – from mcgraw to galer, all the merchants on top of queen anne are having a festive night
dec 5th – holiday kick off at the sip and ship in ballard – i know there’s music and a percent off, but can’t find my email about it. i LOVE the sip and ship. and they take a lot of stress out of wrapping AND shipping. two things i’m not fond of.
dec. 6th – the boutique culture warehouse sale – i went to the one they had end of summer… some great deals from some of your favourite boutiques AND this time they’re doing a clothing swap.  here’s the info.
dec. 12th – santarchy or santacon… of course they have a facebook page.  the best part of santarchy is coming across it randomly.
dec. 17th – holiday party at mario’s, their website has all the info.

plus i just did a search for where to see the best light decorations, and my favourite, olympic manor is listed in this article- although, i can’t tell how old it is. and just realized it’s written by courtney strand, who i met for the first time at blogmeetblog!

more to come, and if you know of something great, email me!

i grew up in a relatively small town.  what am i saying… 6000 is teenie tiny.  i sometimes feel like i’ve come so far from where i started, that i’m never very sure if i actually did come from there.  christmas-time is that period in the year that that i’m fully reminded.  makes me remember growing up- maybe it’s like this for everyone…

i seriously start getting giddy, my ADD kicks into overdrive with all the sparkle, music, parties… baking opportunities. i make christmas music mixes and make my husband nuts with the over-playing of the waitresses ‘christmas song’, i like wearing socks and sliding in the kitchen while gene autry blares, and i make cookies i only ever eat this time of year.

since this blog is seattle specific, i wanted to begin to collect all the things i love attending every year.  seattle is beautiful at christmas.  i love living here, and making new traditions in our city by the sea… i know i’m getting a jump on the christmas stuff, pre-thanksgiving- but… this is what i’m looking forward to, and there it is.  if you want to find a list of christmas events, check back and click on inspiration or musings.  for the month of december, i’ll make sure it stays at the top.  have a happy thanksgiving (we’re doing a small t-day with friends- wii give thanks!- it’s kind of self explanatory…and will involve turkey).  hope to see you about town, and as always… i’ll have my camera.

p.s. the picture is from last week and involved no editing but cropping.  i’m loving the crazy light shift this time of year- although it is making for some tough fashion capturing.

EVENTS-
dec 3rd-17th (thursdays) – an improvised christmas carol – have you been to unexpected productions? HI-larious, and their interpretation of a christmas carol is SO FUNNY. i think i went 3 times the first year i found it. they take suggestions from the audience for elements of the story, and it turns a story we’ve all heard a zillion times into something unexpected, fresh and funny. GO!
dec. 4th – downtown – figgy pudding caroling contest – if you’ve never been, it’s worth a stroll through, or stay for the whole thing. i love that they block off the streets and you can wander and list to all the groups sing. here’s some info about the event.
dec. 4th – top of queen anne – holiday magic – from mcgraw to galer, all the merchants on top of queen anne are having a festive night
dec 5th – holiday kick off at the sip and ship in ballard – i know there’s music and a percent off, but can’t find my email about it. i LOVE the sip and ship. and they take a lot of stress out of wrapping AND shipping. two things i’m not fond of.

more to come, and if you know of something great, email me!

seattle art museum – SAM Remix

3 comments Filed in events, music, musings, street style Tagged with , November 10th, 2009 @ 12:48 am
From needle+thread

when i showed up at the last one of these parties… i think it was august…  i was setting my expectations low.  i was late.  i almost didn’t go.  i took the bus with my friend jennie, and i think we almost bagged and went drinking somewhere… but when we got there… it was like we showed up at a party in another city.  people were dressed up.  there were so many people, lines for drinks weren’t that long… and since it was at the sculpture park, and the end of summer… you could mill, dance, mingle at your own speed.  it was a really fun night.

so when this one came round, i was ready.  i knew.  and when i got there… it did not disappoint.  a great mix of young and old, drinks+snacks, AMAZING beats by one of the best dj’s i’ve heard in a while… tigerbeat (tigerbeat206 on twitter) and people who brought it when it came to style.

SAM is not the best museum i’ve been to in my life, but by far it’s the closest to my heart… and there are worse things you could do than turn a museum into a night club every couple of months and get the people milling around, dancing and appreciating art.  add it to your list of events… you won’t be disappointed.

take care of you – october – breast cancer awareness

1 comment Filed in musings Tagged with , October 26th, 2009 @ 6:32 am
From needle+thread

i’m not a big fan of going to the doctor.  in fact, just to give you an idea… i once waited 9 years to go to the dentist because every time i’d make an appointment, i’d end up canceling it.  9 years.  and now when i go, i have to take valium.  at least i go.  ok, it’s been a couple years.  : )

which reminds me that whether it’s a big party or not… make sure to get your yearly exam.  early detection saves lives.  i just went, got it over with.  and there’s nothing like the relief of hearing that doctor say… see you in year.  my doctor even has fish, which is in no way like valium… but still pretty to look at.

find us on bloglovin – the update

4 comments Filed in musings Tagged with October 25th, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
From needle+thread

Follow my blog with bloglovin

just want to make sure anyone who follows the blog with bloglovin (one of the best sites to follow blogs) finds our new space… here you go.

xoxo- n+t

needle+thread – guest blogger – emerald city sightings

2 comments Filed in musings Tagged with , , October 11th, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
From needle+thread

i love our city. that being said, it never hurts to get out of town, and see some place new. my friend andria, from emerald city sightings, recently spent a month traveling across europe. when she twittered that she was seeing some amazing style, i thought… i want to see some amazing european street style ! so i asked her to take some pics, and she could guest post. she captured so much of her travels through her lens, and i’m happy to have her posting here daily for the next week… although this is seattle street style, i think a week long differing perspective, especially around this change of the season, will be an inspiration to all of us. thank you to andria for taking the time to bring a piece of europe back to us… n+t


from Andria…

Why is it that European fashion is just so darn beautiful? That, I will never know. What I do know is that a simple Seattle girl sure can learn a lot in just a month abroad; about myself, differing norms, and of course fashion. Bold, classic, rich and simple – all qualities I would assign to European style. Effortless, however, is the one qualifier that explains it all. Within days of my arrival in Sweden, I was raving to Kam about the style, so she gave me the go-ahead to gather shots from each city I would be in over the next month and share them as a guest blogger on Needle+Thread.

It may sound a stretch, but I could have used people from each street I walked down; although I managed somehow to whittle it down to a simple seven. All different cities. All different looks. I had a great time meeting these folks – each of which, were more than pleased to share their style with a simple girl from Seattle. I hope you enjoy them, the fashion, flair and maybe even incorporate a little into your own wardrobe.

needle buzz – launch of redesigned site imminent!

1 comment Filed in musings Tagged with October 6th, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
From needle+thread

needle+thread is getting it’s very own website! it’ll be the same great pictures and seattle style, the same grammar challenged/capitalization free writing… i just decided to buy the domain and move it over. so those of you with bookmarks/links/favourites/rss feeds… the new address is needleplusthread.com. you can even add it now, for the time being, it brings you here. but pretty soon…

bellevue fashion week – nordstrom fashion show

1 comment Filed in events, musings Tagged with , October 1st, 2009 @ 12:36 am
From needle+thread
soooooo… kind of overload, and although i started with 547 pictures, i’m slowly whittling them down… here’s a pre-show shot to get you started… these are the media darlings- left to right- rachel of vuesociety, alexandra of alexandra hedin design, youa of photobyyouakong, and denise of jaunty magpie. here’s the album to see more of the pre-show.

and check back, i’m going to upload all the runway looks/designers, and highlight a look from each…
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