MarketPlace: Handwork of India

The other day I was contacted by a company called MarketPlace: Handwork of India with the offer to review one of their products.  I had never heard of this company so I did a little research and they’re pretty amazing.  They are a nonprofit Alternative Trade and Development Organization that works with 480 women artisans around Mumbai, India, to produce clothing and home décor items showcasing authentic techniques such as hand batik, ikat and hand embroidery.

The women work in supportive, non-exploitative work environments in the form of 14 cooperatives around Mumbai, which the women organize and manage.  And, addition to the much needed employment, MarketPlace works in conjunction with another nonprofit organization in Mumbai, SHARE, to provide social programs to the artisans.  And the women in turn use their own social program, Social Action, to get involved in their communities, tackling everything from garbage collection to domestic abuse.  

So, yeah, pretty amazing.

And so are the items they produce.  Like the Majuli Tunic:

Here is a close-up of the hand printed pattern and the hand embroidery at the yoke:

I don’t wear a lot of purple, but I love the dusty plum of the tunic.  And I love that the embroidery inspired me to pair the tunic with a mustard scarf:

Really, what's not to love about a company that empowers women and inspires the wearing of mustard?!  That's right, nothing.

To share in the love and learn more about MarketPlace: Handwork of India, please visit them here.

And have a Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Dress Like A Wasp's Nest

I feel like a cocoon today.  Or a wasp's nest, what with all my gray, lumpy layers:

Which isn't to say I don't like this outfit.  I actually really do.  It's cozy as hell and it's as comfortable as pajamas. And it's successful deployment of a maxi dress in cooler weather, which is something I've struggled with in the past.

What it's not, is figure-flattering.  I know as a blogger I'm supposed to be demonstrating how to dress in the most flattering way (Right?  Isn't that what I'm supposed to be doing here?), but I just can't do it.  You want to wear something that swallows your shape?  Go for it.  Dress like a wasp's nest, if you want.  I totally support that.

Happy Tuesday, All!

Gracey

80s + Plaid = Love

This sweater is one of those fabled plaid pieces I thrifted this summer in anticipation of cooler weather:

Sweater: vintage, similar   Scarf: DIY   Jeans: Banana Republic   Boots: Nine West "Darsy"

 Well, cooler weather has arrived, and I finally (finally!) got to wear my beloved plaid cardigan.  And it was a delight.

Except that the super-low-v neckline gave me a bit of trouble.  It's not as though the girls popped out and waved at folks, but I could feel them thinking about it.  I tried to mitigate their overwhelming friendliness with a scarf, and I think that worked, but I was awfully warm all day.

I tell you, Friends, it's a rough day when a gal has to choose between sweating and flashing people.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

Cozy Hearts and Stripes

It was very cold on my ride in today, so I bundled up in cozy hearts and stripes:

 

This heart scarf (Betsy Johnson via Nordstrom) really is super cozy:

 And not to terribly twee (I don’t do twee very well).

I wore the scarf with a striped tee (Old Navy) layered under an anorak (Liz Claiborne via Goodwill) and added black skinnies (a.n.a via JC Penney) and boots (thrifted via Goodwill).

It was simple and warm and perfect for a cold, foggy morning.

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Gracey

Shop the Look:

Betsy Johnson scarf (I couldn't find this exact scarf online at Nordstrom.com; I bought mine on clearance in the store.  The one I linked to is the same scarf, but in cream with gold hearts (Ebay)).

Similar long-sleeve tee

Similar jacket

a.n.a skinny jeans

Similar boots

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

It Got Cold, I Overreacted

Apparently the Oregon Weather Gods got tired of fellow Oregon blogger, Stacey, and I writing about our recent great weather, because it got cold last night.  And, as I always do when it first gets cold, I overreacted:

Did I really need both the sweater coat and a flannel scarf layered over the chambray tunic and jeggings?  Maybe not.  But, as I said, when the weather drops about 20 degrees in three days, I have a tendency to overreact. 

Also, this is the same DIY scarf I wore on Monday, and in Monday’s comments, the Menopausal Super Model asked how I made it.  The answer?  Crookedly.  Actually, that’s not entirely true.  In spite of the fact that I can’t draw, cut or sew a straight line (I have SLD, or Straight Line Disorder (it’s totally a real thing)) I still managed to do okay with this scarf by following the lines of the plaid for cutting.  It is sewn a little bit crooked though because my left arm is still weak and I can’t guide fabric in a straight line even when I don’t have the excuse of a broken elbow.

The good news is that it’s an infinity scarf and wrapped around my neck you can’t tell it’s crooked, which is why I knew this was the project for me.  I got the idea from the lovely Franziska at Franishh, who used this tutorial.  I used the same tutorial and it was really easy, especially if you don’t worry about your lines being straight.

Yep, looks straight(ish) to me!

Happy Friday, All!

Gracey

Shop The Look

Similar sweater coat

CJ by Cookie Johnson python print leggings

MIA “Roam” boots (on sale now at Piperlime)

Similar chambray tunic

Similar flannel scarf

** Disclosure: Actions taken from the hyperlinks in this blog post may yield commission/compensation for the writer. Please see the Disclosure tab for more details.

Uncooperative Weather & A FRAAS Review

A few weeks ago, the lovely people at FRAAS sent me one of these fabulous scarves:

It's the Fair Isle infinity scarf and it comes in four color combinations: navy/turquoise, camel/ivory, rose/petal and black/grey.  I received the black/grey scarf and it is the softest, coziest, warmest scarf.  I am a big fan of infinity scarves; they're just so easy.  And this one really is lovely.  It's long enough and soft enough so that when it's doubled it doesn't look like an Elizabethan neck ruffle.  I love that the Fair Isle pattern is subtle enough that I can pair it with other patterned pieces with no problem.  All this and it retails for only around $40.00.

When I received this scarf, I couldn't wait to wear it.  Unfortunately, the weather has been uncooperative and way, way to too warm for a wool-blend scarf.  But, I can tell you that when the weather finally cooperates, I plan on wearing it with oxblood, cream, mustard, red, black and grey pieces all fall and winter long.

Happy Wednesday, Everyone! 

Gracey