First "What I Wore" post!

Today was an undeniably beautiful day, no jackets necessary. It inspired me to put forth a little effort, which was nice after spending another lone weekend in winery logo wear. It isn't great, but I thought it was bloggable. This is my FIRST "what I wore" post, so they'll get better with time. My outfit includes:

a sweet little red 70s dress with WHITE SEAGULLS all over it (!)

a fantastic 1960s beaded handbag

a blush lacy slip peeking out around the hem

and some great boots from TootiesCloset, a great shop on Etsy with a killer selection of boots and handbags at no-brainer prices.

Speaking of getting better with time, I picked up a bottle of 2007 Creekbend Chambourcin, which will be an absolutely lovely wine. The local co-op carries a couple of Oliver Winery's estate wines, and 2007 is officially two vintages ago. I'm excited for its silky, subdued raspberry goodness. A quick visit to the local salvation army turned up some great knitwear, a couple of lovely dress, and a totally steampunk/art deco waffle maker. Coming soon to PirateVintage and BirdsChasingBugs.

What a great afternoon!

Hello, world!

I am Matt, and I'll be posting on this blog from time to time too! I'm hoping to breathe new life into Amber's old Etsy shop, PirateVintage, and it's off to a fairly good start. Check it out!

If you're like me, you probably can't help but roll your eyes at the "early adopters" of the 3D television. History shows that stereoscopy comes and goes, it's always worn out its welcome after awhile. So we all have this choice to make: what piece of technology do you want around your house for the .01% of the time when you want to see "3D" images? A $2000, electricity-scarfing, content-starved behemoth? Or the quirky analog charms of the View-Master? Get your depth-of-field fix on the cheap!

You can find this clever post and the viewmaster itself by clicking here.

Afternoon Discovery

This afternoon I stumbled across this absolutely riveting project that incorporates art history, museum vaults, and the recreation of hidden gems onto human bodies. The intimacy of these projects goes far beyond any candid photography shoots, and reaches back centuries into art history. Take a look.

Gearing up.

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You probably haven't heart yet (since I've been keeping it a secret) that I am starting a shop for handmade goods. I'm really nervous about selling my little watercolor petri dishes, because I feel like the idea isn't quite complete. I'm hoping you can give me some feedback. So here's a sneak peek into OfAFeatherIllustrated. You lucky duck.

Lady-like

When fall arrives, I always have a craving to mix it up with some menswear. The prospect of layering makes my heart go all a-flutter. Ruffles with knife pleats. Plaids with florals. Vests with v-necks. Bomber jackets. I just love adding a little menswear to the mix. These are some of my favorites on Etsy right now. Go ahead, androgynize.

If you want to put all of these items at once, like I do, you can find them here:

* Fabulous Grandpa Sweater on 10th Avenue East, a shop that has a fresh, yet classy mix of vintage

* Amazing High-waisted Wool Blend Pants on HumpAStuff, a shop whose name suggests that there is some adult content (and there is), but that also has a bold collection of vintage apparel and housewares

* Gorgeous Silk Blouse on GreatestFriend, and one of my personal favorites, a shop with quality hand-selected timeless pieces

* UNBELIEVABLE Deadstock Oxfords on kakronti's Bummertown, a shop run by a lovely lady here in my home town

* Totally unique Elk Cufflinks on PossumGully, a shop I'm hoping to see more of in the future

Luxury

Sometimes all you need to make the world right again is a little nap. This post is brought to you by my luxuriously long-haired cat, Arno.

Following a thread

After a manageable day at work, I arrived home with enough energy to sink my teeth into an episode of Art21. Marathon consumption of this television show is just not possible for me. I watch this series slowly, for fear that if I tried to take it all in at once, my brain might explode out the top of my head. Episode 2, season 1 introduced me to Ann Hamilton, whose work I found compelling, varied, and exploratory. Her ability to take a concept and translate it into something both profound and accessible is nothing short of magic.

The thing that I identified so strongly with is the fact that she is an artist, not through medium, but through the exploration of a thread of ideas. Ann manages to meander through her artistic notions. The suit above, a simple mens suit covered in toothpicks, originally caught my attention. What a strange combination of materials. How did she join the two? How on earth did she get into that suit?! I immediately identified with this artist because I can see that she is constantly creating in problems, and then solving them, just to keep things fresh.

Ann Hamilton's work seems wrought with possibility, and as I prepare to enter a large-scale adventure of my own, I am sure I will be looking to her work as my inspiration.