Fingerless Gloves

I love fingerless gloves! But probably not for the reasons you'd think. I sit by a door and in the winter, no matter how warm and cozy our building attempts to be, I get really cold. My hands have been so cold that I have been known to type with one hand while I sit on the other. And then I would trade hands so I could warm up the other one! About 4 years ago, right before Karl Lagerfeld reintroduced the world to fingerless gloves, I seriously would take my old mittens and clip the tips off of them and wear them so I could type. I work on a computer for the bulk of my day and I have to be able to type. Fingerless gloves keep me warm and working! Now they are a fashion statement, not just a practical solution for those texters and typers who have cold hands. There are a number of trends that are fueling this fingerless glove phenom. The '80s gave us Madonna in her lace fingerless gloves, and everyone knows that that decade is a huge fashion inspiration right now. The Rocker Glam look fits the fingerless trend like, well, a black leather glove (with stud embellishments). The bulky knits that are so trendy right now are also inspiring some of my favorite looks in fingerless gloves. Here are some more favorites:

Here are celebrities who have been snapped wearing fingerless gloves:

Blog Addiction

I love to read books, and I love to read peoples blogs. My niece and her husband recently left New York City to travel and live in Ecuador for a few months before they return to the United States and settle into 'real life'. Luckily, they started a blog to share their travels with family and friends. I've been following their blog, checking on them as they talk about all their adventures. Stuff like riding a bus all night on an unpaved road, freezing cold in muddy clothes, to get to the next town. They are young, adventurous, on a budget, and having a blast. I envy their freedom. They are funny because they are vegans and they keep posting about the foods they are eating and the difficulty or ease with which they are finding this food. They are also bummed because they visited a market that was supposedly selling handcrafted goods, only to find that every vendor at the market was selling the same 'unique' items. On the upside, they are meeting all kinds of interesting travelers from all over the world. They are taking Spanish lessons so they won't struggle so much with trying to communicate. What a life they are leading! Walking to most places they want to go, experiencing a completely different culture, renting a little place they share with other travelers, and seeing the world in a whole different light. I can't wait to see who they become after they return from their grand adventure!

Paint Spatters

Are you one of those people who smashed wedding cake into the face of your new spouse?Do you like to throw water balloons at unsuspecting sunbathers?

Do you have trouble coloring inside the lines?

If the answer to any of these questions is 'yes', then I have a great paint trend for you! The latest '80s-inspired look is paint spattering. All you have to do is load your brush and fling it at your garment or home decor item and you are good to go!

Channel your inner Jackson Pollock to create this look. Get your paint goods here.

Jackson Pollock, Galaxy

PaintWorks, On Track With Trends

Quite a few months ago I was asked to be a contributor to the magazines, PaintWorks and Quick & Easy Painting as a trend columnist. My first article to appear in print is in the December 2009 issue of PaintWorks. This magazine is for decorative painters so my trend article needed to be accompanied by a fantastic project that would reflect my article and also appeal to the readers. The topic I chose to write about was Kitchen Couture, with the project being three fabulous aprons designed and painted by designers Suzi Shinseki and Cheryl Ball from iLovetoCreate. I am so excited to share my trend knowledge with a whole new audience of readers. If you see this magazine on the stands, pick it up, read my article and make an apron you can wear for many holiday seasons to come.

October Promises

I love October. I always have. The evenings become crisp and cool, and the leaves are turning to rich ambers, reds and russets. I love to throw an extra quilt on the bed! I love that it gets dark earlier. Some people hate that, but not me. I find it comforting after a long hot summer. I like to make thick soups and have a fire in my fireplace. I like to make crafts with my boys and make plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. October holds the promises of all these things!

Let me say upfront that I am not a Halloween person. I don't like how 'dark' it has become. I do, however, love some of the elements of Halloween if they are really artsy or vintage. Here are some of my favorite 2009 finds:

These messy, graffiti painted pumpkins by Alisa Burke are so cool. I want to make them for my front porch! Check out her blog and she'll tell you how.This macabre plush owl, aptly named Chillingsworth by artist Ann Wood, is constructed from an antique bodice. Isn't he great?! I would keep him out all year long.

My favorite pumpkins are created by artist, Vergie Lightfoot. They each have their own distinct personality and charm. They are incredible.

FYI: Yesterday morning I had the opportunity to talk trends with Tiffany Windsor of Inspired At Home blog radio. Each month I choose a couple of topics that are trendy and she interviews me. I really love sharing trends with the listeners who love to craft. On October 18, you can listen to find out which retro decades are inspiring our latest fashion trends, and why. Then on November 1, you can hear me talk about the reason plaid patterns are so popular.

Trend Talk

This has been a hard month for me. I traveled to Las Vegas the end of August to attend Sourcing at MAGIC and came home with a cough. The cough turned into Bronchitis and I missed four days of work. Four days! Well, here it is, the end of September and I am just now getting over that cough. Of course, I have been to the doctor and had to take prescription meds - twice - to kick this thing. Having said all that, I am doing better and back to blogging. Just a reminder, if you missed hearing me talk trends on Inspired At Home blog talk radio, you can listen here. The picture above is of somewhere in North Carolina. I found it online and I loved it and wanted to share it.

Glitter

I am very excited! My friend, Kathy Cano-Murillo - aka, The Crafty Chica - has written her first novel and I get to read an advanced copy. I remember when Kathy and I went to lunch quite a few months back, we discussed one of the characters in her book and the changes Kathy was trying to make that would greater define this person. I felt privileged that she would even ask for my input. Luckily, I had a few trendy insights to offer Kathy. And now, here on my desk sits her book, Waking Up In The Land Of Glitter. In case you didn't know, glitter is Kathy's very, very favorite thing. Here's how the book is described: If Amy Sedaris and Ugly Betty teamed up to rewrite The Friday Night Knitting Club, you'd have this hilarious, heartwarming debut novel.