spring awakening

{ photo by Elise Bergman }

Here we are. Nearly two weeks into spring and months since I've posted any sort of update. I've spent the last several weeks doing a combination of traveling, creating, processing, detoxing, working, cleaning, organizing, reflecting, teaching, studying, cooking, and playing music. Change is in the air. 2012 was by far my busiest year for business and by December I was exhausted and in serious need of a break. 2013 has been decidedly more quiet. Blog posts will continue to be irregular for the time being, but I am excited to share some of the places I've been visiting, the food I've been cooking, and the projects I've been pursuing. Stay tuned.

sweater weather

{ photos via From Me To You }

After an abnormally warm weekend, weather that calls for hats and gloves is finally upon us. These Central Park photos make me want to bundle up in chunky knits and take as many long walks as possible before the temperature drops below 30°.

bold blossoms

{ one and three: via Design Love Fest | two: via Stone Fox Bride }

backslider

{ directed by Bennet Bergman }

Captivating visuals in this new video from Wild Belle. Backslider was shot and edited by Bennet over the course of two days late this summer (with some additional footage by Tyler Kaschke). The slides are photographs taken by my mom during her travels around Hong Kong and Australia in the early '80s. Also out today: a great write-up in the The New York Times T Magazine.

holding on to summer

{ one: via Things that Sparkle | two: via Pinterest | three and four: via Eskell | five: via My Damn Blog | six: via Natalie Off Duty | seven: via Vena Cava | eight: Les Demoiselles D'Hamilton via Miss Moss | nine: via Fashion Picanteria | ten: via Hanna Skoog | eleven: photo by Bennet Bergman | twelve: photo by Julia Felsenthal | thirteen and eighteen: photos by Elise Bergman | fourteen: via See Lanvin | fifteen: photo by Bennet Bergman | sixteen: photo by Rommel Pecson via Inspiration Station | seventeen: photo by Jose Villa | nineteen: via Retronaut | twenty: via Google | twenty-one and twenty-two: photos by Billy Rood | twenty-three: via Inspiration Station }

The entire summer has nearly come and gone without so much as a peep on the blog. I have been fortunate enough to have an especially busy season with weddings and custom projects. It's meant many extra hours spent at the sewing machine or cutting table, surrounded by piles of silk chiffon and crepe de chine, organic cotton, leather, sketches, and sewing patterns. It's also meant that email communication, blog posting, time dedicated to designing new styles, personal time, and summer relaxation have fallen a bit to the wayside. I shouldn't complain, because being busy is an indication that business is going well and that I've had the chance to collaborate with lots of amazing people on garments that I am extremely excited about. But, a few important things have been neglected and I'm looking forward to making sure I have a better balanced fall.

Even though I didn't have the chance to plant a garden or finish that furniture project that was on my list for this summer, I was able to do a little traveling (a late spring trip to Oregon and our annual Forth of July drive to Tennessee) and enjoy some of what makes Chicago so magical in the summer (farmers markets, bike rides, beach volleyball, Miko's Italian Ice, and the occasional boat ride on Lake Michigan). Here's to trying to squeeze in a few more adventures, outdoor drinks with friends, bike rides to the lake, jumps in the pool, tennis matches, little white dresses, family time, sing-alongs, local produce, meals cooked on the grill, and restful Sundays before summer is officially over and fall sets in.

moroccan treasures

Roslyn recently returned from her honeymoon in Morocco and brought these beauties back for me. Just lovely!

birthday camping

{ photos by Elise Bergman (plus a few by Collin Moore) }

Collin's single request for his birthday every year is that we go camping for the weekend. Unfortunately, busy work schedules and testy midwest weather usually prevent us from taking a trip. Since his most recent birthday was his thirtieth, we decided that no matter what—rain, shine, looming presentations or the like—we were going to make it happen. I'm so glad we did because it was the perfect way to bid adieu to his twenties. We loaded up our packs with far more goodies than a seasoned hiker should (enough food and snacks for about five people, a full bottle of bourbon, extra layers to keep cozy, travel Scrabble, a couple different cameras, et cetera) and headed to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. We picked a trail that went along Kinkaid Lake and hiked until we found the most inviting spot to pitch our tent. Despite a damp couple hours on our first day and a few startling encounters with critters in the woods, the weather and the weekend were flawless. A delightful birthday celebration!

spring florals

{ one: Elise Bergman Simone Wrap photo by Emily Donelan | two: floral place setting DIY via Oh Joy! | three: vintage educational charts from Art of Instruction via Jen Loves Kev | four: farmer's market bouquets via Project Wedding }

Despite recent 50 degree weather, spring is definitely in the air. This morning we're imagining a spring wedding with

bridesmaids in bright coral and floral place settings and bouquets fresh from the farmer's market.

seafoam and sand

 

{ one: Fleet Ilya purse via Vain & Vapid | two: Louise Bourgeois textile | three: Simona Pries via Color Collective | four: EB Spring Summer 2011 photo by Caleb Condit | five: Alex Fuller print via Unison | six: Brook & Lyn studio via Refinery29 | seven: Malgosia Bela photo by Jan Welters | eight: via Le Fashion | nine: backstage at Tory Burch via From Me To You | ten: via Future Mountains | eleven: EB Spring Summer 2010 photo by Caleb Condit | twelve: via Fashion Gone Rouge | thirteen: photo by Jordan Sullivan | fourteen: via The Vamoose }