The Five Senses of Autumn

"Autumn is beautiful," I thought one morning as I was walking along the winding sidewalk towards my 8:00 am class, English 211. A little cottage-like residence hall stood to my right. It was shaded by a gorgeous forest of turning leaves. The air was fresh. The grass was shinning golden in the sunrise. So first I thought of autumn. And then I thought of Etsy...

I was inspired by the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings of fall to search for items sold by Etsy artists whose pieces encapsulate the "five senses of autumn."

Sight

Fall is filled with bright oranges and reds, but, as the days shorten and cloudy skies become the norm, it also has an underlying grey tone. This photograph, taken by Etsy artist flariat captures the brightness and soft greys of autumn.

Sound

The sounds of fall are abundant: the crunching of leaves underfoot, the cries of geese flying south, or the wind blowing through the tress. This print by Colliebox reminds me of the sound of a fall breeze (and also of me and my twin sister! ).

Smell

Spices, apples, burning leaves. The smells of autumn are rich and magical, like this "Spellbound Woods" body butter by solsticescents . This body butter is "a magical blend of alluring amber, sandalwood, vanilla, cedarwood and just a hit of floral." I wish every fall day smelled like this!

Feel

Fall gives me the excuse to wear my scarves again! The feeling of fall is soft, warm, and cozy. This "Funky Autumn Scarf" by Ellita captures these feelings. It is made from synthetic yarn, so it is soft and light.

Taste

No doubt my favorite sense. The coffee shops and bakeries stock up on pumpkin lattes and pumpkin donuts as fall approaches, but coconut reminds me of fall, too. These absolutely delicious toastsed coconut marshmallows made by haveitconfections remind me of a night out with friends roasting marshmallows by the fire.

Please check out the other great work these Etsy artists do. And enjoy this autumn!

Angie

La SuaVoce Designs

My Ideal Wardrobe: A New Project

I've always wanted to sew myself my own wardrobe. I could custom fit outfits and design clothes to my own style. The problems: I can't sew well and I hardly have enough time to make jewelry, let alone sew my whole wardrobe. As usual though, I don't let things like that slow me down (at least not when it comes to my style).

I can't sew, but I can make jewelry. Over the course of the next two months I would like to put together my ideal wardrobe (just in time for fall!). My new wardrobe will consist of simple (and inexpensive) basic pieces, such as solid tees, jeans, black skirts, and a pair of "matches-with-practically-everything" shoes. I will make these clothes pop with gorgeous accessories. Accessories go a long way in making an outfit complete and they are usually less expensive than buying a whole new piece of clothing.

Putting an emphasis on handmade accessories I've compiled my first "ideal outfit." Put these pieces below with a pair of comfy jeans and simple black sandals and the look is complete!

1) Springtime Sunset Earrings, $19.00

We made these earrings with bright, vintage beads, Czech glass beads, and sterling silver. They are beautiful, bold earrings, but they still are simple enough to match with a wide variety of outfits. (SuaVoce Designs- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24226570)

2)Pirate Ship Retro Design Cap Sleeve Women T-Shirt, $18.00

Graphic tees are versatile additions to any wardrobe. I try to shy away from main stream graphic tees (it's not fun to find out your little sister's best friend has the same shirt as you!). That's why I recommend handmade tees with unique designs. This tee, by etsy seller HappyFamily, is simple enough to match with many different accessories (not to mention, shoes, pants, skirts...), but stylish and fun at the same time. HappyFamily has a wide selection of hand printed tees for affordable prices. (HappyFamily- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23498362)

3) Rhia Upcycled Summer Scarf Necklace - Purple Burgundy with Freshwater Pearls, $13.00

Simple and beautiful, this scarf was the inspiration for this outfit. Made from upcycled pre-shrunk 100% cotton T-shirts, the scarf is both stylish and unique. I've never seen anything like it! It acts as both a scarf and a necklace and can be worn two ways (see link below), which makes this piece ideal for my simple wardrobe makeover. Toil and Trouble has similar scarves for sale in different colors, as well a many other beautiful creations. (ToilandTrouble- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26296240)

4) The Paris Skyline Cityscape on Chrome Buckle with Charcoal Gray Web Belt, $15.00

I always have difficulty finding the perfect belts. I like something that goes well with most of outfits, but doesn't sacrifice style in the process. This unique Paris Skyline belt is the finishing touch on this outfit. It is made by Etsy seller, BareTree, who offers a selection of similar (but unique!) belts. (BareTree- http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25832597)

That's it for my first ideal outfit! I'd like to feature one outfit per week until my wardrobe is complete, so keep checking back for more.

Sarah

(SuaVoce)