catch of the moment

After a day of super heavy duty rain,

I looked outside

and found the most amazing light

in the sky.

Happy Weekend!

and then there are days like this one….

Sometimes, I believe I jinx my own existence.  I usually trust my instincts and my gut feelings.  And I so like to believe those instincts that it is an utter disappointment when things turn out just THE OPPOSITE or completely different to say the least.

This morning I was all chipper and positive and so convinced that I would know EXACTLY how this day shall turn out.  I am not even saying that this is a BAD day, it is just so surprising that – so far – it is nothing like I expected.  First off, it did not rain, which actually contributed to me being so positive….  Then it is a Wednesday, and the last Wednesdays just knocked me off my feet – I was so busy.  Well, let’s just say that THIS PARTICULAR Wednesday will NOT be counted among them.  Next, I had planned all these things for today, somehow wanting to repeat my yesterday which was super productive.  On that note – I have managed to cut off two pairs of jeans ALL DAY.  And I have about ten more sitting here waiting to be hemmed.  Productive?  Ah, not so.  Sidetracked, doing all kinds of useless stuff, oh yes!  Furthermore, I was convinced I would hear from two important people, the first one did not call and the other one did not show up.  I was so sure I would hear from them!

Well, I can only say two things – my gut feelings are wrong sometimes and a day like this one just proves it.  And – the day is not over yet!

Gotta love free advertising!

One of the perks of being in business for a while is that people notice you.  Your business is still in the phone book, the website still works, email gets answered and customers talk about you.  Word gets around.  This is especially important to a small business owner  (LIKE ME) with not a whole lot of money to spend on advertising.

So it was much to my pleasant surprise when I got an email from the fashion show organizer at the Portland Women Show.  She wanted me to show 12 outfits at two (TWO!) shows.  At first, I was so baffled that I did not even answer her.  Me, my little SOFIA?  Then I thought – HECK – FREE advertising, go for it!

I actually had a lot of fun looking at all the models and fitting them with my clothes.  Most of them are 5ft 10″ at least – when do you get a chance to show off beautiful clothing on REAL models?  Their hair and make-up professionally done?

So off to the show went twelve outfits – AND I DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE THERE!

The Portland Women Show runs from today until November 1 at the Convention Center.  The fashion shows are at 1PM, both Saturday and Sunday.  And while I do admit that the hunks at the Firefighter’s show might be a bigger attraction, do check out what SOFIA has to present – some of which is here:

Morning Walk: Fall Beauty

These days, I cannot get over how beautiful this part of the world is.

Usually, we do not get many fall colors for such a long time.

I want to dive in and bathe myself in these beautiful colors.

And because I decidedly have the most glorious sock and tight collection – here are some of my fall choices:  Croenert cotton tights, Smartwool knee highs, and Falke textured hosiery.

Rapti shawls from Nepal.  Just in.  Fair trade, women made. Cashmere/silk blends.  Scrumptious!

Confession: Smartwool addiction

Finally I got around to photographing the TWOs I was talking about in this earlier post.  I’ll post those pictures below but first need to explain about the sock addiction that I have.

The true addiction to Smartwool:  Longer that a year ago, I was hiking through a snow field up at Mt. St. Helens with my friends G. and N.  My boots, socks and feet were SOAKED.  Unprepared a hiker as I am, I had no SPARE pair of socks with me, however, N. did.  She offered me a pair of Smartwool Saturns that I put on and into my wet boots.  About 90 minutes downhill, my feet were not only DRY but also WARM.  Do this to a notorious cold-footy like me, and I was convinced.

I got myself my first Smartwool pair at a local shoe store and have been addicted ever since.

They keep your feet even tempered, even in hot summer days.

They wick moisture away and keep warmth in.

They make the best bed socks – EVER

A lot of them have cushioned bottoms – you feel like walking on air.

You will never have blister in a Smartwool sock.

I sell them.

Enough advertising?

And while all of the socks above are for women, I also have some good styles for guys.  Do not feel left out!

I have this thing for color…

When I came in this morning, I found two boxes on the floor and a variety of new stuff on hangers that came in yesterday.  I am finally caught up entering all of it into the computer AND finding room for the new socks.  Best thing was, of one variety, I already sold three pair.  Seems to be a winner right there.  Of course, I had no time to photograph it all yet – that will have to wait until tomorrow (at least).

I got so inspired, however, that I rearranged all my display racks and changed the colors around.  Being among all these beautiful clothes all day long, I want them to be soothing to my eyes.  That’s why I group colors together – to please my eye (and your’s).

Below are two pictures from the green-black-white section and the mustard-cream-brown section (through the window)

Happy Wednesday!

Morning Walk: Two Angels

Everything happened in TWOs today.

My dog ate two slices of lemon pound cake that I had saved for this afternoon. (Bad dog!)

Found these two angels on my walk.

(there are lots more of TWOs on that bus, I just realized….)

Had two dear ones bring me first lunch and then a coffee cake!

Had two guys with dogs stop in, both saying their dogs want to see me. (grin)  They are cute – the dogs, I mean.

Which all gives me a chance to show off these cool SmartWool socks that – incidentally – also came in TWO’s:

This is just to get you interested.  There are lots more!  Pictures to follow!

And now I’m off to Happy Hour, again with two ladies. Hm.

Leggings!

Every Friday, I get this email newsletter, called Portland Picks.  It is a roundup of all the new spots that open, fashionable places, restaurants and the like.  Reading it, you are on the pulse on what is happening around town.  The one that I am quoting here is mostly for women, however, they do have one for men as well ( I never read that one…)

Today, this intro caught my eye:

“It’s official. We are back on board with leggings. After many years of deeming them “too Tween” or “too reminiscent of stirrup pants” for our tastes, we discovered that they’re not only insanely comf, but hide a multitude of overanalyzed (and possibly imagined) midsection sins.

Beer belly? Buh-bye! Just pop on a tunic and some leggings. A little hippy? Hide that wide behind with a menswear-cut shirt and a fitted boyfriend jacket… and some leggings. Thunderous thighs? You know what to do… boots and leggings! Oh, it’s absolutely genius.”

I can’t agree more.  I HATED leggings for so many years!  And now, I won’t even admit how many pairs I own – I have lacy and solid and patterned leggings.  I wear them in transitional weather, just the right cover, but without socks.  I wear them with a super short dress or tunic, I wear them with over-the-knees and boots.  Yes, and I do admit that my legs might still be shapely but are not so pretty anymore.  So, leggings are it!

This mohair tunic, the leggings and either sandals or mary-janes.

Imagine chunky boots here and you are dressed!

BTW:  These fuchsia leggings (by Falke) are not the only ones I have!  I can offer black lace, your basic black or brown as well as green, blue, turquoise and red LEGGINGS!

Hail to blogging!

As I am getting ready to send this dress off, I just wanted to bow down and appreciate BLOGGING.  Not only has it been tremendous fun to get back into ‘journaling’, checking my map and seeing where the people ARE who come to visit my site, looking at the statistics and getting a kick out of the searches that direct them to MY blog – it is awesome!  Blogging also had it’s rewards financially.  Yes, financially.  And I do not even advertise on this blog.

So here is this dress that I. found on my site…. and IT IS GOING TO NORWAY tomorrow!  NO WAY – NORWAY!

I am tickled pink.  And I hope she loves it as much as I do (OF COURSE I own it as well…)   This dress is now officially sold out.  Can’t reorder it.  Basta.

Shameless self promotion

This is just another one of those days where nothing goes as planned, which is not to say this isn’t pleasant day.

My intern Lucy was supposed to be here but she called in sick.  I had planned to stick her into some of the new fall arrivals because it gets kinda boring when I have to photograph everything on the headless mannequins.  These are the options when you are all by yourself most of the time.  I also wanted for her to show off these awesome over-the-knee socks that I am wearing today.  Oh well, I did not want to let the opportunity slip by and asked Naomi to photograph ME.

I do not know how many times I already talked about this coat.  It looks like I am only trying to find more ways to justify taking it home.

When this dress came in I snatched it up right away.  Along with the over-the-knees.  This is going to be one of my fall favorites. you bet.

So, this time real clothes on a real woman.  Next time, it is back to the headless mannequins.  Happy Day!