Kickstarter: The Black Belt of Alabama

OK, here we go... remember last week when I mentioned Tom and I spent a day in NYC and visited the Kickstarter offices?  Well, this is what we were working on; a book project for our next road trip through Alabama!  As you probably already know, I'm a born and raised 'Bama girl.  I've since lived in California and now Pennsylvania, but a large part of my heart will always reside in that southern state.  

If you'd like to check out more details, you can read all about it on the Kickstarter project page.   Our plans are to spend about 10 days driving through the Black Belt region of Alabama (the region encompasses the central counties of the state, from east to west).  We'll stop along the way at any spot that catches our interest, photographing whatever landscapes, structures or people we discover.  We're excited to see where this adventure takes us!

Above you can see the video we posted telling you a little more about the project (why is it so hard to watch oneself in motion?  I swear I don't sound like that - but I guess I do).  And on the project page, you can read about the rewards we're offering;  everything from a digital PDF of the book, to signed & numbered printed copies, postcards, giclée prints and loads more!  

If you're interested in pitching in or just following along, I'll be posting updates here as we get ready for our road trip.  Thank you so much for checking this out and for all of your support! 

Madewell Fall 2013

Yesterday Tom and I took his niece to New York City for the day to visit her cousin (another niece).  We met for lunch at Calexico then took a tour of the Kickstarter office where the Manhattan dwelling niece works.  We were partially there to follow up on an upcoming Kickstarter project that Tom and I are working on (more on that soon...) and also to hang out in the city and do a lot of nothing in particular.  The best kind of day. 

Along the way, we stopped into the Madewell store at Broadway and Broome.  Last time we were there, the crowd inside had me running for the exit before I could make it up the staircase.  Luckily a Tuesday afternoon visit meant a much smaller crowd and room to breathe.  I'm always surprised at the pieces that catch my eye in the store verses the ones I like online.  I guess that says a lot about the styling of the collections online. 

I didn't spy any fall pieces in the stores yet (thank goodness - it's too early) but I came home and looked it up online.  The review I read stated the collection is full of classic pieces that you probably already have in your closet and demonstrates new ways to pair things up.  That may be true, as I haven't seen anything yet that makes me feel like I have to have it.  I do feel like I could dig around in my closet (or the thrift store) and find something similar to put together these looks.  But then again, Madewell always has a way of stocking something that catches my eye. I'm sure something will find its way into my closet.

Etsy Update: Lots of Dresses

I have to admit that this is my favorite update to the Etsy shop in a while.  Maybe because there are several old favorites from my closet included.  I'll be sad to see them go, but it's time to find some new homes.  All available in the shop now...

Pittsburgh

 - 30s cotton dress
 - 70s tooled leather bag
 - J. Crew flats

As  I mentioned last week, Tom and I made a road trip to Pittsburgh to see The National and on the way stopped by the Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater house for a tour.  While on the tour we heard an old lady remark that it was "a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there."  Meanwhile, Tom and I were thinking the exact opposite.  Although, I bet it sure is cold there in the wintertime. 

After our tour we drove into Pittsburgh and walked around to a few vintage shops.  The shops were mostly packed with 70s era polyester and tacky prints, but I did manage to find a pretty white eyelet cotton skirt that came home with me.  Perhaps there are better vintage shops there, but I didn't happen upon them.  

For lunch we sat at the counter at Primanti Bros. and watched sandwich after sandwich being assembled;  fresh cut bread, grilled meat, cheese, fries, coleslaw, tomatoes, topped with another piece of bread.  We had the cheese combo and the fries come right in the sandwich.  

We took an after lunch stroll around the river and across one of the sunny yellow bridges before heading over to the show.  The National put on a great show and played a 22 song set that I didn't want to end.  I was only slightly disappointed that they didn't play "Fireproof" since I wanted to hear my name in the song.  But I was standing in the right place at the right time and during "Mr. November" Matt Berninger walked out into the crowd and I got tangled up in his mike cord and he ending up singing six inches from my face.  Good times.