Style & the City

On Style & the City

On Facehunter


Paris Fashion Week pics are still surfacing and I thought these two were particularly fun because it's not only me but my Paris partners in crime too. First with my boyfriend at Jardins de Tuileries and second with Andy and Denni on our way to Lanvin while the Facehunter was flashing his camera in our faces ;)

Zara treasures

If you follow my blog, you'll know Zara is one of my favorite high street brands. However, the past few months their collections didn't get me as excited as I usually am. Change has come in the form of their October lookbook and I picked out the outfits that I would wear head to toe myself.

happy halloween!!

Wishing you a very Happy Halloween weekend with another illustration from my dollhouse project!

I took the photo for this using late afternoon lighting and I love the "yellow afternoon glow" effect. I dressed my main character Betty up as Dorothy, ready to hand candy out to the neighborhood kids.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween weekend! I'll be away all next week attending a business convention. So see you in early November! (I can't believe it's November already!)

Q&A

Seeing that new visitors discover my blog each day is something very rewarding for all the effort I put in to it. And what better way for us to get to know each other better than by a Q&A? Not only does it give you some insights about me, by the questions you come up with I also get a glimpse of your personality :D Ask me anything in the comments below - fashion related or not - and a bunch of them will be answered soon.

Random pic from Paris Fashion Week
Zara blazer / LF Stores tee

Wanted: Blair's silk pyjamas

 Gossip Girl Season 4 Episode 6 'Easy J'. I'm perfectly convinced that Blair's shirt and shorts sleep combo was one of the key fashion highlights of the whole episode. And from my googling efforts, it looks like other GGers feel the same. I don't think we've made an id on these PJs yet, so if you've got information- please step forward!
Cred: youknowyouloveme.org

just desserts

Last Saturday I took a class at a Miniature Show in Tysons taught by Patricia Wehmeier.  I was there with my friends Amy and Leslie and Leslie's sweet daughter (happy birthday Sylvan!)

It was so much fun! We made these teeny weeny desserts all day long and I had another excuse to experiment with my dollhouse project! We also learned some great tips!  Did you know that moisturizer will remove colored polymer clay stains from your hands? I didn't!

 
So here's my dollhouse character, Betty with just a small portion of the desserts we made: ice cream sundaes, cupcakes, chocolate bunnies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies etc. We also made the mini napkins, place mats and napkin rings.

I think when I get around to writing + photographing the story of Betty that she will be terrible at everything domestic except baking. That way I can make all these fun sweets for her! Who knows ... maybe she will open up a Sweet Shop!

Lights out in The City

Learning that one of my favorite reality shows The City is cancelled - one that isn't all about picking up girls in bars - is a little disappointing. I swear, I have this curse over me in which everything I like gets canceled or taken out of production :P

“As of right now, it doesn’t really look like we’re doing it anymore”, she told Ryan Seacrest this wednesday adding that the show likely won’t move to another network, either. “It’s okay, one door closes and another opens,” Whitney said optimistically. “I’m working on some other things.”

Where will I now get my fix ELLE USA scoops (or see Robbie Meyeres and Joe Zee in action), gush over Whitney's flawless style and sweet personality and envy Olivia's hair?

Acne Hybria wedges

Something funny happened when I took these Acne Hybria wedges out for their first spin. Two teenaged girls started yelling "Pokerface" - it took me about half a minute to realize it was meant for me. This perfectly highlighted a recent phenomenon and got me wondering... Since when is every item that's a little unusual instantly categorized as being Lady Gaga? Surely I get that these shoes generate a few looks, and I'm a Gaga fan myself, but I wasn't wearing a dress made out of last nights meat leftovers, latex panties or diet coke cans in my hair - no, I simply had on black ankle boots! :P It seems that anything other than Uggs and jeggings is now categorized as Lady Gaga - from shoulder pads (still more Dynasty than Gaga), to studs and spikes, to light blonde hair and pretty much anything leather or geometrical (and pant-less for that matter). Do you agree?

Anyway, I couln't wait to share my Acne shoes from My Wardrobe with you in an outfit post. They are by far the coolest item in my wardrobe (no pun intended) and I can't wait to play around with them this winter!

Acne Hybria Wedges: My Wardobe
Dress: COS
Knitted cardigan: H&M
Belt: H&M
Nail Polish: H&M

Done with it

It's been so cold here lately, all I want to do is wear Dree Hemmingway's outfits and be done with it. And it doesn't help that I can't find the perfect chunky knits! All I want is thant big, tan jumper by Dries van Noten... I saw Ready to Fish sells something similar so I should definately look in to that.

pictures: Vogue UK November via Studded Hearts

illustration friday: racing

I'm working with my dollhouse project again for this week's  illustration friday theme of  "racing"  

I don't know about you but when I go to the grocery store I am always racing around like a mad woman trying to get out of there and home as fast as possible. Groceries flying everywhere as soon as I am in the door. Grocery shopping is my least favorite thing to do!

So for this theme of "racing" I have my dollhouse character racing home from the store just like I do! 

What's really fun experimenting with this 3-d way of working, is that I get to play with perspective in a way that isn't as immediate with my 2-d collages. 

for #1 the camera angle is from below the figure

for #2 the camera angle above the figure. 

My photography wasn't perfect on these because I was "racing" to finish, but still had a great time playing with different perspectives.  

Paul already weighed in and he says #2 with camera up high .....which angle do you like best?

have a great weekend!

Ydeltuyt accessories Give Away

Some of my favorites

It won't come as a shocker that accessories - next to self confidence and a good hair day - can bring each outfit to a whole new level. I can't help you with the latter, but when it comes to the first it's a different story. Not one but two lucky readers get to elevate their looks with Ydeltuyt accessories, because in the next 10 days I'm giving away a 30 and 20 euro gift card. And with rings starting at 5,95 and all sunnies for 3,95 that's a lot of new goodies. What better way to thank you for coming back to my blog time after time!

To get in there, just leave your e-mail adress! And if you follow This chick's got style on Google Friend Connect and / or Bloglovin you double your chances of winning!

easy to make halloween village

Well, here's a spooky Halloween village that I created and I am going to show you how to make it too! The best part about this little project is that it will cost you next to nothing to make, I am betting you already have many of these items around your house!


Suggested supply list:

• Old Music papers and assorted scrapbook papers
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint in Charcoal Black
  
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium (matte or gloss)
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paint brushes
• Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky Back Canvas
• Ranger Inkssentials White Pen
• Pencil
• a BATTERY operated tea light candle (no flames please!!!)
• Template for the houses - I made one for you! Download here!

STEP ONE: Put the house template (download here) on top of a sheet of old music paper and trace around it with a pencil and then cut it out. Don't forget you can adjust the template to make tall and skinny houses or any type of house you would like!


STEP TWO: Draw in where you would like the windows and doors to go.


STEP THREE: Paint in the house. Paint around all the doors and windows leaving them unpainted. Here I am using Charcoal Black from the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Line.


STEP FOUR: Here I added details. I used Claudine Hellmuth Studio Sticky Back Canvas painted with Landscape Green to make the curtains, and the Ranger Inkssentials White Pen.


STEP FIVE: Fold all your edges and then glue the tab to the other side of the house with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium.



STEP SIX: Pinch the sides to shape the house.


STEP SEVEN: Place the roof template on a piece of scrapbook paper, trace around and cut out


STEP EIGHT: Fold the roof piece down the center and then add details or trim if you like!


STEP NINE: Put the roof on your house and then place a BATTERY OPERATED tea light candle underneath. DO NOT use a regular tea light candle with flame because it will catch your mini house on fire! You can find Battery tea light candles at home stores like Bed Bath and Beyond, Dollar Store or at your local craft store.


YOU'RE DONE! Here's the little house along with a few others ready to bring spookiness to your home. It was difficult to capture just how glowing the houses are with the battery tea lights underneath. When you make yours, you will see how fun they are!


WHERE TO BUY:
Check your local crafts/scrapbook or arts supply store for availability. Claudine Hellmuth Studio Products are for sale online, just google Claudine Hellmuth Studio! 

Live with Prima!

I'm excited to announce that this Tuesday October 26th at 7:30pm EST I'll be doing a Live with Prima episode on the Prima U Stream channel.

I'll be created a layered album cover using my new Creative Layers stamps along with a fun mix of gorgeous Prima products of course! 

This class is FREE! To watch the live shows, go to the Prima channel on Ustream located here: Prima Channel at 7:30pm EST on October 26th!

See you there!

Ruffled up

Outfit for the Piet Paris expo. A bit blurry, but sometimes I don't mind :)

H&M dress (in stores in week 43) / New Look pumps

Paint it, Paris

Piet Paris is one of those old school talents. No Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and digital prints for Holland's most established fashion illustrator; it's handwork all the way.
As diverse as Piet's collaborations are - from creating the Viktor & Rolf decor at Paris Fashion Week, the shopping bags for Saks Fifth Avenue or stamps - his signature is always visible. Minimalized sillhouettes, bold lines and great incorporation of trends make his work interesting. See for yourself in these pictures from the launch of his book and exposition, which is helt at the Hirschgebouw in Amsterdam until 22 oktober.

Auf Wiedersehen, for now.

I've made the decision.  I'm moving in a new direction and starting a brand-spanking-new site.

I've been struggling with the decision for weeks.  Not the decision to start a new site, that I've been sure of for awhile.  Sure, I can make An American Girl more general and less Vienna-focused all the time, but the truth is that I can't send this blog out far and wide because there are many people who don't know, who I don't want to know, about Vienna yet.  So, I can't post this on Facebook or send out without worrying about who's going to find it.

I have been struggling with the decision about what to do with An American Girl.  I thought maybe that I could just have two blogs.  Yea.  That's not going to happen.  Then I thought that I should at least keep this going while getting the other up and running.  Unfortunately, I began to feel so overwhelmed and a little guilty about the whole thing that I wasn't working on either!

Just the other day I thought, you know what, this is supposed to be FUN.  Not a burden.  And in that moment I knew.  An American Girl is going to take a break for awhile, at least from this blog.  This is not to say that I won't bring it back when we get closer to our move to Vienna.  I might just do that.  But in the meantime, I'm taking a different approach.

I can't share the site details with you yet, but if you check back in a couple weeks or so, I'll post the link.  And for those of you with whom I've connected via your blogs, I'll send along the new site as soon as I can.  For those of you who simply pop by to read An American Girl every now and again, I thank you ever so much for following along and do hope I can bring you along to my new virtual playland when the time comes.

Danke shoen & Auf Wiedersehen
Caroline
An American Girl

illustration friday: spooky

I'm working with my dollhouse project again for this week's  illustration friday theme of  "spooky" 

then I created this version with my main character at a window....

and because everything looks spookier in black and white...

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bottom blues

I practically wore my jeans to bed in high school, but as my style evovled I found other items more interesting. However, the world's most popular legwear is back in all shapes and forms; from bell bottom blues to faded black skinnies and rock star jeans (thanks Balmain!). I'm yet to find a classic pair to get me through the next few years, but those Balmain inspired rock star jeans I was talking about... they're in! Picked them up at IKKS at the PC Hooftstraat last week after seeing them here and fell for the knee detailing.

IKKS light grey skinnies / Acne a-symetrical blouse / H&M shoes / Zara leather jacket / Ydeltuyt ring

ps. the winner of the Shopbop give away was randomly picked and is Laura G. Congratulations and you've been contacted!

happy birthday mom!

A big happy birthday to my wonderful Mom! I love you so much!

Here's a photo of the two of us that was taken at my Sedona AZ workshop in 2008! I LOVE this photo of us together!! Love you mom! xoxoxoxox

Knowledge for Water

Today is October 15, 2010. This is the day a Water Interruption will be experiencing around the world, may it be online or offline. In the blogosphere, around 4,300 bloggers will be interrupted today. They are committed to post on their respective blogs about issues of WATER.

So, this is my post as my little contribution for the Blog Action Day 2010.

Knowledge for Water.
Your Knowledge about the world can make a difference. You can donate 10 cups of water in every correct answer you get. Play the game on FREEPOVERTY.COM below and see how many cups of water you can donate:

WHY WATER?
70% of a human being is made up of water. Water is the second most essential element for survival, after oxygen. Over one billion people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water; hence, causing them to develop deadly diseases. Moreover, without water, the brain is not able to function properly. One cup of water can make difference to someone's day. FreePoverty allows you to donate as many cups of water as you can to save millions of people.

Thanks and good luck.