Fashion Friday: Lana Stepul

I've never really used the phrase "fun & flirty" but I might have to use it today to describe these dresses from the Lana Stepul shop on Etsy. Such a fun mix of dresses, including some that are less fun and flirty and more sleek and sexy.

All images via Lana Stepul Etsy shop!

A look into a day at the Milkhaus Design studio...

Also known as "watch me as I try to not make a massive mess in my apartment." Enjoy a sneak peak into my process as I print some tea towels for my Etsy shop in my tiny spare room aka The Sweatshop!

First things first - I need to have some strong coffee and some good tunes! On Sunday when I was printing I listened to a lovely mix of Twin Sister, Polica and Feist which I highly recommend.

The next thing I do is hand mix all of my colors. Good thing I eat yogurt almost every day so that I've got a pile of containers laying around! I printed a lot of towels so I had to mix a lot of ink.  This is nothing, though, compared to people that print yards and yards of fabric. They use huge buckets and large mixers to mix their ink! I'm clearly small time. But I am careful to not mix too much because if I don't use it within a certain time period it gets moldy and smelly. Not. Good.

Drop by drop I add my pigment and equal drops of fixer until I get just the color I want. I then test the color on a scrap piece of the fabric I will be printing on to ensure it's the color I want. Since I've mixed black ink about 400 times over the past few months I've got the number down and don't waste my time testing....although I'm sometimes surprised that I can use the same amount of base + pigment and somehow my black looks way different. I just pretend it's some crazy magic!

Next, I tape up the edges of my screen and tape off my other image if I've got two on a screen. If I can, I put two images on my screen so I don't waste space and emulsion! Then I do a test print on my "test towels" to make sure I've got my measurements correct. What are my test towels, you ask? Oh you know...just those lovely towels where I f#*@ed up previously ;)

Depending on the type of image I'm printing it may take me forever to measure and figure out where to lay down my towel in relation to my screen. It can easily take me ten times longer to measure than to actually print...this, my friends, is why I never pursued a career in engineering! Anyway, these two images are to be printed in the center of the towel...but they aren't in the center of the screen since I taped up one of the sections since I ended up not liking the original size of the image. Oy. This made the measurements more complicated. You live and you learn. This is also why it's so important to do a test print!

Once I put my ink down I flood the screen (not shown) before I do an actual print. This is a good way to ensure the ink will cover the print evenly when I finally print. At least I think that's why you do it!

So, I've done my test print and am happy with how everything looks. Now I'm ready to print on my linen! So exciting...but also so scary. Seriously. I always get nervous when I print because one wrong move and I've made a mistake and added to my growing pile of test towels!

Here I go!

And here's the finished print! Once the towels have sat for  a few days to thoroughly dry I'll heat set them (AKA sit in front of the tv for an entire day and iron) and then hem all four edges along with a hang tag. These towels really are a labor of love!

Another print!

Oh, and one part of my drying area!

I hope you enjoyed. Feel free to check out Milkhaus Design on Etsy!

Music Monday: Twin Sister - Stop

A happy song for a happy Monday. Happy MLK day y'all.

Fashion Friday: Hound Design

 I'm loving these looks from the Hound Design Fall/Winter 2011 Collection.

 This is my fave!

 Or maybe this one!

Source

Uguisu

I'm loving these fun office/paper products from Uguisu. Next week I'm heading down the hall to a new office. Perhaps I should buy myself some fun stuff to add to the new office? I think so!

Source

Recipe Wednesday: The Perfect Jumpstart to Your Day

Ah the life of a working girl. There is no rest for the wicked, really. After having over one week off to lounge around in my cute pj pants and watch Hoda and Kathee Lee every morning (I'm not joking. I want to join their show) it's back to reality. For the past two days I've had to get up before 7am and be a functioning adult by around 8:30ish...or at least by noon. Rough stuff, I know.

What is the point of all of this rambling, you ask? Well, I can't function without coffee (duh) and a tasty breakfast. Sadly I'm one of those people that eats her breakfast at her desk and it's usually greek yogurt with fruit. Boring, yes. But usually pretty tasty. Sometimes, though, I get crazy and break from this routine. This week I've been eating the best breakfast ever. It's simple and just the perfect amount of sweet and heat to get you going.

How does one make this perfect breakfast, you ask? Don't worry, I'll tell you. First, get a tasty bagel. I'd suggest a Gotham Bagel if you happen to be in Madison. Toast that badboy until it's golden brown. 

Source

Now that you've got a piping hot bagel slather some cream cheese onto it. Simple? Yes. But this isn't the end of it. Who on earth would call a bagel with cream cheese The Perfect Jumpstart to Your Day? Not this girl. Lame.

This bagel will no longer be ho hum once you put on Clem's Hot Pepper Relish. The relish is a combination of red peppers and sweet onions which results in a magical blend of sweet and heat goodness. You could eat this stuff by the spoonful. What makes this extra special is the fact that it's made just outside of Madison in Baraboo, WI by Hawkwind. From their site:  Hawkwind is 75 acres of enchanted woods and farmland located in the Baraboo Bluffs.  It is a marriage of our passions:  farming, crafting our products, an Adventure Challenge Course, and Healing Center.

And that, my friends, is a great way to start any morning.
 

Source

Stella Bleu Designs

I love everything about these pieces by Stella Bleu.

Source

Music Monday: The Workout Edition

Well hello there and welcome to 2012. We're two days into the new year...so far, so good?

It only seems right that the first post of this new year would revolve around (almost) everyone's resolution to GET FIT. So, let's make this extra special and not only give you a song that will motivate you to get up in the gym but also some extra sexy outfits to make sweating to the oldies (and by oldies we mean jamz from the late 90s) just a bit more fun.

While spending a leisurely Sunday perusing some of my favorite blogs I came across a link to MICHI. I quickly put down my banana bread (Thanks Jos!) I was stuffing into my face and vowed to look like this by the beginning of the summer!

MICHI originated from the desire to fill the gap between provocative, glamorous lingerie and comfortable, utilitarian athletic wear. The designer, Michelle Watson, has worked for Kate Spade, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren. Pretty impressive resume!

How's that for motivation to get your butt up in the gym? Not enough? Need some music? Ok, well here's the tune I've been slightly obsessed with for the past few months. How convenient that the title is Work Out. Any song that does a bit of a cover of Paula Abdul is a winner in my book.

Now, I think it's time for some beer, don't you? An entire keg of it.

Source