Category: antique

The Monthly Inspiration Edit: The May Mood Board Mash-up (Jesus Sandal Couture, The Return of Fat Amy and Alabama Shakes)

I’e been wanted to create my own mood board since I discovered the wonderful world of digital mood boards. I’ve always loved making collages and inspiration boards in my journals and on my wall-I love the physical and visual process of creating collages and have spent countless hours absorbed in arranging and rearranging pictures…. something about the process is soothing to me and have found them to be a helpful tool for aiding in my creative process because I often find new inspiration for creative projects and ideas.
With online mood boards it’s like a whole new world of inspiration has opened up to me. There are so many talented, artistic designers and artists out there to find inspiration from-

I’m going to try and do a round-up at least once a month….

BUT

I would really love to see what is inspiring every one else out there and wanted to offer to anyone who might be interested in being a guest blogger and creating their own individualized mood board on This Wild Precious Life. It could be any handful of things that are inspiring you at the moment: books, music, food, shoes, movies, art, diy projects…and give you a chance to share here! If you are interested just email me at thiswildpreciouslifeblog@gmail.com with the subject title “my mood board” and we can work out the details!

So here is what is inspiring me in the month of May (2015)….

Wear- Jumpsuits and Rompers

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-jumpsuits-rompers/flutter-romper/ BCBGeneration Womens racer front jumpsuit BCBGeneration Women’s Racer Front Jumpsuit
BCBGeneration Women’s Racer Front Jumpsuit

http://electricfeathers.com/collections/wardrobe/products/infinite-rope-jumpsuit-1

WALK-

I’m really happy simple leather sandals (or Jesus sandals as I like to call them) are making a come-back. I don’t know why every time I see a pair of simple classic looking leather sandals I just want to be walking around in Greece or Italy…so the closest I can get to either of those places at the moment is a pair of my very own jesus sandals.

http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-sandals/cafe-wrap-espadrille/

Birkenstock Women’s Mayari Birkibuc Sandal

http://amzn.to/1dqgBIM

http://www.freepeople.com/shoes-sandals/durango-metal-gladiator-sandals/_/PRODUCTOPTIONIDS/83886FE0-6740-46FF-AABD-B3BC062AB204/

Steve Madden Women’s Donddi Sandal

Blowfish Women’s Gill Fisherman Sandal

Steve Madden Women’s D-BAND Sandal

LISTEN:

Sound & Color by Alabama Shakes

Falling Faster Than You Can Run by Nathaniel Rateliff

Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens

Pitch Perfect 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Carry:

Rebecca Minkoff Julian Backpack

http://www.freepeople.com/accessories-bags/jericho-backpack-32078669/

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/patricia-nash-vasto-leather-backpack/3816140?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=2375500&fashionColor=&resultback=6239

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184422924/the-sawyer-hand-made-leather-backpack?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather%20backpack&ref=sr_gallery_4

READ-

To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf

The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo

What Alice Forgot

a href=”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0805210318/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0805210318&linkCode=as2&tag=thiwilprelif-20&linkId=BP5TUZMGSEASXI5X”>

Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar

accessories adventure affordable Amazon animals anthropologie antique art blog artist ASOS asymmetrical awesome bag bags bargain blog blogger blue boho boho chic booties boots brands bright bright colors bucket bag canvas cardigan casual casual chic cheap chic clothes collaboration color colorblock colorful creative crossbody bag curvy cute cute animals dachshund daily look deal denim denim jacket design designs diy Dog dogs dolce vita dress dresses dressy dressy summer outfit earth day ethnic fair trade fashion fashion blogger floral flowers forever21 Free People friends fringe fringe leather bag fun funny Gap gojane h&m handbag handmade happiness happy healthy heels hilarious hip hosiery humor ideas inspiration inspiring instagram j.crew jeans jersey jersey knit jewelry joy knee high socks laugh leather Leather backpack leather bag leather heels life lifestyle blog lol macys madewell midi dress midi skirt minimilist style MINK PINK mod cloth modern mood board NastyGal native america nature nature walk necklace nordstrom Nordstroms OOTD OOTD Magazine OOTD Submit open toe opinion outfit outfit of the day oxfords paige denim pattern patterns pencil pendant personal style personal style blogger pinterest rag and bone rain retro Revolve Clothing ring rustic sandals sea self love shoes Shopbop shopping showcase simplistic skirt socks spring spring fashion Spring Style Springtime fashion statement jewelry statement necklace street style style style blogger styling suede boots summer summer heels t-shirt tights TopShop traveling tribal jewelry tribal pendant trousers versatile vintage VSCO cam wardrobe World Market

My First Official Spring OOTD:Look Ma No Pants!

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date April 3, 2015
No Comments on My First Official Spring OOTD:Look Ma No Pants!

Today when I stepped outside, I smelt spring and was about as happy as this baby and her camel:

I was outside in a dress, with bare legs and I was starting to believe this day would never come. I swear if I see a single snowflake before Christmas next year, I will walk all the way back to California.

Anyways, after a few hours doing this:

I was excited to bust out all the spring/summer clothes I’ve been daydreaming about and this is what I came up with:

This blue dress is MINKPINK Women’s Tiger Trail Dress, might be my new favorite dress for spring. Surprisingly, I found it on Amazon for $57.00.

Also another of my favorites for mild April Weather is my Life in Progress Denim Jacket from Forever 21 ($32.50).

And saving the best for last is my 18″ Genuine Leather Retro Rucksack Backpack College Bag,school Picnic Bag Travel also found on Amazon and bought specifically for all the outdoor activities I told myself I would be doing this summer:

What are your spring time essentials?

Tags anthropologie, blog, booties, fall fashion, Fashion, Forever21, J.Crew, leather bag, OOTD, personal style, spring fashion, Spring Style, street style, style, style blogger, trendy, wardrobe

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OOTD: An Ode to Spring, All the Bright Colors, J.Crew, & My New Style Idol, Monling Lee

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date March 12, 2015
2 Comments on OOTD: An Ode to Spring, All the Bright Colors, J.Crew, & My New Style Idol, Monling Lee

Her name is Monling Lee and she is my everything.

She is an architect and urban designer with a passion for vibrant colors and a sense of style that is one of a kind. I first discovered her via Instagram @monlinglee fell instantly in love with every single one of her photos. She combines her unique and brilliantly colored personal style in perfectly coordinated urban environments.

By following her instagram account, I found out that she was teaming up with J. Crew to “Test-drive” Their new spring accessories on their blog: hello.jcrew.com. And was inspired to try to create my own color blocked outfit with my skirt I bought for a penny at Nordstroms Rack. JCrew and Monling Lee are having an instagram contest on how where you wear (and pair, and pile on) your J.Crew accessories with the hashtags #ACCESSORYFIX and #JCREWCONTEST for a chance to win one of three $1,500 shopping sprees. And although I don’t have a new spring accessory to actually join in…here are my outfits:

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How to Make Your Own Layered Boho Statement Necklace

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date November 17, 2014
7 Comments on How to Make Your Own Layered Boho Statement Necklace

As a kid, I loved going through my fabulous grandma’s costume jewelry collection. I could never narrow it down to one or even two favorite accessories, and instead piled as many necklaces on as my little kid neck would allow.

So, once I became aware that layered statement necklaces were an actual trend and saw necklaces like Dylanex’s Falkor ($890):

And Nasty Gal’s Coined It Necklace (only $55!)

Another one of Dylanex’s amazing necklaces, the Bowie ($820)

and Urban Outfitters’ Medina ($68)

I have been trying to create my own cheaper “DIY” version. I quickly realized it’s not quite as easy as throwing on every silver necklace I own and walking out the door. I feel like I am constantly walking a fine line between “fashionable” and “mentally unstable homeless person”, when it comes to my personal style. It was actually pretty difficult to mix and match pieces together to create something tasteful and stylish (and doesn’t look like I raided my Grandma’s costume jewelry with my eyes closed). I ended up with two layered statement pieces: one silver and one gold…Usually, I prefer gold colored jewelry but there are a lot of awesome silver metal boho statement necklaces out there to choose from.

My necklaces are the Coin Fringe Pendant Necklace ($12.50) from Forever21

and the Silver Tribal Necklace from World Market ($14.99)

And my second “gold” colored layered necklace:

There are definite pros and cons to trying to making your own Layered Boho Statement Necklace piece.

pros: cheaper, unique, and more layering options when you buy each individual necklace.

cons: tangled mess of chains errrrvywhrrrr.

http://www.avantlink.com/product_ad_widget/paw.php?pawid=96079&pw=166207&output=js

Tags accessories, anthropologie, boho, cheap, chic, DIY, fall fashion, fall style, necklace, nordstroms, pendant, personal style, statement jewelry, trendy, tribal jewelry, wardrobe, women

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Large and in Charge (Scarf!).

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date October 7, 2014
No Comments on Large and in Charge (Scarf!).

The great thing about this being my blog is that I can write any of the ridiculous nerd-tastic, groan inducing things that come to my mind (i.e.: calling this blog: “large and in charge scarf”) Here is an accurate representation of what I look like and feel like most of the time:

I do love Gandalf and have welded more than one walking stick in my hand and demanded no one to pass.

But, Im pretty sure the only person who reads this is my mom. So…hey mom!

________________________________________________________________________________

Back to my scarf….The weather outside has turned, the leaves are changing and there is a damp, chill in the air, which doesn’t bother me one bit… This is my favorite kind of weather, the changing in weather only reminds most people of what what is to come after: the dreaded Midwestern Winter, but still I love it and relish being outside at this time of the year even more so than in the summer (probably because it feels like my natural average temperature runs about 102 degrees, so the summer feels like one big, hot, sweaty, smelly anxiety attack for me).

I really love Fall in Michigan…out on a walk the other day we saw a heard of at least eight deer, four of which were fawns, right down the street from me. I sat and watched them for over 10 minutes until they had enough of me staring and disappeared into their kingdom enclave in the forest. It was magical. I never get sick of all the nature that surrounds me here- last Christmastime, I looked out of the window of there house and saw a gaggle )?) of wild turkey, a few deer and several Red Cardinals in the trees surrounding me…take a picture of that and it put it on a Christmas card folks!

SCARF. A customer came in to my work the other day in what looked like the warmest, comfiest, huge, knitted scarf I’ve ever seen. So, naturally, I asked where she got it and it was made for her by her sister (of course). But that got me thinking how I needed one just like it and found one….

This is the biggest, thickest, warmest infinity scarf (at a moderate price) that I have ever had and Again, H&M is where I came across it for $12.95:

(while returning “mom jeans” that I bought thinking I could pull them off and was utterly appalled at just how much they look like “mom jeans” and not “cool jeans…I don’t think I have the skinny figure to pull them off…) Again: here is an accurate representation of me in mom jeans:

Some day, when I am an actual mom, I will wear my mom jeans with pride (And to embarrass my children) but, today is not the day.

Tags cheap, chic, fall fashion, personal style, trendy

antique art artist beauty books creative cyrstal design etsy home decor jewelry minerals nature necklace original pinterest projects ring rocks watercolor

crystal crazed (and pretty darn obsessed with rocks, stones, minerals…)

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date February 7, 2014
No Comments on crystal crazed (and pretty darn obsessed with rocks, stones, minerals…)

limited edition Gems Print by Jenny Lumelsky

Before there was Pinterest to feed my obsessive online habits, I quenched my creative thirst by endlessly browsing Etsy for whatever project or subject I was enraptured with at the moment. Whether it was: amethyst geode bookends, Mexican tooled leather bags, antique blue teacups, vintage French children’s’ books, fresh succulent cuttings or watercolor paintings of feathers, I’d favorite dozens of each and salivate over them until I finally bought something or I got distracted. Sigh…brings back some good memories (and many, many hours!!!).

Raw minerals and crystals are always one of those things I always come back to. I am drawn to the bright, beautiful array of colors and the amazing and intricate shapes. I am continually in awe of the earth’s ability to create the most astounding works of art. After looking at these rocks and minerals dug out from under the ground, I always come to the conclusion that nothing I, or any human, ever creates will be as beautiful as they are.

Above are some of my favorites I have put together, most of which can be found on etsy. In the top left image, I love how EarthSkyWarrior (a “Neo-Nostalgic boutique specializing in peculiar One-of-a-Kind home decor misfits & oddities based in Brooklyn, NY”) designed these Blue Agate geode bookends with the plant growing out of one side ($221.00). The top right image is a print by Vancouver-based artist Jeff Hamada, the creator and founder of http:www.booooooom.com. The middle image of the agate geode slice necklaces are by Linsey, a jewelry designer out of Dallas, Texas and can be found for $48.00 a piece at her Esty shop, MesaBlue. The bottom left is by FAR one of the most beautiful Australian Opal Rings that I have ever seen. I have lusted after it for awhile now and will have to be satisfied with oogling it it via pictures. It is from the brilliant jewelry designer of Sasa Jewelry, Sasa Blackoff. Finally, the bottom right are set of four XL Agate Geode slab coasters by SaraReynoldsJewelry also on Etsy and a steal at $45.00.

Here are some of the drawings I did in my sketchbook….I definitely need a lot of practice, drawing gems, crystals and minerals takes a lot more patience and focus than I am used to!

Here are a few more of my favorites, just because I couldn’t stop!

drusy diamond ring

drusy ring

Gem and Mineral Grid Collage

geometric print

Boulder Opal

antique lithograph

2014 minerals calendar

antique apartment art birds blue floral gardening happy home decor jars living peacock feathers picture frames spring trays vintage

changing things up.

Lately I’ve been feeling restless and claustrophobic in our small Chicago apartment…I think we have officially outgrown the 900 sq ft space. We’ve been looking at houses to rent and that has only made me more antsy and unhappy with our place.

Maybe it’s the changing seasons or the feeling that I have no control over several areas in my life right now…whatever the psychoanalysis might be…I’ve changed a few tiny things up in our apartment and it has seemed to make a huge difference.

It all started with these two vintage looking shabby chic gardening trays (at least thats what I think they are supposed to be) I found at Marshall’s.

And then took off with some left over antique blue Ball jars from our wedding, antique dishes, moss stones, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a peacock feather, seashells, and bird ornaments.

I think I basically took all of my favorite things and put them in these boxes. And now being able to look at them all the time makes me happy!