OOTD: Leather Satchel and Nautical Stripe Boat Shoes

THE DEETS:

Floral Button Up: Vintage, free

Navy Painter Tee: J Crew

Mustard Cropped Pants: Anthropologie

Striped Boat Shoes: Target

Watch Necklace: Antique, gift from Ephraim

"Hive Mind" Brooch: Premonitory Dreams

Leather Satchel: Aude Bags

Ephraim gave me this necklace for my birthday last year.  Though I've never been big into gold coloured jewelry, this necklace made me reconsider that bias.  Though I still lean heavily toward silver as a preference, the gold colour of this necklace (not to speak of the enamel flower detail on the back) goes so nicely with some other things in my closet.  Of course, the piece is beautiful on its own: I love that it looks like a locket, but is in fact a watch! It's so nice to hear it ticking away when you wear it.  

This leather bag is actually Ephraim's, but he was nice enough to let me borrow it to walk around the One of a Kind Show.  When it comes time to finally buy myself a nice camera bag, the cross body strap is going to be a very important feature for me.  I simply can't lug around a camera for hours in a shoulder bag, yet I keep only packing a shoulder bag for Toronto! It'll click in my brain eventually, and until then, there's this sweet little messenger bag for me to borrow (by force).  I even told Ephraim, when he picked up the bag at the One of a Kind Show last year, that if he didn't buy the bag, I would! But then, I was the one shopping for a bow tie for themselves at the show :p.  I didn't pick one up, but Handsome & Lace had the most amazing spread of ties, bow ties, pocket squares; and I have a weakness for men's accessories! A sweet bow tie may make its way to my birthday list, yet.

--Erin

Reminder: Premonitory Dreams Giveaway

Hey guys.  I hope you're all having a nice weekend! Personally, I'm having a weekend without Ephraim, and I've been trying to use that time productively.  Today I'm having a friend over for brunch, and work on my "Sew For Victory" muslin or I'm not going to make the deadline!

I just wanted to stop in and remind you guys that the Premonitory Dreams giveaway is still going on! Your chances of winning are still good for this (if I do say so myself) awesome prize.  So if you haven't already, head over to the contest page and enter yourself! I'll be drawing a winner this Tuesday, March 12th, at 5 pm EDT.

I also realized I never explained the name of the shop!! As you all well know, this blog is called Predictions for the Past.  I wanted to continue the theme of premonitions, but for myself, also wanted to make the name a bit about follow through, which I sometimes have difficulty with.  The name Premonitory Dreams is about not only dreaming of things, but making them your reality. 

And with that, I'm off to go realize a few more dreams!

--Erin

Introducing: Premonitory Dreams, and a GIVEAWAY!! ***CLOSED***

At long last, good people of the internet, I am pleased to present to you, my new labour of love (and profit? Hopefully?) Premonitory Dreams. 

Premonitory Dreams is my new Etsy shop, where I will be selling my original art, and my craft endeavors, including jewelry.  My efforts and inspirations are shaped by the materials at hand, and thus some items will be available in limited quantities only.  I aim to use re-purposed and second hand materials, keeping waste out of landfills and breathing new life into old things.

I'm pleased to present the maiden designs offered in my shop! These handmade leather and suede necklaces are a simple and elegant way to dress up a casual outfit, or add a little bit of edge.  The neutral colour schemes mean they work with a wide range of outfits, through all seasons.  And best of all, there's some customization to be done! The Leather Banner Necklace is custom embossed with the word or words of your choice (up to 15 characters, including spaces) for an off-kilter personalized look.  Embossed with your name, your pet's name, your blog's name, or your superhero alter ego, this necklace is sure to get you noticed.  Also available now is the Leather and Suede Fringed Chevron Necklace, in black and caramel.  I love to dress this necklace down with a chambray top for day, or wear it with a maxi dress and my black leather Litas at night.  It's a little bit country, a little bit punk rock, and a whole lot of awesome.

And because I couldn't have dreamed of starting something like this without the unwavering support of my readers and interwebz friends, I have a couple things to offer you today to say thank you!

First up is this blogs FIRST EVER GIVEAWAY!!! As my numbers teeter near 100 followers on GFC and 50 followers on Bloglovin', now feels like the perfect time to give a little somethin' somethin' back.

Up for grabs: A custom embossed Leather Banner Necklace from Premonitory Dreams.

How to Enter: Follow Predictions for the Past through Bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect.  Leave a comment below telling me what you'd like to have embossed on the necklace (max. 15 chars including spaces) if you win!  Also be sure to leave an email address so I can get in touch with you :)

Who Can Win:  This giveaway is open to readers world wide!!!

For Additional Entries: Tweet about the giveaway (be sure to include me in the tweet, @ErinGerofsky), blog about the giveaway, or post about it on facebook, all with a link back to this page.  Be sure to leave a separate comment below for each entry.

The winner will be chosen at random on March 12th and announced here shortly afterward.  Good luck, and as always, thank you for reading, and for your support in my creative endeavours!!

As a second thank you to you all, I'd like to offer you 15% off anything in the Premonitory Dreams Etsy shop.  Just use the code GRANDOPENING at the checkout for 15% off from now until MARCH 19TH.

OOTD: Braids and Elbowpatches like a Badass

I took these outfit photos half an age ago (I'm SO behind!), and though this was my first time using this bridge as a background, I just absolutely adore it!! I like having something to interact with while taking photos, and I think that the shots turned out really pretty.  I really need to venture beyond my front yard a bit more often, as comforting as the shelter of my hedges may be!!

This chambray shirt has been an absolute favourite of mine since I picked it up last summer.  I had been on the hunt for a light denim shirt for a couple years, and finally found this perfect one at J Crew.  At the time I was a little sore about the price, but as it has become a staple in my wardrobe, I got over it pretty quickly.  It's perfectly light for the summertime, but paired with a cardigan shapes up nicely for the winter.  Plus, it looks totally awesome with a bow tie.  Yeah, I'm in love.  I'll quit gushing about it now. Just know that while you've seen this shirt a few times already, you'd better believe you're going to see it again.  I'm obsessed.

I scored this skirt as part of that big donation that the theatre couldn't use, which I talked about a bit here.  I can't wait for warmer weather, so that I can bust out some of the more ridiculous pieces!! The skirt is 150% polyester, like most of the items in the donation, and I'll be honest: I kind of love it.  It's just so bloody easy to wear!! And the wee little polka dots are so charming.  I own so many polka dotted things, and it's just never going to feel like I have enough.  

The warm colours in this outfit made it seem a perfect opportunity to debut this necklace!! Let's just say, that this here necklace may have something to do with my upcoming very special announcement.  I was so excited to pick up a set of letter stamps to do a bit of embossing, and naturally, I had to put something a bit cheeky on my personalized little banner.  So, I proclaimed myself a BADASS.  I like it.  A lot. I've got a pile of these bad boys just waiting to be custom stamped and sent off to their forever homes (a phrase which makes me think of the humane society), and I simply can't WAIT to open shop.  Soon, soon.

THE DEETS

Elbow Patch Cardigan: H&M (Remixed)

Chambray Shirt: J Crew (Remixed)

Skirt: Vintage

Belt: Vintage (Remixed)

Tights: TopShop

Boots: Vintage, Kingpin's Hideaway (Remixed  Remixed)

Custom Embossed Banner Necklace: Premonitory Dreams (Coming Soon!!!)

Now as a bit of a bonus, here are some pictures illustrating how unbelieveably cold it was while we took these photos, and what my REAL face looks like when I let down the human facade.  I do not like the cold.  Well, scratch that, I do not like being inadequately dressed in the cold.  Not cool, man, not cool.  In fact, very cold.  That wasn't funny.  But my face below, is.  So, enjoy!

I hope you're having an excellent Monday! I'm spending the day running around town trying to source some model building supplies for a project I'm working on.  All I can say is, so many tiny trees!!! They're way adorable, heehee!!

--Erin