courtney roby sage

come on, move this!

2012-01-31T18:03:00.000-08:00

Most of the people in my life know about my love of dance—there was the decade of ballet lessons as a child, then the more Eugene-hippie-appropriate African and belly dance classes in college, and since I've been of legal age, the many '80s, R&B, and Bhangra-themed nights in bars around town. Now, I occasionally perform with my friends as a go-go dancer, accompanying surf and garage rock bands when they need, well, extra visuals (i.e. scantily clad girls shakin' it). Anyways, I've been a bit lazy about practicing my varied dance moves lately, so I decided to overhaul the practice playlist—and I wanted to share a few of the favorite jams as of late. As GOB would say, 'everybody dance now!'

Perfect warm up song:

Because it's obviously meant for dancing:

For the go-go hip-shakin':

And because I can't get enough Yelle:

dinopack! aka why I love clothing swaps

2012-01-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

the end is nigh...

2011-12-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

holy s*%t!

2011-12-17T22:47:00.000-08:00

Just when you think it can't possibly get any more amazing, it does! What I wouldn't give to be one of those chorus girls...

onesie!

2011-12-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Those who know me well will undoubtedly agree that I have a thing for the onesie—romper, pantsuit, bodysuit—I can't seem to get enough. And while my physical collection grows, I decided I needed a virtual outlet for my one-piece enthusiasm. Hence, Onesie was born. Check it!

courtney in wonderland

2011-12-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by my booth this weekend! I had a really successful show. Bea was definitely the star—I mean, I already knew how awesome she is, but to have hundreds (maybe even thousands, as there were 16,000 people in attendance) of complete strangers remark at her amazingness, well, it made my heart swell. It also made me want to forgo taking time off from crafting so that I can finish the next installment in the Golden Ladies series (she's almost done). I also really love how, with each show, my space becomes more crazy colorful. Already looking forward to the next!

crafty christmas!

2011-12-07T21:55:00.000-08:00

This weekend! 11 am-6 pm both Saturday and Sunday. I'm both stoked and developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Here's a little sneak peak of what is happening:

Hope to see you!

indian break dance!

2011-10-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

golden photo fun!

2011-07-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

Got some pics of me and Bea, my first Golden Lady, while taking pics for this:

Getting ready for her close-up!

isn't she lovely?

2011-07-25T19:30:00.000-07:00

My picky eye can already see some spots that need editing, but things are moving along!

pattern party!

2011-07-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

Took a vacation from treasury lists, forgot how much fun they are...

'houses, landscapes, flowers & dreams'

2011-07-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

My last year of college, I had the good fortune to intern at CJ Hurley Century Arts. Owners CJ and Barbara are awesome people to work with (and learn from!) and they are always keeping busy. CJ's latest project is a solo show featuring paintings, drawings, and poetry at the Architectural Heritage Center—judging from the preview, there's sure to be a lot of wonderful art. Come to the opening reception on August 5th (and get more details about the event here). I'm excited to see what's new!

guess who's next!

2011-07-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

crafting quickie

2011-06-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

As a result of the Bea Arthur project, I almost forgot that latch hook projects don't always have to take forever. For example: I started and finished this 1' x 1' pillow cover in 2 evenings in this week (just need to hit up the craft store to get a pillow insert and hem tape). Planning to turn this into a kit, complete with yarn and everything!

I also took a trip to the jewelry supply store to get necklace makings this week. Trying my best to stay productive!

fridge friends!

2011-06-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

A fellow SCRAPper brought these to my attention—I've been needing magnets, and naturally I couldn't resist the kitsch:

Now I know what to do with all the felt, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes I've stocked up on!

jewelry delivery

2011-05-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Just dropped a ton of styles off at Tender Loving Empire—pretty stoked to be in the mix of other awesome Portland artisans/crafters. Check it:

bea-ming with pride

2011-05-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

At finally finishing my Bea Arthur latch-hook tribute! It took me forever, but it's pretty awesome, no?

paradise city!

2011-05-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a much-needed vacation in Hawaii! I was lucky enough to stay with my good friend Megan, and while we didn't get as much beach time as I expected (the rain followed me from Oregon), we managed to still have a lot of fun. One particularly interesting outing was a visit to the Foster Botanical Gardens in Honolulu:

logo party!

2011-03-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

New logo for my friend Dan. Also came up with a die-cut business card that these guys are gonna make.

sugar and spice

2011-03-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Found at SCRAP. Aren't they sweet?

etsy happenings

2011-02-16T20:59:00.000-08:00

Excited to be featured in a new treasury list!

Here are a few other recent ones:

shimmy party!

2011-02-10T15:42:00.000-08:00

While shopping for new records today, I found this little gem:

It was made in 1975 and still has the instructional booklet intact! I apologize to my neighbors in advance for the nonstop finger-cymbal action they are about to endure...

supercuts

2011-02-07T00:29:00.000-08:00

Getting my hair trimmed tomorrow—remember the secret to having perfect hipster hair:

safari party!

2011-02-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

A while back I acquired my favorite possession, the crazy animal necklace found at Una. Well, while at Scrap yesterday, I happened upon crazy animal necklace number two. Soooo good and so bad at the same time, I just had to have:

i ♥ araks

2011-01-23T20:17:00.000-08:00

So simple, so pretty! Araks is definitely one of my favorites:

feminist film fun

2011-01-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

I don't tend to watch a lot of movies (something to do with a short attention span) but I recently watched and fell in love with An Education. I would highly recommend seeing! Of course I can't resist anything set in the 1960s, but I think I liked it particularly because I could relate to the pressures the main character felt as a high achieving kid. I'm just glad I didn't have the relationship drama and gender inequity to go along with it—being a teenager was already hard enough...

new shoes

2011-01-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

Will always turn my frown around! These were on sale and (as I am becoming more practical with age) are insanely comfy:

'oregon's many faces'

2011-01-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

Starting to amass a collection of vintage National Geographic magazines; I was extremely happy to snap up an issue from 1969 which featured a 40-page article devoted to Oregon. I grew up with a very romanticized view of my native state—I think it's easy to see why:

southern gothic fever

2011-01-10T00:19:00.000-08:00

Currently enjoying the complete works of Flannery O'Connor. She was one of the authors I was excited to study in college—I love her tone and the clever simplicity she chooses in presenting complex themes. Especially compared to Catch-22—which I finally gave up on halfway through—she reads like a dream! Or I guess more like a weird, dark nightmare...

i ♥ non-profits

2011-01-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

Just completed a year's worth of newsletters for the Architectural Heritage Center, an important organization devoted to historical preservation and sustainability in our built environment. Take a glimpse here.

photoshoot!

2011-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Spent my day off taking pictures of my new collection with my super-pal Lisa. Etsy site should be updated soon!

happy new year!

2011-01-02T20:05:00.001-08:00

merry times!

2010-12-25T00:23:00.000-08:00

Who knew Santa was a hipster?

'geom' earrings

2010-12-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

Took a few quick photos of the new 'Geom' collection I am making out of recycled plastic—these were the styles that sold out over the weekend, so more are on the way (and should be added to the Etsy site soon)! In the meantime, you can find similar styles at the Sown storefront.

Maybe I've been looking at too many vintage magazines lately, but I really enjoy the weird lighting effect that occured. Happy accidents!

dance party!

2010-12-13T23:21:00.000-08:00

Back in high school, when Ghost World was one of my favorite movies, I listened to this song over and over and over again (perhaps this was where my love of Bollywood began?)... So thank you, internet, for letting me find the entire video which accompanies it:

I'm practicing some of these sweet moves for the next bhangra night...

wonderful wonderland

2010-12-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

Crafty Wonderland went really well (sold out of things)!!! My booth:

crafty sneak peak

2010-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

Working like a madwoman to prepare for Crafty Wonderland this upcoming weekend. A little preview of the new stuff I got goin' on:

Ugly lighters, adorned with recycled materials

'Geom' earrings, made using recycled office supplies

pleasure of love

2010-11-29T23:44:00.000-08:00

Makes me want to play with markers and also a Lite-Brite:

hubris & sophrosyne

2010-11-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

Recently reworked the etsy banner for the lovely and talented Tatiana Sakurai (of Hubris & Sophrosyne):

let the gift buying begin!

2010-11-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

I'm quite excited to be a vendor at Crafty Wonderland again!! Come visit the weekend of December 11/12 at the Oregon Convention Center here in Portland. Earrings and latch hook patterns and ugly lighters, oh my!

all the trimmings

2010-11-10T14:01:00.000-08:00

When I was sorting at SCRAP the other day, I found the most amazing bag of ribbons, rick racks, trims, seam bindings, etc. Fabulous mid-century items in sparkly pink and chartreuse that hadn't even been opened! Needless to say, I went a little trim-crazy:

Ugly lighters here I come!

the nurses

2010-10-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

Preview of a piece I am dropping off today at SCRAP for their Volunteer Art Show. Opens November 4th!

progress report

2010-10-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

she's a pal and a confidant...

2010-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:00

I've had a few people now ask me how my Bea Arthur/Golden Girls project is coming along. Well, as some of you may or may not know, latch-hooking takes effing FOREVER. But I'd thought I'd share my progress so far (working from the template I shared in my last post):

It'll look less creepy once I fill out the eye area a bit more. Plus, I can't decide if the green eye shadow is a little too Twisted Sister. Overall, though, I'm happy with how things are moving along!

golden idea

2010-08-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Still looks kinda rough, but can you tell where this is going? A latch-hook tribute, that's where!

knowing I like nordic pop...

2010-07-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

Thank you Samantha for sending a reminder of why both ABBA and the 1970s were so fantastic:

mad for mad men!

2010-07-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since I made a treasury list of my own—and since I have Mad Men on the brain again (new season starts soon!) I decided to make it a vintage one. Check it out:

'where the art of yesterday illumines the life of youth'

2010-06-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

(via old chum)

sweet summertime

2010-06-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

My interlaced orange earrings are featured in another treasury!! By eliwill (so makes me wish it was actually summer in Portland):

...my little turn on the catwalk

2010-06-13T17:54:00.001-07:00

In a strange turn of events, I was recently recruited to start modeling. Fashion (and/or retail catalog) world, here I come!

Veteran model Patsy demonstrating my new model diet/lifestyle. Cheers, darling!

she's crafty

2010-06-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

Another shot of my Crafty Wonderland booth from Alissa of A Tea Leaf. Check out some of the other awesome booths!

suit up

2010-06-01T00:24:00.000-07:00

Marc by Marc Jacobs:

At Nordstrom. Hot stuff!

retail therapy

2010-05-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

I was having a grumpy day yesterday, so I bought myself a present:
And of course I had to get the matching bralette.
Adorable, right? Feeling much better!

the art of collecting

2010-05-16T19:15:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a record player this week (one step closer to being hip!) which has made me think about collections. I definitely consider myself a collector, especially when it comes to fashion. I present a small sampling:

Jewelry box (earrings excluded):

Mix of new and vintage dresses:

And you can never have too many high heels:

buckle up

2010-05-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

I want one of Norweigan Wood's harnesses. Really really really want one. Only I can't pick out a favorite color. If only I could get them all!

life is peachy

2010-05-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

Featured in another treasury! This one's by Bamboohead:

clean up

2010-05-03T20:55:00.001-07:00

Also known as I need a studio space...

fun with felting

2010-05-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Also picked up a matching pair of these felted cuffs by LeBrie Rich (of PenFelt):

fun with applique

2010-05-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Amongst all the awesome items at Crafty Wonderland were these adorable tea towels by Anna Joyce:

I had to get four!

booth time!

2010-05-01T18:36:00.000-07:00

so exhausted...

vermillion fire

2010-04-30T15:20:00.000-07:00

Excited that my interlaced orange earrings were featured in LeahSawyer's lovely treasury list!

crafty wonderland!

2010-04-27T21:20:00.001-07:00

sown textile design

2010-04-27T02:17:00.001-07:00

Amidst a lot of other crazy busyness this week, I finalized a logo for my friend Courtney's studio, Sown Textile Design. She wanted something that incorporated sustainability, fashion, and craftsmanship...which I think we accomplished:

new rug!

2010-04-27T02:02:00.000-07:00

The pics came out a little bright (it was actually sunny outside) but I'm stoked at the finished product. Did I mention I also designed a DIY kit in this pattern? Debuting at Crafty Wonderland this weekend!

rug pattern: border crossing

preparation: 11 days to go

2010-04-19T15:37:00.001-07:00

Also known as the reason my friends haven't seen me in a while...

busy bee

2010-04-12T22:21:00.001-07:00

I've obviously been a bad blogger lately. But I've been good and productive otherwise! Preparing for Crafty Wonderland, making another rug, and getting a new collection up:

More to follow!

dino-mite!

2010-02-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

It arrived a little late, but by far the most awesome (and most creative) Valentine I have ever received. Thanks Rosa!!

i ♥ beach tripping

2010-02-17T00:43:00.000-08:00

Even the sea shells were gettin' in the Valentine's Day spirit!

pattern of the day

2010-02-10T17:07:00.000-08:00

from: vintage-valentine print headscarf I made in high school (my love of kitsch is over a decade strong!)

tangerine dreams

2010-02-02T20:36:00.000-08:00

I found my dream bed:

jewelry sneak peek

2010-02-02T01:37:00.000-08:00

salvaged plastic scraps = white hot geometry for spring

More to come!

old western inspiration

2010-01-30T18:47:00.001-08:00

via Weird Friends

i ♥ post grad hair cut

2010-01-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

When I checked my email today, I was delighted to receive a message from Samantha over at Post Grad Hair Cut. She wanted to let me know that she featured my work! Needless to say, I was super excited; to be included amongst so many other talented designers—including Samantha herself (check out Sam Made)—was totally flattering. Thanks!!!

i ♥ hosiery

2010-01-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

Thinking a lot about Valentine's day this year...and thinking these would be perfect for!

Found over at Tabio

pattern of the day

2010-01-26T15:00:00.000-08:00

from: secondhand Max Studio halter dress

pattern of the day

2010-01-25T12:32:00.000-08:00

More rainbow:

from: vintage 'rubix-cube cowgirl' dress from the '80s

kingdom of love!

2010-01-24T22:10:00.000-08:00

My Valentine's Day collection 'Kingdom of Love' is complete (and almost all up on my site)! The wild card, my favorite:

♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡!♡

hat for my cat?

2010-01-23T20:53:00.000-08:00

Trying to convince myself that I shouldn't buy this amazing adorableness (found at xmoonbloom's Etsy shop). Trying really, really hard...

pattern of the day

2010-01-22T12:07:00.000-08:00

from: vintage dress from the '60s

shake it up

2010-01-20T17:03:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was laundry day; I have so many hand-wash only garments, getting to the bottom of my hamper takes hours (which is usually why I put off doing it)...

But I had an 'a-ha!' moment this time around: instead of putting items in a basin, I used a sealed plastic tupperware bowl—this meant I could shake the items in soapy water instead of just soaking, rinsing, and repeating. I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner! It was less wasteful of water and I feel like my wash came out cleaner.

I think this one over at Lucy Maude's vintage shop would be an excellent designated wash bin!

pattern of the day

2010-01-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know what I came down with (virus? food poisoning?) but I have spent most of the weekend in bed. Once I finally got up (i.e. ran out of netflixed Golden Girls) I decided I was overdue for a pattern of the day:

from: vintage set of Vera napkins. Somewhere I have the original instructions on how to fold them...

nordic inspiration

2010-01-14T15:33:00.000-08:00

I've been a busy girl lately—which is good for me but bad for the blogging! In lieu of CRS designs (which shall hopefully appear soon), I offer you these DIY rug kits found over at cathy of california. They're Scandinavian, from the 1960s—I don't know how, but I need to get my hands on one!

early christmas present!

2009-12-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

Petit Bateau at Lille:

WIth matching bikini bottoms. I love!

easter eggs at christmas

2009-12-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

A customer loved my earrings because they reminded her of Easter eggs they made as children in Lithuania:

fotomele (via flickr)

boeke (via flickr)

latch hook is for lushes

2009-12-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

I keep bringing you tacky:

pandanmans (via flickr)

I finished a latch hook project of my own today. Nothing this awesome (but pictures soon)...

ugly lighters!

2009-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

In preparation for my longtime friend and crafting sidekick's arrival into town for the holidays, I thought I would dredge out some of the old ugly lighters we made. They have seen better days, true, but they are awesome nonetheless. It's inspiring me to warm up the hot glue gun! Lisa, are you ready??

The inspiration for ugly lighters, which I purchased at First Thursday ten years ago:

And a sampling of the creations that followed:

vintage 'new dreams'

2009-11-17T19:28:00.000-08:00

I started volunteering at SCRAP, which has been really fun but also really dangerous (given my shopaholic and packrat tendencies). I found this booklet full of knitting patterns while organizing the magazine section, and I knew it needed to be in my life. You'll see why:

And my favorite:

autumnal strolling

2009-11-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day today (sunny and crisp), which made for a lovely afternoon of walking and plant-gazing...

This little guy was my favorite find.

shop officially opened!

2009-10-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

The time has finally come–I have put some of my earring designs up for sale on Etsy!!!

There's still a lot of work to be done, but it feels great to see my stuff out in the world. And just in time for the holiday gift-giving season (wink wink). Check it out:

jewelry preview

2009-10-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

Yaaawwn! It's been a long day, spent doing one of my least favorite things—taking pictures of my work. However it's well worth it—I've been shooting earrings so that I can officially start my Etsy site. Exciting stuff! Before I give my eyes a much-needed rest from the computer, I thought I would share a glimspe of what's new:

intro to macramé

2009-10-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

It's probably obvious to those who know me–and/or those who read this blog–that I love fiber arts. And kitschy things. And especially fiber arts which incorporate kitschy things (latchhook, anyone?)...So I'm a bit surprised it's taken me so long to discover macramé. I did a little internet research for inspiration, then went and found the following book at Powell's for $5. I can't wait to start knotting. Fringed tunic, here I come!

wall hanging—steeljam (via flickr)

crafty maize—turkeychik (via flickr)

pattern of the day

2009-10-13T16:43:00.001-07:00

from: vintage, fabric-covered jewelry box

greetings from berlin?

2009-10-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

Another gem of a postcard from Samantha—she didn't actually go to Germany, just found this in her old roommate's discarded stuff and mailed it to me to add to my Euro-trash collection. Danke!

ladies and gentlemen, patsy cline

2009-10-01T16:50:00.000-07:00

Listening to a lot of Patsy lately, which reminded me of this amazing scratchboard drawing I did for an assignment last year. Prepare yourself for some serious fringe:

cornucopia!

2009-09-30T14:11:00.000-07:00

For the last few months, I've been designing promotional materials for Community Alliance of Lane County (CALC), a nonprofit devoted to fighting social, racial, and economic justice. Their annual Cornucopia fundraiser is happening in Eugene soon, so I made the following invite to be shown before movies at the Bijou Theater. That's right, my work has made it to the big screen!

time of the season

2009-09-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

The arrival of fall inevitably makes me crazy for boots. I'm currently waiting for these to get fixed at the shoe repair, and in the meantime I'm dreaming about ones I can in no way afford:

These guys are all by Frye—definitely my favorite brand of boots. I want them all!

viking pottery

2009-09-17T14:45:00.000-07:00

Picked up these vintage, hand-painted Redwing bowls while on vacation. I love the mustard color, the shape, and the fact that it's the 'viking' pattern. They're almost too pretty to use!

oregon love

2009-09-17T14:31:00.001-07:00

Lucky to live in such a beautiful place, happy to finally get out of town and enjoy it!

retro-rama

2009-09-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

Italian publication from 1970 or so—these girls got style:

agent lovelette (via flickr)

vintage diy

2009-08-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

Mid-century decorating tips, kitschy geometry, and crazy red typography (almost illegible)—I want:

Mags (via flickr)