Inside Beval Saddlery

I was in Beval Saddlery this am on Pine Street in New Canaan and I thought, “why didn’t I ever shop here.?” I think many people who don’t ride and or own horses will fore go shopping there thinking that there is nothing for them if they aren’t actively riding. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Beval Saddlery has so much to offer in terms of casual clothing for everyone! They have impeccable taste in stately attire! If you want a great tee shirt, they carry all the upscale brands, if you want to wear the softer breeches for everyday wear, go ahead girl, because they are so comfortable and hearty! If you need a preppy, or upscale gift that connotes first class taste, stop by! They carry totes, dog accessories, boots, cool sox, great polo shirts, belts, books, decorative items, and the store is full of a helpful and super kind staff! I love all the girls at Beval. They are welcoming, and are ready to assist with first hand knowledge about every item in the store! They carry oliver green d ring belts and my friend Grant’s customizable cutting boards featuring sailing cleats for handles, Soundview Millworks! Oh, and they carry Jennifer Brooks dog collars!

www.olivergreenonline.com will be there! come and shop for hard to find gifts, get a head start on your spring wardrobe, hostess gifts, and teacher gifts!

$44 cute and unique!

Click image for link to buy it!

My Pile of New Belts, I love MADRAS!

On my snow day, Wednesday, I was shoveling and thinking, who wants the easy way out? If I didn’t have a challenge standing before me regarding achieving my business dream, what would I have at all? I know I am grateful for having self confidence, curiosity, a supportive family, and smart, good friends. At times I can become focused on what I haven’t accomplished yet with my business, but that doesn’t do any good! I have even been known to be envious of other women who’s husbands fund their ventures, but for real, from the bottom of my heart, I have to say now I wouldn’t have it any other way! I never in a million years thought I would come to that conclusion, but there is a lot to be said for being “self-made” for going through it all, learning, and enjoying the journey. I am enjoying it so much now, especially because I have taken a major step in educating myself about “business”.

I am more the creative force behind the brand, make the product and do literally everything right now, and it is invaluable, tiring, but stimulating! My second class at SCORE Norwalk kicked major a$$! It was lively, engaging, and informative. I also signed up to work with a mentor and am excited to find out who they pair me with now. Mr. York told me that his mother in law had a similar business to mine in the 60s which is neat. Maybe I can go talk to her sometime and get some wisdom. All I know is that I get a steady stream of phone calls from clients telling me they love my belts, they want more large, they want more men’s, they want to sell them, they want to carry them in their stores, and that used to frustrate me because I knew I couldn’t fulfill all their desires, but now that I am on the road to growing it, I feel much happier for those calls. I used to feel overwhelmed when customers would come into my tent and say you should do this, that and the other thing, and I would say, “Yes, I know, but I am one girl with a sewing machine.”

I had a great time talking with my friend Sue S. as well. She is taking the classes as well. She is a seasoned business woman who has a fresh perspective! It’s super fun to have something to be passionate about and I urge you, if you don’t have anything, try to think of something you can do for yourself or grow into a business. It is like the hardest puzzle or game you could conquer. It is not for everyone, but it sure is fun! You will have to go without, you will have to live smaller than you think, but you have purpose.

With that being said, I got a big pile of madras fabric to sew up, and I am pretty excited because it is great for men too! I will be making some larges too! YAY! Bring it on weekend, I have a lot to do and am grateful. www.olivergreenonline.com

When I was in 6th grade. I had these classic brown workboots, with no steel toe, just brown leather with a small white sole. The top of the toe of the boot was flatter than this pic,

viewing from side, and it came about 3/4 of the way up to my knee! Did anyone else have these boots back then? They were unbelievably bad a$$! I cannot stop dreaming about them. I want them again! I want the classic laces in them as well. I wore them to death. I left them in an unattached garage for a summer, fall came, I slipped my foot in them only to squish a family of baby mice! I was traumatized! I need these boots AGAIN! If anyone knows of any designs like these, high reaching on the leg, please forward to me! I am begging you.

These are sort of similar but they mess them up by macking them up with a separate heel, some toe leather and the color, etc. UGH

I love boots, my wardrobe consists of either BOOTS OR FLIPFLOPS, end of story. I rarely wear other shoes.. unless they are sneakers of some sort. Shoes just seem a little in between to me. Although, my friend Jackie Michelle says that life is GREY.

Been away for a few days now, and have had so many ideas, brainstorms, and was battling the worst cold ever, AND then back problems! Sometimes I think, WTF? Do I really deserve these setbacks? I feel sorry for myself momentarily because I have way too much to accomplish and these setbacks put a damper on my ability to achieve! I don’t vacation and perhaps it is a way for my body to say to me, “I need a break right now.” Rest up!

These are a few of my favorite day dreams: Creating an inspirational blog network by mentoring  people who love to write! I have found my first project/mentor-ship, Jackie Michelle! A powerful, inspired 19 year old who has lived a challenging life up to now, but has taken all that she has gone through and come out on top. Walking the walk, talking the talk. Blog soon to be coming. I believe she will be a voice of wisdom for young people currently struggling with  addictions and unproductive behavior.

Owning a Thrift Shop in Fairfield County! Wouldn’t that be the joint? Everyone I know goes to NYU area of NYC to shop thrift, aka, Meg Ehlers, et al.. Why not create a Consignment/Thrift Shop in FF County? I love Wicked Thrift in Cape Cod, Tammy Venneri is a complete inspiration, via Christine “Krit” Campbell (her partner’s motorcycle engine site). Tammy loves Vintage! I love Vintage too.. what is better than having on something NO ONE HAS ON. I always feel unnatural mall shopping, or buying something that en masse is living in! Everything in my store would be for SALE, furniture, clothing, all sorts of items, like my friend Diane’s friend, at The Penny Pincher (total designer consignment) as well! I would also have a handcrafted section to feature some of my favorite girl designers!

I want to create a women’s networking night! All my girls with their own businesses or in business who can learn from one another, share marketing tips, get to know one another and brain storm about how to grow, and meet one another to team up for trunk shows, etc! All ideas comes to me constantly in a fervent manner, bombarding my senses. On top of all this, my writing, my belts, my stuff, it is all achingly exciting.

$198 at Anthropology

That is what this Irina Cardigan says to me.

Greta Garbo… I would require a cigarette holder, but I don’t smoke, a long one, with my hair pulled back, red lipstick and a pencil skirt- I would be sipping a martini, or perhaps a Martini and Rossi on the rocks (what is that anyway?)  It sounds  like a professional cocktail for the experienced. The background music, Nina Simone, something sad, but the good melancholy which brings forth some much needed creativity.  A great fountain pen is required because she is about to write a poem.

ornate, and perhaps a little "gangster" for her.. maybe something more elegant, and simple

 Like this:

mother of pearl, 1940s, a much better selection

Maybe something Elizabeth Barrett Browing-esqe:

I cannot express to you enough about how craft shows are not about scarecrows, wooden nutcracker figures, and knit toilet paper covers! More people should attend them! It is not easy to find them, but there are sites where you can do searches in your area to find some such as: www.festivalnet.com, www.eventlister.com , www.craftshowlist.com, among many others! I have only been known for my belts with the craft show attendees and the junior league and country club shows, could you imagine if more people knew?! I have hit such a small market and have done well for one girl with a sewing machine!! It is so much fun to make things that others like to buy and wear! It is a high of sorts. Please people, check out SONO Arts, it is a cool festival with a great vibe, lots of creativity and fun.

So today, I reach into my closet and I grab one cool a$$ shirt that my friend www.shopsaylavie.com -Jane Zuckerberg tye dyed! She has a great company where she uses contemporary brand tees, undies.. brands like Alternative and others my friend Sheri would know about! She dyes them these cool muted colors, not all rainbow and typical and I LOVE THEM. I own 3 of her shirts, and 3 pairs of tye dye undies! She definitely knows what is up. Here is my shirt today, taken this am before I jetted to work. (I look like I am ready to kick some serious a$$ in this pose, right?)

You can see a hint of my PUKA shell necklace.. which is totally 70s - LOVE IT.

And then I reach into my drawer for a banging ring, and I pick up www.rebecceadolber.com -Rebecca Dolber’s, THE GROVE STAND, Gold Wire Ring, and pop that on.

Then I grab my Nature Girl Belt by www.naturegirldesigns.com byRuthie Lopp, zip it in my J Brand Cut off Shorts and I am ready to ROCK BITCHES!

Totally cool, laid back, led zepp meets Penny Lane, Almost Famous, and sexy. This look feels like me today. If it was a little colder out, I would have put on my Frye Harness Boots with it to complete it all. Instead I have on brown leather wedge sandals with a little bead work, which totally work! Hair down, no makeup.. just chill… Hello Friday. Let’s spark up some Metallica so I can air guitar as I drive and feel cooler than shit in my car alone, bar none…. happiness.

$49.00

$79

Cashmere $39.50

$39.50