The Style Files: Jordan Ferney

 

Jordan Ferney is one busy lady! She is a wife, mother, event planner, letterpress printer, and author of the celebrated blog, Oh Happy Day. Jordan’s blog is known for its quirky style and a plethora of fabulous crafty ideas along with posts on home decor, wedding, fashion, entertaining, and children’s items. Oh Happy Day has been featured in several publications including Domino, Blueprint, Cookie, Apartment Therapy, and design*sponge. Jordan also teaches letterpress classes that I would love to attend, if only I were in San Francisco, and she dabbles in prop styling. She is truly passionate about everything that she does, which is evident in the care and beauty she infuses into each of her projects.

 

Name: Jordan Ferney

Occupation: Blogger, Letterpress Printer, Event Planner

Hometown: St. George, Ut

Current City: San Francisco

LDV: How did you start your career?

JF: I started out as an event planner which I pursued because I love parties. I love planning them, I love hosting them, I love attending , I even love hearing about other people's parties. Now I blog about parties and am a freelance writer for a few other websites. When I graduated from college "blogging" wasn't a career option but I love it and am so glad I fell into it.

LDV: What do you love most about it? What is the most challenging aspect?

JF: I love blogging because its basically like being a mini magazine editor. The hard part is making it financially viable. Even if you are getting a decent amount of traffic it isn't always easy to make a steady income.

LDV: Where do you find inspiration?

JF: I get inspired by getting out into the world, going to bookstores or boutiques. I also get some of my best ideas by going to thrift stores and looking for unexpected inspiration. I deliberately try not to garner inspiration from online because it gets played out so quickly.

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LDV: Who are some of your personal style icons?

JF: I have terrible personal style. I'm not just being modest either. I admire the preppy quirkiness of the Kate Spade brand and right now I'm really inspired by menswear (like everyone else) blazers, fedoras, and brogues make me happy.

LDV: How would you describe your own style?

JF: I like clean lines a little bit of femininity and a whole lot of color.

LDV: What is the trait you most admire in a person?

JF: Loyalty.

LDV: What is your principal weakness?

JF: Impatience.

LDV: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

JF: I didn't receive it but I saw it on a Abby Clawson Low's blog . "You are only as good as the obscurity of your sources." The trick is to not get inspired from things everyone has seen. If you can get inspired from an old book at a flea market and bring something new to the table, that is the secret. http://hi-and-low.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/the-archivist.html

LDV: What do you consider your greatest achievement?

JF: That I'm still madly in love with my husband and that we really like our kids.

LDV: What is your idea of living “la dolce vita”?

JF: Working on projects with my husband. He is a painter and we just did a collaborative art show where I got to choose what he painted and art direct it and then he painted it. We did a whole show on cakes (http://paulferney.bigcartel.com/) It was the most fun project I've ever worked on because we got to spend a lot of time and be creative together.  http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2010/09/let-them-eat-cake-art-show.html

 

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Bloom: Garden Roses

Food: Anything really fresh and in season

Drink: gourmet soda

Thing to Wear: vintage silk scarfs

Destination: Paris

Season: Summer

Meal: dinner

Musician: Sufjan Stevens

Artist: Paul Ferney (my husband)

Film: Cinema Paradiso: I first saw it when I was sixteen and I still love it.

Television Show: 30 Rock

Book: Anything by Dave Eggers

Magazines: I love the Martha Stewart Empire--anything they produce.

Blogs: I love ink and wit. Such a beautiful layout.

Texture: silk ribbon

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Fabric or Pattern: I love the zebra wallpaper in the Kate Spade dressing rooms.

Color: chartreuse

Scent: a freshly bathed baby

Extravagance: traveling

 

{All images via Oh Happy Day unless otherwise noted.}

Digital Chic

In a time when our world is becoming increasingly digital, there are plenty of new accessories to think about. Long gone is the time when our only concerns regarding accessories were for jewelry, scarves, and handbags. Now, we have to make sure that our digital devices are shielded in the most stylish way. Kate Spade has designed covers for both the iPhone and Blackberry, while several high-end brands, including Oscar de la Renta and Smythson have created cases for the iPad,  However, most of the time, the cases cost as much as the iPad itself.

Last week, I was doing some shopping at a bientot, my favorite destination for accessories in Houston, when I came across some fabulous wallets and card cases by Abas. Wanting to learn more about the brand and their offerings, I visited their website, where I came across a treasure trove of stylish accessories for digital devices that are not only chic, but really well priced!

{iPad Tabbed Folio in Orange Sassy Croco, $160}

{iPad Tabbed Folio in Emerald Sassy Croco, $160}

 

{iPad Simple Sleeve in Blue Sassy Croco, $120}

{iPad Studded Simple Sleeve in Black, $110}

{iPad Simple Sleeve in Multicolored Viper, $120}

{iPad Classique Simple Sleeve in Pink, $90}

 

 

{iPad Zippered Folio in Red, $135}

 

 

{Fashion Shell iPhone 3GS Leather Case in Black Viper, $36}

 

{Fashion Shell iPhone 3GS Leather Case in Blue Viper, $36. This color is my absolute favorite in the line!}

 

All of the items in the Abas line are made using fine European leather and are available in a variety of colors and textures.

 

{All Images via Abas Accessories}

A Penchant for Bold Patterns

I’ve always loved bold prints and patterns in home décor. Ikat patterns which date back for centuries have felt trendy in the past few years because of their omnipresence, but it doesn’t seem like they are going anywhere any time soon. I recently saw these gorgeous ikat rugs by Ethos on the ABC Carpet and Home website and was instantly smitten. I love the idea of incorporating a bold pattern into a room through a rug and allowing it to be a focal point. These beauties feature some gorgeous colors and patterns that would work equally well with bold, glamorous furnishings, or with a more subdued palette and clean lines. Aren’t they amazing? Which is your favorite? I go back and forth between the first and second options. Would you ever buy such a bold rug for your home?

 

{Images via ABC Carpet & Home}

10 Things I Can’t Live Without: Kyle of Knight Moves

 

 

Last week, my friend Kyle, author of the blog, Knight Moves shared a tour of her beautiful home with us. This week, she is sharing the “10 Things” she can’t live without. Her list was as thoughtful and down-to-earth as I had imagined. You see, Kyle has amazing taste and fabulous style, but she is the type of girl that anyone could imagine being friends with. It’s no surprise that I loved her list!

 

 

 

1) Dogs - I adore my three Jack Russell Terriers. They have the greatest personalities and bring lots of love and fun into my life. I find dogs to be very refreshing as compared to people and I love coming home to them!

 

 

2) Paint - whether it's paint for the walls, spray paint, oils for a canvas, or even nail polish, the transformative possibilities of paint are endless. It's such an essential creative tool and I love to use it, especially when the effect is dramatic. I think it's so great when a vintage piece gets a new lease on life through a fresh coat of paint. The dresser shown below from Pieces was beatified with some semi gloss white paint.

 

Flamant

Pieces

 

3) Apple products - Not going to lie, I'd be pretty lost with my iPhone and MacBook Pro. I also use iTunes constantly and think my husband's iPad is the jam. For me, Apple makes technology easy and fun to use and all of my Apple goodies make my life so much easier. I'm not really a tech person, but I always want whatever new product Steve Jobs is pitching! Right now it's the iPhone 4 in white...

 

 

4) The great outdoors - I love to be outside! I'm constantly amazed by the beauty of trees, water, flowers, clouds, mountains, snow, and the sun. These pics were all taken in Aspen, which is where I am now! It's so gorgeous here and nearly all of our activities take place outdoors.

 

 

5) Comfortable Bedding - Whether it's at my house or at a luxury hotel, I love a well-appointed bed. At home, I adore my Tempurpedic mattress and pillow and my Sferra Egyptian cotton sateen sheets. I'm also obsessed with blankets. I have them everywhere throughout the house!

 

 

6) Great design - I am passionate about design - interior and exterior - and really appreciate a thoughtfully executed scheme that marries form and function. Here are some a few of my favorite projects...

 

Giannetti Home

Christina Murphy

Hotel Saint Cecilia

 

7) Airplanes - Flying is my favorite method of transportation - I'm always amazed at how quickly you can get across the country or around the world in a plane. I love to travel and have a long list of places I'd like to visit and many that I've already been to that I can't wait to go back to! Paris is one of my favorite destinations...I could easily go there every year and never tire of it. Here are some shots from our last trip...

 

 

8) Comfort Food - Donuts, pizza, chocolate chip cookies, macaroni and cheese, ice cream, grilled cheese sandwiches, and pasta are all foods that make me very happy. I try to balance my food vices with working out and eating healthier options most of the time!

 

 

9) Mascara - I'm not a big makeup junkie, but mascara is the one product I can't do without. I am hooked on Cover Girl Lash Blast Luxe in the Black Emerald color. I've tried so many different mascaras including the pricey ones, and this is, by far, my favorite. It curls, fattens, and lengthens my lashes...and it doesn't flake off or get clumpy.

 

 

10) Our house - I am pretty addicted to the comforts of our house. I especially love lounging in our den. My husband and I, along with our dogs, veg out on the big sectional and watch movies.

 

 

Thanks Paloma for asking me to participate! It was a fun exercise...I tried to keep it light and not delve too deep into the really meaningful stuff like my friends and family, who I certainly wouldn't want to live without!