Creative Cowgirl, Episode 2: Do It Yourself, Art Inspired, Sharpie Cowboy Hat

The Before

Welcome to our little "Patch-A-Heaven!" We love creating and living our cowgirl lifestyle!! (I have 2 little cowgirls and we love to share our creative cowgirl projects with you.) There is a strong art vibe in fashion these days. You can see it everywhere, and why not?! Art is all around us and is very inspiring! I have loved the "Pop Art" fashion trend since Spring and will reveal my entire art inspired cowgirl look in another "Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher" post. For today, I want to share how we added some art to our cowgirl style by decorating a plain straw cowboy hat.
I was walking down the isle at Walmart the other day, when I spotted them...the 80's Glam Limited Edition of Sharpies, 24 bold colors to choose from,and if that didn't get you, the names like "banana clip yellow" and "valley girl violet" would have (if you grew up in the 80's, you like totally know what I mean, it made me want to find some leg warmers)...oh, and it sparked an idea! Why not draw some art on a plain, old straw cowboy hat?! And that's just what I did. Not using any templates or shapes, just some artful fashion inspo from Vogue and InStyle Mags and started doodling. Now I am in no way an experienced artist, I really don't draw that well at all...but this was really fun! And I love the way it turned out. And I think I need another cowboy hat because being creative always sparks more ideas and I have another...we'll save that for another day..Until then, hope you enjoy our totally awesome Sharpie Hat!

For today's project you just need some Sharpies, a hat and your creative imagination! And let it go wild!!

Here is mine:

Goes perfect with our amazing Western Skies!

You will see why I chose the colors I did in my next fashion post...I'm matching something new!

Some scrolls and dots around the edge.

The 80's Glam Collection in all it's glory!

I have never met a boring cowgirl, I mean for heaven sake we live to be different. So here's a way to stand out in your own artful way!! Never be afraid to be yourself and let the world see who you really are!

Hope you have a "Fancy" Day, with much love from "Patch-A-Heaven!"

Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher Series, Episode 9: Camel, Cowgirl Layers and Fringe

Hi friends! I had to get my mind off of my Cowgirl Tree for a minute. (I am becoming a little obsessed with her...just a little!) So what better topic to get my mind to switch gears...fashion should do the trick!! Today I bring you the current fashion trends Camel (the color), Layers and Fringe. All are trends worthy of mention these days. You may have noticed I have worn most of the components of my outfit before today. None of them are new, but that's what makes it great right?! I am a "fashion blogger" however I don't have companies lined up to get me to wear their stuff. (Yet!!) So I am just like you...I have a budget and I have to figure out ways to wear the clothes I already have, but in fresh new ways! That can be a challenge to not let your looks get stale when you have the same clothes to work with, but it can be done. For today's look I went with my favorite fashion staples: My J Brand blue, high waisted skinnies (I pretty much live in these jeans and let me tell ya..."Pajama Jeans" ain't got nothin' on these babies!) They are comfy yet stylish. And the other thing I can't live without is my light denim chambray button up shirt. (I may or may not have counted it a total of 7 times in my IG feed!) That means I like it...a lot! But it goes with everything and I love that about it!! Layering is in right now and that is perfect because it's cold outside!! The trick is to layer without creating too much bulk in areas. So to lessen this I tucked in the chambray shirt then layered the Camel colored knit dress over the top. The knit is clingy which is good so I don't look bulky. And keeping the shirt tucked keeps it smooth around the middle. I then layered on my fav Brown Concho belt. I love the leggings and skinny jeans to layer with. In this case I went with skinnies. I love them tucked into these amazing 5 layer fringe mocs from Minnetonka. They are comfy, yet stylish! And for the last layer I went with my colorful Powder River Outfitters (Panhandle Slim) fringe sweater jacket. It has Turquoise and Dark Red colors in it so I accented the look with Turquoise jewelry and Oxblood nails.
 Here is my Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher look for today. And yes it just keeps snowing here!  Which I try never to complain about! I hate the cold, but I sure like to be able to irrigate in the summer time...so bring on the snow!!

Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher, Episode 7, Follower Challenge: Orange!

Hi my lovely friends! A while ago I challenged you, my readers to come up with the next trend for my Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher Series. I chose both of the challenges! The first I want to feature is Orange. They say it's the new black, I'm not convinced, just because I think black is classic and will always be black. However, I really do like this orange trend too. There are so many orange colors to love! Bold neons, soft corals, and earthy toned oranges which is what I chose today. To accent orange I really like the leopard print and so I went with these Leopard Ariat Fat Baby's and they have a bit of orange in their stitching which is perfect! They are hard to find though! I finally located a pair at Drysdale's! The jeans are colored skinny's from a local boutique called Contagious. The light Chambray denim top is my favorite shirt! It's from a local SLC shop called Koo-de-ker. The belt I have had for years, I bought it while in Vegas for the NFR. The sweater I scored at Callister's sale! I love the Aztec print and faux fur embellishments! I accented with turquoise jewelry which I also love with orange! Here's
how I style Orange. Thanks Amy for the challenge! What is your favorite orange color this season?

 

 

 

Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher, Episode 6: Trend Capes and Fringe, The Mini-Cowgirl Cape

You don't have to be Superman to love capes!! The runway is filled with coats that have cape-like
draping, capes and fringe, I'm in! So today's look is how I would style cape-like draping and the fringe trend in our cowgirl way. My oldest daughter has been begging me to make her a "poncho" so I decided to make one.  I bought a yard of Suede Cloth from Joann Fabrics, using the 40% off coupon, score! And then used a Simplicity children's cape pattern. I modified the pattern so as not to use the hood or the tie that is included in the pattern. I have also always wanted to learn how to embroider using beads so I added beaded embellishment to the neck of the cape/poncho. My little was super excited (she had to wear it to school today!)and this went together pretty fast. The sewing is super simple, it's just sewing the back seam together, and finishing the neck with a hem, it's the fringe cutting around the bottom and the beading that took the most time. I still however was able to finish it in a day. (I beaded while overseeing the kids homework.) I think this would be gorgeous and luxurious in a real Suede, but this will do for now! Here are a few pics of the first one I did:

A little fringe inspiration from InStyle Mag.

Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher, Episode 5: Peplum Cowgirl and a Throwback Belt

Hello my fine friends. Welcome back to "Patch-A-Heaven!" Today I bring you the latest look in my Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher Series. In this series, I take runway trends and style them with my cowgirl flare. I have loved the peplum trend since it came round!! And I love that it has lasted this long. Sometimes a trend is here today and gone by noon, but this feminine look is staying put for Fall. So here is my peplum done up "cowgirl style." From some of you I may get an "Oh no....she didn't!" just mix a Western belt/buckle with English style riding boots. But....I did!! And I love it! I put my brown cowboy boots on first and it just didn't go. So I switched and I think it's a keeper. The belt is a real throwback to my childhood! I got this belt for Christmas from my dad when I was really young!! I have had it for years, it's pretty crazy that it still fits. I found it in the tack room the other day and thought it would go perfect with this outfit. It has my name on the back, how quaint! (why did we stop doing that??) And I chose this buckle for it's gold coloring and it's a throwback too, so it goes perfectly with the belt. (I won this in 4-H in 1994, way long time ago!) The boots are Madden from last season. The clutch is a gold sequin number I snagged from Brickyard Buffalo. The peplum top is a Fancy Ewe Creation, I used a retro 1940's inspired Simplicity pattern and altered it a bit to suit me. The necklace is from Koo-de-ker. And the jeans are J Brand. (I love these jeans! Expensive...yes, but they are so comfortable and they hold their shape! Also Koo-de-ker.) Of course you could easily wear cowboy boots, just the style/color combo I had didn't flow. (I think someone needs a new pair of brown cowboy boots.) Peplums are so fun and feminine! Grab one and style it up Cowgirl!

And have a fancy day!!

Here are some pics of my peplum cowgirl look:

Here is a pic of the throwback belt.

This is the pattern I used to make the peplum top, I however modified it. I made the opening in the back with a zipper, used the back for the front and used shirring at the neckline and waist to cinch it in.

Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher Series, Episode 2: The Cowgirl Midi Skirt

Hey Y'all! (No...I'm not from Texas, but I am a cowgirl so it just seemed fitting to say Y'all!) Today I have the 2nd of what I hope to be many posts in a series I call "Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher." You know that I love current runway trends, but I'm also a cowgirl at heart. So in these posts I will give you current, popular trends with a dose of my cowgirl flare!
To read about the inspiration for this series you can view the post on my blog called: "Fashionable Farmer/Runway Rancher is Born!" Link Here:

This is the summer of the skirt! You are seeing either Maxi's or Midi's... I love both! So today I am giving you my "cowgirl midi skirt." The term "midi" just means that the skirt hangs from the waist and hemline is from knee to mid calf in length and the skirts are usually more full . Because I wanted to wear boots with mine I felt a hemline closer to the knee looked best. I love this type of skirt with heels also, but for today things are gettin' a little Western! I made the midi skirt I am wearing in the post today. I chose a dark chambray denim fabric. I did a pretty tight gather as to add the fullness I wanted to achieve. I love the way it turned out! It's full, flirty and fun. Then I paired the midi with a beautiful, white sheer top I found at Koodeker in SLC. (If you haven't made a stop in this quaint shop...you should!) As for accessories I chose my red Lucchese boots, a custom made turquoise beaded necklace that has a boot pendant (my momma made this for me a couple years ago, I love it!) The clutch is made of an ultra-suede and has a ruffle.(fancyewe design.) And the earrings are designed and handmade by the amazing Anna Kozole from KMK Designs Park City! I love these earrings, they are some of my favorites!! The copper cuff is designed and made by my little sister. (Man I have lots of talented women in my life!)


Maggie, my pretty little mare.

Here I'm wearing the midi with a lighter chambray denim top, also from Koodeker.

These boots were made for walkin'... And dancin' and stompin' and all things cowgirl! My fav Lucchese's.

Gettin' me some horsey kisses. Maggie is the lovin'est horse ever!! I don't mind a little mare slober.

Ahhh...it's the headless cowgirl!!



With the white Koodeker top.

The accessories shot. Lovin' these earrings from KMK Design Park City!

With the chambray Koodeker top.

Justa swingin'!



A good shot of my "Ombre" hair. (It's called I haven't had highlights put in for too long. Watch out for the black hole. I think I like "Ombre" better!!

I think I'm looking at the dreamy guy on the other end of the camera in this one! Handy Hubby is also pretty handy at taking pics. Who knew?!

Photo shoots are way more fun with horses!!



Happy Trails from "Patch-A-Heaven"
 

I'm having a great time making current trends cowgirl. If you like this style, stay tuned! For now, hope you have a "Fancy Day!" Loves, Kacey