Groovy Gift Ideas- Vintage housewares!

You know this person, they have it all, and in every color. So you end up buying them a gift basket. Well, take a gander at ME & Blue's groovy vintage-ware for the home.

Check out this smoked black and silver highball and ice-bucket set...a conversation starter for sure.

Or pick up these cute floral mugs for when they want to cozy up with that cup of tea.

These sunny striped yellow and orange juice glasses...

...will be sure to brighten their day.

Starting at $35, Vintage-ware, a unique gift for that certain someone who has it all.

Happy Holiday shopping!  Danielle

Winter Watercolor with Momma Blue

My mom, Mary-Blue is designing this year's family Christmas card.  She's wearing the "Justin" sweater below at our cabin in North Carolina.  

She includes her own original piece of artwork as the cover of the card, then includes photos and blurbs about what the family has been doing for the year. The cover this year is of a old barn on Old Log Road in Green Mountain, North Carolina (outside of Asheville).  We take our daily walks there when on vacation.   

voila!  She will reduce this image down and have it printed up.  Friends and family look forward to the card every year.  Happy Holidays!  XO, M.E. 

A touch of berry

I was out walking today and saw this berry bush.  I love this color.  I'll have to bring in this image next time I'm out shopping for lipstick, fabric, and even a pretty velvet for redecorating my place.  XO, M.E. 

Air travel. No pillow, no blanket, no problem!

My boyfriend and I did a quick flight to see my family in Asheville, North Carolina for the Thanksgiving holiday. I was excited to take a red eye flight to be at my family's cabin in time for dinner. At 11 PM the night before the holiday, I was looking forward to a "red eye" flight from LAX with the airlines providing at least a lumpy pillow and a disposable blanket.

uuh...No. Thank goodness I had worn some layers.

Between the Elizabeth cowl neck (worn as a hood to keep me warm), cozy hat (another layer over my ears), and the Lola serape (doubling up as a blanket), I was able to cozy up and doze for a couple of hours on the overnight flight.

There was no service cart to offer water ... but Dave got me a glass of red wine. And his "Line 6" earplugs were totally helpful on the inter-continental flight. At the Charlotte, North Carolina airport, Google was kind enough to provide bean bag chairs to rest on between flights to promote their free wifi. I was exhausted.

I love to travel. But next time, I'll double check with the airline that blankets and pillow come with the flight. In the meantime, I'll keep working with what I'm wearing for a comfy flight. Cowl necks, serapes, and cozy hats always help. And maybe all airports consider bean bag chairs. Safe and comfortable travels this holiday season. XO, M.E.

Get your gift on... part 1!

Great holiday gifts are in store at the boutique.

Here are some ideas....

Vintage earrings, bling rings and bracelets ($20 and up)

Fun bracelets to layer, groovy necklaces, and fun earrings.

$18 and up....

 One-of-a-kind feather clips at $40...

and more!   Free gift wrapping.  Get your gift on!

XO, M.E. 

Happy Thanksgiving from ME & Blue

This photo was taken a few years ago of me and my sister, Blue in Thomastown, Ireland.  We introduced her Irish friends to the concept of this holiday and they loved it.  They didn't quite understand, it, but they loved the potluck that we threw and the fab music at Murphy's Pub.  Happy Thanksgiving!  XO, M.E. 

Guest blog-o-rama

24 hours doesn't seem like enough most days. Between my classes at FIDM, designing and producing the ME & Blue line, and working at the boutique...delegation is the key. Look for a guest blog from Danielle (shown above left)...she works at the boutique a few days a week and is my reliable detail-oriented friend and 'Can Do' gal. She takes some pretty cool photos, too. Just wait til we launch our website! XO, M.E.

Justin Sweaters... cozy up!

The Justin Sweater is one of our newer styles.  I love it.  This ankle length style is the perfect winter throw-on coat. You can wear it open, or wrap it around for a cozier fit.  


It's just like my neighbor, Justin.  She's super versatile --- a Life Coach, Personal Chef, and Animal Lover (like me!)  Remember Chase?  The dog that I found in an alley last summer? She found a loving home with my fab neighbor.  And those 3 tiny dogs below?  She rescued them from the Lange Foundation.  As my boyfriend, Dave says... "Justin.  She's cool."  The Justin sweater.  $125 to $145 in grey, navy, and our Missioni-eque print (shown).  XO, M.E. 

Fabulous Fall Sale!

Annaleigh (my honorary 8 month old cousin), took some time to model herself in the sale bin on Saturday.  I took out the red pen and marked down lots of goodies...Candice dresses in taupe and brown ($85 to $59), Frances sweaters in red and purple ($95 to $69), and much, much more!  Dig through our new sale section!  Goodies await.  XO, M.E. 

Disco Donna...and the belt to match

Donna Summer is the queen of disco.  And the bling and sequins she wore onstage in the 70's and '80s were just as dazzling as her voice.  We now have the "Donna" bling belts in store.  In a range of sizes... $35 to $45.  Ooooooh!  "Love to Love You, Baby!"  

post retail therapy...

I'm recovering from our fab event last night.   I'm so happy with the amazing customers who love the store. What savvy, inspirational women!   I'll be posting fun photos soon.  In the meantime, Danielle is at the boutique and my post-retail therapy is a manicure and pedicure from Main Attraction in Santa Monica.  I got this groovy OPI nail polish at the FIDM Scholarship Store for $1 the other day.  Now I'm home and hanging with Angie Mae under my cabana, watching Netflix, and a hoping to take a nice nap.  

I can finally watch "Long Way Down" with Ewan McGregor.

 I love documentaries, and this one promises to be a ton of fun...

Yay.  XO, M.E. 

Bling a ling

Our "Bring a Friend" event is tomorrow, Thursday 11/19.  It's our first event and I'm excited about these goody "bling" bags that we're giving away with any purchase of $50 or more during the event.  We've decorated for the holidays (hello sparkly tinsel) ...bling bling!  Check out the holiday window with a fab faux fur vintage Sasson coat and the fun sparkle Kristin top.  Stop by for our "Bring a Friend" event!  We look forward to meeting you!  XO, M.E. 

If you can't stop, smile as you go by.

This sign is painted on the side of a silo in "downtown" Cherokee, OK.  I visit there a couple of times a year, and everytime I go, I stop with my family and we take funny photos.  I love this sign. Especially here in Los Angeles, we have a hard time stopping as we are driving by something fun.  I get customers in daily who say, "I have been driving by for awhile and have been wanting to stop in."  I'm thinking that the groovy flowers outside and fun designs make them smile as they drive by.  And one day they'll stop and discover the goodies inside of the boutique.  XO, M.E. 

Lovely Lola serapes...in new colors!

I'm mad for Missoni, but the fabulous Italian line of clothing doesn't fit my budget (yet!)  So...I designed these fun serapes from missioni-esque scarves.  At least their inspiration lives on here in Venice!  Wear them as a poncho, double them up as a thick scarf, too!

Lauren Brand, who owns her own PR company here in LA bought one for herself (shown), and one for her mom! 

Ruby came by to say hello, and after seeing the purple tee, purple hair, and purple serape, I reminded them how much I love purple!  Lola serapes...$75 in prints, $65 in solids.    

XO, M.E. 

Kristin tops!

The Kristin tops are now in store!  Named after my friend Kristin Austin.  We became friends in the late 90's when we both lived in Philadelphia and volunteered with the Young Friends of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.   

Kristin --- with me in 2000, and with her brother and sister-in-law last year.  

We lost touch for awhile, as she moved to San Francisco, and I left Philadelphia behind to move to LA.  Like the new top, Kristin is smart (hello Duke University!) and feminine, too.  Check out her beautiful blue eyes!  

The Kristin top --- now in store....Copper, Ivory, Magenta, Black, and sparkly Grey.  $78.  

XO, M.E. 

HEEEEE HAW!

Saturday nights growing up in Jacksonville, FL.  We watched this.  The historic era of turning the dial on the TV and no remote controls....eating Hamburger Helper and waiting for the Love Boat and Fantasy Island to come on later.     

This clip is hysterical.  Check out Johnny Cash.  The Granddaddy of Alt Country.  

My boyfriend Dave also loved this show and grew up in New Jersey.  I guess silly country humor, jokes that both parties can laugh at, and all american style translate well, no matter where you are. 

Happy weekend! 

XO, M.E. 

Bring a Friend...Thursday, 11/19 --- 6-9 PM. Spread the word!

CLICK on the image above...print it out and share with your friends!  See you next week!  

XO, M.E. 

Sophia-Blue... sassy and sweet sweaters.

The Sophia tops are here!  Named after my adorable niece, Sophia Blue.  yep..."Blue" is a family name.  Virginia-Blue (sister), Mary-Blue (mom), Sophia-Blue (niece), ______ - Blue (my yet to be conceived future daughter).  

Sophia-Blue is just getting into her own personality, as she is less than a year old.  The style was conceived from the best-selling "Candice" dress, named after her mom.  $68 in cream, putty, and black.  

XO, M.E. 

Mannequin mania...

Remember those mannequins I bought last weekend in Palm Springs?  

See what a bit of paint and a bit of vision can do!  

   

Ta da!  

 Thanks to our shop guy, Phillip who endured a couple of days of spray painting and hanging up these finds on our signature white chain.  

Small spaces, big improvements.  Yippee.