Summer Reads

| Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney | 

Took a little trip to a few of the local second hand book shops around here last week and picked up these beauties.
I actually got a few more that aren't pictured here, but I'd already read them and I'd bought them solely because they were beautiful/I didn't have them in my collection, so I thought the new ones deserved more attention. 

I still haven't read all of the books that were on last years summer reading list, but that's sort of the beauty of reading. Those books will always be there and there will always be time to read them.
Which is a good thing too because (almost daily) I am finding more and more to add to my never ending "to-read" list....

I've already, this week, read five of these though, so I think I'm making smashing progress.
I do have a feeling though that The Iliad is one my ego was more on board with than anything...
We'll see if I can actually finish it.

What are some of the books on your to-read list?

A Part

From the top of the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, England
Shot with 35mm film // Minolta x-700

It's funny how you can miss places you've only experienced for a short amount of time. 
It's kind of fitting though.
Because in that time it becomes yours. 
And rightfully so, because all of the things you experienced and saw while there. 
The place is a part of you now.

I feel like I have so many places that are a part of me.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

Fashion Friday | Wool and the Gang

So, remember that Wool and the Gang sweater kit I was knitting?
Well I finally finished it!
I finished it a while ago actually, but it took me a little while to get some photos taken of it. 
Meagan and I went to Ashby's and they were nice enough to let us snap a few film photos of it in their shop so I could share it with you guys.
(Love that green couch. Can I have it?)

Had heaps of fun knitting this up. It was super easy peasy.
Definitely go check out WATG's other knit kits!
They have so many cool ones to choose from.

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Outfit details
Sweater- Handknit from Wool and the Gangs Cross Country Coat Kit
Hat- A random shop in New Mexico
Shorts- Thrifted
Rings- Michael Kors and this Etsy shop
Necklaces- Vintage

See previous Fashion Friday posts here.
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This post is sponsored by Wool and The Gang. You can find their shop here as well as find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 
Thanks!
All photos shot in film by Meagan Abell Photography


Filmy Thoughts

Succulent Shopping
Shot with 35mm film // Minolta x-700

The anomaly of that extra photo on a roll of film.
The allotted 24 exposures which can occasionally be tricked into being 25.
The shot that you take just in case you can squeeze an extra memory into that tiny little canister of plastic.
The fun of film. 

Adventures | Delaware

Took a little mid week road trip to Delaware's Rehoboth Beach recently with one of my favorite people.
I'd never been to Delaware before, so, check that off the bucket list. 
I found a yarn shop (of course) and was planning on visiting The Fractured Prune donut shop (of course again), but didn't end up making it. 
Next time.
All in all, it was a lovely it's-the-middle-of-the-week-but-let's-pretend-it's-the-weekend getaway. 
Which are needed sometimes. 



Places Pictured
Dolles
Kitschy Stitch

Collaboration | Blackbird Tees

Remember me talking about

Blackbird Tees

awhile back?

Well I'm super excited to finally be able to share some photos with you of some of their awesome shirts!

I seriously love all of

Jody and Karl's

designs. I wear the 

Full Moon Raglan Pullover

 in particular

all

the time. In fact, I think I'm actually in denial that it's summer now and technically a little too warm to wear it as often as I do...

Please go over and check out

their shop

! They have so many lovely things up for sale. Like

these leggings

, cute

totes

, and cool stuff

for guys

too.

And hey Richmonders, they reside right here in 

RVA

!

So what better way to shop local?

These photos were taken by 

Meagan

, all on film. 

Talk about beautiful right? I swear, that lady is so talented.

/////////////

Shirts Pictured

Full Moon Raglan Pullover

Nomad Raglan Pullover

 Geometric Triangle T-shirt

Full Moon T-Shirt

This post is sponsored by Jody and Karl of Blackbird Tees. You can find their shop

here

 as well as find them on 

Facebook

,

Twitter

 and 

Instagram

. 

Thanks!

All photos taken by

Meagan Abell Photography

.

Adventures | Raleigh (Again)

I was recently in Raleigh North Carolina again. 
Got to do a little bit more exploring and found even more cool places. 
I actually just happened to stumble upon most of these spots.
Which is honestly the best kind of exploring. 
When you're just wandering around, open to whatever you might come across.
  
The Morning Times is one of the neatest coffee shops I've been to in a while. Everywhere I go in my travels I look for a unique, local, coffee shop. Because good coffee shops, really good coffee shops, are a rare art form. Most either have good atmosphere (which is a category of judgement all on it's own. Good lighting, nice seating, good noise level to work in? So many necessary specifications...) but the drinks are only so-so or vice versa.  I always get super excited when I find an awesome one. This one is definitely on my return-to list whenever I'm back in town. I only wish we had it here in Richmond. It was the perfect spot to do some photo editing at for a few hours. And their chai tea was super delicious.
(Then again I think most chai tea's are super delicious. I'm not hard to please.) 

Father & Son Antiques was also one of the best antique shops I've visited in a while. Definitely could have spent several hours in there. 
And Art Space had a really awesome installation of art. One gallery in particular, featuring artists Courtney McCracken and Tracy Spencer-Stonestreet, was my favorite. I really loved their work and the ideas behind their pieces. Very thought provoking. You can actually read about it here if you like.
And of course I had to go back to Boylan Bridge Brewpub. 
Couldn't resist getting that avocado BLT a second time... 



Places Pictured

Chandler | Senior Portraits

Meet Chandler.

If you've been a long time reader, you might remember this pretty lady from this post.
Well, she's all grown up now and headed off to college! 
We had lots of fun shooting her senior portraits a few weeks back. 
Definitely wishing her the best of luck on her next adventure in life!

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If you're a senior it's not too late to book a spot for your own portraits!
Or too early... if you're thinking about next year. ;)
Shoot me an email for more info.
by.leney@gmail.com