Updated Etsy Shop! Plus, 5% Off!

Zipper Necklace

Real Swarovski Crystal Heart

Real Swarovski Teardrop Crystal

Looks like a rainbow in the right light.

Cameo flower pendant. The only gold/bronze item I sell.

Can you believe this was a glass bead?

This was a brooch!

Made from a vintage chandelier that's over 100 years old!

Made for a pin, I took this and turned it into a ring.

Aren't these just gorgeous? Look at all the different colors!

And now, for the best part-- the discount! To get 5% off your next order, use the coupon code WINTER11

The site can be found by clicking here.

Love you all! Have a happy holiday and wonderful new year!

Showing Some Love

I'm in another one of those moods today and I've decided to post another list of things that make me happy. You might see some overlap with the last list but only because some things just really make me incredibly happy. =) So here goes!

Pretty envelopes!

JC Penney, ModCloth, TJ Maxx & Target Haul

Hello everyone! I just returned from some afternoon shopping with my dad. I initially went out to buy hangers because I needed them and ended up purchasing some clothes as well. The ModCloth purchase was for Christmas and I didn't want to post just one thing. The TJ Maxx purchase is from a few weeks ago but I had to have the dress altered so it fit me before I took pictures of it. It was 8 or so inches too large and I loved the dress too much to pass it up. So since we're on the topic of TJ Maxx, let's start with it. Here is the beautiful dress I bought:

Here is a close-up of the pattern:

What's In My Bag?

Hi all! I hope you're doing well. So I've been meaning to do a "What's In Your Bag?" post for a while now, but never get around to doing it. My camera battery is seconds from death and I can't find the charger for the life of me. So here are some poor pictures of what is, in fact, inside my purse. Enjoy!

A Darker, Cuter Sense of Fashion

So these past few days I've been in a sour mood. Combined with the fact that I've been wanting to do a post about the emo/scene fashion for a while, I figured now was the best possible time to write a post. Some background on my feelings about scene fashion include the following facts:

1. Scene is the most interesting style I've ever come across.

2. Scene fashion almost depresses me because the cutesy type of scene reminds me so much of childhood. Cutesy scene is the style of scene where the person is a blend of adorable (Hello Kitty, bows, tutus, etc.) and colorful with minimal piercings.

So onto the show!

From Junk to Jewelry

Hi everyone! Today I was hit with some serious inspiration and I decided I'd share with you some of the new jewelry I've created and posted in my shop. Links are attached to the photos so you can check out the descriptions or even purchase something, if you'd like. First, the necklaces.

Epic Fail of Not So Epic Proportions

I'm sure you guys remember my post, An Item For My Closet of Wanting. I promised I would mess around with some fabrics to try and create that Balmain skirt. Well, the good news is that it's possible (obviously). The bad news is that I couldn't get the pieces to stay together. Leather is a pain in the behind to sew! I can't honestly say I have a tutorial because the pieces I used produced something similar to the original picture, not the actual product. Therefore I'd like to say that the key here is LAYERS.

I started with one long layer of mesh from an old skirt, which gave me the shape I needed to build around. I cut away pieces of the mesh and pinned some sequined fabric and chains onto the material to build the bottom layer of the skirt, and for the top layer pinned the leather scraps with more monochrome fabrics. I figured it was just a puzzle, with pieces in need of being put together and pieces that needed to be cut away to reveal another puzzle altogether.

The final product looked kind of silly, but that's essentially how I would have created it had I possessed a working sewing machine capable of sewing leather. I was tempted to punch holes into the leather and sew it with strips of grey yarn or embroidery floss, but seeing as I wouldn't seriously be able to wear the skirt, I didn't do more than keep the pins in place and admire my first and only attempt.

I apologize for not taking any pictures, but if I try this again with a working machine and a smaller model, I will definitely record as much of the new attempt as I can. Have a great day!

J.C. Penny Haul

Another shopping trip? So soon after the T.J. Maxx trip? Why, yes, yes indeed! I embarked on a journey to JCP intending to purchase bras, but became sidetracked by the fact that, oh, there was a summer sale where everything was 30-70% off. On the first floor, I discovered the basics, some 2 for $12 tees and tanks (total of $24):

T.J. Maxx Haul

So I've been surfing YouTube for some inspiration, mainly because I want to knit a ruffle scarf, and stumbled across some videos about store hauls. I had nothing better to do so I watched a few, and some really entertaining posters inspired me to talk about my most recent journey to T.J. Maxx. I hope this doesn't bore you to death, being my first haul display and all, along with the fact that I didn't buy very much.

A black vest with crocheted back detail ($12):

My Current Etsy Clothing Obsession

Once again, the amazing talented creators on Etsy have blown my mind. I stumbled across Hopee's handmade goods while searching for some more indie inspiration. Yet again I have to refrain from posting dozens of photos and post only my favorites and hope you'll visit the link to her shop. Her prices are so reasonable, I'm in shock. Her items could definitely go for much more, in my opinion, they're so wonderful.

I am in love! Insert all of these into my Closet of Wanting!

Etsy Finds of the Patchwork Persuasion

So what is this post about, you ask? Well, you shouldn’t really have to ask if you read the title, but that’s okay. We all have our goldfish moments. Trust me. I had to look at the title to remind myself what I was writing about. Har har. =)

I adore clothes put together like this. Patchwork pieces are so refreshing and can look retro but really are quite futuristic in my head. They can be so flattering and so fun, and are definitely conversation starters. The best part about them is how playful they can be. I have a mild obsession with children’s games and I’m openly envious that they have Arts & Crafts every day, which this style of clothing reminds me of.

An Item for My Closet of Wanting

I want this skirt.

I was on gURL today and someone posted this exact picture, wanting to make a similar version of it. According to her, it’s a Balmain creation and that apparently means it’s bogus expensive. She asked for help so I offered as good a breakdown of the skirt as I could, and in doing so realized how much fun it would be to make.

I’m off to tinker with some leather scraps I have and see if I can make it work in my size. If I can work in some tulle, I’ll head to the store and buy sequined fabric. Also, chainmail kits. I highly doubt they sell finished chainmail anywhere in my price range.

Excited!

And you bet if I can make this work, I’ll post a tutorial. =)

What Is Indie?

Let me start by saying I’m not trying to offend anyone who believes themselves to be indie. I know what the original indie style is and what it stands for. I find it amusing to Google “indie fashion” and see the trendicized version of indie versus the serious indies who are truly about steering clear of the mainstream. To me, there is nothing wrong with either version. This being said, I have some pictures I’d like to share of a few fashions I find quite attractive.

Let us begin with the following:

The Expected Introduction

Hello all! If you’re reading this, I’d like to give you a massive cyber hug because your support makes my day. Possibly my week. We’ll see. Anyway, on to a brief description of this blog so you know whether or not you’re wasting your time. I’ve provided what I will cover in list format because paragraphs can be so tedious. Sigh. The list:

• movies, including my own productions and reviews of those out in theaters
• fashion, including DIY tips, my own outfits, and trends/items I like
• crafts, from tutorials to things I’d love to learn how to do
• cooking and baking recipes, because I love to share
• the occasional weight loss update, including health tidbits, fun exercises, and my goals
• organizational tips, catered to deal with the messy person in each of us
• alerts for sales at my online store

Fin! I’ve decided it would be more fun to take requests from people, so if you have a question or suggestion for a tutorial, post, recipe, etc., etc. do feel free to leave a comment or ask me. I’ll see what I can scrounge up. In the meantime, I’ll put it out there that if you follow me, I will return the favor. =) Now, this post has served its purpose and thus will conclude in 3…2…