I had a dream about these shoes.

Ruby, Do You Know Wedge

Modcloth

SOLD OUT

As soon as these are back in stock...

they will be

MINE!

#WANT - Dooney&Burke Princess Collection

Bucket Bag

Satchel

Tote

Wristlet

Dooney & Burke Princess Collection

Dooney & Burke has paired with Disney to create this amazing collection of handbags.

Normally, I am not a fan of Disney, or princesses or flashy patterns.

But these bags are just MAGICAL!

I don't know what it is about Dooney & Burke that I love so much.

Maybe its because, growing up, my mom always had the newest Dooney...

The navy and tan leather with gold accents.

So classic.

And even their newer lines are gorgeous!

The craftsmanship, the quality leather.

The wristlet is the cheapest, priced at $70 at the Disney store,

but the one I want is the satchel.

It costs a pretty penny at $220.

I doubt I will be getting it anytime soon (if ever)

But I will drool over them anyway!

Those Who Can't Buy, MAKE!

 I really wasn't intending to post for WMW today, out of sheer laziness but what the hey...Here are the prompts... #1. Favorite recipe, organizational tip, or money saving tip!
#2. Would you rather have more money and less flexibility at your job, or less money and more flexibility?

I'm gonna go with #1 today... can you guess what my tips are?
It's about clothes...

BUY USED!
Make it NEW!

Recently I started posting some "I Bet I Can Make These" posts
here, here and here.
They consist of things that I love but can't afford but think I can make myself.
(I think the title is self-explanatory)

I love fashion. I love shoes. I love clothes.
I don't have a lot of money.
A lot of my clothes are hand-me-downs or second hand.
Many of my "designer" high end pieces... Good Will.
Yeah.

Not only do you support your community when you shop at Good Will, but you can save a FORTUNE and look great! Often, Good Will has close outs from stores that are new-with-tags. Can't beat that.
Salvation Army and Value Village are good ones too.
In my town, we have a store called Dumpster Values.
Its a second hand store with some amazing pieces.
In fact, the top I am wearing today came from their $1 bin.


Here are a couple blog links that have some great re-fashioning ideas.
Scissors, Glue Paint - Aynie posts her favorite links from around the web.
Grosgrain - Kathleen has a "Thrift" feature to show her readers how to make the most of their thrift store clothing finds.
Clothed Much - Eileen shows how to make the most of a limited wardrobe.
Kendi Everyday - Kendi is the brain behind the 30 for 30 wardrobe remix. Its a great way to expand your outfits without spending money.
UCreate, tatertos & jello and Tea Rose Home
are also some great sites with awesome crafting ideas!

Even Julia has refashioned some clothing for her daughter!

For alot of things, you don't even need a sewing machine.
With just a needle, thread and some patience you can have a one of a kind, fashionable (and CHEAP) wardrobe!

I Bet I Can Make These - Vol. III

I hate to spend money on things I can make instead.

Most of the time, I just don't buy things and never make them.

Here are some items I love right now and am currently brainstorming on how to DIY them.

Moschino Cheap and Chic

Bow Embellished wool sweater

$495

Victorian Trading Company

Chantilly Lace Cloche

$219.95

Pottery Barn Kids

Jumbo Paper Butterfly Chandelier

$59

Miley's Backless Shirt

I can't figure out who makes it, but it's probably very expensive.

ETA-

Obesity and Speed

Shredded Cobweb Tee

$119.20

Britney's Flower Purse

Another one w/ no product info,

Cute though, right?

I *think* it might be by Coach.

I may like to shop, but I am very cheap frugal.

I shop Goodwill, sales, thrift stores.

I don't buy designer item, unless they are on sale (for a steal!).

But I do have expensive tastes!

So as any poor craftster would do...

I make them

MYSELF!

ETA - Just saw these! OMG!

These are a definate DO!

ModCloth Semillion Flat

44.99

 

Bargain-ista.

I went on a little Goodwill shopping spree yesterday.

And I was pleased to find everything 40% off!

I only spent about $15.

This trench was only $6.50.

Mossimo (from Target) and in nearly new condition!

And this dress... a whopping $4.

It has an Asian-language tag on it.

And this tunic, only $3.50

It looked like a traditional Indian kurta. It was definitely handmade.

It had slits up either side that went up pretty high, but it was pretty long,

Almost to my knees.

So, I decided to turn it into a dress.

Using hem tape, I sealed the slits on the side.

Then, I sewed some lace ruffles over the seams.

Last, I added another ruffle down the front and some pearl buttons.

Paired with black accessories (tights, shoes, belt) it looks pretty darn cute.

And did I mention it has pockets too? 

I lurve dresses with pockets!

I'm sure I will end up wearing my new dress sometime this week, so I will post full shots then.

I just really wanted to share my bargain finds with you.

I'm always so proud of myself when I score a great deal.

Slowly but surely...

I am listing items in my Etsy store!!!

(Currently taking a short rest, but I'll be back to listing more items after sustenance)

Unfortunately, I'm not listing as much as I would like.  

BUT!!! 

I have it all worked out in my planner.  

An update schedule.  

Me! Scheduled! Do you believe it?

I intend to list new product each week this month, focusing on a specific product each week. 

This week... BOWZ!

And in future weeks, be sure to look for 

HEADBANDS!

and

FEATHERS!

and

EARRINGS!

and 

MORE BOWZ!

OH MY!

Me Gusta

Pink Schwinn Cruizer

Target $169

I want one.

BAD!

Weekend Thrifty-ness!

Went to Funk Junk again this weekend, hit up Goodwill too. Nothing like some good thrift shopping to put a crafty girl in a good mood.

I think my favorite purchase was this cuff bracelet:

I especially like how each end looks like a bullet, now that's hardcore!

This week she had a trunk of jewelry that was all buy one get one. I think I got 10 things for $15. Not too bad.

There were some neat brooches:




This nautical one especially struck my fancy. It'll be a great addition to another leather bag I am painting.


I also love these clip-on earrings, although I think I may be giving them a new life as a pendant or brooch perhaps, maybe both! (With chunky turquoise and gunmetal findings... I can just see it now!)


I also scored a straw hat (great for sunning) some other little necklaces and do-dads... and this rad shirt:


Being a Washington gal, I was WAY into the whole grunge mid-90's flannel Nirvanna era..... and now flannels are coming back into style (well, if you ask Nicole Ritchie... but I think she is quite fetch!) and I have long gotten rid of all my cool ones. Time to re-stock at a bargain!

Sure, I could spend $50 on a vintage flannel knockoff at Quicksilver... but WHY would I want to when I can buy a REAL vintage flannel for $3 at Goodwill? Answer me that!

I often wonder what it says about me that I would rather wear rad vintaged/thrifted duds than the name-brand shit from Nordstrom?


PS - Remind me to post the dress I got at Fun Junk. I need to press it and take it in some in the bust, but it is GORGEOUS and fits perfectly (except for the bust) and I can't wait for the right occaision to wear it!

Tuesday Cute-day!

It doesn't take much too see that lately I have been obsessed with all things woodland. It's even so noticeable that Hubs called me out on it. Whether it be the naughty little fawn in my header or the "Wood you be mine? I'm nuts about you" card that I gave him for Valentine's Day. Owls, mushrooms, fawns, Gnomes (especially gnomes), I'm bat-s*th crazy about them all! And if you are a frequent Etsy "window" shopper like I am, you have probably seen the darling little moss terrariums that many sellers have in their shoppes.

Here are some that I love!!!


Love the Little Pet shop pet in there... may have to swipe one of Harley-beast's. This one is from CharlotteCramer


In necklace form? How cute is this???
From 4TheSparrowsNest.


You can even get DIY kits from LadyFarrah.

Now, I'm always hesitant to pruchase something ($20 for moss? I don't think so) that I can make myself, as many crafters are. So with the help of my favorite internet tool (Google) I went off to search blogland to see if there were any DIY tutorials so I can make my own. I mean, moss in a jar, how hard is that, right? LOL!

I was actually able to find several great sites, all with different directions. Some said to add rocks to the bottom, some said soil only, some said soil and rocks, some said soil, rocks and activated charcoal... but the best one I found was this tutorial from I Dare Say.

Cute and simple... just like I like. AND I'm pretty sure that the sidewalk I take my daily walks on is covered in moss, so guess what I will be doing on my afternoon break. I may even have to hit up the dollar store at lunch to see what they have in the way of containers.

I'm very excited to try this out, I might even make a whole collection of them to keep my Gnome (Henry, he was a Christmas gift) company.


ETA - Found some nice containers at Dollar Tree and got some moss from the sidewalk when I took my afternon walk. I plan on working on these tonight so I'll take pics and let you know how it goes!

Timely Advice to the Expectant Mother and other Fun Junk

I made my weekly trip to Fun Junk today. I totally love that store... even just the smell when you walk inside, it just smells old. Like the pages of an old book. Speeking of book pages... check this out. It's from a 1925 medical text!


Click the picture if you would like to view the complete page.

I seriously love this place. She didn't really have anything new, but I had my weekly $20 Fun Junk allowance burning a whole in my pocket. It's actually part of my craft buget, but I save so I have a little to spend here everyweek.

I bought a jar of buttons. A big ole canning jar full of lovely vintage buttons in every color. I've already bought one jar of her buttons and have spent alot of time trying to convince myself that I DID NOT need another jar of buttons... I'm sorry, but I'm weak and I just couldn't do it.


Sorry again for the crappy cell phone pic.

That's right... I bought them.

I can't wait to get home and dump them out and sort them. First I sort out the "extra pretty special buttons" and then I sort by color/type and then they go in bowls in my craft room. I keep them in bowls b/c I love the pretty colors and like to have them on display.

Seven more days 'till I can go back. ;)

Happy Friday!

I tried... I really did.

I tried not to buy you, but I was in love. When you were first listed on Monday, I knew I wanted you immediately. ButI need another scarf like I need a hole in the head... but it was SO pretty. And PURPLE! But I restrained myself (well, the empty checking account helped alot too). I checked on you every day, making sure you weren't sold. No, still there, as if saying "Buy me Kelsy, you deserve it!" And yet STILL I restrained myself.

Then last night, inside my half of the fortune cookie that came with our Chinese food (the other half was graciously shared with Goose), the deal was sealed. My fortune read...

"You will find power with the color purple this week."

Huh?

Who know what that means, but it was enough for me. It was out of my hands, fate sealed the deal. I mean, c'mon... it was written in a fricken FORTUNE COOKIE for sh*ts sake. That scarf was supposed to belong to me!

So today, after depositing my paycheck, I checked DreamsOfMay's Etsy Store one. more. time. And it was still there. See, meant to be. I told ya.

Now, its on its way to my door and will be warming my neck very soon.

SALE!

In my Etsy store! All Christmas/seasonal charms are on sale. Sale prices are reflected in the listing. Also, check back this weekend as I will be listing lots of charms and earrings. Maybe some other fun stuff too if I get sround to it. I am working on some art journals right now that are coming together nicely.

OMG - I actually listed items on Etsy!!!

I finally got around to listing some items on Etsy. Can you believe it? I've only been talking about it since...... September? So I'm a bit of a procrastinator and of course life got in the way, me getting sick and my camera crapping out and not knowing how to use my "new" one.

I got lucky though, the sun was shining today, so I was able to get some good pics of the jewelry I have made. Hoping for sun tomorrow so I can photograph my page charms and get those in the shoppe as well. Maybe tonight I might whip up some more felt ornaments too, but who knows.

So come check out my Jill of All Trades and buy some stuff. LOL!

Cool Etsy Store

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5032903

Saw this today and thought it was cool!

I'm in love!

With this store I found on Etsy today! Look at all of her beautiful trims and flowers. They are so vintagey and romantic. MemrieMare. I especiall love this and who wouldn't love this but of course then there is this. Its all so very very pretty and if you love ribbon as much as I do, I know you'll love it too!