WIWT - RVA/Elsie Dress!

When my mom saw me today she asked,

"What are you? Twelve?"

Yeah, I know.  I'm not normally a "dress-over-pants" girl.

In fact, its not a look I care for.

Okay... detest.

But I got this dress from RVA made by Ms. Elsie herself.

And I have really wanted to wear it.

Well,  I wore it to Goose's birthday party last Saturday,

with magenta tights, a yellow cardi and my cowboy boots.

But I forgot my camera.

And didn't get ANY party pictures. At all.

But it was cold today. Like, really cold.

Storming cold.

SNOWING, on April 2nd, cold.

So I wore pants. Yup.

I also cut my hair today.

I decided I needed short bangs.

They are a little longer than I want, but that will be fixed.

I like them. Its a fun change!

What do you think of my earrings?

I found some COOL knit buttons in a grab bag from Fun Junk and

made them into earrings!

Do the short bangs make me look younger?

More Asian? 

Huh... 

I haven't had bangs since I was eight, I think!

WIWT - Casual Friday

I love my job.

I love the dress code at my job.

I work for an attorney but it's just my boss and I and he is pretty laid back.
We "wear our uniforms to Court," and since we "take what we do seriously" we don't have to dress that way all the time.

So really, for me, everyday is pretty much Casual Friday.
But personally, I like to dress up...
So most days, I get up early, shower, make-up, hair.
I usually have my outfits picked out in advance.
I have been known to plan out all my work outfits for the entire week on the weekend.
No joke.

Anyway, 99.9% of the time, out side of work, I am a jeans and tee kinda girl.
I like cardigans, jeans, and camisoles.
Hoodies and yoga pants could be lived in... if I never left the house.
The "mom" uniform, ya know?

It's versatile, easy to fall into... I get it.
But I also try to remember that I have to get dressed everyday,
I might as well dress in something cute.
Right?

And...

No matter what, I always wear earrings.
A little promise I made to myself when I was preggo.

And... if you haven't noticed yet, I shop alot of sales and second hand.
I want to be an example to other moms that you can still dress cute (and be comfy!)
and not go broke.

A *new* version of my "Other Mother" necklace!!

I played around with the concept and think I really like this!

I'll have them for sale at my booth at Craft x NW!

Sweater: Steve & Barrys, $8

Shirt: Funk Junk, Vintage Lee, $10

Jeans: Macys, Grane, $25

Shoes: Target $10

Hat: Target $10

Jewelry: KelsyC-made

Sunglasses: Target, $5

WIWT - Bleubird Vintage

My BEAUTIFUL new/old dress came from

 Bleubird Vintage the other day.

I am in LOVE!

Such a wonderful vintage frock.

And I have gotten so many compliments on it today!

Thank you, Miss James!!

Dress: Bleubird Vintage, $50

Cardigan: WM, $7

Tights: Target, $5

Boots: Kmart, $20

Belt/Necklace: Silpada

Pendant: Shipwreck Beads

Earrings/Bracelets: Rite Aid, >$5

Style Muse - Gil Elvgren

As you all know,

I love anything vintage.

Marilyn Monroe, classic curves, old school pin-up models...

And no one did it better than Gil Elvgren.

He got his start in the 1930's and quickly became one of the most widely recognizable and revolutionary artists of his time.  His unique technique of photographing his models and then hand illustrating his pin-ups created remarkable, one of a kind collectables, sought after to this day.

Though he was most famously known for his pin-ups, he also did quite a bit of commercial work for companies like Coca-Cola and by the 1950's he was being published in mainstream publications like Cosmopolitan, McCall's and Good Housekeeping.

While many have tried to duplicate his artwork, no one was able to depict women with such beauty and grace.  And what some find as objectifying, I see it for the art it truely is and as a celebration of feminity for ages to come.

For more information on Gil Elvgren, visit his website!

Image Source

Google Images

(Almost) Monday Morning Confessional

Yup.

I am THAT mom.  

Today is a holiday;

Hubs and I are both off...

And Goose will be going to daycare.

I'm a terrible mother.
My child will be scarred for life...

Or will she?

Okay, so here is the deal.

We have it worked out that Goose is only in daycare two days a week. Monday and Wednesday.  The rest of the time she is with family and weekends are spent at home.  I know we don't spend as much time with her as we "should" (what does that even mean, anyway?) but, honestly, the thing is... daycare ain't cheap! We spend quite a bit just for her to go on those two days and we have to pay whether she is there are not.  It sucks.  But it is what it is.

Besides...

Goose loves "school."
She loves her friends.
She loves to make crafts.
She loves the attention.

And, quite frankly, she needs the interaction.
Craves it.
I need her to have the interaction.

Also,
Hubs and I rarely spent time alone.
Together.
During the day.

So... we are gonna take advantage of it!

Call me a bad mom, I don't care.
I know Goose will be happier at school than hangin' at home while Hubs and I catch up on the cleaning.
'Cuz we didn't do much all weekend.
And its hard for all of us, being cooped up when the weather is bad.
It's just better for ALL of us this way.
Trust me.  

And here is the real confession...

I'm not even gonna let myself feel guilty about it.

Not in the slightest.

Don't be judgey...

PS - Check out the AH-mazing vintage jacket I snagged this weekend at Fun Junk. Actually, its a suit but the skirt is WAY small. 

The coat fits purrrfect. 

This is just a bad photo booth pic, but you should get the idea.

WIWT (and yesterday)

Wardrobe Remix today!!

First off, this is the sweater I wore yesterday.

So warm and cozy.

I bought it at a new consignment shop in town, Mandelin's.

I changed the buttons from a basic brown one to three gold vintage buttons.

Sweater: Mandelin's, >$10

And today at work...

I was going for a mono/duo-tone look.

We had depositions at the office so I had to look

"professional"

Dress: VV, $5

Tights: HUE, $10

Shoes: L.E.I., $20

Scarf: WM, $5

Earrings & Black "lava rock" bracelet: Silpada

"Other" bracelets: thrifted

And right now... I am lounging in THIS:

"Elsie" bow: Kelsy-made

Pantech Impact phone: AT&T

Hoodie: From my days as a competitive fastpitch player

GO ACE!

Like the "sticker" on my phone?

The back of it, the battery cover, kept popping off.

And it was getting really annoying.

So I printed/cut out these "cup-cake toppers" and made one of the mustaches into a "sticker" with tape.

Now its on my phone.

And the battery cover is securly taped in place.

I am a GENIUS!

PS - I am hereby committing to blog-land

that I fully intend to take pics of and list a ton of new stuff in

my Etsy store by February 1st!!!

Bug me!

Nag me!

Hold me to it!

Don't let me flake!

PUH-leeze!???

Craft Break!

I've been cleaning all day.

Well, Hubs let me sleep in ('till 11! Whoo!) and I have been cleaning non-stop since getting up. Mainly hauling my craft stuff back up to my craft room (I tend to migrate downstairs cuz I get lonely up there all by myself!) and packing up Christmas decorations. I know, I know, Hubs and I are HUGE procrastinators but the tree is out on the curb and the decorations are packed up. Except for the ornaments. Gonna wait 'till Goose is in bed to pack those away. Its a job easier done without a toddler "helping."

So while folding laundry I found this shirt that apparently Goose took the scissors too. She cut a hole right in the middle front of the shirt.

And then I decided to take a craft break, since the shirt caused a light bulb to go off in my head. I knew just how to fix it! No sewing required and done in under 15 minutes. All you need is some Heat-n-Bond, fabric scraps and an iron (and scissors and a pencil or crayon, thats what I used!)

#1 - Cut out fabric and Heat-n-Bond paper and attach as per the directions on the Heat-n-Bond.

#2 Let fabric cool then sketch your design onto the back of your paper. Cut out.

#3 Again, following the directions on the Heat-n-Bond, attach your fabric to your shirt.

Ta-Da!!

Cute, easy and you'd never know there is a huge hole under there. And Goose was pleased. She thinks I am the "Best Mommy in the WHOOOOLE World" when I make her stuff.

The strawberry fabric is vintage sugar sack fabric and the green corduroy is scrap from a vintage skirt I altered. Both fabrics are from Fun Junk!

ETA - the model/culprit!

What I Wore This Weekend

I found this coat at Value Village for $10.

It was a men's XXL and WAY way too large for me. Even belted, I'm petite and I was swimming in it. So... I decided to alter it. I am NOT a seamstress. I don't sew. I own a sewing machine but I don't know how to use it.

The thought of cutting this awesome jacket terrified me, but I decided to try my hand at a full scale alteration. Using a jacket I owned, I made a template and pinned everthing to place. Making the first cut was hardest, the point of no return. It took me several episodes of the Office on Netflix, but after a few hours I had this AWESOME tunic/jacket that not only FIT but looks super CUTE!

As a dress - belted with leggings (confession-I promised myself that I would never be caught dead in leggings... bah!)

With jeans, still belted. Basically the same outfit as above but with jeans instead of leggings. Definately more my style! With a "vintage" Dooney & Burke that I am "borrowing" from my Mama.

Did I mention I love thrifting?

AND just an FYI for all you thrifters out there... all clothing at Value Village is %50 this Wednesday, Veteran's Day... I'm sure I'll be there.

PS - Sorry there are no before pics... I suck. I forgot. Maybe next time...

I crafted, thankyouverymuch.

And I even decided to take a little time to put together a little tutorial for y'all.  

Step #1
Paint the inside and outer edge of the bracelet. You can paint the whole thing, but I am lazy and it will just get covered.



Step #2
Tear patterned paper (I used vintage sheet music) into small bits and apply with Modge Podge. Apply liberally and coat one additional time after the first coat is dry. I only attached my paper to the part of the bracelet that was not painted, leaving a bit of paint showing on the side.



Step #3
Using silver paint and gold Pearl-Ex (cuz I couldn't find my gold paint) I lightly dry brushed one bracelet with silver along the edges and rough parts. I did the same technique with the Pearl-Ex but mixed it with a bit of clear sealant. Get help from a Goose.


Step #4
Allow to dry. Once gold/silver paint is dry, apply a multi-purpose sealer to the entire bracelet. One-two coats is more than enough. Dry overnight and wear with some fab accessories tomorrow. Give the other to a friend, cuz she'll love it!

Modge Podge will also work as a sealant if thats all you have.  But I find that sometimes it can remain a little tacky, even if "fully dry" so I like to add a multi-purpose sealer (found with the rest of the acrylic paints) on the top.  It adds strength to the bracelet (which you should still try NOT to get wet) and will get rid of any tacky-ness from the MP.

PS - As always, with Modge Podge it is always best to let your project sit and dry overnight! I cannot stress this enough.  The paper will bubble and curl and won't lay flat when its wet.  It just won't, no matter how much you mess with it.  98.9% of the time, after my projects dry overnight, the bubbles and wrinkles have worked themselves out.  And if they don't then you pull out some ribbon or some embellishments and you cover it and make it pretty!!!