Cardigan Clip

When I’d visit my grandmother, I usually got to stay in the attic bedroom. One entered the mostly unfinished attic by climbing the noisiest staircase in the world. The stairs exited into a storage room, lined with narrow shelves filled with memorabilia. A rickety wooden railing kept one from falling into the stairwell, but it still gave me vertigo to step onto the plywood plank that bridged the gap in order to investigate the oddities stored in the furthest corner. I practiced typing on an oldfashioned typewriter and giggled at old photos of my mother and her sisters. They rollerskated in costume and sported cat-eye glasses. In school portraits, I noted the pretty chains that kept their unbuttoned cardigans on their shoulders and dismissed them as hopelessly old-fashioned.

Years later, I developed an appreciation for granny-chic items, like those cat-eyed glasses, and saw how a cardigan clip could be incorporated into my wardrobe. However, they no longer seem to be widely available. I had to make my own.

Tools and Materials:
1. Chain nose pliers
2. Wire cutter (not pictured)
3. Beading wire
4. Decorative beads
5. Two crimp beads (not pictured)
6. Two clip on earrings (the tighter, the better)

Thread the wire with a crimp bead, the decorative beads, and then one more crimp bead.

Loop the wire around the first earring and insert free end into the crimp bead. Crimp.

Repeat with the second earring, being sure to eliminate most of the slack in the wire.

Ta-dah!



This is my very first foray into beading, so I’m not sure how well crimp beads hold up. If you are a beader and have a better suggestion for securing the loop, leave a comment!

Feelin' Groovy

Blouse, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Belt, Macy’s. Denim wrap skirt, Billabong. Sandals, Franco Sarto. Bag, Target. Charm (on bag handle), World Market. Glass pendant, Gyokusendo Kingdom.

I spent the late morning and early afternoon running errands. I went to the library, Walgreen’s, Hancock Fabrics, Sally’s Beauty Supply, Michael’s, and the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store. Besides picking up the library materials I had on hold, I was also hunting for craft and sewing supplies for some projects I have planned for the weekend. And I couldn’t resist stopping by the thrift store on my way home! Prepare yourself to see the results of my crafty weekend endeavors over the next two weeks.

Not Too Much Color

Print dress, Ann Taylor. Sleeveless shirt, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Moth earrings, Claire’s. Belt, swap. Shoes, Linea Paolo. Bag, um…I forgot the label, but I just got it at Macy’s

This outfit was an exercise in self-control. I discarded both the oversized, hot pink necklace and dark green clutch in favor of neutral accessories in gold and camel. I’ll admit that I have a tendency for the flamboyant that needs to be reined in occasionally.

To Match a Purse, Take Three

Cardigan, Mossimo. Dress, Max Studio. Anklestrap pumps, Miss Me. Nude fishnets, Vera Wang. Purse, Forever 21. Beads, Claire’s. Pendant, Urban Outfitters.

The title is a bit misleading. I wasn’t actually trying to create an outfit around this purse. I was trying to find a new way to wear this dress. I love the skirt half, but the top is so ugly that I’m always looking for a cover-up. This time, I topped it with the pale yellow cardigan. Then I started reached for my yellow pumps, but decided to be bold and wear my floral shoes instead. I liked the floral anklestrap pumps with my floral Forever 21 bag so much last time that I decided to repeat the pairing. Finally, I added some pink beads to tie the look together.


Some people have been curious as to how I take these spinning shots. Usually, I press the self-timer (10 second delay) or use the remote (2 second delay) and begin the spin a moment or two before the shutter closes, timing it so that my skirt is flared and my face is front at the “click.” As you can imagine this takes a few tries, but I’ve become quite good at the timing with practice. My new camera (digital SLR) can be set to take multiple shots as one holds the shutter button down, but this doesn’t work with the remote. Mike used this setting to take the Purple and Spice spins. We did this again today, but none of the shots turned out as well as my self-shot spin (at right). However, the below picture demonstrates that, even if the pictures don’t turn out well, the process is awfully fun:


P.S. I’m afraid I have disabled Anonymous comments. I tired of the drive-by shootings. If you’d like to fire insults (or otherwise), you’ll need to take a moment to register with Blogger.

Hippie Dippie

Split-sleeved blouse, Japan. Vest, H&M. Strapless dress, Newport News. Nude fishnets, Simply Vera. Peeptoe pumps, Antonio Melani. Necklace, Xhilaration. Brass bangle, World Market. Wooden bangle, swap. Bag, Apt 9.

This blouse was in my charity/swap/sell/give-away bag I’ve got sitting upstairs. I love the split sleeves and attached scarf (at the left shoulder), but the short length and sheer fabric make it difficult to wear. In fact, I’ve only worn it once since we moved back to the States. I think it will go back in the bag.







This dress made my “most worn” list last October, but I’ve never done a photo retrospective. It’s about time! Here’s to you, $15 dress…

Mostly Cloudy

Floral dress, Isaac Mizrahi for Target. Clutch, Apt 9. Pumps, Victoria Spenser. Patent belt, The Limited. Nude fishnets, Simply Vera. Crystal drop earrings, gift. Brooch, Burlington Coat Factory. Beaded bracelet, Bitten. Ring, Silpada.



This dress reminds me of a cloudy sky. The yellow accessories are the sun, peeking between breaks in the cloud cover. I’m at a loss to define the celestial or atmospheric equivalent of the navy accents.

Warm Weather Layering

Linen vest, Old Navy. Tartan sundress, Frederick’s of Hollywood. Sandals, Etienne Aigner. Earrings, Panagea.

I love to layer, but it’s tough to do in the summertime heat and humidity. Even a trendy, lightweight scarf makes me sweat. (I end up tying them to my handbag instead.) Vests have become my go-to layering piece for summer. They add interest and change the look of dresses and tops, without causing me to overheat. I have only this one casual vest and I’m kicking myself for passing on the linen denim version Jovovich Hawk did for Target.

Black and White Zebra Dress

Zebra shirtdress, Jones New York. Beads, Body Central. Bangles, import store in Okinawa, Japan. Peeptoes, Wild Diva. Bag, Vieta. Sunnies, Walgreen's.



Here I am taking my own advice. I’ve accessorized this black and white dress with two accent colors and a black and white purse in a contrasting pattern. Next time, I’ll pair it with brown or khaki for a safari look. You will notice my restraint in not wearing my zebra print shoes with this dress…at least not yet.

Open Garden

Cardigan, Mossimo. Sundress, Body Central. Faux feather earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Sandals, Etienne Aigner. Bag (not worn here), Nine West.




My own garden (and garden blog) is sadly neglected, but that of my friends, the Dukes, is a carefully tended wonderland. I was honored to be invited to view it for the second time, during their annual Open Garden. Last year, I spent over an hour photographing the plantings and garden whimsy. This year, Mike accompanied me, so I left the camera at home, lest I be tempted to abandon all sense of time in another attempt to capture the garden’s magic.



These silver and gold sandals are as close as I’ll ever come to gladiator sandals again. I had a pair last time they were popular, in the early 90’s. I remember buying them at Kmart, on our way down to a vacation in Disneyland, when I was 15. They were black and zipped up the back. Unlike their reputation (“Kmart fall-apart”), they lasted long enough to thoroughly tire me of the trend. This photo is from April of 1991:


My hideous black gladiator sandals and white short-alls. The dog is our beloved family pet, Portia.

Rainmaker

Dress, Candie’s (borrowed from Londyn). Linen blazer, Forever 21. Cami (visible at neckline), NY & Co. Platform peeptoe pumps, Wet Seal. Faux feather earrings, Ali’s Boutique. Bracelet, swapped. Watch, Raymond Weil. Leopard print umbrella, Wal*Mart. Faux croc bag, Wilson’s Leather.

This dress is magic. Both times I’ve worn it, it has rained. Perhaps rain was in the forecast, but it was a surprise to me. I wonder if Londyn has had the same experience. I’ve also found that wearing a white shirt and not carrying an umbrella tends to bring rain.

My Own Zebra

Zebra dress, Faith Passion (borrowed from London). Tank, NY & Co. Belt, Xhilaration. Exotic skin bag, vintage and thrifted. Floral pumps, Miss Me. Beaded necklaces, Body Central.

I’m still not liking the cut of Londyn’s dress on me…but I am a zebra print convert. I bought my own zebra dress, in a fit and flare shape, from Macy’s. I’ll wear it next week