Holiday Plans

I dread being asked the question, "Do you have any plans?"

For the weekend, for holidays, for personal days- whatever it is, I hate, hate hearing that question. Because unless you're someone I know very well, I will not answer you. It's too much effort! Still, working in a medical practice, I have patients, drug reps and co-workers that ask me that often.

I dislike the question because I feel like I have to lie to answer it. I have to give the easy answer. The polite answer. Memorial Day was a pretty good example- on Friday I was asked by several people what I was doing with my three day weekend. Mostly I just replied with "sleep". I don't sleep. It's a struggle I have because I really want to sleep, I just can't. In reality, while other people were out at barbecues or family reunions or the beach, I was locked in my apartment sewing like a madwoman.

It was brilliant. I feel amazing.

But I can't explain that to strangers without a long and involved, "well, I have this store and I sell these weird things, and okay fine here is the URL please don't laugh at me." I mean, I should be able to, that'd be great advertising, but with social anxiety sometimes my words get trapped inside and I literally cannot tell you something. I can't. I can't look you in the face, I can't tell you what I am doing, I can't tell you about my hopes or dreams or whatever.

So I'm just going to post about it.

$18 on Etsy

Friday night I rested. I had started re-reading a Nora Roberts trilogy I love (starts with Jewels of the Sun) because it always reminds me of my mom. Also, I love fairy tales, and Nora Roberts was a huge inspiration to me when I started toying with being an author (that's still in the works! We're making progress!). I made us some wonderful baked chicken taco things inspired by chicken flautas and read.

On Saturday morning I got up pretty early and started sewing. Setting up a folding table in my kitchen for cutting pieces, I started working on more Flying Trapeze dresses for the shop. I love this style so much! A few of the ones I pieced out were for me, so they aren't on the shop right now, but I was able to get four made by the end of the weekend to sell. I also made something new that I'm pretty in love with. They're winged heart applique bib necklaces. They're very soft and light, but super fun to wear. And if they start to curl up just hit them with an iron and they lay flat again. I'd been kicking around this idea for a while and I'm really pleased with how they turned out. There are some things I'll do differently with the next batch but they were great stash busters!

$24.00 on Etsy

I also made this gorgeous key necklace that was supposed to be for me but I ended up listing it instead. I don't know why! I might still keep it! It's an extra large vintage key, my boyfriend says probably for a car since it's so big, with a salvaged heart necklace and turquoise colored crown bead.

It's beautiful. I want it.

I've been kind of burnt out on jewelry making, so it's nice to just be making things in smaller quantities that have more artistic value.

Just so you don't think this post is a huge old ad for Cirque du Frock, let me show you one of the things I kept for myself.

I love polo dresses for some weird reason, and the Trapeze tutorial is great for refashioning men's polo shirts into cool summery dresses. This one is made from a black polo, black tee and lightweight animal print skirt. I've started taking 'styled' pics for the shop as examples of outfits you can make (mostly so I can play dress up with my doll). This is how I'd wear my polo dress on my day off- a rad denim vest, vintage key necklace and some cool moccasins or chucks. I have two more polos waiting to be refashioned for my summer wardrobe. One is green and purple striped, one is white and purple striped.

These are some examples of my 'styled' pictures. As you can tell, I was pretty excited about that denim vest (that's from my personal collection).

Most of these dresses weren't assembled Saturday, they were assembled Sunday while the mister sat outside reading, and photographed Monday for listing. Saturday and Sunday night I stayed up late, sewing and making jewelry until midnight and then reading for an hour or two. It was nice. I hope one day I have a life where I can just let my weird body have the strange sleep schedule that it wants because I would be so much happier if I could be awake until 3 am and then sleep until 10 in the morning. I drank so much coffee and there was a ton of good food, and on top of that I was productive and it feels awesome.

I hope you guys had good weekends, whether they were productive or restful.

OOTD: Purple Arrows

I'm back!

For this outfit, I'm showing off a soft purple dress I made a while back with some fabric from JoAnn's. It's a very cool repeating arrow sort of print. Usually I try to spend about $5-6 a yard when I buy fabric for new dresses (unrealistic, but I try). This fabric was actually about $10. But every time I walked past it I just couldn't help but stop and look at the pretty color and the gorgeous pattern and I didn't have anything quite like it, so in the end, I decided it was worth the cost and I got enough to make this dress.

Dress: Handmade/Me, Cardi: Thrifted, Booties: DIY/Me/Roxy, Necklace: Philly Aids Thrift

This is actually my second attempt at taking outfit pictures in it. The first time I wore this dress, I got all excited and decided I was going to 'be pretty' for work that day and I wore the most uncomfortable Mary-Jane heels. I did not take pictures before I left, and by the time I got home my feet were screaming (and the Payless brand shoes that I hadn't worn in three years were flaking, so into the garbage they went).

That's alright, though, because my purple chucks are the same color as the dress, and thanks to Krista, I knew how to style them folded down.

I love those sneakers so much. Custom chucks - if I could, I'd make another pair. Also I love that belt I'm wearing- it's actually white and navy blue stripe and got it from Philly Aids Thrift. I had to take it in a bit, but I really do love it.

Anyway, that's all I've got to say for this post. Until next time!!

OOTD: Lancaster Picnic

And there I go, dropping off the radar again.

Not that I haven't been reading, I have, I've just not had a whole lot to say!

I've been trying to be productive, and that has taken a lot of energy. I'm trying really hard to keep my goals for myself while also trying to balance fun nights writing with my friend. Sometimes it works better than others, and I have to remind myself a lot that I am allowed to have fun. I forget that sometimes, when I'm so focused on trying to 'get things done' that I'm allowed to be, to quote my mother, 'frivolous'. I have a really hard time with allowing myself to be lazy or unproductive or just relaxed, and it's been really stressful inside my head lately. So, lack of blog posts.

Unfortunately I set a goal for myself that I would have one of my mini-books available at the end of May and while it is in the editing stages, it's also a week to the end of May and that's not happening, so I feel very disappointed in myself.

On a happier note, I'm here with a new dress that certainly puts a smile on my face.

Dress: Handmade/Me, Shoes: Chucks/Ross, Cardi: Thrifted, Owl Necklace: The Mister

As many of you who follow my blog know, I force my mother to take me to the Lancaster Goodwill every time I go to visit her. She tolerates this (lovingly so) because she knows it is the best Goodwill to me. I really scored the last time I went with her because I found all these handmade table cloths that were perfect for making dresses! There were three in each 'set' and just enough fabric for a dress out of each. This is a saturated soft blue with pink and yellow roses on it. It's so springy! I used my favorite dress pattern and I've already worn it twice. I'm rockin' the chucks here even though it's a work outfit because they are the only practical rain shoe I have (and that's not saying much). Also, chucks are super comfy and no one can really see my feet under the desk anyway.

I'm loving my new dress, my hair, and my owl necklace lately. Also, I've been experimenting with not smiling in photographs and I find I actually sort of like my face that way. It's always good to find things you like about yourself.

Well, I'm going to go try and edit a chapter or two before bed (even though it's already midnight here). Until next time!

Walk the Walk

I was inspired by my recent trip to New York to visit Ally to dig out my own Kinky Boots and have some fun dressing up this weekend. I have to say, I missed these babies. And yes, sweetie, I can walk like a goddess in these things.

But the secret is in the platform (not the heel! HA).

Dress: Handmade/Me, Jacket: DIY/Me, Boots: Hottopic.com, Necklace: P.A.T.

And the best part about these sweet heels? Even more than being black, platform, lace-up boots that I've had since high school?

My mom bought them for me. ;-)

OOTD: I Can't Look At The Stars

I'm obsessed with the song Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and there is a line in the chorus of the song where she sings "I can't look at the stars/up on Heaven's boulevard". It's beautiful - if you haven't heard it, go look it up because it's wonderful.

Of course, I CAN look at the stars. I LOVE stars. I used to have moon and stars themed bedroom stuff (of course, who in the late nineties didn't? It was kind of a trend, I think). I even have a space/galaxy dress. Today's dress, however, is a little bit more primitive country inspired. I just saw the fabric and (with my love of stars) knew I had to have it. I feel like a witchy princess in this one and I can't wear it enough. On the unfortunate side, it has started to fade a bit, but that's alright. I'll wear it even when the stars fade.

Dress: Handmade, Boots: Gift/Target, Cardi: Thrifted, Necklace: Gift

 I might link up to Bella Q's Shoe Shine party because even though you've seen these boots, and they are nothing fancy, these are my favorites. (I just ordered replacements in black and as I write this I'm sitting here waiting for the delivery guy.) These boots have seen a lot in the two years I've had them - I've worn them to college, I've worn them to work, and I've worn them in several thrift stores. We've had adventures, as you can tell by the rugged appearance and scuffs.

It's hard for me to trust people. It's hard for me to get attached to people, and sometimes that means that I treat inanimate objects as my friends. These boots, these boots are definitely my friends. They feel like an extension of me, and they are the most comfortable thing (they weren't at first, it required breaking them in just right).

Some seriously well-loved shoes there. You don't have to own a million pairs of shoes to be a shoe-fiend. (Although, to be fair, I probably own waaaaay too many pairs.)

Speaking of friends, let me show you my necklace:

I know I've worn it a bunch but I can't recall if I've ever shown a good close up of it. My boss Angela, the person who gifted me the brown boots, also gifted me this necklace. It's got a bunch of random stuff on it and I love it. When I first got it I think I wore it every day for like a month. I had to take a few things off - for instance there was a giant A on it and a pick-up truck, and as I don't drive and my name starts with an M I replaced those pieces with new charms. The two antique buttons I got from work, the diamond looking thing my boyfriend's Aunt gave me, and the rest came with it.

Well, I'm off to do things. I've got a lot on my mind and not a good way to word any of it. I will tell you this much, though. The next two days will involve a massive amount of coffee, sewing and writing. Hopefully I'll be able to show you something soon.

Until next time!
-Meghan

OOTD: The Brenna Dress

Everyone has THAT FRIEND. You know, the person you're going to get tattoos with (or piercings). That person who will bail you out of the worst shit, sit on the phone with you when you're crying over absolutely nothing, and that person who will read seven copies of the same novel you wrote that no one will ever read just because they love you.

My friend is Brenna. And you, my blog buddies, have met her.

A few years ago I was in a rather .... bad place. I'd ended a toxic friendship and felt utterly alone, and you know, Brenna was there for me. And we became super close. So you'd think that I'd have made an outfit based on my buddy sooner - and I HAD. MONTHS AGO. I just never posted it because of my great blogging hiatus. So, here you go. My "Brenna" dress.

Dress: Handmade/Me, Dr Martens Triumphs

The reason I picked this fabric was similar to the Ally dress, I was just walking through JoAnn's and I heard it. THIS fabric. It screamed to me. The tie-dye raver-kid lookin' hearts reminded me of her (for some reason). Maybe just because it was bright and colorful and black all at the same time. Either way, she is the person I think of every time I see this dress and it makes me so happy.

I brag about my friend Brenna to strangers and my co-workers. She is super smart, ambitious, has a master's degree and has achieved every goal she's set for herself. She's funny and she tries to make time to see me whenever she comes to town. She's just the best. I'm very lucky to have a friend like her.

That's all for now! I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I enjoy the dress.

OOTD: Buggin' Out

One of the coolest things about my job is learning new things. I get to spend large portions of the day researching vintage items, what they were used for and how we can re-use them into something else. It's a pretty sweet gig.

I always knew what a botanical print was, but I never knew  how common or varied the style was. All of them are beautiful. I love them because they remind me of medical illustrations- I love those kind of clearly labeled art pieces.

So when I found the most amazing insect fabric, with bees and moths and flies, I fell in love! I had to make a dress.

Sorry about the wrinkly front. Hate ironing!

Dress: Handmade/Me, Cardi: Thrifted, Boots: Dr Martens

What is even cooler is instead of insect names (well there are some of those) this fabric has printed quotes from authors and other people about bugs. It's really neat! Anyway, that's all for me on this dress. I love it, and I'm really loving this pattern. I like how I can get away with wearing the same thing, just in different colors.

(And by "get away with" I mean "doing it no matter what".)

Until next time!
-Meghan

OOTD: Keeping Warm

Good golly is it COLD here this week!

AND I LOVE IT!

Unfortunately, I'm the only one of my co-workers that would totally keep the door open and the heat off when it's 50 degrees outside. Even some of my consignors who know me well have been commenting on how they are miserable but they know I'm loving this weather.

Dress: Handmade/Me, Shirt: Goodwill, Belt: Philly Aids Thrift, Boots: Gift

More men's shirts!! I love these things- they are so soft and they keep me super warm! This one I got at the Goodwill in Lancaster when I went to visit my mom. Which reminds me, I do need to do a write up of this cute little town we visited.

Well, a shortie post from me today. I've been super tired this week- busy, as always, and then on top of that I'm thinking about some things. ;-D I'll tell you more later, if I get the chance. Until next time!

xoxo
-Meghan

OOTD: God Save the Qweens

When my mister and I went to New Hope a few weeks (months?) back, I got to chatting with this fabulous lady that has a store called God Save the Qweens. If you're looking for a wall of England made docs, check her out. (I tried to take a pic but my camera is super dumb.) Anyway, this rad shop had a super cool (and super warm) sweater hanging outside and I just had to have it. I mean, if you know me at all you know of my obsession with Union Jacks. I don't know why, but the colors and geometric pattern on the flag just make me smile. ;-)

Sweater: God Save the Qweens, Dress: Handmade/Me, Boots: Gift

It is finally cold enough that I can wear it! I normally wouldn't go for this style but just something about this sweater screamed out to me. I love it over my dresses and I can't wait to try it over jeans, too. What do you think? Too much or just fabulous enough?

I wore this outfit on a surprise diner breakfast trip. We have a great local diner called the Trolley Car and their breakfast specials are wonderful. I love their banana pancakes. Well anyway, happy Monday and I'll see you later!

Updated 8/8/2020: Gosh, I'm so upset that the Trolley Car near where I used to live closed! They were the best! RIP Trolley Car Diner. <3 nbsp="" p="">

OOTD: Sounds Like Salmon

Don't you love how when I say things like, "I'm going to be a better blogger" I inevitably follow that up with a week (or six) of radio silence? I know. To quote my friend, I'm the worst. ;-)

Halloween is my favorite holiday, but this year I was working most of the day. Which was fun, except we got a little slow in the afternoon because... well I guess there was mischief and mayhem (and trick-or-treaters) keeping people from the store.

Because of general laziness (I think I'm fighting off a cold) I didn't get the time to make the Punk Rock Dorothy of Oz costume I'd drawn up, and it didn't matter anyway since I wasn't going anywhere except work. Luckily, I had already made this other dress that was a perfect last minute outfit!

Dress: Handmade/Me, Boots: Dr Martens/Ebay, Cardi: Thrifted

It's a little bit big on the top, but that was a cutting error on my part. I LOVE this Day of the Dead fabric from JoAnn's and I'm sure I'll wear this more than just for Halloween. I've also got my favorite blue skeleton cameo on and a purple hair flower. :-D Lots of people thought I looked super cute! And it was perfect for my Halloween tradition - lighting candles and watching The Great Pumpkin while eating popcorn.

On a side note, I'm really in love with my hair like this. Which is funny because when I was younger I thought I had the biggest forehead ever and never wanted it to be showing, but I LOVE my hair pulled away from my face now.

That's all I've got for this week, but stay tuned. Monday I'm going to show you the most fabulously ugly sweater I own. (It's a giant square union jack. That is all. With sleeves.) Have a good weekend!!

OOTD: The Things That Make You Feel

So, I made a thing. And I love this thing tons and bunches. I thought perhaps that I would show you what I'm calling "The Bag Dress" (alternatively, "Radioactive Dress").

Dress: Handmade/Me, Boots: Target/Gift, Necklace: Thrifted, Jacket: DIY/Me

Sometimes, no matter what it is, you just slip something on and you feel like you. That's what this dress was. I put it on and I smiled. Then I got nervous and called my mister in, who also smiled. It passed the boots and the chucks test. It passed the jacket test. This dress is like me, if I could be a dress. The things that make you feel beautiful are just that. To make you feel beautiful. Not someone else, not something else, just you. This dress makes me feel beautiful.

And I'm about to make like six more. I'm not joking. Day of the Dead FABRIC, guys. As my mister says, I never do things in moderation. ;-)

I guess that is one of the reasons I've been sort of silent over here. I just haven't really been doing a lot, and I wear the same outfit every day (Lisette, jacket, shoes) and I feel bad! Like, you guys don't want to see the same damn dress every day! And you're all so fabulous! Of course, that being said, get ready because I'm not exaggerating - I'm making like twenty of these suckers.

I got a few questions about my jacket, too. Someone wanted to know what is on it, so I took a few close ups.

The Philly Aids Thrift button is because I love that place. I've had the I Need A Nap button since high school. The Broad Street Butchers is my friend Jill's favorite roller derby team (mine is the Philthy Britches) and I like to wear things that remind me of my friends. The Kangaroo patch is because it reminds me of Stacey and Desiree and my other Aussi pals. I used to have the Kiwi button Trees gave me on there but I  moved it to a different jacket. (Ditto for a certain purple bee pin.) The studs are off of my old belt. The American Flag ribbon pin came from a consignor that brings me pins. The eagle patch is from a military jacket I wore in a play back in 2006. The skull is my own design and the anatomical heart I got at the Punk Rock Flea. On the back is a doily from where I work and a Crash Bang Boom! patch that I bought when I was with Brenna on South Street.

Every time I start a jacket it becomes a scrapbook of the places I've been and the people I've seen. Every single one of them becomes something sacred. :-)

Well, that's it for me. Until next time!

Theme: Your Turn

I'm back with a new wonderful theme dedicated to someone I've recently become very close to!

So, listen, I'm very hard to be friends with. I'm demanding, pushy, selfish, obsessive, jealous, and very blunt. I'll call you on your bullshit and I cannot tolerate lying because I have a lot of trust issues so if you lie I obviously cannot trust you. Having people in the past call me things like "psychotic" and "sociopathic" and "insane" has made it hard for me to connect to people. I can't. I just can't. I don't let people close. Not really. I told Ally there was a 12 stage process to being allowed to be my facebook friend and it's true. I just don't let people in.

Which is just fine because the person who this post is dedicated to is very tenacious. She has a tendency to inch her way in regardless of your personal barriers. I think that is one of my favorite things about her. She has gumption.

I bring to you, dear friends, the Megan Mae dress.

Dress: Handmade/Me, Jacket: DIY/Me, Chucks: Journeys

The problem with this dress is that I cannot remember why I picked this fabric. The other problem with this dress is that I picked it long before Megan and I became close friends. I bought it the same weekend I got the fabric for my Ally dress. I'm pretty sure the thought in my head was, "this doesn't so much remind me of the person as I think it's something they'd pick for me". It's funny how just a little bit of knowledge can change things, though. Now that we know each other better, I know that Megan wouldn't pick this for me. And if I REALLY wanted to do a dress dedicated to her, I'd make a bee dress. Which I need. I need a bee dress, y'all.

For example, last week she sent me a little blue star necklace that is perfect.

But I already had the fabric and no matter how I tried I could not stop thinking of it as the Megan dress so here it is. The pattern is not my usual Lisette dress because Megan's favorite dress of mine is not a Lisette. So I used the out of character fabric and made the Megan dress in that pattern. We also had a long chat last week about how I can toughen up my outfit posts. I'm still working on it, but I have this inner badass that is dying to get out and Megan was giving me tips on how to pose. I hope that I look good and not just angry. ^_~

I guess in style and pose this is a good Megan post, but I still feel bad about the fabric. What do you think of my new dress, guys? I was pretty excited about the yoke- I've never done one of those before. I can't wait to use the pattern again (but it needs to be shorter).

I never thought I'd have best friends again. And now I have two. And one of them (Megan) draws pictures of me. It's a very heart warming thing.

She nailed it, right? ^_~ Until next time, guys. Have a beautiful weekend.

Dream Outfits: Feelin' Koi

This is a re-post, but with new pictures. With a new blog, I definitely want to continue doing my Theme outfits and my Dream outfits posts. So even though this was posted over at my old blog, here are new pictures and the old story of why this is a dream outfit for me.

Cameo & Dress: Handmade/Me, Shoes: Converse, Belt: Thrifted

November 28, 2012: 

I'm going to tell you a (short) story about why this is a dream outfit. Before there was ever a Rescue Mission Thrift Shop in my tiny hometown, there was something the size of a closet called the "Bearly Used Boutique". I mean, I think this was before I was even in high school- it might have been middle school. And I still had a disdain for shopping second hand and I hadn't even really discovered DIY clothes (well, a little. I was already painting on tee shirts). I discovered that this place would do stuff-a-bag days (which was something the rescue mission used to do as well, and gosh I wish more thrift stores did it because it rocks). I started going there with my ten bucks and stuff large paper grocery bags full of clothes that I would love to have back now. One of the pieces I remember most is a white shell top with a side zip that had bright rainbow colored koi fish embroidered all over it. This didn't last long- it was almost too small for me when I got it and I was in middle school which means I was still in the process of growing up. Maybe early high school. Either way, I remember the damn top. And over the years, I've thought about that freaking top. How even when it became too small I tried to salvage it by cutting off the embroidered fish and ended up having to throw the whole thing away (this also happened to a white skirt I owned with purple flowers along the hem). Oh stupid adolescent Meg. Why did you have to go and do that? Either way, I've missed that top.
Well, fast forward to two weeks ago when my boyfriend kindly took me out to JoAnn Fabrics. I was only going to get yarn and solid fabric, I promise! Then I saw the scissors fabric. That's all! Just solid colors and the scissors.

Then I saw this koi fabric.

I mean, it was beautiful. It wasn't at all like my beloved top of years ago, but it was still cute and fishy and better yet, it wasn't white so I could actually wear it! And that, dearlings, is how I came to have this amazing awesome beautiful fish dress. And as I have dreamed over the years about that koi top, and it was the first thing I thought of when I saw the fabric, I am counting this dress in the dream outfit category.

I am in love. Better still, I don't own anything red. Almost all of my dresses tend to be in the blue or purple family. So it really stands out against my other clothes. I'm SO glad I got this fabric. It's awesome.

Meeting Trees: A Photo Post

Guys, I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it was to meet Trees this past weekend! I wish I'd had more time with her, but we jammed a ton of stuff into the four little days she was here. I hope she had an awesome time, I know I did! Hopefully one day I'll be able to visit her in her native land (because it sounds freaking awesome). Here are some pics from our weekend together.

I took her to see THE BELL. It really is smaller in person.

Took her to see some old dude's head.

This guy was important or something.

We took a TON of selfies. ;-)

At the Magic Gardens.

I took Trees to Eastern State Penitentiary. It was awesome!

Al Capone's cell at Eastern State Penn.

Rodin Museum selfies.

You can tell Eastern State Penn was my favorite from all the photos.

Rodin Museum.

ALL THE SELFIES!

I loved everything about this visit, and I'm so glad she made time to stop by Philadelphia. I can't say enough how much I love this city, and I was really thrilled  to show it off a little. Here are some of my favorite parts of our visit:

1. Philadelphia Magic Gardens - I just want to live there.
2. Eastern State Penn - I'd never been there, and it's beautifully bleak and I think my new favorite thing.
3. Tree's reaction on seeing THE BELL (I warned you it was smaller than you thought!).
4. Shopping with Trees.
5. The Art Star Craft Bazaar.
6. The fact that we had some quiet nights in- I get really tired easily and it was really nice to just chill out with my buddy.
7. One of the first things Trees said was it was nice to see my clothes in the flesh. :-) SHE NOTICED! (I was wearing a Lisette.)

It's also so cool to see someone you've known online but have never met. So whose next? ;-)