Emo but Make It Fashion

Nothing really changes 'round these parts, y'all.

Sure, there's a different landscape. There's a rural town surrounded by cows and cornfields and mountains where once there had been skyscrapers and charming old cobblestone streets and buses rattling past at three in the morning. A train pass has been swapped for a driver's license. There's less walking and more driving and everything is an hour away instead of just a few blocks.

But there are still thrift stores. There's still a sewing machine. There's still Chuck Taylor sneakers. There are still Sherlock Holmes books.

And there's still My Chemical Romance.

Some things just never change.

I wear my denim jacket like a second skin. Not this one, a different one. For most of the year, even when it's too hot outside, I clutch my jacket around me. It is my armor. I've worn it to auditions. I kicked up a fuss in cosmetology school when it wasn't allowed to be my 'pop of color' (we had to wear all black). It's threadbare at the elbows and holes are forming around the collar, but I never feel as good as I do when I'm wearing that jacket.

Sadly, the world is getting... warmer. And I felt like maybe I wanted a change. Something I might be able to wear to rehearsals in the spring or at least on a date if I ever got one. Earlier this year, just before the 'Rona took the world by storm, I took two dresses and a leftover jacket and attempted to make something I really would wear. It did not work out. First, all rehearsals and productions were cancelled. Second... what do I even wear this with?

Overall, I love the aesthetic. I love the sleeves. I love the juxtaposition of the floral and the punk rock MCR patch that Megan got me one Christmas. I love the bleach spattered denim. I don't know what it is I don't love about it, but it's something that I'll have to work on. I've honestly only ever worn this for these pictures.

 This dress, though, as I said in my last post, I've worn a lot. I'm not sure about the platform Converse, though. I wish I'd gotten my size. Based on the recommendations I got about a half size smaller than my usual and if they had normal Converse toes they'd be fine but the toes are a little narrow. I don't know why I was determined to keep them. I was like, "No, no, they'll stretch out."

They have not, so far.

Will they make it to next week's episode!? Stay tuned and we'll find out together! ;-P

But seriously, see you with another post on Thursday, this time about a project I'm very excited to be involved in.

Until next time! xoxo - Meghan

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.