Project Post: Recent Before and Afters

I've been hard at work making stuff lately, mostly for the store, but after that very bad day I decided I needed to make myself a treat!

I saw this neon striped, zipper-back top at Philly Aids Thrift and I just had to have it! I thought perhaps I'd make it into one of my Sideshow dresses, but the sleeves were too small and it was just too gorgeous to use as a panel! A few seconds later I found this neon yellow (it's like construction-worker yellow) top on the rack next to it, and I knew somehow they had to be married.

I cannot even tell you how much I love this piece. It's very unusual for me, and I tried something new by making the bottom portion smaller than the top so it's got a drop sleeve, bubble sort of outline. It's possibly my new favorite thing. I'm super excited to wear it (and it looks fab, if I may say so myself).

And about that lovely milky necklace with it - my grandmother bought me that for Christmas. She said that because I wore so much color, she didn't know what to buy me so she bought white so it would go with everything. I loved it because it had a very milk glass feel to it.

But it just needed something. I don't know, but something. So I decided to try out a pinterest idea and nail polish the center stone! Here is what I did: rubbed a little nail polish remover over the center piece to rough it up a bit, painted two coats of my favorite OPI gray shade, and then sealed with a clear coat of NYC brand polish.

I mean, look how elegant that is now! And I wear it all the time, because it really glams up an outfit. Seriously one of my favorite presents she's ever given me (next to my Fiestaware mug, of course).

Anyway, that's all I've been doing lately. Craftin' and working hard at the 9-5 and then coming home to do my online thing. I try to keep busy because I like being busy.

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: Embellished Shoes

I'm back!! It's been a crazy busy week, with tons of patients and lots of writing. I'm working hard to get one of my books ready to share with you guys in the next month or so (I've set goals!!). In the mean time, here is this dress I made!

Dress: DIY/Me, Shoes: DIY/Roxy/Me, Cardi: Thrifted

I'm very excited over this outfit for many reasons. I love this dress, even if I feel kind of fluffy wearing it. It's a skirt I bought when Brenna and I went thrifting, and I kept trying to make it work but I really don't like skirts. So I made the top to one of my Radioactive dresses and just attached the skirt to the bottom. I feel super pretty when I wear it, but also a little... girly? I like to have a sort of tomboy edge to my style, so this is a dress that takes some getting used to for me.

On the other hand, I love these shoes. I didn't originally, I had some major buyer's remorse. See, I wanted some wedge sneakers but I couldn't find any within my budget. So I went to Ross and picked up these Roxy booties for $20. I thought it was a steal, but when I got home, I didn't like how they looked. I thought I would look silly in ankle boots and I thought they were too big. Wah wah wah. So I stuck them in a closet and ignored them. Fast forward a year when I'm bored with my wardrobe and need something cute and office appropriate to wear to work. (Summer is not my favorite shoe season.)

Hottopic

I was inspired by these sneaks from Hot Topic (because the Roxy shoes were a little plain) and I decided to bling up my wedge booties.

I added the stud on the strap and the buttons and beads on the side. I have to admit, I'm in love!! These are really comfy and even though I'm still not sure about wearing booties, I have been wearing them every day now.

Don't you love when you shop your closet and find something that works after all?

Until next time!

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: 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!

One Short Day

I've said before that when I first moved to Philly I listened to the Wicked soundtrack a lot, and I've always associated the city with the song One Short Day. I was super lucky to have my friend Brenna down to sleep over last night and we went out to enjoy a short day in my Oz. (And it was short - she was leaving at 1pm, so we only had a few jam-packed hours together!)

Walking to South Street, passing pretty buildings...

Breakfast at 4th Street Deli, followed by candy at Sweet tooth

This deli gives you danishes while you wait for breakfast!

The Zipperhead building - snapped this shot on our way to Crash Bang Boom!

Lion outside of Garland of Letters

We posed for outfit photos..

I got some awesome stuff!

Brenna is a very close friend (one of my best friends, actually) and she lives far far away. I don't get to see her very often and I was just so happy to have her down today! We went to Philly Aids Thrift and I bought yet another owl, and she watched me try on tons of jackets. We had good food and froyo and candy. We had lots of coffee (I'm dreaming about that cup in that pictures right now!) and all in all I think we both had a blast. I'm so happy I got to see her! Also, she finally got to meet my Mister, which is super important because I love them both. Yay!