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: Jeans and a Tee Shirt

holding

That's how I start draft posts.

holding

holding

holding

and then between the posts, I put pictures so later I can go back and add captions or whatever commentary I want. In an ootd post like today, it would read holding (photo) holding (photo) holding (photo) because sometimes the goal is just to get the pictures in and then write when I have the time. I used to just upload the pics but a few glitchy blog posts and several frustrated sighs later, I learned that just a word between the pics would 'hold' me until I was ready to talk.

I've just not really felt much like talking lately, thus, radio silence on the blog.

My life is kind of in a holding pattern right now, even at work where certain things are preventing me from doing my job properly. For someone like me, someone who prides themselves on working hard, that is difficult. Even my coworker yesterday said it - "So, you're like in a holding pattern right now". Yes, I really am.

I'm just sort of stuck. And haven't been very nice to be around.

Every minute of spare time has been spend dealing with a never ending string of dentist appointments which will probably continue well into the fall, as well as a lot of pain or being too drugged/tired from the dentist to even do anything productive with my spare time. It's been difficult.

But I know it will get better, and eventually I'll resume blogging like I never quit and I'll pick back up with writing (because I'm sooooooo close to finishing sooooo many things). I've even taken teeny steps towards my dreams of an online store. I've started making things that make me really feel like an artist again, and that's been kind of important because I lost that feeling for a long, long time.

Anyway, enough whinging. On to the outfit post.

Shirt: Recon/Me, Shoes: Target, Jeans: DIY/Me/American Eagle, Necklace: Target/Recon/Me

I got this cool as hell Cape Cod Whale Watching tee shirt from the 5 for 20$ bin that Captain Vintage always has at the Punk Rock Flea Market. I LOVE it, and it fits my travel tee collection. It was a little boring, though, so I made it into a skirty bottomed tee. I also reconstructed my gold-tone deer skull necklace from Target, putting it on a contrasting gunmetal chain.

It was a perfect outfit for one of the few Saturdays I've had lately without a dental appointment. Seriously, who knew one tooth could be so much trouble? And now, even with the root taken out, I'm still in pain. It's so strange. Hopefully a permanent crown will be the end of my misery and booked-up weekends.

I almost didn't put this picture in the post, but I feel like it sums up my mood so well. Sort of disenchanted, entirely uncomfortable and generally pessimistic. ;-) I'm a charmer, as my spouse would say.

I do really, really love this outfit and I have already started chopping up ALL of my tee shirts. I could also see this being a good layering piece in the fall, which can't get here soon enough in my opinion. I'm always miserable in the summer but happy in the winter. Come on, fall, I'm waiting for you.

Until next time. <3