Just Bead It

I still love working with lace, but lately I've been addicting to working with beads. Many of these are in the Sample Sale section of my shop. I just bought more beads last night so expect even more coming to the shop soon! Image links to the shop listing:

Catch Up: February in Phone Pix

I'm sorry, readers; life has been crazy lately (not necessarily in a good way). I figure the best way to recap is with the cell phone photos I've been taking (marco-blogging at its finest). In roughly chronological order.



I got my new pink glasses (they are a bit pinker than shown here). So adult, but I like them.



For Valentine's Day Michael gave me roses and cheese curds. Because he's the best.



We went out for dinner on the 13th and I curled my hair.



I've been very crafty lately. I taught myself to wire-wrap beads and use headpins, these will be in the shop soon.



I also knit this hat with a pattern I made up myself. I might sell it in my Etsy shop in the fall. I'm knitting this same hat in green now, but sans earflaps.



I'm also making my first dress. I'm probably about half done with the muslin. I am going to use this fabric.



Last week I framed up my business certificate, just need to hang it in my study.



I painted my nails a new color this past weekend, MacArthur Park from American Apparel. I really like this color and it matches my couch!



Tuesday I took the Metra out to Joliet and sat at the top, something I don't think I've done since high school. I got anti-depressants...I'm now taking a generic of Wellbutrin. February has been especially rough for me and I finally decided to try medication. People have been more supportive than I thought they'd be, which is comforting.



Nevertheless I'll always have kitty cuddles to cheer me up. :)

Wavy Pixie

I love my hair right now, I really do. I love how versatile and low maintenance being a blonde with a pixie can be. But as I've had this hair style/color for almost a year I'm starting to get a wee bit bored. I rarely keep a hair style or color for a year or longer. I'm not thinking of anything too drastic, but since I curled my hair a few weeks ago I've been thinking of growing it a little bit and wearing it wavy. Right now I'm leaning towards an asymmetrical 'do. Here's some inspirational photos; the first is probably closest to what I'm thinking but I figured I'd post them all.




kind of long for what I'm thinking


this is an updo but still along the same lines


maybe a transition cut?

I'm also thinking of just cutting the sides short and leaving the top long, but I think that might make me look too poofy up top and asymmetrical might look more flattering on my face. It will also grow out nicely (I hope!). Plus if I get sick of it I can just cut it back into a pixie.

New Boots

Let me preface this by saying I knowwww they are Uggggs. This is also probably the most I've spent on any clothing item, including my coats and my prom dress. However, I have only had Ugg Jillian for 24 hours and I'm already so glad I bought them. I originally purchased Ugg Broome II in black leather but the black wasn't as dark as I would have liked, and, as much as I love simple, they were too plain for me. I normally keep away from suede shoes but the black suede on the Jillians are so rich and nice, and they have just enough detailing. The tread is so nice and the heel is heightening but still comfortable to walk in.

However, this is the main draw of these boots:



LOOK AT ALL THAT SHEEPSKIN. I feel like my feet are wrapped in carpets and blankets. The insole is also removable so I can place an extra insole under them for more arch support and when they get worn out I can just buy new sheepskin insoles. I've worn these boots the past 2 days with a pencil skirt and an a-line skirt and they look nice with both; eventually I'd like to try them under bootcut jeans and over leggings (and maybe skinny jeans...maybe). The fleece does show at the top but it actually doesn't bother me much; makes me feel like a 70s ski bunny.

If you live in a really cold climate where your feet get cold easily I would highly recommend these. I've worn them with a single pair of tights and I can feel the difference on my legs. They also come in a beautiful, rich chocolate brown if that's more yours style. These are going to be my favourite winter boots for years to come.

Possible Skirt Fabrics

In about two weeks I'll be taking my first fashion sewing class! I'll be making a bias-cut skirt and I'm excited to finally begin sewing my own clothes. I need to find a fabric that looks good diagonally so that makes my decision a bit harder. I also want something I'd actually wear, and dark so I don't need to wear a slip. Here are a few I'm thinking about:

















UPDATE: I went with the fourth!

New OOAK Necklaces

Two new one-of-a-kind necklaces I hope to list this week!

Pink Spex

I don't know if it's a cabin fever thing or what but late winter I get the sudden urge to buy new glasses (my last purchase dates 3/9/11 so I'm a little early this year) and now that I'm blonde I'm all about pink. After searching the web 5 times I have narrowed it down to one of these two pairs. Any opinion? I like the peachiness and opacity of the first pair, but the second pair is a nicer shape.

UPDATE: I went with the second pair!

Curly Slu

Last week I had the urge to curl my hair. I inherited from my mother a 1/2" curling iron that still works really well, and since I've been dying my hair (and because it's shorter) it doesn't curl as well as it used to even though I have naturally wavy hair. I really like the way it turned out and once it's hat weather I plan to style it this way more often. It had an unexpected vintage look to it (and at first the top/front had a pincurl look). I'm gonna try growing my bob out a little bit and maybe have my part more dramatic so I have some asymmetrical curl action. What do you think?

Oh and here's my obligatory picture with Seymour.

New Jewels!

The above are just some of the new non-lace jewelry added to the shop!