Folksy Friday: Blues and whites

Working with some lovely handpainted blue and white ceramic beads gave me the idea for this weeks Folksy Friday.  Aren't they beautiful?  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shops.






1. Blue and white oval buttons by Amanda Mercer/Designer & Maker
2. Tea cosy by Ruby Ruby
3. Pill box feather hat by Rachel Wykes Milliner
4. Glass bowl by Abundant Glass
5. Felt flower brooch by Charlys Gems
6. Shopper by Ann Lampitt

Folksy Friday: Blues and whites

Working with some lovely handpainted blue and white ceramic beads gave me the idea for this weeks Folksy Friday.  Aren't they beautiful?  Click on any of the pictures to go directly to the shops.






1. Blue and white oval buttons by Amanda Mercer/Designer & Maker
2. Tea cosy by Ruby Ruby
3. Pill box feather hat by Rachel Wykes Milliner
4. Glass bowl by Abundant Glass
5. Felt flower brooch by Charlys Gems
6. Shopper by Ann Lampitt

Boston Tourist

I've always loved Boston. And by Boston I mean Fenway Park, bars in Fanueil Hall, and seeing live performances in the Theater District. But today I actually did the most touristy thing in Boston - The Freedom Trail! Two and a half miles of history!

Our first stop was the Charlestown Navy Yard. We explored the USS Constitution, Museum and USS Cassin Young.

Navy or Marines?

After Betty got her Navy fix...I spotted a sign that said "Marine Barracks." Of course I needed a picture! After I snapped a quick picture a man asked me if I had an interested in the barracks...I told him my husband is a Marine..and he offered to give us a mini-tour. I found out that it is actually the oldest Marine barracks in the country!

After a quick lunch we jumped back on the Freedom Trail. Our next stop - The North End! We saw Copp's Hill Burying Ground, Old North Church, Paul Revere statue, and shared a huge canoli at Mike's Pastry! The most touching thing we saw was the Memorial Garden...there was a blank dog tag for every person lost in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Next was the part of Boston I'm really familiar with - Fanueil Hall. All my favorite bars are here! We went to Union Oyster House, saw the Holocaust Memorial and took super touristy pictures with Ben Franklin (and yes, I paid him to pose with me!)

Our next stops were Old City Hall, King's Chapel Burying Ground, Sam Adams and John Hancock's graves, State House and Boston Common!

The tour ended 2.5 miles away from where we started....so we had to walk all the way back to meet the train! Needless to say my feet are killing me! The weather has been so crappy, I can't stop sneezing and sniffling...but I had so much fun in the city today...so it was totally worth it!

Etsy Bloggers Featured Artist - Mystic Wind

I almost missed it! It's the last day of the month, so my last chance to feature this month's featured artist from the Etsy Bloggers! Ok, well, not really, I've been known to do it the first week of the next month too. *shhh* don't tell anyone! Let's get a cheer for procrastination! Moving on...

Etsy Bloggers Featured Artist - March 2011

Here's three of my favorite items from her shop!

Pink Rose Floral Glass with Pearl Necklace

Blue Butterfly Button Ring on Black Filigree Band

Frilled Purple and Green Flower Earrings

Don't forget to check out this weeks Giveaway!

Coming up Tomorrow - Featured Friday!

Beadwork as Meditation

by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Ask anyone who knows me well, and they'll tell you that I'm scattered.  All you have to do is take a look at the current state of my beading table to see for yourself:

But somehow, out of all that chaos, I can take a pile of beads with a needle and some thread and create something of beauty, even if the finished product itself seems to be a bit chaotic:

When I first started beadweaving, I was amazed that those tiny little beads and long lengths of thread had the power to relax me the way that they did.  When I was beading, I found that I was totally focused on what I was doing, and any other worries or problems that I had seemed to just melt away while I immersed myself in the rhythm of the thread path.

Even now, over fifteen years since I first picked up bead and needle and thread, I still think it's wonder that beads have the power to relax and focus me.  In a world where things seem to be zipping past at lightning speed, it's so important to find something that you love that makes you slow down and really pay attention.

There's something very Zen-like about the repetition of the needle moving through the beads as I work.  And there's the transformative aspect of the work as well: I start out with a pile of beads and some thread, and I end up with a piece that is definitely more than the sum of it's parts.

Is there a particular aspect of handmade work that appeals to you? 

Autumn Drops

Click here to buy now!

The caramel color and silver leaf clasp on this necklace ring true for autumn wear.

Project Details

Required Materials: Seed beads, teardrops w/drill holes, lampworked bead, rondelles, tube bead, toggle clasp, bail, crimp tubes, beading wire. See project for complete list.
Tools Needed: Wire cutters, crimping pliers. See project for complete list.
Techniques Used: Stringing
Finished Size: 16 1/2"
Originally Published: Stringing, Spring 2005

Click here to buy now!

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Spring Wedding Outfit + Quest for Nude Pumps

Got this email from a reader: "Can you show outfits a petite guest could wear to a wedding? My closet is full of business attire. I'd like to dress up, but tastefully and appropriate for a wedding."

I think weddings are the perfect excuse to go out and buy a dress. Life's too short to not wear pretty frocks. H&M is probably the first place I'd look, but BCBG or even Forever 21 offer viable options for a Spring/Summer wedding.

If I absolutely must pull something from my closet of dull business attire, I would choose a colorful sheath dress. A la the Asos pencil dress. This is how I could wear it conservatively for work:

Dress: Asos Tailored Pencil Dress in Petite 0/UK 4, hemmed (buy here)

Pumps: Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps sz 5 (buy here)

Blazer: Theory sz 00  Akoya pearls: eBay

And for a not-too-formal wedding, I'd make the following changes:

1. Lose the blazer, or swap it for a cute cropped jacket or a shrug or elegant wrap
2. Instead of conservative pearls, don a statement necklace
3. Swap plain pumps for chic heels with a platform
4. Add a small evening bag or clutch
5. Get nails did and gloss your lips

Necklace: Forever 21 Beaded Bib Necklace (buy here, also comes in teal)

Bangles: H&M   Wallet: LV   Nails: Essie Jelly Apple

I don't like the quality of F21 necklaces, but I was drawn to this chunky piece. After I got home I coated the metal in cheap clear nail polish (reader tip - thank you!), and now store all my costume necklaces in individual plastic bags, as that's supposed to prevent oxidation.

Pumps: Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5
Swing Jacket: Banana Republic sz 0 (old, altered)

I got this dress back from the tailor, and the alteration cost almost made me weep. Tailor said $10 for the hem, but $25 total if I wanted to keep the back slit (it had to be reconstructed like so). So byebye $50 to get both dresses shortened. See reviews of this dress by fellow petites in the Alterations Needed Forum. Elle did a post on regular vs petite sizing and Ping did a post on the petite.

Next up, a pair of true nude (not brown, not porcini) pumps is a wardrobe must-have, so why is the perfect pair so darn hard to find? I thought about going straight to the popular Corso Como's that Elle has...

Corso Como Delicious Pump in Nude

...but I wanted a slight platform to further elongate the leg. Below are three options that I entertained:

1. Enzo Angliolini "Kylin" in Nude, sz 6 (5.5 was sold out)

Thoughts: the platform was chunky (look at that thick sole in the back view) and wide. Pointy toe not as classic as almond.

Verdict: Return

2. BCBG "Tinas" in Tapioca Santos, sz 5.5

Thoughts: the color was an effervescent pearly white in person...very bridal and definitely not nude. Toe a little too round for my liking. These DID fit very snugly though...so the 5.5 either runs small or is true to size.

Verdict: Return

3. Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5

Thoughts: 5.5 fit well, but pinched my toes (never happens!). Not a fan of the wooden sole and heel (I think it makes the shoe looks cheaper). Also, Target's Mossimo Versie in Taupe is a very close dupe for this shoe at less than half the price.

Verdict: Best for me out of the three...but pinched toes hurt. Return.

Here's a look at all three compared to the popular Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps. See how the Ann Taylor ones just have a cleaner and sleeker silhouette? That's why I shall remain a loyal PP wearer.

I will say that my quest for the perfect nude pump has finally ended, in a huge splurge. They're not perfect because they don't have a platform, but I've been considering them for a while and they were love on my feet.

Spring Wedding Outfit + Quest for Nude Pumps

Got this email from a reader: "Can you show outfits a petite guest could wear to a wedding? My closet is full of business attire. I'd like to dress up, but tastefully and appropriate for a wedding."

I think weddings are the perfect excuse to go out and buy a dress. Life's too short to not wear pretty frocks. H&M is probably the first place I'd look, but BCBG or even Forever 21 offer viable options for a Spring/Summer wedding.

If I absolutely must pull something from my closet of dull business attire, I would choose a colorful sheath dress. A la the Asos pencil dress. This is how I could wear it conservatively for work:

Dress: Asos Tailored Pencil Dress in Petite 0/UK 4, hemmed (buy here)

Pumps: Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps sz 5 (buy here)

Blazer: Theory sz 00  Akoya pearls: eBay

And for a not-too-formal wedding, I'd make the following changes:

1. Lose the blazer, or swap it for a cute cropped jacket or a shrug or elegant wrap
2. Instead of conservative pearls, don a statement necklace
3. Swap plain pumps for chic heels with a platform
4. Add a small evening bag or clutch
5. Get nails did and gloss your lips

Necklace: Forever 21 Beaded Bib Necklace (buy here, also comes in teal)

Bangles: H&M   Wallet: LV   Nails: Essie Jelly Apple

I don't like the quality of F21 necklaces, but I was drawn to this chunky piece. After I got home I coated the metal in cheap clear nail polish (reader tip - thank you!), and now store all my costume necklaces in individual plastic bags, as that's supposed to prevent oxidation.

Pumps: Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5
Swing Jacket: Banana Republic sz 0 (old, altered)

I got this dress back from the tailor, and the alteration cost almost made me weep. Tailor said $10 for the hem, but $25 total if I wanted to keep the back slit (it had to be reconstructed like so). So byebye $50 to get both dresses shortened. See reviews of this dress by fellow petites in the Alterations Needed Forum. Elle did a post on regular vs petite sizing and Ping did a post on the petite.

Next up, a pair of true nude (not brown, not porcini) pumps is a wardrobe must-have, so why is the perfect pair so darn hard to find? I thought about going straight to the popular Corso Como's that Elle has...

Corso Como Delicious Pump in Nude

...but I wanted a slight platform to further elongate the leg. Below are three options that I entertained:

1. Enzo Angliolini "Kylin" in Nude, sz 6 (5.5 was sold out)

Thoughts: the platform was chunky (look at that thick sole in the back view) and wide. Pointy toe not as classic as almond.

Verdict: Return

2. BCBG "Tinas" in Tapioca Santos, sz 5.5

Thoughts: the color was an effervescent pearly white in person...very bridal and definitely not nude. Toe a little too round for my liking. These DID fit very snugly though...so the 5.5 either runs small or is true to size.

Verdict: Return

3. Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5

Thoughts: 5.5 fit well, but pinched my toes (never happens!). Not a fan of the wooden sole and heel (I think it makes the shoe looks cheaper). Also, Target's Mossimo Versie in Taupe is a very close dupe for this shoe at less than half the price.

Verdict: Best for me out of the three...but pinched toes hurt. Return.

Here's a look at all three compared to the popular Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps. See how the Ann Taylor ones just have a cleaner and sleeker silhouette? That's why I shall remain a loyal PP wearer.

I will say that my quest for the perfect nude pump has finally ended, in a huge splurge. They're not perfect because they don't have a platform, but I've been considering them for a while and they were love on my feet.