The Mux Stops Here

break

2009-03-24T22:23:00.002-05:00

Readers,

I've decided to take a break from blogging to allow time to catch up on some work and think some thoughts. Thanks for your kind comments and for visiting my blog in the first place!

-Margeaux

fake album game

2009-03-22T15:27:00.002-05:00

I discovered this game last night on Flickr--it's very fun. Here's the directions:

1 - Go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random.

The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to www.quotationspage.com/random.php3.

The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to: www.mikelietz.org/. Grab the photo randomly generated from Creative Commons licensed photos on Flickr. This will be your album cover. Be sure to credit the photographer or link back to the original photo.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to Flickr with this text in the description and tag the friends you want to join in.

I used Picnik.com to create my covers.

You can then upload your photos to the Fake Album Game Flickr Group (check out the group pool for more fake covers).

winnings

2009-03-21T14:17:00.002-05:00

The winner of the 18" doll outfit giveaway is LittleYellowBirdBoutique! Be sure to check out her Etsy shop. The outfit will be shipped this Monday.

In other news, I visited a rather out-of-the-way antique mall this week that'd I'd never been to before. It was in a warehouse and it smelled kind of strange, but it was definitely worth it.

The prices were insanely low and I found some amazing items. Besides, I just love being around vintage things. I gives me a new perspective on history that I doubt I could ever receive from a textbook.

Here's what I found:

My new jewelry favorite, this great Betsy Johnson-esque charm bracelet.

A copy of Life magazine from 1941.
The caption under the cover photo states that 'the pretty Mrs. Bertram Benedict' was a freelance fashion illustrator who moonlighted as a volunteer air-raid spotter.

A tiny beaded purse....

...and this really unique purse; I love the clasp and buckle.

A few patterns from the '40s ($1.95 each! Crazy!).
Aren't their hats and hairstyles great?

And to top it all off, a few bags of pins (I like putting these on gifts/packages instead of a bow).

Have you been vintage shopping recently?

MuxOriginals GiveAway #2

2009-03-17T13:20:00.017-05:00

This giveaway is closed! Thanks to everyone who participated :)

Pink and Green 18" Doll Outfit

Your doll will look fabulous in this handmade ensemble. Great as a complete look, but the individual garments are easy to mix-and-match with the rest of your doll wardrobe.

Includes:

-Cotton jacket with green print sleeves and mandarin collar

-White cotton tank top

-Green stretch twill bellbottoms

The tank and pants close in the back with Velcro. The jacket closes in the front with buttons and snaps. All seams are finished with a zig-zag stitch to prevent fraying. All embellishments and closures are securely sewn in place. Machine-washable.

This GiveAway closes at noon on Mar. 20.Winner will be randomly selected that night and announced the morning of Mar. 21.
Outfit will be shipped first-class on Mar. 23.

Check out my other doll clothes at muxoriginals.etsy.com.
Thanks for participating and good luck!

I'm back!

2009-03-16T07:22:00.004-05:00

Hello, everyone! I'm officially back from vacation and getting back into the swing of things (or at least trying to). I had a lovely time, and right now I'm desperately trying to figure out a way to make my tan last until summer.

I've decided not to post photos from the craft show I did while gone (though I said I would), because the lighting was awful and my table didn't look so great anyway. It was something of a last-minute affair.

Anyway, I cancelled my Teen Vogue subscribtion awhile ago, but I returned home to find the latest issue in the stack of mail. I quit my subscribtion because I don't like the magazine, but I think TV may have redeemed itself with this editorial. It still seems a bit overstyled to me (my main complaint with TV), but the overall mood is lovely.

And they managed to find a boy model that doesn't look like a girl!

View the entire editorial in higher resolution here.

red flip flops

2009-03-08T17:32:00.008-05:00

Converse dress, random sash, Old Navy flip flops, Mossimo purse

Old Navy dress, Old Navy flip flops, Mossimo purse

Banana Republic dress, American Living jeans, Old Navy flip flops, random sash

I've been living in dresses and flip flops this vacation. I wish I'd photographed more of my dressier outfits incorporating these shoes. I love the way carmel shoes look with red, black, and denim basics.

vacation adventures pt. 1

2009-03-02T14:06:00.011-06:00

It certainly is lovely to no longer feel like an ice cube whenever I go outside! Here's what's been happening these first few days of vacation:

random headscarf, Old Navy sweater, Converse dress, Mossimo purse, Old Navy flip-flops

Yesterday's outfit. It's actually been a little chillier than I expected (mid 60s), hence the sweater.

Lunch at Whole Foods Market, which consisted of Margherita pizza and a delicious fruit tart with lemon cream.

Magenta bougainvillea.

And here's some pictures of the items I sewed for the trip:

A zipper pouch for snacks (to keep in my purse), because I'm not wild about the idea of my ipod getting anywhere near my Fig Newtons.

I made it using this genius tutorial. It's all pretty much notion/fabric odds-and-ends I had sitting around (the pink fabric is actually a leg from a pair of pants I turned into shorts).

The little applique is just a design cut from a scrap of fabric and ironed/stitched in place with the help of Wonder Under and my sewing machine.

Sleep shirt. I couldn't find one that I liked at any stores, so I made one ( loosely adapted from patterns from this book). Again, pretty much all the fabric is second-hand here. The bodice was cut from a men's tee, and the skirt part is actually cut from an old maxi dress, so this came together in about half an hour (measuring the ribbing was the most time-consuming step).

If you get the idea I was whipping these things together the afternoon before we left, you're right :)

vacation

2009-02-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

First off, something funny. This post is titled 'Vacation', and after I added tags I saved it to my dashboard and saw this:

:) Here's today's outfit.

I tried taking photos outside (it's foggy and rather mystical-looking today) but it was so cold and my skirt kept blowing about.

So I moved inside.

Jones New York turtleneck, Thakoon for Target skirt, random tights, Gianni Bini shoes

Unfortunately, it started raining after I took these pictures, so I had to change to boots before going out. Which is sad, because these are the kind of shoes that make an outfit.

By the way, I'm leaving for a 2 week tropical vacation....

I'm planning on doing a few outfit posts and sharing some pictures from a craft show I'll be doing, but things will be relatively scarce around here until March 15.

Goodbye!

a little night sewing

2009-02-24T21:51:00.005-06:00

I've spent the past few evenings sewing some extra Barbie clothing for an upcoming craft show. As you can see, I also snapped a bunch of behind-the-scenes photos.

Magnetic pin cushion. This kind is a lot easier to use than the typical tomato cushion (though I'll admit it's not as cute).

My trusty Husquevarna Viking.

Fabric and trims for 2 Barbie evening gowns.

Vintage Barbie illustration.

Barbie, waiting with the scissors and thread for her modeling gig.

Samples of a new bathing suit design I'm working on (these will be debuting in the shop in a few weeks!).

Dress bodices and my iron.

In other news, I tried out a new dessert for an Australian-themed dinner the other night: lamingtons. I'd never heard of these before I started researching Australian food; basically, they're squares or cubes of butter cake coated with chocolate icing and topped with coconut.

Mine weren't particularly authentic, but they did taste great! I used chocolate ganache instead of icing, and toasted up plenty of coconut to sprinkle over each.

My recipe is from a copyrighted cookbook, but here's a few online recipes I that look similar:

Also, here's the ganache recipe I used:

Ganache (it's at the end of the brownie recipe)

lucky

2009-02-23T16:29:00.008-06:00

I've been giving my sister sewing lessons for the past few months now. This is our latest project: Lucky the Dog/softie.

Lucky's made out of fake fur (it's really cow print, but we decided it works for a Dalmatian). He has a felt face, ears, and collar.

The name tag is a Shrinky Dink drawn with colored pencils.

The pattern's from Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals (which is definitely worth owning).

As you can see, our Lucky is rather unique (compared to the prototype in the book).

But that's how we roll :)

banana-oatmeal muffins

2009-02-21T09:18:00.005-06:00

I'm usually not a fan of banana-related baked goods, but my Mom, muffin whiz that she is, makes a mean banana-oatmeal muffin. Which just happens to be what we had for breakfast this morning.
Above are my photos, and here's her recipe:

Banana-Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup + 1 teaspoon honey
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups mashed bananas (4-5 medium)

Combine oats and milk and set aside.

In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

To soaked mixture, add oil, eggs, vanilla, and bananas.

Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and stir only until the flour is moistened.

Fill greased muffin cups and bake 375 F--20 minutes.

Makes approx. 17 muffins.

Best served with scrambled eggs and orange juice.

What did you have for breakfast?

5 cool websites: miniatures

2009-02-20T09:00:00.002-06:00

I've always loved miniatures. Here's a few
of my favorite websites featuring tiny things:

World's Smallest Postal Service at Leafcutter Designs.

This is such a cute, sweet idea.

Miniature food jewelry at pukashell.etsy.com. The detail on this ring is insane.

Amazing video about a lady who knits tiny clothing for movies like Coraline (those are two fingers inside the sweater!).
Thanks, Jessica!

World's Smallest Man-Made Orange.

And lastly......
miniature pigs.

So. Cute.

All images property of their respective websites.

to sir with love

2009-02-18T11:49:00.005-06:00

dollar store sunglasses, Old Navy coat, vintage dress, Mossimo purse, random stockings, Personal Identity shoes

Outfit pictures from last Sunday. I always feel like an extra from To Sir With Love when I wear this dress. It's a homemade dress from the late '60s that I found at Goodwill. I love to wear secondhand homemade clothing--it makes me think that perhaps a girl 40 years from now will be wearing one of the dresses I've made.

BTW, I did an interview with Nicole Tattersall--you can read it here.

v-day

2009-02-16T12:44:00.007-06:00

It was a very nice Valentine's Day.

Jones New York shirt, thrifted cardigan, Ralph Lauren cords, Croft & Barrow oxfords, Mossimo purse

I made some last-minute valentines that turned out rather dorky....

...but you can't go wrong with Riesens!

I also made a cherry pie for the family. By the time I got around to photographing it, it was mostly mutiliated.

I miss it already (the pie, I mean :).

Did you have a nice Valentine's?

Friday favorites: erickabasile.etsy.com

2009-02-13T20:00:00.001-06:00

Coco Shoulder Bag in Yellow

Reversible Weekender Tote in Pink and Blue

Coco Camera Bag in Red and White

There's so many talented bag-makers on Etsy. One of my favorites is Ericka Basile, who created the lovely bags shown above. I adore the bright colors and mod details, and the recurring 'target' motive really ties her products together. Above are a few of my picks from her shop;
browse all her merchandise here.

Edit: the day after I published this Etsy picked erikabasile as the featured seller. They must be reading my blog! :P

MuxOriginals Valentine's Day sale!

2009-02-12T08:15:00.003-06:00

I'm throwing a sale today through Feb. 16 at ye olde shop in honor of Valentine's Day!

All red + pink merchandise is 25% off current prices.

CLICK HERE to check it out!

More Valentine's fun coming soon.

blythe swap goodies!

2009-02-11T12:14:00.003-06:00

This February I participated in the Flickr group *Blythe*Swap*'s Valentine's Day Swap. It was super fun! I can't wait until the next one. I received my package from my swap partner, Batqueen, yesterday. Check out the awesome stuff she sent me:

handsewn Blythe kimono

vintage fabric and notions

Kinder Surprise candy

Custom puzzle

Thanks so much, Batqueen!

You've made my first swap such a great experience :)

the best snack ever (or me, practicing my macro photography)

2009-02-09T12:30:00.000-06:00

Start with an apple, a knife, peanut butter, and some Kashi ® GOLEAN Crunch!™ cereal

(the last dregs in the bottom of the box work great for this).

Slice your apple.

Spread each slice with peanut butter.

Pour some cereal onto a plate or flat bowl.

Dip each apple slice, peanut butter side down, in the cereal.

Enjoy! Goes best with a good book and cool drink.

business cards

2009-02-07T12:00:00.001-06:00

I received these new business cards I ordered from GotPrint.com this weekend. I designed them with their Advanced Designer....and they're perfect!

So shiny.

And they came in the cutest little box.

Can you tell I'm just a little obsessed?

Red 5 Ways

2009-02-05T12:23:00.006-06:00

Artistic Mod

Rugged and Romantic

Casual Parisian

(her hair is so gorgeous!)

Fresh and Ethnic-Inspired

Classic with a 70s Twist

All photos from Elle Street Chic.

4 cool websites: art

2009-02-03T20:54:00.010-06:00

Five fun, interactive art-related websites I found last night while Stumbling.

Create your own modern, paint-splotch creation at jacksonpollock.org.
Here's the Picasso face I made at mrpicassohead.com. What do you think---does it look like me?

Not exactly art-related, but too cool not to link. I won't even explain it-just try it.

Takes your doodle and turns it into a scribbled masterpiece. Which may turn out a little creepy, like mine. Scribble at zefrank.com.

ruffles

2009-02-01T12:30:00.004-06:00

Mossimo jacket, Go International dress, Target tights, Personal Identity shoes, vintage ring

Today's church outfit. Off to enjoy an afternoon of baking and an evening of Super Bowl partying!

friday favorites: wainbowmudd.etsy.com

2009-01-30T10:13:00.007-06:00

Candy Apple Bunch

Wainbow Cuties

Stawberry Lime Collection

This Friday, my favorite Etsy shop is wainbowmudd. I love Laura's cute and modern hair accessories, as well as her overall shop design---that soft green background color perfectly complements her colorful products!
Above are my top three picks from her shop---see everything else here.

P.S. Since I'm a sucker for packaging, I could help but include a picture of how Laura's packages her products. So simple and yet very special.

art (in my room)

2009-01-29T14:44:00.008-06:00

I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite arty things decorating my room.

Color-phobics beware!

Eye Candy
I made this sculpture/artwork/I'm-not exactly-sure-what-it-is when I was twelve. There's this little Amish grocery store I sometimes visit in Iowa City, and they sell containers of sprinkles for around $.88 each.

I had no use for bulk sprinkles when I was twelve, but I loved the way the stacked containers looked so much that I bought them anyway.

Then I decided to make some sort of decoration out of them---one Ikea frame and 1/2 a bottle of Gorilla Glue later, I had this.

Records
I used to have a bunch of piddly little postcards taped to this section of wall next to my bunk bed, so adding these records I acquired at a garage sale was a huge improvement. Plus, no room is complete without something Sound of Music- or Tony Bennett-related.

Green Glass Collection
This happened by accident (as many collections do). I started picking up green glass items at garage sales and Goodwill because they were to cool not to buy, and eventually I got a whole shelfful (I know--that word is hard to read). This shelf is above my desk, and my uncle, who installed the shelves, is afraid it'll get so heavy that it'll fall on my head.

But so far, so good.

out and about

2009-01-27T17:09:00.009-06:00

Old Navy boots, leggings--gift, thrifted skirt, (r)elativity t-shirt, thrifted vest

Today's outfit had an accidental Sergeant Pepper's vibe to it, which I only realized when looking at the pictures. This morning I went to Wal-Mart and the library, and here's my observations from both places:

Wal-Mart

People have been talking about Wal-Mart's decision to get rid of their fabric section for a while now, but I was still surprised when I visited the department today and found it rearranged and the products discounted. In some of the small towns near me,Wal-Mart is the closest fabric source within an hour's drive, and many groups like the Girl Scouts depend on the stores' low-priced fabrics for their sewing projects.

It makes me mad.

Library

On a lighter note, I thought these two books side by side on the library shelf looked so pretty--just in time for Valentine's!

How did you spend your Tuesday?

inspiring spaces: tara anderson

2009-01-26T13:19:00.005-06:00

I think that the space you work in and the products you make are very closely linked, which is why I love seeing other artist/crafters' work spaces. It really makes you think about their work in a different way.

I'm starting a new series called Inspiring Spaces, where I'll share some the best work spaces I've seen. Above is one of my favorites, Tara Anderson's Craft Room. It's so fresh and energizing, and the way she's arranged her supplies seems to make projects come together of their own accord.

Do you have a favorite work space (either your own or someone else's)?

my rig

2009-01-24T15:40:00.005-06:00

When I first started photographing my items for Etsy, it was really helpful to see pictures of other people's 'setups', so I'll share mine. My generous brother bought me an EZcube light tent for Christmas (which is wonderful) but before that I was using a homemade lightbox (which is not so wonderful, but still works).
I usually do my photographing between 3:00-4:00 PM, with the light tent on a table facing a window. I use a piece of poster board for the background, and piece of wood for the 'floor'.
I set the light tent back out of the direct patches of sunlight coming in through the window, so I just get the general ambiance.

The result!

jean jacket

2009-01-21T11:42:00.005-06:00

thrifted scarf, Gap jacket, Xhilaration blouse, thrifted skirt (altered), Target tights, Esprit boots

I love the exposed metal zipper on the back of this blouse I bought at Target the other day.

See by Chloe Cruise 2009

2009-01-19T15:31:00.011-06:00

I love this collection. I want to sew myself some summer-y clothing for an upcoming trip to Florida, and I'm definitely inspired by these looks. Check out the rest here.

we have a winner....

2009-01-18T15:09:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to Heidi/Digital Misfit, winner of my Blythe blouses GiveAway! Be sure to check out her blog.

And here's the loot I was fortunate enough to win in two giveaways over the past few weeks. Vintage patterns from Lisa at The Hem Line, and a repurposed notebook from Rebekah at Urban Wheel House.

GiveAways are so fun.

GiveAway

2009-01-15T07:47:00.007-06:00

This GiveAway is closed! Thanks to everyone who participated.

I'll announce the winner tomorrow.

In 2009, I will be giving away one handmade outfit or garment for 18 in. Dolls, Blythe, or Barbie on the 15th of every other month!

If you like, I can email you updates for each giveaway.

To enter GiveAway, leave a comment with your name and email address.

I can be contacted at muxoriginals@mchsi.com if you have any questions.

This month's item:

Floral Blouse Set

Red and white blouse features long sleeves with gathered cuffs, peter pan collar, and button detail. Green blouse features rolled collar and dolman sleeves. Both 100% cotton blouses close with snaps and all seams are carefully finished with Fray Check. Please hand-wash.

This GiveAway closes at noon on Jan. 17.

Winner will be randomly selected that night and announced the morning of Jan. 18.

Blouses will be shipped first-class on Jan. 19.

Check out my other doll clothes at muxoriginals.etsy.com.

Thanks for participating and good luck!

hand pies

2009-01-14T10:30:00.003-06:00

I made these yesterday after coming across the recipe in an old Martha Stewart magazine. Here's the recipe. I didn't have any dehydrated strawberries, so I substituted the same amount of thawed, drained, frozen strawberries and omitted the water.

They were really delicious!

stripes and paisley

2009-01-12T13:00:00.003-06:00

{on me}

-thrifted sweater

-Star City skirt

-? tights

-thrifted shoes

-thrifted watch

Me and my friend Mikah, trying to look like we're not freezing.

what I'm reading...

2009-01-10T15:58:00.004-06:00

The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
I got this for Christmas last year, and I'm just now finishing it (embarrassed grin). It's hard to get into, but I'm really liking it now, especially since I discovered my copy has a character list (this comes in handy since each character has about 2 different names and a handful of titles).

Craft, Inc., Mateo Ilasco
This is one of the myriad crafting/business books I checked out at the library recently. I haven't read much of it yet, but the cover's really cool :).

24 Favorite One Act Plays, edited by Bennet Cerf and Van H. Cartmell
I love short stories, and a one act play is like the short story of the theatre world. Plus, this collection features the likes of Oscar Wilde, Arthur Miller, and Anton Chekhov. Need I say more?

Crafting a Business, Kathie Fitzgerald
I love this book. The bulk of it is interviews with women who run businesses centered around their craft-related interests, and it's so interesting and encouraging to read their stories. If you just check out one of these books, make it this one.

The fact that almost all of these books have library stickers on them shows how much of a library nerd I am. Or just that I'm very cheap.

What are you reading?

inspiration board

2009-01-07T13:22:00.016-06:00

I'm certainly not the first person to have an inspiration board in their workspace, but I love to see the ways people personal theirs, so I'll share
mine. Today I switched it from Christmas-themed stuff to pictures that inspire me this January.
Most of the pictures are from my collection of magazine
clippings and ephemera I've been amassing for the past few years.
My board is a magnet/dry erase board from Ikea.

{before}

{after}

Sorry about the weird pictures. The lighting in my room is horrible.

I can't stop sewing...

2009-01-06T12:59:00.008-06:00

...clothes for my new Blythe!

Here's what I've made so far:

Gypsy Queen Jacket

Prim White Blouse

It's Hip to Be Square Dress

Edit: this dress has sold. If you'd like to purchase something similiar, please contact me!

Everything's for sale in the shop.

What are you sewing?

chevron

2009-01-05T13:52:00.007-06:00

-thrifted vest
-Gap turtleneck
-thrifted skirt
-? tights
-Dollhouse shoes

Okay, here's the first of the outfits incorporating garments from the 1980s that I mentioned in this post. The skirt is classic 80s stonewash denim, and fairly high-waisted to boot. I paired it with a sweater vest (I know, I know--the epitome of modernity) and dark tights and shoes.

What do think?

I just noticed that the tag on my new shoes matches my turtleneck. Pretty sweet.

My brother kept trying to jump into the photo juuuusssttt as the self-timer would go off. Blogging + brothers= trouble.

breaking the bank

2009-01-02T11:35:00.015-06:00

I went on a mini shopping spree over Christmas Break. Most of the packages have finally arrived, so here's what I bought!

Introducing (drumroll please)......Simone! She's my first Blythe doll, a Prima Dolly Encore Ashlette bought from this Ebay seller. My friends are freaking out (one suggested she should play Chucky's girlfriend) but I like her even more than I thought I would. Above is a picture I snapped the first day I got her. She's wearing a dress I sewed while waiting for her to arrive.

Vintage patterns from etsy.com. I've already made a blouse with the pattern to the right, but I haven't gotten around to sewing the buttons and buttonholes yet (I always procrastinate that step). Here's a sneak-preview, and with a bit of self-discipline, it should show up in an outfit post pretty soon:

Tribeca sandals, for an upcoming tropical trip. These are the first shoes I've bought online, and they fit perfectly! Plus, the sale price is killer.

I also bought some boring sewing supplies and few other things. Now I'll have to do penance by cutting out online shopping this month.....we'll see :)

2008-12-31T18:39:00.005-06:00

For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding~

how to make '80s garments current

2008-12-30T14:44:00.008-06:00

Thrift stores these days are over-flowing with garments from the 1980s. Lace prom dresses, boxy jackets, day-glow blast jackets, pleated blouses.

Many of these garments look cool, but it can be hard to imagine them fitting into your modern wardrobe. Here's a couple tips I've learned to update and alter your 80s finds.

1. REMOVE SHOULDER PADS
This is probably the #1 way to update clothing. Most shoulder pads are tacked in with thread or string, so they can be easily removed with scissors or a seam ripper.
(Don't get me wrong...in some cases, I like shoulder pads, so long as they aren't costumey. Just decide for yourself whether they suit your figure and style or not.)

2. REPLACE BUTTONS
Buttons are a tell-tale way to date clothing. 80's clothing tends to have large, flashy, or matchy-matchy buttons.Replace them with something a little more subtle or unique for a modern look.

3. SHORTEN HEMS
Many 80s dresses and skirts have mid-calf length hems. This look isn't particularly flattering on most people. Try hemming your skirt or dress to knee length.

4. REMOVE SLEEVES
Over-the-top, obnoxious sleeves are an 80s staple. Try cutting them off and leaving the armhole edges raw or finishing them with bias tape. You can even add new sleeves if you like. If you've removed the sleeves of your dress, try wearing it like a jumper with a fitted long-sleeve shirt underneath.

5.MIX AND MATCH YOUR ERAS
Now that you've updated your thrift finds, try combining them in unexpected ways. Pair your 80s stonewash jeans with a simple tank and a modern scarf, your loud 80s dress with black tights and oxfords, your bright boxy jacket with a knit black dress and and ballet flats....you get the picture. Send me photos of your 1980s-style outfits and they may end up on my blog!

Coming soon: outfits centered around 80s garments I've thrifted recently....

Images courtesy of amazon.com and paperdollreview.com.

crust

2008-12-29T16:48:00.005-06:00

I made this blackberry pie today. I'm sure my blackberry pie recipe would be nothing new, but I decided to share my crust recipe because it's super easy and delicious.

Favorite Pie Crust
(recipe makes 1 crust; double for 2-crust pies)

Ingredients:
-2 c. all-purpose four
-1/2 tsp. salt
-2/3 chilled butter
-1/4-1/2 c. cold water
Note: I use my food processor to make crust (just recently got one of these, and it's miraculous), but I've made crust most of my life without one, so I'll include instructions for both, with special processor instructions in green. I use the little spinny-blade-thingy with my processor.

1. Sift flour and salt together into large bowl (or bowl of food processor).

2. Cut butter into 1/2 in. chunks and add to flour mixture.

3. Cut butter in with pie cutter (or pulse with processor) until mixture has the consistency of bread crumbs.

4. Add water and stir (or pulse). Start with 1/4 c. water and slowly add more until mixture retains shape when packed together with your fingers.

5. Pack mixture into a ball (if using processor, dump mixture into a bowl before doing this; I don't want to be responsible for missing fingers :).

6. Spread flour on your work surface, and roll out dough with rolling pin, sprinkling with flour and flipping occasionally to prevent sticking. Dough should be about 1/8 in. thick.

7. Fold crust into quarters (in half, then again) and position in pie pan with folded corner in the center.

8. Unfold, press into place, and finish the edge as you wish (I use the Fluted Pinched method from this page).

9. Bake according to your recipe and enjoy!

gold yarn

2008-12-27T13:55:00.007-06:00

-Handmade scarf

-Necessary Objects dress

-H&M sweater

-Target tights

-Vintage sandals

I've had a marvelous Christmas! How about everyone else?

Plus, last Sunday I bought my first Blythe doll! Pictures coming soon.

2008-12-26T09:47:00.006-06:00

POST-CHRISTMAS SALE!

Everything at muxoriginals.etsy.com is 50% off through Dec. 31.

Take advantage of the great deals!

CHECK IT OUT

christmas curls

2008-12-21T13:08:00.005-06:00

I rag-rolled my hair for our Christmas church service this morning. At first I thought I looked like Art Garfunkel, but I tamed it with a headband and I think I like it now. Our service was beautiful (complete with a ballet dance, candles, and carols), but it's -3 F today (with a wind chill factor of -30 F ) and I'm just glad to be home and bundled up in a turtleneck and hoodie.

I'm going to take a break from blogging until after Christmas, so Happy Holidays to everyone!

barbie at the movies

2008-12-19T12:53:00.005-06:00

I'm currently working on a series of Barbie outfits influenced by costumes from classic movies. This is the first, inspired by one of Judy Garland's dresses from Meet Me in St. Louis (I watched that last week on TCM and I definitely recommend it).

This dress should be for sale in the shop within the next few days.

Edit: this dress has sold! Please contact me if you'd like to purchase a similiar dress.

rose-colored shoes

2008-12-15T10:30:00.008-06:00

-H&M blouse
-thrifted skirt
-Target tights
-thrifted shoes

{book}mark my words

2008-12-14T14:09:00.011-06:00

You can only give someone so many zipper pouches. This is the case with a particular friend of mine, so I had to sit down and think a bit to come up with a Christmas present for her. She's quite the bookworm, so I went with a fabric bookmark.
I made this up as I went, and here's how to do it for everyone who may have a bookworm in their lives too.

This particular friend is a feminine, Meg March-ish type, which is why I went with the girly color scheme, but this project could easily be amended to suit your comic-book-loving niece or foodie grandpa.

Here goes....

1. Assemble the following:

+Two 3 1/2" by 8" fabric rectangles (iron stiff interfacing on one of them)

+One 2 1/2" by 7" contrasting fabric rectangle (I penciled diagonal lines 1/2" apart and sewed over them with some fancy machine stitches, but you could do whatever you like: hand-stitchery, applique, horizontal or vertical stripes, etc. Once you're done embellishing it, press the edges under 1/4")

+One 15" long piece of ribbon (loop a shank button through it like I did, or sandwich two buttons over the end and glue in place, or string some beads on it, etc.)

It should all look something like this:

Center the embellished rectangle on the interfaced rectangle and edgestitch in place. Baste the ribbon in the right corner (I sewed it in the left, which I discovered doesn't work if you want the ribbon to hang over the book binding).

Like so (but with the ribbon in the opposite corner):

Pin that piece and your other larger rectangle, wrong sides together, making sure not to catch the ribbon in the edges. Sew around all sides except the bottom, and trim the seam allowances.

Like so:

And so:

Turn right side out and press thoroughly with a steam iron. Turn the bottom edge in 1/4" and press. Edgestitch around the whole thing, and you're done!

Need to wrap the gift you've just created? Check out my posts about Handmade Wrappings here and here.

What I've Been Up To.........

2008-12-13T17:22:00.005-06:00

Greetings from the big screen! Picture awesome-ified at Picnik.com

+Last night. Brian Regan concert. Need I say more? My cheeks still hurt from laughing so much. If you haven't heard of him (heaven forbid) here's his site.

+I've been on an Etsy-banner-making kick. I made a bunch of free ones for various Etsians (see them here). If you've got an Etsy shop and need/want a new banner, leave a comment, send me a Convo/email, yell across the house.....etc.

+Jeeves and Wooster. I read some of these books when I was younger, but I was just reaqquainted with them via Alexander Spencer's recordings of P. G. Wodehouse's beloved books. Both aforementioned men were geniuses of their respective crafts, and the combination of the two is delightful to behold. If they can't be found through your local library, here's where you can buy them online.

+Wrapping up more presents. Here's some (free) gift tags that are super cute:
-Black Apple Tags
-Paper Seed Tags
-Letters to Santa Tags
-House Wren Studio Tags
-Dr. Seuss Gift Tags

+Shopping for vintage patterns. I don't really need more, but I have this desperate feeling that if I don't buy them now, they'll be expensive and rare when I actually get around to buying them. Most of my favorites on Etsy right now are vintage patterns, right here.

May All Your Christmases be White

2008-12-09T16:17:00.013-06:00

Paper snowflakes are a recent holiday tradition around here. Ever since I watched Christmas with Dr. Snowflake (it sounds like a dumb children's book, but it's actually a video made by this bearded snowflake whiz), I've been trying my hand at these paper creations every Dec.

Here are this year's attempts. I only made a few so that we can actually see out our back door. This is the method I use, except for I draw my own designs in pencil on the snowflake before cutting. Once cut, I iron them and tape them up!

For those of you of the digitial inclination (or with no paper and scissors handy) check out Make-a-Flake. Be sure to look at the gallery; there's some virtual snowflakes made by true paper geniuses. Or people who were really bored at the office one day.

Here's a couple of mine, jazzed up with my Paint program:

Top Ten.....Purple Dresses on Etsy.com

2008-12-07T19:45:00.015-06:00

(photo credits property of their respective shops)

1950s Sweet Purple Lace Full Skirted Party Dress Small

{$75}

Vintage Sixties Mod Purple Apple Print Front Zip Dress

{$22}

Mod Floral Print Empire Waist Maxi Dress . Purple Green Blue

{$36}

Vintage 1950s Purple Gingham Dress Full Skirt with Belted Waist Rockabilly sz small

{$60}

American Girl doll clothes Purple brocade dress

{$15}

Cranberry Bow Jumper

{$65}

Fancy Nancy Dress (for big girls)

{$44.50}

Light Purple Naturally Dyed Cotton Dress

{$20}

Verity Hope Linen Wrap dress by Malphi. Loganberry. Medium.

{$129}

Green and Black Plaid

2008-12-07T14:39:00.005-06:00

-Vintage necklace

-Vintage dress

-Tights--?

-Personal Identity shoes

(that has to be the stupidest name for a shoe line ever)

I've had a nice weekend spent performing choir concerts and baking Christmas cookies. This is what I wore to church today. I love this dress because it looks Christmas-y without being cloying, if you know what I mean. The necklace is one of my favorites too.
(I know my pictures are kind of effects-heavy today; but I recently discovered Picnik.com and it's so much fun to play around with that I couldn't resist!)

Friday Favorites: RedaretheRoses.etsy.com

2008-12-05T13:28:00.007-06:00

I'm not a big jewelry girl, but RedaretheRoses.etsy.com's plastic flower creations are simply irresistable. Bright, retro, and truly unique, they would make a perfect and interesting additon to any kind of outfit, from a cocktail dress to jeans and a sweater. Above are a few of my favorites; the rest of Shawna's jewelry is available here.

More Handmade Wrappings

2008-12-03T10:33:00.011-06:00

I posted before about gift wrapping, and I've been busy since then getting ready for a full-on post about it. As I said before, I love gifts that are wrapped in creative, personal, non-wasteful ways; I think it's a strange and silly idea to buy a bunch of expensive papers, bows, and boxes, and then stuff them in the trash can when the party (or holiday) is over.

All the wrapping suggestions here use recycled or unconvential materials, and they're all very easy. I'm showing Christmas presents here, but these wrappings can be adjusted for any occasion.

1. Recycling Bin Wrapping

As the name would imply, I found all the supplies for this package in my recycling bin. I packed my present into a box from something I ordered online awhile ago (with tissue paper from a present I received). Then I wrapped it, using a page of newspaper comics for paper. I added ribbon and tiny note, and now it's a fun and retro gift that's perfect for my best friend!

2. Fabric Bag

For this package, I took a piece of fabric, folded it in half, and sewed up the sides. I trimmed the seams with pinking shears to prevent fraying and add interest. I put my gift inside, then tied up the top with a piece of vintage bias tape (ribbon would work just as well). For the tag, I grabbed a contrasting scrap of paper, pinked the edges, and threaded it through the bow. Done!

3. Reused Shopping Bag

I had a nice grey bag from a shopping trip to Ann Taylor; the only problem with these kind of bags is that they usually have the store name written on the front. I cut out a rectangle of paper with pinking shears, and glued 3 vintage buttons to the front. As soon as it had dried, I glued it over the store name. A completely free (and cute) gift bag!

4. Scrapbooking Paper Envelope

12" x 12" scrapbooking paper is often on sale at stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael's for $.10 a sheet, and it comes in much more varied and modern prints than wrapping paper. It's perfect for wrapping small, flat items. I used it here to wrap a pencil case, folding it like normal wrapping paper at the corners. Instead of a bow, I used a flower cut from a piece of vintage trim.

Email me pictures of what you wrap at muxoriginals@mchsi.com.

If I get enough pictures, I'll do a post about reader's wrappings!

...on a Snowy Evening

2008-12-01T16:20:00.008-06:00

-Old Navy Coat

-Jones New York turtleneck

-American Living Jeans

-Croft & Barrow oxfords

It really snowed for the first time this weekend, and now I finally feel like it's winter. Due to the cold weather I've been wearing my new Old Navy coat a lot, and I love it: my favorite color, mod cut, cute details.
I feel like baking sugar cookies and gingerbread, and wrapping presents. Hopefully, I'll get to do all of that!

How are you spending your December?

Friday Favorites: rikrak

2008-11-28T21:27:00.006-06:00

In the midst of all this Black Friday mayhem/madness, I thought it appropriate to write about some bright handmade goodness. This Friday, my favorite Etsy shop is rikrak. Brimming with modern motifs and creative accessories, it's perfect for holiday shopping or any-old-day shopping. Plus, I love her little signature rick-rack tags.

Above, a few of my favorites. Here's all of rikrak's products.

Barbie Stuff

2008-11-26T20:13:00.009-06:00

Pictures of doll clothes I just added to the shop.

I just found out that an article I wrote for Wikihow awhile ago on How to Sew a Barbie Outfit is going to be a Spotlight article! Very exciting (sorry about that link overload). I've been working on perfecting it, so if you have any suggestions of how to improve it, please tell me.

Strange Superheroes

2008-11-22T21:50:00.005-06:00

If you're looking for something goofy to do online, check out Marvel's Create Your Own Superhero. These are a few of the characters my sister and I came up with. You can click on the pictures to enlarge them (if you really want to).

Send me pictures of the characters you make!

My Top 5 Christmas Gift Ideas

2008-11-21T10:43:00.007-06:00

1. Homemade truffles
This year, I'm really into gifts that can be eaten and then done with. I mean, who really needs more stuff? This also solves the conundrum of what to get for the guys in my life, because I know they all like truffles.

2. Tote bags
That link is to the book that has the tote patterns I use. These are so handy, and they're endlessly personalize-able.

3. Zipper pouches
This is the best zipper pouch tutorial in existence. The result looks so professional. Add a few gel pens and some candy, and you've got a great Christmas gift.

4. Doll clothes
Okay, that link is a a personal plug for my shop, so if you'd rather not sew doll clothes for all your little cousins, siblings, nieces, etc. you can buy them there :). Or you can make your own, which would be even cooler and more personal.

5. Anything from Etsy.com
There's so many amazing gift possibilities at Etsy. And half of them come in packaging that already looks like gift-wrapping. And you'll be supporting independent artists. What more could you ask? Here's a link to my favorites to get you started.

I'll be posting pics of more of my gift-wrapping ideas soon, and maybe some pictures of the actual gifts (if I can keep my friends/family away) so stay tuned!

Double Feature

2008-11-15T18:35:00.003-06:00

-thrifted scarf

-Raulph Lauren tee

-Merona sweater

-thrifted skirt

-Danskin tights

Esprit boots

My mom high-lighted my hair this week. You can't see it in this picture, but the gold is pretty chunky. I'm just getting used to it. I tried to convince her to give me one white stripe in the front like Rogue, but that was a no-go :).

Handmade Christmas (at least the wrappings)

2008-11-14T20:24:00.009-06:00

I've finally gotten into the swing of Christmas present-making, after having adjusted to the fact that Christmas is a little more than a month away. It's seemed to sneak up on me these past few years. Last year I made all my Christmas presents, and I really loved it, so I'm doing the same this December.

I made these little gifts for two of my friends. I don't want to ruin the surprise by posting pictures of what I made, but here's the wrappings. I grabbed a couple paper bags that I'd spray-painted for a craft show last year, punched holes in the tops and finished them off with green ribbons, round tags, and lollipops.

I love cheap, unconventional, and personal gift wrappings, so I was pretty pleased with these! One of my friends and I play piano together, so I used paper printed with music notes for her tag.

Yum!

Friday Favorites: Etsy Shop #2

2008-10-31T21:36:00.007-05:00

Okay, I haven't done this in a few Fridays, but life (and lack of internet access) happens. Anyway, I don't have a Blythe doll, but as fellow doll-clothing-maker, I have to admire the delightful design and beautiful aesthetic of Pomme-Pomme's Blythe clothing. Her tiny details are insane and her silhouettes strike my deep-seated love for retro clothing. Above are few of my favorites; you can see all of her work here.

Here's What I've Been Up To:

2008-10-28T12:46:00.013-05:00

1. Baking French/American Pie (yes, I came up with that name :). It's basically a combination of apple crisp and apple pie, with a normal pie crust, chunks of apples, and your basic crumble top. It's so ridiculously delicious, especially if you make it with super-tart apples.

2. Hanging out with Mark Twain.

I wish. This was at the St. Louis Arch, while waiting to ride a 'pod' to the top. He's looking a little pale.

3. Listening to Gone with the Wind on tape. I'm really loving it. The characters, the plot, the Civil War setting--I don't why I haven't thought to read it/listen to it before, since I'm such a classics junkie. It sure is a big time commitment, though; I've been listening to it for two weeks and I'm only on tape 12 of 36!

4. Creating a colonial girl's costume. My little sister has Felicity, the American Girl doll, and would love a dress just like hers. Luckily, I found a retired pattern for it on Etsy, and the rose print cotton and cream eyelet I bought is so pretty that I can't stop taking it out and looking at it.

5.Scheming up the perfect black winter skirt. I'm thinking high-waisted, full, above-knee-length, with a faux button closure all the way down the front. A bit like this Anthropologie skirt. I recently visited Anthro while on vacation, and I now understand Emily Martin's obsession with it!
If I could, I would live there.

I'm probably getting a laptop this week, so my blog will be up and running again!

notice...

2008-10-14T20:07:00.009-05:00

Photos and Text

You may use my photos without permission as long as you put a photo credit with a live link to my blog beneath each photo. It should look like this:

photo credit TheMuxStopsHere

Please ask my permission before using any of my text. You can contact me at muxoriginals@mchsi.com.

Exchanging Links

If you're interested in exchanging links, feel free to send me a link to your blog, but my goal with my 'reading' list is keep a short, carefully-curated list of blogs that I read regularly and that I think my readers would be interested in. Please don't be disappointed if your blog doesn't show up there; it doesn't mean I don't like it!

Cinderella's Rag Dress

2008-09-30T20:42:00.010-05:00

From this......

...to this!

Cinderella's rag costume was one of my favorite costumes as a kid, so I've spent the last few weeks designing and sewing a version of it for my shop.

If you'd like to purchase this costume, please check out the shop, or email me at muxoriginals@mchsi.com.

The Label Fairy

2008-09-25T21:40:00.008-05:00

18 in. Doll Golden Snowdrop Fairy Costume

This is my latest 18 in. doll fairy costume-- I've made a purple and a green one before. While rifling through my 'Fancy Fabrics' stash, I discovered that I had a lot of fabrics in cream, champagne, and gold, so I went with that color scheme. Then, in my button tin, I found that vintage 'diamond' button, which tied it all together.

I'm also making a hot pink fairy costume, and I'm considering doing a custom, pick-your-own color fairy listing as well.

This also happened to be the first doll garment where I got to use my new.........

Labels!

For People

For Dolls

I've wanted professional clothing labels for quite a while, but I couldn't find anything I liked. Then, while browsing Etsy, I stumbled over MommieMadeIt; she makes labels that look woven fabric but feel more like thin plastic. This lowers the price considerably, and I spent even less by buying uncut labels. She was very helpful as I tried to figure out what I wanted, and I'm really happy with the finished result! I definitely recommend her.

My Picks From New York Fashion Week

2008-09-22T20:13:00.008-05:00

I was really impressed by this year's New York Fashion Week . I was surprised by how many collections I loved; recent couture fashion has seemed distant and freakish to me, so I love how it's returning to a wearable, cool-girl/guy-on-the-street look.

First of all, a few of my random favorites:

Love the tailored, retro librarian looks here. The colors are finally bold and pure (my favorites), the shilloutettes ladylike and flattering. That red houndstooth fabric is to die for!

This swimsuit is such a great, colorful alternative to a cliched bikini. I love the mod, hippie look at Betesy Johnson this year, and that Caroline Herrera dress is so classy and gorgeous. I'll bet you some celebrity will be wearing it on the the red carpet this year!

I adore that outfit in the middle. The plaid, the graphic tee, the purse--it's great. and these two dresses are the perfect mix of classic and eclectic.

And now, my two favorite collections:

For men, Perry Ellis.

This collection is near perfect. It captures a perfect collision of a American and European look. It manages to be stylish and unique while still masculine. I'd love to have those aviators :)

Michael Kors, for women.

I'm really a mod at heart, so this collection was a dream. I love how it takes the graphic prints and slim cuts of the 1960s and makes them modern and fresh.

I know I say it's for women, but I couldn't resist posting that guy's outfit. Those pants are sweet!

Plaid & Black

2008-09-20T11:43:00.005-05:00

Ralph Lauren tee, Marshall's vest, Wet Seal pants (second-hand), Swatch watch, Air Walk sneakers

This is what I wore for a charity event this morning. Since the pants are so skinny, I decided to wear them like leggings (with a long top). I love how they add a burst of color to an otherwise neutral outfit.

Friday Series--My Favorite Etsy Shops

2008-09-19T14:44:00.006-05:00

Study Hard Pinafore

Raspberry Cream Babydoll Dress

There are so many amazing artists and designers at Etsy.com, that I've decided to do a weekly series of my favorites. This week features necessityisthemother, an adorable little clothing shop with a style aesthetic I adore. Arielle's styles are very fresh, clean, and colorful, not to mention figure-flattering. I've put pictures of my favorite dresses above, but I really suggest checking out her shop.

If you've got a favorite Etsy shop (or you have a shop yourself) please comment with a link!

5 Things I'm Excited About

2008-09-15T19:10:00.004-05:00

Autumn. It’s my favorite season, and I’m ready for a few cozy months of homemade stew, new pencils and warm sweaters.

2.
The Great Courses: World History videos that I’m currently studying. The man who teaches them is both a teacher and a Shakespearean actor, so he wears costumes and acts out the time of history that he’s lecturing on. History’s always been my favorite subject, and this only makes it all the more interesting!

3.
The current GO collection at Target. I don’t think it’s any particular designer, but there were so many pieces that I wanted to buy. I really like what Target’s doing with fashion, and I hope my future collections will, like their GO line, be cheap, chic, classy, and youthful.

Lucky Magazine. I recently quit my Teen Vogue subscription because I was tired of the juvenile writing and the repetitive fashion layouts (Hey, look! It’s a tall white girl jumping around in a mismatched pile of expensive designer clothes!). I really think that they no longer have their finger on what’s cool in fashion. I much prefer Lucky’s fashion aesthetic and I can’t wait to receive the first issue.

5.
James McAvoy as Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit movie. It’s as if, for a moment, the stars aligned and those casting agents finally saw things correctly. On the other hand, they were considering Jack Black, so maybe they’re not a great as I think.

(I couldn't resist using a picture of him in Regency costume :)

New Clothes At the Shop!

2008-09-14T15:46:00.006-05:00

Green Plaid Size Small Reconstructed Skirt

Scarlet Whimsy Corduroy Size Small Skirt

Neo-Eighties Black and Gold Sweater

I finally photograhed the new winter items I've been sewing for the past few weeks! They're all for sale at the shop.

The skirt on top is a reconstruct made from a plaid skirt that was about calf-length. I cut it off to above-knee height and added a green ruffle, fraying the plaid edge for a bohemian touch.

The 2nd skirt is MadeFromScratch; I used a great wide-wale corduroy that I picked up at a second hand shop. To make it, I took the waist facing pattern piece from the skirt pattern, lengthened and reshaped it, and sewed it so that it was on the outside (instead of the inside). Then I added the red buttons to pull it all together.

The last shirt is my favorite. I made it from a black sweatshirt. I cut the sleeves off along the seam (since the sweatshirt was over-sized, it created a dolman sleeve effect). Then I cut a circle from the sleeve with pinking shears, turned so it so the fuzzy side is on top, and attached it like an applique. Then I added 3 vintage buttons on top to create a faux 'brooch'. A few random hand-stitches, and I was done!

Wardrobe Refashion

2008-09-10T19:20:00.006-05:00

Hey, I just posted on the Wardrobe Refashion blog about my dress from this post. You can check it out here. Wardrobe Refashion is a really neat site if you're looking for sewing inspiration. I'd really suggest looking around.

Tuesday Baking Adventures

2008-09-09T20:35:00.010-05:00

This afternoon the autumnal weather inspired me to bake a pumpkin pie. I would put a picture of the finished pie here, but it's being consumed as I type.

My sister had a random pancake craving at about the same time. Between scaling a recipe for 8-11 pancakes down to one serving and missing the part in the directions about greasing the pan, she ended up with this:

pancakes (sort of)

She told me they tasted good, but somehow I doubt it :)

Skittles

While I was baking, I turned around to find our kitten, Skittles, looking innocently up at me from my little sister's high chair! I thought the picture was too cute not to share.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a nice week! Thank you for all the friendly comments.

Chucks & A Rag Rug

2008-09-08T19:28:00.006-05:00

Old Navy hoodie, Jones New York tee, Anne Klein jeans,

Chuck Taylors, Swatch watch

This is what I wore to some out-of-home classes today. I had gym, so I couldn't wear a skirt or dress or non-sneaker shoes, so my options were fairly limited. Still, I liked this outfit, due predominantly to my pink & black Chucks. I've owned them for 3 years now, and I love how they add an artsy, street vibe to whatever I'm wearing.

In the projects realm, I'm working on a rag rug. My uncle visited last week and helped us build an awesome fort, and I took on the job of decorating the inside. Besides this rug, I'm also making curtains.
I purposely picked bright scraps and organized them by color to create a rainbow design. I'm very pleased with the result, and I think rag rugs are a practical, eco-friendly way to recycle fabric scraps. I used this tutorial (more or less). I didn't bother to cut perfect strips, and instead of sewing them together, I tied them. I've had some problems with buckling, but I found I can flatten in out fairly well with a hot steam iron. I'm considering writing my own tutorial, so if you'd be interested, please tell me.

ME!

2008-09-07T19:38:00.004-05:00

I've been frequenting the blogging world as an interested outsider for about 6 months, and now I've finally got my own! I plan to post about my outfits and fashion inspiration, my favorite recipes, my sewing and crafting projects, and interesting snippets from life and the web. I'm also looking to make friends with people who are interested in the same things as me, so please comment or send me a link! I'd love to see your blog, too.