Personal Style: Rule of Three

I didn't go anywhere today. But I thought, "Why not get at least a little bit cute?" Normally, I would have worn this shirt with ratty jeans (okay, pajama pants) and flip flops. I thought, there must be something simple I can do to work this and still feel "at home comfortable." I did technically break one rule with the brooch. Aren't brooches for like cardigans, jackets... basically things with a lapel? Well, I've always thought so, but I enjoyed using it on an old tee, and I think you can do it too.

So, I invented the Rule of Three.

*Three minimal accessories to posh up an otherwise unremarkable outfit.*

1. Red lipstick Rimmel moisture renew in Red Alert 900... (will do a post on wearing red lipstick soon)
2. Vintage brooch
3. Awesome shoes.... ones that compliment your outfit but are still comfortable.

I had a belt and rolled jeans to make 5 things I normally wouldn't do while just lazing around the house in a few pics, but the 3 pieces work just fine for me to turn a boring outfit into something a little less boring.

I even jazzed up my mom ponytail, by making it a tad higher than usual, wrapping it loosely for a bit of a mess and pulling the top part out like a crazy woman and twisting in a bobby pin for a bit of 'oomph'.

Sparkles... old vintage brooches can be found anywhere. I got this at an antique mall for very cheap. Tip: Brooches can be heavy.. if pinning on a loose shirt, grab it through a bit of your bra strap to stabilize it better.

 I loved these shoes like a lot. Thrifted, of course. They were too big... so I just tucked the strap since there were no holes for my size. Maybe I'll drill 'em later, but maybe not, the tuck looks kind of cute.

 See, cute but maybe too much going on with the belt and the side tuck. You think?

 hubs told me to walk as I stood there cluelessly...

 He always manages to get a bum shot.

 

My pound puppy, rescued when she was 4 months old... before I even met my husband.

She's almost 9 now, I love my Jackie Chup, though it makes me sad to see her aging,
and even sadder knowing what this lady did to her dog!

This is what he calls a 'perspective shot" So people can see how low I am to the ground since I'm barely 5"

Love him too, such a sweetheart. When we were dating and first married, people used to stop and

ask him if he was a model. Made me feel like a toad... a happy one, but a toad nonetheless.

So ladies, remember the Rule of Three. What small 3 things can you do to jazz yourself up today?

*shirt: target/ jeans: delias thrifted/ brooch: vintage thrifted/ shoes: apt 9 thrifted/ belt: vintage thrifted*
*linked to Clothed Much's Rule Breaking Monday... visit for lots of other rule breakers

*linked to Mom of Two Boys Fashion Fridays

Vintage Flower Blossom Tutorial

I took this pretty but boring silk flower and took it apart so that the petals were loose.

Then I just quickly put it back together (minus the plastic center insert) and sewed some little stitches to make it bunch up all nice and fluffy like.

I got some lace and cut out petal shapes. I got so lucky because the pattern of the petals were already weaved in the lace, I just cut around them. Then,I applied a bit of hot glue to the very lower tips and tucked them within the flower.

I had some pretty shimmery peach tulle that I cut into petal shapes. Instead of cutting them in individual petals, I cut them out in 4s (like a x shape, how you would fold a piece of paper to cut a snowflake). Then, I cut it in half to make 2 blossoms opposite each other. I folded it to make a double layer of tulle. I layed the flower flat and put the x shape 4 piece petal on top and then the double pieces I glued within the flower. I would have done much more tulle pieces, but I only had this tiny scrap of tulle.

You can see how I added felt circles to the back of the vintage clip on earring. To remove the clip on, I soaked the earring in warm, soapy water for about 10 minutes and the glue holding the clip on just dissolved.  Because many vintage earrings and brooches are concave, I glued the felt circles on the back to give a flat surface to work with. Makes placing it much easier and sturdier. I then hot glued the earrings in the center of the flower, holding the petals down flat so that I didn't get glue all over the place.

For the back, I glued a felt circle on to cover up the stitches and make it more secure of a base. Then, I glued on the barrette and then, glued a piece of fabric over that (not shown).

Now you have it, a pretty flower! You can use the flower as a hair piece with a barrette like I have done or use a headband or tie, or make several for a bouquet, add it to a basket, make Christmas ornaments, or silvery elegant black ones for Halloween...Great for dress up for the girls, a wedding, a fairy wand... you can add feathers, beading on the petals, more tulle, ribbon, leaves, a lady bug or butterfly... anything to make it your own. I would love to see what you do!

More fun creations at Kimba's DIY day and the flower will be in my shop later today for those more interested in purchasing rather than buying!

*Post is linked to seven thirty three's Sugar n Spice girly linky party.

Lamps Need Jewels Too

For Nester's Lampapalooza linky party, I decided to compile my lamp pics and add some new ones. I love chandaliers, but living in an apartment limits that love of mine...

I love dressing up my lamps. They need love and I need to give it, so we make a great team. As my readers may know, I decorate on a sheer whim. So, due to my lack of planning I do not like to do things that cannot be easily undone. So, for my projects, they are just simple little alterations that can be taken down and reused again later.

My fabric covered lampshade (complete with Nester tassel), tutorial HERE:



Vintage Brooch Spring Shade:



Vintage Beaded Collar and Brooch Shade sitting in a painted drawer:



Hanging Lamp (my newest):



For this, I used to have an adorable star paper lantern here (shown below), the kind you can buy with the hanging bulb. But over the years, it got destroyed (so sad) and so I had to do a quick redo. I found a Goodwill shade for $2. Cleaned it up, jimmied it to the hanging cord, pinned a red and white polka dotted ribbon around it and added a silver plastic Sherriff's Star. I think my son will love it when he gets home from his playdate with Daddy. (pics of the boys room redo will be coming soon)

Star Paper Lamp (his nursery used to be so cute!)