Pretty for Spring

Maru Buttons: I really really really like this necklace!

Ami Rope Smile Necklace

Karu Maru Felt Ball Necklace

All of these are from Japanese seller Homako.

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Make-It-Yourself

I heard about Anthropologie's new wedding line, "BHLDN", so I found the website, and swooned over dresses like this:

And this:

But my favorite things to look at, either on Anthropologie or BHLDN, are the jewelry. BUT-- it's my favorite because I like to see how much they charge for something I could make for like... one eighth the cost!!

I came across this darling little ring:

Isn't it so cute? Ok, I know that the "oui" is supposed to be symbolic of a wedding, but I would wear this all the time! Guess how much it costs.





$80! Yes, $80.

I started looking around on Etsy to see what I could find. I typed in "oui charm" into the search box, and guess what I found?

Voila! There they are. Just snip off the hole at the top with jewelry pliers, and it's the exact same thing.

So here's the rest of what I came up with. I couldn't find anything exactly like the little yellow flower on the original ring, but I think I came fairly close.

Tiny Metal Enamel Flowers: $3.75 for 20 of them

Faux Half-Drilled 3mm Pearls: $1.70 for 50

Antique Bronze Ring Base w/ 10mm pad: $4.80 for 10

And of course, you can't do it without my BFF:

E-6000 Glue: $2.50

The total cost for all of those supplies is $18.75. If you break it down per ring, it's less than $1.87. So even if you were making just one ring for yourself, and you had to order all those supplies (and you didn't want to make any for friends as gifts) you would still save $61.25!

I say: Make it yourself!

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Coin Purses and Clutches

There are so many talented artists and crafters out there on Etsy, and I love to showcase handmade goods whenever I can!

I've been noticing cute clutches and coin purses here and there, so I started bookmarking them so I could do a round-up of my favorites once I had a dozen or so. Buying handmade is always an excellent option when you're trying to find a gift for someone, so maybe you'll see something here that makes you think of someone you know, and you can add a little handmade love to their life.

1. Retro Mod Flower Coin Purse, from oktak
2. The Petal Coin Purse in Army Green, from Definition of Self
3. Happy Blooms Fifi Clutch, from Bagatelles and Co.
4. Medium Clutch Purse, from Kimberly Jones Designs
5. Colorful Leaves, from FA2u
6. Big Flower, from FA2u
7. Wristlet, Pleated Gray Wool, from East Ashley
8. Quilted Clutch, from Rachel Whelton (this one's a real bargain: only $9.00!)
9. Clutch Zipper Purse, from Atomique47
10. Business Sortie Brown Clutch, from Yellow Wallpaper
11. Romantic Rose Pleats in Brown, from Lolos
12. Vanilla and Cream Check Clutch, from Kelly's Keepsakes


Any favorites there? Do you like the more classic styles, like number 2 and number 7, or do you like something with more pizzazz to it, like numbers 1 and 3, or do you prefer something with a pretty feminine embellishment, like numbers 11 and 12?


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Pretend Shopping {dresses}

It feels like spring here in L.A., but I know (due to my nerdy habit of adding weather forecasts of random towns and cities all over the world to my phone, and then checking them frequently throughout the day) that most of the rest of the country is still buried in sub-zero temperatures. (Not to mention the town of Barrow, Alaska, which had a record low temperature of negative 48 degrees the other night, and with the wind chill, it was negative 69. Thanks phone!)

So it feels like spring in southern California, and it will soon be spring in the rest of the world, so let's go pretend dress shopping.

Sunflower Dress from Shuga Rose



Eve Dress from Three Little Ducks




Floral Blossom Dress in blue, from My Lola Fashion



Katharina Dress in Venice Blue, from Lirola

Dress from Anaya... it's a custom listing, but oh so pretty!



Love Me Knot Dress, from MQuin



Floral Wing Sleeves Dress, from Very Purple Person

Not to mention I love those green tights! Sadly mine got a run in them, and I can't find the same color anywhere.




Vintage 1950's Peachy Eyelet Lace Dress, from Coldfish

 Etsy seller Coldfish has one of the best collections of vintage women's clothing that I have yet seen on Etsy. Vintage shop owners have a challenge to maintain a carefully curated selection, while at the same time provide enough of a selection to draw shoppers in. Coldfish does this well.



I'm saving my favorite dress for last.

I love this one. I like the mix between structured and ruffly-flowy, and I think the print of the fabric is wonderful. Besides that, the dress comes with the pretty yellow sash. (It bothers me when clothing sellers display their items with sashes and such that do not come with the original purchase. I mean, I know that they're trying to create a look, but it's a bummer when you find out that in order to achieve that look, you have to spend extra money). And, this dress is custom made to your measurements. Someday, my shopping will not be pretend!



Custom Purple Floral Spring to Fall Dress, from Elisha Sewell

 What's the weather like in your neck of the woods? Are spring dresses even an option right now? As for me, I'd still be happy if winter came back to L.A.!

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Out of Print Clothing

Classic books + great cover art = potential for an excellent t-shirt

That's what Out of Print specializes in: Iconic book covers that double as works of art, turned into something wearable. And, in their words, "each shirt is treated to feel soft and worn like well-read book." Can I order one right now?



Besides the wearable art, each time someone orders a shirt, Out of Print donates one book to kids in Africa who have little to no access to books, via Books for Africa. Especially as a teacher who loves teaching kids how to read good novels, I like that. 


Here are some of their items:

The Great Gatsby, the book that Adam and I are currently reading

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

Moby Dick, by Herman Melville

And some women's styles. I love love love this first one:

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Nancy Drew & the Sign of the Twisted Candles, by Carolyn Keene

Check out Out of Print's website for more shirts, even kids' sizes! 


Which do you like best? Do you like it because of the art, or because you've read and enjoyed the book, or both? 




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Favorite Finds

There are many pretty things on Etsy, and my list of bookmarks is getting quite long.

I thought I'd share with you some of the items I've "favorited" lately.

Nuit 1, by aliette

Raven Earrings

Rose, Garnet, Pearl Sterling Silver Ring

Faceted Czech Glass Necklace

White Porcelain Vases

Organic Peppermint Sugar Cube Soaps

Evelyn Dress

I like white, gold, and silver as a color scheme for decorating for Christmas. These items feel very wintery to me. I would love to wear that white dress with the Czech glass necklace along with a pair of sparkly silver shoes to a holiday party!

Which Christmas color combos do you like best?

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Gemstone Rings

I have seen this particular style of ring cropping up quite a bit in the world of handmade items lately. The setting is called a "tube setting". Most of the settings are round, but as you can see in a few of the last images, some are set in untraditional shapes. Many are meant to stack with other rings, but I think I like the simplicity of wearing them individually. If you like the idea of wearing real gemstone jewelry, these rings are an affordable (and pretty!) way to do that.

What do you think? Do you like the look? Would you prefer wearing one at a time, or stacking a few together? What do you think about that rough diamond alternative engagement ring down there in the "less traditional" category?

Tiny Peridot Stacking Ring

Citrine Sterling Stackable Ring

Petite Diamond Ring

Chocolate Diamond and 14k Rose Gold Ring

Yellow Diamond Bloom

Some are less traditional...

Rose Cut Pink Sapphire

Sterling Twig Ring with Whisky Quartz and Diamond

Rough Diamond Unique Alternative Engagement Ring

There's a seller called "Midwest Alchemy" who breaks the mold for this type of ring-- in fact, I wouldn't even put their rings in the same category-- but I want to know what you think.

Weird? Ugly? Stylish? Unique? Interesting? Would you wear one?

Topaz Frosted Ice Artisan Ring

Silver Citrine Crystal Artisan Ring

I think I would wear one-- with the right outfit, on the right day.

Given a choice though, I would choose either the Petite Diamond Ring or the Sterling Twig Ring. Which would you choose?

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Pretty Scarves

I love scarves.

I love weather that legitimately encourages scarf-wearing.

Do you love scarves? If you do, and you could buy one of these, which one would it be?

Knit Cowl with Bow

Gold Lace Wool Scarf

Puckered Salutation Scarf

Poppy Red Wrinkled Scarf

Ditsy Floral Scarf in ivory

Global Girlfriend Darling Dots Scarf

Dotted Scarf in coffee

Baffled Box Scarf

Lace-trim Floral Scarf

And now I must ask, what do you think of this last scarf? I think it is creative in theory; however, I am not sure that even the Anthropologie model who wears the scarf in the photoshoot is ultimately able to make a fashionable statement. I do think it deserves a post, though.

Shrewd Stiches Scarf