DIY Jewelry

One morning while drinking my coffee and watching the Today Show, I saw a segment with Bobbie Thomas, style editor for the Today Show.

I love Bobbie because she's all about looking amazing on a very small (or even free) budget. Using miscellaneous items from around the house, or just by recycling items one no longer uses, she's able to whip up really unique and beautiful accessories.

Just check out the video below to see what I'm talking about:



This isn't the exact segment I saw (I can't find it. Boo!), but the idea was the same: how to make beautiful, statement jewelry without breaking the bank.

Now, I'm a very crafty person when I want to be. Not to toot my own horn, but I have spent years in art school and have a very strong creative streak that, while I don't utilize often, I adore about myself. I also happen to be one of those teachers who just so happens to have a massive amount of art supplies and crafts just laying in storage around my apartment.

And it was while watching this Bobbie Thomas segment that my brain went: "Hey, I can do that, too!"

So I did.

First up, a chain and pearl necklace vaguely inspired by this Chanel necklace:
Here is the finished product:
It certainly isn't as busy as the Chanel, but the feeling is the same. Elegant chaos, perhaps. I dig it; it looks really nice with a LBD. It took me perhaps half an hour to string the links, and attaching the pearls was probably another half an hour. All in all, an hour spent to make a cute little necklace = an hour spent relaxing and doing something relatively mindless and productive (i.e. a nice change of pace from studying and writing papers).

Up next, a glass beaded necklace:

Sorry for the crooked image; I keep correcting the HTML and it keeps flipping itself back on it's side

Admittedly, this necklace was made a while ago, but I adore how it turned out. The glass beads are heavy, and I had to secure the necklace with sterling silver reinforcements, so this necklace was perhaps a little more expensive than I would have intended it to be. All in all, the materials probably cost about $30, but I've seen necklaces very similar to this one for sale in malls for $40-$60. The quality between this necklace and a store bought necklace is equivalent, but this one is more budget friendly!

The next necklace is pretty similar, but the materials are more a mix between glass and plastic cheapie beads:

This necklace took the longest to make, simply because of the number of strands I had to bead. All in all, this necklace probably took about two hours start to finish. Best of all, it's super light and easy to forget you're wearing. It really dresses up a plain t-shirt without weighing you down. Love it!

I find jewelry making to be a very cathartic hobby. It allows me to zone out, be creative, and enjoy myself. If it can be done cheaply, even better!

Wine, Women, and Big Boobs

This weekend I attended a large wine tasting event with a great group of friends. There were endless tables of wine, tons of delicious food, and lots and LOTS of great eye candy (the clothes, the bags, the shoes!).

So in impatiently getting down to the good stuff, let's see what the lovely ladies of Wine Riot '10 wore.
Name: Jill
Age: 27
Occupation: Teacher

Jill is exactly like me; she loves to look cute but she's a budget girl (most teachers are, actually). Consequently, she's a fantastic sales junky. This adorable denim wash dress was a steal (less than $15 at New York and Co.). Pair it was some tights and some slouchy boots, and she looks great! A belted dress does amazing things for a torso, but Jill keeps herself in good shape by running. She looks beautiful and healthy, so naturally anything she puts on is going to look fabulous.

Name: Elina
Age: 27
Occupation: Financial Analyst

*Forgive the less than stellar photo, but it was the only one that showed her full outfit. Plus, look at that pose!*

Elina has amazing style, plain and simple. She knows the pieces that will work for her, but she also knows that a little bit of drama is going to catch the eye. The first time I saw this cardigan from Anthropologie, I'm pretty sure I drooled. The color and the texture really make a simple sweater pop. Elina paired her sweater with earthy tones, so naturally the eye will focus on the bright jewel tone of the sweater. The skinnies tucked into the cute (but functional-two in one; awesome!) rain boots makes the outfit casual but fun. Elina is a very healthy person, so naturally that lends a good helping of confidence (as you can see by the pose). She knows she looks good here and you can see it on her face.

Name: Jeanette
Age: 24
Occupation: Account Executive, CBS Radio Mix 104.1

I was totally minding my own business while drinking a glass of delicious red wine when these shoes literally stopped me in my tracks. Look at that color! It matches the blue of the skirt so well, and when emphasized by the black foundation of the tights and shirt, it just grabs your attention. The skirt is great; I feel like I'm looking at a Picasso. The wavy hair and long necklace add a hippie feel to the attire, and I'm a sucker for neo-hippie casual. Who knew radio could be so fashionable?

And lastly, here's me:
Saturday was the first time I've dared to wear this shirt in public. As previously stated in my bikini lamentation post, I've focused my energy on feeling and looking healthier. By watching what I eat, getting lots of exercise, and some deep thinking, I've started a good trot down that particular path. I'm feeling good about my body and personal health, and naturally, I want to look good.

This shirt is made of a very clingy cotton, so while I love the rosette texture and think it does wonderful things for my upper body, I wasn't crazy about the fit around the waist/hips. On a whim, I tried it on before leaving the house, and voila! I felt chic, comfy, and best of all, I thought I looked fantastic! I paired it with a black tank top just to keep "the girls" in order, but I felt really good in this outfit, and when you hit a home run like that, how can you not wear it?

And now for the budget breakdown:
-Rosette Shirt: Unknown brand from T.J.Maxx ($15)
-Jeans: Joe Jeans, on clearance from Marshalls ($80 marked down to $40)
-Tank: The Limited ($24 marked down to $10)
-Cardigan: (not pictured) Old Navy ($18)
-Shoes: Black Flats from Target ($24)
=Total outfit cost: $107
*See? Teachers love bargains!*

There were so many amazing and tasty wines at the Wine Riot, and when combined with great friends and fun conversations, this weekend was really one of the more fun ones I've had lately.

On a side note, I'm pretty much in love with Christina Hendricks. Not in a girl-on-girl kind of way, but because she makes me comfortable with the body type I have. Take a look at this cover:

(Photo courtesy of Esquire and the Huffington Post)

Christina Hendricks is an actress on AMC's Mad Men. The show is set in the 1960's, a time when women were expected to be curvy and buxom (a la Monroe and Bardot). You don't get curvier that that cover!

After the wave of heroin chic models in the early 90's (thanks for making a chubby girl's life hell, Kate Moss), it became uncool to have curves. "Full-figured" has been a dirty euphemism for fat for as long as I can remember. Christina Hendricks is decidedly NOT fat, but rather sports an amazing rack and some killer hips. Unfortunately that hasn't stopped her from being targeted by fashion critics who deem her hourglass figure "big."

She isn't one to be quiet about it, though. In response to the hate, she fired back and decided to refocus the issue from her body to her talent.

I've had a tendency to let myself feel victimized for my body. I've alternated between feeling "fat" and "pornographic." It's refreshing to see Ms. Hendricks rocking her body on the same red carpet as Kate Hudson or Kate Bosworth or any other run of the mill twiglet.

It's paying off her her, too. Esquire just named her "The Sexiest Woman in America." Bravo!

Fashionista on a budget

In two months time I will be embarking on a new journey: I will officially start my grad school career. In order to fast track my studies and finish within a reasonable time frame, I've given notice at the school where I currently teach.

Which really means two things:
1.) I'll be a study zombie for the next year and a half
2.) With a seriously stunted income, my love for fashion is going to hit a pretty big speed bump.

While I'm not usually the kind of girl to spend lots of money on expensive clothes, I do love shopping, and unless the graduate gods smile on me and I find myself in the oh so coveted paid positions of teaching or administrative assistant, my already budgeted spending habits will require some serious curbing.

So I'm contemplating a new arena to this blog: Fashionista on a budget.

Basically, the rules are these: 1 new outfit a month, on a budget of less than $50.

Let's take a look at the first outfit:Shirt: $38 International Concepts (Macy's-this is kind of a cheat because I had a giftcard from Christmas. But hey, free shirt).
Jeans: No name skinny jeans bought at Marshall's for $15.
Boots: $40 Steve Madden biker boots (purchased from Marshall's). Similar to these but there are three studded straps that criss-cross the ankle.

Grand total: $55. Just over budget, but not unreasonably.

My goal is to recycle as many current items of clothing as possible into a wider variety of outfits, but I know me and I know how I am when I see a really cute item of clothing. So while it's important to keep on a sane budget, I also know I'll go crazy if I don't treat myself to a little something every now and then.