wishlist wednesday!

today's wish list is all about what i can wear. since the weather is changing, it means my outfits should, too, which in turn means i've been looking at more and more style/outfit post blogs. not that i could really replicate what they wear (i'm far too lazy), but i can sometimes get ideas on how to style things that i have. anyway, my point is, when the seasons change, i always find myself wanting a few new things to wear, and it just so happens i wouldn't mind wearing these things...

you can find these pretties here (from the top): BeauPapier, byrachelrose, Mary Baker Loves You, nifty thrifty owl, flower of the lily.

what do you have on your wish list? are you getting ready for the changing season with any new additions to your wardrobe?

what i've been working on.

i've been feeling really productive lately, and i think it's because i've been working on so many different projects all at once. and i'm thinking that maybe this is the way i need to work from now on; rather than just focusing on just bullet necklaces for example, i'll work on bullet necklaces, feather earrings, and sewing tote bags all at once! in addition to making things for my shop, i've also been in a cleaning out and semi-organizing mood. i've gone through my drawers and closet and made a blog with some clothes and accessories that are ready to move into a new home. so remember how i told you i was going to start making bags again? here are a few (and some jewelry, too) that i've been working on...

i'm seriously in love with the floral and leather bag. so much so that i might want to get chris to buy it from me for me. i found this cut of vintage floral canvas, and i thought it would make the best tote bag! i'm also thinking i'd really like a duffel bag in that fabric. so yeah, my floor has been covered in fabric, straight pins, pieces of thread and brass studs.

and speaking of making things, look at these BEAUTIFUL crochet covered beach stones that brittan is making! she is so talented, and i swear she can make anything. i can't wait to get my paws on some of those babies!

if i haven't called or emailed you, it's not that i've fallen out of love...

...it's that i've been busy. sometimes i like being busy, and i truly am thankful for the things that are keeping me busy, but i feel like there are so many things i need to do and so many people that are pulling me in different directions. that kind of sounds like i'm complaining, doesn't it? well, i promise i'm not. just getting it off my chest, i guess. anyway, if i owe you a phone call, blog comments, emails, or a large amount of money, i promise i'm on my way! aside from jewelry making, here's what's been keeping me busy...

last saturday i spent a lot of the morning working on designing, redesigning, redesigning again, printing and cutting business cards. i still haven't taken the plunge and ordered any like a real professional, but until i do, and who knows when that will be, this will be my current business cards design. i'm pleased, and i'm really liking the white background as opposed to the brown kraft paper color of my old cards.

okay, i feel like i should always give you some sort of a warning or disclaimer before i show a picture of myself. something like, "1. i do not claim to be a model, nor do i take myself seriously. 2. i feel like a dummy. if you laugh, i might cry." self confidence issues? sure. i really need to find someone to model for me. like one day a week for about an hour or two would be perfect (hint, hint anyone who lives in the lynchburg, va area). so yeah, i've made some turban headbands and i think i like them. just be sure to look at the headband and not the wearer!

next, and maybe most exciting of all, i'm bringing back dinosaur toes totes! you can thank the people who voted yes for totes yesterday on the dinosaur toes facebook page. i'm not really sure why i quit making them, but i see sewing in my weekend plans! i've got some pyramid studs and leather, and that's all i'm saying for now. i'll show you more once i get a few made!

i hope you've had a good week so far. what have you been working on lately? and, have you entered the giveaway yet? you should! you could win a $40 gift certificate!

bag lady.

first, let me say that i know this isn't wednesday, so it isn't my usualy wish list post, but tomorrow is a pretty special day that i'm going to share with you through pictures! no hints, you'll just have to come back. anyway, i don't know about you, but for some reason i always feel like i want new bags and new shoes when i know spring is coming (much to the dismay of husband). in all honesty, i don't really know of any shoes i want or need, although i'm sure i'll find some once the weather starts to get a little warmer. one thing i've been seriously lusting after is a new bag. and not just any bag, but one of these fun, woven, southwest style bags. i haven't done any thrifting for several months, but i'm itching to get back out there specifically so i can hunt for one of these bags! if i can't find one while thrifting, or even if i can, i'm tempted to treat myself to a new, well, old, storage spot for my phone, lip gloss, wallet, etc.

i found these beauties here (from top): santoki vintage, mammal and lamb, lesaispas, scottie in a canoe.

you know how sometimes your brain doesn't really go in order? well, that's how mine is today. okay, most every day. anyway, rather than trying to write the next few thoughts in some sort of rational order, i decided to make you a list: i'm excited today because:
-i got a closet in the exercise/shipping/whatever room organized and cleaned up so that i could hang my coats, jackets, dresses and sweaters in it. it was too packed having chris's things and my things in the same small closet. whenever i get a closet cleaned out, i feel such a sense of accomplishment!
-tomorrow afternoon chris and i are going up to the blue ridge parkway to watch gwen, or favorite wildlife rehabilitator, release a golden hawk! it was injured in a foot trap and had to have toes amputated, but now it's ready to get back out into the wild! yes, i am taking three cameras.
-i got my first roll of film from my olympus pen ee half frame camera developed! i'm going to scan in some pictures to show you very soon!

also, before i go, be sure to enter my giveaway for a chance to win a $40 gift certificate! okay, over and out.

wishlist wednesday!

i don't know about you, but i always look forward to fall; cool, crisp air, the smell of changing leaves, an excuse to eat pumpkin pie, and the perfect time of year to break out warm, cozy sweaters! as ready as i am for fall and the end of summer heat and humidity, i'm hoping it can hold off for just a little longer as chris and i will be leaving for our anniversary trip in just over a week, and i want to be able to swim! once we get back, i'm ready for fall, if not winter! anyway, in anticipation of one of my favorite times of year, here are some things i wouldn't mind having...

source: hinterlandvintage, theclosetstuffer, luckyvintageseattle, leasvintage, sillyrabbitvintage, stylebook.

one of my absolute favorite things to thrift for (if i can even use the word in that tense as a verb) is the perfect cardigan. of course i don't believe there is only one prefect vintage cardigan, but more like the perfect cardigan on each thrifting trip! when i find one ina solid color and in my size, i get excited much like someone would if they'd just won the lottery! what do you look for when you go vintage shopping, and what is your favorite type of vintage clothing?

if you'd like to play along, link back to me from your wish list post, then leave me a link in the comments section so i can see what you're craving!

i've always hated geometry

It's true, math was never really my thing, especially geometry. However, I've come to love geometric shapes in jewelry, accessories, clothing and graphic design. My current shape crush: the triangle. I sat at my desk - for professional purposes, read, "I sat in my studio" - one day last week and could think of nothing but the three sided beauties, and this is what came of it...

The headband is decorated with pale bluish grey leather I hand cut. This is definitely one of my favorites, and if I can find some time between house cleaning, laundry, kitten feedings and a graduation, I'll be making one for myself this weekend!

This 3D prism necklace was born from brass, lots and lots of hammering, too much drilling and some brass chain I've oxidized to black. I like the sculptural look of it, and I've got another shape/3D necklace up my sleeve! Please excuse my mannequin's torpedo boobs.

Onto some good news... today I got four turtles out of the road, all within less than a half of a mile. Three were females and the other was a male, so I hope they get busy and make little turtle babies because their numbers need to go up! Also, I'll be able to raise the babies once I get back from California, so they'll just have a babysitter, not a new foster mom! Whew, I'm so glad!

I REALLY need to get to work and get some things ready to ship. I'm sending some bullet necklaces and bow tie necklaces to a store called Pack Rats in Columbia, SC for their grand opening on June 11th, and I still need to get the paperwork filled out and get things ready for mailing tomorrow! I'm such a procrastinator! This is the first time I'll be doing consignment with a brick & mortar shop, so wish me luck!

bows, not for beaus

I've had a fondness for tow ties for quite some time now, and I keep trying to think of different ways to wear them. First I put them on bracelets, then I put them on headbands, and now I've decided that I really like them as brooches. I made this batch yesterday (you can consider this your sneak peek), and I decided that a cluster of bow ties is très mignon!

Black suede, grey and mustard yellow leather, all with pin backs. I've been wanting to do a little thrifting for tacky, brightly colored leather bags or clothes that I could use as donor leather because I'd like a cluster for myself, but I really want green or teal leather!

Two weeks from this very moment, I will be in the sky on my way from Philadelphia to California! I've decided that since I won't be blogging for a few days, I'll post the giveaway before I leave on the 10th!

my mail lady either loves me or hates me...

Either she loves me because I send and receive so many packages, she doesn't have to worry about being unemployed, or she hates me because my incoming and outgoing parcels are more than she bargained for when becoming a mail carrier! Love or hate, I'm just happy to have such a busy mailbox!

The vintage bag, scarf and wallet are from the lovely Jozen as part of the accessory swap! She also sent me some beautiful handmade jewelry, and I CANNOT wait to wear the peacock feather necklace! See that wallet in the fourth picture? She MADE it! Seriously! It's beautiful quality, and I sort of unintentionally started a collection of wallets a few years ago, so it's always nice to add another one to the mix!

That pretty heart ring is a birthday pressie from my blog and real life friend (whom I get to meet in the flesh in June!!!!!), Lauren. It's so pretty, and fits like it was made for me! I'd planned to actually wear it for the picture, but my cuticles are overgrown like weeds and my nails need clipped!

My dad would say, "Now, be sure you thank them." And I already did (in case you see this, Pop)!

I'm so glad that I actually decided to stick with blogging, because I've met so many wonderful people, and participated in so many fun swaps! Have you received any special packages lately from blog friends or swap partners?

I hope you all have a good Friday and a wonderful weekend!

wishlist wednesday!

Today it's all about carrying my goods in style. While I've got a whole closet full of bags, everything from vintage straw clutches to leather messenger bags, I continue to use the same two tote bags, one made by me and the other purchased many, many years ago. When I find the perfect replacement, I'll know it. This wish list was inspired by this first bag that I discovered in an Etsy Finds email:

From the top: bag by zhenunleathers on Etsy, duffle bag by thebritboutique on Etsy, tote bag by christystudio on Etsy, oversized doctor satchel from modhuman on Etsy, leather snap wallet by sewlutionsbyamo on Etsy.

As you may have noticed, I've been revamping my blog, so I figured it was time to add a button (over to the right). Any thoughts? I love your opinions!

gifts for me

Hey kids, look what I got yesterday! A few posts ago, I mentioned a shop I found, paola loves to shop, and I promised a picture of the scarf I bought. Not only did I get one, but she included another as a gift! If that wasn't exciting enough, I won a giveaway on Julianna Swaney's blog, so I got some free prizes from one of my favorite artists!

Maybe it's a bit juvenile of me to continually get giddy when I find a package in my mailbox or on my doorstep, but I just can't help it! It's like Christmas all through the year!

On another note, I'm a complete fashion disaster (which maybe helps to explain my addiction to fashion blogs), so I think, or at least I tell myself, that scarves can add a bit more interest to my rather dull and boring wardrobe. Either way, I'm hoping it's cold tomorrow so I can wear one of my new favorite accessories!

after thanksgiving blues

I had a great Thanksgiving, how about you? I ate my weight in mashed potatoes, bread and stuffing (I'm a total carboholic) and I got to spend some time with one of my best friends, my brother. Derek lives in Pennsylvania, which isn't thousands of miles away, but still not close enough for me to see him all that often. I know it'll pass, but for about a week after he leaves, I'm a little down in the dumps. Luckily, he'll be visiting over Christmas, so I don't have too long to wait!

Now, on to the happier stuff! I love leather (but the recycled scraps since I'm an animal lover), so it should come as no surprise that I'm totally in love with making and wearing these little leather pouch necklaces! I made an itty bitty one for myself to keep a few of Miss Flojo's feathers with me, and I currently have a few photographed and for sale in my shop, but there are more on the way!

a pretty gift for myself & a great new shop

So, I just discovered a rad little shop at big cartel yesterday. Paola Loves To Shop has cute little accessories at uber cute prices. I treated myself to a pretty plaid scarf with shades of blue, pink and orange on a white background (I'll add a picture when I receive it), and the little gem was only $5. Yeah, that's right, $5. I should have gotten these as well, but I plan to purchase them soon; I love sunglasses!

my blogging vacation

I must admit, from time to time I can have a sort of perfunctory attitude about blogging if I don't have many ideas. For example, the last two weeks! So, I've been away, but that doesn't mean that my hands haven't been busy. I've included a few pictures, merch hot off the dinosaur toes press, and I have a few Etsy favorites to share with you in the coming week!

rosette love

Whether they're on a bracelet, on a headband or pinned to a lapel, I'm nuts for rosettes. Luckily others like them, too, that way I get to keep on making them! I recently finished two custom orders with rosettes, and I think they turned out beautifully!