Pearls and Swine

IMG_1895_2
Originally uploaded by Pearls & Swine

You have to check out Pearls and Swine. I just stumbled upon them in the flickr Craft pool and I am totally digging these super sweet fascinators they have going on. I like that they have some that are really 'something' and not just pretty little hat like things (although i loves me some pretty little hat like things). This one of a sacred heart is just too cool for words. I would never have an occasion to wear it but I still want it- and in my book that means it is pretty darn cool.

signing off

New year. Time for a change. I am saying goodbye to 'Spes' and hello to 'RubyMarilyn'. Check it out. http://www.rubymarilyn.blogspot.com/

daily flickr- Pin Cushion Queen

Pin Cushion Queen
Originally uploaded by FiberArtsy

FiberArtsy has created this fantastic work of stitchery! The image is from Tim Burton's book 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy'. I have always thought that his sketches would translate well to stitches and here is the living proof. And isn't it great that she is the pincushion queen? I mean how much more stitcherific can you get than that? I also think the pincushion queen would make a really cool/creepy Halloween costume. Part voodoo doll/part crafty-creepy this may have to be added to my list for possible costumes this year.

Too early to make a list of Halloween costumes you say? HA. Never too early for Halloween costumes.

daily flickr- yum!

Peppermint Patty Cupcake
Originally uploaded by missamyo

I am super hungry for some baked goods. I might have to go make some cookies right now...

daily filckr-Inventors Wife

Inventors Wife
Originally uploaded by Opulent Oddities

This amazing necklace is from Opulent Oddities. Her collections are simply breathtaking! Check our her flickr and her etsy shop for lots of jewelry goodness.

The title 'Inventors Wife' just seems so perfect for this. For Christmas I was lucky enough to get a collection of H.G. Wells novels and I just finished reading 'The Time Machine'. I can just imagine the Time Traveler's wife (if he had one) wearing this necklace.

daily flickr

sweater clip
Originally uploaded by ilovetweek

Isn't this sweater clip perfection? The mini-tie, the blazer, the whole look is really working for me. I love the look of a tie but I don't like the way they look on me- since I have a larger chest. This little mini tie would give just the right amount of 'business' to any outfit!

Merry Christmas!

someone was a good girl
Originally uploaded by hastingsgraham

Merry Christmas everyone!

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Hot Drinks Mix Round Up

So this year is pretty tight on the old budget belt (tell me something we dont know right?) but I am determined to make the best of it. All gifts will be small but thoughtful and to sweeten the deal I am planning on making a whole bunch of holiday drink mixes to warm up the holiday season. (Just so you know I AM writing this post during 'the' blizzard in MN).


From Bake it Pretty we have a lovely recipe for Russian Friendship Tea:

http://www.bakeitpretty.com/blog/?p=492

my mom used to make this and it is SOOOOO yummy.





AmberLee from the Giver's Log has a fun idea for hot chocolate on a stick.



http://giverslog.com/?p=3290



actually she has LOTS of really cool things there that you should check out.


Amy at the The Mother Load has a Hot Chocolate Recipe as well as a Vanilla Chai Tea. Both sound scrumptious!

Now I just need to whip these up along with a batch of homemade marshmallows and I should be good to go.

Still trying to decide how I want to package all this Drink Mix goodness but if I find anything good I will maybe post some pictures.

You better watch out

Vera-Ellen, the Santa Claus pinup, c1955
Originally uploaded by carbonated

Christmas time is here! We 'decorated' our apartment this weekend and it looks like a bunch of drunken elves had a decorating party. It looks a lot like one of those Christmas stores that looks like it should be a log cabin. All sorts of teddy bears and stuff. Not really my style at all- but my roommate brought all of his decorations for Christmas since I went a little overboard with Halloween. So now I am knee deep in quilted teddy bear-with-santa-hat place mats. Sigh. At least it is Christmas.

Back to Halloween for a moment-Ursula Costume 09

My bad. I should have posted this way sooner but such is life! So for Halloween this year my friends and I decided to have a Disney Halloween. Actually I said I wanted to be Ursula from 'The Little Mermaid' then someone else was like "Oh! I want to be Belle!" and it just sort of snowballed from there. So I was going to split this up into a whole bunch of small posts as I gradually made my costume but I just banged it out in one week and had no time for posting!

I started with the the tutorial from Threadbanger on making a tutu.

Next I made a simple black dress from a vintage '80s pattern I found in my mom's sewing stash.
I made it about knee length instead of ankle length though.

At first I was just going to wear the tutu underneath the dress but I decided I should sew it in because I knew I was going to sew the tentacles in as well. See how nicely the purple sticks out at the bottom? Also the tutu would help the overall shape of the skirt from looking too lumpy.

The tentacles were made out of the same black fabric as the dress and then purple costume satin.

I only made 6 tentacles because my original plan was to make tights that also looked like the tentacles but alas I ran out of time. Each leg took almost an entire bag of polyfil to stuff at this point I was a little worried it was going to be too heavy for the dress.

Notice the Suction cups- different sizes hand sewn to each tentacle.

Got the suction cups from the dollar store I just had to take the little metal hook things off of them.

AND THE GRAND FINALE:

Pretty adorable if I do say so myself. I sewed all of the legs to the waistline of the dress then curled them over to the top part of the skirt and sewed them in place. The necklace is just a large seashell I already had. I used white hair spray paint and some sweet '80s shadow to complete the look.

Now what for next Halloween? Hmm.

See?

Kind of cool huh? This photo is from cbs.com.
I can honestly say I never thought I would be posting a Victoria's Secret Angel on my blog. Weird how things work out like that.

Steampunk Secret?

So I know it is sick and wrong but I was totally captivated tonight by the Victoria Secret 'fashion' show. I know, I know, I am a feminist, I should hate it and everything associated with it...and I do...up to a point. For as much as I can't agree with the insanely narrow range of 'beauty' portrayed by this company I was kind of jealous. Jealous of the people who got to MAKE some of those super awesome outfits. No not the underwear, I am talking about the angel wings made out of balloons, or the corset dress made out of balloons, and the diamond encrusted everythings. ( I really had a strong urge to bejewel something.) But the section I was most surprised by was the 'enchanted forest' which to me looked more like a steampunk extravaganza. Now I am no expert in the style but when you incorporate some nice tweeds with your lingerie, add a bustle, and throw on some gear filled angel wings I am pretty sure you are nearing what it generally considered steampunk and I thought it was pretty cool. I would love to see an independent group of female designers throw a lingerie fashion show- just scoot on over to etsy to see how many talented designers are out there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vintage Thanksgiving Postcard
Originally uploaded by bulldoggrrl

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

Stuck at work right now so before I get to go home and bake my pie I figured I should take some time out to make a list of what I am thankful for. So in no particular order:

-My job: I am not in love with it and I complain about it a LOT but it is a job that pays the bills until I can figure out what I want to be when I am a 'grown up'. And not to sound preachy but in this economic climate when so many people are struggling to find work and make ends meet I am going to try to be a little more positive that I even have a job.

-Friends: The farther we get from college I fear the farther we will grow apart but so far those friends that are the backbone of my existence have remained close- in spirit if nothing else. I really appreciate it when we all take time out of our busy lives to make sure we get together and spend time with each other. I have also been blessed to be a part of my friends lives as they are approaching huge milestones in their lives. I thank you for including me and I look forward to this upcoming year!!!

-flickr: Maybe a weird option but this is my first year on there and it has helped me connect with so many other cool and creative people. I feel like I finally have people who 'get me' with all my crafty weirdness. In this category I would also like to add sites like blogger and etsy - online communities that have really inspired me to do more.

-PUSHING DAISIES: I finally discovered this gem of a show. I bought both seasons on DVD and have already watched them multiple times. I love everything about the show and I am sad it is no more. But I am keeping the love alive tonight as I attempt to make a pear pie with gruyere baked into the crust!! (pictures to come if it turns out!)

-My roomate: Neither of us wanted to keep living at home and neither of us could afford to move out on our own. I love living with him and sharing this wonderful experimentation in being a grown up. (At what point does it stop becoming an experiment and just starts being my life? Hmm.)

-THANKSGIVING!!!: As a holiday all by itself I am not the biggest fan...but for me it is the OFFICIAL kick off of the Christmas season and oh man I do loves me some Christmas. Christmas music for a solid month! YES!!! Christmas movies every weekend!! YESS!!!! Holiday baking!!! SO EXCITED!

ok. I am calm. And also thankful. I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you all have lots to be thankful for as well.

Black cat!

Lillian Wells
Originally uploaded by bobbyperu99

Ok technically the cat is a shadow and I am really just assuming it is a black cat. But could you really imagine that it would be a white cat?

On a completely different note I really lover her checkered blouse.

The Halloween Ball

The Halloween Ball
Originally uploaded by spes.craft

This is an embroidery that I have had done for a couple of weeks now but I just finally got it framed. Combining my love of all things 18th century with Halloween I created a ball gown fit for the most extravagant masquerade. I also have other Halloween themed embroideries in the sketchbook- but I dont believe I will have time to finish any of them before the holiday!

I want my own giant pumpkin!

witch pumpkin inside
Originally uploaded by Trubluelou

If I had the time I would make a giant paper mache pumpkin to hang out in on Halloween. Add some more great shadow witches, bats, black cats and ghosts and we have another winner! Hmm. I wonder if this is the same people who make those giant cakes...

Afraid?

witch shadow pin up great. 2
Originally uploaded by Trubluelou

I love this pinup because it is SO Halloween without trying to hard. And it is combining some of my favorite things: witches (Halloween), shadow puppets, and vintage slips! Too much greatness for one photo.

Happy Bats!

Happy Halloween
Originally uploaded by bobbyperu99

This pin up is super duper retro. Check out the sweet cut outs of witches, cats, pumpkins, etc, on her dress. I kind of want that dress. I would wear it to my 'festive but not costume mandatory' Halloween party....which I still have to get ready for!

Coming soon...costume posts. It will be fast, furious, and hopefully fabulous!

Halloween Shopping Round 1

So I finally caved in and bought some stuff for Halloween. Like many people I am on a budget so I am really trying to get some bang for my buck.

The List:
Black paper plates square and round
'Bone Appetit' Napkins
3 'Poison' Bottles to add labels to and add to the the bathroom
black and orange candy melts (bought molds online- will post when they arrive)
black and orange food coloring (you have no idea how much i am going to bake!)
mini led lights- they will be used somehow...
'Caution' tape- this is going to go across an open door looking into my room which I am going to make into a creepy Halloween scene
'Hocus Pocus'- Best Halloween movie EVER! Had to buy a copy since my old 'taped off of tv on vhs' version stayed at my mom's house

Maybe I spent a little bit more than I planned to for this trip but it is all worth it. Target had some really cute stuff but I just wasn't sure what I would do with some of it.

Halloween and Spook Stories

Betty Grable
Originally uploaded by Namey McNamerson

This pin up is so adorable. Betty Grable has a book filled with scary stories and with that creepy little pumpkin in the bottom of the picture this photo really makes me want to curl up with some ghost stories.