OTD - SLUT UP!

So I don't get to dress up to go clubbing very often anymore.  My good Friend Arnell was having his huge birthday bash and I heard they were going to this new club/bar called Double Happiness.  Little did I know it was completely rented out by our crew so I didn't need to go so overboard.  C'est La Vie!

My Slut Up bitchy picture for the night.

Just having a little too much fun with the remote for my DSLR.

Necklace is Geeky Cat by Kuma Crafts on Etsy
You can also see the eye make up the best on this photo.

Outfit Details

Dress UO - Super Sale got it for $7.00

Wide 3 strap Cinch Belt Target

Rhinestone Silver Hoop Earrings from Express

Silver sandals - Michael by Michael Kors

Tokidoki "I Love LA" bullet Watch

Military Jacket from Express

Yep that's all.... I really love the remote for my camera.  I also like making stupid faces.  I'm probably going to start putting them in instead of editing them all out from now on, because that is just me and my personality!

Cheers!

Bridesmaid Dress Resurrection

So one of the many projects that I completed on coming back from the Honey moon was taking this Bridesmaid dress I wore for my Cousins wedding almost a year ago and re-vamping it into something I would wear on a more consistent basis.  Or at least one more time. 

 This was the wedding and the dress in question.  It was a long purple semi mermaid dress.  It's just not a dress I would ever choose to wear myself.  Firstly I am not a purple girl and second long and mermaid just look terrible on my short frame.  People said it looked fine but if you aren't comfortable in the dress for yourself no matter how it looks you just won't be your best.  My solution was to make it a short dress.

 Here she is laid out on the table for dissection.  My idea was to cut her off and make gored godet insets to give fullness like a 1950's dress.

 After the exterior was cut to length I turned her inside out and cut the lining 2" shorter and hemmed it.  I didn't bother trying to do anything to the lining to increase the size because there is no point, it is a lining no one will see it.  The point of the lining is to keep the unsightly seams from showing on the inside and to make it easier to put the dress on and off without snagging on any seams.

 Me and my unenthusiastic trying on of the dress several times in the mirror to figure out where I wanted to cut it.  Also note the arthritic thumb brace I've been rocking due to my Knitting injury, yes that's right knitting injury.

 This is the shortened dress before I attempted to put fullness in. 

It isn't bad just the way it is.

 This was the the dress with the bottom portion of the skirt that I had cut off just attached to the waist.  This also isn't bad but then I tried to do something super complicated by layering the two skirts on top of each other to make the larger fuller one removable.  It would of worked except that I was too tired when I did this and frustrated that my head couldn't wrap around some menial problems.

 In the end I settled for just the short version of the dress with no volume.  It looks more modern this way and I can more easily pass this off to a friend for further mileage out of a once unloved bridesmaid dress.

 A close up of the folded top stitch hem.  Pressing hems is as key as pressing seams for a more finished look.

As for the remainder of the fabric I got some elastic and made myself a skirt so there was almost zero waste from the project.  My husband said "damn that's crafty a two for one"  You might see this simply sophisticated skirt at Craftin Outlaws for sale if you are lucky!

I did wear my new style dress out to my friend's wedding

Eliza and Steve

But of course the person taking the photos is very rarely in the photos themselves.  Hopefully someone else took a picture of me so that I can share it with you. Because the only photos I have make me look naked (thanks strapless dress in headshots!)

Tomorrow is a new Craft Day

Tomorrow is Independents Day here in Columbus, Ohio.  A wonderful festival to show off and help support independent artists, crafters, bands, restaurants and other various entrepreneurs.  I was interviewed for an article Here with Outlook magazine. 

This will be my second year organizing the Craft Alley. It is sort of amazing to me how people come together and make such great things happen.  Last year I did it alone and it was hard, a bit overwhelming and I didn't get to enjoy myself that much.  This year has been a breeze with my two friends Laura of Creux Poche and Miss Megan Mac helping me carry the load of responsibilities.  I also feel this second time I knew a lot more so I know what I am getting myself into.

This was a photo from Last year nearly all the ladies pictured will be in attendance this year. Starting from the left side:

Miss Megan Mac

Mary Moon Designs

What the Rock?!

Poshta

Out of the Pink Sky

Umbrella Girl Productions

Torn Angel

Wholly Craft

Maram

Stinky Bomb 

(whom unfortunately will not be here this year but we still love them!)

Aside from missing Stinky Bomb we will also be adding some more fine artists into the Craft Alley and we had applications.  This being the 4th year of the festival and 2nd year of the Crafty Cotillion managing Craft Alley we wanted to raise the bar and show the very best of Local goods as well as a variety of different types of craft and art. It was a very hard choice and we tried to make it as painless as possible on the application.  It was also unfortunate that some great people just couldn't seem to get their application filled out or back to us in time or even neglecting to pay their vendor booth fee.  We had to be fair and not play favorites and not give anyone leeway. It was tough but necessary.  After doing this I feel like I have just gotten a taste of what bigger craft shows must go through when they have people applying all over the State or Country for hopes of their 6 ft table or 10x10 ft space.

So here's to tomorrow!  That everything goes smoothly and I will do my best to put a blog recap on Monday.  Other things on the blog queue are Bachelorette at the Lake House, Rehearsal Dinner, The Grand Nerdtastic Wedding (which will be awhile), Making my Brother's Fiancee's Wedding dress this Sunday, Honeymoon from London/Paris/Rome! and some Sewing projects I have completed since I got back about a week ago.  

I know I have a problem I can stop sewing..........

On a Missoni

Ah yes... the wonderful collaborations of Target and High End designer brands continues to be just as strong as ever.  Their newest came from renowned fashion house Missoni.  I remember back when I was in middle school I was mesmerized by their unique zigzag knit pattern.  I have always wanted Missoni and I still do but through the years I've found their unique print is not an easy thing to wear. The zigzag pattern with the stripes of color can very easily add one an extra 5-10 lbs on you depending on your body type.  But the colors and sigsag are just so iconic it's hard to not want to wear it.  

If you live under a rock this whole Missoni thing was a HUGE deal worldwide.  People waited outside for Target's around the US to open to dash in and grab as much as they could.  I went somewhat casually during my lunch break and found a barren landscape of empty racks with Missoni signs.  I wasn't terribly bummed.  I've tried on Missoni garments many times over the years only to be disappointed and put back on the racks.  In fact the Filene's Basement on Sawmill usually has 5-6 pieces at least every season.  I figured if I really want Missoni I will get it for reals instead of the Target made designed by Missoni stuff.  I did however get two things I am happy with.

Since I have obnoxiously small feet I can fit into children sized shoes.  I picked up these flats and by chance I found this Barrette that I did want.

The evidence of my child sized feet!  Good to know I am a size 3 in kids so now I know what to look for if I am in need of some quick cute flats from Target in the future.

Sorry for the blurry picture of the hair barrette but it was dark and my arms and well hell my whole body was still shaking from playing soccer that night.

The unexpected thing is that my new flats go perfectly with my new skirt that I also got that day.  I feel like they will also open up a lot of new color schemes for me to potentially wear on top with the skirt.  I love that hint of baby blue in the flats.

As for the other Missoni items such as the homewares and Bedding they were very nicely done, too bad most of it has to be in plastic because I do not expect that will hold up well over the ages.  I might try to keep my eye open for some things if I wander to the Hilliard Target this weekend.

I do other things

Yes it's true my life is about other things aside from Fashion and Sewing, and cats.Yesterday my friend Beth asked me to be a substitute player in their soccer game. 

I love soccer. 

LOVE SOCCER.  

I will happily find a brick wall and kick the ball back and forth to myself for hours or play heads (headbutting the ball into the air repeatedly as many times as you can before it hits the ground).
However I have not actually played on a soccer team since I was in middle school due to growing pains and family dynamics which lead me to be Senoir Varsity for Golf (yes, golf) for 4 years. Which in turn is how I was able to get new equipment as needed for my winter sports of Snowboarding and Skiing (gotta love the angsty teenage black mail). Ahem.

 This is me just back from the Game after some Pepsi (everyone else had Beer, I'm allergic to alcohol (spoilers)).  I'm a terrible sweaty mess wearing a team shirt that I borrowed.  The company is IJUS so they were "IJUS win" which we didn't.

 We also did not lose horribly.  It was only by one point 5-6 not bad.  It's funny when you try to do something you remember being so easy as a kid.  It took my body about 15 minutes to catch up to my mind.  I nearly fell just because my legs would not respond and I haven't been to the gym or ridden my bike for almost 4 weeks now.  My body is an unhealthy mess.  That feeling of your body not doing what you want it to do really made me feel that 30 year old age, it was also very surreal and scary not being in total control of your own body I felt like everything was in slow motion then SNAP it came together right before I made a total ass of myself.

 I did fall several other times and my knees took it real well.  I gave quite a few bruises myself and being as tiny as I am and it being Co-ed I got in some really good body checks with no calls.  I miss soccer a lot.  It was a great time and schedule permitting I'm going to go Substitute again next week.  I just gotta watch being offsides... I remember having that problem in Middle School too.  I was #4 with "PeeWee" on my jersey instead of my last name.

 

 Ok so I lied there is a little fashion in here as well as cats.  When I got home I found these on the porch.  Our 96" premium wooden cat tree that Andy ordered from Armarkat.com The boxes were so large and heavy that the UPS just barely put them on our porch, or it also could of been him annoyed since she also live on the the second largest hill on our block.

 The insanity of this cat tree is really off the charts.

 I also got in my Plndr.com orders!  Man are they ever quick about their shipping.  I ordered these Friday afternoon and already have them by Tuesday.  It was a little annoying to have to pay for shipping twice since I ordered the same day.  I only did this because I made my first order then found out I had a $25 gift voucher so I ordered a little more with coupons and promo codes of course.

 In the first bag was my Peach and olive green striped skirt.  I got it in a size 4 which is the same as the other skirts I have gotten from here of the same brand and it is almost too small.  I also got this killer white blouse tank for only $10.

 

I love the back of the Blouse how it splits open!  I got it just to wear to this Fete Un Blanc party I am going to next week.  But I've already put together a multitude of winter layering outfits to include this.  I just need to remember to use some Scotch guard to keep it clean from my clumsy self.

 The other package Contained this dress.  Which I have never owned this style of one shoulder and ruffled look.  I know I try them all on the time but something just doesn't work.  Beth convinced me to get it despite my better judgement.  I love the fabric, the color and the construction is pretty good.  What is weird is that it is HUGE.  You don't notice it because of the pattern but there are pleats like crazy in the dress portion give it mounds and mounds of fabric.  This is a difficult style for me to wear because I am petite and it is a little overwhelming like the dress is wearing me instead.  But for $13.00 after discounts I can't complain too much.  I will just figure a way to make it work.  So far some super tall wedges in black and I'm thinking an extra wide Black or pale Pink Cincher Belt.

 If you were wondering Yes I did make it to Missoni on launch day at Target during my lunch break at work.  I didn't get much but I'll show it to you tomorrow.

NYC Bachelorette Re-cap

I landed in Newark, NJ to meet up with my Best Friend first since she lives relatively close to there.

You can see I am less then impressed with my 6:30 am Flight

Since it was so early I felt a little spoiled to have a mostly empty airport and tram car all to myself.  It was like having a private high speed train driver.  He was very friendly and not full awake either.

I like to take photos of my feet when I travel to show my apprehension of traveling by myself. I grew up traveling by myself a lot internationally to visit my oldest brother when he lived in Korea.

Yup It's a New York Street still super bustling and it's barely even lunch time.  I think we got into K-town around 11:30am

I had to take card of some bidnizz and get my Mul Nengmyung in my belly first.  Oh that yummy concoction of beef broth, pears, noodles and egg.  There really is no better way to eat a meal in summer then cold with ice cubes and loads of refreshing flavors.
We did stuff that night I don't quite remember what..... I think it was shopping but it wasn't the most important thing in the trip.

Going to this however WAS the most important thing on the trip.  We arrived an hour and a half before the museum opened and still there was a ridiculously long line.  It was to be expected since it was also the very last day of this exhibit.

My wonderful accomplices and Bridesmaids.  Juyon who is like a big sister to me every since we met in 1999 at the Yonsei Language Program in Seoul, Korea and Hyemi my best friend since College and Matron of honor.

OH yah! the wait was totally worth it.  Too bad I have no photos to prove the excellence.  I also did not buy the book there because I know you can get it on Amazon for cheaper and it's not like they are going to run out of it anytime soon.

I was forced to wear this Tiara (which I really didn't mind) and was called her highness and princess several times by the guards and workers at the Museum.

Wandered the modern wing a little bit after the GLORY of McQueen and saw some interesting pieces.  I really liked this draped sculpture made from recycled paper or packaging bits.

This strange mirror was made up of tons of tiny hexagonal mirrors fitted together giving these somewhat perplexing and uncomfortable reflections in angles and ways you wouldn't figure it could do.

This was made up of tons of tiny little plastic people.  It was just so random and yet poetic to me.

This Sculpture on the way out just caught my eye and I had to get a picture of her.  I have many more on my flickr. It was just haunted and vulnerable but the face looked like there was a secret.

After we had been wandering the Garment district we went to this Macaroon cafe and also picked up some lychee and other goodies to munch on while we rested our poor feet.

These are our goods from "Excellent Dumplings" which was across the street Diagonal from our Hotel in "SoHo" which was actually just China town at the edge of SoHo.  So lame..... but the fried scallion pancakes and the BBQ pork buns are hard to beat!

I was in Awe at night when we passed by this famous clothing store in SoHo whose name totally escapes me now..... Anyways the rows and rows of antique singer machines was so lovely

Around Astor Place there were several street poles turned to aculpture art by some roving group of artists (the name escapes me now) It was really great to see some thing like this just to break up what I find to be a dreary looking area at night right before you launch into my much loved St Mark's East Village area. They were just thousands of Zip ties in an array of colors on about 8 different poles.

This is the crazy eyed Raccoon that stands outside of one of my favorite Japanese bar food restaurants Kenka in St. Marks.

Something that has sprout up that wasn't there the last time I was in NYC a few years ago was the designer food trucks. 

A strange sight when we were coming back from Dinner is Soho were these windows at an upscale store with Pink Velociraptors in each display.  I kind of wanted to bring one home to put in the front yard instead of the usual Pink Flamingo.

One of the inside jokes between Hyemi, Juyon and me was around this slightly unnerving advertisement for back and foot rubs.  I don't think I want to get into it ~ha~

I can never go to NYC without going to Dim Sum.  I am not someone who likes to food blog of gush about food but I gotta showcase my all times favorites.  BBQ pork buns and Deep Fried Taro root with pork inside.  To me it's not Dim Sum until I've had both of these in my Belly.

I loved the place we went to, super crowded and they make small groups share the large tables together so you get some really interesting front row people watching.

Lastly we come to my purchases.

Gorgeous washi tapes from KinoKuniya Japanese Bookstore by Bryant Park.

A slew of Gap Press Magazines by most FAVORITE fashion/runway magazines that I never cry about paying the $35 for each issue, I only cry when I can't afford to buy them.  Also a little beading book from the crafts downstairs.  I am in LOVE with their basement craft book section.  I would of taken a picture but it was not allowed and I'm always hard pressed to break the rules when they so politely state them in signage.

My Spoils of sparkly pretties from the Garment district Drag side as I like to affectionately call it.  Some of these stores seriously blind you as you walk in because of all the rhinestones glinting in the lights.  I picked up this Octopus ring as my "something blue" in my wedding and this Salamander ring because it was just so pretty in the smoked crystal.  A huge FOBulous hair claw two small rhinestone claws for making my pompadour puff dazzle and this small mink clip for my niece.

We also went by far too many bead stores so i just could not resist the colors in this little glass blown balls.  Now that I have some time I want to order some chain to make them into necklaces.

So that was NYC in a nutshell.  

The Funny thing which I think a lot of my friends didn't expect was that I came out with almost not clothes.  These days there is almost nothing clothing wise in NYC that I can't get on the internet so I didn't want to waste my money on something I could buy elsewhere and with cheaper taxes.  I focused on stuff that I know I would have a hard time purchasing anywhere else.  Also I had my sights set on getting things specifically for the wedding such as an array of white paper lanterns as decoration for the reception.  Lately NYC has been more about meeting of friends and eating some unique foods or places that I don't have here in Columbus.