Tulips Times Two, Old Better Than New: Zigzag Brag Reigns Until Next Rhyme

Sweater: Hearts & Roses London, Zulily; Top: Almost Famous, Macy's; Skirt: Mudd, Kohl's Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily; Bag: Nine West, Marshalls

Sweater: Merona, Target; Skirt: Amazon; Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily; Bag: Amerileather (even though it's wooden!), Zulily; Belt: Wet Seal

Forget tiptoeing through the tulips.  Why not blow through them with the swagger of an Olympic sprinter going for gold?  

I say this to show how excited I was about making this Polka Dot Tulips Barrette Brooch.  I thought, I'm not going to make those stylized, zigzag-topped tulips like always.  I'm going to make these tulips realistic, with overlapping, rounded petals.  So I did, adding the pizzazz of polka dots on the leaves and in the bright yellow background.  Then I put my new creation next to a zigzag tulip barrette that I'd made ages ago and realized, oh, there's a reason why everyone makes tulips the zigzag way -- they look better!  So dramatic and graphic and pointy, like a brand-new blade of grass shooting up after winter.     

Polka Dot Tulips Barrette Brooch, Fabulous Felt Tulips Barrette

Still, I wasn't too disappointed.  One of the reasons I work with felt is that if something goes wrong, then I can't take it as seriously as I would if I were working with something like marble (not that I harbor any illusions about my prowess with a hammer or chisel).  Not all brainstorms pan out the way we want, but that just means that we're closer to getting it right the next time.  For example, now I want to try a combo of zigzag tulips and polka dots.  And that may be the best design yet!  Until then, I appreciate my wonky tulips in all of their imperfect glory.      

No shame in that game -- or in sometimes bagging bronze.

Love You, Lip Hue, Yes I Do

Blouse: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Tank: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Purse: Fred Flare

Ring: Gifted

Hair ties: Marshalls 

Lip prints have always been popular.  I guess it's because they're cheeky and feminine and scream teen queen romance.  See Exhibit A, my beloved (reversible!) lips sweater that has sadly since bit the dust:

Good thing I have this new white and pink lip-print blouse to console me.  It's been biding its time in my closet, just waiting to be worn and/or posted.  And today is the day!  I made these accessories to go with it.  True, they're not lip-themed.  But they're still hella loud.

Yellow Bow Glow Barrettes

Orange Twist Butterfly Earrings

Over the Rain-blow Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Skirt: Mossimo, Target

Shoes: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon

Sunglasses: Amazon  

Despite my love for all things lippy, while quarantined, I've been forsaking my actual lipstick.  Yes, I've swapped my signature Revlon Cherries in the Snow for -- gasp -- pumpkin pie-flavored Chapstick. Talk about long-lasting leftovers; it's the Thanksgiving dessert that keeps on giving.  Wearing it makes me think of that old ad with Olympic skier Picabo Street proudly proclaiming that she's not a lipstick girl, she's a Chapstick girl.  As you know, I hate the Olympics, and I'm unquestionably on team lipstick.  (If it wasn't clear before, then my compulsion to add two tubes to my Walmart pickup order for my I-got-dressed-today-if-even-for-five-minutes glamour shots clinches it.)  Nevertheless, that Chapstick commercial stuck in my head.  I liked Picabo's conviction, even if it differed from my own.  And even if she was being paid big bucks by Big Lip Balm.

So in these hanging-out-on-my-own days, I'm making the most of the deliciousness that is treat-flavored lip salve.  And it's pretty sweet.  Next up, sugar cookie.

That said, for today's sign-off, I thought it'd be fun to show my love for lipstick and for you, dear readers:

Thank you, Walmart, for all that you do.  And for braving the snow to tend those cherry trees. :)

Dark Side Slide

 Verdant Venus Necklace

Top: L'Amore by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Camisole: Derek Lam for Target

Jeans: L'Amore by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Bag: Guess

Shoes: Payless

Scarf: Express

Dress: Candie's, Kohl's
Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less
Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy
Sunglasses: JCPenney

Primary Pendant Necklace

Dress: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less

Belt: Wet Seal

Jacket: Mossimo, Target

 Nesting Natasha Necklace

Top: Style & Co., Macy's

Skirt: Wet Seal

Bag: Express

Shoes: Candie's, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

Pink necklace: B Fabulous

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Macy's

Shoes: Diba, Burlington Coat Factory

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Coat: Metaphor, Sears

Chock Full of Charms Necklace

Top: Free People

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Jeans: Vanilla Star, Target

Shoes: Alloy

Bag: Nine West, ROSS Dress for Less

Coat: XOXO, Macy's

Scarf: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Winter means darker colors and also, sometimes, the Olympics.  I made the Nesting Natasha Necklace featured in this post just in time for Sochi (a city, by the way, that I thought was Japanese before the husband set me straight.  Perhaps I was thinking of sushi).  This would probably be a good time to admit that I don't like the Olympics.  A little bit because I don't like sports.  Or competitions.  But mostly because it messes with my TV programming.  Nevertheless, I was forced to reevaluate my disdain after watching that Portlandia episode in which Fred and Carrie are forced to reevaluate their disdain on the grounds that the Olympics is not the elitist operation that they originally thought it to be, but rather a coming together of amateur misfits who are merely looking for their place in the world.  Realizing this humbled me.  I still won't watch it (the Olympics, that is, not Portlandia).  But I remain humbled.

Not unlike the Olympics, winter has somewhat charmed me, making me appreciate its richer color palette. So, instead of pining for hot-temperature hues, I've embraced the challenge of making necklaces for (ever so slightly) more serious ensembles.  I was fortunate to stumble upon an entire rack of value-priced Haskell earrings at Boscov's that were so outrageously big they all but begged to be repurposed into pedants.  (I've yet to work with the beaded pair, although that's just as well, as they're far too summery for this polar-proud post.)  I also cannabilized some of my own castoff accessories, rescuing the rosy-cheeked Natasha and a bevy of other baubles to make the remaining two trinkets.    

That having been said, winter -- like all such unpleasant things -- is easier to take when you know that it's on the wane.  Indeed, since the winter solstice, it's been slowly yet steadily growing lighter each day.