Caving in to Cute

What Mattel muse for hire sparks creative fire?  Endure the wait no more -- it's Emberly!  A punkier version of The Flintstones' Pebbles, Emberly comes from the Cave Club (and okay, Amazon).  But now she dwells in the cave of my craft room.  With her flame-colored hair, she fits right in.  As does her coordinating sidekick Flaire, who sidled right up to my succulent-sprouting dinos.  Emberly's as stylish as she is savage, rocking her '80s ensemble (complete with purple club!) in a way that's just plain, well, fierce.  

Then again, I'd expect nothing less from the brain trust that gave us Barbie. 

No Llama Drama: Where the Mild Things Are . . .

Wild Fable, Target

Candie's, Kohl's

Candie's, Kohl's

Lily White, Marshalls

 . . . is where I'll be.  As you know, I'm a homebody bookworm, and the craziest thing about me is my clothes.  That said, safari styles make it easy for me to, well, roar.  Because animal prints are fierce.  Whether leopard, zebra, tiger, or even flamingo, this toothsome trend says, "Don't mess with me."  But then, "trend" is something of a misnomer.  Because animal prints have been around since "The Flintstones."  They're as classic as cat fights and as timeless as bar brawls.  And no, cat fights and bar brawls are not the same thing.  Meows hold more menace than punches.

What is trendy is the zooful of cute creatures that graces everything from pillows to ponchos.  First it was owls, then foxes, then sloths.  And now it's llamas.  Known for their sweet, soulful faces and boho chic vibe, these four-legged lovelies are parading through their fifteen minutes of fame festooned with feathers and pompoms.  This colorful canvas could be their mascot: 

Me and my llama.

I wish I could take credit for making it, but that honor goes to Marshalls.  Just as the honor for making my faux jumpsuit (really just a matching top and jeans; you know I don't do rompers) goes to JCPenney.  I did make these Llama Mama necklaces, though.  One for you (or rather, the craft buying public), one for me.

 Llama Mama Necklace

That said, here are some factoids about llamas.  They come from Trip Savvy, which I've decided not to link to because some day that link will die, leaving a big black hole in this post.  The text after each quote, though, isn't from Trip Savvy but me -- with some help from The Lion King. 

- "Llamas know their own limits.  If you try to overload a llama with too much weight, the llama is likely to lie down or simply refuse to move." 

Don't let people burden you with more than you can handle.  Play dead if you have to to show those bullies who's boss!

- "Llamas don't bite.  They spit when they're agitated, but that's mostly at each other." 

When it comes to the circle of life, don't eat or be eaten.  Live and let live.  Squabbles with your nearest and dearest, however, are always part of the deal.

- "Llama poop has almost no odor.  Llama farmers refer to llama manure as "llama beans."  It makes great, eco-friendly fertilizer.  The Incas in Peru burned dried llama poop for fuel." 

If possible, then don't make a stink.  And leave things a little bit better than you found them. 

So simple, yet so philosophical.  We could learn a lot from the llama.

Especially the part about spitting.

Archaeological Gig: Dino-Mite

 Fantastic Jurassic Charm Necklace

Tee: JCPenney

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney

Royal Rings Necklace

Jacket: Marshalls

Tank: Express

Skirt: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Boots: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney

Black Blossom Necklace

Jacket: Wild Fable, Target

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Bongo, Sears

Shoes: Journeys

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, Ross

Belt: Marshalls

Prehistoric-themed pop culture has always been, well, popular.  In the '80s and '90s alone, there was Jurassic Park, The Land Before Time, and that weird claymationy sitcom Dinosaurs.  (Also Barney, but I don't want to mention him, at least not in the same breath as the others.  Partly because I think that the baby from Dinosaurs will eat him.  But mostly because he's awful.)  And why not?  Dinosaurs are awesome.  Scary, yes, but oh-so-skillful at capturing our imaginations.  (And also dinner.  But that's more to the point of the scary.)  My favorite dinosaur was always the gentle, plant-eating brontosaurus.  When I was little, my dad bought me a purplish-blue one from that pre-Walmart mecca of a general store known as Jamesway.   I guess that's why there are two brontos in my rag-tag band of reptilian dust collectors: 

The T-Rex is just there to lend street cred.

Recently, I found some dinosaur key chains, and I was just as happy as I was when I got that brontosaurus.  I knew that they were destined to migrate to The Tote Trove.  Because I've got a lot of unicorns, butterflies, etc., in my band of magnificently misfit jewelry, but ferocious things not so much.  So I was excited to add some bite to my brood.  Just as I was excited to unveil my newish Jetsons tee.  Now, for obvious reasons, I probably should've used some Flintstones apparel as the backdrop for Fantastic Jurassic.  I mean, Fred and Wilma have that dog named Dino, which is short for -- yes! -- dinosaur.  You know what?  Never mind.  I like the Jetsons tee better.  It's more ironic that way.

As for these other two outfits, they're for dinosaurs who are into raves and/or Sunday-movie-matinees-slash-mall crawls.  The rave seems like a velociraptor thing, whereas the movie and shopping spree spell stegosaurus. 

That said, there seems to be nothing left to say except this:

"Open the door, get on the floor, everybody kill the dinosaur."

You may notice that I went with the "kill" instead of "walk" lyric.  That's because dinosaurs are awesome only in museums and non-museum-quality collectibles.  People want guffaws, not claws and jaws.  Something nonthreatening that they can laugh at that won't laugh at (or dismember) them.

Clearly, that line's not from a catchy pop song.

Something New and Sparkly: Yikes Stripes

Fabulous Felt Blue Diamonds Necklace

Top: Olsenboye, JCPenney

Skirt: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Anne Michelle, Barefeet Shoes

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Hat: Kohl's

What is it about a one-sleeved top?  Is it its devil-may-care silent scream, "So what if I'm asymmetrical?"  Or maybe its flagrant disregard for balanced protection from the elements?  Or perhaps its nostalgic (near) nod to "The Flintstones?"  Whatever it is, I like it, especially in fiery stripes! 

This top served as the perfect backdrop for a geometric felt bib.  I got so excited that I made two versions: the asymmetrical and slightly unpolished one you see displayed with the outfit (for me to keep), and the slightly more restrained Fabulous Felt Blue Diamonds number for my shop.  Which do you prefer?