knockoffs: what do you think?

tee, Banana Republic Factory Store

Halogen knit skirt, Nordstrom Rack

pounamu (greenstone) necklace, New Zealand

jade bracelets, gifted

      

      I've been wanting a long pendant-style necklace lately, and wasted time did a little research on eBay and etsy to consider my options. Then I remembered this necklace and a few others I picked up on my trip to New Zealand, and realized I didn't need to buy anything. Yes for shopping my closet!

  
      I saw Kendi wearing this necklace recently, and liked it. I then proceeded to waste more time do a little research on eBay to see how much it might cost to purchase similar materials and make my own. However, I've decided to hold off on buying materials until I complete some of my unfinished projects.
    A question occurred to me: What do you think about creating your own knockoff of something you admire but can't afford? Do you think you are "stealing" from the artist in some way by creating your own? Is the right thing to do to save up your pennies to buy the original, or go for the immediate gratification of crafting your own? I can understand both viewpoints. I think artists deserve to earn a living from their creations, and that the price often (justifiably) reflects an investment of creativity, skill, experience, and materials. But at the same time, my budget can't stretch enough to accommodate my wish for an armful of Chan Luu bracelets (are they out? Who cares, they're still pretty) and other pretty but pricey baubles. 

hip*

tee, Banana Republic Factory

skirt, made by me

necklaces, Forever 21 and Banana Republic

brooch, eBay

     I love wrap skirts, and I love being able to wear something I made. The one thing I don't like about wrap skirts is what happens when the wind comes along - I end up clutching at my skirt. I dislike having to worry about that kind of thing, so I haven't worn my wrap skirts as much as I'd like. But I think I've figured out a solution - a pretty brooch at the hip helps me stop worrying about my skirt flapping up, and doesn't need to be hidden like a safety pin, either. Now that I've found a solution, I'm looking forward to wearing my lightweight, cool and comfortable cotton wrap skirts all summer long. :)

 

dinosaurs & directors

 scarf and jeans, Ross

tee, Banana Republic Factory Store

      The print and colors of this scarf make me think of dinosaurs; I'm not sure quite why.
      I wore this last Friday for the readers theater performance. Directors always wear black, right? ; )
We had a decent turnout of parents and family members and the kids did well, although I didn't anticipate that due to nervousness they would lean on the library shelves behind them vs. standing up straight, and that they were going to speak really softly for the same reason. 
       I've been content to dress very simply lately, although I haven't abandoned stacks of accessories.  This is probably not "blog-worthy," but it is what I've been wearing. I'm just happy that it's been cool enough now and then to add a very light scarf to an outfit and not overheat.

        Opal is never a stone I really was drawn to, but after my friend K passed along her opal studs and these opal drop earrings, I've started to appreciate their slightly eerie luster. The milky white stone gleams with errant strands of pink and green, depending on the light.

 bracelets, from left: Macy's, very old; Cutey; jade beetles - gift from CL; gift from student