CREATE: seed bead bracelets

    Things I do instead of homework on long weekends:

       I'm looking forward to delving into my seed bead collection and making more of these. I love that they're dainty and sparkly.
     The braided one with the tan cord was supposed to look like this.  However, something happened along the way. My local craft store doesn't stock the recommended Irish waxed linen, so I decided to use the braiding cord I had. The problem was that it was a little tough to get the beads on the cord. However, I rather like the organic (OK, some people would say messy and crooked) result of getting the beads wherever I could.

Inspired by: Mae of thereafter-ish

   A big thank you to Mae of thereafter-ish, whose travel outfits inspired this one. I like that she puts her own stylish stamp on a comfortable, practical outfit through the mixing of patterns and the inclusion of playful accessories. Click here to see her latest outfit that mixes an interestingly cut top, animal print and stripes.
   I started with some old favorites: a loose-fitting linen buttondown and jeans.  Then I added a camisole and left the shirt partially open to highlight my drapey necklace. The finishing touch was an arm party to add some intricacy, color and sparkle.

  
     Long gone are the days of wearing one bracelet at a time! I am an official arm-party addict. Even my students noticed one day and admired the pile-up. :)

'Iolani Palace door hinge bracelet (rhodium plated)

     One of my favorite landmarks is 'Iolani Palace. I still remember our fourth-grade field trip -- we had to put covers on our shoes to protect the gorgeous wooden floors and our admission tickets looked like old-fashioned dance cards. Definitely a place to check out if you are ever in beautiful Honolulu! :)

it's in the bag

     Just a quick little post of what I wore for lunch on Thanksgiving. ...

     This is my first post ever that includes a bag! I'm one of those folks who drags the same purse around for months, but I love how the bag adds something special to the outfit. One day I'll get really ambitious and do shoes and a bag in the same photo ...

Jade beetle bracelet, previously loved by the generous C.L. :)

       When I bought this shirt, I thought the print was of feathers. Looking at it again, it reminds me of eyes. Not what  I expected, but the colors are awesome. 
     Happy Tuesday! Hoping to shoot some Try-it-out Tuesday photos later today ...

viva la arm party!

     Signs that you probably watch too much "South Park": when your Traditional Literature and Oral Narration class reminds you of a specific episode. The teacher shared with us a snippet of Robert Bly's "Sibling Society," which posits that society has moved from a parent-in-charge view to the child-makes-her-own-decisions mindset. And then the teacher even referred to "dog whisperer" Cesar Millan! (The episode I'm thinking about is the one where Cartman's mom, fed up with his running the show, calls in Cesar Millan to help her take charge.) 

       For this outfit I wanted to play with shades of blue and also try out the arm party idea. I originally didn't include the two jade bracelets, but then I decided, the more the merrier.

      I'd be embarrassed to admit just how much time I spent admiring my arm party during class. I truly hope everyone else was too absorbed in the classwork to notice me. I can hope, right?