They don't make them like they used to....

Who remembers the Fashion Plates toy? If you were a late '80s or early '90s kid, you were all over this shit!

I don't remember the color pencils.

Heck yeah! This looks more familiar. This might be the exact one I used to have.

Ohhh yeah. You used the charcoal (that little nub over there) to rub the stamps over the paper. Then you used the color pencils to "design" the fabric for your clothes.

Fitted #1

Dress: H&M Divided $40, Shoes: Steve Madden gray suede pump wedges $40 (Marshalls),
Hosiery: ASOS $12, Belt: vintage (mom's closet) 

Fornarina $55 (Ebay)

My ankles felt naked so I decided to nix the five inch wedges. Plus, I was going to be walking around all day. No twisted ankles, please.

Final outfit + accessories 

ACCESSORIES

Betsey Johnson, $65 (from the BF for Valentine's Day)

Forever 21, $5

WOULDA, COULDA, SHOULDA

In retrospect, shoes without ankle straps would've been a better choice. In the first outfit, I look like I have legs for dayyyyyysss (not really), but in the second picture, I look stumpy because of the straps. Below are some shoes I wish I had in my arsenal to, as my boyfriend would say, "get fitted up."

Senso Diffusion, $235 (Modcloth)

I used to hate ankle boots, especially booties! But, I think they would really work for this outfit! I know. Too Christmas-y. But, I  like the color combo anyway. And, it would really brighten up the outfit.

 Seychelles, $170 (Modcloth.com))

Booties are really starting to grow on me. These are actually ideal because the shaft is cut lower and it looks like they conform to your ankle, which gives you a better looking fit. I hate when there's a gap around the ankle area. I'd just do these in a brighter color. If only they'd have 'em in red or gold!

$175 ( Modcloth.com)

I couldn't help it. I LOVE THESE! I know they clash, but maybe I change my socks to a solid red or black? I can even go bare?

Qupid Pulse, $32 (Lulus.com)

Another awesome color! I'd just hide the ankle straps. They look like they remove easily. Price doesn't hurt either. Sadly, they're not as cute as the other $100-200 priced shoes.

Duvet #1

Before I get into my projects, I'm going to rant a little about the iPad and Apple in general. You know, if you're going to tout about how you're so innovative with your projects, can you not make annoying shit happen? I was writing my entry a few minutes ago and wanted to make the font bigger. So, I do that stupid "thumb and pointer finger spread out" motion. Then the page goes blank. The fuck? Okay, regardless, I should've saved my draft. And being the Apple novice user that I am, I probably did that "magnify the page with your fingers" motion incorrectly. Hey, I just did the same thing I usually do on my iPhone.

Ohhhh!!!!! Don't get me started on the iPhone. Can you make simple apps like Notes work properly? I had a buttload of notes-important notes, mind you- that I had saved on there and as I was scrolling through them, they all disappeared. No, I did not accidentally erase them because the stupid red delete button didn't even she up. This was definitely not user error because it's, disappointingly, a common problem. but I'm more than disappointed, I'm outraged!!!

I thought I said "eff you" to Apple after my iPod died. But, damn, a free iPhone was too tempting to pass up. And an iPad? Sure!

 The iPad irks me even more because what is the point of it?????? It's not as functional as a laptop. If anything, it's just more trouble than its worth. Every time I use it, I just keep screaming at it and wishing I had my laptop. My boyfriend wanted to reformat it for me and ran into a whole mess of problems. So i'm ustuck with this useless thing. Come to think of it, my boyfriend's like the iPad, intriguing and seemingly useful, but really just something I scream at every so often because he can't do anything properly. Just kidding. You are useful, Phong, very useful!

Projects, projects. Rght.

I've been chugging away at the projects from the Freckled Nest site, an online sewing tutorial that I paid for and mentioned in my previous posts. I think I'm supposed to complete the projects in order because of skill level and each project probably builds on the another? Well. I'm bad ass.

I've been working on a duvet, which is, I'm guessing, probably 6-7 projects in. But all the previous projects were whack and didn't seem very fun. Cloth napkins? Really? Plus,they required materials I didn't have or couldn't find at my local Michael's, Target,or Wal-mart.

One side is from one of my flat sheets, the beige-y color, and the other side are from fabrics I pieced together. These two fabrics are what made me really excited about making the duvet. I just bought the fabrics on a whim at Wal-mart. But the green and teal geometric patterns looked so good with my flat sheet that it inspired me to make the duvet.

From left to right: teal geometric pattern from Wal-mart, beige-y Martha Stewart flat sheet (from Macy's), and green "linen" fabric from Wal-mart

 Freckled Nest also shows you two easy ways to make ruffles.

I had plenty of leftover beige-y fabric to make oodles and oodles of ruffles so I think I'm going to place them like so: .

One corner 

Other corner

What the entire one side would look like. I dunno. Something looks off or weird. I like the ruffles in the middle or the corner designs, but together...mmmm, I don't know. 

But I don't have much of the leftovers of the colored fabrics. Therefore, I have no idea what type of ruffle and how big they should be. So terrified that I haven't even cut the fabric yet. My target completion date is this Sunday. Wish me luck!

Nishe found its niche

Nishe evokes images of rainbows, unicorns, and cupcakes. I'm ten again, skipping around in ballet pink Mary Janes with white cuffed ankle socks. In a dress with too much lace, crinoline, and ruffles. I HATED it. I wanted to be in jeans and a t-shirt like the other kids. Running around scraping my knees without worrying about my skirt flipping over or tearing those annoying puffy, lace sleeves.


It's doe-eyed models in perfectly fluffed bangs--it's so appropriate that it's bordering on cliche--makes me want to be that ten year old again, forced into a fluffy, yucky pink dress with a thick, floppy bow on the back.

The frothy, peter pan-collared, bow-filled, pastel-colored collection almost gave me a toothache (borrowing from Cher Horowitz)!

My favorites:

The shorts!!!!



Naughty Japanese school girl!



At first glace, it seems simple, but the geometric print and cut really make the dress!



Who doesn't love a Peter Pan collar?

I was really considering buying the first two outfits, even though they were all sold out in my size range.  And I say range because I was even willing to go up a few sizes if that meant owning these pieces of sweetness! But, I think size 8 was pushing it, let alone 10, 12, or 14. Damn you Zooey Deschanel-obsessed girls!

The other pieces weren't very impressive or just downright ridiculous (see pathetic shorts in third picture).

Too frumpy!

Too "ten year old"

Really? Those shorts have got to go!

Yeccch, a boxy blazer? No thanks.

Nevertheless, with the right shoes, belt, and/or jewelry, you can make any of these pieces look right! Although, Timm Gunn wouldn't be able to "make it work" for those fringed, baggy shorts.