Finished: Gaga Meat Costume

I'm not sure of how many of you reading are Lady Gaga fans, but when my friend mentioned a Lady Gaga/David Bowie theme party...I couldn't resist. So, do you like my felt steak fascinator?

I don't have many opportunities to go to theme parties or really any college parties for that matter. 

I had forgotten just how much fun I have putting together a costume!

Anyways, I'm sure most know about Gaga's meat dress at the VMAS (which I didn't actually watch), 

but few are aware of her meat-clad cover for Vogue Hommes Japan. 

I set to work on my rendition of her meat couture, swapping out meat for felt.

Since I'm rather demure when it comes to nudity, I attached the felt to a nude bodysuit. Alas, I do not recommend pinning/hot gluing pieces when you're wearing the actual garment!

After layering two pairs of tights, gobs of cheap gold necklaces, and red lipstick, I was good to go party the night away...but not without first hiding myself under my newly thrifted trench. 

I became more bold once the other Gagas emerged from the cracks.

I couldn't help but get miffed every time someone said they liked my meat dress.

Note: This is not my Halloween costume! I have something else in the works.

And we'll just leave it at that. For now.

Until next time, ♥.

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Guest Post: Oh, How I Love Wordplay!

Check out my guest post today on A Thought Is The Blossom!

I entitled it: Craft Fit For A Starr, bah-dum-cha! It could be interpreted in a myriad of ways, bah-dum-cha!

Okay, I'm done.

I still can't believe she asked me to do that...what would compel her to do such a thing?!

Until next time, ♥.

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Dainty Feathers

School's back in session and with it, the return of long hours spent reading/studying/procrastinating.

I feel bad about neglecting the blog, but honestly...there isn't a whole lot to say. 

I could do outfit posts, but this heats sucks all the creativity out of me...leaving me wearing some pretty "blah" outfits. 

Autumn can't get here any quicker! 

And, the shopping ban is still in effect (though I'm tempted to thrift for shorts...I NEED THEM!)

I did have the garage sale last weekend and I am proud to report that I finally have some financial stability in my life. The night before the sale was spent pricing items, but I did stop to make some small crafts. I knew I couldn't sell my headbands, but I thought these smaller feather hairpins could sell. I whipped up five (photographed none!) and sold two the following day. I sold them for five bucks a pop.

I've been planning to make these for a while now, but just never got around to it. 

They weren't very difficult to make once I figured out a system that didn't leave the whole thing a sticky, unwearable mess.

Each one was placed on half an index card, a modest presentation tactic.

And, of course, I kept one for myself. 

They're not too fussy, yet they add a nice touch to any outfit.

I recently remembered the existence of this necklace and how much I adore it.

So naturally, I've worn it everyday. The little clothespin works! 

Oh hey there, crappy mirror shot.

My little feathers make it appear as though I have a wicked cowlick. Nice.

Check out the Lollapalooza garb!

Until next time, ♥.

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River Market Memory(s)

It seems like a million years ago since these were taken...though, they're just over a week old.

 I met up with my pal Memory at the River Market downtown for an exchange of goods and some picture playtime.

She purchased this feather headband from me. You see, I've had better luck selling to the locals through my Facebook. I would've updated the Etsy shop, but meeting up with people I know seemed much more appealing and less troublesome this time around. There's nothing like meeting up with friends for food and conversation (and money!) I've made about $100 selling my goods (even doing transactions while I was on the clock at Half of Half!). 

Oh well, mo' monies for Spain!

This is what I wore. 

It's much too hot for jeans, but I had to swap out when I went to work later that day. 

->Nude Cardi, Clearance - Charlotte Russe

-> Striped Cami, $1 - Thrifted

-> High-waisted Denim Shorts, $3 - Thrifted

->Fat Man Face Pendant, DIY - Upcycled Eyeglass Lens

->Brown Oxfords, $4 - Thrifted

->Leopard Print Scarf worn as Turban Wrap, Thrifted

This is Memory. Ain't she purdy?

We spotted these kiddos splashing around in the spraying fountains near the playground. 

It's a great way to keep cool and immediately we decided to join in on the fun!

I kept squealing from the sudden bursts of water splashing around me. 

Memory did a really good job of capturing the moment because every photo she took of me had me flailing about like a dork. 

Seriously though, I look like a total pansy...but it was so worth it!

Of course, Memory needed a good splash as well. Getting soaked is the ideal way to keep cool in the hot Southern sunshine. 

I mean, the lil' kiddos definitely know what's up!

We had also ventured around the shops in downtown, looking for knickknacks and doodads. 

I picked up a book featuring the Pictorial History of Little Rock for my Spanish host family

 as well as two Natural State pins for my host-brother and host-sister. 

I think pins are neat, let's just hope they think likewise!

Memory picked up this Arkansas Razorback snout for her host family in Austria. 

It's very becoming!

WOOOOOO-PIG-SOOOOOIEEE!

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CrayCray Craft Day: Oversized Red Bow

I bought this exaggerated red bow from the flea market for a buck with intentions of repurposing it for a headband. 

My mom laughed at me because I wore similar bows as a kid and absolutely hated them. 

However, I did not plan on wearing this one atop a heavily hairsprayed, slicked back, too tight ponytail.

And so began my CrayCray Craft Day. It was super simple, only requiring me to hot glue it onto a headband. 

It served as my warm-up craft, to get me in the swing of things. 

Yesterday was my day off and I didn't have any outings planned until much later. 

I finally hemmed this cute khaki skirt I thrifted on a recent outing with Starr and decided to pair it with my new hairpiece. 

It's refreshing to get out of jeans.

And now For Your Viewing Pleasure: Big Red Bow

This was taken outside of my friend Ginna's house. I had taken some at my place earlier, but I quickly chickened out when I saw the neighbors staring. Those pictures all looked terribly awkward. I still look awkward because a lady walked by with her dog and watched. 

I stopped taking pictures and awkwardly smiled at her, she told me I looked pretty.

->Repurposed Big Red Bow Headband, $1 - Thrifted/DIY

->Mens Chambray Western Button-up, $7 - Savers

->Hemmed Khaki Button-up Skirt - Thrifted/DIY

-Brown Oxfords, $4 - Thrifted

More crafty goodness to come!

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Riverfest Revisited, Glass Heads and Etsy Shop Opening

Day 2 of Riverfest: Pelvic Thrust! I was in the vicinity at the Rev Room. Yeahhh.

c/o Chris H.

I gave up on trying to continue my thoughts on Riverfest: that weekend just got out of hand. However, I must show off some of my fireworks photos! 

And For Your Viewing Pleasure: Some outfit shots!

This is Mango. She thought she wasn't going to be able to go to Riverfest, but I surprised her with a button. Hurrah, hurrah! She sports a classic plaid button-up paired with black shorts, grungy canvas sneakers, and black felt hat.

I opted for a red-striped tank to match my red lipstick, worn with high-waisted khaki shorts, and a scarf turban wrap.

Sophie looks lovely in a black romper and a creme cardi (which I'm pretty sure she scored from me at a clothing swap ages ago) paired with all black canvas sneakers, Africanesque bag, and a straw cloche hat.

It was funny walking around because we definitely stood out amongst the crowd clad in their usual Dirty South garb. I would've taken "street-style" photos, but I saw maybe one kid worth mentioning, and I couldn't work up the courage. Shame on me!

Rummaging through pretty jewels at one of the vendors' booths. I bought two bronze rings. Pictures are coming, after I finish coating them with clear nail polish!

Abracadabra! 

My Etsy Shop hath been stocked with goods, not an overwhelming amount, but stocked nonetheless. I made the fascinators last week (with another batch in the works!) but had no way of photographing them. I wanted to use my sister as a head model, but alas...I never see the kid. My luck changed when I found this awesome glass head at Hidden Treasures.

It's just what I needed! I should name her. Any ideas?

Check out more of the merchandise at Myriad.of.Mischief : Unique Repurposed Goods

I'll be adding more stuff later on this week, if everything pans out accordingly, and this weekend will be spent scouring flea-markets and antique malls for an affordable dress form to display other goodies looking for new homes!

I can't wait. I can't wait. I can't wait!

♥

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Settin' Up Shop.

I spent almost all day yesterday setting up shop. I just about have Market Publique ready to go (except for my avatar...it won't load!) and Etsy's ready for me to list items.

Back in April: Annie getting ready for prom & sporting one of my fascinators!

O'course, that means I need to have items to sell. Which means that I'm going to be a crafting junkie! I have already laid out fascinators and smaller feather clips that just need to be assembled, as well as a slew of images for my eyeglass lens pendants.

I also need to take measurements of my vintage clothes and do a bit of research to list the items accurately. I would really love to find a simple dressmaker form and stand in order to photograph the items. So much to do, so much to do...but I'm excited...I've always wanted to do something like this.

Source: Google Images

Side-note: Finally got a call from Half-of-Half. I'll be reporting to duty starting Wednesday. I had pretty much given up on the idea of a summer gig, but at least now I'll have more funds to spend in Spain. I see it more as capital, since I'll totally be hitting up the flea markets...who knows what vintage goodies I might discover!

I just hope that working doesn't interfere too much with my other plans. It's been refreshing to be able to go out and do stuff before 9pm...but again, me needs the monies real baddd!

Everything will work out. I hope.

Riverfest begins tomorrow and I've already bought my button. Man, the last day better not get rained out like last year! I'll try and remember to bring Cammy Jr. to document the festivities and whatnot.

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Oh, the Humanity!

I wore my favorite Threadless t-shirt today:

"The Communist Party" by Tom Burns.

Whilst waiting outside of my Designing with New Technologies class, a fellow comrade (chortle) was naming everyone in the image. Afterwards, another classmate asked me where Hitler was. I laughed, half expecting it to be a witty April Fool's joke. I managed to say "He was Fascist" between laughs. 

From the expression on her face, I quickly realized that this was no joke.

Oh geez, I nearly peed my pants.

"Communists, Fascists...they all crazy anyways."

Nice.

Check out

http://www.threadless.com/product/383/The_Communist_Party

to snag your very own Communist Party t-shirt.

Also, our smARTS Show Haiti Benefit raked in a little over a grand...that's more than $1000 for Haiti! (All of my goods sold!!! Yippeee!) The relief benefit part deux--this time for Chile--takes place on Monday in a Craft-Bake Sale Hybrid, right here on campus.

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Crafting-Binge: Fascinator Frenzy and Eyeglass Pendants Galore

Recently I suffered a crafting-binge of sorts. It was set off by the fact that I had committed to giving at least 5 pieces to the smARTS Haiti Benefit on my campus. I wanted to drop the pieces off this past Thursday, but that gets pretty difficult when you have squat accomplished. My procrastination got the best of me, but I toiled all Wednesday night until 3am or so. I cranked out a total of 8 fascinators and 11 pendants, of which I split for the Haiti benefit on Monday and for a pending Chile benefit. (I kept a pendant for myself. Terrible, I know.)

I think this is my favorite of the fascinators that I made. I ordered these lovely bleached peacock feather pads online and added some guinea plumage. It was topped of by a vintage finding and attached to a sweet floral headband.

This was my roomie's personal fave. The headband is more graphic in nature and the findings have a dark pirate feel.

I really wish the seller of these specific feather pads still existed. I would've bought them out had I known. Another floral headband and vintage finding found during an outing with my high school Costume & Makeup teacher.

Part deux of the night brought me to eyeglass lens pendants. Anytime I'm out thrifting, I always look for the largest granny frames so I can pop the lenses out. Finding the images takes a bit more time, but luckily I had already cut some out and stored them away. I also used illustrations from books I bought from Midtowne. It felt sacrilegious to cut pages from a book, but I saw it more as giving these images a new lease on life.

Image found from the book, Nobody's Birthday.

Sole pendant that I kept for myself. "Mistah Peanut, you's so dapper!"

Image from a children's book of Birds...I also found a neat dinosaur image for another pendant.

So, these may not qualify as your typical "art works," but I don't feel that I've reached a comfortable level as a solid artist. I'd much rather DIY: reuse, renew, recycle. These will be sold with all proceeds going towards Haiti or Chile...that is, if people even buy them.

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