DIY Jewelry Frame

Goodness, I'm sorry this is so late! I made this back in November and never got around to sharing it with you! Here's a jewelry display I made in hopes of better organizing my jewelry. I have a lot and it for a long time just gathered, messily, on my nightstand. The last picture, of the display in action, shows how neatly, my jewelry is currently being stored. Although, I'm already thinking of ways to improve it! I would like to point out that the total cost for all the supplies was under $30. (Click any picture to view larger)

Note: Glazier points are in the framing section of Michaels, or a home improvement store, the correct push tool could also be found here. The perforated sheet metal was in an obsolete corner of Home Depot. The sheet was 17x(something) and I could easily make another with the leftover scrap. Or even 2 smaller ones, of 4 teeny tiny ones...you get the point.

Introducing: Help from husband. I could have done this, but I had a shoulder injury at the time. It's not about brawn for this step...(I didn't want you all thinking I had man hands)

Please Note: There's a push tool that you can use (a framing specific tool) but ours is in "storage" at the moment. (By "storage" I mean my grandparents basement. Just like when I say "Laundry" I mean my parents house. Apartment living is so restrictive!)

Voila! The finished product in full use. It's made getting dressed in the morning so much easier since I'm not digging around trying to find an earrings mate!

New years reso-what?

So here I posted a list of goals for petal & pink in 2011.

Lets see.

• So far, I'm out of chain, ear hooks, and closed jump rings. Stay on top of order supplies. FAIL.
• I just bought this from Etsy. Pay myself, don't buy for myself. FAIL. (But it's elephants, I love elephants!)
• I've changed my blog layout/design, and my twitter picture. But I'm still incomplete with the Etsy side of this all. C for effort.

The REAL part that I'm excited about is "Launch new line". As of right now, I've got a soft launch date of February 1st! That's right folks, Tuesday! What you should do is like me over on Facebook. That's where you'll get the most up-to-date sneak peeks into what it is I've been working on. I had originally felt that my ideas in my head would end up being two lines, but two contrasting ideas have come together better than I could have ever imagined, and I'm so excited about it. I'm hoping that with this line coming out soon, I'll be able to streamline the process for that line, and start working on another line (I know, crazy right?) for the summer, and also take those new streamlining skills into other parts of my little shop.

I'm trying to not be hard on myself. It is after all, still January. I am just really driven and I'd like to keep that drive to meet the other, bigger goals I've set for myself. (Like more than doubling my sales! yipes!)

On my radar: Spring/Summer needs and wants

Sure, it may be just weeks into 2011, and sure we may be getting more snow this week, and haven't even entered into our snowiest months of the year, but I've got Spring fever!

As part of my attempts to not only shop smart, but also to spend less money, I'm already working on things I'll need for my Spring and Summer wardrobe. I've been working on editing my closet, and finding out what I'm lacking, and removing what I don't wear anymore and I've noticed that there's quite a bit that will be needed for the warmer weather. Here's what I'm eyeing so far.

What I need:

White button-down top

Banana Republic Wrap shirt

Gap Cuff Sleeve Blouse

Black sandals that can be worn with cropped pants (replacement of a pair I have and wore to death)



Guess Aero4 Slingback
These are nearly identical



Nine West Nacia
I'm a sucker for a wedge heel

 

White pants (that won't make me look like a marshmallow)

Gap Boot Surplus Jean

Light-weight skirts

J. Crew Lace Dobby Skirt

Express Floral Smocked Waist Skirt

Bright Sandals



Nine West Stylin'



Summery dress (1 or 2)



J.Crew Shelby Dress



Work-in-Progress Dress. Anthropologie

Limited Pleated Panel Strapless Dress



Metallic flat sandals (another replacement pair. this pair will actually replace a pair of gold gladiators and silver J.Crew Capri flip flops, so I may want to get 2 pairs)



Rampage Prance Sandal



Report Chenola

Sam Edelman Gigi Sandal

And of course, while browsing for things I need, things that I want always pop in. If I have the money, or find a way to make them work, these are things I want:

Love these black sandals (peep toes?), they're fierce, but not practical if I plan on walking further than the block I work on.

Michael Antionio Tricia Platform

A lovely dress very similar to one I already own. (I live in dresses in the summer)



Free People Flutter Away dress

Also on my radar: nude pumps. I don't own a pair and really want to get a pair. I was going to include them here, but the list started to get a bit lengthy!
Now, if we can only get through the next 3 months of cold, gross and miserable (overly snowy) weather. Think I can get away with hibernating? No? Darn.

Stylish What?

Friday, Amanda at Prim and Propah emailed me to let me know she was passing along the stylish blogger award to me. Say what? Blogger huh? I suppose I have a blog and the act of writing one would make me a "blogger" but it's just a silly little thing I'm doing. 3 months from now hopefully I still am, and I'd like to think that even a year from now I am. I just never thought of it like that. Well anyway, it's a little thingy-thing getting passed along the blog-world and I'm honored to be a part of it. All I have to do is link back to the person who nominated me (check!) and then...*groan* the 7 fun facts about yours truly. Truthbetold, I really don't enjoy doing things like this. It's a "fun" little thing we end up having to do at just about every work "getting to know you" event type deal we host. I have a standby, I use it always. But, here, you already know it. In my spare time, I make and sell jewelry.... I'm also aware that with every blog comes a little bit of self-involvement. I technically write to myself, and I write what I like and what I want to write, and sometimes I even write about myself. Me. Me. Me. And now that I seem to have rambled a bit to much about myself. Here are my 7 facts:

1. Technically I was on a date when I met my husband and exchanged phone numbers with him.
2. My mind is so creative, I remember the day my imaginary friend went away, and spent the entire day searching for her. She was only an inch or two tall, so every corner of my house was searched. And my parents weren't concerned at all. Not even when I told them that maybe just maybe she'd show up eventually.
3. I am unbelievably Type A when it comes only to certain things. Other things, I'm just like "Eh, whatever".
4. My copy of the Autobiography of Mark Twain is FINALLY on its way to me, and I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve, I cannot wait.
5. I will watch ANYTHING Bravo TV puts on. The Rachel Zoe Housewives of Top Chef Project? Count me in. I'm also probably one of 10 people who watched the Work of Art show they had, and one of maybe 3 who is sad it hasn't returned.
6. I have about 50 pairs of shoes, not counting flip flops and sneakers, and think of it as a point of pride.
7. My current internal conflict is bangs. To bang or not to bang? That is the question.

The final part of this is I'm supposed to pass this along to other bloggers. We'll see if I actually do. I don't want to impose. (Number 8 on this list would be that I constantly feel like I'm putting people out by asking things of them.)

Anyway, that's all I've got!

OOTD: Rulebreaker

Last week, I tweeted about how I was living dangerously. I was breaking all the rules, and I didn't care. I was kicking booty and taking names.

My outfit last Friday broke some of the "big" fashion rules. I wore sequins in the daytime (and to work no less!) and I mixed navy and black. And then, as I was dressing I realized I wasn't being risky enough. Oh no, I then took a few more steps past the line that fashion rules have drawn, and wore leopard print flats on top of it all. Oh yes, I went there.

I was feeling good, and dangerous, so I took an outfit of the day picture to share.

It's not over the top sequin, well...maybe. It's hard to see in the picture, but they're bronze-gold colored and actually do make a bit of a sparkle statement, it's also navy fabric, not black as it appears to be here. My accessories are all black, and my leopard flats have black trim and bow.

It's funny, in reality this outfit is just a top, cardigan, skinny jeans and flats. I need to break down outfits that I see in magazines and draw inspiration from just like I did when I got dressed that day. For some reason I look at pictures and I look at the entire look. The whole look from head to toe. I never break it down. I just automatically think "I can't pull that off" or "I wish I could recreate that, but I never could..." Truth be told, I have a really good working wardrobe at the moment. I just need to look at it in individual pieces, not "I wear this top with that skirt and those heels." I can be and should be more adventurous. So in the future, I'm going here. Breaking rules, and not looking back. It really is incredible how much an outfit can change your mood, even when it's just jeans, top and cardigan. It's a simple bit, really.

Golden Globes Red Carpet Recap

Last night was the kickoff to awards season, the only warmth to my cold winter life. Although, I heard there was also a football game on yesterday, but nobody around here seems to want to talk about it...oh well. If you follow me on twitter, you got my instant reactions, but I figured I would also do a more organized recap here. I watch mostly for the fashion. I like to pretend I'm Joan Rivers without all the bad plastic surgeries and have at it. We'll start with the good and work our way to the ugly.

The Good:



Olivia Wilde. She was the first Red Carpet look I saw and all others were compared to this.



January Jones. After last years Oscar miss, she made a comeback. Red hot.

Anne Hathaway. Not everyone can pull off a long-sleeved evening gown.

The Ugly:



Kelly Osbourne. The only good is her druzzy ring.

Helena Bonham Carter. If it weren't for the shoes.
I actually find the hair and dress to be her, and I give
her loads of credit for staying true to herself. But I think
even Ms.Westwood would gasp at the shoes.

The most over-hyped baby bump:

 

Natalie Portman. Look guys! An empire waist and draping!
Seriously, why did everyone want to know what she'd do? She's
doing what most just-showing a bump celebs do. I do like the intentional
clashing colors on this dress though.

Other big things causing some chatter...

Bad Hair:



Dear Christian Bale, please shave, shower and cut your hair.
IMMEDIATELY.

Oh Sandy, can you even see through those heavy, long bangs?

Emma Stone. Washed out and trying to be...
Kate Beckinsale? Jamie Presley? Lindsey Lohan?


Further points of chatter that I don't have pictures for...Angelina Jolie reapplying lip gloss. What kind was it? It looked fab, and inquiring minds NEED to know! Also did Jane Fonda have a nip slip while she was up on stage? It kind seemed like it, but I'm sure as hell not googling that! And lastly Michael Douglas, causing numerous tears by letting us all know he's cancer-free.

Overall, it was a really good night of viewing. I really didn't see too much that were big disappointments fashion-wise, and I do have to say, it was 80 degrees there and a lot of long-sleeved gowns. I wouldn't be surprised if that continues on into the other awards, Anne Hathaway is getting a lot of chat about her gown, Leighton Meester wore one, so did Alexa Chung and Angelina Jolie. Julianne Moore could only support it half-way, but I'd be willing to bet we will be seeing much more of those styles down the line.

Baby got Back

While browsing the interwebs, I've been coming across a lot of tops for Spring that are pretty simple from the front, making your entrance just kind of average, but when you look at the back, you can tell that with these tops, it's all about the last impression as you walk out of the room. Here's a few back details that have caught my eye:

 Past Reflections Pullover (Anthropologie): I love the back detail, but overall this top falls short for me. I don't care for the candy cane like stripes, or the knit, and the fabric just isn't doing it for me. Maybe in a different fabric/non-knit, I'd dig it.

 Bow Back Corset Top (Free People): I love bows, and Free People has been infiltrating my closet at a rapid pace. I like the fact that the cutouts get smaller as they go down the back, helping nip in the waist, while the floaty almost peplum ruffling beneath helps hide any pooch. This needs to be mine. Paired with cuffed skinny jeans and flats or even wedges, and a cardigan on top for the workplace, perfect.

 Lace Back Cardigan (Gap): Someone give this model a booty, stat! I love this cardigan, it's lace back is unexpected, and perhaps just what I need for a spring/summer work cardigan to leave at my desk. This would be great with a few dresses and sleeveless tops I already own. I'm picturing my Free People floral trapeze tank under this awesome lace detail, how feminine!

 Chic Taupe Top (Lulus):  Okay, part of me loves the lace racer back tank under this. Part of me thinks this top got into a fight with Freddy Kruger, Edward Scissorhands, and Shredder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Fidelity Black and White Striped Top (Lulus): I like the drape and I'm a sucker for stripes. You could most certainly get away wearing a bra with this top, but the draping may make a booty look larger. I picture this more for the beach or a cookout, than any other kind of situation, just add shorty shorts, and sunblock.

In my wishes to shop smarter, I'm already working on my Spring and Summer wish list and needs. I've got a few things that need to be replaced for those seasons, and I'm looking forward to a little seasonal wardrobe update. I'll be sure to share what I come across. In the meantime, what say you on the back details? Yay? Nay? Did I miss a totally amazing top somewhere?

Free Nail Polish? Sign me up!

I have a bit of a nail polish obsession. Seriously. It's bad. I'm always painting my nails. I change colors at least 2 times a week. Or reapply just as much. I hate little chips in my polish and end up picking away the second I see a chip, before I know it the floor is covered with picked off chips of nail polish and I need to reapply. My husband accuses me of being addicted to the fumes. I think it's just I look at nail color as an accessory. Always changing to match moods, outfits, seasons.

Last June, I went for a manicure to kick off a weekend of "me" time. I had essentially been stressed out and just in desperate need of a weekend of no schedules, no chores, no responsibility, no nothing. Friday evening commutes can be hell, and I didn't want to start the weekend off frustrated, sitting in traffic so I scheduled an appointment at MiniLuxe on Newbury Street. I got to walk around, enjoy the warm weather, and just decompress knowing that I had not a single thing in need of my attention. The point of this story? It was when I was introduced to Zoya nail polish.

The color I picked was LC. Which was part of their "Gossip" line. It was the perfect red and orange shade for June. I loved the color, but what I loved more, was what I learned about Zoya. It is formaldehyde free, toulene free, and vegan friendly! I don't know what it means, but it sounds good! Anything that's vegan friendly is probably good for you.

I'm sure now you're wondering "What about the free polish!? My nails aren't going to paint themselves!". Fret not. All you need to do is head over to Facebook, and "like" Zoya. (And while you're "liking" things there, be sure to "like" petal & pink!). You will get access to a coupon code, and then just clickety-click-click your way around the Zoya site, put the 3 colors of your choice into your cart, enter the code and voila! Just pay for shipping! ($6.95 for regular delivery. I can't even find 1 nail polish for less than that, let alone 3!).

These were my selections:

Stacy. Anything described as "Vintage Vamp" is a sure win in my book!



Kelly. Perfect grey-purple.




LC. Where it all began.

 A word to the wise though...I had a hell of a time trying to checkout. They kept on sending me back to my shipping info page. Turns out, although there's no little asterisk telling me a phone number is required on the billing page, it won't let you do anything without it. Duh, Erin.

MMXI

Happy New Year!!!

I've seen lots of posts about resolutions and the like, and while I feel like I laid out what I'd like to accomplish in my bucket list to my 20's, I figured I might as well lay out some foundation, and some goals for petal & pink.

First and foremost: BLOG MORE. This blog will continue to be a hybrid of DIY, Fashion, Etsy, Creativity, raves, and probably a few rants. I already have a few posts in mind, and I know I sound like a broken record, but putting pen to paper (or in this case, finger to keyboard) is really therapeutic.

Other goals:

• Hit 150 sales in my Etsy shop
• Mini blog/shop makeover
• More features/giveaways, both here and on other blogs
• Do 2-3 shows this year, more if possible
• Track my expenses and start paying myself, and not by buying myself stuff!
• Launch new line
• Customer service
• More Bridal/Custom orders
• Look into and potentially start offering Gift Cards for Holiday 2011.

These are ambitious, but they are attainable. 150 sales means I need to more than double what I've done since I started selling on Etsy in 2007. (Wow, has it really been that long?!) Granted, I know so much more than I did back then, and have seen a steady uptick, I tend to lose momentum, and then essentially undo everything I've worked so hard to accomplish. I had been featured on the Etsy Finds email back in 2008, had been on several front pages between 2008-09 and had pieces featured in the Etsy blog. I had a good momentum going, and then stopped...which then caused it all to come crashing down. No more.

Doing more shows/giveaways will only help me gain exposure, even if it does take a slight hit to my budget at first. I'm working on launching a new line, and will look into hosting a giveaway somewhere for that when it's ready. (If you follow me on twitter, I've been giving sneak peeks into what I've been working on...well that was, until I ran out of supplies.)

Additional goal: STAY ON TOP OF SUPPLY ORDERS!

Customer service is always a strong point of mine, and while it doesn't need improvement per se, it should always be in focus. I think after Thanksgiving I had a sale, and ended up forgetting to send a Thank you email, but there was (and is always) one included in the package, but my biggest pet peeve is buying something and having the sale go unacknowledged. None of that any more. If I have time to email my friends, tweet, facebook, anything, then I have time to type a quick thank you email.

Bridal orders and custom orders are always so fun, adding more of these will only add more creativity into my life. And I love being a part of someones special day.

I've got much bigger goals further down the line, but on my immediate, these will be done this year radar are those big ones.

I hope you all have a happy, healthy and fashionable 2011!

~erin~