I Spy: DIY

I've been feeling crafty lately. I don't know what it is, but I am feeling nostalgic for the friendship bracelets of my elementary school days. Short of buying the craft store out of every color embroidery floss, I decided there has to be grown up versions out there somewhere.

Here are a few styles that I'm digging. I plan on making a trip to the hardware store this evening for the essentials. (Husband nearly died of shock when I told him I had DIY's that required s-hooks, hex nuts and ropes, but gladly agreed to accompany me.)

Etsy Sailor's knot bracelet DIY

Honestly WTF Hex nut bracelet

Honestly WTF S-hook rope bracelet

And, if all else fails, I'll just buy my weight in embroidery floss. There's just something about brightly colored rope/twine bracelets that scream carefree summers to me.

Orange you glad?

So apparently there's something about this time of year. I did a similar post last year to what you're about to see. (Just without the Polyvore, as it seems to be in a fight with my computer today).

As a refresher, this time of year leaves me utterly bored with my winter clothes, and I start longing for my Spring and Summer wardrobe. I've been working hard over the past few years to have a real working closet that doesn't require total revamping every time I hit a new year/season.  It's been a lot of investing but it's hitting the point where I feel uniform and I've gotten rid of a lot of cheap quality items. I have seen the ways in the quality vs. quantity debate. Sure, I'll still buy things at Target, Forever 21 and similar stores, however, they're either trends that aren't sticking around, or items that I go through so quickly (white tanks, for example) that paying a lot doesn't make sense.

Last years colors I was craving were yellow and purple with a spattering of greys. This year, I'm feeling orange. I will still fight anyone who says orange is the new pink. Because pink is always the new pink. Specifically, oranges with turquoise and pink accents and paired with crisp bright whites. Doesn't it sound so tropical and sunny? I agree.

Here's what I'm lusting for:

Boldly Brushed Peasant (Anthropologie)

Sleeveless Cowl (Old Navy)

Silk Driving Scarf (J Crew)
(I love orange and navy together!)

Twist Handle Wristlet (Express)

Okay, and while looking up orange goodies, I came across these Tory Burch Reva flats. Seriously? I love! Where were they when I was searching high and low for bright pink ballet flats?! The only ones I could find back then were Lanvin, and I was a bride on a budget at the time. I love these!

What colors are on your radar for Spring/Summer 11? I'm excited to make some more brightly colored jewelry for my Etsy shop and for my own personal collection.

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.

The dress so nice they named it twice

New York, New York Dress

(Anthropologie, $168)

Every now and then (okay, almost daily) I take a little trip to a few favorite websites of mine. While looking around Anthro, feeling a little spring in the air, I came across this little number. Love. I'm always looking for fun Spring/Summer dresses, and this one is perfect. I love the water color painted look to the print. The shape is what I do best, and the colors are so fun and feminine and subdued and just waited for me to play them up. This might just have to come home with me...eventually. But for now, I just wait and hope for a sale.

We're having a heat wave!

Well, it's not really an official heatwave since it's ONLY 89* (but feels like 101*) here today, but it's a span of days like this that make me want to be here:

Good ol' White Island Pond...my family has a cottage here, it's been in our family for at least 60 years. It started off as a one room fishing shack and has developed into a VERY rustic cottage on the lake. (It's a lake, I swear...it has to do with depth of sun penetration, size, etc. but they can't just up and change the name).

Anywho, I LOVE this place. It's my spot where I go to clear my head, relax, and just beat the summer heat (it's usually about 10 degrees cooler here than back home). The one thing missing from this picture is the boat, which I call my perch. I will sit/lay out on the back of it, rocking out to my ipod and flipping through magazines, and oftentimes catching a quick nap. What can I say, the waves are soothing.