Dark Side Slide

 Verdant Venus Necklace

Top: L'Amore by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Camisole: Derek Lam for Target

Jeans: L'Amore by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney

Bag: Guess

Shoes: Payless

Scarf: Express

Dress: Candie's, Kohl's
Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less
Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy
Sunglasses: JCPenney

Primary Pendant Necklace

Dress: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Betsey Johnson, ROSS Dress for Less

Belt: Wet Seal

Jacket: Mossimo, Target

 Nesting Natasha Necklace

Top: Style & Co., Macy's

Skirt: Wet Seal

Bag: Express

Shoes: Candie's, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

Pink necklace: B Fabulous

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Macy's

Shoes: Diba, Burlington Coat Factory

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Coat: Metaphor, Sears

Chock Full of Charms Necklace

Top: Free People

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Jeans: Vanilla Star, Target

Shoes: Alloy

Bag: Nine West, ROSS Dress for Less

Coat: XOXO, Macy's

Scarf: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Winter means darker colors and also, sometimes, the Olympics.  I made the Nesting Natasha Necklace featured in this post just in time for Sochi (a city, by the way, that I thought was Japanese before the husband set me straight.  Perhaps I was thinking of sushi).  This would probably be a good time to admit that I don't like the Olympics.  A little bit because I don't like sports.  Or competitions.  But mostly because it messes with my TV programming.  Nevertheless, I was forced to reevaluate my disdain after watching that Portlandia episode in which Fred and Carrie are forced to reevaluate their disdain on the grounds that the Olympics is not the elitist operation that they originally thought it to be, but rather a coming together of amateur misfits who are merely looking for their place in the world.  Realizing this humbled me.  I still won't watch it (the Olympics, that is, not Portlandia).  But I remain humbled.

Not unlike the Olympics, winter has somewhat charmed me, making me appreciate its richer color palette. So, instead of pining for hot-temperature hues, I've embraced the challenge of making necklaces for (ever so slightly) more serious ensembles.  I was fortunate to stumble upon an entire rack of value-priced Haskell earrings at Boscov's that were so outrageously big they all but begged to be repurposed into pedants.  (I've yet to work with the beaded pair, although that's just as well, as they're far too summery for this polar-proud post.)  I also cannabilized some of my own castoff accessories, rescuing the rosy-cheeked Natasha and a bevy of other baubles to make the remaining two trinkets.    

That having been said, winter -- like all such unpleasant things -- is easier to take when you know that it's on the wane.  Indeed, since the winter solstice, it's been slowly yet steadily growing lighter each day.