Waging the War of the Wedges

 Three Ring Circus Necklace

Dress: Wet Seal

Shoes: Barefeet Shoes

Pouch: Lancome

Jacket: Abbey Dawn, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

Scarf: A.C. Moore

 Bright Flight Corsage Necklace

Dress: Boscov's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: H&M

Jacket: Material Girl, Macy's

Belt: Wet Seal

Sunglasses: JCPenney

Scarf: A.C. Moore

 Fabulous Felt Sassy Stripes Necklace

Sweater: Sweater Project, Macy's

Skirt: Boscov's

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Socks: Kohl's

Carnival Cluster Necklace

Dress: Macy's

Flip flops: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Scarf: Express

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

Watermelon wedges, that is.  It's a battle of David and Goliath proportions.  On one side of the ring we have our old pal, the Lancome cosmetics bag.  Small but sleek, it was rescued from a rummage sale to find fame and fortune as Tammy (the Torso's) right-hand Tote Trove model.  Then on the other side we have our big, bad newcomer, a straw and pleather shoulder bag from Scandinavian superstore H&M.  Is this summer staple juiciest framed by let's-party leopard or pin-up polka dots?  Paired with a rainbow-wrapped T-strap or a sun-speckled sandal?  May minimal juice be shed before we find out.  

Flora the Florist's Day Off

 Mint Blooming Bird Corsage Necklace

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Payless

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Scarf: Gifted

Sunglasses: Target

 

Golden Girl Corsage Necklace

Jacket: Candie's, Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: Marshalls

Scarf: Gifted

Sunglasses: JCPenney

Pink Blooming Bird Corsage Necklace

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Payless

Bag: XOXO, ROSS Dress for Less

Sunglasses: Fred Flare

For fem florist Flora, freedom from work doesn't mean freedom from flowers.  Whether she's weeding the garden or stopping to smell the roses, this babe is all about the blooms.  ("Flora?  Who the heck is that?" you may be thinking.  "I thought this molded hanger-slash-mannequin thing was named Tammy."  Well, she is, but Flora is her latest alter ego.  Keep up!)  So, to appeal to our petal princess, I've brought back the corsage necklace in a big way.  Each of these gardens a-go-go features a market-fresh fabric flower from Etsy's own Henny TJ.  I've been collecting them in red, yellow, and pink over the past year for my wedding but ended up with a surplus (partly because of that intrepid interloper, mint.  But more on that later.)  HennyTJ's trims are gorgeous and high quality, adding just the right touch of whimsy to your craft supply wardrobe.  Check it out!

Speaking of shopping, here's another 10% off coupon from our friends at Kohl's: BLOGIT10.  It's good for online purchases (and may be combined with one departmental coupon) until 9/12/13.  Let the bargain hunting begin!  

Keeping it Real Cosby Style

Top: Wet Seal
Skirt: So, Kohl's
Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney
Bag: Nahui Ollin
Scarf: A.C. Moore

Top: Wet Seal (again!)

Skirt: H&M
Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nahui Ollin (again!)
Scarf: Wet Seal

 Fabulous Felt Art Club Necklace

Fabulous Felt Desert Dreams Necklace

Dress: Kohl's

Shoes: Frederick's of Hollywood

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

 Fabulous Felt Radical Rocks Necklace

Dress: Rampage, Amazon

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Worthington, JCPenney

Jacket: Abbey Dawn, Kohl's

Belt: Everything's $10, Tournier

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City 

 Sea Creatures Comb

Sparkly Squares Necklace

Tee: Mossimo, Target

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Nine West, DSW

Bag: DSW, embellished by The Tote Trove

Scarf: Wet Seal

Rockin' Record Necklace

Sweatshirt: Kohl's

Skirt: Boscov's

Shoes: Bucco, Kohl's

Bag: Chinese Laundry

In the wild west wasteland that is summer TV (Lifetime's "Devious Maids" excluded), I find myself seeking refuge with reruns.  A recent episode of "The Cosby Show" struck a crafty chord as Claire and daughter Denise bantered over a disfigured pot that Claire had created.  Claire conceded that Denise's pot was indeed beautiful but went on to say that it was limited because everyone knew what it was immediately.  Her own mangled mess, on the other hand, challenged the beholder to bring something of himself or herself to the experience.  She was being funny.  But as with all jokes, hers harbored a grain of truth.  I can't tell you how many times I've looked at something I made, lamenting how it could have been more symmetrical, more balanced, more precise, or otherwise perfect.  I hit just such a snafu while working on the Fabulous Felt Radical Rocks Necklace.  It was too long.  I pouted, staring at it in the mirror and trying to convince myself that it looked okay.  But such deception wasn't to be and there was nothing for it but to fill in the gap with another strand of beads and a daisy pendant.  I ended up with something odd but interesting and remembered that making stuff isn't about perfection; it's about expression, as Claire so cleverly pointed out.  And in a world fraught with unforgiving absolutes, the freedom to play is downright refreshing.  

Which I'll do well to remember the next time I find myself fretting over an off-center pendant or crooked wire wrapping as the Huxtables (or some other sage sitcom family) hum in the background.