Teenage Rebellion

Last week was hard, and by Friday, I was not interested in any of it. Since I’m no longer a teenager, sulking in my room wasn’t an option, so I did the next best (available) thing and wore a “no f*cks given” outfit. I’ve been dying to take this BCBG harness belt for a spin ever since I hunted it down on Poshmark. Harness belt has been near the top of my “to buy” list since Timmy Chalamet walked the Oscars red carpet in that bejewelled version a few years ago; a desire that was reinforced when I saw this Alexander McQueen runway look:

All in all, I’m pretty happy with how this turned out, and it was a cool outfit to wear (just at home) on a crappy day.

Coordinating

You may remember that I bought this Marni skirt on ebay last year because it matched my much loved top that I thrifted years ago. It was a steal of a deal … until I got it and realized that it did not fit my hips at all. [Long story short: the listing only gave the waist measurement, which fit me, but not the hips and I forgot to ask. The skirt turned out to be a tube, basically, but without any stretch to it, and I am definitely a pear shape so no bueno.] Eventually, I asked a friend for a favour, and she helped me get the skirt tailored. A strip of black fabric was added on each side, which gave me the extra 4 inches or so of width that I needed; due to the pattern, the strips look almost intentional, so it works. I’m very happy to finally be able to wear the coordinating look.

Summer Floral

I am ready for fall, sartorially speaking. I miss my sweaters, my wool skirts, my coats, my boots. I miss layering. However, I’m also not ready to give up backyard patio season. Ah, the struggle is real. Meanwhile, I guess I better make the most of the remaining warm weather. This was a cute outfit – even my husband said so. Repeatedly. He rarely has comments to make on my outfits (unless he can tease me, which is like his Olympic sport), but he couldn’t stop remarking on this one. Maybe it was something in the water that day. Maybe he just really really likes short dresses 😉

Last month, I attended my first craft/art show and sale with a small group of local artists at a pop-up venue in downtown Edmonton. It was a low-key event, which felt like a safe environment both in relation to the pandemic and my general state of mind; everyone involved in the event and those who attended were friendly, kind, and supportive, which made the whole thing a fun experience. I was able to sell quite a few of my jewelry and embroidery pieces, and met some truly wonderful folks in the process — I am so honoured that they chose to take my art into their homes/lives. I remain constantly in doubt over the quality/worth of my work, but this experience did help me to see that there is something there which others may appreciate.

In general, however, the last couple of months have been very difficult for me which has impacted my creative output. I try to make space and time for art, in some measure, every day because it helps my mental health even at its lowest ebb. I have lots of ideas, and have been replenishing my supplies, but progress has been slow. That’s okay. I’m working on being easier on myself in all areas of life, including this.

Here are a few recent and not so recent pieces.

I am continuing to explore abstract patterns via embroidery:

I also completed an embroidery commission — a necklace bib for someone who loves irises and the colour purple:

For upcycled jewelry, I made a few new pieces — some for myself, some for sale. I was able to sort out my clay supply and build up a small inventory of good quality stones, but now I am struggling a bit with my supply of jewelry findings, as the thrift stores seemed to have dried up lately.

These last three pieces were all made from bits of this same Stella & Dot necklace:

I’ve been toying with the idea of organizing some kind of “stitch and bitch” club — having a small group of folks gather together (in my backyard or a similar outdoor venue) to work on craft projects, exchange ideas and tips, host “how to” sessions (taking turns to demonstrate our specialties to each other), and socialize a bit. It may be getting late in the season for outdoor gatherings, but I think it might be a fun thing to try to do as long as the weather permits. If this is something you’ve done before, I would love to hear your thoughts, tips and general ideas.

Birthday Girl

I had big plans for my 40th birthday party last year, which of course fell victim to the Big Pandemonium. I was looking forward to a chance at a do-over in 2021, but it wasn’t meant to be. This year, my birthday came and went largely uncelebrated; depression and grief do not make for a festive mood. I had planned to wear the outfit above, even if for nothing more extravagant than a simple backyard family do; I am a big believer, after all, in the magic of clothes — their ability to create the right atmosphere, to cheer up, to fire the imagination, no matter the surroundings. But when the day came, I couldn’t muster the energy. I couldn’t do it. Instead, I eventually talked myself into something simpler, keeping only the one special item I had been saving for the occasion: the vintage embellished bustier top. It didn’t bring me the joy I had hoped it would, but I am glad that I wore it because it deserves to be seen. Some day soon, I hope I’ll get to wear it again, with my whole heart behind it.

Rainbow Parade

One of my favourite ways to get extra mileage out of dresses is by wearing them as skirts. This particular dress lends itself to many layering possibilities, and this was only my first attempt. I kept it summery (by necessity, it’s still quite hot here) with a light cotton top, but just wait until I can bring my full arsenal to the table. The game will be properly on!

Mom Jeans, Circa 2021

I’ve been looking for a pair of “mom jeans” for a while, and my search wasn’t made easier by the lack of changing rooms in thrift stores these days. It’s hard to gauge how pants/jeans will fit, beyond the sizing itself, without trying them on. Luckily, these Oak & Fort jeans are pretty darn good. They’ve got the pegged leg that I wanted, plus some subtle pleating in the front, plus a sufficiently high rise (that still accommodates my bum). Because I am petite-sized (on my bottom half) and a pear shape, mom jeans can be tricky to style in ways that are conventionally “flattering” aka don’t make me look stumpy; I find that emphasizing the waist and wearing some sort of small heel helps. That’s what I tried to do here (plus added some contrast patterns on top for visual interest). That being said, I am not too worried about figure flattery in general, and I like playing with proportions and silhouettes, so these pants should be a fun addition to my closet.

Letting the Inner Weirdo Out

I mean … sometimes you just gotta wear things that make you smile, even if no one else is amused. My brain is tickled by the fact that all these pieces are random except for being monochromatic yet somehow they all work together in a Lydia Deetz kind of way; it’s chaotic but with some method in the madness. Would that make it “lawful chaotic”? Anyway, my favourite part may be all the different textures happening here on top of the pattern play. I’ve been missing all my sweaters, so I took advantage of a cooler morning to sneak in a cardigan, and it was a solid choice.