Emma's First Design!

About a year ago my nine year old cousin, Emma, drew me a picture using her Project Runway game. She designed an outfit from head to toe and asked me if one day I could make it for her. I decided it would be a perfect gift to make at least one part of the outfit she designed. For Christmas I made the skirt exactly how Emma drew it and boy was she surprised!!

This is the drawing Emma mailed to me last January. She was very specific about what she wanted! I think we have a successful young designer on our hands!

Inside the skirt I embroidered a tag that says "Designed by Emma" so she can show everyone that she in fact designed her own skirt! She loved her present and I loved making it for her! I have a feeling a lot more drawings will be sent my way! :)

Leah Staley Designs!

My dad's friend, Leah, studied metalwork. After working with my dad she decided to get back into her passion of metalwork by making jewelry! I must say I am absolutely in love! Her designs are so simple yet unique and personal! All of her pieces would go great with just about any outfit, giving just the right amount of personality! 

These are my favorite pieces on her website, which by the way I also love! The way she presents her work is perfect!

http://leahstaley.com/

These would also go great with any other favorite jewelry! 

Check out Leah's work and fall in love like I did!

Emma Watson, Fashion Diva

Although, I am not exactly a Harry Potter fan I have become of huge fan of actress, Emma Watson! Her sense of fashion is outstanding! I love how she dresses for her age of only 19 but still for her career. She likes to play with different styles of hair and clothes and always seems to make it work! I admire her for not trying to dress too old or scandalous. She is enjoying her youth and her career, not many young actresses do that!

Trend Alert!

Women's Wear Daily recently posted an article about one of fashion's newest trends, the t-shirt style cocktail dress! I am in love with this simple but at the same time elegant look! I have been trying to design something quick and easy to make for myself for New Years Eve and I think I have been officially inspired!

I love how simple all of these dresses are but with a touch of lace or costume jewelry they can be so extravagant! These dresses all look so comfortable to wear but not even slightly sloppy! I have the perfect amount of sequin fabric to make something similar!

Read WWD's article! http://www.wwd.com/fashion-news?module=tn#

Great Gift Ideas!

It is once again that time of year where every magazine and webpage is telling you the top items everyone wants for christmas. While reviewing them I found myself laughing because I don't even want half of the things on that list! I haven't heard myself asking for a cartoon necklace or a desktop calendar! I decided to make my own list but didn't put them in any special order since obviously I love them all!

Number One:

Victoria Secret Pajamas. If you have never worn pajamas from VS you are missing out! They are so soft and so comfortable you will want PJ day everyday! And while you're at it check out the slipper socks my friend and I discovered last week! Softest socks ever!

Raincoats!

Remember when you were a little girl and one of your favorite hobbies was jumping in puddles?! Well I certainly do! I can remember being in Elementary School and when it would rain we would compare raincoats! You know the ones that were not actually that comfortable or warm, but came in great colors and patterns! And then as we grow up and hit middle school and high school raincoats aren't so fantastic. Raincoats were for babies and grandmas and I wouldn't be caught dead in one!

Now that I am passed that stage and rain boots have become popular so are raincoats! There are so many adorable designer raincoats and they aren't as uncomfortable as they were when I was little! There is definitely a common trenchcoat style with the wide belt but there are also other adorable designs out there!

This one is from Neiman Marcus. The trenchcoat style is flattering on almost every body type and the color is gorgeous!

Baby It's Cold Outside

It is definitely chilly in Philly which means bundling up to go outside is a process. As much as I love layers I hate bulk so I find extra warm accessories that will keep me toasty without adding too much bulk. 

Ever since the temperatures have dropped my ears have been freezing so I made myself a wool headband! It only took me three hours to knit and it is not only warm but comfortable! I put snaps in the back so I wont have to stretch it over my hair and mess it up! I also can clip on flower pins that I posted about a few weeks ago!

For those of you who knit it was very easy!

Cast on 16 stitches and use a garter stitch until it is the right length. Allow 1" for it to overlap and sew on snaps! Happy Knitting!

Loving Katy Perry!

Lately I have been completely obsessed with Katy Perry. Her unique style is nothing like mine but I adore it and wish we all could pull it off! She can mix and match the funkiest clothes and totally rock them or she can wear the simplest dress and be absolutely stunning.

I have always admired her style but after seeing her "Firework" video I admire her as a person so much more! I listen to this song about 10 times a day :)

Check out some of the awesome things this girl wears!

Her two performances at the Victoria Secret 2010 fashion show.

Kors Inspired Scarf!

A couple of weeks ago my friend came over wearing a gorgeous Michael Kors scarf! It was very simple so I decided to make my own version of it and make mine even easier! This is the Michael Kors scarf. It runs for about $48 at Macy's and is beautiful! It is called the Fisherman Stitch neck wrap. Cleverly enough, it is stitched using the fisherman knit!

I made my scarf just by using a regular knit the whole way through. I used a very heavy yarn that I had at home, which is extremely soft and thick, perfect for a scarf! I also used buttons that I already had but I plan to buy new, bigger ones when I get the chance!

For those who knit I cast on 15 stitches and knit the entire way until it measured about 40 inches long.

The Michael Kors style had actual buttonholes but because I used large needles I just used the holes in the stitches to put the buttons through!

I can wear it multiple ways and it is always warm! I think I have a new favorite accessory in my closet :)