In the meantime – I just have to brag about my talented mom, Noreen – who’s just published a new book!
The book’s topic?  Accessories!
Well, actually – it’s belts, and I’m trying to figure out if I can ask Santa Claus for one of the belts for Christmas

I shared some of my favorite picks with you all when I was trying to track down a particular bird necklace.  I still haven’t found the perfect one, but I did find a charm with two birds sitting on a branch on it.  It’s got a little empty nest between them – they look forlorn somehow.
I decided to take matters into my own hands and glued three little robin’s egg blue beads into the nest.  I attached a plain silver curb chain to the ends.  I’m quite pleased with how it turned out!

I just spent way to much time designing jewelery online with Bijou Designer.   It’s a company based in Switzerland, which allows you to design necklaces & bracelets online, using their software.  It’s almost like Polyvore, but for jewelery.
Here’s what I came up with:

The software takes a few minutes to learn, but it’s tons of fun!

Now this is my kind of contest
Painfully Hip & DoesThisLookStupid have teamed up to create “the Most Painfully Hip DIY” contest.

They’re looking to find the most talented closet designers out there – so get busy & put together an entry!

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at designing your own accessories but don’t have the tools or know-how?
Anna William makes designing your own handbag easy enough for everyone
They give you a choice of several different styles of purse:

This is the Andover handbag.

The Nantucket

And the very cute small Hampton bag.
It’s fun to go & play around with the selections – see what you can come up with

What happens if you find a very cute pair of sandals, like these yummy silver ones by Siegerson Morrison:

But don’t like the “slap, slap, slap” noise that sometimes happen when you walk on hard surfaces?
Try taking a length of pretty ribbon (check out your local craft store – most stores have amazing selections of ribbon) about a yard long.  Put on your pretty, but noisy sandals, and run the ribbon underneath your shoe, in the instep.  It should fit snuggly against the heel.  Make sure both ends of the ribbon are even and then wrap them around your ankle, like …read more

Joshua, one of b5’s newest bloggers just posted a fantastic idea for re-working vintage jewelry.  I think everyone has some old piece of jewelry lurking around somewhere that needs a facelift
Go check it out here!

“Threads” magazine is offering a free online pattern for three different purses.  You can find the link here.

Pleated Pouch Bag

Clutch Bag

and a Drawstring Bag.
I think the drawstring bag would be a great bridal accessories in fabric to match the dress

I was asked to be a friend’s maid of honor last summer – she had given me the color she wanted me to wear, but had otherwise given me free rein to choose my own accessories.
Which was fine….
Except that she was getting married in the middle of a famer’s field, at least a half-mile walk out.
In knee-high grass.
In August.
I needed a comfortable pair of shoes, that looked feminine, matched my deep rust colored dress, covered my toes, wouldn’t sink into the soft field and would stay on securely.
After walking around several shoes stores with a blank look on my face …read more