More NYFW Inspiration: Tavi Gevinson

In keeping with the NYFW inspiration, I saw the prettiest picture of Rookie Magazine's Tavi Gevinson posted on Rodarte's Instagram

I instantly fell in love with her rose crown/headband! I loved it so much I made one!

I bought some cheap roses with fake dew drops on them (on sale, son!) for my trial run and I really like the way it turned out!


They remind me of some roses that Oni painted and put on ribbons for me years ago and I thought about doing that but I like the stability of the headband base - which I noticed when I made my Rodarte inspired foam stars.


And even though I enjoy the stability of the headband for the roses, I think I'll move the stars to some ribbon.  They're not as angled as I had wanted them to be for the Rodarte piece.  I mean, the way they are now reminds me more of the Giant Dwarf piece - which is fine but I'll fix that this weekend.  Since the glitter foam turned out okay, I think I'll move on to using what I wanted to use instead: glitter vinyl.  I bought some wires to make the starbursts from the original look and I can't wait!  The purple stars were a huge hit at work!  Especially since I paired it with my black and silver Mondo Guerra sugar skull shirt!

The stars definitely helped pick up my mood as well.  I feel like I'm recovering pretty quickly but I'm still tired and my throat feels like there's a desert in there.  Not pleasant at all.

I think with this new inspiration and Lauren's new hairdo (which she revealed during the Project Runway All-Stars live-blog), I'll make her a custom hair accessory!  I also bought some cherry blossom sprigs to pin in my hair tomorrow to keep my mood up.  Maybe I'll keep the flower theme going and make hair pins for Heather (a co-worker)!  She has pretty, long blonde hair that I want to make pins for.  We'll see what kind of mood I'm in. I'm hoping to catch up on some rest so that I can be fully recovered by the time I'm off my medications.  Only a few more days!

EDITOR'S NOTE:
Here is a tutorial from Rookie Magazine on how to make various crown/headbands

GPOYW --> Getting girly!

I found a way to incorporate my Oxfords and my glitter collar today!  I'm so happy the way my outfit turned out!  I've been getting non-stop compliments from everyone on my ensemble - especially the collar!



I was also able to upgrade my phone last night so I could rock my sweet sweet Jolie Petite case!

It's also getting lots of compliments!

I'm feeling extra girly today!  Too bad I can't dress like this all the time.  Maybe before each filming, I should pick a day to be extra girly at work.  No one ever expects that out of me since I'm always in casual clothes.  Sounds like a plan!

Jolie Petite - The Most Kawaii Cases EVER

I forgot how I stumbled upon these cases (probably Tumblr.........) but I absolutely fell in LOVE with these custom phone cases from Etsy seller Jolie Petite! At first, it started with a small FB request to my old man since he was hounding me about what I wanted for Christmas. I sent him the FB page pointing him to the query about custom cases. I told him if he wanted to get me anything, he should get me a custom Hello Kitty iPhone 4 case.  Mind you, I don't have the iPhone 4 just yet but I was hoping to get one for Christmas.  I still don't have one since I can't stop long enough to actually go to the store and upgrade my damn phone but I will now because guess what two beauties showed up in the mail?

That's right! My super kawaii Hello Kitty phone cases!  He did it!  He actually ordered them!  I honestly didn't think he would because they are very over the top but just look how adorable they are!!

Now I HAVE to upgrade phones so I can get these on as soon as possible!! Too cute! And you know what else she makes?

iPad cases!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!  I'd LOVE to slap this baby on my iPad 2!!  It would definitely stick out at meetings, that's for sure...
I'm so excited!  I can't wait to run to my local Apple store and finally upgrade my phone!  Sure, the upgrade will benefit my 366 project with better photo quality but it's the cases I'm more excited about!! (Is that bad?)

To get your very own custom cases, click here
To "Like" Jolie Petite on FB, click here

DIY Detachable Collars

I've been seeing quite a few tutorials online for detatchable collars for a while now and after I liked one on Pinterest the other day, I decided I would finally try my hand at making one!

The first source of inspiration - Marlena's tutorial at Rookie.  It was the first one I'd seen and I loved the Peter Pan candy collar! 

Source

The other source of inspiration - the sparkly Peter Pan collar and the pointy gold collar at Refinery 29.

Source / Source

The final source of inspiration - this cute pearl collar that I first saw on Pinterest. 

Source


After mulling over all the collars and assessing what materials I had available to me, I decided I would use up my white rhinestones on a black felt Peter Pan collar.  
I simply followed the directions to the pearl collar for the stencil and the rest just fell into place!  I just lined up my rhinestones along the edges and glued them down with some good ol' hot glue.  
    
It still needs one little piece and that's just a matter of me finding my grommet tool so I can put some grommets in to tie the ribbons to tie it on and I'll be finished!

The second collar was made the same way except instead of the Peter Pan curves, I added points.  I traced it onto some silver glitter vinyl, added jump rings, chain and a clasp and BAM!  Cute glitter collar!

I'll admit - my real source of inspiration for finally making the jump was a pair of shoes I've been wanting for a while but I finally bought them - these cute Oxfords from Target.  

Now to style them...what better accessory than a cute little collar to dress these shoes up or down!  This look might even fit into a Mondo-inspired look.  We'll see... 
I'm trying not to go too retro with this theme or too Lolita but the Peter Pan collar makes that a little hard to avoid.  Maybe it can turn into a not-too-preppy look for Spring?  I feel like the shoes need knee socks and pleated skirts but I'll turn this into a Make It Work moment and see if I can break that preppy barrier...

Do you have any favorite items that inspire you to design accessories around them?


Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

New Year's Resolution #1: Be Girly

I wasn't planning on having any New Year's Resolutions but I've been toying with the idea of getting more "girly" ever since I spent a weekend with co-workers during a massive work event.  I've never felt so un-girly in my entire life!  When I laid out my toiletries, I felt like such a tomboy.  First of all, I had them in a freaking plastic Target bag and I had the basics: toothpaste, tooth brush, deodorant, basic soap, basic shampoo and conditioner, a hair brush and that's pretty much it.  My fabulous roommate had the cutest toiletries bag, perfumes, body sprays, and more girly things than you could shake a stick at.  I felt like such a punk.  But you know, my job is very physical and there's really no point in me getting all dolled up - especially on that particular weekend since there was a lot of eye-rubbing, camera time (behind the camera), virtually no sleep and lots and LOTS of running around.  I had to switch rooms on the last day to an even girlier set of girls and I just felt so...so...well let's just say I felt like even less of a girl - even though I had to get dolled up that day for the work-related after party.

I made a choice then.  I decided I would make the effort to be more girly.  Like, body spray girly.  Like, more glittery girly.  And you know what?  

I'm failing.  Well, I'm not failing too bad but I'm not doing as well as I had hoped.  

And that was in August.

I've been thinking all this time about what I could possibly do to be more girly.  I got a cute toiletries bag (which is girly but edgy, I guess) and today, I made a HUGE milestone.  

I decided that, for New Year's, I will wear as many cutesy, girly and sparkly items as I can to help catapult me into girly-ness.  Not for anyone else but myself.

The only reason I'm pushing this is because my style isn't defined.  Sometimes I like gothy things and sometimes I like girly things and most times (because of work) I like to be casual so I feel like my style tends to be disjointed and a little all over the place.  I'd like my styles to combine successfully but still be able to work.  Like, say, my co-worker friend.

With her in mind, I went on a mini shopping spree and acquired the following items:

Yes!  I've purchased some glittery heels!  The lift is 5 inches and I've been running around the house alternating between silver stilettos and pink wedges.

Mind you, I'm no stranger to heels but I usually take them off after about 20 minutes.  I've only been to one party where I've had to keep them on all night and it was terrible.  This time, I'm making myself keep them on for longer than just 20 minutes and I WILL be taking my sister's advice: if your feet hurt, keep drinking!  Don't mind if I do.

I even put together some potential outfits.

This first one is a potential outfit for my Dad's birthday dinner tomorrow night.

I might get rid of the H&M necklace for the final look...  Is it a little showy?  Yes.  But I want to wear the wedges as a "starter" before my New Year's Eve outfit:

This outfit actually has some meaning to it.  I want 2012 to be filled with love, light and prosperity so I wanted to showcase those things with the things I'm wearing - the "Love" t-shirt, the anchor necklace which symbolizes my gratitude for all the people who have been my "anchors" in my life and the silver sparkly shoes (and sparky toenail polish) for prosperity.  Why?  Why not?!  It will be an entry to my newfound girly-ness and the glitter reminds me of money and diamonds.  A stretch?  Mayyyyyybeeeee but why not have fun with it?!  (Not pictured: my pink glitter and animal print bracelet.)  

So there you have it.  My first, concrete New Year's Resolution for 2012.  Like I said before, I have zero regrets for this year and I'm hoping 2012 will be bigger and better than this year.

Love and light to you all!

What are your New Year's Resolutions for 2K12?

Katzi

S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

DIY: Bokeh Kit

Since I've been spending most of my time uploading videos today, I decided to take a gander over at Photojojo for some new goodies (like this time lapse camera I'm checking out).  The one item I kept going back to was the Bokeh Kit. I've been keeping a close watch on it and I finally declared: "I can do that!"

So, with videos running in the background, I got a paper cup that fit perfectly over my lens and cut it to a decent size.



Next, I grabbed some scrap paper from our plotting printer, cut the circle the same size as the bottom of the cup and cut a shape on the paper.



Luckily the scrap paper was already a dark colour on one side!

Next, I cut the bottom out of the paper cup and inserted one of my sweet cutouts




(This doesn't look quite as cute as the Photojojo kit but it works!)

I had to experiment A LOT to get a good idea of what it was supposed to look like and an office setting isn't quite the best for this...



I kept wondering if there was some sort of light source I could shoot that would give me the desired bokeh effect and it turns out - it was right in front of me (as always). I have a glitter lamp at my desk that I love to shoot all the time. I turned my lens towards it, messed with the settings and behold - little stars were appearing!



Then I messed with the flash!



Then I tired my Space Invaders cut out!


FAIL. So I went back to the stars!



I have no problem entertaining myself when I have to stare at progress bars all day!  Don't get me wrong - I'm totally working but I'm multitasking :)

AND - I'm not saying to not get the bokeh kit, I just wanted to see if I could do it.  I still might end up buying the kit (or asking for it for Christmas) but at least I know I can make them too!

EDIT:
I made a heart template!




I could do this forever...

Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.

St. Patrick's Day Part 1 - The 'Corning

So, I was taking a stroll on my twitter while I was uploading the footage that will forever haunt my dreams when I stumbled upon a link to Cornify's Vision for 2015.
Now, everyone must know (if they don't by now) that I ♥ unicorns. And sparkly things. And rainbows. And the most awesome person EVER made that available for us to share with Cornify. (We also have a Cornify button on this very blog! *GASP!*)
ANYWAYS - I hardly ever do "@Replies" on Twitter because it doesn't notify you when someone replies to you, so I've missed a bunch of "@_Katzi_" replies. (Sorry!) But I guess today was different because I had a little "@Reply" convo with Bobby and then I saw the link to Cornify's 2015 vision. I decided I would take a chance and "@Reply" to Cornify - not really expecting an "@Reply" back. BUT to my surprise, I got one!
I know, I know - it's not really that serious but I just wanted to express that Cornify's "@Reply" was the happiest part of my day (so far)! I haven't really been myself lately and apparently, it's noticable. BUT Cornify's "@Reply" has given me the boost that I need to keep moving and to keep Operation Cornification Phase 2: The Re-Corning on track!

So, thank you, Cornify! You have made my day that much better!

Here's a bonus unicorn in case you need a little extra! And feel free to cornify this entry. You'll be glad you did! I promise!!!

Rainbows and sparkles for everyone!!!
♥
Katzi
S.L.Y.A.S.D.I.