DIY Birdcage Wedding Veil

So one of my closest friends is getting married next year and since I am probably the most craft-y person in her bridal party I volunteered my services to help her make 2 DIY projects – 1st the Birdcage Veil, 2nd a more traditional tulle veil.  Since I’ve never made any veil before I looked at OnceWed.com for basic directions and made a couple of modifications as I went.

Materials:

1/2 yard of 9” wide Russian Veiling – You can buy this on Etsy or at specialty fabric stores like Mood

1 sheet of felt (cut into 2 4”x4” squares) – we used a navy blue to be her “something blue”

Needle & Thread

2 Small Hat Combs – Purchased from Etsy

Scissors

Fabric Glue

Measuring Tape

Silk Flowers and anything else you might want to add

The first thing I did was cut 2 hearts out of the 4”x4” squares of felt that are the same shape. 1 will serve as extra stability and to cover up any unattractive stitches later on.

Cut a 14” piece of the veil (you can add an inch or 2 for fullness).  Cut the veiling right above the little knots where the “X” of the veiling comes together.

With a needle make a running stitch through one of the cut ends of the veiling and secure to the felt.

Repeat on the other side.

You can make a running stitch through the finished upper edge of the veil to gather in the fabric and tack the edge to the felt heart.  Place the heart on your head in the mirror to determine if you like the positioning of the veiling and re-distribute and add more tacks as necessary.

On the other felt heart secure the hat combs with needle and thread.  I angled them to help ensure they will stay in place on the big day.  Put this aside for the time being.

We found our flowers at Walmart and they were slightly too big so we removed some of the petals to make them the desired size.

Arrange the flowers on the veil and pin them in place.  Make sure you try it on to make sure they are in the ideal location.  Using needle and thread or fabric glue you can secure the flowers into place.  I personally felt safer using needle and thread to make sure it wouldn’t easily come apart. Using fabric glue or needle and thread attach the other heart that has the combs attached into place.

Voila! Check out the finished product.  We may add some additional accent flowers as the big day approaches and the wedding décor has been nailed down but for now we kept it simple.

NYC Sales: December 26, 2011 - January 1, 2012

Who: American Apparel Flea Market
What: Markdowns of up to 90% off warehouse stock. Merchandise will be replenished throughout the sale
When: Dec 16-27, 2011. Daily 9am-9pm. Closed Christmas Day
Where: 766 6th Ave (b/n 25th & 26th St)

Who: Accents By Sophia Sample Sale
What:  Snag one-of-a-kind pieces made of sterling silver, marcasite, semi-precious stones, and cultured pearls.
Assorted macarsite earrings and pins $20-$100 (was $100-$300 and up).  Assorted sterling silver earring $10-$45 (was $40-$100 and up). Assorted jade rings $2 (was $20). Assorted ivory bangle 8mm round $80 (was $200). Genuine pearl necklaces $25 (was $250). Assorted genuine stones necklaces $15-$30 (was $60 and up)
When: Dec 9-27, 2011. Mon-Fri 10am-6:30pm, Closed weekends
Where: 15 West 36th St, 6th Floor (b/n 5th & 6th Ave). 212-594-5077

Who: Kirna Zabete
What: Up to 50% off labels like Lanvin, Stella McCartney, and Prabal Gurung. Also applies online.
When: Now through December 31, 2011.
Where: 96 Greene St (b/n Prince and Spring St)

Who: Vanessa Noel
What: Up to 80% off all shoes
When: Now through December 31, 2011. Mon—Fri 10am—6pm, Sat 11am—6pm.
Where: 158 East 64th St (nr Lexington Ave) 212-906-0055

Who: Bird Winter Sale
What: Up to 50% off on brands like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone, Alexander Wang and more.
When: December 29, 2011 - January 25, 2012.
Where: See here for store locations and hours.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

From Toronto to Brooklyn to LA, no matter where you are wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  This Christmas really makes me realize how blessed my life is - spending time with my wonderful family, with so many amazing people in my life and eating to my hearts content, I can't help but feel that all is good in the world.

Top Picture from Ilona Park Drive in Pickering, ON. Bottom picture from Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, NY

Now Wearing...

Before the holiday break, I went to my company's holiday party at Willis Tower, formerly known at the Sears Tower. I was excited to step foot in one of the world's tallest buildings and celebrate with my coworkers.

I dressed for the occasion with an Aqua dress I picked up from Buffalo Exchange a few months ago. I generally don't like satin dresses because the shine can add a few pounds, but I was attracted to the shape and use of hot pink and cobalt blue. And in the spirit of being festive, I wore a big red bow from Forever 21 and my biggest (and favorite) cocktail ring from Sorrelli.

Because I suffer from extreme klutziness, I sprained my ankle the day before the holiday party, slipping on wet floors on the walk to work. It all worked out though. If it hadn't been for the sprained ankle, I probably would have worn pumps and not realized how much I love my new Dieppa Restrepo oxfords. I picked these up earlier this month at sample sale hosted by a handful of Brooklyn designers. This patent pair is not as comfortable as the other pairs by Dieppa Restrepo, but compared to heels, they're wonderful.

 

Dress - Aqua
Cocktail ring - Sorrelli (new & similar style from Sorrelli here)
Bow headband - Forever 21 (similar)
iPhone case - Rebecca Minkoff x Casemate
Green satin clutch - 1950s vintage
Patent oxfords - Dieppa Restrepo
 

Looking down on Chicago from the Skydeck at Willis Tower

 

DIY: Painting Furniture

Home decor is not really something I ever paid much attention to.  When it comes to clothes I have no problems dressing myself or knowing what works and what doesn't but when it comes to the home I have really little experience.  My parents decorated my room when I was a child and I never changed it.  When I moved to New York, my previous roommate had an amazing knack making a room look warm, inviting and comfortable.  My current bedroom is actually the first room I ever bought furniture for and for a long time all I had was a mattress, a desk and a chair.  After she moved out of the apartment, things kind of started becoming much less cute as I had new roommates and we all had different odds and ends that didn't quite go together.  The homey feeling that I had taken for granted was gone - I was determined to make my home home again.

The piece of furniture that started it all was the dining room table. I had bought it off Craigslist and it was painted grey, but the finish wasn't in the greatest shape and the lady I purchased the table from ended up giving me the leftover paint so I could fix it.  I ended up looking up a little bit about furniture painting and decided it would be my next project.  Fixing up the table led me to paint the chairs and I keep on painting and still have more painting left to do - guess you can't redo an apartment overnight and even though it's hard work it's been rewarding and kind of addictive.

One of the first things I learned about painting furniture is that if you are painting un-finished wood (without a shiny finish) like the Ikea chairs I had inherited a primer is not necessary.  However, if you do end up re-painting furniture you can buy an oil based primer to use as a base or a self priming paint.

Next, I removed any parts of the furniture that would be easier if it wasn't in the way of paint.  I removed handles and seats using a screwdriver.

Make sure that your furniture is clean and dry.  I scrubbed the table with soap and water and wiped everything down with rubbing alcohol to remove any trace of oil.

Using a fine grit sanding block I gave everything a light sanding to build up a grit on the surface so the paint sticks better.  Make sure you wear a dust mask for this part to avoid breathing in any harmful carcinogens that may be in the paint.  Wipe off any excess dust using a tack cloth or damp paper towel/rag.

Using a water based paint and good quality brush (to prevent streaks and bristles falling out into your hard work) I followed the paint directions and added one layer of paint at a time, letting dry and sanding lightly in between to create a smooth surface.

Finally, I used 2 coats of Minwax Poly Acrylic in clear to make sure that my paint job especially in heavy use objects like the dining room table would stay in place for a long time and not stick to any dishes or objects placed on top.

Although everything was dry to the touch within a few hours, to make sure your paint job lasts make sure you don't put anything on top of your surfaces for at least 48 hours or preferably 5 days to make sure everything is completely dry and set.

Since my table was grey, I decided to use Classic Burgundy for the chairs as a bit of a pop and to tie back to the burgundy sofa in the living room area.  However after painting the table grey and the chairs burgundy, I noticed the place looked a little dark so to make things look more fun I decided to add another fun accent color into the mix to brighten things up and add some cheer.  Also since I am not allowed to paint the walls, it only makes sense to have some colorful furniture.

Make sure that your paint is well blended, I stirred it inside the can but also made sure to pour it into a small container mixing again to ensure even color.  It also is nice to use a small container so that the can doesn't dry out and get lumpy and in case you knock over paint by accident, it won't be a huge mess.

For this piece of furniture, even though I was a bit nervous painting over something dark, I didn't use a primer but a self priming paint.  After 2 coats it looked pretty great but I added a 3rd coat in certain areas to ensure maximum coverage.

I wanted to paint my side tables to bring some of the Blue Spa color into the living room but unfortunately these were more of an endeavor.  The side tables are made of metal and MDF board.  The self-priming paint doesn't seem to like to stick to the metal portion very well although the MDF board section painted over nicely.  I ended up having to scrape the paint off again, use a heavier grit sandpaper to rough up the surface and use an actual primer before painting over it again.

While my work with making my apartment look like home isn't complete, it's been a lot of fun watching it all come together and my apartment is definitely a lot more cheerier and comfortable than it used to be.

Sample Sales NYC: December 19-25, 2011

Who: American Apparel Flea Market
What: Markdowns of up to 90% off warehouse stock. Merchandise will be replenished throughout the sale
When: Dec 16-27, 2011. Daily 9am-9pm. Closed Christmas Day
Where: 766 6th Ave (b/n 25th & 26th St)

Who: Adrienne Landau Fur Blowout
What: Snag discounts on fur jackets, shearlings, scarves, earmuffs, home goods, throws and pillows
When: Dec 18-21, 2011. Sun 11am-5pm, Mon-Tues 10am-6pm, Wed 10am-4pm
Where: 519 8th Ave, 21st Floor (b/n 35th & 36th St) 212-920-1211

Who: Portolano Sample Sale
What: Men's Women's Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Wraps, & Up Tights Hosiery and Socks at wholesale or below.
When: Dec 12-23, 2011. Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Closed Sat & Sun
Where: 15 W 37th St, 2nd Floor (b/n 5th & 6th Ave)

Who: Showroom Seven and Erickson Beamon
What: Up to 60% off wholesale Issa London, Charlotte Ronson, Diane de Maria, Odd Molly, TwentyCluny, and Imitation of Christ, plus free drinks every night starting at 5pm
When: December 2-22, 2011. Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm. Sun Closed
Where: 263 11th Ave, 3rd floor (b/n 27th & 28th St)

Who: WeSC Sample Sale
What: Men's and women's attire, with a selection of ready-to-wear, footwear,
and accessories. Sample Sizes ONLY - Men: 32 Waist, Medium Tops, Size 9 Foot. Women: 27 Waist, Small Tops, Size 7 Foot.
When: December 19-21, 2011. Mon-Wed 11am-6pm
Where: 75 Greene St, 3rd Floor (b/n Spring and Broome St)

Who: Bing Bang
What: 20-80% off all Bing Bang jewelry.
When: December 19-21, 2011. Mon-Wed noon-8pm
Where: 153 Lafayette St (b/n Grand and Howard St)
Who: Victor Hugo Handbag Sale
What: Exotic Skin Bags, Totes, clutches, cross-body and more at up to 70% off.
When: December 18-21, 2011. Sun 11am-5pm, Mon-Wed 10am-6pm
Where: 519 8th Ave, 21st Floor (b/n 35th & 36th St)

Who: Miha Sample Sale
What: Up to 90% off bold but feminine RTW
When: December 19-21, 2011. Mon-Tues 10am-7pm, Wed 10am-5pm
Where: 330 West 38th St, Suite 1202 (b/n 8th & 9th Ave) 212-643-1338

Who: IcebergDeal: Dresses and tops only $69. Cash only.
When/Where: Sunday, December 18 through Wednesday, December 21. Sun
noon—5pm, Mon—Wed 10am—6pm. 519 Eighth Ave between 35th and 36th
Sts, 21st floor (212-920-1211

Who: Pamela Roland Cocktail Dresses Sale
What: Cocktail Dresses for $79. Cash only.
When: December 18-21. Sun noon-5pm, Mon-Wed 10am-6pm
Where: 519 8th Ave, 21st Floor

Mr. Porter: Up to 70% off!

So one of my favorite online retailers is having a sale with up to 70% off.  Net-a-Porter's male counterpart, Mr. Porter started their sale a few weeks ago but today marked the start of their (up to) 70% off sale.  There's plenty of merch but sizing and availability right now, but don't expect that to last too long.  With free shipping and returns, you've got nothing to lose!  Here's a sample of what's up for grabs:

There's definitely a range in terms of the products and price points and there's literally something available for everyone.  Whether you're in the market for Lanvin, Polo, J. Crew (button up plaid shirts start at just $21!) - Mr. Porter has it all.  Also, if you're looking for last minute gift options - this is definitely a good place to start!

Rebecca Minkoff x Baby G Collaboration

One of SRC's fave handbag and accessory designers, Rebecca Minkoff, has partnered with Baby G to introduce a special edition watch just in time for the Holidays.

“I’m so thrilled to team up with Baby-G, because like me, they believe in providing women with classics that have a twist,” said Rebecca Minkoff. “My collaboration watch was designed as the watch for the everyday woman that wants both function and fashion. Watches are a great accessory- I like to wear a rose gold one and it’s just a beautiful piece of jewelry that adds some fun and color to my outfits. Every woman has a go-to-accessory; I designed this Baby-G with this in mind.”

The watch bracelet is a matte black ion treated stainless steel while the face features the Rebecca Minkoff logo and features black rhinestones marking the hours on a rose gold dial resulting in a delicate feminine touch to an otherwise slightly industrial looking everyday watch.

The watch retails for MSRP of $200 and is available at fine jewelers, select department stores, and fashion boutiques.  What do you think of the watch?  While I love rose gold and the matte black elements I am not sure what I think of them together - guess I'll have to hit up a store to see this one in person.

Lands’ End Canvas Spring 2012

Lands' End Canvas only recently came on my radar after they sent me a really cute sweater to try out a couple months ago.  I got a closer look at more of the collection a few weeks ago when they invited me to preview their Spring 2012 collection at the Highline Stages.  The event was super laid back and fun with different areas set up displaying the clothes.  Artwork on the wall and art students from SVA at work creating artwork throughout the party.   Plenty of tasty snacks kept party goers amused - especially because they kept serving hanging food like pizza's on S hooks and hook shaped hot pretzels.  Later on in the evening the Boston based band The Wandas entertained the crowd with very chill retro rock tunes.

The clothes really had a charming, slightly rugged clean-cut All-American feel with all the nautical stripes, layering, plaid, gingham, chambray, eyelet and khaki going on.  For womenswear the pieces looked really easy-to-wear and cute but fairly modest.  None of the hemlines were too short or the necklines too low - just a sweet, wholesome and pretty.  While I probably wouldn't wear any of the looks aside from the trench with the rolled trousers head-to-toe there were a lot of great pieces that I wouldn't mind adding to my wardrobe.  I was a fan in particular of some of the great accessories - colorful skinny woven belts, little cross-body satchels and leather loafers - yes, please!

While I'm no menswear expert I thought that some of these looks were pretty adorable with the little bright pops of color or fun patterns and the skinny ties.

By the time I was ready to leave it was fun to see how much the artists had progressed and the variety of styles created in such a short amount of time.