Sep 11, 2011 | Fashion
The 9/11 Monument that stands in New Jersey – a gift from the people of Russia.
Diverging from my usual topics of fashion and DIY, today I just wanted to post something simple. It’s been 10 years since the tragic date of 9/11/01 – and if you are an American like myself, you probably know exactly where you were when you heard the towers had been hit.
I was in Japan, visiting my then-boyfriend [now Hub]’s house. When he came upstairs to tell me that the World Trade Center had just been hit by an airplane, it took me awhile to put it all together in my head and realize he was talking about the World Trade Center, in New York City, NY, USA. I turned on the television and was stunned, thinking I had tuned into some Hollywood movie halfway through. For the next day or so I was unable to reach many of my friends who lived in New York due to the phone lines being completely tied up.
Though I was lucky enough to not know anyone personally who was involved in the terrible loss of life on that day, it was a moment felt around the world that impacted everything since, and changed the way the world sees terrorism.
The names of all the victims killed in the attacks.
I just wanted to step back a moment and remember that day, and all who gave their lives then, and even now, in the aftermath of 9/11.
xoxox
Carly
photos source
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Sep 9, 2011 | Blogging, Fashion
Though I sometimes post a big-name brands piece that I feel was “inspired” somewhere else in my Inspired Alert! posts…this is an entire blog filled with that – straight from the runways.
I’m utterly inspired in turn…and in awe of how much time is put into all of this, as well as the blogger’s fantastic eye for similarities. Author Diana Marian Murek is a German fashion designer who now lives in Milan and writes for Italian Grazia, and her comparisons of newer runway looks and advertisements with looks and ads from the past is mind-boggling.
from INTO THE FASHION
For tons more whoa!-like moments and interesting similarities that make you go “hmmmmm…..,” check out
Just amazing!
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 7, 2011 | DIY
Another week gone by! Whew. I’m making progress on my office re-organization and cleanup, but it’s still taking awhile. Lil Tot is finally back at school, so now I have a long chunk of the day uninterrupted where I can (hopefully) get some more things done. Ummm….personal website???!!! Yeah. That. And some DIY’s here and there if I can manage it. Here are a couple things I noticed around the blogosphere this week…
Essential reading for all of us who get easily buried under the to-do pile. (*ahem) Tips for finishing all our DIY projects from Simple Mom is a must-read!
For those of you who want more Anthropologie DIY’s, Made by Lex‘s Pratia Tanktop is for you! Just lovely.
And in the same flowery vein, Desde Tenerife Con Amor was inspired by the lovely flowered Gucci dresses from Spring 2011, and made this pretty flowered top. (Just run the page through Google Translate if you can’t read it.) Canvas and flowers are all you need!
Feeling crafty? Tip Junkie has a great roundup of 12 Necklaces, Accessories, and Tops Tutorials. Just some more to add to your must-do list.;-)
Make a fringed purse courtesy of Melissa Esplin and N.E.E.T. Magazine – pattern included! It’s super-cute and you can even make it mini-sized to use as an accessories holder/keychain to attach to your handbag like the author did here.
It seems like glittery shoes are the way to go this Fall. Honestly, WTF made a Miu Miu-inspired pair out of some Vans. Bling on, everyone! (And seriously, Google “DIY Miu Miu glitter” and you’ll come across a billion tutorials for this already. Promise this will be the last one I feature!;-)
Kojo Designs is doing a sew-along for a pretty Strapless Dress. Sew-alongs are soooo (sew?) fun! Jump in at the beginning here.
I love reading the BurdaStyle blog because I often come across a post about advanced construction techniques, and learn a whole lot in the process. Heard of a waist stay? No? Find out more in Invisible Secrets of a Couture Garment: The Waist Stay.
If your project was featured above, feel free to grab a button and share the DIY!
<a href=”https://chiccreativelife.com/category/links-of-the-week”><img src=”https://chiccreativelife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/diylotwfeaturedbutton-1.png” /></a>
If you have a DIY how-to or tutorial that you’d like to see featured on Chic Steals, please email me at carlyjcais at chic-steals dot com – and I’ll try to squeeze it in to one of my Links of the Week posts! (Tutorials/how-to’s with steps and photos included please! So everyone can share in the DIY goodness:-)
xoxox
Carly
-all photos copyright their respective authors; photo array by me-
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Sep 6, 2011 | Fashion
Rhinestone hoop earrings: Icing by Claire’s
Watch: Citizen Eco-drive
Ribbon-edged rope-tie sundress: handmade by me
Wedge espadrilles: Old Navy
I found an old sheet at Goodwill awhile back that was in great condition – and the perfect lightweight, tightly-woven washed denim cotton that would lend itself to a pretty summery dress. I drafted a pattern wayyyyy back in May, intending to make the dress for Memorial Day – and then never got around to it. Then I wanted to get it done for the Fourth of July. And of course I still didn’t do it. Story of my life!
In any case, I finally pulled my act together and made it this Labor Day Weekend, and broke it out on Monday to wear. Sadly, we’re experiencing an infestation of yellow jackets in our backyard under our house’s eaves – so every time we bring food out for a barbecue or picnic we get attacked. Thus Labor Day was heralded by a picnic indoors (though we played a little soccer in the backyard away from the yellow jackets’ nests earlier).
The advantage of using a sheet for an upcycle is that by crating the pattern carefully, one can utilize the finished edges from the sheet, and save a lot of time in the finishing of your piece. I used a striped grosgrain ribbon overlaid over the finished edges, and cotton rope (I think it’s actually for thick corded piping) as an accent.
It’s breezy and swingy and just perfect for the hot weather that has finally returned!
Hope everyone had a wonderfully relaxing weekend and great Labor Day holiday (if you celebrate it!)
xoxox
Carly
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Sep 6, 2011 | Fashion
I don’t really get the whole “No white after Labor Day” saying…the practice (if there ever was one) was probably way before my time and amongst a social set I was not exactly a part of. In any case, white and Labor Day are somehow inextricably combined in my mind, so what better day to look into dyeing…er, bleaching your fashion blindingly, brilliantly white?
From my friends at Clorox: (more…)
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