Urban Garden

Oy! Like I've already mentioned, Halloween has made me terribly sick for Iowa. I've been a little self-indulgent, staring at the internet and eating too many cookies. Not exactly blog-worthy content.

So, while I snap out of it and get back to makin' stuff, gander at this silly series I will call, "Urban Garden."

Happy Halloween! pt 2

 The artichoke and the carrot.

I made the artichoke costume--in two manic afternoons--out of foam scraps from my carrot, and a few other items I already had on hand: construction paper, craft pain, yarn, and hot glue. 

The artichoke was totally free to make, and created from found materials. 

Honestly, I was a little jealous at how well it turned out and almost had Jake wear the carrot.

Happy Halloween proper! This holiday makes me especially friend-sick for my very best pals in Iowa (and one in Europe right now!), but we are making do here in Chicago.

Be safe and remember handmade costumes are always more fun and creative. Not to mention, much warmer than what's become popular for women's costumes...

PS- Check out Carissa's spot-on Peggy Bundy costume, and keep your eyes peeled for a possible Halloween update from my urinal-wearing, costume contest-winning buddy Ramona (seriously!).

Happy Halloween!

It started with a mile walk and thirty minute rush-hour train ride with this awkward box:

There were three of these:

Materials:

White Polyfoam (think: typically colorful foam found in children's craft aisles)

Two orange plastic table cloths

Leftover faux flower stems from this project

Orange permanent marker

E6000, lots of duct tape, and spray adhesive

Small amount of wire (to help hold the stems upright)

Measuring devices

Scissors

Total cost: About $15.00

 This thing is REALLY warm. I plan on being as nude as possible underneath, while still having the option to remove the costume in public and be decent.

Now, let me see YOUR costume!

Happy Halloween! Be safe and ridiculous!

Halloweens Past 2

A few more costumes to whet your Halloween appetite...

The Big Day is only a week away!

Clockwise from top left: tiger ladies (2010); a jester costume on top of an Aladdin Sane costume (2007); zombie with a dislocated shoulder (2006--yikes!); square dancer with her angel (2008--handmade tiny cowboy hat and petticoat not shown).

(Some photo cred goes to buddies Jordan and Dana)

Halloweens Past 1

In honor of my favorite holiday approaching swiftly, I'll share some of my past costumes. Some are from Halloween, some not. This year's look is coming together nicely! I can't wait to share it and wear it.

Clockwise from top left: a Pink Lady, myself as a Dia de Los Muertos sugar skull, Cher, and Larry King; angsty teen goths; unicorn; myself as Rosie the Riveter, a pretty lady, squid, and hotdog.

(Some photo cred goes to Ramona and Sonya!)

PS- I am going to New York tomorrow morning! I'll be with my mom, aunt, grandfather, and his wife to take care of some family business. It'll be my first time on a plane in over 5 years, and my first time back to New York since I was just a tot.

Halloween?

What will you be for Halloween 2011? A sexy M&M?

In the recent past, I've been a square dancer, Dia de Los Muertos sugar skull, Rosie the Riveter, and unicorn.

For a while, I've been itching to make a large, cumbersome costume...something inanimate. Briefly, I considered something interactive like human ring toss or a tic tac toe board, but I think I've settled on something else.

For some great inanimate object costume tutorials, see Jay Carlson's genius on theplug.net. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to see them all!

Catch Up in Wardrobe

Day off attire: dressed like the vintage working class to inspire productivity.

Top: Vintage men's Wrangler work shirt bought at Thrift Mart (spring '11), $1.00

Jeans: Yearrrrrrrs old Lee jeans in light denim and "boyfriend fit", $5.00 assumed value

Belt: Braided leather Eddie Bauer belt from Thrift Mart (spring '11), FREE

Headband: Red bandanna "borrowed" from my mom, FREE

Approximate Total: $6.00

Indulging in my greatest fashion weakness: old man collared shirts.

Top: Men's vintage collared shirt from Thrift Mart (spring '11), $1.00

Skirt: Thrifted grey jersey mini skirt, $2.00

Belt: Gold scale plated, vintage, $.25

Tights: Target clearance aisle, $3.00

Boots: Vintage cowboy boots, $10.00

Approximate Total: $16.25

Experiment. Hypothesis: If I tuck in this shirt, it will look kinda neat. Test: see above. Analyze results: Uncomfortable and unflattering. Report results: If I tuck in this shirt, it does NOT look kinda neat. I wore it this way for our Eco Arts Festival Fashion Show meeting and swiftly let those shirt tails breathe.

Top: Perfect gift from Carissa! Vintage snap-button denim with adorable applique on the shoulders. FREE

Jeans: Green denim, bought new years ago and tight-rolled myself, $7.00

Belt: Braided leather Eddie Bauer belt from Thrift Mart (spring '11), FREE

Shoes: Dark Brown moccasins, a gift from my mom over the holidays. Saved in their box until the weather was right. FREE

Approximate Total: $7.00 (cost only on the pants!)

Leslie and the Ly's dance troupe uniform, minus the lipstick, Keds, and sunglasses. Worn to work at a show, but also perfect for a summer day off or mix-and-matched for any other day.

Top: Available here in amazing colors!

Shorts: Handmade by Leslie Hall.

Headband: Braided by the gem master herself from spandex costume scraps. Available at White Rabbit!!

Total: FREE as generous gifts from Mother Gem

Uniform in action at Old Brick in Iowa City...an amazing free show and dance party for UI's Women's and Gender Studies. I danced until I couldn't.

My choice for a photo shoot in my craft corner. Bright colors, craft table and piles, cats, and cat hair...I feel like my essence was captured perfectly. Details on where to see my photo amongst other crafty Iowa ladies to come.

Shirt: Rainbow plaid with heart-shaped pockets and snap buttons, from Thrift Mart (spring '10), $.50

Jumper: Cherokee brand salmon denim bought on QUARTER DAY, $.25

Leggings: Clearance, $3.00

Socks: Target, $1.50

Boots: Vintage cowboy boots, $10.00

Approximate Total: $15.25

Classic Carissa, Part 2: The Sassiness

Gah! What a naughty blogger. 

Between a non-stop weekend, a ferocious work-week, and issues too whiny for the internet (but wasn't the internet made for whining!?), I have been lazy in both writing and dressing. I wore both men's pants and shirt today, for instance, and neither fit in that cute, slouchy kind of way. Yeesh.

Here is the run-down of Carissa's four consecutive birthday witching hours:

Thursday:

BLAM! The girl even looked like it was her birthday.

Karaoke at Gathering's, where velvet was worn and Josh sang that he's got "99 Problems" and Carissa is every single one of them.

 Friday:

Basement chat party, which felt like a rainy day at camp in the best way. Recommended for large groups: pin cards with names and objects written on them to shirts and make each recipient guess only in "yes" or "no" questions. Family-friendliness is optional based on the group.

 Saturday:

Dancing at the bar! More velvet!

 Saturday:

Recreational mall goth-ing. More evidence of this to come...

PROM!

All that PROM! build-up totally paid off!

FRIENS! That was totally my fault.

The highlights:

Over 40 people came!

No one broke anything or barfed anywhere!

Everyone danced! And sang!

My friends are terribly handsome and clean up well!

Lots of new friendships!

Pretty and weird. The best kind of people.

We were able to throw this prom for VERY little money. We can thank that to craftiness and friendliness. Being nice to people is cool to do and occasionally has its financial pay-offs. After being loyal patrons to our karaoke master, Mike at Crowne Karaoke, he volunteered to run the music at our prom for FREE! His newest karaoke venue, Gatherings, offered up their beautiful restaurant/rental space for payment merely in smiles. We returned the favor by cleaning up their space afterward and putting out tip jars for everyone.

Mike, our karaoke guy of over three years, second from the right

Tom, the owner of Gatherings (top, second from right) and Tina, our long-time friend and all-time favorite bartender (front, center).

Pair that with decorations that cost less than $40, and the event cost us organizers less than $10 each to put together. BAM!

Instead of buying $2 weights for the $1 balloons, Carissa tied them to cassettes she had around the house. It reduced the balloon bundle price by 2/3 and was much, much more inline with our prom's concept. Bonus: the NKOTB and Ted Nugent tapes made excellent conversation starters.

All of the photo booth pictures are courtesy of Liz, who graciously volunteered her equipment and expertise for the evening. Check out the whole set here.

This is Liz. She's nice and nice to look at. I'm so glad to know her.

After the cut follows more of my favorite photos

HOT Mess of a Jess

This weekend was exceptionally good to me! I had a day off on Friday, and the sun was shining bright. Nothing motivates me better than a good dose of sunshine. After sleeping in, I tackled chores at a leisurely, day-off pace. Recycling was driven to the local center, I kept the sewing machine busy, tidied up...I find the more responsible and adult I act, the more I enjoy my free time. Doing dishes and vacuuming makes me happy!? That's messed up.

I rewarded myself for a day off well-done with food and friends at my "comfort restaurant," the Tic Toc, way too much candy, and a movie with Jake (who spent 4.5 hours fixing my car's shocks in my mom's garage...I guess having a car savvy boyfriend is a money saving tip...). We watched Easy A, which was significantly better than the average high school romantic comedy while still being a kind-of average high school romantic comedy.

Friday's outfit. Outtake photo face chosen for your pleasure.

Top:  Originally Old Navy (purchased about 4 years ago), appliqued to cover some holes and stains, $7.00

Skirt: Thrifted, cut, and re-hemmed. This was my first-ever experiment with using binding to finish off a hem. $2.00

Belt: Borrowed from a thrifted, gifted dress

Tights: Betsy Johnson, $3.00

Shoes: Not pictured, I wore white leather, high-top Keds, thrifted, $4.38

Approximate Total: $17.00 

Blue and purple placed so daintily in my hair by Kelsey at the Fix Salon here in Cedar Rapids. Kelsey uses Goldwell color (ammonia free and gentle on your hair) and has a real kack for putting in fun colors without making you look too "Hot Topic." I love it!

Saturday evening was devoted to Jessica, whose birthday falls right in the middle of the birth-dense month of January. Jessica has been a friend of mine for a couple years now, and an especially good friend recently. She is someone who grows more admirable every day, realizing and chasing her potential with serious momentum. Jess has her fingers deep in some of my favorite issues: the locavore movement, feminism, and general compassion for our people, our world, and all of its living things. Published and on a lecture circuit one day, I can't wait to be the friend giggling in the audience because I know why she army crawled that one time or how she makes use of the sports mode on her camera. Still, I will buy 100 copies of her book and make her sign every single one...and I won't even sell them on ebay. 

What a gal. Let's add the fact that she is one of the most classically beautiful people I've ever met, can sing like a diva, and has next to no shame. She's a keeper!

The birthday girl wearing her gift from Ramona to one of our favorite karaoke bars.

My own romper, worn in Jess' honor.

Romper: Vintage dress altered into a one-piece that fits my torso, $4.00

Belt: Thrifted, $1.00

Tights: Betsy Johnson, $3.00

Shoes: Black cowboy boots, free dollars

Earring: Single gold chain with heart, made from upcycled materials, $.50

Approximate Outfit Total: $8.50

I made this earring out of two old necklaces and a earring hook. I wanted an earring that dangled longer than my hair. I love it!

Mona wore this "expensive" thrifted gem ($7.00 in Canada) to her Roller Derby Black & Blue Ball, then met up with us. This girl looks better in stretch velvet than should be legal.

 Jessica began a new tradition this year of making a birthday speech addressed to each of her friends individually, detailing her feelings for us and making us generally emotional. If you plan on getting married, I suggest you rent Jessica to be your maid of honor--the girl was built for giving sappy speeches. She'll look great in your photos, too.

I have to say, though, there was one thing (and just one thing!) lacking from Jessica's speech addressed to me. Fortunately a neighbor strolling by as I unloaded groceries today picked up her slack.

"Girl, you have an ass that shows the sunshine!" And then he bid me a good day and went along his merry way, happy just to share a compliment with a stranger.

It was a really good weekend.

Crew Year, New Age

Crew Year's Eve 2011

An attractive bunch in an attractive home, right?

Party theme: ALL THAT GLITTERS

Dress: Thrifted show choir costume, with hand-cut sweetheart neckline for a rare cleav peak, $5.38

Tiny Hat: A gift from the party's hosts

Shoes: Hand-me-downs from a very generous purger (a hoarder's dream friend)

Hair: One night's uncomfortable sleep in foam rollers

Not pictured: Red all-over-sequined bolero, an old Leslie & the Ly's costume gifted to me by lead Ly, Ramona
Total outfit cost: Approx. $5.38

I am blessed and cursed with a birthday almost immediately after the first of the year. By the time the big day passes, I'm inevitably cranky and exhausted by the holidays (which, to be frank, I am not especially fond of). Still, with each new year and age I feel a sense of relief that I've survived the last 365 days and am ready to focus on what's next.

First things first: new blog!

I've been inspired and encouraged to follow in the footsteps of my bloggy buddy predecessors (and real-life super friends!), Ramona and Carissa.

My birthday, legit.

Photo courtesy of Ramona

Top: Thrifted, $2.38

Sweater: Thrifted, men's Docker's cardigan I originally bought for an ex-boyfriend but happily kept when he rejected it (jerk), $1.00

Belt: Belted (Gold, silver, and bronze braided makes it soooo versatile!) $.50

Skirt: Thrifted $1.50

Tights and Socks: Target and a Christmas gift from my guy's momma...the only non-thrifted items in the outfit.

Shoes: Thrifted and perfectly worn-in Justins. My very favorite pair, which earned me my tour nickname, BOOTS. $4.38
Approx. Outfit Total: $10.00

I love activities, so we organized an old-fashioned ice skating birthday party at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena. My buddies don't fool around when it comes to dressing appropriately for any given activity. Here's Jessica in my favorite skating outfit of the night, looking graceful.

Vaclav was a great sport and came skating with us for the first time ever.

 Birthday Outfit, age 26 

Top: Christmas gift from Carissa, one of many many items in a huge box of very perfect things. The print is many creepy pink cat/chupacabras.

Belt: Thirfted, elastic gold scaled. $.50

Skirt: Thrifted that day! A new item to add to my square-dancing collection. $1.75

Cardigan: Thrifted, worn for warmth. $2.50

Shoes: Pictured below, brown leather Peter Pan booties also thrifted that day. $4 is so worth it for their buttery leather and they're totally mint!
Approx. Outfit Total: $8.75

 Here, my perma-boo and I are doing the traditional birthday slow dance to Beck's "Debra." I like to make him spin and dip me while I sing the silly lyrics at him. We're looking very 50's Country Western here, no? The boo, Jake, is wearing my favorite pair of thrifted Lee jeans, a Wrangler pearly-button-up, his favorite USA belt buckle (RIP!), and stained rubber boots (his winter staple).

Thanks for a wonderful, wonderful 26th, everyone. This lady is a lucky one.