Oh, America; the land of wedding gowns that cost as much as a car.

Don't get me wrong I think that a bride should feel gorgeous on her wedding day and I realize that there is often a high level of craftsmanship that goes into a wedding gown BUT you're only going to wear it once.  However, I believe that there is a remedy for this.  Find a dress that flatters your shape and is free of embellishments (where most of cost is) and then add your own unique stamp.

My dress was from the memories collection by Maggie Sottero and cost around 600.00 (still enough to buy an old rust bucket ) and I loved the way the gathers made my summer of eating in Europe a little less noticeable.  To make the dress more uniquely me we added a chocolate ribbon and fastened it with a brooch that was a family heirloom.

Just five years later there are so many amazing options for embellishing your gown.  These belts and sashes from Kirsten Kuehn Designs are beautifully designed and can definitely make the simplest gown stand out.  

It doesn't have to stop with the wedding gown.  Tux rentals are often quite expensive and the results can error on the tacky side.  I recommend that the groom invest in a suit.  Steve's seersucker suit came from J Crew and set him back around 100.00 but he has worn it to so many weddings it has more then payed for itself. 

And my final thought: bridesmaid dresses don't have to match.  Give your friends a break and let them buy a dress that they will wear again.  I told them to find a knee length green dress and silver, strappy shoes.  The result was beautiful and it ended up being the most complemented element of the wedding.

When getting everyone dressed up for your wedding remember to think outside of the box; going mainstream might be the easiest but it isn't always the cheapest.

An easy project with a big payoff. I am all about the glory.

I would by no means consider myself a "crafter", my relationship with my sewing machine is tenuous and glue and glitter often make me swear.  I am however, always down for an easy project with a big payoff.  Yes folks, I am all about the glory...just kidding...kind of.  Because it turned out to be useful for a lot of things, I am not quite sure what to call it.  What it is, is a Case Logic reversable laptop sleeve all dressed up with fabric and vintage buttons. 

Looks cute as a clutch.

Makes a $12 laptop case look...less like a $12 case.

My purpose for this project was to create a traveling chef's kit for a good friend who loves to travel and cook.  With the popularity of home exchanges and vacation home rentals it makes sense to have a go-to bag with things that you can't live without in the kitchen.   I used the laptop case as bag to hold cooking tools I purchased from Crate and Barrel.  The squishiness of the case protects the tools and you can print recipes, slide them in, fold up the bottom and tuck it in, creating a compact case. 

Feathered Headbands

Feathered headbands are a popular trend right now and while they are plentiful on Etsy.com I thought it would be fun to make my own to save some money. The first example is one that I made for my daughter Pearl and it requires a needle, thread, and fabric glue. The second is an option for achieving the look if you are the sort that requires a band-aid after a sewing project!

1.) I decided to go with stretch lace because it has a lot of flexibility and the edges were already finished. I bought the feathers at the fabric store but if you are looking for something more unique or higher in quality there are many more options online. Measure your head and be sure to make it snug because the lace will stretch over time. After you have sewn the ends together it is time to play with the feathers and any other elements that you want to include. I have a lot of vintage buttons so I decided to sew one on after I had used the fabric glue to attach my feathers. The finished project was darling and durable enough for Pearl to take on and off herself…over and over again:)

2.) Here is the “no sew” way to achieve this look. I used the same stretch lace but instead of sewing it I tied it in the back. Then I picked out some feathers and fastened them to the lace with a hair clip that I got at H&M for a few dollars. Another fun way to change this look up is to use vintage clip-on earrings or broaches as the feather fastener. 

All said and done this project cost me under $20 and I have two headbands and plenty of extra material to work with.

Note to self:  next time keep giant bag of feathers out of Pearl's reach.  I am still finding them floating around the house. 

Too much information? Probably.

Because life is more about the journey

Born February 17th, 1981 in Sidney, Australia, whilst my parents where circumnavigating the globe on their sailboat "Southern Cross". Named Camiguin after a beautiful island in the Philippines and Piper after the marina where our boat was moored.

On my way to visit the Komodo Dragons, which begs me to question whether watching giant lizards rip into a fresh goat constituted as desensitization in 1981.

 "One of these these things is not like the others..." Hanging out with my friends in TY Court, Bangkok, Thailand.  My parents taught at Bangkok International School for two years.

 

Have passport, will travel. Begrudgingly.

 

 Checking out the catch of the day.  Yes, the cute chubby one is my brother, but hey let's stay focused here.  This relationship could also be illustrated by a picture that fortunately never was taken.  It involves a baby in a crib, an urge to go #2 and a very jealous and nimble big sister.

Because someone had to address the effects of salt water on Grandpa's hair.

 
My 3rd birthday just off the coast of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.  My mother set the bar pretty high with homemade party hats and a German chocolate cake from scratch.

 
I spent most of adolescence with my nose in a book, which hopefully explains what you see here in terms of personal grooming...

...and the rest of my time in a ballet studio or on stage.

 
In college, I honed my culinary skills and sense of humor.  Additionally, I managed to walk away with a degree in creative writing with the encouraging words of a professor, "there is no job called writer" ringing in my ears.

 
 Met my dream guy and married him despite concerns that he seemed a little too perfect.  "Are you sure he is not a serial killer?"

Yes, I am sure.

January 31st, 2008 our precious Pearl is born.  I promptly place her in a clam shell and take her picture, savoring the symbolism.  My husband looks on wondering if his mere presence can implicate him in this abusive act.

 

 

But as it turns out she has no problem with the spotlight.

This blog is my reminder to live each day grateful for what I have and to look to each new day as an opportunity for discovery.