ASOS Snoods

I am not a fashion snob. Not at all. Labels mean absolutely nothing to me. However, quality is something I do care about. This is because I don't care to replace my clothes every few months due in part to shredding up in the dryer (yes, this has actually happened to me before- not cool Wet Seal, not cool...) So when I find a brand I like and thats affordable- I'm sold. ASOS is one of those brands. I found one of their shirts second hand at Buffalo Exchange, and looked them up online shortly therafter it turned into my favorite piece of clothing. Everytime I look at their website I get little butterflies in my stomach. Their stuff is suuuuper cute and reasonably priced. Little did I know it's the UK's largest independent online fashion and beauty retailer. They have an online zine that I simply adore... What can I say? It was love at first Site... They have a really great sale on SNOODS right now too- I guess it's because Winter is quickly coming to an end and they need to get rid of the warm clothes to make room for Spring. So, I thought I would should some with you today. Also, I just think Snood is a funny word...

Top Google Searches : Pillow

lol. via

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Words to Design By...

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No-Sew Shirt Scarf & Necklace

I've seen these before and always thougt they were adorable. I did not know, however, how incredibly easy they are to make. The cotton-shirt scarf is what you'll find me working on this weekend (via FANTASTIC blog A Pretty Penny.) I love it because I'm kind of obsessed with scarves. I have at least 40 in my closet- probably because it's hard not to buy them at flea markets when they're only $2 a pop... but sometimes it's hard to find just the right color- so, this is an easy fix. A trip to a thrift store- a few cuts and knots here and there- and voila- a super chic new scarf for your ever expanding collection. Next thing you know- you'll have to get one of these organizers from Ikea like me!

Find a cotton shirt your ready to cut into many pieces.

Lay the shirt on a flat surface and smooth it out with your hands. 

Start by cutting off and discarding the hem.

Beginning at the bottom of the shirt and working your way up, cut 1-inch strips to make loops. Vary the width of your strips based on your desired necklace thickness. I wanted a lot of tubes, so I kept my strips small. You can also cut a variety of sizes for one necklace if you want a less-uniform texture.

Stretch out the loops you just made so the cotton curls in on itself and forms long tubes.
Double up each tube, matching up the seams at one end.

If you break a loop at the seam while you're stretching it out, just tie it back together with a simple knot and trim the excess. {This really is a fool-proof project}

Group all of your tubes by size, keeping the seams together at one end.

I used a women's tee, so the tapered fit resulted in a great variation of tube sizes. If you're using a men's tee, you can cut the tubes into various sizes and tie them back together as shown above.

Gather them all together, with the longest tubes on the bottom and the shortest on the top, but save one!

Cut the tube you saved in half to make it a long string. Tie the string in a knot near one end of the section of seams. Tightly wrap the string around all of the seams to cover them. Be careful not to get the tubes twisted or tangled as you're wrapping.

When everything is smooth and covered, tie off the other end of the string in a knot (using one of the necklace loops if you need to).

YAY You're Done!! Enjoy your new scarf :)

What's Your Sign?

I'll be the first to admit that I don't really follow astrology or horoscopes. It's just never been my thing. But I know for some- it's an important part of their identities. So when an astronomy professor in Minnesota announced that the zodiac calendars were actually incorrect, people were awestruck- and more interested in the subject than ever! I guess it's time for us to get acquainted with our new signs (dates listed below.) And whether or not you're serious about your astrology, it's a part of our society and culture- from which beautiful art has been created around. So I would love to share some of it with you today...

NEW ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR DATES

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16

Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11

Pisces: March 11-April 18

Aries: April 18-May 13

Taurus: May 13-June 21

Gemini: June 21-July 20

Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10

Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16

Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30

Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23

Scorpio: Nov. 23-Nov. 29

Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17

Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20

A Tattoo For You?

Oh my goodness... so glad to be back to my blog! Last week was hectic, to say the least! One thing you learn when you start working as a professional designer is that everyone needs it done "yesterday." So if you're working on several jobs at once- it can be a crazy battle over who and what comes first- and unfortunately- my blog just doesn't cut that list yet... one day perhaps :)

But now i've got a few moments of down time to share a wonderful collection i've been working on of tattoos! As an artist myself- I can understand why it's so hard for most of us to commit to such a significant and permanent piece of art that will forever seen on the body. We don't want something that we'll regret- so it's important to make sure it's symbolic and imporant to us- and just as beautiful. If this is something you've been interested in doing - here are some lovely images to help get ideas rolling for your own piece of body art.

What's your TYPE?

Simply Natural

Sweet & Petit

Bold Statement

Oh The Cleverness...

You Got Skills...

Etsy Treasury For Your Valentine

So so so super busy this week. Squuuuezzzzing in a little post- The Valentines Gift Guide- via the Etsy Treasury. So cute right!?

Gillian Tennant Fashion

I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda into the whole granny-chic fashion thing. Oversized cardigans, loafers, sloppy buns- bring it all on. Designer Gillian Tennant has created a lovely Spring collection with a nod to that g-c aesthetic without sacrificing youthfulness and a sense of being put together. I LOVE this entire collection and fully intend to introduce some pastels to my very dark and heavy wardrobe now.

ReUsables

"In March of 2002, Republic of Ireland became the first country to introduce a plastic bag fee, or PlasTax. Designed to rein in their rampant consumption of 1.2 billion plastic shopping bags per year, the tax resulted in a 90% drop in consumption, and approximately 1 billion fewer bags were consumed annually..."

Guess what? The US will be implementing a similar tax as soon as next year! It's time to start introducting ourselves to Re-usable products. I'm totally down with this- using cute tote bags for grocery shopping helps the planet!? Nice. The website ReUseIt can help you do just that. They're budget-freindly items help us to be more waste-concious and earth friendly. Check their facts-page to familiarize yourself with the resources they have to help us do our part in helping the planet- and look cute while doing it ;)

Let Them See Cake!

Maggie Austin's cakes are some of the most beautiful things I've seen. They truly are works of art. If a girl could only get married to herself...lol.