More Etsy Love

One of the many reasons I'm continually enchanted with Etsy . . . I'm amazed at the objects that become recycled into "I never knew I wanted it" purchases. I love this little pointe shoe cell phone case - most likely stemming from my fascination with all things ballet. If I can't wear the shoes, I wouldn't mind carrying one in my purse. :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/43299055/ballet-calls-repurposed-toe-shoe-cell?ref=sr_gallery_1&ga_search_submit=&ga_search_query=ballet+calls&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

Thanksgiving leftover mini-casseroles

I came away with an unusually large collection of Thanksgiving leftovers this year - so I decided to fabricate a new way to finish off the heaps of stuffing, turkey, potatoes and - that Turkey-Day table staple - green bean casserole.
I employed my oven-proof souffle cups for a nice layered casserole. These fluted dishes are perfect for individual pot pies or other similar recipes; I'm almost always cooking for two, so they come in handy often.
I began with a packed crust of stuffing, and then added (in equal-sized layers) turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, more turkey and a last topping of stuffing. A sprinkling of classic French's fried onions adds hearty crunch, while echoing the onion flavors found in the stuffing and green beans. Heated through in a 350-degree oven, this recipe couldn't be simpler - but every bite is a grand combination of Thanksgiving flavors.

I'm currently loving . . .

Photographi by Bobbi. This Northwestern-Wisconsin photographer is only 21, but she's already captured my heart with her retro-fab, movement-based fashion photos and stunning, clear portraits of fairytale woodsy splendor. (It doesn't hurt that she's a little blonde pixie, whose haunting mod image echoes back to Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy). Her combinations of striking beauty and hardscrabble, small-town imagery really appeal to my senses, a la tulle and feathers floating over paint-chipped windows. (Personally, I'm dying for her to take my picture. :)

(All photographs by Bobbi Solum) http://photographibybobbi.blogspot.com

Elizabeth Taylor would be envious . . .

When my Grandma Jane, who was a fabulous woman in her own right, passed away a few years ago, I found myself with some of her equally fabulous jewelry. She loved gold and precious stones, but also had a veritable collection of fun and funky costume pieces. I was thrilled to discover that some of the oversized clip-on earrings she'd always worn would make terrific cocktail rings - which seemed gleefully appropriate to me, as I remember her fondly with a Manhattan in her bejeweled hand, always sparking and social. :)

For this particular ring, I needed pliers to pry the earring clip free (which is much easier than it might look) and used a strong glue (such as E-6000) to secure the bauble to a ring blank. These blanks are adjustable, inexpensive, and found at most craft stores - mine came in a set of four, which allows for mistakes or a whole set of cocktail bling. Pick some up and flaunt that vintage jewelry like your own personal Taylor-Burton diamond. ;)

Simple, Boho-Chic DIY

I can't really take credit for the design of this multi-strand necklace; that would have to be attributed to DIY diva Erica Domesek and her blog, P.S. I Made This. While Erica used classic plastic pony beads and fabric strips, I opted for a sliced-up cotton t-shirt (long past its prime) and a pack of wooden beads from Michael's. String, tie, done - with the help of a wide-eyed needle, as my baubles were a bit difficult to maneuver into their setting. I love the mixture of classic glamour and free-spirited boho style in this necklace - it's like Holly Golightly got into her NYC yellow cab and ended up at the Monterey Pop Festival. (Not to mention the ease with which it will transition from summer into fall. I'm a sucker for versatility).

Anthropologie-inspired DIY

This "Emcee Tee" jumped out at me in the shabby-chic, retro-elegant (but notoriously pricey) retailer Anthropologie. Only problem ... the $40+ price tag! I picked up a similarly red-striped shirt at WalMart for five bucks, then hunted through the lace trim at the local Jo-Ann Fabrics until I scored a fairly good match to the Emcee Tee's finery. (It's no Mood, you Project Runway fans, but it will do). I used Aleene's Ok-to-Wash fabric glue to adhere the lace, and voila! my own Anthropologie creation. :) I discovered that washable fabric glue takes several days, if not a week or so, to fully "cure" - so, if attempting this super-simple DIY, don't don your new tee immediately. (Difficult, I know. :)

Style Icon: Louise Brooks

I'm a little obsessed with the 1920s. I don't know if it's the perceived glamour of those high-on-the-hog post-war years, because I'm a writer who should have been born about a century earlier, or my undying love for the literary biopic Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle - but I'm enchanted.
So, 23-skidoo, here's my fave 20s style maven, the lovely and slightly naughty Louise Brooks. That hair! (The quintessential black bob). Those eyes! (Smoldering and kohl-rimmed). Ms. Brooks languished in fabulous flapper fashions, luxurious fur coats, flirty headpieces, luminous strands of pearls and posed for provocative nude photos that scandalized the staid Victorian elders of her era. In one silent film still, only her posterior is visible as she leans forward onto an elegant sofa, her graceful back bare except for the thin, sparkling straps of a fairly scandalous evening gown. It's a lithe, sculpted form that would rival any Pilates-obsessed, gym-rat modern screen diva.