DANGLING

 I got myself a present -

Earrings from Mine Güngör! I have been eyeing her designs for some time but not being able to choose a pair, until I saw these fans in a collection sneak peek on instagram.

This tassel-version of the Flo-earrings did not end up in the actual collection but I got to buy this pair anyway and they are fabulous! And to imagine I used to go more than a decade without big and bold earrings, hah!

Earrings would be translated "ear-hangs" in Swedish (and a little more fancy as "ear jewellery" in Finnish, in case you felt you had to know) and when Dag was younger he got it confused; once he grabbed a pair of my earrings, hanged them by the hook from the top of his ears and said "Look mom, I also have hang-ears!!" ("Hängöron"...)

Speaking of "hanging ears", I do have an issue with big earrings still and that is if they are heavy- I had extension plugs in the 00's (sigh) that I never stretched that big (phew), and that grew pretty well together after I took them out. They still make themselves reminded though when I wear anything more dangly, as the hole tends to stretch out and droop more than just a little pierced needle hole would.

These  fan-earrings however are made of birch veneer so they are very lightweight and can be worn all day without headache or the feeling of having your lobes rip apart at any time! Here they are in action, plus a few of my other favourite earrings to wear for the moment:

     

I have some pairs that are mainly made of string (via Christina Handmade / Etsy, like the one in the down right corner) that also hang light as feathers in the ears. But 'will man vara fin får man lida pin' as the saying goes, as in if you want to be nice and fancy it will hurt and you will have to suffer - some of my favourite dangling ones are a bit on the heavier side; ethnic artesan jewelry that I bought earlier this year from Omanie (the two others in the pic). Worth drooping out a little for!

FLOWERS THAT NEVER FADE/ TRUE BLOOM JEWELRY

When it comes dressing; dressing up, and the preferences that goes with it, it tends to be very cyclical for me. For most people I guess. So after some years of wearing minimal jewellery, I have strongly been enjoying to wear jewellery again, especially other earrings than just small studs.

So, quite suitably I was sent a very beautiful package the other day that made me very happy. It was from Anriikka, creator of True Blom Jewelry, with rose petals in a cool red tone, forever captured in bloom in resin.

I had roses like this in my little bridal bouquet when I got married.

True Bloom Jewelry is a Finnish brand that makes hand made jewellery out of hand picked flowers and leaves. The flowers are cast in bio resin that allows them to keep their delicate shape and natural colours. Bio resin is a plant based resin, which is more eco-friendly compared to other resins. It should also be a suitable material to those who are allergic to various jewellery materials.
Making flower resin jewellery like this is a slow process - one piece can take several days or even weeks to make depending on how many layers of resin are needed! As no flower is alike each piece is thus unique. Anriikka can also make custom jewellery out of flowers that you have chosen or picked yourself.

Resin jewellery is light and not heavy on the ears at all, which is a plus for me - I had extension plugs in my ears during the 00's; and even if they grew together quite well after taking them out almost a decade ago, the holes in my ears still tend to be rather "long", so I have avoided heavy earrings due to that reason; they stretch the holes out too much. These I can barely feel.

You can find True Bloom Jewelry's recently opened Etsy store here. Find the brand on instagram @truebloomjewelry.


Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post. While I was given this set as a gift the choice to blog about the items was my own.

THIS WINTER'S SKIRT

So far this year I feel I have mainly been living in a turban,  a thin knit and in this forest green knitted skirt with a strechty waist. Easy to pull up over the dance leggings and tops, to add an extra layer underneath to when it got really cold, and good as it is with just tights when it's been closer to zero - winter has been a real yoyo this year.

The top is from Lindy Bop and the skirt was a Christmas clearance piece from Lindex.

I am often asked about where to get turbans; the black soft ones I have are from Kuokkasen peruukkiliike in Helsinki, but Etsy, for example, has a lot of turbans! Apart from the constant black beret, turbans are a must-have; you simply can not have too many of them.

Also this is pretty much the only place in our house where one can take any pictures. Everything else is still full of boxes, in renovation-mode or covered in some fringly sparkly burlesque-project mess. Uh.

THREE SHADES OF RED AND SPARKLY GRAPES

Well, I've said it before, but: any lazy hair day or don't-know-what-to-do-with-my-face-day can always be saved by a turban. And some lipstick.

This time also wth some sparkly earrings. Or hang-ears, as Dag mistakenly calls them ('häng-öron', from "örhängen"; which is Swedish for earrings, "ear-hangs", or 'things hanging from the ears' as you could translate it.)

The turban is made by Rubylea, vintage inspired grape studs from Collectif.

THAT ARTSY COAT

The good thing about going trough and organising your closet in deep-mode (OK; I can actually think of many, but let's start with this one) is that you may re-discover objects and pieces you had totally forgotten about. I am going trough stuff in the city apartment and found this old coat of mine, which is rather cute with an artsy vibe and just right for the weather we are having right now.

Last time I wore it was when I was pregnant, actually. And I found some beauty store vouchers expiring in 2010 in the pockets! (Damn, 2010, that was so long ago already!)

The coats is from ModCloth from years back, velvet leggings some randoms and shoes old (do anone even care about these things anymore?) I do get a lot of questions about my turban, which nowadays is as high up on my can't-live-without-it list as my black beret, especially for those days when I have curls waiting underneath like now: mine is made of in terrycloth and from Kuokkasen Peruukkiliike; you can find these from a lot of wig shops. It is also rather easy to make your own!

Well, time for me to coat along now, ta-ta!

A GIRLIE 'DO AND A HUGE CLIP

 Sometimes it's like to spice up a basic girlie doe with something fun or kitsh -

Like with a giant hair clip for example!

I like exaggerated versions of basic things (in the right context), like this one here. I am still dreaming of that giant safety pin-handle bag (which apparently will remains a dream as it's some designer bag...)!

I found the hair clip at Ninja. As I thought it won't hold up the hair properly by itself and serves more as a decoration, or needs a few pins to help.

I did not back comb my hair for this do, but pinned the top layer of a hair donut (which I had cut off), like a little mat on top of my head, and pulled my hair back over it. Twiswted it in the back, secured with one bobby pin and the giant clip. Three minutes max!

THE WALLET

I finally got myself a new wallet! Or, matinee purse as this one is called.  I've been meaning to get a new one forever as the one I had until now was literally falling apart. But it was rather hard to find one that was both big enough and pretty.  I guess I don't have to write this out but in case there's something going on with somebody's monitor out there I'll do it anyway: it's  MINT GREEN! Hallelujah.

The wallet-purse-which-ever-you-prefer is by Ted Baker. (In case you were wondering I bought mine old school over the counter at Stockman; they carry a lot of TB bags and accessories and I have a soft spot for most of them. I haven't found the exact same one online, but very similar styles though.)

A LITTLE SOMETHING BEHIND THE EAR

I made my showgirl colleague Tinker Bell and me some small modest hair flowers for the event we are throwing and hosting tomorrow.

Or, small and modest as in huge and over the top and self lit. The pieces are inspired by my friend Frollein von Sofa, who has made hats with lights and flowers on them. I attached small led-christmas lights with flowers on felt and put clips under.

Otherwise I'd tell you to come see our show tomorrow to get to see these in worn on stage but I won't since we are -oh yes- sold out. Yey! If you were lucky to get a ticket in time, see you there!

GALA DRESS & A TWENTIES TWIST

I was invited to an entertainment gala last night and as my usual self when over employed  I created a little more work for myself still by making a new dress for the occasion. The theme was "a 1920's twist" so I went for a timeless sparkly dress and put on some twenties' inspired accessories and my vintage art deco jewellery. In my mind the dress would have been ready in half an hour but as I changed my mind a few times along the way it did take me a couple of nights to Finnish. Sometimes with Dag in my lap too ;)

The dress got a tiny little fan tail.

I got the fringe bag in Stockholm about a decade ago; I remember eyeing it in the store every time I was over (which was rather often at that time) but finding it too expensive at the time, until I finally gave in and got it.

I borrowed the turban from an act of ours. On stage we wear this with a big rhinestone-feather clip. It's originally from etsy.


And some dark make up on (was painting on e y e b r o w s when I remembered that "oh! damn, cool down, I am not going on stage tonight". Heh. When performing so often one almost forgets how to put party make up on "normally"...) and I was good to go.

RED LIPS AND A WINK

'Tell me a story'-heels from Modcloth.

And their sweater twin. (From Sheinside.)

Plus their purse cousin (or cousins, as there are several in the series)  from Lulu Guinness.

I actually got the sweater out of a sudden idea to kind of look like it and wear it with waved hair peeping out of a black - or possibly red - beret, red lips and pair it with tiny black hotpants, dark tights and chunky heels. Would have made a nice combo;  I thought the knit would be kind of oversized and hang loose on my shoulders. Which it didn't. It was kind of fitted and with the fluffy mohair it made me feel like an albino orangutang instead. So I'll pass that look onto some tiny tiny petite person instead :)

THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR, WELL; WALKING I GUESS

...and keeping my feet warm and posing in and all such other necessities.

I have sort of re-found boots. After many autumns and winters of many boots I had a time when I somehow found it hard to wear and pair them, as boots in general do not go that well with the styles of forties and fifties fashion. So I got a bit stuck on that and didn't want to mess styles up. But there are of course no rules of what to wear and what to combine and, style goes back and forth and develops all the time; I have less long and wide hems for the moment, plus I have also notice I have become a bit more practical with time*. So I got over it and the boots are back so to say!

Last year I dug out my cognac colored heeled ones and they have been walking me around a lot since. This fall I got myself a pair of grey blue suede boots online that went back once and now finally arrived in a one size smaller version. Yey.

*(Yes yes, some people would think of sneakers or something else when saying they got practical shoes but we have to remember who we are dealing with her. And these are in fact rather comfy aand not that high, but naah yes I know, the playground and sand box on a rainy days will require something else. Good thing I still have my old workwear boots borrowed from the harbour around!)

The boots are Pier One / Zalando and the bag is from Accessorize, the latest one in my quest for that perfect day bag. But that quest is for another time to go on about.

RISING STORM

I was sent a gift set from Liisa, an aspiring Finnish accessory designer and -maker. She creates jewelry out of recycled rubber under the label Nouseva Myrsky, which would translate Rising Storm. Nowadays I quite seldom end up wearing bold and chunky pieces but for some occasions or togehter with certain outfits they go well also for me!

This necklace is part of the 'Decaying Birch'-series. 

(You saw it on me last week when we went to the birthday party.)

Last but not east, as a reader of my blog you get 20%off any purchase from the Nouseva Myrsky-shop with the code "Freelancer"!

SUDDEN MATCH

I have a belt that happens to be the exact same color as my nail polish.

The nail color is Kure Bazar's natural nail polish, the belt is vintage. It's a strange color that in one way is a bit off, but still works surprisingly well with a lot of stuff. A very useful greenish shade of nothingness.

This belt was originally part of a skirt that no longer is, and now serves as help for many of my dresses and skirts that are without or with a lost belt. The skirt it belonged to was one of my grandmother's old A-line skirts that had white stitching, big pockets (!!!) and a metal zip in the back. I totally ruined it in my younger days by cutting it of at the top, making it low waisted. I don't know what I was thinking. Or, I do; it was the late nineties and everything had to hang on the hips. I think it's alright to alter vintage to make an item more wearable (and I wore the skirt low waisted a lot aroudn the turn of the millenium) but it does demand a thought or two; not to take the whole idea of the garment away. My heart bleeds not only a little but a lot thinking about that poor skirt. Damn it young me, damn it!

A COUPLE OF COMBS

Eddi's aunt brought me a couple of decorative vintage combs she had found in one of the endless stashes at the farm. They apparently had belonged to some of her aunts.

Big combs like this makes a pretty hair do prettier but also works well for keeping a ten second swirl firmly in place.

ENAMEL AND ADVERTISING

You may remember reading about how I love everything enamel a few times before...  well I do.
Now, after stocking up son seom vintage enamel kitchen wear the last time it was time for some accessories; I got myself a pair of enamel earrings and a bracelet. They are from Nea's Stiching on Etsy, who I found via a Project Wonderful ad her eon my blog actually. I almost never have time to properly browse Etsy or such but my own ads help me, heh :) And I rather often end up buying something too... so see, it is worth it,  advertising here pays off!

You can place small ads here in my sidebar via Project Wonderful and slightly bigger ones on Blogads.

And yes my nail polish matches our wallpaper. (It's kure Bazaar's natural nail polish in the shade Boyfriend, if interested.)

SHOES & EARRINGS

 An easy party-shoe DIY is to bling up your heels with some jewelry.

 

I have been sparkling up a pair of dance shoes for an upcoming burlesque number, and as always with burlesque more is more is more -there can never be too much bling and sparkle- so also in this case. Instead of gluing hundreds of crystals one by one I cut apart a couple of earrings and a bracelet. And added some swarowskis and pearls string too, once I was at it.  (You may recall me saying I don't like crafting all that much as it is messy and the result not always perfect but sometimes I just don't have a choice. And glittery stuff like this can almost be fun.)

For a more subtle result, that does not look like a unicorn arrived and puked up a bucket of glitter or so, you can get a new fancy smanshy shoe by just attaching one earring, or parts of it, on the side, heel or toe. The best is to choose a light piece that looks more blingy than it is. I got some earrlings on sale from H&M. I use a special embellishment glue called Jewel It which is still elastic after it has hardened and also washable-proof.

FORGOTTEN ONES

Was dusting off my make up table (guess how many times per month year I actually do  my make up by that table? Hah! Too few...) and spotted my pendants I have lying in a big sea shell.
I like to gather pretty things around me but once I place them out all nice to admire I tend to leave them as they are and forget to wear them. 

The enamel locket is from etsy, the gold bird locket has a no-longer-working-watch inside and is via ModCloth, and the camée clock was a gift from Ina. I've decided to try and get better wearing my jewelry (- I started last week already wearing a frame necklace I had forgotten about for the past years).

But jewelry is not the only thing forgotten in my little beauty corner. I have had a small ridiculous  collection of pretty lip balms too in a glass bowl just collecting dust... But the thing is, if I throw them away I will just start collecting some other things to be forgotten in that bowl. You know how it goes don't you? I refer to some things at home that look good in their placed positions but never leave that spot forced stillebens. That's what some of the cute jars and pretty tea cups on the shelf in the kitchen turn in to too...  

KITSCH ON KITSCH

Bangle on baby bag.