jeanofalltrades

April 11, 2013 · 8:33 am

DIY Glitter Heels

I recently took a pair of shoes from boho to disco. I really liked these cork-wrapped wedges but the cork had bubbled a bit, was scuffed, and wrinkled.

They looked older than they were.

I decided to remove the cork and replace it with sparkles! I carefully peeled off the cork and cut the edges away.

Then I taped up the part of the shoe that I didn’t want to be sparkly.

I sprayed on a coat of sparkly fabric paint by I was a bit disappointed with the results.

So I went back to the craft store and bought a container of loose glitter. I painted white glue on the wedges, poured glitter over them, and shook the extra glitter off.

Success!

This was an easy project and next time I sparkle up some heels I won’t even have to tape the rest of the shoe. The glitter sticks only to the glue. I bought the glitter for less than $5 and the time to complete this project was about an hour.

I almost forgot to mention that I added this post to Citizen Rosebud’s Shoe Shine group linkup. Have a look at everyone else’s dazzling footwear!

13 Comments

Filed under Crafts, DIY, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as DIY, fashion, glitter, style, thrifty fashion, wedge heels

April 9, 2013 · 11:39 pm

Sandal Weather

It’s not really sandal weather but when it’s not freezing I’ll wear open-toed shoes–and even sandals–in the hope of getting spring to hurry up.

Top: Target
Tank: Old Navy
Pants: Swapped
Shoes: Aerosoles
Scarf: Swapped

It’s still a seasonal transition time though. Sometimes cool, occasionally warm. Lots of rain, and a bit of sun. So I like the idea of layering and being prepared for whatever comes my way.

And this is the first time I’m joining The Sapphire Bee and My thrifty Chic for their weekly Anything and Everything blog Hop. I’m looking forward to participating weekly. A mixed bag of this and that is the MO of Jean of all Trades!

What items do you wear that signal the start of spring?

4 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Hot and Cold, Thrifty

Tagged as fashion, sandals, scarf, style, thrifty fashion

April 9, 2013 · 10:16 pm

Liebster Award

I’ve been nominated for the Liebster award twice and I have two people to thank–and one to apologize to.

Megan, The Fashionable Bureaucrat, nominated me last August! I’d meant to write a post about it and it slipped my mind–until yesterday. Celeste, of Honk If You’re Vegan nominated me yesterday, and that’s when I remembered the first nomination! Now that “did I forget my keys” feeling is gone. Phew!

So thank you both! I love Megan’s quirky, fun style, as well as reading about her Canadian adventures. And recently started following Celeste’s blog and love her reviews, recipes, and tales of a vegan SoCal life. And Megan, I’m truly sorry for dropping the ball on the award.

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. Each blogger gets a set of questions, answers them, nominates eleven new bloggers, and asks them eleven questions.

Questions (I had two sets of questions so I got to pick and choose)

Do you currently have all your organs? Believe it or not, I do. They don’t all work though! (I had my tubes tied because I know kids are not for me.) For some, that might be TMI, but I like to think of it as a public service announcement for doing what’s important to you, regardless of what’s “normal.”
For a pet, would you rather have a crow, a fringed lizard, or a taxidermized wolf? A crow for sure! I really like crows. I’ve even named the two who visit my backyard (they’re Cheryl and Russell).
Favorite decade – 1970s, 1980s, or 2000s? I love the 80s! I was a teenager in the 80s and that’s when I discovered great music, wild fashions, and really got to do my own thing. There’s a sense of innocence that I still attribute to the 80s. Everything seemed easier then. No bills, no adult responsibilities (but there was a lot of boy drama!).
Do you prefer routine or variety? I like variety. For me, a routine gets boring and predictable and I feel like I’m missing out on things. That’s probably why I don’t have a lot of traditions. Every year I do something different at Christmas, New Year’s, for vacations, etc.
Do you sleep with your bedroom door open or closed? Open. If I close it, I’ll immediately have my dog and two cats “knocking” at the door. If I leave it open, they don’t always come in, but they like keeping an eye on things.
What makes your heart sing? A delicious vegan meal. Every meal I eat is vegan, and it makes me really happy to know I’m eating cruelty-free and doing my body a favor by eating healthy.
If you could choose anywhere in the world to live, where would it be? For now, it’s here. I like the mild climate, and the rain keeps everything green. I have amazing friends, and I feel like I’ve got roots here (with hubby and the house and a history that goes back 13 years). That said, I miss Toronto and my family and I daydream about what it would be like to retire in a place like Costa Rica.
What did you have for breakfast yesterday? Oatmeal with a bowl of fruit, and a soy latté. It’s something I eat a few times a week because it’s in the cafeteria at my work.
What is a goal you’re working toward right now? I’m working on getting more paintings and drawings done so I can replenish my Etsy shop. Creating art is fun! Finding time for it is tough.
What’s one thing you like about yourself? I like that I’m willing to try new things. I’ll learn to ride a motorcycle, join a roller derby league, or start an online shop. Some things stick, others don’t, but at least I’m open to new things.
Why do you blog? I blog for a few reasons. I enjoy style but I work in tech. Blogging at Jean of all Trades gives me an outlet for writing about clothes, art and other style-related things. I started Sunshine and Slaughter because even though I mention my cruelty-free choices in my style blog, it’s meant to be light and fun. My plant-based blog is where I can write more in-depth about serious topics and cover things like vegan restaurants.

I’m nominating the following bloggers:

And here are the questions:

What’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit?
What defines your personal style
What’s your dream job?
Would you rather live in a penthouse apartment of a countryside ranch?
Have you ever rocked a mullet?
What would it take to give up your car for a year?
What’s the scariest thing you’ve done?
If you had a whole day to yourself, how would you spend it?
Unicycle, juggling, or trapeze: which would you rather learn?
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
If you had to wear one color for the rest of your life, what would it be?

And the rules:

The award is given by bloggers to bloggers who have less than 200 followers.
Each blogger should answer the questions the tagger has set for them.
Choose eleven new bloggers and link them in your post.
Create eleven new questions for the chosen bloggers.
Go back to their page and tell them about the award.
Each blogger should post eleven random facts about themselves.
No Tag Backs!!

Have fun!

3 Comments

Filed under General

Tagged as blogging, Liebster Award, questionnaire, style

April 7, 2013 · 10:01 pm

Denim on Denim

It’s true that too much denim can be overwhelming. If I wear a chambray shirt, I pair it with something other than jeans, for example. But if you can break up the sea of denim by mixing shades, you’re good to go.

Jacket: Swapped
Tank: Swapped
Jeans: BCBG Girls
Scarf: Gifted
Shoes: Thrifted
Ring: Shop in Boston

I wore my white jeans today an threw on a denim jacket. I didn’t feel like I was wearing a Canadian tuxedo though because the colors were varied.

I’m not a huge fan of rules (I am wearing white after Labor Day and before Memorial Day) but I don’t like the look of one shade of denim head to toe. If you wear all denim, be sure to have a good color contrast between the pieces.

Sometimes it’s hard to find shoes that work with white pants. Depending on the outfit, caramel looks nice and the contrast isn’t stark. For today’s casual look, I opted for blue velvet lace-up oxfords.

Do you follow (or break any fashion rules)?

I’ve joined Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet today. Check out what everyone else is wearing!

7 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as blue velvet, denim jacket, fashion, jeans, oxfords, scarf, style, thrifty fashion, white jeans

April 6, 2013 · 1:53 am

Nirvana: Taking Punk to the Masses

I thought the anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death would be a good time to share my photos from the Nirvana exhibit I recently saw at EMP (Experience Music Project). It’s technically April 6th now, but when I woke up it was the 5th–my day isn’t over yet. I’ve been listening to the band today, and these images bring extra meaning to the music.

In the early 90s, the grunge scene exploded and put Seattle on the map. Even back in Canada, at the University of Waterloo, I’d heard about all the great bands coming out of the Pacific Northwest: Alice in Chains, Screaming Trees, Melvins, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and of course, Nirvana.

In this era of Facebook, Twitter, and texting, it’s east to forget that getting the word out there was more grassroots in the 90s. Here’s a collage of handmade concert posters to show the way it used to be done.

Looking at the exhibit was a total experience. The whole time I was there I heard seemingly random notes pinging and popping over the sound system. Then I read that I was listening to “a quadrophonic serial deconstruction of the signature two-bar riff from Come as You Are.” Loved it! It didn’t sound like rock music, but it paralleled the deconstructed exhibit.

I looked at videos and mementos, sound equipment and instruments, and reminisced on the Seattle Scene (as grunge music was often called).

The life-sized, black and white photos of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl seemed frozen in time.

It was a bittersweet event. For me, the energy of the movement was lost and it seemed like a mournful event, not a celebration. These guys belong on a stage, not a museum. But I’m glad I saw it. The exhibit ends soon so go if you have a chance. It’s a good way to relive your youth or get a glimpse into a scene you may have missed.

4 Comments

Filed under Events, Music

Tagged as EMP, grunge, Kurt Cobain, music, Nirvana, Seattle

April 4, 2013 · 10:55 pm

Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour

A couple of months ago a friend of mine organized a wine tasting trip to Woodinville, a small town outside of Seattle. There were a dozen of us so he rented a bus and hired a driver.

Washington State grows excellent grapes and we were in for a treat. Most of the grapes are grown in the eastern part of the state, but Woodinville is a lot closer and despite its small population, has over 40 tasting rooms! We chose five: Airfield Estates Winery, J&M Cellars, Kestrel Winery, Des Voigne Cellars, and Paterson Cellars.

I liked seeing how the wine was aged. Some places use oak barrels while others use metal vats. Seeing the grapes before they were crushed was neat too. The hosts at each winery made the tasting rooms really special.

We had great weather so it was fun to wander the grounds and check out the operations.

Needless to say, I bought a bottle of wine at each tasting room.

And what does one wear to a wine tasting tour? Well, I wore jeans and a t-shirt and layered on a blazer. I wore fun pumps with a mid-heel and carried a pink, velvet hobo bag.

Top: Target
Blazer: Smart Set via Goodwill
Jeans: Jessica Simpson via swapped
Shoes: Lulu’s
Bag: Swapped
Earrings: Cost Plus World Market

Have you been on a wine tasting tour before? I highly recommend it!

4 Comments

Filed under Events, Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as blazer, fashion, jeans, style, thrifty fashion, wine tour, woodinville

March 31, 2013 · 10:34 pm

Sunny Seattle Stripes

I love Seattle when the sun is out. This past weekend was the first time in a long time (not counting Hawaii), when I could bare my legs. It was that warm out. The mister and I even had a picnic outdoors and had drinks on an outdoor patio!

Top: Mexx
Shrug: Ross Dress for Less
Skirt: Dress Barn
Shoes: Aerosoles
Purse: Sue Huston
Glasses: Street market in Florida

I’ve worn this top before with shorts and with pants, and here it is with a skirt. I’m still on the lookout for a true Kelly green pair of skinny jeans or capris so I can wear this top with those too. In the meantime, I thought the pink and yellow accents make this a springy look.

When I wrote up this post, I had a suspicion I’d used the title before. I did a search and found a post from almost two years ago called Stripes in Sunny Seattle. Coincidentally, I’m wearing the same skirt and sandals–but a different striped top.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out all the other visible women at Not Dead Yet!

10 Comments

Filed under Fashion

Tagged as fashion, sandals, skirt, stripes, style

March 28, 2013 · 12:00 am

Hendrix Hits London at the EMP

I recently paid a visit to Seattle’s Experience Music Project, a music-themed museum housed in a Frank Gehry structure near the Space Needle. One of the current exhibits is called Hear My Train a Comin’ and features clothing, instruments and artifacts that Hendrix and his band owned and used in London in 1967 as they were gaining popularity in the UK.

Hendrix is arguably the best guitarist in history, so I often forget what a style influencer he was too. He also broke color barriers and turned heads wherever he went. He would be 70 years old this year.

In the late ’60s, the London Scene was the place to be and much of youth culture originated there. Mods, rockers, dandies, folkies, and jazz-heads. It seemed London had it all.

Hendrix changed his name from Jimmy to Jimi when he landed in London. He was fortunate enough to find the music scene and jam with musical influencers like The Animals and Cream. After holding auditions, he joined forces with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The Jimi Hendrix Experience began.

Several of Hendrix’s outfits were on display at EMP. I was wowed with his custom, tailored jackets by Dandie Fashions. Why can’t men dress like this today? Add some color, pattern, and textures into your wardrobes guys!

This jacket was part of a suit, but Hendrix chose to wear the pieces separately. Good move! If you have a suit, the best way to freshen it up is to break it apart.

I never was a fan of destroying musical instruments–although it’s a very rock ‘n’ roll thing to do. But seeing the remains of Jimi’s guitars gave me an appreciation for them as art on their own.

Some of the instruments made it back to the US unscathed.

I liked seeing who influenced Hendrix. Everyone from Ravi Shankar to Johnny Cash, apparently.

The exhibit is still on and I highly recommend it.

2 Comments

Filed under Art, Events, Fashion, Music

Tagged as Dandie Fashions, EMP, Experience Music Project, fashion, Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix, music, style

March 24, 2013 · 10:44 pm

Earthtones and Orange

I’ve been hanging onto these pictures for a while (as you can see by the fall foliage), but this outfit works as a good layering “transition” style for spring, so I’ll use it now.

Jacket: Gap via swapped
Sweater: Target
Pants with belt: Macy’s
Socks: Online
Shoes: Zappos
Purse: Crystalyn Kae

I added a pop of color with my sheer-knit sweater and carried it through to the orange argyle socks. Slouchy and fun. I wore it to work because my work environment is really casual. It would be a nice errand-running outfit too. Really comfortable with a “practical heel.”

It’s also a pretty thrifty outfit, with a lot of swapped or on sale items. The sweater was on the clearance rack, and so were the pants.

Do your fall outfits work for spring too or to you change colors, styles and fabrics?

Oh, don’t forget to check out the other posts at Not Dead Yet! I’m joining Visible Monday today.

12 Comments

Filed under Fashion, Thrifty

Tagged as argyle, earthtones, fashion, jacket, style, thrifty fashion

March 19, 2013 · 10:21 pm

A Steal of a Snakeskin Shirt

About a year ago I saw a really neat blouse in a department store. Designer. And about a hundred bucks. I couldn’t pull the trigger but I didn’t forget how cool it was. A semi-sheer, red and black snakeskin print shirt. Kind of like this one:

Top: Ross Dress for Less
Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: Banana Republic
Shoes: Seychelles
Cuff: Swapped

I’m glad I resisted the urge to splurge. A few months later, while looking through the racks at Ross, I found a strikingly similar top for a fraction of the price.

Here, I’ve stuck to a limited color scheme: red and black (one of my favorites). But I think this is a prime candidate for pattern mixing and for being part of a more colorful outfit. So I’ll be sure to try it in a few different ways.