Fuzzy Chenille Scarf

Nothing is more glamorous than a chenille scarf around your neck. In this cold weather, nothing is also warmer.

Here's a must-have scarf, only $4.99, that comes in beautiful red, grey, brown, silver and many more colors. From GreatLookz.com:

If you're a crocheter (and we all should be!), try this beautiful chenille yarn, only $8.50 for the 98 yards (plenty for a plush scarf) from The Yarn Co. Looking for a pattern? My favorite site for plenty of ideas is Crochet Pattern Central. Now you can cozy up in front of the fireplace and create!

Thrift Store Shopping -- Back In Style

The latest headlines from around the country are similar to this:

From the Santa Fe New Mexican: Boon for Thrift Stores
From CNN: Thrift Stores Seeing More Middle Class Shoppers
Jacksonsville News: Thrift Shops Thrive

Even without much money in our pockets, we still love to shop!

Here's some tips from WikiHow on how to make your thrift excursion a fabulous shopping trip:

Tailoring is generally less expensive than you would imagine.


Keep your personal style in mind. Thrift stores can be great for this because you are not limited to this year's colors and styles.

Be creative and open-minded. Go with what's available and think about how you can work it in or adapt it to your needs.

A quick way to size the waist of pants, skirts, etc. is to fasten the button or snap, then stretch the waistline between your belly button and your spine. If it reaches, it has a good chance of being large enough. You should still try the garment on for fit, if you can or want to, but this simple check will help you eliminate quickly those items that are certain to be much too tight or loose.

If you know some basic sewing, you can plan to mend small holes, reattach a lost button, or take up a hem, but be realistic about whether you have the time, energy, and know-how to tackle such a project. You can even buy something and edit it to make it totally your own.

Since they're plentiful and inexpensive, thrift store finds can also make great raw material for other projects, ranging from quilts to jeans you've torn yourself. If you're crafty and creative, the sky is the limit.

Be prepared to dig! Thrift shops are full of items and may are disorganized. Don't be discouraged by this, because if you dig, you can find some fabulous pieces.

Have fun!

Shopping Your Closet

I felt like doing a little shopping today, so off I went to my closet. First, I reorganized all my clothes, shoes and accessories as if my closet and drawers were in a tony boutique in a bohemian neighborhood with brick streets. I thought of myself as a shop owner, hoping to attract feminine, chic and creative women -- just like me!

It was quite a bit of work, I must admit. But the results were surprising. I saw my "old" clothes with a fresh eye. Pairing accessories with skirts and blouses that I would not have otherwise thought to put together. It's amazing how easy it had been to get in a rut (that skirt goes with that blouse -- period!).

I discovered some interesting combinations. My favorite purple silk blouse was put together with my dark jeans accessorized with a leather, studded red belt -- and it worked! I discovered my chocolate brown riding boots had some nice trimmed tops that used be hidden underneath every long pair of pants I wore. So, I cuffed my straight leg jeans and - ta da - a whole new look.

What interesting things will you find if you shop in your closet?

Fab Scarves -- Home Made?

Who would have thought that your old wool sweaters, socks or gloves could turn into something so chic?

I found these on Fashion Plate (check it out for diva ideas). Here's what the designer had in mind:

When Jenne Giles began making wearable art, she sought a medium that could combine her love for painterly color, sculptural form, folk art, craft, and electrifying costume. All of this she found in felting.

An ancient craft, felting uses hot water and soap to bind wool fibers together to form a durable fabric. For Jenne Giles, each piece is then worked by hand using rolling, scrubbing, pulling, and cutting to create the final sculptural scarf.

The natural ability of wool to felt can produce unexpected results. Jenne Giles uses the spontaneity of the medium to discover new forms and color effects. Her sophisticated designs are as functional as they are fabulous. The evocative artistry of each piece is matched by impeccable craft.

My favorites: