A blog about blogs - plus size blogs, that is

One thing I like about being part of the plus community is reading what other people have to say on issues related to size, and particular, to fashion. So I want to link you to some of my favorite plus size places to visit on the web:

Too Fat For Fashion - This blog is the most high style of any of the plus size fashion blogs I've ever read. They cover all the Elana Miro runway shoes, write smart articles on the state of fashion, and they really know how to co-opt straight size trends for our size. A must read.

Pretty Pear - A mix of scoop on sales and fashion advice. Has lots of good links too.

Big Fat Deal - Interesting, funny and thought provoking. Only occasionally about fashion, but the blogs are always about something interesting.

Big Fat Blog - This site gets a little too fat activist-ish for me sometimes, but it covers a lot of interesting news articles related to obesity and how plus size people are portrayed in the media. I may not always agree but I am always intrigued.

Oh, and my fave blog ever, although not remotely related to size or fashion really, is:

Dooce - You have to read the background on this site to really get a feel for it. The writer Heather started blogging about her job as a hobby, then got fired for writing about her job on her blog, then eventually came to write such a popular blog that her blog is now her full time job. She writes about being a former mormon, raising a beautiful but challenging little girl, being married and other funny stuff like bodily functions. The blog is so popular that her dog now has its own calendar. Nuff said.

Swarovski: Playing with Sparkle

Sometimes working with Swarovski seems like playing with moonbeams that gleam and sparkle, only moonbeams that come in every colour of the rainbow. The past couple of days, I've been taking breaks from other work to scoot the crystal around my desk and see if they formed themselves into any kind of cohesive design - that's how working with Swarovski often is. I realized that there were certain colours that were not at all represented on my Swarovski Crystal Bracelets page, so I set to work to remedy the situation. I realized I had very few pinks and purples, so I created the bracelet above and the one immediately below. It's difficult to tell from the pictures, but almost all the crystals are 8mm, 10mm and over. I love the larger sizes of Swarovski crystals, and I also like to use the newer colours. The bracelet below features palace green opal (one of the newest Swarovski colours) and rosewater opal, as well as my favorite, Pacific opal.
The pink bracelet below has a focal of Crystal Moonlight and the majority of the bracelet is rosewater opal. Finally, I worked with the light red Siam , a colour I rarely use although I love, and I mean love, to work with red and red-toned gemstones. I mixed the red Swarovski with the more muted silver shadow and included a little silver shadow butterfly. The last challenge was photographing these so that their sparkle showed - and I am still not satisfied with the results - especially with the opal colours!

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Linktastic Tuesday, All-Pockets Edition

The pattern above (click on the image to visit the eBay auction) is not only a great, easy dress, but it also inspired me to post some pocket links, or quasi-pocket links. (The one above is a B32, but there's also two B38s on eBay right now, too.)

Michelle (of Green Kitchen) sends this great link to Bitter Betty's site, where she posts a pocket tutorial.

This (sent by Mary Beth) isn't actually a pocket, but I think they're missing a significant use case by not including a stealth pocket in it. Considering how many women do keep things in their bras, why wouldn't you add a pocket to a bra accessory? Seems like a no-brainer to me. (Of course, I don't think I'd ever buy one of those things, as they seem uncomfortable and liable to wiggle around, but hey, I admire their problem-solving gumption.)

Also in the thing-that-should-have-pockets-but-doesn't category, Pretty Bourgeois posted a link to a dress that looks like the LL Bean Tote Bag. Too bad there's only one monogram option.

I missed the original auction for this one, sent by Ginger Lane:




But if you click the image there's a B34, sans envelope, up on the 'bay right now. I'd rather not have the envelope -- for some reason, the pictures on that pattern creep me out.

And one more pocket link, from Summerset. Seriously, this link, which explains how to put a pocket and an invisible zipper in the same seam, changed my life. Do you know how many 1950s side-zipper dresses I can put pockets in now? EVERY ONE OF THEM.

Sweet sales items I found!

I always mean to do this at least once a month, but tragically I am usually too busy to get to it. But here is another addition of hot steals I found on the web (aka cool clothes on sale!):



This cute dress by Lily, at Nordstrom, is on sale for $42 from $108 and all sizes are still in stock!!



Alfani Woman Deep Surplice Top, was $65, now $47.99 at Macys.com



Aphrodite Wrap Front Bathing Suit 50% off! Was $79, now $39.50 at AlwaysForMe.com


Crochet Gauze Dress, was $69.99, now $34.99 at Silhouettes.com

viva italia

Little LF feature in Italian Glamour (Nov/Dec 07). For the rest of the article, click here.

Hen in a handbasket

Or is that hen AS a handbasket?

Yes, this is that perfect gift for the chicken lover who has it all...their very own rubber chicken handbag.
There are no words, so I'll let the bag cluck for itself.
At least it's cheap. $11.95, only at Ginny's.

Hyeres is Here

The video by Diane Pernet who is clearly ahead of her game and in Hyères already explains it all in a dramatic nutshell really. In two days times, I'll be travelling down there to get a 'wee' bit of sun (emphasis on the 'wee' seeing as BBC is giving me some very unpromising predictions at the moment...), and to soak up some more relaxed fashion experiences at the Villa Noailles. Oh, and of course, embarrassing myself in front of Riccardo Tisci, who is the president of the jury this year, as I stutter and gush to him about how much I love his collecions from so and so a season...

The roster of exhibitions that have been carefully curated by the Hyères people for us folks to swan around and look at in leisure as we contemplate both the subject at hand and when we can convieniently nip to the beach, are quite impressive. I'm most definitely going to be devoting more blog attention to them this time around as there is quite a mix of people they have selected and given some of the Villa's space to show their work.

The Will-Write-About-Later-In-Greater-Detail Peeps...

Haider Ackermann - Clothes that are continually challenging and lustworthy at the same time. What is it about his stuff that drapes so beautifully...

Melvin Sokolsky - Representing the golden age of fashion photography in the 1960's and I'm looking forward to seeing the images of this longtim collaborator of Harpers Bazaar. This image is from 1961.

Felipe Oliveira Baptista - This addition to the couture schedule in recent years has given couture some refreshing oomph and I'm always impressed with one facet or another of the collections coming from this one time winner of Hyères.

Eric Lebon - A menswear designer who've I've had an eye on since being introduced to his work by Two See's Anthony (Two See is moving to Foubert's Place by the by...all the better to be clustered next to Doors, Concrete, Beyond the Valley, Victim, 59 Broadwick Street...yes oh yes...)

How To Save an Accidental Mullet

A Daddy Likey Reader In Distress (or DLRID, if you prefer extremely uncatchy acronyms) just sent me the following email:

I went to get a sandwich and I came back with a mullet! It looks a little something like this:


What should I do? Should I try to rock it (ironically, of course) or should I wear those furry Russian hats for the rest of my life? What about on the beach? Should I still wear furry Russian hats then? Please advise!

Help!
Should've Known Better (Richard Marx version, of course)

So, first and foremost, you need to stop patronizing this sandwich shop immediately. God, can't a girl just get a turkey sandwich, no pickles, light on the mullet, these days?

Secondly, I have to admit that I'm not very well qualified to answer your question. I've had a lot of bad haircuts in my time (and a few french kisses from hairdressers), and I've never had the guts to do the universally recommended "march right back into the salon and tell them to fix it or else" thing. My strategy is more...a lot of crying. After the crying, I usually try desperately to work the bad hair into some sort of shtick--"These giant news anchor bangs are PERFECT for when I need to deliver headlines on live TV in 1986! Heh, heh. Right?"

In fact, my first instinct was to advise you to wear a cape and carry around a few floating, glowing orbs for the next month and insist you're always on your way to a Labyrinth-themed party (fun fact: at any given moment, there are 50 Labyrinth-themed parties occurring in the world).

And that is why I'm going to turn this query over to my readers.

So, what do you guys think? Has anyone out there ever done the "march back into the salon" thing and lived to tell the tale? Is anyone totally owning a mullet right now? Do you all enjoy the Russian-hat-on-the-beach imagery as much as I do? Please help your fellow reader, and, in doing so, help all the bad haircut victims of the world!

Jes MaHarry Jewelry Designer

California artist Jes MaHarry is influenced and inspired by her surroundings - her ranch near Ojai, her animals, and the ever-changing beauty of nature. Her jewelry is intensely personal, always inspiring, and often surprising in its unusual juxtaposition of refined and rugged elements. For Jes, what began as a quiet observation of nature, has evolved into a passionate love, not only of nature, but of life itself.





Frog Pond Ring

With the mysterious green beauty and shiny depths of a natural forest pool, a dimensional Prehnite cabochon is framed by a leaf-etched bezel on a textural silver band.



Named after its discoverer Colonel Hendrik von Prehn, Prehnite is an attractive collection mineral that is used for jewelry and occasionally used for ornamental stone purposes. Its color is usually a very beautiful green that appears in a shade that could be considered unique to Prehnite. Found in association with volcanic rocks, it usually forms in aggregates and has a rather thick crust with a rough or crystalline texture. The rough texture makes it difficult for faceting but it can be cut in a cabochon to reveal its unusual color.





Mighty Oak Necklace

Jes MaHarry adorns an assortment of handmade sterling links with charms and philosophy. The center charm is etched with a mighty oak on one side, and the words grow strong on the other. The words enjoy life, dream, and love + joy are inscribed upon individual links. Made in USA with a lobster clasp. Approx. 21-1/2"L.



Jes MaHarry's Sun Horse Ranch is in the Ojai valley, a couple of miles outside town. Room to roam for the herd of animals the artist has been collecting - horses, dogs, cats. The aged parrot. The pair of wild burros, just rescued from starvation in the Nevada desert. Jes and her partner, metalsmith Patrick Henderson, have only been on this land for a short time. They've already built a house filled with light, a hay barn, and an expanded Sun Horse workshop - not to mention corrals, paths and the beginnings of a semi-desert garden.





Pearl of Truth Earrings

Endless rings of 14k rose gold represent the wholeness of life.

Each hovers beneath a cultured white pearl, Jes's symbol for truth.

Handcrafted in USA with 14k gold lever backs.



Jes wanted to make jewelry before she knew how to. She comes from a family of artists in New York State. Her earliest pieces used found objects: earrings made with feathers, creek stones and rusty bottle caps, and old washers pounded into rings. She taught herself the fine art of silversmithing, then worked drudge jobs after college to finance her jewelry-making equipment, purchasing one piece at a time. Now her palette includes authentic African trade beads, Gaspeite, Tibetan Turquoise, Oxblood Coral, Sterling Silver and 14k Gold.



Artist Statement

Family tradition gave me the freedom to experiment, to take risks and create the life and art I wanted. People say my pieces make them feel good; some people wear my jewelry as a personal amulet. If the pieces bring good luck, I think maybe it comes from my absolute love of doing it. Of designing every piece. Maybe the good luck comes from what goes into the work - passion, hope, and some feeling for risk, for adventure, for overcoming any challenge.



I design my jewelry with the hope that it will bring a bit of beauty to our world, and a measure of solace and peace to you. I try to represent the wonder of the natural and spiritual worlds through my work. I hope it resonates in a deeper place within you. Be free and love life.

Our Mission

We believe that through compassion, there is beauty. Through love, there is art. We believe that we are only free through being kind. That there is grace in generosity. We believe that there is dignity in all living things.

See full article.





Related Entries:

Jewelry Career Resources - 08 August 2006

Jewelry Designer for Princesses - 08 March 2007

Designer Jewelry by Rhonda Reagan - 16 January 2008

Donna D'Aquino Jewelry Designer - 25 February 2008

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Arcona's Basic 5 Regimen

It has been over a month since my first Arcona facial, and I desperately need to go back. Not only for the facial itself, but to supply myself with the entire line of their products! They gave me samples, and I ran out weeks ago. Of course, I have a ton of other products, so my face was well taken care of, but Arcona's products have completely changed my skin, and I want to continue on that path. They have a basic 5 regimen that includes a cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliating scrub, a "solution" that regenerates new cells and a toner. There is a myriad of choices to suit your skin type, but the ones I got were the Kiwi Cleansing Bar, Magic White Ice Moisturizer, Golden Grain Gomage scrub, Gentle Solution (cell regenerator) and Desert Mist (a toner that protects against the environment), all of which you get for $198 (all full sizes). Their products are all plant based and are made with a cold process, which is essential to retain the goodness of the ingredients. It makes sense. Just like the vegetables you eat, if you cook them to death they loose all of their nutritional properties. The cold process requires that they produce in very small batches, and that is why the big manufacturers don't do it. All of Arcona's products are made in the United States in labs that are under their control. The first change that I have seen, is the brightness of my face. My main problem is proper hydration, and my constant slathering of products has made it dull. After only my second facial, I am a changed woman. I finally have the peachy cream skin I've always wanted! Now I just have to get rid of all my freckles, which is in the works, as well. They have a product called Lightening Drops ($35) that pulls pigmentation to the surface and then sluffs off. I will review that after I've used it to see if it works.

How To Clothe A Kenyan In Two Months

Dear Daddy Likey,

My boyfriend is a Kenyan who loves his clothes. He lives in Kenya, and is a poor NGO worker with virtually no clothing budget. I'm going to visit him in two months, and he asked me to bring him brown boots and a new pair of jeans. Although I love reading your blog, I'm not a big shopper, so I thought you might be able to point me in the right direction for some awesome boots and jeans that are great quality and look amazing on my uber-hot boyfriend (and hopefully won't break the bank for me!). Can you help?

Signed,
How To Clothe A Kenyan in Two Months

Dear How To Clothe A Kenyan,

My dad is one of those people who, if questioned about his ethnic heritage, will regale you for hours with stories of his ancestry. "But my great great grandparents were Scotch-Irish-Mexican," he'll say, "and ay caramba, if they ever met a potato haggis burrito they didn't like!"

What does this have to do with your stylish boyfriend, you may ask? Well, by the time my dad finishes building these verbal family trees, he has claimed roots in basically every country in the world. One day, I swore I heard a fleeting mention of Kenya (OK, OK, it might have been "Black Irish," but still), and informed my mom, who thought this was hilarious, because my dad is arguably the whitest man alive. Now, in addition to "Big White" and "Mildly Peeved Dog," his stable of nicknames includes the simple but effective "The Kenyan."

So basically, I feel extraordinarily qualified to answer your question. My Kenyan father's go-to outfit includes Carhartt dungarees, suspenders, and a witty message tee...so actually that doesn't help at all. Damnit.

My dad is one sassy Kenyan.

Let's start over. I believe your man is in dire need of some Frye boots. Frye boots are the best things ever invented (take that, iPhone! Or, like, lightbulb...). They are sex-ay and durable and versatile. Unfortunately, buying them at full price may cause your bank account to go all Bear Stearns on you (Ooohhhhh!! Too soon?), so I suggest you start an Ebay search for a used pair.

This is a good idea for two reasons:
1. They will be hella cheap.
2. Like a fine wine or the movie Cradle 2 the Grave, Frye boots only get better with age. Therefore, your boyfriend won't have to take time off from saving the world to break them in. The world needs a lot of saving right now, so this is a huge plus.

Here's a pair of Frye motorcycle boots (my personal favorite style for guys) for $25:

Unfortunately, this particular auction is ending in five hours, but you get the idea. I'm sure if you search "Frye Men's Boots" a few more times in the next couple weeks, your diligence will pay off.

As for the jeans, I've gotta be kind of boring here and recommend good ol' Levis. My non-Kenyan boyfriend has a couple pairs that he's worn nearly every day for two years, and they still look great.

Here, a model deftly displays the perfect pairing of Levis and brown boots:

I personally love a dark wash with some fading like this, but as long as you stay away from the powder-blue tapered style favored by my 9th grade biology teacher, Mr. Beeson, you should be fine (while you're at it, maybe stay away from Mr. Beeson's whole look--those eyeball-magnifying coke bottle glasses were quite disconcerting as well). Look for a slim bootcut to accommodate his hott new boots.

Levi's are available everywhere, but they're often plentiful on those delightful Macy's clearance racks where it's 75% off the original 40% off with an extra 50% off and so on until you take your purchase to the counter and they're like, "We owe you five dollars for these jeans."

Buy yourself an Orange Julius with the profits. You deserve it.

Anyone else have suggestions for affordable brown boots? And while we're at it, what are your favorite kind of jeans on a guy?