DIY: Leather Bracelets

Hello, dearies! I come to you with yet another DIY. I'm always fooled by

February for the month gives us a few nice days, but overall it's still a brutally

cold time of year. So I'm seeking refuge indoors and keeping myself busy with

crafty things. I also don't really wear rings and bracelets during the winter, so it
looks like I'll have lots of new arm candy to look forward to when spring
comes. I present to you today three different bracelets that can be made

out of the same leather cord. 

BRACELET NUMBER ONE: 

BRACELET NUMBER TWO:

BRACELET NUMBER THREE:

DIY: Dangling Thimble Pendant

Hello, hello! I'm very excited to share this DIY project with you today. Not only
is this piece super duper easy to make, its materials are made up of odds, ends,
and leftover bits.  I didn't use a tutorial, but here was my inspiration for this
pendant (here). The great thing about making your own jewelry is not only the
opportunity of originality but also the keepsake value. For this thimble pendant
I used a vintage 1960's thimble (which represents my love of sewing and all
things crafty), a bead from Florida, and a bit of chain from the silver bead
necklace from Saudi Arabia my Nanny gave me. I truly mean it when I say
don't throw anything away - you never know when that random bead or odd
two inch bit of chain will come in handy! And you always end up needing it
the day after you toss it anyways (Murphy's Law). Enjoy!

DIY: Dainty Gold Bead Necklace

Hello, pretty ladies! At first I wasn't going to post this DIY since I started with

an already made necklace. But then I thought this is a great way to show how

you can take any old unused piece of jewelry, dissect it, and recreate something

new! I never give or throw any jewelry away, for at the very least I will take the

clasps off and use those again. Here was my inspiration for this particular necklace.

DIY: Tree of Life Pendant

An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

    Old Saying 

Why, hello! As I'm sure I'm not the only one who has come down with a
case of cabin fever, I thought I'd share with you how I keep my idle hands
busy during this bleak, bleak time of year. It's this time of year I raid my
jewelry collection and craft box to see what new things my creative
imagination can conceive - or more like, I scroll through Pinterest to 
see what others have created and steal their ideas! *Maniacal laugh*

One of my favourite things on this place we call earth are trees. I love the sight
of them. They have such a calming effect on me. And the more the better! I
have always dreamed of sitting underneath a tree and reading (just like in all
those old paintings). It remains a dream due to my fear of sitting underneath
a tree that has been subject to many dogs relieving themselves. The joys of
city living. That being said, it's only natural that once I figured out how to make
make these tree of life pendants that I would make them in several colours! 

Materials:

Wire (length: approximately 10 cm)

Round Ring 

Beads

Casual Days

You can call me Mathangi Arulpragasm since I've been so M.I.A. on this blog.

I'm glad to say my absence hasn't been entirely due to the weather, although

that has played a major role. My sister and I were blessed with a visit by our

mom, nanny, and younger brother. I only get to see them about once a year, so

this visit was very welcomed and much needed. It passed in a whirlwind though:

days jammed packed with eating out, lots of shopping, and fun-filled activities.

My nanny took Paul and I to the casino to play some poker and I must say, I

felt like a fancy pants. I mean, you either go to the casino 'cause you have money

to spare and you're looking for a good time or you have an addiction - I was

hoping people were thinking the former.  I was also a lucky gal who got real

spoiled by her momma. She's to thank for these snazzy new boots.  

And while Paul and I already went to Winterlude with my brother, we'll take

any excuse to eat a Beavertail - those things are the best! I was deliriously

happy to see that most of the ice sculptures were gone and the remaining ones

were melting. Yes, melt, melt, melt! I truly do love layering, the cozy sweaters

and the boots that allow you to tackle any adventure, but I'm ready to ditch all

those extras. I want spring! I'm ready to start complaining about the rain and

all its limitations. Sometimes I question my protest of winter, for naturally I am

a home-body (Example: Paul and I for Valentine's Day got together with

another couple, had some drinks and food, and played the newlywed game).

And being cooped up all the time has seriously increased my jewelry collection.

I've been seeing the most precious dainty necklaces lately (see here & here) and

again I thought to myself easy peasy. More like I'm cheap and I'd rather

use materials I've already got sitting in my craft box, but mum's the word on that.

Outfit:

My sister's // Scarf

DIY // Necklace w/ Beaded Pendant

DIY // Mini Bottle w/ Feather Pendant

Thrifted // Dress

Thrifted // Belt 

Thrifted // Sweater

Thrifted // Bag

DIY // Wool Leg Warmers

Soft Moc // Hush Puppies Combat Boots

Hey, Ho, High, Low

I'm starting to feel as if this winter will never end! I miss the days where one

could spend hours outside under the warmth of the sun. One good thing comes

out of winter though: my documentary watching increases substantially. Lately, I've

been discovering the negative effects of fluoride in our drinking water (70% of

the US and 45% of Canada) and trying to figure out why Dave Chappelle would

give up the "American Dream" and escape to South Africa. Some riveting stuff!

Since I so desperately need some colour in my life I thought this dress was

the perfect pick-me-up. And while I love this dress, I got beef. Yes, major

beef. I recently received a gift card to Winners (TJ Maxx in the States). What

I find great about this store is that almost everything in there is sort of junk.

And what I mean about that is: other clothing stores that have overstock or items

that have been made incorrectly (wrong colour thread used, for example) instead

of throwing this stuff out they sell it to Winners. What a wonderful thing! Think

of all the stuff being saved from ending up in landfills! But then I found out this:

Winners doesn't bother to recycle anything. They throw all the cardboard boxes

their stuff comes in into the garbage compacter. Sigh. I'm pretty sure companies

get tax reductions for their environmentally friendly business practices, too....

Recycling is the easiest form of preventing garbage (besides reducing, hah)! So

I have never bought anything from Winners until this gift certificate, which

totally blows because that store has the most precious dresses for such

incredibly low prices. I had such a hard time narrowing my choices down

to three dresses, I wanted them all! Oh, well. I've got a moral compass 

and it's not pointing me in the direction of Winners. 

Outfit:

Thrifted // Hat

Thrifted // Wool Sweater

Winners // Dress

Thrifted // Belt

Thrifted // Necklace

Le Chateau // Boots

The Page Turner: Difficult Men

Well, I kind of put my foot in my mouth, didn't I? I labelled myself a 

self-proclaimed book-aholic and then I don't touch a book for months.

I really showed you! I blame it fully and entirely on boredom in material

form: Kanthapura. I tend to really enjoy books set in India, but that one

was a total miss. So I had to bite the bullet and I joined the masses -

I am now one of those that don't finish books they start. Gasp. 

My reading slump thankfully came to an end and I'm back on the

train of enlightenment!  When I saw Difficult Men on my friend's

coffee table I immediately thought to myself:  Why thank you, Brett

Martin.  You seem to have a written a book with me in mind!

Reasons To Read Difficult Men:

1. After reading this book your confidence in the fact that TV

is more than just mere junk will be restored. Feel bad that

you're watching Breaking Bad instead of reading a book?

Don't! This book gives great insight into the deep intellectual

process of the shows we love. The fact that a lot of these shows

deal with economical issues -  how even the middle class

isn't fully secure and men who need to break bad in order

to keep themselves and their families afloat - insist that TV is

doing more than keeping society in a zombie-like state. Have

faith that not all TV is keeping the mind deactivated, rather we

have come upon an age of thought-provoking television shows.

2. I often find the lives of writers, and in this case show creators,

to be more interesting than the works they produce. Take the lives

of Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell, and Virginia Woolf for

example. This may have something to do with my fascination with

the world of artists. 

3.  If you're experiencing withdrawal symptoms after Breaking Bad, 

The Sopranos, Mad Men, The Wire, etc. has ended, 

this is a great way to get one last fix.

The next book will be Charlie LeDuff's Detroit. So far this book is

terrific and I can be found reading it in a binge-like manner.