Hi to all my Gal Pals,
As you know from my last blog, I love frequenting craft shows and sidewalk sales. I love the quote “A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand and a shopping bag on each arm”. The tangerine and off white topper in the picture above was made by a woman crafter at the Naperville Artisan Craft Show. After thinking about it I can pretty much say that all the beautiful things I bought this year at craft shows were made by women. That thought made me very happy. Having worked in the educational field I know that many teachers have to work second jobs especially the single mothers who are trying to put their children through private or higher education schools or just trying to make ends meet. I have met many woman crafters who need the extra income so they get into crafting because they can make their products from home and they can be there for their kids. Some senior citizens need the extra income because they do not bring in much income from social security. I am happy to support these women. However, it is not all altruistic on my part. I love the quote “I am not a shopaholic. I am helping the economy”. Yeah, that’s it! I am helping the economy. Maybe it is all altruistic on my part!
I have written about this before, women need to support other women. This past weekend I worked with women from the Lockport Woman’s Club in making up comfort bags and blankets for a domestic violence shelter to hand out to the women and their children. This is a great way to help women in need. Volunteering your time to help the women in your community is essential. You all know about my cancer experience. My female dermatologist who found the cancer recommended another female surgeon to remove the cancer who in-turn recommended the female surgeon who did the reconstructive surgery. These women were so professional and so excellent in their skill sets. It is not that I don’t like male doctors but what I have found in my many years on this earth is that female doctors will really listen to what I have to say and really understand not only the female body but also the female emotional frame of mind. I love this quote “Whatever women do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult”. That is why I choose women doctors. In my case it was women doctors supporting each other. It used to be an extremely male dominated field but this is not the case any more. Well, no matter what genders you choose as your health providers remember this cautionary quote by Erma Bombeck “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died”.
I am showing 4 outfits again this month so I am going light on the landscape design and its comparison to fashion design. When putting together a large flower garden or a border for around your house or fenced yard you have so many things to think about. You have to make so many decisions based on sunlight vs. shade, differing bloom times, pH of soil, etc. In fashion design as in landscape design an important decision is color combination. In the past wearing orange and pink together was considered incompatible and gauche. It would not have been a color combination typically chosen for a garden or an outfit. However, we are in a time of anything goes and the dynamic combination of pink and orange creates a vibrant and eye-catching palette. One of the outfits I am wearing in the blog will reflect this palette.
As of today, my deep pink roses look fabulous with the orange hips of the rose bush next to it. So when designing your gardens or borders think about what your garden is going to look like in each season.
OK, let the fashion show begin. In the last blog I featured some of the summer articles of clothing I bought at craft shows and sidewalk sales. This time I will show you fall, winter and spring articles I picked up for a steal.
Here is that color combination I talked about earlier. This very light weight sweater with these orange pants and sleeveless mock turtle underneath makes for a very vibrant outfit. I picked up this sweater at the Grand Haven sidewalk sale in Michigan for a price I couldn’t pass up. If you are a person who is always feeling warm even in cold weather, this is the perfect sweater for you. I paired this outfit with pink pumps that really complete the outfit.
I went with a deeper color orange in the pants of the outfit so I kept consistent with the deeper orange jewelry. The orange and yellow beaded color necklace accentuates the colors of the sweater. I decided to continue the deep orange in the earrings, watch and one of the rings. The yellow bracelet and the pink stone of the ring pull out the remaining colors of the sweater.
I bought these pants at the Grand Haven sidewalk sale (it was a great sale!). I need to describe them for you because whoever designed them was a genius. You know how much I love wide leg pants. These are nothing more than a pair of sweat pants that the bottom ribbing has been cut off then they put in a subtle panel starting at the knee of the same material to widen the legs. You will see in the next picture how they did a white stamping around the waist to make it look more blue jean-like. Here is what I love about sidewalk sales. The retail folks know that the sidewalk sale is a great draw for buyers looking for a deal so most of them will offer sales inside the store which is where I purchased this great drop sleeve light-weight sweater. It covers my big belly which is the most important aspect of anything I purchase. Sneakers are a must with this outfit and I have already told you how much I love my slip-ins.
Now you can see the stamping they did around the elastic waist. No one will ever see it because I will never tuck anything in my pant and let anyone see my bulging belly. Since this is a very casual outfit I paired it with very casual accessories. The collar necklace has one single white pearl as does one of the rings. I am wearing a very casual white banded watch, light blue studs and a ring with a blue stone. Do any of you remember this type of ring that you can interchange the stones to match the outfit? It was popular many, many years ago. Fashion is like a boomerang. Things always come back in style sooner or later.
I love this coat! You can see in the mirror that the back looks just as lovely as the front. It is reversible to a neon green as seen on the hood and the zipper. The mix of patterns make this unique coat so eye appealing. In this picture I paired the coat with hot pink, wide leg jeans and a cute white top underneath. The open toe, pink shoes are perfect with this outfit.
I got this coat at Art In The Park in Holland, Michigan. There were so many different color accessories that I had to choose from. The necklace and earrings are from 30 years ago (I have a hard time parting with jewelry). I am sure many of you might have had this set where you can change the colors of the beads. Here I brought out the green color with the necklace and the pink color with the earrings. One of the rings is green and gold kiln fused dichroic glass and the other ring which I purchased from a crafter at Lockport Christmas Crossroads has a metallic finish that changes color as you turn it. I turned it to pink. I chose the black banded watch because it has a rectangular face complimenting the black and white rectangles in the coat. On the same wrist as the watch I am wearing a silver and gold bracelet to balance the other wrist on which I am wearing a pink and black bracelet that compliments both patterns on the coat.
This crafter must have known I was going to come to her booth at the Artisan Craft Show at Canal days in Lockport because this black denim jacket is so me! I have said in the past that I love black and gold together. You also know that I love sparkly things and this coat gives off a heavenly shine. I paired it with my black, snake skin patterned skinny pants. The gold flats add that little bit of extra shine.
The only colors I would ever consider wearing with this outfit is gold and black. The metallic gold is in every piece including the chain belt. Remember I only wear a belt when it is under a jacket or a sweater because I don’t want to highlight my bulges. Two of the rings are both gold and black and they compliment the coat as well as the black and gold bangle bracelet.
As for my weight, well I am in a period of stagnation but I am OK with it. Since the cancer diagnosis my weight is the least of my problems. Right now I need the pleasure food provides for me and I find most of that pleasure at the local bakery. I just follow Crabby Maxine’s advice “Getting over body issues is like getting over fear of heights…the trick is not to look down”. These days my diet to lose weight is nonexistent as is exercising beyond my morning walks (you know how I hate exercising). Me and Crabby Maxine think a lot alike “It’s the first day of fall! Time to stop NOT exercising outdoors and begin NOT exercising indoors!”. I am 73 years old and there is a possibility that, depending what happens with my health, I may lose my taste buds so I am going to bombard those taste buds with so many wonderful flavors. Don’t worry I am able to curb my intake but it is like Aunty Acid says “ Unfortunately my day dreams about being skinny are often cut short by the sounds of me chewing a cookie”.
Well until next month remember God loves you and so do I.
A Peek Into Pam’s Closets 