May 13, 2013
I went to see the new Great Gatsby movie on Friday and absolutely loved it. And because I never miss the opportunity to dress up, I had to wear this 1920s inspired velvet turban that I made earlier this year. I love how it adds a bit of 1920s glamour to a simple all black outfit. Now I can’t compare with Carey Mulligan’s costumes –or her jewels for that matter– but this headband made me feel quite posh while sitting in the theater. It’s really quite easy to make, too!
- Gather your fabric– I used this velvet children’s shirt that I thrifted. Make sure that whatever you find is stretchy!
- Next you need to figure out the dimensions of the rectangle you need to cut. Measure the circumference of your head loosely and add 1 1/2 inches to get the long side of your rectangle. Mine was 25″. The short side of the rectangle is 12″. You can make this longer if you want a more gathered look to your turban.
- Sew the short ends of rectangle together to create a tube.
- This is when it’s easy to get messed up, so pay attention to this step! The first time I did it, I managed to sew my turban shut. So, turn the sides of the turban together so that the velvet side is out. Then tuck the raw edges in like how it will be when it is finished. The reason you’re pinning this together is to make sure that you sew the correct sides together! Reach into the turban and begin to turn it inside out, pinning the edges together as you go. You can’t turn it completely inside out because of the nature of the tube. It’s going to look like a bunched up piece of fabric, but this is correct so don’t worry about it! Sew these pinned edges together, leaving a hole of about 2″ so that you can turn it right side out again.
This is what it’ll look like once you’ve sewn your pinned edges together. Flip the turban right side out through the hole that you left.- Cut an additional piece of fabric measuring 2.5 x 7″. Sew the long sides together and flip right side out.
- Stitch the hole in the turban together by hand.
- Wrap the narrow fabric tube you made earlier around the turban and stitch the two sides together to cinch the turban as tight as you want it. Mine ended up being 4″ in total– so the turban is cinched to 1.5″ tall. Cut the excess fabric of the narrow tube and roll it so the seam is hidden. And you’re done! You can leave the turban as is or decorate it with a brooch or a clip-on earring, like I did.
Topic: DIY | 9 Comments
May 1, 2013
Well, I’m back in Hawaii for the Summer! I’m going through London withdrawals, but it is nice to be back home for a bit. The best part about being back has got to be my puppy, although she’s not very puppy-sized any more! I’ve been trying to get a good picture of her, but she’s notoriously camera-shy. And she’s far too wiggly to hold still long enough to focus on. I’ve already managed to get a bit of a sun-burn– clearly I’m not used to sunshine! Other than getting burnt and playing with my mutts, I’ve been busy applying for internships. So far, so good; but more about that later– I wouldn’t want to jinx it!
I got this dress at the Battersea Boot sale a couple of weeks ago in anticipation of spring. Now that I’m back in Hawaii, it finally feels appropriate to wear it. I love wearing clothes that I bought on my travels– a better souvenir, for sure, than something out of a tacky tourist shop. And I’m wearing yet another hat– I can’t seem to get dressed without adding a chapeau. Maybe I’ll make it my signature look?
Topic: Outfits | 13 Comments
April 15, 2013
I stumbled across the loveliest sidewalk art the other day
Unfortunately, my last two weeks in London are being spent writing research papers and studying for exams. Honestly, I’m more annoyed than stressed, which is quite a change from my usual attitude during exams! I’ve been trying to make the most of each day though, and squeeze in a bit of fun between the work.
I went to the V&A earlier this week, just to wander around and say goodbye. I love that museum so much- I feel like I could live there. It makes me want to be like those children from that run away from home and hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While I don’t suppose I could pull that sort of rule-breaking off these days, it was quite the inspiration to me growing up!
On Sunday it finally felt like Spring, so I decided to soak up as much sun as possible. I finally went to the Columbia Road flower market, which I had been meaning to do for ages. It seems like most of London had the same idea, though, as it was absolutely packed. I didn’t manage to get any decent pictures, but I had a lovely time. The flowers themselves were gorgeous and the salespeople hawking their bouquets seemed straight out of the 1920s with their fast-talking quips.
I also managed to check off another place on my to-visit list: Liberty London. I’ve always liked the Liberty floral prints, but I figured that the store would just be another department store. I was wrong– everything for sale was absolutely gorgeous and I wanted to buy just about everything in their sewing and haberdashery department. And don’t get me started on the furniture and decor. I even concocted a whole story about me being an interior designer and working on a house right now so that they wouldn’t get mad at me for taking photos!
Typewriters with plants growing out of them? Yes please!
Topic: London, Week in Pictures | 8 Comments
April 9, 2013
I can’t believe all the traveling I’ve been doing lately! Sometimes it’s hard to believe that this has been my life for the past year. I’m headed back home in a week and a half and I’m torn– on the one hand, I can’t wait to see my family again, but I’m really going to miss Europe. My life is going to become far more boring, though!
I went back to Amsterdam for the weekend and had the most wonderful time. It felt like I had never left. I really enjoyed showing my friend around, it definitely made me feel like a local. On Friday we wandered the city, popping in and out of boutiques and cafes. In the evening, we saw Wild Belle at Paradiso. They’re this really fun band from Chicago– I’m kind of obsessed with the girls voice.
On Saturday, we headed outside of the city to visit Keukenhof, the tulip gardens. Unfortunately, not all of the fields were in bloom as this spring has been so cold, but I still had a lovely time looking at all the different types of tulips that were in the greenhouses. It was sunny out, so we spent ages wandering through the park and even made some friends at the petting zoo ;)
It’s funny how different both Amsterdam and London are, but I love them each so much. London is so much more fast paced and busy, while the vibe in Amsterdam is so much more relaxed. But I wouldn’t trade my time in either place for anything.
Topic: Amsterdam, Travel, Week in Pictures | 11 Comments
April 3, 2013
I hope everyone had a lovely Easter! I headed to Edinburgh for the holiday weekend and had the most amazing time. The city itself was absolutely charming. I spent a couple of days just wandering the streets, poking my head into all the cute little boutiques around Grass Market, and climbing far more stairs than I can count. The architecture was stunning and the castle that overlooked the city made for an imposing skyline. We stayed at Garfield Guest House, a lovely B&B about a 10 minute drive outside the city center. The owner was so sweet and the Scottish breakfast they prepared for us was delicious. They even offered everyone some Haggis, which I respectfully declined ;)
When a friend of mine told me that the cafe where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter was in Edinburgh, I had to check it out. While the cafe was rather touristy and not as cosy as I had expected, it was fun to visit. And I had to try my hand at reading my tea leaves, of course. I was seeing an old lady walking with a cane– a good omen? Professor Trewlaney would be proud.
My favorite part of the trip was definitely a tour of the Highlands that I took with Rabbies (my tour guide was Audrey & she was fantastic!). We headed off bright and early on Saturday for a 12 hour whirlwind tour of the countryside. I’m not normally one for bus rides, as I do get a touch motion sick, but I was so captivated by the scenery to mind. I loved getting to hear some Scottish history on the tour as well. Oh Robert the Bruce, such an interesting fellow! The landscape was so stark and awe-inspiring that I sometimes felt like I was on another planet. The vast distances we drove without seeing anybody else certainly added to this. The mountains were stunning, covered in heather that blooms purple in August and the lochs were so still and glassy that they were practically mirrors. Loch Ness was magnificent, I’m just disappointed that I didn’t get a shot of Nessie herself. Oh well, next time for sure!
Where are you Nessie?
Topic: Photography, Travel | 12 Comments
