I'd Like To Thank The Academy

I guess it's what I get for having a "sporadically updated" blog, because I was tagged a week ago by Juneli of Fashionably Yours for the Liebster Award and I didn't even know it until yesterday!
The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The Meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcoming. Thanks, Juneli! You're as sweet as you are adorable!

The rules for receiving this award:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you.
3. Choose 11 people and link them in your post.
4. Create 11 questions for the people you've tagged to answer.
5. Go to their page and tell them.
6. Remember, no tag backs!

So here goes. 11 Things About Me:
1. My favorite food is popcorn. That's right, popcorn. If I were stranded on a desert island, I'd bring a bag of popcorn. And a popper. And a kick-ass cabana with a kitchen where I could plug the popper in. And a cabana boy to pop it for me.
2. I almost never watch a movie made after 1965. On the rare occasions when I do, the film usually has the word "princess" in the title or it's a costume drama set in the 19th century.
3. I belt out show tunes at the drop of a hat. I am not a good singer. Some people don't enjoy my singing but I don't worry about it because Big Bird said not to.
4. I believe it's never too late to have a happy childhood.
5. I am a devoted aunt to 6 smart, talented, beautiful girls and two smart, talented, handsome boys. I talk about them almost as much as I talk about my cat, which is saying a lot.
6. I'm taller than I sound on the telephone.
7. Although I tend to be blunt, I try not to be unkind -- unfortunately, sometimes I'm a little unclear on where the line is.
8. I am likely to spend the last $20 in my pocket on a book. In fact, I have.
9. I am most happy when I'm making something, whether I'm drawing, writing, sewing, cooking, or making jewelry.
10. I love the sound of rain.
11. A friend called while I was writing this list and he said to tell you that I'm a "good friend who is willing to share her experiences, both good and bad, to help her friends and give them hope." Isn't he sweet?

My Answers to Juneli's Questions:
1.In which place would you like to buy/own your dream home?
~  In the mountains of northern West Virginia.
2.What kind of music do you enjoy?
~ My tastes change and evolve as my interests change; currently, I'm listening to a lot of classical music and old standards.
3.What is your favorite pastime?
~ Reading.  I didn't even have to think about that one. :)
4.What is your idea of a perfect vacation?
~ Relaxation and getting away from my usual routine, seeing new places and having new experiences.
5.Which aspect of blogging do you find most interesting?
~ I'm always interested in what my fellow bloggers are up to, and I learn a lot from reading other blogs.
6. If you are a book worm or a couch potato, what is your all time favorite movie/TV show/book?
~ It's hard to choose a favorite book, but if I have to it would be Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse.  It's some of the funniest stuff I've ever read.
7.What would you wear on a first date?
~ Probably a skirt and top or a cute dress.  Something girly but with just a little bit of an edge.
8.Name a few of your favorite fashion brands.
~ I don't tend to shop by brands in my actual price range, so I'm going to dream here and say that I'd love to wear Chanel, Dior, Lanvin, and Alice+Olivia. 
9.Love, work, family, friends- how do you prioritize them?
~ I try make this my motto: People first, principles second, material things last.  If  do that, it's pretty easy to make my choices from there.
10.How would you describe your style of dressing? For eg, girly, edgy, lady like, Bohemian, casual, sporty, elegant etc.
~ Updated classics, but often a little girly, a little edgy, or a little bohemian depending on my mood and where I'm going.
11. Sunshine or snow-flakes?
~ Both.

Now for the bloggers I'm nominating:
1. Jacqueline at Blether.  She writes about food, cooking, and life in general.  She's also an inspiration because she maintains a fabulous attitude in the face of significant health issues.
2. Louise at Eat Thru The Pain.  Reading her blog makes me spew tea out of my nose on a regular basis.  She's hilarious.
3. Vivienne at Thrifted Shift.  She writes about fashion, books, and thrift shopping.  And she has a cute dog.  What's not to like?
4. Mod Mom Beyond IndieDom.  She's a mom and a rocker.  I aspire to be as cool as she is, but alas, it's not looking good for me.
5. Wendy at Salt and Wine.  She writes about all kinds of interesting stuff like food, thrifting, and DIY projects.
6. Veronica at Pret A Penser.  She blogs about food and fashion in two languages (English and Italian) and posts amazing photos. Honestly, she had me at the name of the blog.
7. Rita at Nana's Memories.  Her blog, which is "a place of recollection and reminiscence" is as sweet as she is.
OK, I'm stopping at 7. Yes, I know it's like not following through on a chain letter and God will smite with with plagues of frogs and things, but a lot of blogs don't have their number of followers listed on them.  And if I have to spend any more time comparing myself to people who have tons of followers without, so far as I can tell, having passed middle school English, I'll start doing tequila shots -- and nobody wants that.

The lovely ladies I have tagged, however, are all talented, relatively new to blogging, and quickly gaining traction.  You should totally follow them.

My 11 questions for the blog award:
1. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?
2. Who is your celebrity boyfriend or girlfriend?  (You can have either or both, and they don't have to be currently living.  Also, I am assuming they don't know about it, but if they do, WE NEED DETAILS.)
3. What are you reading these days?
4. In the kitchen, what can you make better than anyone else?
5. What would (or will) be the title of your memoirs?
6. If you could dive into any book or movie and live there, what book or movie would it be?
7. Name one thing on your bucket list.
8. Are you a cat person, a dog person, or some other kind of person?
9. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
10. Picture it: you're in the car, listening to the radio. A new song starts, you shriek with horror and punch at the radio buttons to make it stop.  Who's playing?
11. What do you collect?

Ye Gods, that is the longest blog post I've ever written, and if you read this far you're a rock star.  I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.  I'm setting this to post in the morning and going to bed. 

This Week at Sow's Ear Jewelry

This industrial chic hardware bracelet is by far the most popular piece in my Etsy shop.  It's also, oddly enough, one of the first pieces I ever designed.  The original was created a couple of years ago for my niece Katie, who is a photographer, an artist, and an all-around cool chick.  She loved it. 

Last fall, I made one for myself and found I wore it all the time because it was super-comfortable and flexible, and it added a touch of subtle edginess to even my most tailored outfits.  It also looks great stacked with other chain or beaded bracelets.  I get tons of compliments on it -- especially from guys, which surprised me.  When do guys look at jewelry?  I guess when it's something they can picture themselves wearing, they do.

I've sold more of this bracelet than any other single item I've made.  It also gets more pageviews and "favorite" clicks than any other piece.  Recently, it was featured in an Etsy Treasury with other upcycled and recycled items, and the same person posted her treasury on her design blog.

It also got pinned on Pinterest, but I have no idea how to find it on the site, so I can't show you.  But it did, honest.  Not bad for a piece of jewelry that began with the question "What would Katie love to wear?"  I'm beginning to understand why designers are advised to have a customer in mind before they begin the design process.

Words of Wisdom: Tilda Swinton

I always wear things that are easy to put on and take off, pajamas being the rule of thumb.

Image: Bedheadpjs.com

Want

I want everything in this Christian Dior collection -- fully lined, of course.  But if I'm paying couture prices (IN MY MIND) what's a few extra bucks for linings?

Yes, I know I make jewelry out of hardware and things I pick up in the street, I value repurposing and upcycling -- and yet, I covet a fashion collection where each piece undoubtedly costs thousands of dollars.  What can I say?  I'm a mass of contradictions.

Whaaaaaat?

Conceive of my shock, Gentle Readers, when I was on the phone with the Army Dude this morning, chatting of this and that, and the Army Dude said "Chanel?  Who's that?"

It was a few moments before I regained my powers of speech.  I then explained to him, in the politest tones I could muster, who she was.  He replied "Oh, right.  An old dead lady."

An old dead lady?  Next he's going to tell me that Gene Kelly isn't really my boyfriend. 

I haven't been this upset since my sister started wearing legwarmers.  I need to lie down on my chaise longue with a cold compress on my fevered brow, a cup of tea, and Young Men In Spats.

Auntie Maria: Jewelry Designer

I need to work on my photography.

Things have gotten kind of interesting around here lately.  What started out as a hobby making jewelry for myself and as gifts from repurposed and reclaimed materials has turned into the beginnings of a business.

Granted, my first customer was my sister Rachel.  But she paid me!

So now I'm ordering business cards and brainstorming with friends about marketing.  I've started keeping track of what I make so designs can be duplicated.  I'm assigning them stock numbers and everything.

What I really enjoy, though, is taking out all the sparkly and shiny materials and spreading them out so I can play.  That's the fun part.

A new work area in the corner of my living room.  The creative projects have been taking over my dining table and a girl's gotta eat.

This is just how Coco Chanel got started.  Well, actually it was hats, and she had a rich, titled boyfriend as a financial backer.  But close enough.

Safety First

If you go for a walk with the Army Dude in the western part of Rhode Island at this time of year, he requires you to wear one of these attractive numbers.  It's to avoid getting shot because of deer hunting season, but honestly, how much danger could I be in?  It's not like I ever shut up.

Note how it gives that pumpkin shape to which every girl aspires -- and the color... well, the photo doesn't do it justice. 

Even though the day was a bit overcast, I decided to accessorize with a pair of sparkly sunglasses.  (Translation: I hid behind them.)  Not that I think it helped.  I haven't felt this conspicuous since my sister Rachel visited and did my makeup before we went out to dinner.

One Badass Teddy

Yes, that's a Harley-Davidson do-rag.  Henry's cool like that.

Supposedly About Fall Fashion (But Really Just General Crankiness)

Lately, I feel like I'm living in a world gone mad -- to the point where I'm almost afraid to open my browser in the morning and see what the day's headlines are. At times like this, you'd think that reading fashion magazines and websites would be to my weary soul as chocolate is to PMS. But you would be wrong.

Maybe it's because I recently looked at a book about fashion from 1909-1939, in the introduction to which Diana Vreeland gushed about how "everyone" was chic and happy and full of fun until World War II came along and wrecked everything. Because, as everyone knows, World War I and the Great Depression were both freaking blasts.

These days, Vreeland's successors at Vogue are desperately begging people to buy something, anything, by basically throwing a lot of crap at the wall and seeing what sticks. Which is fine, I guess, since it means there are lots of choices out there -- but most of them aren't very good choices.

Take the coat above, by Rick Owens. The style is timeless! You can see paintings from the Middle Ages where figures are wearing something similar, that's how timeless it is. And it will look ever-so-chic until... well, until December 26th, to be precise. And then you might haul it out of the back of the closet next year if you're invited to a Star Trek-themed Halloween party.

Or maybe I'm just cranky because last night on Project Runway the contestants were given the challenge to dress stiltwalkers (that would be performers who walk on stilts, not really tall hookers) and then those who made costumes -- as opposed to outfits for gigantic elderly secretaries -- were penalized.

I'm telling you, the world has become a crazy place.

Fall Fashion Update With Exciting New Game!

Image: Suno.com

I promised to give you the scoop on fall fashion, so here it is. The prevailing theme in all the magazines I looked at the other day can be boiled down to the following sentence: "THE ECONOMY IS TERRIBLE AND NUMBERS ARE DOWN, SO FOR THE LOVE OF GOD BUY SOMETHING!"

They didn't put it exactly that way, of course. Instead, the fall fashion issues I looked at all had articles full of urgent fashion superlatives, telling the reader that she simply must have fitted sweaters, big slouchy sweaters, jewel tones, earth tones, black-and-white ensembles, things that look modern, things that look vintage. "The midi length skirt is back!" the fashion editors claim, but they showed every length from gyno-mini to maxi. They just want you to buy something, pretty please.

The picture at the top of this post is an example of the important fashion trend that Style.com calls "Collage Studies." You could buy the outfit above from Suno for thousand of dollars, or you can play an exciting new fashion game! Here's how to play: have a friend blindfold you, and then steer you toward your closet. Grab the first blouse, skirt, tee shirt, tights, and pair of shoes you get your hands on. Put them on. Remove the blindfold and be impressed with the chic ensemble you put together! Borrow an oversized plaid fleece jacket from your father, brother, or significant other, and put it on over the whole thing. Look! You're a fashionista!

Or, for examples of mixing prints from women who have real-world budgets, bodies, and places to go where they don't want to be laughed at, check out this post on Style...The New Black.

The Vapours

Gentle readers, I know I haven't been blogging much in the last week or so. You see, I recently learned that my beloved and otherwise-very-awesome sister has begun to wear legwarmers. On purpose. As I'm sure you can understand, this is a shock to my system. It's been all human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria up in here.

But fear not, my friends. Maiden sisters are made of strong stuff. After a few days on my fainting couch with cold compresses, hot tea, and the early novels of P.G. Wodehouse, I feel ready to face the modern world anew. Even a world in which legwarmers might be sprung upon me at any moment.

Pack In The Presence Of The Passenjaire

I don't even OWN any of these garments.

A lot of people have been asking me what I'm packing to wear in France, and it's really beginning to stress me out. You would think that after years of knowing me, my friends would understand the care and feeding of a neurotic person. Which, in case you were wondering, precludes things like repeatedly asking them what they are packing to go to Paris because said neurotic person starts thinking what you're really saying is that they look like dog vomit most of the time and will embarass the entire country with their hillbilly ways.

So now I'm dealing with a case of Packing Paralysis. I think about packing. But then I get nervous and jittery and find something else to do. Which brings me around to these:

My niece Katie wanted me to bring something representing her to Paris. I thought what could be better than Katie on a Steek? So I made a couple of them.

This one was a Halloweeen costume, but I thought it would give that haute couture look, especially since she looks exactly like a runway model: giant head and stick body. I think Katie on a Steek will enjoy having adventures, just like Catwoman does. I even have experience in this area as I have helped with a few Catwoman photo shoots.

Incidentally, I am bringing pajama pants but they are cute and have Hello Kitty on them and I plan to wear them to sleep in, not to wear out and about. I don't think they even have Walmart in France.

Anticipation Runs Rampant at Old Maid HQ

I'm ridiculously excited about the new Lanvin collection for H&M. I couldn't get a picture of any of the looks without stealing from Tom and Lorenzo over at Project Rungay. I adore TLo and I would never do that.

I also adore Lanvin. Whether vintage (like the dress above, from the 1950s) or modern, Lanvin clothing always exudes a certain ladylike sophistication. The collection for H&M is awesome, and priced in a range I can aspire to. Even if none of the dresses fit properly (the H&M customer is, after all, young and junior sized while -- let's face it -- I am hovering in the neighborhood of being a senior citizen) the collection includes jewelry, sunglasses, jackets, and shoes. I will own something with a Lanvin label!

The collection goes on sale November 24 and I can't wait. Pathetic, isn't it?

Off To The Military Ball

I know I threatened to wear trashtastic faux-military garb to the Military Ball, but let's face it: a middle-aged woman in an outfit like that is an invitation to a party nobody wants to go to.

My fairy godsister Rachel came through on short notice with this toile-printed dress. I chose to pair it with a cardigan and stockings because although I know it's more trendy to wear a boobie dress and bare legs, the temperatures were in the forties last night. I don't mind having my feet hurt for fashion, but I hate being cold.

Rachel also sent me some Moroccan Oil, which helped to get my hair smooth instead of curly. Be very impressed - that's a 45 minute hairdo right there. You won't be seeing it again any time soon.

What I'm wearing:

Dress by Mystic, borrowed from my awesome sister Rachel

Sweater by Mag Couture, purchased from Modcloth.com

Shoes (even though you can't see them) by Mootsies Tootsies

Vintage jewelry, belonged to my Gram

Vintage handbag, belonged to my Gram

That'll Learn Him

A few days ago - on Saturday, October 16, to be exact - the Army Dude blithely told me that he is expected to go to the Military Ball and he needs a date. On October 30th. He was certain it wouldn't be a problem. Surely I have something in my closet that would be perfect for the event. "Don't stress," he said.

Don't stress? Clearly, the Army Dude doesn't know me all that well. If the invitation says "Flannel Pajamas," I have a multitude of options. But for a ball? Not so much. I didn't just stress, I hyperventilated and began plotting his murder.

Fortunately, this little number will be perfect. After all, you can't spell Army Sergeant without a little T and A, amirite?