Handmade on Etsy

I have for long thought about opening a ”handmade” section in my Etsy shop, but I didn't know what to sell and I didn't know if it would be funny to make, when somebody ordered it. But now I’ve done so, and at the moment I offer bookmarks, small crocheted things, and bead jewelry, which I customize from my customer’s wish.

I have taken photos of all my beads, so my customers can decide which colours they want:

  

I offer this lovely Russian flower bracelet:

And I also offer making a set with a matching necklace:

I make this nice twisted necklace:

And I make this almost royal necklace with crystals:

You can choose from these crystal beads:

I also crochet, and have made the pattern for this snowflake myself. You can use it as a coaster or under your tea mug:

I make them snow white (!) and white with silver thread, but I don’t have much left of the silver thread, so buy them while you can. I sell them in sets of four, either four white or two white and two with silver thread.

I also sell my nice crocheted acorns:

You can buy one of your choice or buy a set of all three. I make them in beige, green and gold.
I love acorns and think they are perfect for autumn or Christmas decoration, but you can use them all year round if you like. They will also look nice as a decoration on a present.

And I make customized bookmarks:

Where my customers can choose background colour and what they want me to write with my over hundred years old typewriter:

I hope you will take a look at my new shop section, and if you have any wishes, do let me know, then perhaps I might be able to make it.

Monroe Monday

Sorting, Part 2: The Makeup

This is part two of my clearance project, see part one about my wardrobe last Thursday.

I love red lipsticks, or should I just say lipsticks, and glosses in general, and my collection is very big. It became even bigger when Santa gave me this fabulous Estee Lauder beauty box:

So I want to test and sort out, because I can hardly find space for it all in my vanity drawers. But there is also another good reason to clear some of my collection. I have become older, sigh, and then it is good to change your makeup. A few months ago I attended a birthday party and met a woman I have known for long. She is in her late forties and a good example of how it does not become you when you use the same makeup you have used since you were young. You should fade your makeup when you get older. Softer colours look better when you are not in your teens anymore. Metallic eye shadows enhance wrinkles, and who wants that? I love red lipstick and use it very often, especially during winter, but I also have a lot of other nice colours, which I want to use for a change.

Here is an example of a purple lipstick, which I have changed to a dusty plum colour (number two from left), which becomes purple clothes perfectly without being eighties purple. And a red lipstick I loved in the late eighties and the nineties (number three from left), where the last colour is my favourite now, a much softer colour:

I don’t think any of these colours are still for sale. And I also want to add that I still might use the bright red now and then, but then the rest of my makeup is very toned down?

If you don’t want to part with your favourite lipsticks, then you can use a lighter shade in the same shade on top of it. Marilyn was known for using up to six different lipstick colours, then we can too. But I think I will sort out the shades I never use. If you know a teenage or little girl, they will love to play with them. But do ask their mother first, so neither you nor the girl gets into trouble.

During winter I love using a grey/black eye shadow, but I mix them with a pale eye shadow. This is easiest to do with an eye shadow brush, but you can do it with the foam-thingy too. Buy a matte pale beige eye shadow, most brands have mono-eye shadows, and use it for mixing. This way you still have your favourite shadows, but in a softer more age-friendly shade. My black eye shadow is only used as a long, slim, triangle, like winged eyeliner. During summer I always use a very pale eye shadow that matches my clothes, and a thin fifties style eyeliner. I am lucky not to have many wrinkles, so I will continue doing so.

Do change your blusher to a softer natural colour. I was young and smart in the early eighties, so I have had bright indian war paint on my checks and used up several neon pink lipsticks. Back then I also had mascara in all colours, and I really mean all, also neon green and pink. Now I only have black, which I only apply in a thin layer.

I hope you can use some of my advice and want to change and clear some of your makeup too, if you, like me, not are in your teens anymore.

It is good to look at your style with new eyes.

Monroe Monday

Sorting, Part 1: The Wardrobe

I have started a new project this year. I will sort my wardrobe, my makeup and my nail polish collection, to find out what becomes me and what doesn’t. I do sort out things from my wardrobe regularly, but now I want to try on all items that are not used very often (and ditto for makeup and polishes), to find out why I rarely use it. Perhaps it is the fit, the colour, the length, the neckline? This way I will either find new favourites or sort out to charity. Everything vintage will be put for sale in my Etsy shop.

It all started New Year’s day, where I had to figure out what to wear on New Year’s eve. I went to the basement, where my party dresses are (I don’t want to go through sequin dresses daily), and found a lot of dresses try. I quickly sorted out a dress that was too short. When I was finished and would hang it all back in the closet, I started going through what was left and quickly sorted out 6-7 things. It was quite fun so I ended in another closet and suddenly I had a huge Ikea bag full of clothes:

It felt really good. I also found this pastel yellow fifties style summer dress, which I had missed, but was sure I had donated to charity long time ago:

So I will plan what to wear in the evening, and not just reach for the usual choices. This way I will make new “sets” that can renew my daily wardrobe.

Next week I will write about makeup, so I hope to see you back next Thursday.

Monroe Monday

Dream Birthday

I had the most wonderful birthday a woman can dream of. My birthday was on a Wednesday, my weekly day off, and I just thought I should have a cozy time alone, pick up my new glasses and go out to dinner with DH and son in the evening and there after see a movie with them. No, that was not what happened. On my birthday breakfast table was a gift card to a shopping tour at my favourite vintage repro shops in Copenhagen, and DH had taken the day off to be together with me. I became SO surprised and happy! At first I thought we should go to our neighbouring city, Lyngby, but then he pointed out the pictures he had glued to the card, and such dresses are not found in Lyngby, unfortunately.

We started picking up my glasses and then we drove to Mondo Kaos, where I found two dresses. We drank a cafe latte nearby, and then we drove to Copenhagen where my other favourite shop, Rock'a'Hula, is. Here I also found two nice dresses.

Here they are, all four hanging in a row:

Collectif Noelle Dress, perfect Christmas dress in red and green plaids:

I will use it all winter.

And this is how I look wearing it:

I have added a dark green cardigan and a vintage garnet necklace.

20th Century Foxy dress, which I cannot find online, so you have do make do with me:

Hell Bunny Raspberry Polka Dot Dress, lovely dark red colour:

And this is me wearing it:

Right before my birthday I bought this on Daisy Dapper at half price:

It is named Elvy Dress, and this is me wearing it:

I also found this, which I fell completely in love with two years ago, but alas, it was too big. I searched high and low on the internet, but never found it in my size, and guess what? I found it at Rock'a'Hula in my size. I was SO happy and DH suggested giving it to me as a Christmas gift:

It is from Collectif and named Tartan.

So now I don't need any new dresses for a long time. A thousand thanks to DH for a wonderful birthday, with lots of dresses, latte, lunch and shopping to Copenhagen - it cannot get any better.

Monroe Monday

Christmas Nails

Oops, I had a little Christmas vacation from the blog, but I doubt anybody noticed. I've been thinking about my blog lately. I don't get many new readers neither comments. I don't know if I write too different topics, too boring, too predictable, or if you don't want to see my nails or my scannings of vintage ALT for Damerne. I love Instagram, it is quick and easy to update and follow, and I've got a lot followers. But until now I've decided to keep my blog, so here are my Christmas nails for December:

But let's start with my Marilyn Monroe nails, stamped with my new MoYou plates:

The nude polish is from Oriflame. I've added a little gold glitter, because nude is too boring for me.

My birthday nails, stamped with Bundle Monster Holiday Collection upon Ciaté Spending Spree, my favourite duochrome polish:

My first Christmas nails:

A gradient with red and green glitter upon Sally Hansen's Bleech Babe.

Here I have stamped holly leaves upon a cheap gold polish from the super market and added small red rhinestones as berries:

I really loved this manicure and got over 20 likes at Instagram, which has never happened before.

Stribed glitter gift wrapping paper:

All three polishes are from ColorClub, my favourite polish brand.

And the last Christmas manicure, Rudolph stamped with Bundle Monster Holiday Collection upon a cheap gold polish from the super market and red rhinestones as his nose:

The red polish is ColorClub's Ruby Slippers, my favourite red polish.

I hope you had a lovely Christmas. I did. Santa came and although my sister's twins now are nine years old, they still look perplexed at him:

And he had a present for ME!:

I was SO surprised and HAPPY! I got this completely luxurious beauty box from Estee Lauder full of lovely makeup. I must have been very nice this year.

I wish you all a happy New Year and thank you for still reading my humble blog. :)