The other day I came across my Gloria Vanderbilt Book of Collage! I haven't looked through this book in at least a couple years, and oh what a gem.  The reason why I love this book so much is because it is not your typical book on a famous fashion designer: Them in their living space, sitting in each room with their dogs, lounging by the pool etc.  Don't get me wrong, I love to see a fashion designer - or really any one for that matter in their living space, and I will continue to buy their books, BUT what sets this book apart from the others is that it is all about her love for collage and her process! If you can find it on amazon, ebay or where ever - do get it, it will inspire you to collage in a new way!

She has quite a few collages of Queen Mary and Elizabeth throughout the book.  Also, these collages are tiny on my blog but they are actually life size in person! 

lastly,  I came across this cute shop on etsy : Hippie Kingdom the owner lives in India.  I love how the most humblest things can be made into some really great accessories.  Her use of newspaper/hemp/metallic thread and tin foil is fantastic. This would also be such a fun activity to do with pre-teens and teens.

Yesterday I got most of my office/design area organized... It will be nice to finally get back to sewing, making, painting etc.  Earlier this morning I decided to go through my old photos from way back when I sewed clothing and made accessories [2002-2004] that I then at the time sold on my website roxymarj.com - school started and everything was put on hiatus. Thankfully! I couldn't help but laugh at all the things I made.  Many of which I would never wear or adorn myself in...HOWEVER, it is really good to have as much documentation of one's work I believe.  We always want to be better than our last design...that is what my teachers at Parsons would say to us over and over again. And it is true.  2011 has definitely been a good year for me so far.  I have so many goals and dreams that I want to attain as quickly as possible [instant gratification syndrome] I bet many of my dreams are probably the same or very similar to any of you guys reading this.   I have spent a good amount of time wondering the best way to go about doing them...and the only thing I can come up with is Nike's famous slogan: JUST DO IT! --- Right?!  How funny if their slogan was: Try and do it if you can, or  Try and make time for it! lol Yeah right! Nope - it is JUST DO IT!  I ironically got the bug? to start a mini clothing line...ironic because that is what I went to school for --- but halfway through school I realized that passion A was in illustration...Fashion Design was passion B.  Anyways, tables have not turned...just merged...and I find myself saying these last couple weeks: JUST DO IT! 

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Here are some of my "designs" that I made before I started school... it is hard to pinpoint the style I was going for... It looks like I was making clothes for the crafty country raver or something.

But first, my humble little sewing area.... teeny tiny. :)

 

Gosh.... how I have MISSSSSSSED this dear blog of mine! Luckily for me, blogs are like dogs...they don't hold grudges, every time they see you they act like its been years, and they are sooo excited even if it's been just a couple hours! For me, it has been a couple months... :( sorry sorry blog.

These last two months have been crazy.... I have been emotional, overwhelmed, happy, excited, worried, scared, etc.... so many emotions...and through everything the one awesome and amazing thing that has come out of my crazy bi-polar wedness is Jesse's consistency in ultra calmness.  Every day that goes by I know more and more without a doubt that he is the one for me... yes this is a ballad. Ha! lol

Actually no... it is not....it is just so nice to know....t

hat I am marrying the right person for me this time. 

+YIPEE YAY YI YO!!! + 

Here is our invite/announcement that I painted

   

 and here is our engagement photo. Jesse's talented sister Megan took our engagement photos and then Jesse did a little "retro" magic tweaking :)  This amazingly beautiful building is the Salt Lake City Temple that we will be getting married in next Saturday.

 

So I got my wedding dress on ebay from a lady in Italy. Vintage 1930's [hand made] PERFECT condition, no stains, holes, smells etc. I LOVE THIS DRESS! I paid only 300 Euro for it...which equals $450.00 ---- sadly the dress came to us in this yellowish/pinkish color > there began my tears of regrets of buying a wedding dress on ebay.  Jesse, who is so wise...looked up online how to remove color from clothes = TADA! RIT COLOR REMOVER!!! WORKED LIKE A DREAM! Oh my gosh that stuff is magic.  Here are the before and after pics.  The after pic looks like there is bleeding or a stain...it is just my shadow! :-[) no worries! :)

 

 Also...the dress is a tiny bit to small for me in the waist, so there is some alterations currently taking place....  For my shoes - I found some nice "Nina" gold metallic dress shoes at the thrift store for $4.00 I then bought some champagne gold tiny glitter in the Martha Stewart craft section at Michaels .... VOILA! SUPER GORGEOUS SPARKLY SHOES! Oh, I failed to mention...the reception is going to be a festival of all things sparkly!!!!

How cute did these turn out!?!  Just paint on any smooth surface with modge podge...

be generous with the glue but not goopy generous...dump some glitter, let it dry, then dump off.

 p.s. total side note but a must know note.  My nail polish on my toes there...JUST GUESS how long it has been on and chip free...go ahead, guess. OVER A MONTH my friends! YEAH, SERIOUSLY! Check it: My good friend Angela Murray whom I am staying with [till the man and I get married] has sooooo many beauty tricks up her sleeve. A month or so ago we did pedicures and she told me to use her clear top coat polish that is used for horses...well I did and I cannot believe how insanely well this stuff works, ESPECIALLY considering that I take a bath every night AND I walk a lot [still don't own a car] so that says something right? Anyways, I thought any lady or gentleman reading this would like to know...I'll get the name of that product here soon.   

Also, I am currently working on my veil as we speak. Yeah....I am getting married next Saturday...major crunch time I know! : /  I found these beautiful vintage gold floral beads [?] at an antique mall here in Utah... two bundles for $6! :)

Here in Utah...there is a thing called "Bridals" I had never heard of them till moving here....

basically it is a whole set of photographs of the Bride in her dress... Well because Jesse and I are on a major strict budget we will be doing our bridals ourselves, meaning in our own "studio" :-[) Anyways, both Jesse and I are trying to figure out ways and places in our apt. that would be great for shooting the pics, I realized the other night how much I love our dining room and how this wall would be perfect [also considering shooting them in Liberty park perhaps] but the reason why I share this is because to most everyone the idea is going to seem ridiculous and hard to pull off....but luckily I am marrying into a pretty creative family so don't be surprised if you see some magical pics coming straight out of our apt.! :)

Check out this building! Well...guess what, it is where our reception is going to be held! :-[) ahahah lol

Every time I think of "Auto Ape" <- yep, it is a used car dealership, and I can't help but laugh.
Jesse's good friend and his dad own this place and our letting us use it for FREE!
Thank YOU Trevor!
 We appreciate you and your dad's generosity soooo much! This helped us save at least $1,000, and we are stoked to have the reception there. The space inside really is fantastic.
The outside has this retro 60's feel to it that is then built around an old bank from the 40's
... we couldn't be happier!

This room got painted white and the motorcycles moved out. :)

How amaaaaaaaazing is this door entrance! It goes into the office area.... That is me below [duh!] painting the bathroom...part of the deal with getting the place for free was that we had to help clean the place up...Auto Ape has not opened for buisness yet...

Lastly, I just want to do a public "SHOUT OUT/THANK YOU" to Angela from Jesse and I.  Thanks for being such a good friend and letting me stay with you for free!  I have looooved being your short-term roommate and am going to have fond memories of our late night talk sessions for years to come [She has let me share her bed with her even! What a sis!] Anyways, again... Thank you! I love and appreciate everything

you have done for me!  And to you Jesse....well you all can figure it out! 

<3

I  already know what our wedding cake is going to be/look like [that is a surprise till after the wedding!] :[) But here are some cakes that are just as beautiful and interesting! 

Sugar Peaks Wedding Cake from Martha Stewart Weddings

The Caketress

 

I have slowly been collecting candle holders, mini vases etc. at the thrift store to make some cakestands... My color palette for my wedding is off white, white, gold & silver with touches of a slate blue [Jesse added that last one in there] and I am going for a vintage theme...trying to stay in between the 20's and 40's...I really like the look of the tarnished candlestick holders and can't decided if I should polish them or not...these are things that are keeping my up at night now! hahaha lol - retarded!