Star Wars Paper Jewelry

Since everyone is Star Wars crazy this week, I think I should post the Star Wars themed things I have made. These were for Celebration Europe in Essen, Germany.
Since this convention took place in Germany, I felt like I should combine German cultural kitsch with Star Wars and made a Star Wars Dirndl and matching jewelry.

Star Wars Paper Jewelry:

Star Wars Dirndl

Since everyone is Star Wars crazy this week, I think I should post the Star Wars themed things I have made. These were for Celebration Europe in Essen, Germany.
Since this convention took place in Germany, I felt like I should combine German cultural kitsch with Star Wars and made a Star Wars Dirndl and matching jewelry.

First, I made a pattern of my favorite Dirndl dress by tracing the pieces...

Then I cut out patterns of the fabric and stitched them as "appliqué" onto the apron.

I decided to make my own "TIE Cockpit" buttons by covering old buttons with fabric.

 I made my own ribbon - ruffles by sewing two colors together.

Voilà! The Star Wars dirndl in action…

Click for more photos of Star Wars Celebration Europe in Essen, Germany - July 26-28, 2013

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Baking Cherry Pie with Atomic Cheesecake Studios

Right in time for the Holidays Coco Vin felt like baking...

Photos by Atomic Cheesecake Studios

Hmmm but what shall I bake?

First you crack an egg!

The egg cracked and what a handsome egg it was! Oh My!

Then you stir it all up...

Voilà! A cherry pie right in time for the Holidays!

Repairing Vintage Jewelry with Nail Polish

I have a weakness for vintage jewelry and have been collecting items since I was a teenager. My passion was fueled at yard sales where older ladies sold off their collections from the 1950s-60s. These weren't cool, vintage or fashionable when I was a teenager in the 1980s-1990s, but I lived in my own "silver screen fantasy world" and was able to amass a large collection for very little. However, sometimes the pieces were in really bad shape. I learned quickly how to repair and clean vintage jewelry the right way, but I also cheated a bit. I found that plastic pearls that have completely lost their color and luster could be painted with pearl nail polish. This was a much faster fixer-upper than trying to locate the exact same pearl size...and especially in the days before the internet this was a difficult task. Plus, I'm a practical person and want to live with and use the items I bought. I found that using a shimmery pearl nail polish did the trick. Some purist collectors would probably hate me for it, but you can always later, if need be, pop out the old pearls and replace them with long sought after original replacement pieces.

              

Vintage Trifari

 

 Vintage Chanel

Today's Funky Fashion Experiment - 1970s

I bought this polyester 1970s dress in the "old grandma section" at Human (local charity thrift shop) for 2 Euros. It was so extremely ugly, yet strangely charming and it called my name.

I took on the challenge.

I added a simple belt from H&M which I altered a bit to fit me better and vintage 1970-80s Givenchy earrings that I purchased online about 10 years ago.

When I wore this ensemble, I received many enthusiastic compliments from ladies that only wear couture. When I told them where I had bought the dress and the price I had paid for it, they looked at me in disgust and confusion.

Experiment was a success! LOL 

Aunt Angela's Earrings - Paper Jewelry

My aunt’s apartment in Heidelberg is filled with old books and antiques. I especially love the view from her living room window. So for her birthday I made her earrings of "her view". (I secretly took the photos during my last visit ).

The Red Silk Japanese Kimono - “Costumes Then And Now”

I purchased this red silk Japanese Kimono when I was 13 years old at a garage sale at the Old Town Fairfax (Virginia) fire station. I remember the original owners had been stationed in Japan and they sold it to me for a few dollars. I’ve moved around so much in my life but it’s one of those items I just love and could never part with. It has been worn on many occasions. In the first picture I’m 14 years old and wearing it during a photo shoot with my late photography mentor John Mendenhal. (He was a friend of my mother’s and we had an arrangement that I modeled for him and in return he supplied me with a 35mm camera and gave me photography lessons). The other pictures are of a LARP this year in which I played an “Evil Peking Opera Star” (I know it’s a Japanese Kimono…shhh don’t tell! ;-)).

 

Photo by John Mendenhal 

 

Photo by Andreas Lorenz

 

 Photo by Andreas Lorenz

Paper Jewelry

I've taken 1000s of photos of architectural details throughout the years and have been wondering what to do with them. This lovely face is from a building in Heidelberg, Germany that I used to walk by every day. I've decided to make paper jewelery out of my photographs.

Vintage Christian Dior Turban

I found this vintage Christian Dior Turban 15 years ago at a Goodwill shop in Virginia for $2.

For me it has a “Sunset Boulevard” feel. I wear it as a character in a Victorian LARP. I play an eccentric old Lady named Theodora Popeacock. 

She is haunted by her late, beloved pet - a yelping, psychotic Pekinese named “Pookie”. ;-)

Today’s Funky Fashion Experiment – “Cherry Lady” 1950-60s

I found this dress at Humana (local charity gift shop) on the sale rack for 4 Euros.

It was nearly floor length and even though it had a funky print with little umbrellas, it looked a bit “matronly”. I shortened it and added a petticoat – and voilà it’s a swing dress now!

I found the puppy purse “Chopin” at the Liechtenstein Palace flea market for 5 Euros and the cool cherry earrings are from C&A's children’s department.