Since I tend to gravitate to “colors” like gray and black, I wanted a cheap and easy way to add a shot of color–something bright and playful, almost cartoon-y.

I found this slightly weird necklace in the $1.00 bin at a flea market and decided it was my mission in life to paint it an obscenely bright traffic-sign yellow.

The whole project only took about 10 minutes, and I let it “hang dry” on my fire escape for the rest of the day.

I can’t wait to wear it with something gray, or maybe black–or ooh, navy. Mission accomplished!

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My obsession with rocks and crystals likely started during the dinosaurs-are-awesome phase everyone seems to go through around 4th grade. I dreamed of expanding my rock collection–proudly displayed amongst my collection of My Little Ponies and Sweet Valley Twins books–to include crystals and geodes and jagged stalactites (or was it stalagmites?).

To this day, anything that looks like a treasure coveted by small creatures with pointy ears from Middle Earth, I WANT–remember how excited I was about my druzy pendant?

Luckily, there’s no shortage of geological jewelry–the more raw and organic looking, the better. Clickety-click on the images to see some of my favorites:

1. Draugsvold Pink Agate necklace, $132 Dear Fieldbinder | 2. Blaze ring, $145 at Ken+Dana  | 3. Orange agate necklace, $49 Leamarie Designs | 4. Black druzy earrings, $19.99 alejandracc | 5. Mia necklace, $64 Kande | 6. Limontitla ring, $158 Anthropologie  | 7. Rock On geode necklace, $52 Little Gems by Jax |  8. Brass and agate gladiator choker $34 LarkinAndLarkin |  9. Cosmos agate necklace, $83 ingramcecil | 10. SCILIA rainbow crystal ring, $105 brianarose | 11. Gold plated amethyst chunk ring, $30 nu bambu

If you like geodes and agate and druzy (oh my!), definitely check out nu bambu, Sparkle Couture, and Little Gems by Jax on etsy. I’ve been favoriting their designs like a crazy person!

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I wish I could figure out how to work a full-on tree into my living room decor; Studded nude heels go with everything; Can there ever really be enough cute kitties on the internets?; I can’t believe this magical wonderland exists in real life; Love this wax seal-inspired bracelet charm by Jessica de Lotz; a strawberry and cream covered waffle is officially the new Breakfast of Champions.

Find more inspiration at stylesample.tumblr.com!

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My friend Catherine, one half of the team behind the delicately quirky accessories line Hark + Hark, was nice enough to gift me a necklace from their current collection at last weekend’s PopShop. I hemmed and hawed before finally choosing this lovely purplish drusy pendant, and have been wearing it nonstop ever since.

You can’t buy the exact same necklace I have (it’s, like, unique and special and stuff JUST LIKE ME), but you should definitely check out some of my other favorites, available at Hark + Hark on etsy.

Gold mine pendant, $45; udon necklace, $50; wiry branch necklace, $35

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Do you ever get stuck in a fashion phase? Where you’re really only interested in buying one type of item but you want a lot of them?

Right now, I’m on an earring kick. I can’t explain it and there’s no real reason for it, but for the past few weeks, I’ve really been into earrings. Dramatic ones, feathered ones, obviously fake jeweled ones…I’ll take ‘em all!

Earrings from Morrison & Me

I have another pair of earrings almost identical to these that I wear all the time. I figured these were a good investment–you know, after calculating cost per wear and whatnot.

Earrings from Paris J Boutique

Oversized, sparkly, exotic–what else do you need?

Earrings, High Street

I guess I’m still in love with Indian bridal jewelry, and these make the loveliest tinkly noise when they move!

Earrings from Atomic Number 10

It’s showtime, Synergy! I cannot get the Jem and the Holograms theme song out of my head when I wear these…now it’s your turn!

Glamour and glitter, fashion and fame…

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While I’m much too busy lazy to actually do anything about it, I’ve always loved the idea of do-it-yourself fashion. Unfortunately–or maybe fortunately–the height of my forays into hand-crafted apparel and accessories peaked right around the time of neon puffy paints and Jams shorts.

However, my generosity compels me to share some of the best DIY tutorials from talented bloggers across the web. From bib necklaces to Miu Miu-inspired minis, here are some great ways to further personalize your look, glitter not included:

From “The Miu Miu inspired skirt tutorial”, Kingdom of Style

From “DIY: Studded jeans and more”, Miss at la Playa

From “How to: Scissor a baggy shirt into a bitchin’ top”, Cheap JAP

From “Glamourai DIY/Candied Crumbcatcher”, The Glamourai (cover girl for Style Sample Magazine issue 2!)

From “Welcome to my Bleach Party”, Femme Rationale (Style Sample Magazine issue 1 cover girl! Hmmm…is there a pattern here?)

Have you done any interesting DIY projects lately? Share so I can get all excited and then not do it!

Read these, too:
Blogger Jewelry: Rare Jewels
Excited/Exhausted
Casual Style: Sweat Me

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Memorial Day weekend usually marks the unofficial start of summer, and as such, is usually when I start pulling out my warm weather wardrobe. This year is a little dicey because I’m so busy doing other stuff–working on the 2nd issue of Style Sample Magazine, preparing for a business trip, gorging myself on fried foods at Taste of Cincinnati–but I figured I’d at least take inventory of what I have.

Except…Oh, what a tangled web. I pulled my summer stuff out, but there’s no room for it because an obnoxious closet monster has apparently regurgitated all of my belongings onto a chaotic jumble of hangers and shelves.

Silk camisoles are hung with Boy Scout shirts mixed in with graphic prints stuffed in with way too many skirts crammed next to Lord knows what else.

Don’t even get me started on all the tees and tanks and jeans haphazardly stuffed in the armoire. Or the inextricable tangle of costume jewelry. Or the pile of blushes, lip glosses (really, who needs this many? I only have two lips, right?), eyeliners, etc.:

Forget a weekend, I need a week.

On the plus side, I (re)discovered a treasure trove of thrifted and vintage items that I was on the verge of giving away:
What was I thinking? I’m a pack rat, I don’t give stuff away! So, I have a huge pile to take to the dry cleaners and a smaller one to take to the tailor, but I’m really excited about my new/old stuff!

How do you manage your seasonal wardrobe switch? Any tips? Help!

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Notice how I didn’t use the over-used, incredibly predictable reference to jewelry as “bling” for the title? You can thank me with cash.

I am heavy into jewelry right now, especially dramatic necklaces. Let’s take a look at the lovely pieces recently seen on a few of my favorite bloggers:

I love this combination of heavy gold necklaces, and the length is perfect. http://theseams.blogspot.com/

This vintage gold necklace is a great accent under blouses as it lies perfectly on the collarbone. http://www.jaylovesvintage.blogspot.com/

Okay, maybe the belt is not technically jewelry, but the punk-ish snake motif and combination of rings is so badass.  http://www.thatschic.net/

An infinity-shaped pendant with dangling accents on a silver chain might sound weird at first, but obviously it works. http://vintage-tea.blogspot.com/

This goth/medieval/dominatrix-inspired necklace is amazing. ‘Nuff said. http://www.wr2bam.com/

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