Bow Time!

Of all the accessories in the world, bows are definitely at the top of my list. Versatile and playful, these little hair pieces add a bit of whimsy to any outfit. From mini to overwhelmingly huge, one can be found to fit anyone's level of boldness when it comes to piecing together an outfit.

I love being matchy-matchy. If I can make an accessory to match my dress exactly, I will do it. From my eyeliner to my shoes, I have always been transfixed with wearing the same color scheme, making sure every color incorporated compliments each other. It may seem outlandish or odd, but that's me.

Pictured above is a collection of my bows that can be found on my Etsy Shop, She Said Sew Studios. Bows are so much fun to make and wear that I just had to share my love of them!

Painted Dapper Oxfords

I should dub this the summer of a million and one projects, because that's what it feels like I've done. However, it doesn't really seem like it, as I have yet to document any of them. So I'll begin with one of the projects I just finished: refurbishing my old oxford lace ups.

These shoes are definitely my most loved. They have been on two Disney trips, lived through two summers, and have even gone to New York. Sadly, my mom thought they were looking rather raggedy, but I just couldn't part from my beloved shoes. So I did what I do best, make them to what I want.

I had plenty of fabric paint and odds and ends left over from other craft projects. Armed with only a vague idea and some black and white paint, I decided to dapper up my out of shape oxfords. After a few coats of black paint, I could see the new life in the shoes. The white weaving, tongue, and dots helped to accent those areas. I used some black ribbon as the laces, using my heat embossing gun to make sure the ends don't fray. Finally, some matte paint sealer went over everything to ensure none of the paint rubs off on other things.

I really like the color choices, and I could see wearing them all the time once fall rolls around. Overall, I am pretty pleased that I get to hold on to my favorite shoes for a bit longer. Hopefully, they still have a few trips left in them!