Gala Girl

Last night I got invited to a real live Texas charitable event. A friend who works in development had an extra ticket to a gala dinner and so I tagged along -- it wasn't quite GCB, but it definitely was a full-on Texas philanthropical hootenanny.


The invite was for "evening attire, business formal, or cocktail." 
Eek!


Having no real idea what that meant (I mean, that could be ballgowns to suits, right?), I googled the event to find out more and came to a site called "Blacktie Houston", a clearinghouse for photos and info on all of Houston's fancy events. Luckily, there were photos from last year and people seemed to be going more in the direction of business suits and church dresses. Houstonians tend to be a little more casual than their Dallas counterparts.


I can't really pull together a look that will convince anyone I'm a native Texan, so I went full rockabilly (at least -- the Texas society version of that).  I also pulled out a lot of my Light Green beauty techniques:

 Hair:


I'd washed my hair earlier in the day and it was still a little damp -- perfect for my "Product-Free Party Hair". It's my default for any updo-appropriate occasions.


I used my Sonic Bloom to bejewel my 'do.

 Makeup:
I'm a big fan of Revlon's ColorStay Liquid Lipstick, because - as the name implies -- it stays on for a long time. It also has fewer bad chemicals than a lot of lipsticks. Revlon was also one of the first major cosmetics companies to swear off animal testing. 


I used some eye make-up that I've had for a long time. I realize that you're not supposed to do that, but at least I'm not wasting it! It was actually a pretty good smoky eye, although you can't really tell in this pic.


Daily I use a mineral foundation from L'Oreal. I just looked it up on the Good Guide and it seems as if their most recent formula isn't as good for me as the old formula, although it still gets a green light when it comes to the environment. 


Completed Look:I wore a dress that I never wear, because I bought it for work and it turned out to have a major slit ... just perfect for businessy cocktail and showing off my Fluevogs and Pisces tattoo.

:

Sonic Blooms

A friend got me one of these "guitar pick flowers" for my birthday (mine is purple, but I could find a picture of a purple one).


A Houston artist makes them out of guitar picks and recycled guitar strings. They are also available on Etsy.


The flowers have a magnet on the back, so the flower can be used as a hair clip or a brooch. I wore it out last night in my hair and it was definitely a hit.


This exactly the sort of gift I love: local, incorporating recycled elements, and creative.


Have you discovered any interesting local artists in your neck of the woods?

Re-purposed Style Part 2: DIY

The other day I featured some of the cool vintage and thrifted decor my sister has around her house.

Today I wanted to show off some of the items that she has DIYed or altered. She saves money and saves the planet by creating her own decorations from items that she has re-purposed.

The top picture is just a framed postcard with a mat made out of craft paper.

My sister created these decorative plates herself. You could use plates from a thrift store or dollar store.

She simply made color photocopies (using her printer) of images from an old children's book that we had, The Caretakers of Wonder. That way, she didn't have to destroy our heirloom.

She then cut out and decoupaged the images on the plates. The alphabet letters spell out ...

DREAM

This one is a favorite of mine; I actually created the artwork years ago. I've been trying to get it back from my sister for a long time, but somehow she manages to keep hold of it.

I freehanded the outline of the tree onto a sheet of paper - it's been a long time but I think I copied an image from a catalogue. Then I looked through magazines to find images that had brown or green; I snipped tiny pieces from them. I glued the pieces onto the outline like a mosaic.

My sister used craft paper for a mat. Having a nice supply of craft paper around always makes DIY easier.

I wish that I had my sister's taste and crafty skills!

Re-Purposed Style

My sister has an amazing eye for finding treasures among the junk at thrift and antique stores. Not only does she manage to make everything she touches look adorable, her focus on decorating with vintage items is better for the planet and the pocket book.

Here are a few of her best finds:

This is a dress form on a vintage plant stand. My sister just wrapped it in some cool fabric.

Repurposed style is all about going with the flow: you can't PLAN to find a vintage bird cage this cute. You just have to be ready to pounce when you see it.











I just love this unique religious statue. My sister keeps it in her doorway. It perfectly matches the coloring of the rental house where she is now living.

It's easy to see something like this and think: gee, that's sort of cool, but it's also weird.

You have to have an eye for the possibilities and a sense of whimsy.

These antique skates are part of my sister's holiday decor.

Aren't they handsome?

I wish I had a better picture of this one.

The painting at the bottom is vintage. My sister's had it for years and it just looks cool.

The one on top is a painting that my sister did of her beagle. I love the way the folk art style of the vintage painting matches the simple artwork my sister did. It just proves you don't have to be an artist to make art.

Coming up: I'm going to feature some of my sister's crafty decor that showcases recycled and repurposed items.

Do you have favorite vintage or thrifted pieces in your home?