Month: October 2023

Photo: @TracyTutor / Outfit Sourced by @shopexcessgranted

Originally posted at: Tracy Tutor’s White Shirt and Trousers

Since the weather has taken a turn for the somewhat cooler temperatures, we are starting to wear more layers, jackets and coverings. And a great way to add some fun and excitement to our fall fashion pieces is with one or all of your brooches!

What Is a Brooch?

When I look up the definition of a brooch, the internet says it’s an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch. Another definition says it is a decorative jewelry item designed to be attached to garments. Well, glory be, ladies – I bet all of you have a bunch of these, and it’s stylish to wear them now – so let’s have fun!

What Variations and Styles Are Available?

These fabulous accessories come in all sizes and colors and materials. I know when I first think of a brooch, I think of metal and lots of bling. But, in keeping with the above definitions, they can certainly include fabric pins, wooden ones and even ceramic pieces!

When I search the retail sites for examples of brooches, I am overwhelmed with the different choices available. There is every animal imaginable, so many options of flowers and even modern designs too!

Of course, you may not need to go to the store at all to participate in this trend. Some of us have had brooches handed down from grandmothers, aunts and even friends. Or you bought them years ago and have forgotten all about them! I think it’s even fun to search out the antique and consignment stores for some variety if you want to add a couple to your collection.

Where Do You Attach a Brooch?

Now, most of us grew up putting a brooch on our collar or lapel of a jacket. And this is certainly an easy place to start, but I would encourage you to go further and experiment with attaching it other places as well, such as a belt, a hat or a handbag/purse.

You can also wear them on a headband or bow in your hair. How about on a wire around your neck as a necklace? You can even wear them on the laces of your shoes or on a fabric belt – it can be the pop of color if the buckle is plain.

Why Do I Love This Look?

Well, I have a confession. I am an accessory addict. Of course I blame my mother for this affliction. But admittance is the first step, right?

That being said, I think attaching a brooch to your clothing is a fun and interesting addition. It can certainly add some pizzazz to almost any look.

I think this can be especially helpful if you’re a woman who gravitates towards solid colored clothing instead of prints! Or someone who doesn’t like a necklace for the fact that it moves around.

Pros of Wearing Brooches

As I stated above, the little ole brooch can bring some bling to basically any wardrobe piece.

Since the brooch is a small piece of jewelry, it can easily be stored without taking up a lot of room.

Also, one of the reasons that accessories resonate with me so much, is the fact that the fit is always perfect! I can gain or lose five pounds, but that brooch still fits the same!

Cons of Wearing Brooches

Now the traditional brooches, with a pin on the back, can actually damage some clothing items. You certainly want to be careful with leather and silk so that a hole isn’t added to your wardrobe piece.

There is a solution for this issue though if you’re crafty. You can remove the pin element and add a magnet to the brooch. This will enable you to wear it without creating a hole in the material. The only caveat is it can come undone a little easier than a pin. Although I have had a pin come undone, too – so it just depends.

I read an interesting article that suggested removing the pin from your garment every time you wear it, even if you tend to wear the same brooch on this same item. By removing the pin, you allow the material to return to its original shape and weave – so said this particular author.

Storage

As an advocate of organization in my closet, I’m also a true believer that if you see it, you will wear it. Thus, keeping your brooches with the rest of your jewelry makes it much easier to remember to wear them!

Since my mother has too many brooches to count, she created a hanging organizer. It’s a couple pieces of material so that it’s relatively thick and cushiony. She actually decorated the edging around it, but I think that detail isn’t needed because the pins decorate it fabulously. We hung it on the back of her bedroom door with heavy duty velcro. Here’s a picture of it on Pinterest if you’d like to see it.

For more fall fashion ideas, read FALL FASHION AFTER 50: 4 TRANSITIONING CLOTHING IDEAS FOR AUTUMN or PRACTICAL FALL FASHION FOR ACTIVE MATURE WOMEN (VIDEO).

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Are you going to join in on the brooch love? And on which clothing items do you like to style them? How do you keep your pins organized? What do you think are the keys to fashion for women over 60? Please share your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.

Click Here for Additional Stock in Her Dress / Click Here for More Stock

Click Here for Additional Stock in Her Purse / Click Here for More Stock

Photo + ID: @erindanalichy

Originally posted at: Erin Lichy’s Black Babydoll Dress

You love your new oil painting pastime, but replacing art supplies keeps getting more expensive. Maybe you feel a little guilty about the costs. Maybe you decide to paint less often. Another option is to stretch out the paint, but does the end result on the canvas disappoint you?

You are not alone. I have also been through this cycle and it is not fun. Who wants to think about these concerns when all we want is the joy of painting?

True enough, but these costs can mount, spoiling the good cheer. So let us have a look at ways to get excellent results without prompting a call from the bank manager.

DIY for Your Materials

Easels are a potential big cost, but a once off. Still, it is simple to make an easel if you are handy at DIY, or if you have an obliging friend to help. A simple adjustable shelf can hold your canvas too, saving you hundreds of dollars.

All leisure industries these days have fantastic choice. Unfortunately, prices tend to be high-end and then some. Outdoor painting is popular, but the accessories can mount up and dent your budget. The truth is you need little more than a paint box. I made a simple painting box from an existing sketch box. Total costs? Less than 10 dollars. You can see an example here.

Be Creative with Painting Surfaces and Brushes

For painting surfaces, small paintings are the answer to learning how to paint. I am talking about representational painting, not large abstract works of course. How small? The 6” x 8″ or 10” x 12″ sizes are perfect. Instead of expensive canvas try cost effective panels of MDF. Certain suppliers in your town may be able to cut them for you in bulk for another big saving. Panels this size need only be 3mm thick.

If you like, you can paste canvas onto these MDF panels for an ideal painting surface. I prefer to simply prime the panels with acrylic gesso. The hard painting surface is great and paintings on panels sell without any problem. I do use canvas for large paintings, but my bread-and-butter sales are usually the small panels.

Practice on other surfaces too, like matt board offcuts if you can find them. Your local framer may be happy to give them to you. Make sure to prime them of course. Many artists use primed watercolor paper in this way too.

A good quality brush makes a big difference. It is maddening when cheap bristles fall out and you have to pick them off your painting. A good brush will not do this.

Tip: Got a birthday coming up? Drop friendly hints about the brushes you like. Write them down so your friends or family know to get the correct ones.

The main issue is looking after the brushes so that they last. Cleaning them with kerosene, in my opinion, improves your brushes’ lifespan. Buy the long flat variety of brush as it lasts longer too.

Don’t Scrimp: Be Smart with Paint

Using good quality student paint to learn your craft is not a bad thing. Artist quality (professional) paint can bring a tear to the eye when you see the bill. I have tried many brands over the years. I find Maimeri’s Classico range hard to beat for value.

Use all your paint if you can. Save the paint left over on your palette by covering it overnight. For longer periods you can scrape up the paint and save it in small plastic jars. Some artists keep their paint fresh in the fridge.

Another big tip is to buy fewer colors. Too often exotic colors are seldom used. It’s far better to buy the primary colors and white. Teach yourself how to mix color and improve your skills at the same time.

Oil painting is wonderful when you paint in layers. Big juicy paint strokes add the magic to a painting. The trick is to keep your paintings small, but generously layered. Put that small painting in a chunky frame and you have a real show-stopper. Beginners often mistake large paintings as better paintings, but then to save paint the artist skimps on layers and ends up with a starved canvas. Not good.

Educate Yourself Online

There are many wonderful resources at excellent prices online. Of course, there is also YouTube and many other video resources. Once again it is tempting to buy tons of instructional courses and videos. Time spent actually painting is more important, so start with learning the basics well. Practice. The work you do will ultimately save you money as you learn to use your materials effectively.

For pure inspiration it is hard to beat Pinterest. Over time, your tastes will develop and your skills will grow. Your Pinterest boards will show you this when you look back over time and see how you have developed your eye. Another bonus: Pinterest is free.

Paint with Purpose

Far from holding you back, these tips aim to help you paint with purpose. The idea of respect for your materials may seem quaint these days, but it is important for your growth as an artist. Costs should not hold you back from having fun and producing good paintings.

If you’re wondering whether to choose oil or acrylic paint for your art, read OIL OR ACRYLIC PAINT? USE BOTH AND IMPROVE YOUR PAINTING QUICKLY.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you have tips for budget conscious artists? What creative ways have you found to stretch your funds? What suggestions do you have for artists just starting out? Please share them below.

A minimalist lifestyle is relatively easy to achieve through downsizing if all you ever say is the word no. It is so simple to say. No, I won’t buy that new dress or No, I won’t accept that gift, or in my case, No, I won’t buy more bangles.

No, I won’t complicate my existence with more ‘stuff’. In fact, I won’t collect anything at all. Who needs things anyway? I won’t paint the walls in more than one color, I’ll stick to white. I won’t accept that book, I have too much to carry.

Having “too much” suddenly became an obsession on my downsizing journey. As a result, I have suddenly realized that what I have really been doing is simplifying my attitude to things. Not the stuff itself. What gets very challenging is when I want to say yes.

Yes Is a Great Word

Yes is such a positive and energizing concept and that is the shift I am making in my mind as I downsize the possessions in my life! So, rather than consistently saying no to things as I learn to simplify, I am now changing the lens, making a choice and saying YES to everything I love.

Don’t Say No to Things You Love

For me, downsizing is not about denial and austerity. I simply now have learned how to say no to things I don’t love. And what does love in that sense mean? In true Marie Kondo fashion, I keep the things that make me smile and bring me joy! I also keep things that make someone I love smile. It has nothing to do with my self-image or how other people perceive me. There is no desire or need for validation.

The philosophy of choice is grounded in mindful self-awareness and self-value. For me, making a wise and honest choice is at the heart of the simplification process. Beginning to realize that having less is really about appreciating that every ‘thing’ I own reflects something deep and true – for me. If that truth is bright and vibrant and even complicated – that is simplicity.

Making Authentic Choices Is at the Heart of Simplicity

If you choose to keep 15 headbands instead of 3 or 20 pairs of shoes instead of 2 it’s ok. For me, that represents simplicity – as long as the choice is authentic. As I get a little older, I realize that simplification is not about the number of things, it’s about the attitude to things.

100 Thing Challenge

In 2008 there was a movement called the 100 Thing Challenge. A man called Dave Bruno was at a conference where the topic of freedom and the reductionist lifestyle came up. He asked his Facebook followers if minimalist simple living could have a united purpose. It did and turned into a book and many lives were changed.

I am sure many people found joy in simplifying their lives to 100 items. But to be honest, I am beginning to believe that it is not about the number of things or activities or people. Having 100 things or 1000 ‘things’ is not the point. What matters is the lack of attachment, the freedom from obsession with style and need for external validation.

For me, its just a commitment to make choices that validate what is true to me. So next time I am in India, I am absolutely planning to purchase more bangles and bindis.

Just Say Yes

So it is not “Just Say No” – its “Just Say Yes.” Those are the three magic words. Downsizing is a lot more fun if you don’t feel you are denying yourself the things you love. In my opinion, it’s just about being absolutely authentic about what you love and want to keep in your life. Say yes to your beautifully unique and complex self and let your possessions reflect that.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you think that simplification has less to do with the number of things you own than your attitude to them? Have you said no to things you later regretted throwing away? What does your downsizing journey look like?