Friday Fashion: I'm Covered in Bees!

I loved bees since way before I started Honeybee Alley.  That's why I chose the name.  Lately I've been especially drawn to clothing with bee designs on them.

I fell in love with this top at the University District Street Fair but I didn't have money for it then.  I bought it two months ago and I am so glad that I did!  I've been wearing it at least once a week since it arrived.  It's so soft and wonderful and from a fellow Etsy seller (and did I mention that it's super soft?!).  She makes all kinds of great clothing and pillows and bags.

Here's a better photo of it, from the listing.

And then I just had to get these socks from Amazon, because I loved them and there were only four pairs left, and the bee's knees puns basically write themselves.  They're too warm to wear yet but I will be getting a lot of wear out of them in the fall, and winter, and spring.

Because I love bees so much I've been donating 10% of my Etsy profits to Save the Honeybee Foundation this year.  I've also been including a bee-shaped piece of seed paper in every order.

Do you want to know a secret?  I love honeybees so much but I just think bumblebees are way cuter.  They're all fuzzy and clumsy and adorable.  When I was growing up and playing outside I would name all of the bumblebees Mr. Bumbles and watch them bumbling around in the yard.  But don't tell the honeybees!

Friday Fashion: A Quick DIY Fix for Broken Zipper Handles

This morning I was running late for work and when I put on my boots the zipper handle broke on one of them!  I didn't have any time to do anything about it, so I just zipped it up as far as I could and went to work.  When I was at work I got an idea.  I have some earrings that I bought a few years ago and can't wear because my ears are allergic to them.  I thought they would be big enough to make great zipper handles and they match my boots.  Then when I got home I tried it out and they work great.  It's pretty easy to do this.  It is very important that you have sharp wire cutters to cut off the zipper handles (or whatever is left of them).  You also need pliers, charms or earrings to use as zipper handles, and two jump rings.

First you need to cut off the remaining zipper handles and throw them away.  Then take your earrings or charms and attach them to the zipper, where the handle was, with the jump rings.  Make sure you open and close the jump rings correctly, using this method.  If you are using earrings you need to remove the earring hooks before you can attach them to your boots.  You can either cut off the hooks at the loop at the bottom or twist open the same loop and remove the hooks that way.

This will work for any item with a zipper, not just boots.  I have used this technique to replace a zipper handle on a purse too.  It's helpful if you don't know how to sew on a new zipper, or just don't want to.  And this way you can keep using those items instead of having to throw them away and buy new ones.  You can also use this technique to customize items with zippers, even if the zippers didn't break.  Just cut off the zipper and then attach your own earring or charm in its place.

Friday Fashion: Vintage Vibes

Vintage Vibes by jaythejedi featuring flat shoes

I'm currently wearing pajamas and wishing for this outfit I made on Polyvore.  The top and the cardigan are my favorite pieces, besides the hat.  I am seriously in love with cloche hats.  They just add that perfect vintage touch to any outfit.  I only own one right now but that will probably change before too long.  I just made a Pinterest board of hats and it's mostly cloches.  I'm smitten.

Do you like vintage fashion?  What's your favorite kind of vintage item?

Friday Fashion: Ice Cream Date Outfit

"I want it to look like I'm afraid the airplane is going to crash into me."

 bag, shoes, belt, and plaid shirt: thrifted | jeans: Forever 21 |

shirt: Qwertee | necklace: Zombie Valley | hat: Wish

Last week I had a doctor appointment and afterward Jordan and I went on a date to a thrift store and then got ice cream at Molly Moon's.  I am so in love with their vegan coconut chunk ice cream!  We got a KitchenAid blender at the thrift store for just $7.50!  Hello smoothies :)  And I got a cardigan and another hoodie because the clothing was all 50% off.  It was a nice way to spend such a sunny day.

This post contains an affiliate link to an item that I love.

Friday Fashion: What to Wear to Target

We went to Target and Ross earlier this week because we needed some things and actually have money to spend on things now that we share a room.  The bus took forever to get to the stop so we entertained ourselves by taking selfies and outfit photos while we waited.

This is what happens when I suggest that we take a picture with only half of our faces in the photo.

so fashion-y

Balancing weirdly is one of my go-to poses.

bag and top: thrifted | boots and flannel: Valley of Roses Boutique |

jeans and hair bow: Forever 21 | necklace: Honeybee Alley

Jordan and I bought a total of 5 vintage flannel shirts from Valley of Roses Boutique for under $100 total.  This is one of those shirts.  The one Jordan is wearing in the first picture is another one.  We share them because they fit both of us, which is really cool.  My old jeans have been wearing out lately and two pairs have zippers that will not stay up so I bought some new jeans.  Forever 21 is the only company I can buy jeans from online and know that they'll fit so I went there first.  I found these ones and two other pairs for under $8 each!  And I bought this cute hair bow too because it was just 99 cents and I couldn't resist.

This post contains affiliate links to items that I love.

Friday Fashion: Picnic in the Park

On Monday Jordan and I went to the park and had a picnic, then wandered around the trails.  It was really fun.  And he took outfit photos for me!  (winning at life)

This post is in no way sponsored by Jello.

That pudding cup had just told the funniest joke ever, but you had to be there.

How amazing are these hat feathers?!?!

I befriended a cute oversized tadpole.

boots and hat from Valley of Roses Boutique, jeans from Forever 21, purse, shirt, cardigan, and extra jacket all thrifted

I don't know any real poses so I improvised.

Jordan took FOREVER to take this picture while I was trying not to fall off the log.

necklace listed in my Etsy shop

We are silly.

That's all for now. *blows kisses*

Friday Fashion: Star Wars Marathon

I don't know what to wear to run a Star Wars marathon (if that's a thing), but I do know what to wear to watch a Star Wars marathon.  My hair is finally long enough to sort of do Princess Leia buns, so I attempted them.  I also wore my Star Wars tee shirt from Thinkgeek.com and my Star Wars hair bow from my favorite hair bow making person.  No Star Wars marathon outfit is complete without a Photoshopped lightsaber.

my awesome bow (and I'm not aligned with the Empire but there weren't any with the Rebel logo)

these are what sort-of Princess Leia buns look like

Friday Fashion: What to Wear with Honeybee Alley Jewelry

Bohemian Outfit by jaythejedi featuring brown tops

This is an outfit I would love to wear with three of my new Honeybee Alley listings.  It screams cozy with that mismatched fabric dress and cozy sweater.  I am also loving the antiqued brass details on that purse.  It goes great with the antique brass on my jewelry.  Check out these pieces and all of my jewelry and art in my shop.

Friday Fashion: Fall Outfit Ideas

It's no secret that I love Fall.  One of my favorite things about Fall is the fashion.  These outfits embody all of my favorite parts of Fall fashion: layering, boots, hats, olive green, dark red, and cozy knits.  I would love to wear all of the following outfits!  For now I'll just be happy with the awesome studded ankle boots I got for $5 a few days ago.

Aren't they amazing?!

Gatherer by jaythejedi featuring bird home decor

Fall Colors by jaythejedi featuring a felt hat

Printed Pants by jaythejedi featuring a cable sweater

Rainy Day Cozy by jaythejedi featuring combat boots

Can you not get enough of Fall fashion either? (That sentence doesn't sound right now matter how I phrase it.  Oh well.)  Well, stay tuned for Part 2 coming next week!  And if you don't want to wait until then, stop by my Falling for Fashion treasury on Etsy.  It's full of amazing handmade fashion by super talented makers.

And if you're looking for some one of a kind jewelry to complete your Fall outfits, check out the new listings in my Etsy shop.

Friday Fashion: Fossil Hunting

Dinosaur Shirt by jaythejedi featuring a cap sleeve tee

First of all, I want to say thank you for all all your kind and supportive comments and emails on my last post.  I was feeling pretty overwhelmed and hormones definitely made it worse, but it helped me a lot to know that I have so much support from other people who are in the same boat.

Secondly, I have a job interview on Monday!  It's at a fair trade place that wasn't hiring when I left my resume with them at the beginning of the year but they moved locations and found my resume and really want to meet me.

Thirdly, I want to talk about fossil hunting.  When I was in elementary school my brother and I would always bring in fossils for show and tell.  Not animal fossils (I wish!) but plant fossils, which are still super cool.  There's this cliff up the hill from my grandparents' house that has rocks erode off of it and lots of the rocks have fossils in them.  We like to call it The Fossil Rock and we keep its location top secret.  The outfit above would be so perfect for fossil hunting, although probably with boots instead of the sandals but I love those sandals.  I really want that shirt and the bag is amazing!  I would wear it with this lava and pyrite necklace.

When I went home a couple of months ago to visit my brother I stopped by The Fossil Rock with my mom to do some fossil hunting.  We didn't find any plant fossils but we did find some petrified wood and a lot of rocks with crystal bands.

There are lots of pretty wildflowers on top of The Fossil Rock.

The Fossil Rock itself.  It's not much to look at to most people but I love how you can see so many different rock layers.

the pretty treasures I found; petrified wood in the center

Fossil hunting and rock hunting in general is a fun and usually free pastime that I have enjoyed since I was little.  I am excited to incorporate some of my finds into my handmade jewelry.  It's always cool when two passions come together.  Do you like rock hunting?  I would love to see photos of your rock collection!

Friday Fashion: Wild Spirit

Wild Spirit by jaythejedi featuring Hailey Jeans Co.

Lately I've been feeling extra bohemian/hippie/gypsy and it's been reflected in my newest Honeybee Alley jewelry in a big way.  There are a lot of stones, crystals, and antiqued finishes.  Now you can see jewelry before it's listed in my Etsy shop by following me on Instagram.  If you see anything you want to buy you can get it at a discounted price through Paypal (because I won't be taking extra time to photograph/edit photos/list/pay listing fees/write a description, etc.) or I'll gladly list it on Etsy for you to purchase.  Most of my new jewelry would go great with this outfit, and I can see myself wearing this outfit and going on an adventure in the woods or in a meadow.

Friday Fashion: Black and Gold

Galaxy Skirt by jaythejedi

I'm usually not a fan of gold tones; I definitely prefer silver tones, but in this outfit I love them to death.  I already have a peplum top sort of like this one but the exposed zipper on the one in the collage makes me really want it!  If I could have any item here I would pick the skirt...or the shoes.