fur real

today was one of those days.  those rare, glorious days where i finish what i start out to finish.  the stars align, the heavens open, and the baby takes a nap.  oh the glory of the nap!  how do parents accomplish anything with children who refuse to nap?  my heart goes out.

i've had two yards of fabulous faux fur staring at me for one month.  one. whole. month.  i've had plans for this lovely faux fur, yessirreee.  but there it sat, next to my cutting table.  staring. longingly. at. me.  oh, and let me assure you, i've stared longing right back.  all soft and furry like.  then i hear a cry, or an argument, or a whine, or something breaking and *whoosh*, i'm forced back into reality.  i am a mom.  i have a gazillion children (okay, eight), and someone needs something.  always.

today, however? today was my day.  the sun was shining, the birds were singing (seriously, this weather is freaking me out), and the heavens were looking down upon my pleading face.  i yearned for a fur vest (another fur vest, i ask you, can you have too many?), and dare i say, a fur cowl?  oh please say i'll have enough fur left over...please?

here's another conundrum.  fur is not fun to work with.  faux fur that is, i have no experience with real fur, thank the heavens.  eww.  faux fur sheds like you would NOT believe.  evidence below on my lovely pants, and that wasn't even the worst of it.  {sneeze}

i threw caution to the wind.  i put on my big girl pants (they're coral and they are SO cute), put my baby down for a nap, and went for it.  i used a horrific pattern designed from the 80's (which i love, you know), but, it was the most simple, basic style of vest i was going for.  i hate patterns, have i mentioned.  another rant, another day.  cut that bad boy out, and went for it.  i used a big old industrial needle and some insane upholstery thread (i'd rather call it dental floss).  and voila, it worked.

happy dance.

and the best part?  i had enough for a lovely cowl left over.  squeeeee. oh the joy.

my inspiration comes from my favorite blogger, nat.  she's been wearing this uh-mazing faux fur cowl for a couple of months and my heart started beating a little faster every time i saw it.  i thought to myself, self, you can sew, why don't you try whipping one of those bad boys up all by yourself?  and this is the problem right here.  those of us that can (or think we can) often say something like this to ourselves.  know what happens?  we don't.  we can, sure, but, do we?  no.  lame.  however, this fur cowl that nat wears was burned in my brain.  i had to have it.  so, voila, my version of nat's fur cowl.

not bad, i dare say.  i'm very happy with it, especially since it was a bonus to my vest.  yay.

now, fur is not my only love of the moment.  oh no.  i'm afraid i've fallen very hard for colored denim.  i'm pretty sure i want a pair in every color.  i've got blue, red, coral and lavender.  me.  seriously.  i'm very proud of myself for breaking out of my gray/black/brown uniform and welcomed color.  oh color, how have i lived without you for so long?  i welcome you.

these are the lovely coral jeans.  forever 21 for $16, thank you very much.  i love me a bargain, yes i do.  and the booties, i love the booties.  comfort, people.  major amounts of comfort.  fabulous for hauling the herd of children here and there.

while i was on the faux fur bit, i found this lovely fur today at hob lob.  inspired again, by nat, check out her cuteness here.  love. that.  so, in my true style, i copied.  the pants took a beating, however.

check out all the furrrrrr

this was after the scarf.  i didn't take a picture after the vest and cowl.  nasty.  i was covered, i will tell you that.  i had to vacuum myself to get it off.  vacuum myself.  weird.  but, it worked and the outfit was saved.  hurrah.

so, to a successful day, i salute you! cheers to projects being started and finished on the same day.  cheers to babies napping and kids being at school.  now, to figure out dinner...

xo