it's finally mine.

I've been eyeing the J. Crew silk gala clutch since it came out, but I was too cheap to pay $88 for it plus shipping.  I'd been waiting and waiting for it to go on sale and then a few weeks ago, it finally did.  At $59.99, I still wasn't convinced I wanted to spend that much.  I'm cheap and I can make purses, even if I didn't really want to make one.  So I decided to take my chances and waited for it to come down in price even more.  It didn't.  Instead, it SOLD OUT.  And I was sad.

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I realize it's just a clutch, and is not by any means something that I needed to have on my wedding day.  But I liked it.  A lot.  There is no denying how well it matched with my shoes!

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After it sold out, I was surprised by how disappointed I was.  Yes, I could try to make something similar, but really, I don't have the time or energy to spend making a clutch when I have a million other projects that I need to work on in the next few months.  I really didn't want to spend the time looking for another clutch that I liked either, because I am what some may call picky  (I like to say "selective").  

Luckily for this lazy bride, today on the  Weddingbee boards lovely reader LilMisPriss so kindly informed us that J. Crew had added more silk gala clutches in ivory to their website!  I immediately purchased one, and now I have one more accessory to check off the list of things to buy.  Now all that's left to do is wait impatiently for the postman to bring it to my doorstep!

p.s. Sadly the clutches have sold out again in Ivory.  Hopefully a few more will magically appear in case there are any other brides who've been looking for this clutch!

Did you wait for any wedding purchases to go on sale, only to find that they had sold out?  Did you end up getting what you wanted in the end?

dress envy.

As I wait (rather impatiently) during these last few weeks before my dress arrives, I can't help but have a slight case of dress envy. I am completely in love with this gorgeous gown photographed by Mimmo + Naz and featured on Style Me Pretty.Her veil isn't too bad, either.
Okay, I guess I'm a little jealous of the scenery too!

diy project: hair flower

Tonight, after cutting the fabric for my crinoline, I used the remaining fabric to make the flowers I'm going to put in my hair. Here are instructions in case you want to make one yourself, they are really easy to make!

You will need:

Fabric -- lightweight fabric like silk or chiffon will work best. I just used some apparel lining fabric in ivory to match my dress. You can use scraps from another project, this doesn't take much!
Scissors or rotary cutter
Self-healing mat if you're using a rotary cutter
Needle and matching thread

Instructions:

1. Cut a flower out of your fabric with scissors or a rotary cutter. You can trace a pattern on first if you prefer, I just did it freehand. Sorry for the wrinkles in this flower, this was one of my rejects.
2. Continue to cut flowers, making each one slightly smaller than the last. I used about 10 flowers for each hairpiece I made.3. Stack flowers center to center from biggest to smallest, alternating the locations of the petals to avoid gaps. 4. Carefully lift all of the flowers at once and fold them in half.
5. Place needle in the center of the folded side, making sure that needle goes through all layers of the flower. Make a few stiches to keep the flowers together.
6. Turn flower around and pinch in the opposite direction to make flower round. Arrange petals how you would like them. 7. Make a few more stitches to keep petals in place and tie a knot in the thread. Your flower is finished!
8. Attach flower to hair clip, pin, headband, or anywhere else you want! Enjoy your pretty new flower!

All photos are my own.

cool cufflinks.

I just found the coolest, most original, slightly nerdy in a me-and-my-fiance-are-both-engineers way, cufflinks I've ever seen! I don't think that sentence made any sense, but either way these are pretty fantastic. I wonder where one would find them... any suggestions?

Photo by L’amour de Vie via Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book Blog.

onto the next accessory.

I've been thinking about making a silk flower to put in my hair for awhile now. This picture sells me on the idea.

It also sells me on the idea of taking a picture in a boat, but I'd be nervous about falling into the water! I actually think they are trying to trick us in this picture. Doesn't it look like the boat is on the dock? I guess that's how you do it without getting wet! This couple is smart.

Now to start shopping for hair flower materials. I'll keep you posted.

Photo by Luke Walker via Elizabeth Anne Designs.

successful weekend.

This weekend, Dana (one of my bridesmaids) and I went to Minneapolis to visit Kiera and Dona (bridesmaid and matron of honor). It was Kiera's birthday, she is now a quarter century old! Happy birthday Kiki! Anyway, while I was there, we went to David's Bridal to try on the dresses that I am thinking they will wear for the wedding. The girls tried on two styles of dresses. The "bubble dress" as we are calling it, and another style made of the same material. They have decided that they are fine wearing either one. After the rest of the girls try on the dresses, we'll decide between the two. I think they are both cute, although the bubble dress is much more my style. If we are going with the multi-colored dresses, I definitely think we can only get one style dress. Otherwise I'm also fine with them wearing both styles in the same color. I think the different color effect would be kind of cool and a little more original, but either way is fine with me. What do you think?After trying on dresses, we went to a store called Francesca's Collections. While we were there, guess what I found!
Headbands! In the same exact colors as the dresses! Meant to be? I thought so!

All photos are my own.

pretty flower clutch.

I love this clutch. I think I have a thing for fabric flowers lately. I could get one to match the flats with the flowers on them!

Or I could get one in ivory to match my dress. Pretty.
Clutch by J.Crew.

the perfect updo.

Anyone that has gone on Senior Walk with me knows what one of the rules is. "Must protect Holly's bangs in the event of rain." Everytime I get a haircut I come out with a slight variation of the same hairstyle, always with longer bangs swept to one side. I think I've found the perfect updo for my wedding that isn't too much of a departure from my normal hairstyle.

A low side ponytail bun adorned with fabric flowers. And I found the perfect flower by portabello on Etsy to complete this look.

I especially love that it has small pieces of russian veil attached to it. This would be perfect if I decide not to wear a veil at the ceremony, or at least something to add to my hairstyle after the ceremony. I think it'd be a really subtle way to change my look for the reception!

Hairstyle photos from Martha Stewart. Flower photo from Etsy.