Catch-Up: Episodes 33 / 34 / 35

Get caught up with my DIY game with the last 3 episodes of HGTV Handmade where I show you how to make a suede fringe purse, lace luminaries, and office supplies.

Summer Essentials // Lip Stain

Some of you were asking what I was wearing on my lips in this week's HGTV video, and wouldn't you mind-reader readers know, I was already prepping a post to share this gem of a lip stain with you. A couple of weeks ago I picked up this Revlon Just Bitten lip stain in Passion, and was so over the moon for it, I ran right out and picked it up in Cherish. I wore in this week's video, I wore it to my chiropractor's office, I wore it to a rehearsal dinner. To test it's diversity on skin tone, one of my best friend's, who happens to be an African American drag queen called $himmy Hendrix also tried it on....and it shined like RuPaul's pearly whites. There is nothing this lip stain won't do except get your weave stuck to your face, which, to me, is the highest of recommendations. 

*Please let's have a moment for the look on Strudel's face here. DAY MAKER.

Episode 17 // Marble Clay Necklace

Marble is high-end classic design element, that is everywhere right now. Often an aspirational and expensive addition to your home, I thought I'd try my hand at creating my own to make a necklace. I love how it turned out, and now you can see how easy it is to make your own marble in this week's episode of HGTV Handmade. 

/// Meg's HGTV Handmade Playlist /// 

Finding Inspo

In this incredible Orla Kiely London Fashion Week Spring 2014 Lookbook.

Photo 2 + 3 via R29.

Related: This was one of my FAV Christmas gifts of 2013.

Also related: Must see this over the weekend.

Episode 8 // DIY Bohemian Tribal Necklace

In today's video we create a bohemian necklace using pom pom trim and industrial felt. Inspired by bold statement necklaces embodying a tribal/jungle vibe, this jewelry piece can be created with or without sewing skills. In one video I show you 2 different looks, the one above that is a big, bold look, and a second more subtle version of the project. Check out the video to see which one you are digging more. 

The image below is the template I created for the necklace shape. You can certainly create your own, but if you'd like to use my template, simply print it out at the size it is, fold on the dotted line, and cut it out. 

// MORE //

Episode 1 / Episode 2 / Episode 3 / Episode 4 / Episode 5 / Episode 6 / Episode 7

Currently Coveting

// Lucite + leather booties //

Let's just take a moment to process these. And by process, I mean figure out how we've lived until this lovely day when they came into our lives.

Via Anthro

DIY Lighting Strikes Twice Halloween Costume

We just had the best Halloween we've had in years! Our new neighborhood offered up exactly what I wanted, lots of adorable little humans dressed up in their most creative costumes, trick-or-treaters, decked-out Halloween displays, and a parade to see what everyone wore and show off our own costumes. BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, + Carrol Gardens) proves time and time again to be the perfect place for us. After ALL of the Halloween costumes and videos I've done through the years, the truth is I never know what I'm going to be until the last-minute. Here is how we created ours the day of and turned out a look that had ALL of the neighbors talking. 

*SAFETY FIRST: This costume uses fire to create the look, which is dangerous. If you are 18 years or younger, please ask an adult for help. Adults be careful as well. To be safe: Wear a mask and hard sole shoes, have a hose and a large bowl of water nearby and ready. We had no issues or trouble, but safety always comes first!




SUPPLIES:

-Full outfits to wear of clothes you don't mind sacrificing to the Halloween Gods. If you've already purged any excess closet pieces, you can pick up a cheapo outfit from your local thrift store.

-Long matches

-Wood kindling (optional, but helps with adding ash)

-A lighter

-A hose + bowl of water nearby

-A mask to prevent inhaling fumes

-Grey eye shadow

-Fake blood or a little red make-up

-Hair spray

-A brush

-An old umbrella

In an outdoor area with a stone surface, lay your clothing out. Using your long match, start to fringe and burn the edges of your sleeves. Start gently so you can gauge how quickly your fabric will burn. Once you feel confident in your ability to quickly put out the flame, move on to more singeing and burning.

Take a match or lighter and create holes where the lightning would have struck you. As soon as the fabric ignites, stamp it out with your shoe.

Use the ash and soot the burn made to dirty up the clothing. Smush it around together and rub the black ash everywhere. The dirtier the better.

Burn the ends of your pants and be sure to get the back of your outfit as well. Leave no patch of clean, untouched fabric. The below photo is my sweatshirt hood. WAS my sweatshirt hood.

To finish off the look, tease your hair with a brush and spray it with hairspray. Use the gray eye shadow to create ash smudges all over your hands, face, and any exposed skin or clothing that needs it. Add a little fake blood coming out of your ears. Will found an old umbrella and singed it up, which really sealed the deal. I drew and cut out a lightning bolt with chalk on a large piece of felt and attached ribbon to it to tie around the dogs collars and tummies. This made the dogs lightning and us their sad, charred victims. 

 

You might have just heard me high-five my husband for pulling it all off.

Top Instagram photo by Mary Zappulla, Bottom photo by Brenda Chism

// MORE //

DIY Penguin Costume

Happy Halloween!

I hope you and yours have a happy, albeit CREEEEPY Halloween day, night, and weekend! For last-minute costume ideas that range from ridiculously easy to elaborate, watch my Halloween playlist FILLED with different looks for your costume parties and parades.

My Halloween bottom line: Be creative and smart, leave sexy for the bedroom. The more elaborate, creative, and/or scary the better.

No chihuahua mix was hurt in the construction or photographing of this Ghoul Chair. Make your own following THIS video.

What are you going as this year? Let me know in a comment!

Plans

This weekend I plan on....

+ Continuing this obsessive search for midcentury chrome lamps.

+ Coveting this living cube that celebrates small living spaces in a sweet modern moment.

+ Dreaming of this bathtub. 

+ Looking so forward to November 8th when THIS premieres!!

+ Thinking about where I'll put these in my new apartment. (After I make them, of course.)

+ Wishing I had time to make these. I can just TASTE them.

+ Ordering more of these after a reminder it's that time of year again by Be Cool, Mom.

Plans

This weekend I plan on...

Origami from Jenny Ng's Pantone Party shoot 

+ Babysitting these. 

+ Doing my own spin on this.

+ Coveting (like, waaaay coveting) this. 

+ Editing together my next MACC video.

+ Finishing this excellent series. 

+ Going to see THIS. 

+ Recovering from this.

+ Supporting this incredibly rad project by Gareth Branwyn.

+ Thinking about growing out these. Ugh, a never-ending question.

+ Wishing I was cozed up in this t-shirt. 

Plans

This weekend I plan on...

+ Completing the editing portion of this new MACC video where I'll take you on a room tour of my office.

+ Dreaming of this mecca of all things handmade and DIY. I can barely contain all of the ideas that are jumping off the shelves at me

+ Dining at this insanely delish restaurant. Pro tip: Order the watermelon marg (!!!)

+ Hanging out with this amazing woman, who I am lucky enough to call my sister.

+ Lounging in a dream fort built by Morgan for BYT's Dream Lover event at South Street Seaport. (Pssst...it's free!)

+ Ordering another pair of these to get my summer laps in without getting black eyes from these. 

+ Perusing this to get inspiration to whip up some beachy decor for my future sister-in-law's shower.

+ Wear this while diving into this.

Summer Essentials: Booty Shorts

These Icelandic Vacation shorts by Atelier Delphine, found and purchased on Of A Kind are my go-to easy-peasy booty shorts this summer. New York City summers are NO JOKE and leave you dreaming of cool ocean waves enveloping your hot and sticky body. The only option for clothing are pieces that make you feel like you aren't wearing any. It's just the only way. These shorts have a fantastic print, feel like you are naked, and are comfy-to-the-max, making them a summer essential for my lower half. 

Some additional and equally stellar summer essentials are available in one of my favorite shops, Mikkat Market. Namely THESE. I own 'em, I love 'em, they feel like satin!

See the booty shorts in outfit form here and here.

Throwback Thursday: Neon Colorblock Heals

Give a simple pair of kicks an up-grade with this Throwback Thursday DIY neon colorblock heels video on MACC.

// Colorblock Toe Ballet Flats //

Advanced Style

I WANT TO BE HER.

ADVANCED STYLE IS EVERYTHING.

That is all.

And her. OMG I think I AM her.

Belonged to Bobbie

My Nana, Roberta "Bobbie" Brewer will always be one of the dearest people to me. Relics of her life are peppered throughout our home and serve as daily touchstones for me. I have had the Native American beaded collars necklace pictured below for a few years now, and recently my mom found and gave me the sister piece (above). They are so gorgeous I can barely handle it and their beauty is only enhanced knowing they belonged to my Bobbie. I am seeing this paired with a printed dress aka a "caftan moment" or a simple long maxi. How would you rock these?

Project Runway Video

I made a fun little video to document my Project Runway moment earlier this month. I was asked to come up with 3 home decor pieces in 3 days using sheets of Duck Tape and the Cricut cutter. I was them to show them at the Duck Tape Pop-Up Shop in Manhattan alongside this season's Project Runway contestant's and their Duck Tape Prom Dresses. It was a fun and fabulous day with favorites like the winner of this season's Project Runway Michelle Franklin, Seventeen Magazine, and more. Check out the video and see what I came up with in the short time-frame and the challenging rules.

Duck Tape Pop-Up Shop

Feather Tribal Art

My buddies over at Cricut asked me to represent them at the Duck Tape Pop-Up Shop that opened today on Broadway and 40th Street in Manhattan. I created a few home decor pieces to show how the Cricut can take your DIY experience to the next level using sheets of Duck Tape. Yep. DUCK TAPE. Using the sheets it's kind of amazing what you can create. My designs went over so well that Project Runway contestant, designer Benjamin Mach did not want to leave without one. They will remain on display at the shop for the next 2-3 weeks, but once they are released, Benjamine will get his piece. I made 4 different styles of home decor pieces for the event, and I'll share them all with you in my next video. You Project Runway fans will especially dig this video because there will be appearances by this season's contestants. 

Benjamin Mach // Samantha Black // yours truly // Michelle Lesniak Franklin

Tribal Babs

Beautiful Barbara on Mara Hoffman's Instagram. 

That is all.

Necklaces to Give Your Karma a Kick

Support D.C. artist, Cameron Archer who just lost EVERYTHING EXCEPT HER LIFE in an electrical fire by purchasing one of these rad necklaces for just $10!

Cameron is a local entrepreneur from my hometown of Washington, D.C., who founded Saint Clair Jewelry, a gorgeous company that makes one of a kind pieces of jewelry. My friend Morgan Hungerford is a sweetheart and got together with her talented friends and family to make these necklaces happen to help Cameron get back on her feet. Read more and buy a necklace or two to kick your karma into gear and help a sister out.

I Spy Fashion: Heartburn

The movie Heartburn epitomizes an aesthetic genre of New York movies from the mid-80's through mid-90's that I am obsessed with (think Kramer vs. Kramer and Husbands and Wives). It was filmed on location in my two favorites cities: New York and D.C. It stars two of my favorite actors: Streep and Nicholson. And it combines two of my favorite things: history and gossip.

Based on Nora Ephron's autobiographical novel of the same name, Heartburn shares in great detail Ephron's second marriage that went desperately awry when she found out her Washingtonian writer-husband had an affair with someone in their circle while getting her hurr did. You'll just NEVER GUESS who that husband was. None other than....Carl Bernstein! The SAME journalist who was immortalized by Dustin Hoffman in "All the President's Men" for blowing the cover of the Watergate scandal was ALSO immortalized by Jack Nicholson in "Heartburn" for being married to Nora Ephron, having an affair, and ruining their marriage while she was pregnant with their second kid. This movie is a thinking woman's Us Weekly in film form.

In addition to the locations, actors, juicy gossip and political history, the interiors and fashions are to-die-for. I wanted to wear ever shoulder-pad-having blazer and woven colorblock purse Meryl Streep donned. The ethnic dress/blazer/bag/necklace combo in the above photo gives you a taste. Very Thirtysomething. Very "My mom in the 80's". Very me. I'm INTO it.

We are NOT discussing the sweater on the woman on the right. We just can't go there right now. But I WILL join you in a conversation about the over-sized sunglasses it looks like she is carrying.