39 degrees celsius. that's really hot.

Hi everyone! I've got a surprise. It's kind of big news, actually. I was a little nervous about letting you guys all in on this but, hey, I figured why not. So, if you must know.... I've become a DUCT TAPE MUMMY! Mwahhaha. You know... just casually... in my spare time...



If you thought to yourself, "Oh, well gosh! Look at that! Lexy! A duct tape mummy!" then I've got yet another surprise for you... TRICKED YA! I didn't really become a duct tape mummy on you! I was just playing a joke on you! I'm so funny! Ha! Hahah!

Ahem. Anyways. I should stop pretending I'm clever and just get to the point. And, the point is, well, I made a dress form out of duct tape! I've wanted a dress form forever to assist me with sewing, but I got bored of looking around and gasping at prices and additional shipping costs. So, at last, I had the brilliant idea... um, I'll make one! I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier - it just seems so obvious. So, a Google search later and BAM! We were ready to go!

Fairly attractive process, I'd say. I would highly recommend it to all my single readers lookin' for luvvvv.

It was fairly simple and strait forward. All you need is a baggy t-shirt (hey, dad's bingo shirt!) (which I actually think is cool! shhh...), duct tape, saran wrap, duct tape, a willing helper, and, optional: coloured duct tape for the extra BAM! I was going to post step-by-step tutorial but, let's face it, that would be going above and beyond expectations and, as much as I love you, I have better things to do (i.e. crochet and watch re-runs of modern family). Instead, why don't you just use the link I used? Yeah! Do it!

And voila! Some hard-labour (thanks, sibling!), a bit (lot) of sweat, and some awkward fumbling around, we've got our newest girlfrannnd... Here's a bit more about her...

Meet Paulette*. She is somewhat emotionally damaged. People suspect it derives from her unhealthy devotion to iguana themed videos, but this has not been proven. She might just be born a little wack. Like, she just can't help it (iguana videos or not). Still, she's a real riot. She started the "save the glitter" movement in '06 and regularly participates in protests and rallies related to the subject. Her favourite colour is hot pink. Suitably, she is hot pink (her favourite colour). And made of duct tape.
*Note: Paulette may also be Jean-Claude. I haven't decided yet. Jean-Claude is a drag queen. He is especially popular amongst the young, hispanic community. 


I've actually already used Paulette play around with old fabrics to make reversible collars. Wahoo!



They're made from scraps of old projects and clothes (hey, if you stalk my blog hard enough, you may be able to find the original goods!). They're fun. I think. I've worn them. It was fun. I'll post pictures. Okay.

So I hope you're all being snappy and snazzy and stupendous and all those other s-adjectives to make this alliteration thing super! I will talk to you all soon! Let me know what you think! Or don't. Like, I don't care. Pfft. (Praise me! Praise me!)

What is on your summer "to-do" list?

'11 leftovers 0.2

Hi guys! I have a fun idea. It's called "Let's continue the theme of last post." Sounds fun, right? RIGHT? Right!!! So let's get to it! Let's have fun! Let's continue the theme of last post!*

*Let's pretend that last post had a "theme." And let's pretend that that "theme" was "Stuff I just didn't get around to posting last time around." 

So here we go! In this addition of "Stuff I Just Didn't Get Around To Posting Last Time Around" (SIJDGATPLTA, if you will), I will be featuring a Calendar! How fun! I made this little lad for my parents' Christmas gift last year. It's about 9" x 12" and a product of blood, sweat, and tears (or, perhaps more accurately, lameness, love, and no life). It's not the most brilliant thing in the universe, but it did snatch up quite a handful of hours of my short life span and, for that, I thought it might be, you know, FUN! to share it. (Yes, the exclamation succeeding "fun" was totally, completely, and utterly necessary.) You also get a taste of other specimens that share the same blood as a creature as fabulous as myself. Super FUN! Enjoy?

(Also, side note, I promise I have more shenanigans to post. It's just that one of my most recent shenanigans is eating up a faiiiir bit of time and, consequently, taking away from all other shenanigans I have been meaning to post. You follow me, yeah?)

January - the Family in Iceland last July. National geographic, pen & ink

February - the Sibling and I doing an Etsy photoshoot. Pen & ink, construction paper, tulle, fabric, pearls

March - the Family in Iceland, Markers, pen & ink, buttons, thread

April - the Sibling and I at a nearby park, Pen & ink, foam to make 3d cut-outs

  May - the Sibling and I knitting, as we do, Construction paper, pen & ink, plastic bag

June - the family and I at my prom (awww!), Tissue paper, pen & ink, leather scraps from my prom dress

  July - My cousins and sibling and I in Guatemala, Pen & ink, string, coloured pencils

August - My cousins on the other side of the family, Construction paper, lined paper, white ink

  September - the Sibling and I frolicking with balloons in Iceland, Plastic bags, construction paper, pen & ink, thread

October  - the Sibling and I being posers around here, Thread (sewed on background, as well), pen & ink

  November - the Family in Iceland with black and white photos so it looks fancy, Construction paper quilled up, Pen & ink

December - the Sister and I being posers on the first snow fall, Marker, Pen & Ink

 

As you may know, I'm really into homemade gifts. Not only are they a lot cheaper, but they are all made from creativity and love and individuality and hey now! My mommy says I'm special! Hehe. But fo realz. I'm really into homemade and old school things, in general. And, unfortunately, I feel like it is all going on a severe decline and it makes me scared and sorry for future generations that may not understand the beauty of simplicity, and rather be obsessed with the mumbo-jumbo of "super cool" technology. If I ever have children (highly unlikely, but if), they will grow up reading from actual books with actual pages, writing letters with pens and papers and stamps and envelopes, sending boxes of chocolates to the door of the dearest lover, and giving they're beloved mother (that would be me!) gifts made with their bare hands and right brain cells. That's all! Have a snazzy day!

What's the best gift you have ever received? Given?

medicine is such a weird concept to me

(illustrations by me - pen & ink, watercolour)

Half finished projects and I have a pretty strong relationship. A bond, if you will. As in, we are often found together. As in, we seem to always be attracted to one another. Like magnets. (Much like medicine, I find magnets rather peculiar... HOW DO THEY WORK?! dun dun dun!) As in, yes, I started these illustrations 4evz ago and just finished them. As in, GO AWAY DON'T JUDGE ME. Ahem, enough of that...

I've been having a wee bit of a creative block - my doodles are lacking character and jazz and poo poo. Nonetheless, I thought I'd share these little fellows that I've finally gotten around to pasting on backgrounds. As you, glorious friends, may know, my doodles tend to rock an underlying theme of "ugly" people in beautiful situations. I don't know why I find that concept for romanticizing and whimsical and amazing. Likewise, my worlds are always filled with clouds and stars and rainbows... why not?

Anyways, I'm hoping to doodle and draw and create more. It is good for the soul.

What do you wish you did more of?
xoxo I will talk to you all soon... adventures are a' comin'... (ooh! cliffhanger!)

excuse the selfies... i am just 2KEWL4U!!!!

Insert generic message ringing in the new year.

Yeah, sorry it's a tad late. You know me, I've been partying and partying and partying and then puking and then partying and then puking and then partying and then passing out and then being hungover... TYPICAL.



Except for, you know... not. I had a handful of high school friends over for New Years and our night essentially consisted of wearing pjs, making pizzas, playing Apples to Apples, making party hats, watching Strange Sex, and general catch-ups. Considering the fact that I haven't seen most of these human beings since October or even June, it was nice to "reacquainted" and jazz. We are all dorks, so a dorky NYE was fitting. Don't judge! It was nice, brahhhh! YOU JEALZZ!!! A lot of the night, however, consisted of exchanges of university stories - both funny and are we seeeriously talking about meal plans or email set-ups or student cards for three hours?! - where I sat in silence due to my decision to take the year off and my consequent inability to contribute. It was then that it all kind of just sunk in - realizing how we are all on different paths - only a few months after graduation - and how we really do carry on in our different ways with different experiences and dreams and... yeah. Life goes on. It was just realizing... that.



I think 2011 will be my year of "goodbyes." I haven't had many experiences in the "goodbye" department, so the whole graduating thing and then just quitting my job thing has really made me think about "goodbyes" and relationships and the nature of moving on. I know that this is just the first of many, but I guess 2011 will be the year of "my first of goodbyes." Or something. That being said, 2011 has been a spectacular year and I feel like I've experienced immense amounts of fear and joy and excitement over the past year. 2011 was filled with experiences and emotions I didn't foresee happening. Amazing.



And now it's all, BAM! 2012! Say what! I have a good feeling about 2012. This year, for the first time in my entire existence, is filled with complete uncertainty. I have a general outline for the year - but the details are completely unknown. Completely. I don't know what kind of experiences I'll have, what kind of people I'll meet, what kind of challenges I'll have to overcome, what kind of person I'll be. It's completely, totally and utterly frightening... and exciting. I have a feeling that I'll look back on 2012 and think, "Wow, that was one hell of a year." Or, at least, I hope so. Mark my words: to a crazy year to come!



I don't usually reflect that heavily on New Years. Often times, it is just, you know, ANOTHER FREAKING DAY AND TAKE A CHILL PILL, WORLD. But given the nature of my future, reflecting is just in my bones. (Oooh! Spooky! Mysterious! Oh my!) I'm not setting any concrete goals for the year. Instead I'll be ~realistic~ and ~grown-up~ and ~abstract~ and say that I hope to spend 2012 learning. Learning to take-risks, learning to love and love and love, and learning about myself. Life is a ginormous evolution and I feel like 2012 will be filled with growth. Oh, the joys of becoming a young adult...!

Happy 2012, kiddoz! I hope you have a fantastic year with much adventure and love and growth and peace! Kisses!

How was your 2011? How was your new years? What are your 2012 hopes and dreams? INFORM ME!

spending way too much time with the sibling brainstorming ideas for our future bubble tea franchise (if we're failing at life before we hit thirty)

Dearest children,

Hello there! I hope you are all glorious. I, myself, am quite glorious - thank you oodles for inquiring. I've had a solid past coupla' days filled with marvellous goodies (save for early morning screaming fits from small infants we call "family") (consequently, we still manage to love them, despite the fact that their vocal cords could blow up the roof). For instance, today I purchased the most pyschedlic shoes EVER. I'm so excited to flaunt them. Hint: If the 70s and Bratz had a shoe baby, my new shoe would be THAT shoe baby. AW YEAH. It sounds hideous, but trust me, well, yeah... it is. In the best way possible. (My brain likes to think.)

By the way, here are some collages that I snipped and pasted out a week or two ago. Backstory: the door to my room is embarassing. It consists of red-carpet images circa '04. Real high class, too. There's some Paris, some Lindsay, some *siiigh* I cringe. So, about 4.4 years later, I've decided that it's time to axe those bad boys and replace it with something a little more... enticing? Yeah. Solution? New collages with my favourite quotes! Can I get a "boo yeah"? Oh, no one says "boo yeah" anymore? Well, BOO YEAH.

1. "Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert the integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the common place, the slaves of the ordinary." - Cecil Beaton. P.S. I feel like it's important to say that BAM! I love this quote. I've quoted this quote multiple times on this good ole' "blog" thing. In fact, I even used this as the quote in my yearbook bio. Yup. YEARBOOK BIO. That's how much I am intensely in love with this quote.

2. "Most of us go through life as failures, because we are waiting for the “time to be right” to start doing something worthwhile. Do not wait. The time will never be “just right.” Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." - Napoleon Hill. This one just really resonated with me because DANG! it's so true. I find that people are always so full of excuses as to why they didn't do something. It's sad, really.

3. "You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." - Alan Alda. I'm always up for authenticity and intuition and following the heart and all that cheesy stuff with heartshape sirens and bubbles and what nattt. This makes me feel at least decent for being up in the clouds.

Anyways, I hope this post granted you with enjoyment. Sorry. That was really awkwardly worded. Nonetheless, what I really DO hope is that you're having an incredible day. I really do. I hope you're all waking up smiling. I hope you're all happy and fearless and filled with dreams. Kisses!

What are YOUR favourite quotes or motto?

(Who knows? It may end up snipped and pasted into a collage that is then snipped and pasted onto my door. WHO KNOWS.)

not a fan of the overpriced drinks, but free wifi is enough to make me stay!

So... do you guys remember when I posted approximately a billion posts in one week? (This is a guesstimation, of course. But you get the principle.) (You say, "YES. Of course I remember!") Therefore, my previous diligence in blogging means that I can go almost a week without posting and YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING! Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo!

Ahem. Sorry. That was weird. Here is an outfit post from last week. I wore this to meet a designer. Dressing up was a bit of a challenge. I wanted to go with a more muted version of myself to echo the designer's designs... but it also had to be all, "SHBAM I'M STILL LEXY." Here is what I came up with.

LOOK AT MY CUTE HEADBAND...


... Yeah. You hoodlums know the drill... Do you like this headband? Do you want one for yourself? If so, check out my etsy! Woohoo. *Insert peppy cheers and pom poms and rah rahs and pyramids and the likes.*


Oh by the way, it really pains me to say this... but... well... I guess I'll just spit it out... There was an unfortunate incident involving Daisy (my dog) and, well, small children with sharp objects... Let's just say that we were lucky enough to salvage the non-bloody parts of her beautiful white mane and create a bag that will celebrate her doggy life forever... Her soul may not be with us, but her flesh and fur always will be. <3 (Note: AH I AM ONLY KIDDING OF COURSE. Knock on wood and cross fingers and all that jazz to ensure that this silly story never equates to reality. PLEASE.)


(Blazer - Thrifted $1, Shirt - Vintage $7, Skirt - Homemade, Shoes - Vintage $15, Tights - F21, Bag - Gifted, Ring - Thailand, Headband - Homemade)

I hope you're all having a glorious summer filled with summery things and the likes. I'm soaking up the last few weeks with, um, screaming babies and crazy cousins before reality sets in. DUN DUN DUN! (i.e. wahhh, I need a job!)

What would be your *dream* (but realistic) job?

frolicking

It wasn’t until I actually looked at these pictures when a marvelous realization came to mind. (“What?” you inquire.) The Sibling and I are both referencing the 70s! WOAH! CHECK OUT THAT GENE POOL OF SIMILARITIES! WHAT A COINKY DINK! (Coinky dink? Ahem. I promise you: I never say that in real life. Ever. I don’t know what’s gotten into me…) My sister’s sleeves just scream “70s,” while the print of my skirt is all “um, 70s disco partayyy, ANYONE?”

To be honest, the 70s isn’t a decade that I’ve given much thought. I fawn over the 60s… then I tend to fast-forward to the 80s. Nonetheless, there are some select memory packets that percolate when the decade comes to mind. For instance:
1. I totally had a 70s themed Bratz doll. Her name was Felicia (or something) and she had marvelous flippy hair. She came with flared jeans and a belly shirt. (In retrospect, those dolls are utterly horrendous. I'm a little embarrassed. For them, of course. Not the fact that I played with them up until seventh grade. NOPE NOT AT ALL.)
2. My sibling and I used to own a dandy Fisher Price tape machine. It was plastic. You could put a tape (aww, tapes!) in and record yourself. We would often team up with our childhood best friend to have some snazzy singing sessions. One of our favourite tunes was “Stayin’ Alive.” However, I must admit that, at the time, I didn’t realize we were singing “Ooh, ooh, oooh, ooh, stayin’ alive.” I was fully singing, “Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooh, stain glass.” Awk-ward.

Once upon a time, Mimi bought this dress. Once upon a time, I was shocked. We both decided that this dress is completely out of her character. And that it desperately calls for some grass-woven headbands and dream catcher necklaces and maybe even a ukulele. Nonetheless, it’s cute.




When I was eating breakfast, my mom excitedly informed me, “The weather is cool outside!” I felt like a child on Christmas: I was prancing and dancing and praising Hallelujah! Seriously. (If you lived in my region then YOU’D KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.) The weather here has been so humid; I take my animal for a pee, and come in looking like my dad when he drinks soup on a hot day (disgustingly and oddly sweaty). Pretty picture in your head? No. Now you understand my excitement at “weather” and “cool” in the same sentence. Unfortunately, that wasn’t QUITE the case, as my sweaty legs and body informed me. Ahem. Anyways, moral of the story is, “The weather is cool outside” should really be “the weather is cool outside relative to what it was earlier” i.e. you can tolerate outside only if you’re in the nude. In conclusion, Southern Ontarian weather ain't good times.




#selfiesrock #thisweathersucks #wewillsuckitupforthesakeofbeingtotalcamwhores #WERENOTTWINS2every1asking

(On Me (Lexy): Shirt - Value Village/ Thrifted $3, Flashdance-esque Skirt - Homemade, Tights - Pacific Mall $5, Shoes - Salvation Army/ Thrifted $7, Belts - Thrifted $1 each, Bangles - H&M, Ring - Value Village, Balloon Bib - Homemade)
(On Mimi (younger sibling!): Dress - Topshop, Shoes - Iceland, Bag - Vintage Dooney&Bourke)

I love how distinct the fashions of past decades were. I adore pouring through coffee books and fawning over the goodies of the generations before me. I miss the days when people used to just dress up for the sake and fun of dressing up. I’m not dissing today's fashions, by any means. Today, there’s undoubtedly a huge amount of freedom and availability and equality that makes dressing up today oodles of fun, too. Maybe even more fun because we don’t have as many societal restrictions. Yet, the majority of people I encounter seem to be all drab and blah. That's okay, too, of course. Whatever rock your boat. But still, it makes me wonder what the streets would be like in the old days...

In conclusion, I’ve decided that my future boyfriend will wear bowties and suspenders. On a daily basis. Willingly. Because he’ll just be swell like that.


What do you think of them fashions of today?

hearing hinder's "lips of an angel" makes me very nostalgic because it reminds me of awkward middle school slow dances, awww.

I have an I-think-it's-funny-but-maybe-you-had-to-be-there story to go with this title. Once upon a time, Lips of an Angel was randomly playing. (Very random, now that I think of it. That song is ancient.)
Me: Aw, this song makes me super nostalgic... they used to always play it as the last slow song at Middle School dances!
Friend: It makes me sick.
Me: Why?
Friend: Because it's about incest.
*Awkward Pause*
Me: Um. No it's not.
Friend: Yeah. Have you heard the lyrics? "My sister's in the next room, sometimes I wish she were you."
Me: Um. No. It's "my girlfriend's in the next room."
*Awkward Pause*

Yeah. I take that back. You definitely had to be there. But now this song makes me giggle, because of this. Don't you love when songs remind me of something or somewhere or someone or sometime? It's fabulous. (By the way, this friend also thought that Arthur was a freaking mouse even though the entire universe knows that he's an AARDVARK... A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K. Just saying.)

Er. ANYWAYS. *insert smooth transition here to counteract the awkwardness of that unfunny story* ... I thought I'd share my newest sewing concoctions!

1. A skirt. Specifically, A NON PUFFY SKIRT. WHAT IS THIS? BRANCHING OUT? DIVERSITY? I'm such a risk-taker, gosh! Pleats are much more unforgiving than just shoving an elastic at the waist. Especially as I became obsessed with matching the swirly pattern on the pleats of the skirt, hereby making the whole situation significantly more complicated. And then the whole, "Hey! You might as well handsew it all so there's no seams!" Bad idea. Whatever. It's in the past. It worked out. I am joyous!


2. Yay! SHORTS. I was also tempted to make a puffy skirt out of this fabulous pattern. But mother dearest was all, "You make to many of those puffy skirts." I started to argue. But then... I really couldn't. A billion and two camel-toe problems later... ta-da!


My brain seems to think that I know how to draft patterns. It is sadly mistaken. I have no idea what I'm doing and I DESPERATELY want to know. What I'm doing, that is. The whole sewing process generally takes a lot more frustration and pulling-my-hair-out feelings than necessary. It would be really magical to be able to be all, "SHABAM MAKE THIS!" and then OOF. It just POPS.

Unfortunately, that's apparently unrealistic or something. Until I can convince my sister to be an inventor and create a genius solution as such (PFT AS IF SHE'S SMART ENOUGH) (jokes, sibz), I definitely want to master the art of sewing, so concoctions can be made without huge reliance on Mr. Stitchripper. They'll call me "Magic Sewing Hands That Doesn't Need A Stitchripper EVER." Or not.

Nonetheless, I'm super content that creative juices have flowed back into my bloodstream. I've been waking up all, "AH! I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO EVERYTHING!" which is, legitimately, one of my very favourite feelings to wake-up with! Seriously. It's bizarre. On days when I'm like, "Wow! I have nothing to do today!" It's more of an, "AGRH. I have NOTHING to do today." So this is good news. My bedroom floor - or lack thereof, harhar - is a testament of my creative gremlins. Or maybe just my inner pig. And this is just my bedroom floor.


Shabam! Goodies to come. Outfit post soonsies. Pinky promise!

What's something that you'd like to learn more about or maybe even master?

eggnog is icky

There are two options: 1) be bitter, be a quitter, be a “that didn’t work so I’m moving on”-er or 2) be an imaginative dreamer and pretend that business is booming more than ever! Note: I will go with the latter…

I am happy to inform you all that the Etsy business is thriving more than ever! (wink, wink!) Already featured in countless notable fashion archives (such as QUIRKY EXPLOSION), critics (such as family members) have been raving about both the beauty of this new phenomenon (such as Sibling, who enthused, “Dude, I want one. Make me one.”), as well as the unforeseen sales that have taken place (read: zero) since the unveiling only a few days ago. THRIVIN’ BRO. Anyways. Fingers crossed!

Here are some more goodies. I will personally give you a personal virtual bear-hug if you spread the word (OR EVEN BETTER, PURCHASE ONE!!!). And I’m not even a “huggy” person. This is a thsuper thspecial offer, brah. Smooches, snookums.

Click on pictures for the actual listings of bib necklaces. Or click here to check out the rest of my store!

pretty little things

I OPENED UP AN ETSY STORE!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!! How obnoxious, ahem, ENTHUSIASTIC was that?! Don’t you see that I’m bursting with EXCITEMENT? And now, AREN’T YOU EXCITED TOO?! Yes, yes, YES! To all those questions! Give me an E! a T! a S! a Y! What does that spell?! [LEXY HAS] ETSY!!!! WOOOHOOOO!

I’m sorry if reading that hurt your eyeballs. Here is my marketing theory. You are now super excited and will immediately proceed to check out my new ETSY STORE. Please confirm this theory? Thanks. You’re a doll face. ☺

It was a lot of fun making these goodies and even more fun to photograph them. Enjoy!

----

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away...

Inspired by the whims of imagination and the beauty of life, why not sprout some flowers in your hair? Channel your inner little girl – the little girl that loves to dress up, to look pretty, and to imagine. Imagine you are a dancing flower, a dainty fairy… or maybe just yourself, with an extra, pretty accessory.

These headbands are 100% unique – just like you! (awww.) Created from fingers of love and care, it can be ensured that no one in the entire universe has a headband like this one. Elements are hand-sewn with careful attention to design, execution, and love (of course).

This is a versatile accessory that can be worn with anything – from jeans to princess dresses! From grocery shopping to tea parties (oh, don’t we wish…)! Be weary: side effects include sparkling individuality and glowing smiles.

BLOG AND SAVE!
(I’m really tempted to add some marketing jargon. Limited time only! Act fast while offer still applies!)

Do you like pretty headbands? Do you like to save money? If so, then this offer is perfect for you! Get 10% off your first purchase just by blogging about QUIRKY EXPLOSION’S new etsy store!

1. Must include at least three pictures from this post.
2. Must include a link to my etsy and a link to my blog.
3. Email me (lexyht[at]hotmail[dot]com) a link of your post so I can take note of your kindness!
4. Get 10% off your first purchase from this line of headbands! (not including shipping)

I would really appreciate it if you could spread the word! Tweet! Text! Facebook! Tumblr! Formspring! Blog! Xanga! Myspace! Livejournal! Netflix! (Ah, don’t you love modern technology?) Thanks so much for all your support.


I’m really excited and nervous about this new endeavor. I have my fingers and my toes and my intestines all crossed for good luck. I would be intensely grateful if you could check out my shop. And even better, please make a purchase! If all goes well, then I will have oodles of new things up. xxx smooches!



Feedback?
(I’m not fishing for compliments. If you have any ideas of how I can improve my store, what I should add, etc. please gobble it out!)

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for...
Visit my shop!