Silly Shirts

 I took these pictures about a month ago. This shirt is a ridiculous shirt, and that is mostly why I bought it. Do you ever buy things just because they are ridiculous? I shouldn't, but when they're on the dollar rack I find the temptation hard to resist.

How would you describe this? 80s Mexican?

 These were taken in my room at home, pretty soon after I got back from school. I painted my wall like this last summer!

Lots of Dots

 So I spent the day hanging out with my identical twin, Bachel! No, actually I am just having a lot of fun editing these photos. These were taken across from Travis's apartment, in a thicket of sorts next to a little stream. I love taking outfit pictures, it gives me an excuse to go exploring. While exploring we found this little kitty!

 He was so pretty, and had the bluest eyes! Travis was really set on rescuing the little guy, and even went out after we took photos to give it some tuna. It's mom showed up though, and hissed at Travis until he left! Lots of wildlife around me this week!

 I loved the lavender on lavender polka dots on this dress, but it didn't fit too well, and I did a pretty botched job of altering it. But I got it super cheap at Goodwill. No regrets!

 Haha I have no idea what was going on here.

 strapless dress-target purple dress, bag, and shoes-goodwill necklaces-flea market hat-hamricks i think belt-delias

Pinterest

I just got a Pinterest! Late to the game, am I?

Well, I need some folks to follow on here! So follow me if you'd like, and leave me a link so I can check yours out!

http://pinterest.com/printsandsense/

Here's one of my latest paintings, because I hate to let a post go without a picture.

Wooohooo!

Down By The River

I always love seeing new and interesting photos on other fashion blogs. So this post is jam packed with interesting edits from my recent trip to the river! I'm a big fan of trying different things when it comes to my outfit posts, because that's one of the things fashion blogging is all about, right? Growing and learning!

Some of you may know I'm an illustration major, and I'm no pro at photo-editing, but I thought these were fun enough to share! I have Photoshop Elements 9, and that's what I used for these edits, but most photo editing programs should be able to do what I've done here. In this first picture, I drew some blue dots and then set them to overlay in the layers palette, then adjusted the opacity of the layer they were on.

For something like this, select a shape or shapes and then copy it to a new layer. Then desaturate one of the layers! I also messed with the contrast and upped the saturation on the colored layer, to make it pop more!

I used overlays on this one as well! A light yellow one on top, and a dark blue one on bottom. Draw 2 rectangles on a layer on top of your picture. Set them to overlay, then adjust the opacity til you like it.

This one is so simple to do, but I love the effect you get. Just up the contrast and brightness, and suddenly it's a much more attention-grabbing image.

Here I superimposed a tree picture on top of the water and adjusted the opacity of the top layer. I thought it made it look all cool and reflection-y!

Lastly, I was just messing around with the image orientation. I just think seeing things from a new perspective makes them even more interesting!

To finish off the post, here are some not-so-edited images from the river. Because honestly, it was a pretty enough location to stand on its own!

 We trekked out here in sandals, and I'm surprised we didn't get poison ivy! It was such a pretty day, though, and I loved it as a backdrop for my outfit pictures. The contrast of the telephone wires against this natural setting makes it so interesting, don'tcha think? My photographer is doing some pretty hardcore pattern mixing, huh!

 I got these shorts in the form of a romper at Poppy Pia, and I cut off the top after awhile. So now they are pretty floral shorts! I made the top, and the sandals and teeny bag are from Goodwill.

A Little Birdie Told Me

Hey, look what I've got!

 Travis found this noisy little fledgling outside in the parking lot, so we tried to move it out of the way of the passing cars. I probably picked up some strange bird disease. But look how little it is!

 So things have been going pretty great around Rachelville lately! I got a summer job at American Eagle, and I wore this to my orientation! I'm pretty nervous because I've never sold clothes before. Or had a job, really.  I'm also really excited! I officially start the first week of June, so I get to spend this next week in Columbia with the Travster. Who bought me flowers!

 Have a happy week!

Motivation

I've been having a bad week.

Between surgery, a stomach virus, and a general lack of motivation, I've been ready to crawl into bed and just stay there forever. I haven't been posting anything on here due to the aforementioned reasons, and because I have no camera! But hey, things are going to turn around even if I have to force them to! I've been inspiring myself by looking at other blogs, art, and, well, the occasional pep talk. So I know it's not New Years, but there's no time like the present to make a resolution, right? Here are some of the things I'm going to do to make myself feel better!

1. Be healthier. Stretch in the mornings, and run twice a week, regardless of the disaster I know that will be. And eat well, too! Starting right after that box of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars... we wouldn't want to be wasteful!

2. Spend less time moping around the internet and more time creating things!

3. Stop myself whenever I start to think negative thoughts.

4. Be innovative in everything I do. Yeah okay, that's a little vague, I know. I just want to be something that no one else is yet, I guess.

5. Embrace social situations. Don't look at them as an inconvenience, but as an opportunity!

Writing about myself for the internet to read (or not read) makes me really nervous, but I am trying new things!

Sew What?

My sketchbook has been nothing but doodles of things I want to sew. Here're some of my favorite designs from lately.

Which ones should I make? You should know I vote "all".

Summer Blue, Some Aren't

 Looks like I made my first dress of the summer! I got the fabrics on clearance at Walmart. I'm so glad they brought back their sewing section. The lady who cut my fabric went really slow, while complaining about how slow the the other ladies were.

I've got lots more plans for dresses, and my production is much speedier now that I have a mannequin!

 dress and flower pin-handmade by me necklace-claires forever ago sandals and sunglasses-vintage

In other news, I just had my wisdom teeth taken out, and I have a summer job interview on Wednesday. Here's to no swelling!

Not So Ugly

I just finished watching Ugly Betty on Netflix.

I know she's supposed to be bad at fashion and all that, but I loved everything she wore! She was a master of pattern clashing.

The characters were a delight, and I definitely recommend it!

More of my art on my tumblr! http://floralprintsandkissing.tumblr.com

Common Sense

Would you like to hear a story? It involves me being dumb.

So it was my last day of school, and I was so ready to go home. I love home. I got everything packed away and cleaned, and was about to go to my final critique when I couldn't find my keys! I called the restaurant I went to for lunch, I searched my friend's car and my spick n span room, but they were nowhere to be found. I assumed they were locked in my car, and called AAA. Then I ran off to my critique, made my teacher critique me as fast as he could, blurted a "happy summer everyone!" and ran to my car.

AAA unlocked it. My keys weren't in there.

In despair, I turned to retreat into the air conditioned dorm while I waited for my Mom to rescue me, when LO AND BEHOLD they were on the stairs. Just sitting there, on the stairs. Within 30 feet of where I was parked.

I wish I could say this kind of behavior was uncharacteristic of me.

These pictures were taken a few days before that.

 

shirt-old navy skirt, belt, and bracelet-delias shoes-thrifted necklace-forever 21

woops, someone needs to touch up her nail polish.