The Modernette.

jamberry nail decals

2013-04-29T04:30:00.000-05:00

happy monday!

i want to share a new product with all of you- jamberry nails!

a friend of mine at work had a perfectly manicured fingernail of a chevron print! so cute!

she told me it was a nail decal called jamberry- they have all different sizes and colors! the way it works is you cut out a piece to fit your fingernail, place it on, and use your hairdryer to seal it. then use a wooden nail stick to smooth out the decal for the perfect fit.

i was so excited about it, that she shared some samples with me and of course i had to try them out!

here's how it went:

now, the sample size was teeny-tiny, so i could only fit one on my pinky finger! i did not have a wooden nail stick... i would highly recommend using one since mine still had some bumps in it after it set. the decal lasted for about a week (probably because i couldn't stop smoothing out the bubbles every day and messing with the edges...), but my friend's lasted for 2 weeks!

anyways, i think this is a great alternative to nail art- especially if you're trying to do the whole "paint an awesome design on your right hand using your left hand" which of course never looks as cool as you want it to look in the end. ;)

jamberry works sort of like a mary-kay where you have to order through a representative. head over to their website for more info!

have you tried any nail decals? would you recommend any?

DIY Doily Collar Necklace

2013-04-18T04:30:00.000-05:00

they're all the rage right now.

collar necklaces.

and what do you know- i came up with a way to make two necklaces with one doily. plus, you can style them 3 different ways! here's how to make 3-in-1 doily collar necklaces:

what you need:

1 doily
scissors
needle-nose pliers
necklace & bracelet chains (they come in one kit from joann's)
button
scrap fabric or felt
hot glue
glue gun

1) iron out your doily if it's a little wrinkly. this will help in lining up the pattern.

2) fold the doily in half. then trace & cut out a collar pattern onto the doily.

3) next, take the bracelet chain and separate the chain in the very middle- opposite of the hook - with the needle-nose pliers.

4) using the pliers, reattach each end of the loose chain to the ends of the collar pieces.

5) now, fasten the front of the collar with a button. cut out a piece of fabric or felt the same size as the button. place the button on top of the doily and the fabric underneath and glue them all together.

6) pair the necklace with a cute top and enjoy!

now, you can use the rest of the doily to make yet another doily necklace!

1) use the other end of the doily and cut out a C shape. be sure to stay along the crochet lines.

2) open up the necklace chain and weave it in and out of the top part of the doily.

3) now, there are 2 ways you can wear this necklace...

like this, or like this...

have fun with your new necklaces! feel free to pin & share with friends! <3

DIY Tulle Skirt: How to Make a Tulle Skirt

2013-04-15T04:30:00.000-05:00

it was love at first sight.
fabric love.

while browsing joann's lovely fabrics, i came across this beautiful pink polka dot tulle fabric and knew exactly what i wanted to make out of it: a tulle skirt.

i've made one skirt in the past with a hidden zipper, but this time i wanted to make a skirt with an elastic waist.

i'm not going to lie, i wrestled with this fabric along with the lining and elastic, but after many re-dos and learning experiences, i'm very happy with the way it turned out!

i followed along with the tutorial from cotton & curls, but after making some mistakes here and there, here is my own adapted version.

what you need:

sewing machine
1 1/2-2 yards of tulle fabric
1/12-2 yards of lining (i used a silky fabric close to the color of the tulle)
thread to match your fabric
elastic band- enough to go around your waist
scissors or rotary tool & mat (this was the first time i used mine!)
pins

1) measure your waist where you want your skirt to sit. then take the measurements hip/3.14/2=radius. this measurement will now be the radius (from middle to edge) of your skirt waist.

2) fold your fabric in half and measure and mark a half circle with the radius measurement from the fold. from there, determine how long you want your skirt to be and add about two inches. measure from the end of the radius measurement out onto the rest of your fabric and mark it all around creating a half circle (this will be the length of your skirt).

3) using scissors or your rotary cutter, cut along the lines you drew on the tulle. use the same measurements, but add about an inch and a half to the bottom of the lining. (note: in my photos i made my lining fit my waist while i made the tulle waist bigger for gathering. i would not recommend doing this as it makes the sewing process a lot harder!)

4) now, take your elastic around your waist and stretch it a bit to fit around your waist and sew the ends together. if you leave the elastic loose, the skirt will be too big. in essence, the unstretched elastic should be a few inches shorter than your actual waist size.

5) once your fabric is cut out, line lining and fabric up while stretching the elastic and start pinning everything together like so. Then continue to pin more all around the waist:

6) turn the skirt inside out so you can sew all 3 together along the very top of the skirt while stretching the fabric (this is the hard part!). once you have done this, fold the elastic down so the elastic is covered by the fabric. sew with a zig-zag stitch along the bottom part of the elastic while stretching it- catching the elastic with fabric on the zig and only the fabric of the skirt on the zag.

7) finally, while your skirt is still inside-out, fold the lining up twice all along the bottom to match up with length of the bottom of the tulle and pin all around. hem lining all around the bottom. turn back right side out, try it on, and admire your diy tulle skirt! :)

once you've made your skirt, feel free to send me photos! i'd love to see your creations!

what sewing projects have you worked on lately?

sentimental heart

2013-04-08T04:30:00.000-05:00

hey everyone,

it's been quite some time since i updated, but it doesn't mean that my mind has strayed away from diys and fashion inspiration...

one of the main reasons it's been a little hard to come back is due to the fact that my great-grandma (nana) passed away in december. she was my main inspiration for this blog and even the name the modernette came from a story she told me. you can read more in my about section. she had a wonderful life living to her mid-90s, and i only hope to carry on her legacy through my own creativity - blogging or not.

(photo by dawn roscoe)

but hey- she wouldn't want me or anyone else to be sad. so here's the good news:

i have so many new crazy ideas for this blog that my brain (and notes app on my phone) is bursting!

after some reflection, i am not too thrilled with the direction i was taking the blog. it's fun to dream and all, but one of my pet-peeves in the blogging world is when the blog becomes more about fantasy than reality. sure it's fun to dream and i'll post a few inspiration posts here and there to keep up on trends, but you can begin to go down a path with wanting & wishing- not cool.

what can you start to see with the new modernette?

-diy posts (yay!)
-affordable looks and ways to make look-alikes for less.
-and more surprises!

cheers to being back!
-aly

warm blankets challenge

2012-12-09T16:03:00.003-06:00

hey guys!

sorry for the lack of updates lately, but i've been busy working on a new project. here's more info and just as a warning, this won't be your usual fashion inspiration blog post. ;)

I have decided to participate in a project with my friend Elaini. She is a fashion blogger on Misselainious.com (you would lover her style!) and has raised thousands of dollars for kids in India through Warm Blankets Orphan Care- such an inspiration! This holiday season, she has asked me to participate in a 12 Days of Christmas project. The challenge for me will be to style a photo shoot inspired by day 2- two turtle doves which will be posted on her blog in about a week. I had SO much fun during the shoot and I can't wait to share it with you!

With this challenge, my goal is to raise $1000 before the end of the year to donate to Warm Blankets Orphan Care. This is an organization Chico & I really care about. We met the founder, Craig, about a year ago and heard some of the most incredible stories about the kids (ask me about them sometime!).

I attached a few photos of the kids we will be helping. Warm Blankets rescues these orphans from life on the streets or worse, sex trafficking. Your donation helps put these adorable kids in loving Church Orphan Homes where they are cared and provided for. By helping give these children a safe environment, you not only save their lives but you help them to thrive. With your support, they will be clothed, fed, given an education, and most importantly loved. Your donation goes to not just changing these precious lives but also invests in helping to stop the cycle of poverty in this country.

How do you donate? Head over to Elaini's blog and click "Give Now" in the right hand corner. Please put "Alyssa DiCicco" in the comments section so my progress is tracked. All donations are made through a secure page & are tax deductible. Please know that 100% goes to the children- pretty rad. Checks can be sent to this address but please make sure to mark my name on the bottom of the check as well as "12 Days Project".

Warm Blankets Orphan Care
5105 Tollview Dr.
Suite 155
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

No matter if it's $1 or $100+, every little bit helps! This is such a great opportunity to give back this Christmas and I really hope you are as excited about Warm Blankets as I am!

Thanks & God Bless!

-aly

cozy navajo print sweaters

2012-11-08T05:30:00.000-06:00

it's been a while, but that doesn't mean that fashion has escaped my mind. it's definitely feeling like fall in nashville these days, so the need for sweaters is increasing every day! i can't get enough of these incredible navajo print sweaters... so much so that this is my second blog post on them! (i'll call this one the winter edition) ;) they look so cozy and cute.

one // two // three // four // five

do you have your eye on a navajo sweater?

color scheme: black & brown

2012-10-16T05:30:00.000-05:00

my cousin bought some cowboy boots... and although i'm not a huge fan of cowboy boots, i kind of fell in love with hers. here's a pic:

black and brown. together! brilliant! and they're not too busy either. perfect combo. here are more cool ways to combine the two colors that break the old rule that they don't go together.

one- taken by my cousin paige!

two // three // four // five // six // seven

are you a fan of combining neutrals... aka black 'n brown?

lovely loafers

2012-10-08T05:30:00.000-05:00

happy fall y'all!

i've been enjoying some great fall pastimes this weekend- going to a haunted woods & corn maze and making butternut squash soup! yum!

i'm also eyeing some cool fall loafers. when i was little i had some rad penny loafers and i actually put pennies in them! they were so fun. so now i'm here trying to bring them back. let's do it:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

diy: pumpkin wreath

2012-10-02T05:30:00.000-05:00

hello!

i have quite the treat for you today on the blog...

a D.I.Y. pumpkin wreath!

here's what happened: i opened my daily anthropologie email in my inbox the other day only to find this awesome plain wreath made completely out of white pumpkins!

now of course i get this idea in my head- i'm going to make this. but how!? do i use real pumpkins? fake ones? and how do i get them to stay like that?

well after lots of thought, i was able to make this wreath for under $15!

here's what you'll need:

11 fake plastic mini pumpkins (took me a while to find these, but i found them at tj maxx in the vase filler section. no luck at joann's or michael's)

off-white acrylic paint (spray paint might be good too)

paint brush

wooden embroidery hoop (i had one left over from another craft)

hot glue & glue gun

twine or string for hanging

1) if the pumpkins aren't white, start to paint them. you can also choose a different color- i thought gold could be fun, too! or keep them orange. :) also, don't forget to paint your wooden hoop the same color as your pumpkins! i did two coats... they probably could have used a third since my painting isn't that great. also- if you want to keep the stems completely paint-free, you can cover them with painting tape if you'd like.

2) once your pumpkins are dry, measure out where you plan to glue them on your hoop. make sure you leave enough room at the end of gluing for your last pumpkin to fit on, too! put a thick layer of glue on the hoop where your pumpkin will go, then hold your pumpkin down for a few seconds. keep moving on around the hoop.

3) once all of your pumpkins are glued on, go back and reinforce them by turning your wreath upside down and outlining the edges between the pumpkin and the hoop with extra glue.

4) once the glue is dry, measure your twine for hanging, tie one end to the screw on your hoop, and hang your new wreath! viola! there you have it- your new anthropologie inspired wreath for under $15!

have you made any other fall crafts this year?

elle september issue 2012

2012-10-01T05:30:00.000-05:00

yes, i know... it's october! and i'm really happy about that, but let's face it- i'm behind on blogging and haven't shown you all of the september issue goodness. (and yeah, i even missed fashion week- how did that happen?!??)

take a look at my best of the best in elle's september issue:

britney! (i can't stop watching x-factor...)

in love with madewell. and solange's fro. having a fro would be so rad...

diane krueger in a sleek blazer inspired cocktail shift dress. gorgeous.

beautiful white sweaters mixed with brights for fall. (now i don't feel so bad for wearing my bright red jeans the other day...)

c'mon- how cute are these clarks ads?

beautiful photo... i cannot tell if this is alexa chung or not... anyone?

love the cutouts in the blue dresses.

love the shape and design of this dress. hair is perfection with this look.

mixing textiles is my favorite!

which trends are you gung-ho about for fall?

ps- check back on the blog tomorrow- it's gonna be good. trust me.

levi's

2012-09-26T05:30:00.000-05:00

saw this commercial while watching the season premiere of new girl! so. epic.

love the styling in this video!

emmys red carpet 2012

2012-09-25T05:30:00.000-05:00

you know me- i can't resist an awards show!

and let me tell you- there were so many hits (and not so many misses) this time around! everyone looked spectacular!

well, here i am to share some of the best looks!

emily vancamp in j. mendel

heidi klum in alexandre vauthier

julie bowen in monique lhuillier

kerry washington in vivienne westwood

kristen wiig in balenciaga

of course zooey deschanel in reem acra

all photos from harpers bazaar

what did you think of the red carpet this year?

magazine monday: marie claire september issue 2012

2012-09-17T05:30:00.000-05:00

magazine monday is back! take a look at my favorite pieces and looks from the marie claire september issue!

trends i'm loving: military jackets, 1920s inspired dresses, and piping.

what's been catching your eye?

float away friday

2012-09-14T05:30:00.000-05:00

float away - it's friday so soak up what's left of summer. happy weekend. :)

the statement necklace

2012-09-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

hello- is anyone out there?? still...

how has a week gone by already and i have not done one blog post!??!

is this real life?

anyways, i'm about to make a statement.

the necklace kind.

here's some fun bold necklace inspiration!

one // two // three // four // five // six

would you dare to wear any of these pieces?

blogpost on guitarpicksandbobbypins

2012-09-04T05:30:00.000-05:00

welcome back to the grind!

i had a lovely long weekend full of lots of rest and hanging around the house- i may have even hit up a few sales at h&m this weekend too! :)

besides resting, i spent some time updating my other blog guitarpicksandbobbypins!

hope you take some time to check it out!

what did you do over labor day weekend?

happy friday! (long weekend edition)

2012-08-31T09:48:00.002-05:00

it's friday! and it's not just any friday- it's a friday with a 3 day weekend ahead of it!

we've got plans to travel to huntsville, al this weekend and check out our nearest h&m! yes- we're just that crazy to drive 2 hours to one of our favorite stores and get some new fall frocks.

take a look at their fall 2012 lookbook!

what are your weekend plans?

shoulder length hair

2012-08-30T05:30:00.000-05:00

it's getting to that point.

the point where your hair is just. too. long.

you know it's come to this when you accidentally roll a piece of your hair up into your car window... or you can't put your purse over your shoulder without moving all of your hair over to your other shoulder...

i could go on, but i'll spare you and instead you can look at some pics of some cute shoulder length styles that i'm thinking for my next cut! :)

one // two // three // four

are you ready for a hair change this fall?

the leather bag

2012-08-29T05:30:00.000-05:00

here are some gorgeous leather bags for fall!

one // two // three // four // five // six

diy projects

2012-08-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

it's been about a month since i dove into a craft project. (i made some drapes for our spare bedroom!)

so i think it's about time to start another one! here are some fun ideas i found on none other than pinterest!

one // two // three // four // five

which crafts are you ready to dive into?

cabin weekend

2012-08-27T05:30:00.000-05:00

happy monday! we took a trip out to a cabin with 16 of our friends this weekend and had a blast! we took some boats out on the lake, made "family" dinners, played with the kids, and relaxed. such a fun trip! i'll be back blogging soon! xoxo

alike: checkers

2012-08-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

one // two

happy friday!

sweaters with collars

2012-08-23T05:30:00.000-05:00

who's ready for fall?

this girl!

it's my favoriteeeee season and i'm ready for the brisk breeze in order to pull on a sweater over a button up shirt.

which brings me to my inspiration... sweaters with button ups!

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight // nine

how ready are you for fall?

craft supplies

2012-08-22T05:30:00.001-05:00

hello there! remember how i mentioned my addiction to buying fabric and craft supplies? well, i have to admit, they're not very organized! i pull out the things i need for one project and keep it in a plastic grocery bag! horrible! it's so hard to find anything i need for a project without shuffling through every bag...

solution? here are some ideas:

one // two // three // four // five // six // seven // eight

how do you organize your crafts?

threadflip

2012-08-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

are you ready for a commercial break?

i never really endorse just one product in my blog posts, but this will seriously be an exception!

i clicked on a facebook ad yesterday because there was a cute pair of boots staring right back at me... little did i know i would hit the jackpot.

the site is called threadflip.

the deal is that you take a picture of an item you want to ~~get rid of~~ in your closet and post it for sale online. you can then shop other people's "closets" and buy their clothes at a discounted rate!

i have been looking for a better solution to a plato's closet or a goodwill... (as much as i love goodwill, sometimes i have a pair of sneakers i have worn once that would be a great sell online!). etsy doesn't let you sell new clothes... and selling on ebay and craigslist- things just get lost in the mix.

threadflip does the trick.

don't want to post your items on your own? solution: white glove service. just ship your clothes off to threadflip and they will post the item for you. once it sells, you get the cash!

plus, browsing for clothes is great because you create a profile for yourself with the colors you wear, the brands you like, and threadflip hand picks those colors and brands and sizes just for you! brill.

i wish i had thought of it myself.

ps- the links all lead to my invite... if you invite your friends you can earn some moolah to spend!