Favourite Things Friday #5

Oh dear, has it really been a week since my last post? Time sure flies. What better way to jump back into blogging than with this gold tooth jumper?

Gold Teeth Jumper by Aorta

Eee! I am in love with it. I have a thing for teeth. And jumpers. Need I say more? 

Side note: I am actually waiting to be accused of ripping off/copying/etc. Kaylah from The Dainty Squid, and have been ever since a friend of mine pointed out the similarities (which I think are totally minor) in our blogs. I really admire Kaylah, and her style, photos, and killer hair, and I would love to pick her brain on a number of things from photography to hair dying. I'm kind of amazed that I've come across another human being with so many interests that are similar to my own. I started following her blog awhile ago and when I came across her tooth collection I flipped. I am so jealous of it. Mine only consists of baby teeth and wisdom teeth, and a tooth brooch thus far. As for my name, the Myopic comes from me being nearsighted as heck, and Squid from my love of cephalopods and all things tentacally (totally a word!), which was reinforced by Lindsey Way some time ago with this and this)

Boat Neck Flamingo Dress by Jennifer Lilly Designs  

I laughed when I saw this dress. It's so... well, me! Everything from her shop is just darling. If I were made of money I'd snap up everything she has, I swear.

Silver Branch Twig Set by Colby June

Jeez this is so elegant. It looks so delicate. And for some reason all I picture wearing it with is my favourite jeans and a button up shirt.

At The Bottom Of Everything by Lindsey Way

Speaking of Lindsey Way, I adore every piece of art she's created I come across. The woman is genius. I am in awe of her talent constantly, and the fact that this is a paper sculpture is kind of mind blowing to me. My own experiments with paper were utter failures so I really admire her work. And I wish this sculpture was sitting in my home right now. Beautiful.

A Ctenophore

I love Comb Jellies (ctenophora). I mean, just look at it. Yes this is a real animal, and yes it really is this cool looking. They make their own light (through bioluminescence) and they are beautiful.

Anatomically Correct Lung Locket by Peggy Skemp

I am in love with Peggy Skemp Jewelry. I was drawn in awhile ago by the Anatomical Heart Locket, hooked with the tentacle collection, and now, my friends, I am in love. I have decided that I need to own a piece by her at some point in my lifetime. Psst, she also has an Etsy shop.

Stay Scary,

Berlyn

What I Wore: Dayglo and Cats

Blouse: Old Navy (last December)
Jeans: Giant Tiger (last year sometime)
Shoes: Zellers (three years ago. Yay for knockoff Converse lasting longer than real ones)
Backpack: Vintage c/o my lovely mother :p
Ring: Ardène (last December)
Collar Clip: My Shop 
Frida Button: Pixel Pop Design
Watch (on bag): Birthday gift c/o my wonderful Auntie

(Can you tell I gave myself some Christmas presents last year? haha)
I have dubbed outfits like these my Lazy Outfits. There really isn't much to them, and since I've pretty much been living out of boxes for a few months now, they have become a staple of mine (which kind of horrifies me haha). I actually caught myself thinking I should invest in more blouses in other colours so I can duplicate this as needed, yikes. I think I'll be investing in them anyway to go with the skirts I own that never get worn due to lack of matching tops that go with them.

I surprised myself with how much I liked my sweater clips on the collar. I thought of flipping the clips so that the cats hang straight, but I kind of like them on an angle like this.

I have yet to see the results from my lovely camera, Nora. I bought her off eBay last month and promptly painted her. I went snap-happy, but I haven't finished my second roll of film yet. She was advertised as a waterproof lomo camera. So far the waterproof part is true, the case is actually fantastic. I tested it by submerging it in a bowl of water for twenty minutes with some paper towel inside and it was bone dry when I opened it back up. Hopefully the pictures turn out as well as the case works.

In other news, I ordered some cards to sneak into my order packages. I'm hoping they'll be here before the 16th since I'd like to give one out with the shirt order I have due then. Fingers crossed they look as good physically as they did in the sample photos!

Now I just have to finish the huge-scary order I have over the next couple weeks. It's only one shirt, but the whole front of it is lyrics, and I haven't done lettering in bleach yet. I'm mildly terrified, haha!

Stay Scary,
Berlyn

Gratuitous Pictures of a New Dress

So sue me, I think a new dress calls for many, many photos to be taken! But first, puppy kisses:

Okay, okay, so she's not a puppy anymore. She is still all kinds of adorable!

I can't really call this an outfit post because I got this dress in the mail the other day and just threw it on simply to take a couple photos in, no planning or accessorizing. Just a lot of jumping around. In case you're wondering though, I picked up the dress from DinoDirect (I had store credit from a purchase I cancelled. That coupled with the fact that I had a really hard time finding a dress that would fit me really limited my choices at the time). I adore the colour, and of course I had to pick polka dots. It's a bit of an obsession of mine. The belt is from a dress I picked off the clearance rack at Old Navy back in December. I was always apprehensive about ON. From my recollection of going in when I was young, it was really drab. But I'm really surprised at the clothing they have nowadays. If I wasn't so frugal I might shop there more often, haha. Anyway, on with the photos!

When I first got my DSLR I took many, many, jumping photos. It's been nearly three years now and I've rediscovered my love of crazy motion shots like these. Especially when wearing dresses. I can't get enough of it in case you couldn't tell!

I didn't realize it at first, but I'm totally levitating in front of the dog in this shot

Even though it was hot enough for me to be completely drenched in sweat within seconds of stepping outside (yuck!) I couldn't resist goofing off with the Holy Terror. We both got eaten alive by mosquitoes, and it was totally worth it. And Bonus: Now I'll have some photos for the photo wall I want to make when I move to the city this fall.  I'm behind the lens so much that I rarely get shots of me interacting with the people (and animals!) I love. That and my fear of how I look in photos have made those kinds of natural shots almost non existent. I take self portraits, not only because I'm often the only model I have on hand, but because I can control exactly how I look, and if I don't like it I can retake the shot until I do. I'm hoping to change that. Let go of the fear of looking "awful". I'd like to look back and see all the awesome times in my life with me enjoying them. And so it begins. With a dress, a dog, and a hot summer day.

Stay Scary,
Berlyn

Cat Lady Pride

So a little while ago I found this dress in a thrift store (for a whole dollar. I know right.) and immediately fell in love with it. Considering the price I didn't bother to try it on figuring if it didn't fit I could either put it up for sale in my shop or use it to construct a pattern for a dress that would fit me. Lo and behold, other than it being a little snug in my *ahem* chesticular area, it fit like it was made for me. Which is a small miracle since, from what I can tell, it is either a true vintage handmade item, or a handmade item constructed more recently from a vintage pattern. Have I mentioned I love it? One more time for good measure. I love it.

The only thing I didn't love were the buttons on it. Well... that's not strictly true. I love the buttons by themselves but they weren't working for me on this dress. So "off with their heads!" it was, landing these giant purple monsters in the teeny-tiny jar housing my first button collection. But don't worry, they are keeping the cat buttons that are waiting for the perfect cardigan, and the black and gold buttons awaiting the perfect white sleeveless blouse company. When I find a use for the new additions I will let you know. Onwards!

The Original buttons found on the dress

Of course I didn't just hack off the buttons without first getting replacements. After all I wasn't about to allow this dress to sit in my closet. The solution to my button dilemma came to me when I got the first batch of supplies for my sweater chains. There were these darling cat faces I just had to turn into sweater clips (along with cupcakes and various other charms), and one leapt out at me immediately. I really liked the colour with the dress. Back online I went to order in another three bundles of cats, and a couple days after I received them these babies were sewn on and ready to keep the girls safely hidden away under the front of what is probably my favourite dress. For now anyway, haha.

These guys are looking for a good home... probably on some more thrift store finds knowing me

The new buttons. I think they're super cute

I swear I have the taste of a 70 year old woman sometimes. Not that that's a bad thing!

So there you have it. I am officially sporting my cat lady pride on a dress I would like to remake in peach, and again in mint (...with cupcake buttons? oh lordy I'm ridiculously excited. I'm going to turn into a button fiend). I regret nothing. Now to find that perfect cardigan...

Stay Scary,
Berlyn

Favourite Things Friday #1

I am actually ridiculously excited to start posting my favourite things on Fridays. I was going to make this a Thursday theme post, but I figured, hey, why not save the best for last. I am really digging the nautical theme right now. It's turning into an obsession. One that I am keeping in check by only looking at super cute things online for fear of going broke.

Nautical theme dresses by Atomic Rocket Clothing

I love love love sailor suits. I don't know what it is about them, but I really want one. I'm thinking of investing in a sailor style dress instead because I k now I'll get more wear out of it. Something like the third one above. My favourite is the center though! The whole clothing line at Atomic Rocket is pretty fantastic actually. Especially the corsets.

Wood Octopus Switch Plate by graphicspaceswood on Etsy

How cute is this octopus switch plate? I'd like one for every switch in the house please.

Nautical cushion cover by MyCuppaT on Etsy

Nautical Map Purse by Nancy DeVries on Etsy

Lightswitch cover by WhistleWish on Etsy

Okay it's between the octopus and these for sure.

Nautical Smile Wedge on Modcloth

And of course Modcloth never fails me!

I've got my first treasury list up on Etsy finally, also nautical themed. I think this is one trend I won't ever grow out of. I've been in love with the nautical theme since I had my first sailor suit (that I remember anyway) when I was four, haha!

Feel free to link me your favorite nautical themed items. Happy Friday!

Stay Scary,
Berlyn