Simply Chic

Happy Tuesday everyone! Just wanted to share with you that I am being featured on MSN’s new blog Simply Chic.

If you are visiting from the Simply Chic blog, welcome!

Acorn bracelet

A friend suggested I try making an Acorn bracelet because she had missed out on the JC pieces. I have been working on this one in the evenings for awhile now. I started out with just the wooden beads and acorn caps some what similar to the original. I wanted to give it a twist though, put my own touches on it. So I added some stardust beads and a little squirrel munching on an acorn hiding underneath the bracelet.

** Edited-Thanks so much for all for all the encouraging and kinds comments ladies! :)

Juliet patent leather midheels

The Juliet Mid-heels are true to size. I have these heels in both size 7 (dusty rose) and 6 1/2 (black). I am in between sizes but almost always go with a size 7 for extra room in the toe box. I prefer my sz 7 Juliets over the smaller size. Like my other size 7 shoes, I have some room behind my heel. But with a heel grip, the dusty rose Juliets are very comfortable. My 6.5 black Juliets just fit. The length is perfect but there is no extra room in the toe box. I can’t even wear tights with them.

The Juliets have a 2 3/4″ wooden mid-heel which is my favorite height. The heel is sturdy and easy to walk on. I can walk in these shoes all day without any rubbing or toe discomfort. However, the ball of my foot does get tired because there is no padding in the front of the shoe.

The Dusty Rose is a pink mid-toned nude shade. It is just a shade darker than the Spectator peep-toes in Dusty Rose. I prefer the Juliet heel over the Spectators. The Juliets are sleeker. The stitching on the Spectators could be better in color and in quality, they are already starting to fray.

The patent leather of the Juliets looks very nice. It is quite stiff but does not rub on the edges of my foot anywhere. The lining on these shoes is all man-made which is disappointing for the $198.00 price tag. I purchased both of my Juliets on sale, one for $77 and the other for about $130. I can over look the interior at those prices.

Retail Description: Unquestionably the shoe of the season, in a beautiful array of colors from subtle to bold, with a perfectly proportioned wood heel that contrasts so chicly with the glossy patent leather. It’s hard for us to pick a favorite shoe, but if we had to? Juliet. (P.S. The editors flipped for her in our showroom.) Italian patent-leather upper. Man-made lining and sole. 2 3/4″ real wood heel—color and grain of wood will vary. Made in Italy. $198.00

Sizing: TTS
Overall: *** (a star off for price)

DIY: Jump ring bracelet extension

If you have a bracelet or necklace that is a little too short, you can use jump rings to make an extension. If you use a higher gauge/thinner wire ring (10mm or higher), you should be able to open and close it with your hands. If you want to use a thicker ring you will need two sets of needle nose pliers to hold the ring and twist it close.

If you end up with a large gap in your rings, do not try and push it together. 90% of the time it will not hold closed. You need to re-open your ring and press in towards the other side of your ring while you are pulling it closed.

Here are some photos to help you. Click on the pic to make it larger.