to create a monochromatic monogram.

I had so much fun painting my American Apparel clutch last time, I decided to give it another go- using stencils to add my monogram this time around. I'm loving browns and golds lately, so I went with a yellow base and yellow/gold paint. Can't wait to take my little masterpiece out on the town.

shirt: Land's End Canvas cardigan: J.Crew shoes: Cole Haan necklace: F21 clutch: American Apparel

to tighten it up.

Winter is officially setting in in Chicago (so I hear, I'm down in FL for work, tee hee hee), which means it's time for some new tights. I've been wearing my very sad, worn and holey black tights from last year, and my toes have started picketing to be covered up again. Ok, little toes, I shall go shopping. Twist my arm...

I need the basics- black, navy and brown- but I also want some fun patterns and textures to keep things exciting on those cold winter days. I also saw this InStyle article about layering tights to stay warm, so I'm going to pick up a couple of pairs of nude tights as well. My budget is $100 and I'm hoping to come home with 7 or 8 new pairs to keep these chicken legs warm and cozy.

from L to R: American Apparel , Madewell , J.Crew , Lands' End Canvas , American Apparel

and does it herself.

I'll start by saying that I am not artistic in any way, shape or form. I've always wanted to be, and I so admire people with an innate ability to create something beautiful, but that quality bypassed me in the birth canal. As did any cooking skills. That shopping gene, however, that one seemed to stick.

Anyway, there was a little blurb in the November issue of InStyle about how to paint your own American Apparel leather pouch. It didn't look too hard to mess up, even for me, so I decided to give it a shot. I bought a neutral, camel-colored clutch from American Apparel ($50), three different colors of acrylic paint from an art store that I didn't belong in ($9), three of those foam brush things ($1) and three different kinds of tape ($9), because I don't know what masking tape is, apparently. None of the three kinds of tape I bought ended up being masking tape, by the way, but the clear kind worked just fine and didn't leave residue on the bag. So for $70 and hours of entertainment/fun, I got myself a new accessory that I can carry with pride.

Before:

Halfway there...

After:

Last note- when I was shopping for the bag I told the salesgirl what I was planning to do, and she showed me some pictures they had at the counter of similar projects- including one of the fabulous and adorable Blair of Atlantic-Pacific and her patriotic clutch!