the key to 2011

This well may be my last outfit post of 2010! K and I are leaving for Portland (ME) tomorrow morning for a low-key destination NYE. I'm delighted to be getting out of town--we'll probably just check out some of the festivities, have some delicious Indian food for dinner and retire back to the hotel for champagne by our in-room fireplace!

(necklace: gift from K; headband: DIY; shirt: Old Navy; skirt/scarf: vintage; tights: HUE; socks: TJMaxx; boots: Seychelles)

K gave this necklace to me for Christmas--he works with a woman who repurposes antique skeleton keys (among other things) to make jewelry, and of course he immediately thought of me. I like a man who knows what I like! Anyway, I think it is quite lovely. The designer has a blog and etsy shop with some really beautiful and creative pieces, many of which seem inspired by nature--petite pearls in a nest play at unhatched eggs, little honeybees chase beads of nectar down a chain and kitschy antique pendants wax reminiscent of a rose garden--and all are playfully pretty and totally worth checking out!

As for the headpiece: my childhood girlfriends and I have been exchanging gifts since we first started receiving an allowance, and this year I really wanted to make something for them. I had the idea to make headpieces out of doilies a long time ago but never actually got around to doing it, so when I unearthed a heaping stash of pretty doilies while perusing JoAnn Fabrics, I knew I had struck gold. I had originally intended to attach them to barrettes, but after sewing the doilies onto sheets of felt in camel, baby blue, royal blue and black I decided I wanted the pieces to contour to the head and it just didn't look right on a barrette. Luckily, I had some supplies in my craft drawer (because of course I was doing this super-last-minute)--I started out with black velvet ribbon, which disappointed me by running out after three headpieces, so I had to improvise once again. I had some sheer lace-like material (purchased last halloween for a never-worn owl costume), which I cut into strips, and Voilà! I had also intended to make the headpieces a little bit more elaborate by adding buttons or lace or feathers or all of the above, but I think I prefer the understated simplicity of the stand-alone doily. And it kind of looks like a snowflake, which is totally winter-appropriate!

Happy New Year, everyone!

I can't wait to spend it with each and every one of you :)