Summer Strawberries & Cream: ootd

 Ah, June.  Summer is here and we're already enjoying a few ripe strawberries from the vine.  Almost time to bring out the blankets and baskets and go out picnicking.  It also means it's time to dust off those airy white dresses and find as many ways and opportunities to wear them before summer ends and they go back on the shelf.

I love to buy basic pieces and then see how many different combinations I can create.  This Ivoire dress by Tracy Reese is one of my all time favorites.  I want it to get as much wear as possible, so I'm always looking for new combinations.

    I love the way a cropped denim jacket can make a dressy dress (which this certainly is) look more casual.  So, I had an idea to put this dress with my denim jacket, some red canvas wedges, and a strawberry woven purse.  I started searching for the right shoes and purse, but before I bought any of them, I made a quick collage of everything to see if I liked the look.  This is the combo I landed on:

I tried different purses and shoes in this collage until I found exactly the right formula and then I purchased.  Unfortunately, since the purse was a resale item, the seller took my money and then never shipped the item.  Not to worry, I did receive a full refund from the resale marketplace, but since this purse was so important to the look, I was kind of stuck.  

    I decided to press on with my idea and make my own version of the purse.  I purchased a simple basket for less than a dollar and using the photo of the purse as my guide, I made the strawberry scene out of felt.  

    I sewed all the felt and then glued it to the basket along with a strip of red felt to the handle with high-temp hot glue.  

    So, I didn't get the cute, funky purse, but I do have a great basket for berry or flower picking and all for about $2 and one hour of my time.  And I still put together the outfit I was dreaming of.

My chunky cameo ring is from this trio set that I sold in my Etsy shop:  BlueSunEmporium.etsy.com

I'd love to see your do-it-yourself accessories!  Send them to me and I may use them in a future post.