Doomsday Fashion - Mayan Costume and Textiles

Most of the world has misinterpreted the ancient Mayan calendar to read that December 21, 2012 was the end of the world.  If you are reading this, this clearly did not happen.  Where are the Mayans, and what do they wear?

I took a trip to Guatemala in college.  My family has visited the country several times since then.  We fell in love with the richly woven textiles and bright colors of the native people.  My father took the photos in this post.  He was actually able to find the little girl in the top photo again several years later in the same town square.

The classic women's garment for Mayans is the Huipil, a two-paneled blouse. They are often heavily embroidered or with brightly colored patterns woven in.  This blouse can be the a top or an over garment, often worn with a skirt. The skirt is also highly patterned. 

For men, a typical outfit would consist of a shirt, pants and sash.  Collars might be embellished with hand-woven patterns or embroidery.  A wool tunic might act as outerwear.

Accessories? Shoulder bags are the handbag of choice for both men and women, often rectangular in shape. Sashes, headwraps, shawls, etc. are called Tzutes, an all-purpose utility cloth.

Did you learn something today?  I don't know about you, but the only people who were actually hoping today was their last was probably Jon Cusack who made the horrible 2012 movie.  Don't worry Jon, you'll still always be the cutie from Say Anything to me.

Photos by David TW Leung

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2-Hour Statement Necklace

The hottest trend this year in jewelry has undoubtedly been the “statement necklace” or bib necklace. Every upscale jewelry and fashion house has produced some form of this with escalated price points. I originally had a few made in India based on some of my favorite embroidery designs, but realized you can easily make your own ‘couture’ creation whenever you need an accessory fix.



To start, grab some ribbon pieces, (the standard is satin or grosgrain ribbon, but anything that won’t scratch your neck will do). Next, find some fabric scraps and start cutting out flowers, shapes, obscene motifs, whatever you wish. Then, embellish them with  jewels, buttons or trims that you have on hand.  Stitch them together or thread them like beads and add a side of ribbon to each end… Voila!  I made the necklace above as a gift to my Mom.  I cut some tulle into tiny squares and threaded them with loose pearls and glass leaves.



Not a fabric flower type? If you have a pile of beads, you can string them together between the ribbons for another variation. Old chains from belts, ribbons made into bows, all work as well. Just stagger the lengths of each strand for the 'bib' effect.  The necklace above was made from different lengths of chain samples I had on hand attached to grosgrain ribbon.  I used two loose, Swarovski crystals to attach the bows where the chains connect to the ribbons.

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Holiday DIY: Greeting Cards

At the end of the year, I often panic and realize how many good friends and family I have neglected to be in touch with.  I then neurotically think about my annual holiday card as a last chance of redemption.

I have made my holiday cards every year since high school.  I know this just seems masochistic to those with busy schedules (A.K.A.  Everyone I know…) but I do have my reasons.   A) I find it impossible to find anything to purchase that is special enough for the people I care about. B) I don’t have children (yet) so I feel it would be silly for Hubby and me to send those photo cards that everyone else sends and C) I have a huge ego that tells me that the only person that can create what YOU deserve is ME.

If you find yourself as ego-maniacal as me, let me assure you that it is NOT difficult or nearly as time consuming as it sounds to create your own cards.  Granted, before I was fully employed, I would make elaborate origami, or fiber embroidered beaded greetings.  These days, I take a decidedly more minimalist approach.

The internet and printer are your friends… If you are not graphically inclined, there are images online that you can grab and manipulate from the web.  Google images are great for this.  Right click and it’s yours.  If you have any skill with editing software, you can personalize things to make it your own.  Print on cardstock with a holiday message and you’re done.



Bonus points: If you want to take it a step further, you can embellish your home printed cards.  Craft punches are fabulous, and are an economic way to make use of fancy paper (especially scraps and damaged pieces).  Add these as a 3-D element to your design.  If you have a partner, child or  trainable pet, you have yourself an assistant.  Anyone can help you punch pieces out and even glue them to your cards.  If you have loose sequins, jewels, metallic dust bunnies these also work to “bling out” your cards.

Now, if only locating the right postage stamps was this easy...

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My Living Room on Design Sponge

When Studly Hubby and I first purchased our current apartment, it was an example of how filthy and neglected some people could be with their home.  The apartment had some broken wood piece hanging from the dining room ceiling.  I was told it belonged to a chandelier that had not been there for decades.  The mirrored cabinet housed about 50 disposed razor blades inside, (the long ones used during the Depression).  One closet actually contained a dusty piece of furniture that had an unopened piece of mail from 1973, (the previous owners only moved in thirteen years ago).

The former owners, two educators with a daughter and dog, apparently had no concern for health hazards around their child.  Truthfully, I was surprised when I met them… I really expected to meet the ghosts of “Grey Gardens” after seeing the chunks of hair taped to the doors, and the floor stain that looked like it was spat on, rather than properly applied.

These “classy” owners really made a great impression when they refused to get out of our way during a home inspection, bragged about how they finished the floors themselves, and gloated about the “windfall” we were giving them.  After this tidbit, we were trapped into having the listen to a long-winded description of a book he was writing. It sounded like a scholarly dissertation of some sort about a subject no one would find relevant in current times, let alone want to purchase. (I’m sure publishers are lining up for this!)  I guess this family needed every penny they could their hands on… so I saw myself as a philanthropist providing them with charity.

Despite the interior disgrace, Studly Hubby and I fell in love with the fairy-tale Tudor exteriors, the impeccably planted gardens and large, three-exposure layout.  With a reduction in price, we were able to gut the entire apartment and hopefully exorcise any unkempt ghosts still remaining.  (There is still one ghost left in the second bedroom… one that turns the lights on and off at inconvenient times).

After renovations, we were left with impeccable, but blank walls and little money.  I dug out some felt and scissors and proceeded to 'grow' a garden mural in the living room.

Design Sponge, one of my favorite design industry websites featured the project as part of their DIY series. The $3.00 project somehow made the rounds all over the internet on other design sites as well.

While I think of this mural as temporary, it still saves guests and me from looking at a bland void of sheetrock that would otherwise be there.

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