What I Wore

I am wearing the same boots in every picture! I guess I didn't get photos of the outfits with other shoes!

I wore this dress from Target to show of my lace socks, made by me.

This outfit is composed of all my favorite items in my closet right now- favorite shirt (Down East), favorite cardigan (local boutique), favorite belt (same boutique), and favorite boots (Steve Madden).

Try wearing all of your favorite items together- what kind of outfit would it make?

I added the gray cardigan to my Anthro inspired rose shirt for a little more warmth.

This outfit is explained in my first "Shop your Closet" post. Check it out!

I also didn't get a picture of my New Year's Eve outfit. But if you want to see what it was click here, and look at the second picture. Now imagine it with gray boots instead and I don't think I wore the belt either.

Linking up at the Pleated Poppy.

Shop Your Closet

Shop Your Closet is a feature where I find an outifit I like and then go shopping in my closet to recreate it. This way I am exercising my creativity without spending any money.

This outfit is from Bags that Fit- a cute little boutique in you just have to visit if you are ever in Utah County. I love the layering of this outfit and the mixing of the neutral colors.

I don't have a sweater in this style, but I do have this gray cardigan from Target. I found a textured cream shirt in my closet that I haven't worn for a long time. My belt is actually from this store- it could be the same belt!

Since I wore this to work I paired it with black pants instead of jeans. I added my new favorite boots and a gold necklace to make it my own.

A brand new outfit- all because I shopped my closet!

My Top 10 Projects of 2010

#10 Nautical Necklace
I loved this project because it was entirely my idea.

#9 Bridesmaid Belts
I made these for my brother's wedding and got to wear one!

#8 Lace Socks
I have had so much fun wearing these.

#7 Fireworks Bracelet
It was so fun to see a couple of others make similar bracelets using my tutorial

#6 Flower Tank
I love how this turned out!

#5 Anthro Inspired Rose Blouse
I am so glad to be using this shirt again!

#4 Ruffles Shirt
This was my first refashion- I was so proud!

#3 Photo Letters
I LOVE this! Enough said!

#2 Fourth of July Headband
The most beautiful headband I have ever made!

#1 Anthro Inspired Rose Shirt
This was a lot of work- but well worth it!

BONUS: Retro Button Necklace
Although this project did not make my top 10 favorites, it was the most featured, viewed, and replicated project from Yellow Blackbird in 2010.

On another note- I had about 77 sales this year in my Etsy shop! My goal was 50 so I totally exceeded that!

Thanks so much for your support. It's been a great year!

Photo Letters

For a Christmas present I made this photo collage that spells out the family's last name. It was so much fun to make! I became much more observant as I drove around looking at objects trying to find letters hidden in every day things. I drove past some of these things everyday for 2 weeks before I finally saw the letter.

My friend who is an artist/photographer gave me a few tips:

1. It looks much cooler when you actually tell what the object is (which you can for all of mine except the 'S').

2. Increase the contrast on the photos in Photoshop or other photo editing software. This makes the letter stand out more.

I have seen similar postcards with photo letter on them for sale at craft stores but it was much more fun (and meaningful) to take the photos myself.

Be sure to choose a name with which you will be able to find a frame with the right amount of spaces. OR use small individual frames. They would also be a lot of fun in wallet size. First names would be fun for kids or teens. You could also do initials or first name monograms.

Another option would be to use sepia colored photos. It just depends on the decor. This family decorates with black, white, and red so the black and white was the best option.

Sideways mailbox


Light post

Tree knot

Basketball hoop

RR crossing sign

A swirly peice of metal on a fall decoration I have.

Now I just need to make myself one! Luckily there are only 6 letters in my last name!

What I Wore

These are a few of the outfits I have worn over the past two weeks. I didn't post last week. So I really didn't wear the same sweater that close together. : )

Ah, my favorite sweater that appears at least once, sometimes twice every week. This time I paired with a plaid button up I got for $4 at American Eagle. I belted it with this tan belt. I love the combo of the neutral colors with the gray boots.

One day last week I got to have a "free dress day" at work so I could wear jeans. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to wear some sequins in the day time. I got asked over and over if I had a party that night. Nope, just felt like dressing up!

The sweater again- this time with a fun layering tee from Old Navy.

I have had this black dress forever but mixed it up with the belted salmon colored sweater. I wore this outfit with the new tights my husband picked out for me for Christmas.

I have finally figured out how to curl my hair. It only took 25 years!!

What do you think about the stripes on stripes? If you look closely I have a blue and gray tee under the cardigan. I am wearing my new F21 boots!

I also got some incredible Madden Girl boots for Christmas that I can't wait to show you!

Refashion #10 Lace Knee Socks Tutorial

Have you seen this new trend of wearing knee socks with boots? I think it is kind of fun, especially the lace socks. However, I have seen them for $24 in the boutiques. Yikes! That is expensive for a pair of socks and I am really trying to cut back on spending and shopping! What's a girl to do?

I have had these socks in my drawer for awhile now. We bought them for my husband for his conquistador Halloween costume. As soon as the party was over he said, "Ew! Girl socks!" and they have been in my sock drawer ever since. I have finally found a use for them!

For this project I bought 3/4 yard of lace trim at Walmart for $.73 (the socks are from Walmart too- they were around $2.00). I was just a fraction of an inch short on lace. I would recommend that you buy 1 yard.

Start by putting the socks and CAREFULLY pinning the lace on the sock. I started in the back so that the "seam" wouldn't show as well.

CAREFULLY take off the socks when you have finished.

If you don't use a sufficient number of pins- it will look like this. You can stretch out the sock and pin it down better if this happens.



It should look more like this.

Using a matching thread, stitch all the way around the sock. Back stitch at the beginning and end.

BE SURE to pull the sock really tight as you are sewing. Otherwise the lace won't look right when you are wearing the sock.

Clip the extra threads and make sure that everything looks good. If you don't have a machine you could probably do this by hand- just make sure the sock is stretched out during the stitching!

Ta da! Wear your new socks proudly! These cost around $3.00- saving you $21.00.

You could make socks in a variety of colors with varied sized lace. Other trims could be fun too!

These are the new boots I got for Christmas- "Zaney" by Madden Girl. Oh how I love them!

The dress is from Target.

Be sure to let me know if you make any socks! I would love to see them and feature you!

About Yellow Blackbird

I didn't discover/realize that I could be creative until my early twenties, which was a real detriment to my teenage years. I started this blog to explore and celebrate my creativity and help others discover their own.

Click on the buttons on the left sidebar to explore the site:

About
Takes you back to this post.

Why create?
"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. "
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Click on this button to read more.

Tutorials
All of the tutorials I have done- including the refashion projects.

Refashions
Click here if all you want to see are the refashion projects.

Style
Posts I have done on fashion and style. I LOVE clothes! This part of the blog is to help me use what I have by remixing my clothes, finding inspiration for new outfits without going shopping (Shop Your Closet), and shopping smart.

Outfits
All of my "What I Wear Wednesday" posts.

Photography
I just upgraded to a DSLR camera. I love taking pictures and learning how to use my camera. Follow my journey by clicking here.

Our House
Decorating and organizing a house takes creativity too!

Quick & Simple
A list of projects and ideas that are just simple and quick.

My Faith
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). Click here to learn more about my beliefs. Click on "my faith" in the section of labels on the right sidebar to read posts I wrote relating to faith.

Facebook
Become a fan of Yellow Blackbird on Facebook. See updates on the new products in my Etsy shop and the projects and inspiration I find from other Bloggers.

Contact me at {aubreelarsen} at {gmail.com}.

Why Create?

In 2008 I heard this talk from President Uchtdorf. It really touched me. Why should I create? Because I am a daughter of God and I can be like Him. "Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate."

These words are so encouraging and inspiring. Creating isn't about always succeeding. It is about learning, growing, trying, and making something beautiful. That can be crafts, outfits, photography, organization, food, painting, drawing, sports, leadership, web design, graphic arts, raising a family, planning a wedding, gardening or a million other things.

"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.

"Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.

"You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside."

Click here to read the full text of this article.

Under Construction

I am making some changes to my blog layout- it might be a mess for a little while. In the meantime I hope you are having a great holiday season. Check back soon for more tutorials and some refashion projects!

What I Wore

This is what I wore to church. This is a new shirt that I just got from Downeast Basics. You will probably see this for the next 2 weeks. I plan to wear it to work this week and on Christmas Eve. I sure love the pretty flowers!


This is another outfit inspired by a random person in a store. I saw a girl wearing a ruffly, mustard colored top over a long sleeved white shirt. I had to try it out when I got home! I usually wear this shirt at a normal length (see my profile pic in the left sidebar) but it stretches pretty long so I decided to lengthen it so it was like a tunic and... surprise! add a belt! The butterfly necklace was made by me and I threw on my shabby gray boots too. Loved it!

I have had this sparkly Old Navy tank for years, and decided to mix it in again. I wore my new lacy jacket and a pencil skirt I have also had for forever. I am wearing one of my shooting star necklaces (available in my shop) which adds a fun bit of pizazz!

I love this shirt because the polka dots are black-brown and they look either color depending on what I wear it with. For this Saturday look I added a brown long sleeve tee, brown scarf, and brown boots. Super comfy and warm.

This red top is another that I have had for years and was able to remix back in to my wardrobe with the purchase of the lacy black jacket. That jacket was only like $7. What a deal!

This outfit was inspired when I cleaned out my closet and remembered I had the blue long sleeved tee. Ugh, I really need new gray boots. Maybe next year...

It's a record! I only wore 1 outfit (at least that I got a picture of) with a belt!

Have a great day!