Fall Collection both old and new

It's been quite a long long time since I've posted anything on my blog. I'm so sorry. I've most three times and got married. I've been quite busy.
I wanted to post a bit about my business. Fall is here, well almost here. So I wanted to share with you some of the fall collection on Amber Ily's Steamcrafts.

Hi Everyone!!!!!

I'm so excited to announce that on September 1st I will be moving into a new place where I will finally have my own space and office to create all the amazing things I want to! I currently have my Etsy shop on Vacation mode till September 22nd due to moving and continually trying to plan a wedding and my birthday is September 20th : ) There will be new items up for the Fall, Halloween, and Christmas season on September 23rd.

Colored my hair!

 

 My Outfit 

Dress - O'Neill Maroon Dress

Black Wedges - Mossimo

Steampunk Necklace - Amber Ily's Steamcrafts (For Sale)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/130725378/steampunk-gear-necklace-gear-necklace?ref=shop_home_active

I've lately gotten sick of my hair color. My hair is a blonde/red color naturally but I also have a huge grey streak that has been there since I was at least Seventeen. I wouldn't mind it if it was like Rogue's but I really just think I'm going grey. Yes, grey at Twenty -Four, that's what stress does to you cause there is no one else in my family who went grey early. Anyway, so my hair is almost maroon color. I love it!

Blue Jeans and Cloudy Skies and Ways to Save!

My Outfit

Purple Chiffon Shirt - Yard Sale

Blue Jeans - Forever 21

Brown Heals - Target

Steampunk Necklace - Soon to be on the shop Amber Ily's Steamcrafts 

 https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmberIlysSteamcrafts

    It's true! I'm wearing jeans! I don't really care for jeans, but sometimes an outfit calls for them and they can be really comfortable. I got this shirt from a yard sale. It's loose and flowy and super cute. It's not my usual outfit but I like it. It was crazy weather today. It was as if it couldn't make up it's mind whether it wanted to be hot or cold or hot. It was ridiculous. Most of the day was cloudy though which was nice. I love cloudy days.

 

   I have been so busy trying to figure out how to save money and to earn money and all sorts of that. It's been an interesting couple of weeks. I've mostly been trying to save up for the Gaslight Gathering III in San Diego. I've gone every year and I love all the wonderful Steampunk things I find. 

   So for the knowledge that I have gained in my search for ways to save, I've learned that you should pretty much use coupons and shop at places that have rewards like Vons and/or Walgreens. Also, there are a lot of good deals at Target if you know when to shop and where to look. Yard sales are the way to go. I grew up with my parents always going to yard sales on Saturdays and as you can tell I get most of my clothes at Yard Sales still.

   I've also been trying to update my Amber Ily's Steamcrafts shop. I made two new pieces today and hope to make more. One of the new pieces is actually what I have on. If you get a chance stop by the shop in the next week and I will have some new items up. 

I posted my birthday list a couple of weeks ago and so far I have 5) Started blogging at least once a week, 6) Find time to enjoy the little things and moments with Daniel, 8) Read more - I've gotten about a book in a half done so far. I've read the third book of Beautiful Creatures series and now trying to get through the last one 9) So far I have saved money from each paycheck , 10) Go to the Gaslight Gathering  

   I hope everyone has a great weekend. Next weekend is the Gaslight Gathering so I will post about that as soon as I can after that but I will make sure to update sometime next week.

Happy Be-lated Easter

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week and had a great Easter Weekend. I've been so busy I haven't been able to post photos from Daniel and I's Easter yet. I still live with my parents but they went on a road trip for the Holiday so Daniel and I had the place to ourselves. I don't cook at all so it was an interesting experience when I tried to make an Easter dinner for Daniel and I. But we managed and it turned out pretty well and it was a wonderful day.

Outfit Details-

Vintage flower Dress - Yard Sale

Vintage Pink Sweater - Yard Sale

Brown Shoes - Mossimo Target

Steampunk Jewelry - Amber Ily's Steamcrafts

 For those of you don't know, I make Steampunk Jewelry on Etsy. I haven't posted them on here yet so I'd thought I'd dedicate a post to showing everyone my jewelry. I love making jewelry. It helps me take my mind of things. The couple that I have posted here are a part of my spring collection. They have a bit more of a shabby chic look to them. Anyway, if you get a chance check out my shop. It's a lot of fun.
Amber Ily's Steamcrafts 

 Steampunk Vintage Victorian Cameo Necklace

 Steampunk Vintage Photo Gold Necklace

 March Hare Alice in Wonderland Necklace

March Hare Brooch

Steampunk Birds Nest Necklace

Steampunk

That's right I absolutely love Steampunk. If you haven't already figured this out, you should know by now I'm a total geek. This includes my love for all things Steampunk. I even make Steampunk Jewelry. I am actually wearing one of my pieces. Sadly this one is not for sale on etsy. One of the only ones I refuse to sell. I decided I should make one for myself. 

For those of you who don't know what Steampunk is, it is a subculture/genre of science fiction that  that typically features steam powered machinery, especially in a setting inspired by Industrial civilization during the 19th century. Think of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, or Wild, Wild West.

There is something that I love so much about Steampunk. Maybe it's because I wish I was born in a different time period and an alternative one. Maybe it also stems from my long love of every thing Victorian. Which is something I love to adapt into Steampunk. I love taking Victorian styles and trends and adding Steampunk to them. Last year at the Gaslight Gathering I did my own version of Alice in Wonderland. Of course that will be for a different post.
 

My Outfit -

Striped Dress - Forever 21

Black Lace Skirt under my dress - Forever 21

Steampunk Harness - New Age Couture from etsy

Steampunk Doorknocker Necklace - https://www.etsy.com/shop/AmberIlysSteamcrafts

Brown Leggings - Target

Black Knee High Socks - Apt 9 Khols

Brown Boots - Forever 21

Vintage Valentine

   Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I don't know about you but I hated Valentine's day for many years. It's hard to hate it now that I have someone but those many years that either I was alone or the person I was with made the day miserable it was hard to find the Halmark holiday enjoyable. However, if you take away all the expectations of this made up holiday and just do something enjoyable it turns out to be a fun day. Plus, it means I get to dress up. This dress, I found last year from some girls who sell vintage clothes at a fair I used to sell at once a month. I'm super excited cause Daniel is going to take me to Beautiful Creatures for Valentine's Day and I can't wait!!!! Well, except for the fact for that I am super sick. So I hope that I won't be sick for tomorrow. I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day and just remember to have no expectations. It's just another day when it comes down to it.

Dress - Vintage

Belt - I believe came off another dress 

Shoes- Mossimo from Target

Socks - Forever 21

Necklace - My own making but I sell one like it on Etsy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121567021/once-upon-a-time-necklace-wedding

Amber Ily's Steamcrafts

   I haven't had the chance to write about my online store at all on my blog here, so I'd figure I'd post a couple of photos of my Valentine's Day jewelry line. When I hit landmarks with my followers I guarantee that I will do a give-away for a couple of my jewelry pieces. 

  For those who don't know much about Amber Ily's Steamcrafts, the shop is made up of Steampunk jewelry and decorative boxes. Most of my jewelry is upcycled made from pieces and parts of vintage jewelry and watch parts. I also make decorative boxes and shadowboxes like the leaf heart wood box pictured at the very bottom. Check out my store on etsy

http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmberIlysSteamcrafts

Pictured Above

Once Upon a Time Necklace -  https://www.etsy.com/listing/121567021/once-upon-a-time-necklace-wedding

Steampunk Rose Necklace - https://www.etsy.com/listing/101818750/steampunk-necklace-rose-with-silver-gear

Victorian Heart Pearl Necklace - https://www.etsy.com/listing/97792643/victorian-necklace-imitation-pearl

Steampunk Leaf Wood Box - https://www.etsy.com/listing/91430182/steampunk-box-red-leaf-heart-box

Skulls, Crosses, and Cogs.

I'm actually wearing two of my favorite items in this outfit. My cog belt buckle and my cross. I got the cog belt buckle at one of my favorite antique stores in Temecula, CA. My boyfriend, Daniel, actually spotted it first and knew it was perfect for my Steampunk outfits. As for my cross, it also has something to do with my boyfriend. He gave it to me for safe keeping after the first three weeks we were dating, when I went to Pittsburgh for two weeks. The cross was his favorite necklace and I knew the second that he gave it to me he really loved me. Corny I know, but we're totally corny. I've worn it everyday since (except when I take it off for a couple minutes while I take the photos).

My Outfit

- Shirt - Skull Shirt - Hot Topic - Was on sale for $10

- Belt and Buckle - Belt I stole from my Boyfriend and the Cog 

belt Buckle is from an antique store in Temecula, CA $15

                             - Hat - I've actually bought this hat from my first job wear I worked                                                       in a little hat shop called Wooleys in a small mountain town in Southern California $30

- Pants - Black and Tan Checkered pants from Forever 21 $22

- Ankle Boots - Clarks - Got as a Christmas present from my Mum.

Alice in Wonderland

Fairytales have been trending quite a lot lately and not just in movies and T.V., but in fashion as well. I've been obsessed with Alice in Wonderland for the past year. It seems since Tim Burton's release of 'Alice in Wonderland' I've been seeing the trend the past couple of spring seasons. Alice in Wonderland has also been trending on t-shirts and merchandise at Disneyland and even the old illustrations from the books are very popular with jewelry on etsy.
When it comes to the style of Alice in Wonderland, I have searched high and low for something that was close to Alice's dress but, I still haven't found anything that lives up to my standards and also doesn't cost a small fortune. However,  you never know what you can find in the vintage clothes section of antique shops or the Salvation Army.

I've even added the whimsicalness (I know it's not a word, but it works) of Alice in Wonderland, to some of my Steampunk Jewelry. Last spring, I added a line of Alice in Wonderland theme Steampunk jewelry. 

 The March Hare and the White Rabbit are perfect to add a bit of spring to your jewelry. Colors like baby blue, cream, and copper are perfect for a light spring day. Or bolder primary colors like poppy red and lemon yellow for Mad Hatter. You can also wear wisteria and silver for a Cheshire cat look.

The Modern Mad Hatter

The Modern Cheshire Cat