Iona's closet doors are open again!

I've started missing my flowers, so after an extended break, I've decided to re-open Iona's Closet: Etsy edition! 

At the moment, it's full of all the old favorites - colorful felt headbands and fancy ribbon flower necklaces - but there may be a few additions in coming weeks, so be sure to check in.

In the meantime, stick around these parts and look forward to more sewing/knitting posts, inspiration walls, and of course, more Cover Judging! 
xx, Maren

Book Report: The Luxe Style Edition

Awhile ago, I posted my thoughts about the great brain candy series The Luxe. The final book in the series came out a couple weeks ago and it was everything I hoped it would be: dramatic and romantic with lots of fabulous hats. Plus, Splendor has maybe my favorite cover of the series:
Gorgeous, right? I love the lavender and the sparkly appliques - and our cover girl is Diana, who is my favorite character.

So, here are a few gorgeous items, in honor of the fab New York socialites of 1900:

1. Necklace by Kay Adams, $945 at kayadams.com
2. Ring by Happy Max Designs, $16 at happymaxdesigns.etsy.com
3. Lavender Dress from theVINTAGEdress, $65 at theVINTAGEdress.etsy.com
4. Red Poppy evening gown by rubypearl, $725 at rubypearl.etsy.com
5. Rhinestone and pearl necklace by luxedeluxe, $128 at luxedeluxe.etsy.com
6. Large gold bonnet by Natalilouise, $400 at natalilouise.etsy.com
7. Midnight black fascinator by Natalilouise, $300 at natalilouise.etsy.com

lots of Fail!

Mostly, my headband pictures are pretty boring: either I'm in front of some greenery or I'm standing by the house. They work, generally - they illustrate what my headbands look like on a human head (that sounded weirder than I meant it), which is really the whole point.

But sometimes I want to do something different - and that's where the FAIL comes in! Here are a few of my sorry attempts at making my model photos more interesting:

"Hi, just thought I'd wear my best dress to sit on this old trunk in the garage."

Staring disaffectedly while the sprinkler meter does its thing really sells the headband, no?

I put "Claire de lune" in the background in hopes of suckering Twilight-lovers into buying my headband.

Nominated for Most MySpacey.

I just want to hear this unripe blackberry's story and all anyone's interested in is my headband.
*Why did I think this one would work??*

yellow yellow yellow

I've found this brooch months and months ago and I've been completely baffled as to how I should use it. Clearly, it's a very cool vintage bauble and therefore should be part of something special. I tried it with several different felt flowers and it looked ridiculous. I tried it with silk ribbon and it still didn't work.


Then I found these two great yellow faux-silk fabrics at JoAnne's. I'm really happy with how it turned out - I think the colors work with the orange-y rhinestones and, though I say it myself, the headband looks really elegant and fancy. :)

If you're so inclined, you may have a glance at this headband in my Etsy store here.

I kinda want to keep it . . .

It took me quite a long time to get this one right:


Earlier this week, I decided to unpick this rosette . . .


. . .so I could use the ribbon differently. I wasn't completely satisfied with the rosette - it was one of the first I'd made - so it wasn't too big a deal to say goodbye to it (I kept the seam binding-leaves, though!).

I'm really happy with the results: I was able to use some of the peachy pleated ribbon I've had forever and some of the beautiful purple "grunge ribbons" I bought from MaryNotMartha (whose Etsy shop is so gorgeous!).


I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet - headband or hairclip? I'm leaning toward hair clip, but please let me know your opinion!

On a roll?

Should I keep bragging? Probably not, but here's my treasury that made it to the front page today (my birthday!):Happy birthday, me! :)

Treasury Fun, part eight

So, I told myself I would stop posting about my treasuries, because it sounds too much like bragging. But, hello, my girly treasury made front page yesterday, I have to brag!

And let's be honest, making treasuries is total addicting fun - it's like I can pretend I'm a fashion editor for a little while. And I can go on a no-cost shopping spree while I'm at it.

Although this one might cost me a bit - I'm totally in love with BTunique's gorgeous ten-layer bow...it might not be around much longer . . . ;)

Treasury Fun, part seven

I am so addicted to treasury day...

Here's my scrumptious salad treasury:

More to come, but for now . . .

I haven't written much (anything) this week, but I'm going to start up again today!

For now, I wanted to discuss my confusion/delight with the new web analytics feature on Etsy. I don't really understand most of the stats on Google Analytics, but I've sort of figured out a few vital things (page views, where traffic comes from, etc).

Anyway, I found out that I was featured on Your Heart Out, a cool design blog featuring Utah designers. It was way back in December, but it made sense because I sold the item featured to someone from Utah. So, thank you thank you thank you to Your Heart Out!

Even if you're not from Utah, you should check out Your Heart Out - it's a lovely blog with lots of fun items, ideas, and finds. I'm excited that I found it (even more excited that I was featured on it)!

Treasury Fun, part five

There's about a million treasuries up tonight. Mine is one of them...

Based on the lovely movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

New year, new things...

This week, my goal is to post a new design every single day (January 5-10). That's six new designs! Can I do it? I hope so!

Here's what I'm posting tomorrow - the Little purple pansy headband:

Look for it in my shop tomorrow!

Treasury Fun, part four

It's been so snowy for the past three weeks, I've hardly seen the sky at all! That's why I made this treasury... the Firefly lyrics made their way into my head while I searched for "sky blue." Enjoy!

Update: my treasury made it to the front page last night - yay! :)

It's a major award!

I logged in to Etsy today, not expecting many more views or hearts since it's Christmas Eve, and discovered that my neon Wallflower headband had over double the views it had yesterday. Qua? Scanned through the treasuries . . . not featured. Checked the gift guide and nothing. Maybe people are feeling charitable towards my little newly shop?

I credited good Christmas luck and decided to check the new featured seller on the front page. As I scrolled down the page, a flash of neon caught my eye - a Storque article by Featured Buyer ayatk, with her favorite neon-colored Etsy picks AND my little Wallflower headband was right on the side!

ayatk, alias Aya T. Kanai, is the senior fashion editor at Teen Vogue so I am hugely humbled by her comments: "Also would love to use this for a shoot. Such a great piece!"

You could probably knock me over with a neon-colored feather right now! I'm pretty happy - it's a huge compliment to be featured, especially as a new shop. Thank you thank you thank you to ayatk!

You can view my now-hearted shop at ionascloset.etsy.com and see a few of my non-neon items, including the natural version of the Wallflower headband.

Treasury Fun, part two

I love this idea from Michelle in the Etsy forums: for Christmas day, create a treasury that showcases "your highest ideals, your greatest hope, a wish you have, for yourself, for the world anything!"

It took me a little while to decide on my theme - I searched for concepts (happiness, contentment), but that proved a little too . . . conceptual? While I was searching, I found a picture of the Eiffel Tower and I decided to do a little dreaming about the backpacking trip I want to take so much.

Here's my treasury of dreams:

Update: My treasury was featured on the front page of Etsy, as part of the Christmas community project. Hooray!

Treasury Fun!

My very first Treasury feature!

Bottom left corner - my very special vintage party dress! A good friend gave this dress to me as a going-away present - it was her fancy grandma's from the fifties. I love this dress so much, but sadly, I don't have a 24" waist. . . whether you do or not, you should take a peek at the dress here. It's a work of art.

Thanks, chebang! (BTW, check out chebang's shop - she has loads of cute magnets and necklaces made from vintage ephemera.)