Okay, so my friend James had a birthday a few months ago. He wanted everyone to go to Smuggler’s Cove, a piratey rum bar with a bajillion different rums and crazy mixed drinks inspired by different continents. It sounds really cheezy, but the drinks were actually pretty interesting and quite delicious!

The night before James’ bday party, Manda and I still didn’t have pirate costumes. I was really struggling with putting an outfit together from things I already owned. We went to the mall and tried to find pieces we’d use again in our regular wardrobe, but I still couldn’t get with the pirate program. Finally, Manda said, “You don’t have to be a pirate. You could be the mermaid.” EUREKA!!! Hence, the crocheted mermaid costume was born (after trying a few really bad pairs of green skinny jeans.) Here’s a really really REALLY poor quality phone-cam photo of me before leaving the house.

My quick-n-dirty mermaid outfit came out pretty cute, so I thought I’d share the shell bikini pattern with you. I will warn you: it’s not great. I didn’t create the pattern with the intention of sharing it or selling it. I was really just trying to make myself a quick outfit. But maybe you guys will get a kick out of it, too, and use it as a foundation for a really awesome ensemble.

Essentially, I just made two giant seashell “patches,” hot glued some see-through, bubble-like beads to the surface, and I tacked the shells down to an aqua blue dress with a few stitches here and there, so that I could cut the dress free afterwards. I also crocheted a starfish hair piece, hot glued gold beads to the top, and hot glued some small pearl strings to the back. I made the hair piece mere minutes before we had to leave, so I didn’t write a pattern for it. Plus, I can’t find  the pattern for an afghan that I used as a guide, so you may want to search for some other free star fish patterns out there, like this one.

Now that I’ve made this sound like the worst free pattern ever …….. onto the free pattern!

Remember, I made these for myself. They are BIG cuz it just ended up that way, so this probably wouldn’t fit children. You could use a lighter weight yarn than Red Heart Super Saver to get some smaller shells.

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This was my most favorite part of my latest collab with Onch Movement. Giant crocheted pretzel pillows inspired by his signature pretzel necklaces!

Here are the pillows as well as other BANG pop-up shop items at Royal/T, all for sale there until July 14!

You can see in that center display box some cupcake hats, bacon wraps (new item based on Onch’s bacon necklace,) whipped cream mini-berets (also new and exclusive!), and a bunch of other sweet goodies!

A word about the pretzels: I am SO happy and RELIEVED to be able to show you these pictures, because, for a couple days, these goodies were MISSING IN ACTION due to a postal snafu. We were beside ourselves. I was so bummed to not be able to show Onch all the goodies and a bit embarrassed that there would not be very much Twinkie stuff at the pop-up shop.  It seemed hopeless until this morning when apparently Onch’s neighbor said that HE had been delivered Onch’s boxes!!!

So please go say hi to all the goodies. They have had a grand adventure and are happy to be home at Royal/T!

Doesn’t the 2nd fella from the right look a bit…menacing?

Once upon a time, I sold “My Pet Marshmallows” on eBay. They have now come back in a super fun and delicious collaboration with Onch Movement for his BANG pop-up shop at Royal/T, open until July 14th!

There is an EXTREMELY limited amount of these marshmallow necklaces, so if you are interested, you need to grab them quick! There are all-white sets and also pastel marshmallow sets!

Check them out in this photo I stole from Onch’s Facebook album from the opening party!

Also notice the pink chicken leg necklaces we made, based on the pink chicken wing and leg pieces that Onch makes. You might also want to know that this will be Royal/T’s last pop-up, FOREVS! GO NOW! Or you’ll REGRET IT!

So I’m trying something a little different for Anime Expo … my stuff will be there, but I won’t!

The Brands Boutique asked if I’d like to participate in their Pop Up Shop for Anime Expo, and I figured I’d give it a try! It’s at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29- July 2.

If you happen to go, please take pics and show me! I’d love to see how it all looks!  I sent a nice variety of items, even the new rocket pop brooches! I also printed out a new little table-top sign, so I hope everything turns out cute :).

Mark your calendars, L.A.! Onch is putting together Royal/T’s last pop-up shop, and June 14th is the launch party. He and I will have some suuuuuper duper cute and exclusive collab pieces along with other fun artists as well!

I super hope I can make it to the launch party, but June 12-14 is also the big licensing show in Las Vegas, which I believe I need to be at for Yummy You! meetings, so fingers crossed that maybe I can somehow swing both. We’ll see! If I can’t go, you guys will have to take lots of photos and video for me!!

(click to enlarge!)