Costume fun!

I'm heading to a costume party tonight with the theme of guru's get giggly,  I don't really know of any specific guru's besides spiritual leaders who's writing I read.  Most of which are men.  This is my interpretation of a indian goddess, good enough right? 

Costume details-

Head dress- I made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Necklaces-Self made and gift

Belts-Ebay, Moksha in Seattle and scarf from Bumpershoot

70's poly goddess dress-Thrifted years ago

Bracelets-Thrifted all over

Hand Carved wooden Wedges from Phililppines-Festival vendor at Bumpershoot

holding on

After putting this jacket on today I started thinking about some pieces in my closet that are timeless.  Things that you can have forever that go in and out of style but will always come back.  Military style is one of those among others that you can count on coming back eventually.  I have a habit of holding onto things I love for a long time.  I have had this jacket for about 10 years, yes again I am old.  Even after attempting to give it away to a co-worker years ago who then gave it back because he never wore it.   I am so glad to have it in my wardrobe and happy he gave it back to me.  I decided to mix it up a bit today with some romance and toughness. 

Outfit Details

Dress-Self Made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Necklace-Self Made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Braided/feathered headband-Self Made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Belt-Vintage from flea market 15 years ago

Under slip-Self dyed dark brown

Tights-Marshals

Green Sweater-Anthropology

Army Jacket-Thrifted 10 years ago

Boots-Bluefly by ASH

Day Of D.I.Y

Days off can be so rewarding.  Today after drinking a huge cup of coffee I was so inspired to create.  Coffee can change my demeanor dramatically. I need any motivation I can get to stop reading fashion blogs all day.  I'm fairly certain I need to drink it everyday instead of just sometimes. It really motivates me like nothing else.  I recived a lovely package of feathers in the mail today (thanks mom).  My father is a hunter so he has quite a few whole pheasants laying around, they are such beautiful creatures.  Over the holidays he gave me a few since I had been running out of feathers.  I was so excited to get them that I immediately starting making things.

I have been wanting to make a braided headband for a while.  After attempting it,  the size was a bit too small for the headband which led me to the idea to put feathers underneath it to make a combo of feathers and a braid.  It's great that the faux hair matches my color so perfectly!  I am really liking this, my plan is to make some more to sell in my Etsy store.    I want to say thanks to the beautiful creatures who made it possible to make these things.  I love being able to use all the parts of things and my father hunted these for the food but art was made as well. 

The braided/feathered headband

Feather earrings coming soon too!

I made this ring/bracelet about a month ago and had misplaced it until today.  I was so thrilled to have found it.  I have been wanting to find it and wear it again!  It's so comfortable that I can wear it while I do hair, not many of my rings have that going for them.  Wow, my hand is looking pretty beat up, silly cats. 

A day in the life, found my coat and grabbed my hat.

I shared a great day with some friends on Wednesday.  The weather was absolutely perfect which has now turned back to rain.  We started out in the park across from my house and had a picnic and some nice white wine.  As we drank the beautiful nectar we chatted about life, work and men.  We ended the night with music from my favorite local band, Gaucho who plays amazing gypsy jazz.  Gaucho makes me feel like I live in a bygone era, like I am in a fancy parlor with all kinds of interesting people.  I highly suggest you check them out if you life in SF.  They play every Wednesday at Amnesia.  These pictures are as the day progressed.  I changed my outfit 3 times, ha!  I love wearing different outfits throughout the day. 

My friends Emily with her dog Quaila and Kristy (notice the ladies in the background wearing their bikni's, yes it was that warm.) 

The token self portrait!

I love my Chanel knock off's

Mid day outfit-

Scarf-Vintage from Josephine 

Jacket-Thrifted with gift certificate from SFStyle. 

Jeans-Earl Jeans

Purse-Marshals

Shoes-Steve Madden

Nighttime outfit-

Hat-Vintage and thrifted

Dress-Vintage and thrited

Velvet Jacket-Vintage, thrifted I added new (vintage)  button
Tights-Marshals

Shoes-Vintage, thrifted and re-soled

Belt-from random blouse

Necklace-DIY Pretty Pirate Designs

Talisman er Woman

Having been a jewelry maker in some form for over 20 years, I have now graduated to chains and charms.  I started with beading when I was really young and next the hemp necklaces that were so popular in the 90's and finally the chain jewelry that I create now.  I  decided this morning that I wanted to make something that was really meaningful to ME, a personal story of sorts.  A piece that describes me and alludes to my personality with just a glance.  A talisman is something that is supposed to possess magical powers and what better way to adorn ones self than with perfect little amulets that protect me from trouble.  The ones I choose all have different powers and representations. 

Amulets (Left to Right)

Gold Tassel-representing movement and a reminder to me to be more active (step away from the computer)

Quartz Crystal-Creates positive energy and balance.

Safety pin-A reminder of some of my passions, sewing/creating and art

Slice of animal horn-Represents my connection to animals and nature, two of my favorite things.

Peace Sign-A reminder to live peacefully and in tune with my self

Key-A connection to my heritage and family, this key is from my grandparents old house. The number 3 which is printed on the key represents (funny enough) being creative, artistic, positive, imaginative, uplifting (all things I would like to consider myself). 

Red glass bling-Red represents self awareness, gives courage and strength and offers stability. The bling also reminds me of my love of dressing up and feeling great. 

Scissors-Represents my chosen career of designing hair and making people feel great as well as my love of sewing. 

Bone-Reminds me of my love of Native American culture, the practice of worshiping the earth and being non wasteful.

Tigers Eye-Useful for focusing, clear thinking and good luck, protection from the evil eye.  

 While wearing this necklace I already feel great with so many personal items on my body.   I have to admit while making it I hadn't put as much thought into it, other than things I liked and wanted to add.  While making this list and doing the research I had fun and felt re-enlightened.  Even though I used the internet to find all the info, I have books with all the various info that I have collected over the years.  Which reminds me that I need to brush up on some of these things.  I believe the manifestation of this necklace and post will being great things to my life.

Ha, I look so perplexed, it's the silly self portraits. This is a pretty boring outfit, I was at home all day so no dressing up. 

Wearing-DIY talisman necklace

Shirt-Banana Republic, thrifted

Jeans-Levis, thrifted

Shoes-Steve Madden, thrifted

love with me

Having your significant other leave town early on Valentines day morning is not the ideal way to spend the holiday.  I managed to have a great time anyway with a nice picnic in the park and a short but very successful thrifting excursion.   The weather was absolutely stunning today, I barely wore this jacket when I was walking around or sitting in the park.  I feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful place (you can see my house in this photo).  This dress has managed to become one of my most recent go-to pieces.  I am in love with it!  

Outfit Details-

Jacket-Thrifted

Dress-Thrifted and chopped off about a foot

Belt-Grandpa's old

Shoes-Thrifted/Vintage 

Necklace-Birthday gift, Betsy Johnson (thanks ladies)

Be my valentine!

I celebrated a day of love with my partner on the day before Valentines day.  We had a lovely day, brunch in the morning, a nice lunch with some friends and then a fantastic Italian dinner.  I ordered the butterfish which I have only had raw at sushi places.  It is just as tasty cooked, especially paired with a perfect white wine from Cinque Terre.   What did you do to celebrate love?

Outfit Details-

Vintage shirt-Thrifted/Vintage worn backwards for more cleavage (lol)

Dress (worn as skirt)-Thrifted/Vintage

Belt-Thrifted/Vintage

Shoes-Marshals by Franco Sarto

Coat-Vintage/Thrifted 40s and so gorgeous!

Painted Ladys!

After almost donating these shoes on a few different occasions I decided to have some fun with them. Inspired by the recent ThreadBanger video and Doe Deere DIY,  I grabbed some paint and gave it a go.  These shoes were originally thrifted about 2 years ago, since white shoes are never very flattering I didn't really wear them.  These Nine West babies are still in excellent condition.  It was time to revamp them and give them the love the deserve.  Black and White together are a huge trend for spring and summer so I decided to go with that as my inspiration.

First I taped the buckle out of the way on the bottom of the shoe.

Next I stuffed some paper in the toe to prevent the paint from dripping through the holes. 

I used liquitex acrylic paint.  I'm not sure how this will hold up yet so if you want to do a similar DIY, use your discretion.  I know there are specific spray paints for shoes that many cobblers carry.  I have used them before and its quick and easy if you follow the directions. 

 

Wallah!

So much cuter than the plain ol' white and one of a kind!

Forecasting the future

Another work outfit, funny thing is I wore a long skirt and then watched all the shows from the first day of fashion week and saw tons of long skirts.  I must be a psychic.

Outfit Details-

Lace and jersey blouse-Self made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Necklace-F21

Hat-Burlington coat factory

Belt-Vintage and thrifted

Bracelets-Thrifted all over

Skirt-Thrifted dress I altered into a skirt

Shoes-Thrifted Banana Republic and then hand studded

Velvet coat-Vintage/ thrifted and changed button

Fur collar-From a 70's coat I've had since the 90's, it was in bad shape so I cut all the fur off and am planning to make some purses out of it.

The future becomes the past

These are some of my favorite looks from F/W 2010 (first day).   I am so excited about some of the trends I am seeing.   I'm a huge fan of full length skirts which are great for tall gals like me.  I've always been into high water pants, back in the early 2000's I used to wear vintage polyester printed pants of all sorts and they were always cropped.  Flowy shorts are super fun and almost like wearing a skirt, the problem with those is finding the right cut when you have wider hips.    Wait until you see what I wore to work yesterday, it's very eerie, the outfit is a mix of all these put together and it was created before I saw any pictures of the shows.

I am loving the harness in the first photo and wanting to do a DIY.

By Kimberly Ortiz

Richard Chai Love

Love the flowy pants

Richard Chai Love

Long skirt with boots, love!

This is exactly how I like to wear cropped pants, with a romantic top and heels.

Rachel Comey

More cropped goodness

Rachel Comey

The flowy shorts and fur collar.

Vena Cava