canadian sunset

Time for another hat update! I recently acquired a handful of new treasures from my wonderful mum-in-law (hand picked from her grand-mum's collection). I apologize for the dodgy photo quality - I recently invested in a usb cable for my camera so I'll be able to upload photos of a slightly higher quality (I know it's a long shot but my fingers are still hopefully crossed that some jolly old feller is going to leave me a proper digital camera under the tree).

I'm once again afflicted with oozing, red eye due to improper lens care and have as a result a tiny trail of zits where my glasses sit and a temporary tearful/high looking eyeball. Hopefully eyeball will be clear and bright for our day of travel. We're leaving for Vancouver tomorrow embarking on a tedious 4am trip to Newark, I'm debating whether or not I should stay up all night watching movies and continue amateur embroidery projects or squeeze in a few hours of sleep before waking up in Mcallister family style and rushing around the house in a sleepy panic. Decisions, decisions.

I wish all of you traveling folks a smooth and safe journey!

John-Baby and the rooftop

A few posts back I mentioned an impromptu rooftop photoshoot and promised photos of the event and there they are! Darling, talented John De Lima (pictured here) has put up more from the evening along with dazzling photos of his gorgeous (and very missed) lady friend Lucy. Keep your eyes on these two as I expect big things coming from this talented duo. I also expect them to be back and playing chinese checkers in our bed by the summer months. And so begins my cajole:

Dear John and Lucy, upon your return to the land of the free you will find our living situation very changed, in fact you will find that in addition to a new found privacy we've gained a clean toilet (so far successfully stocked with toilet paper), a cockroach-less kitchen, a room in which only our bed a few poodles and a dresser reside  (no sofa, no drafting tables, no mice nesting by our shoes), a closet that isn't overflowing with boxes that leave bruises after a rigorous hunt for clean clothing, and best of all our very first living room! This is where you will rest your weary heads, no more taking turns sleeping with the creepy crawlies of the night, it's pure luxury (and spying dolls) from now on. No, dear friends, you will not be subjected to "vomit flavored" exotic fruits, pigeon pets (though I rather regret that as Henry I was a saint), refrigerated garbage,  or early morning construction blasts (and no peeping tom workers). A new leaf has been turned, and it's waiting for you to eat bangers and mash with it. If you are curious to see more of what awaits you can peek around over here.

Entirely unrelated from above post but as a kind person pointed out my christmas playlist (along with the whole website on which it was created) has disappeared into the hungry belly of myspace. Could somebody point me in the direction of another similar website where I may continue spreading christmas cheer? I have loads more songs that I would like to share with you before our silent and holy night arrives.

between light and dark

The last of our photographic adventures from the old spot taken with beloved Pentax K1000.

This past week added another year to my age and in celebration Landon and I went out on a hunt for furniture to fill up our rather sparse apartment. The hunt started off fruitless and frustrating with a visit to JUNK (aptly named as the place literally is littered with filthy, plucked from your neighbors trash heap, junk - the junky items themselves I take no issue with having recently nabbed my own neighbors trashed kitchen hutch but rather the extraordinarily high prices! Poor new yorkers, the sacrifices made to live in such a terrific town) followed by a visit to the smaller and much sweeter Ugly Luggage (77 dollar taxidermy seems rather generous in this over-priced town) and popped in a visit at the flea market on north 6th before heading off to our final destination. I'm not certain of the name of the place but should any of my fellow brooklyn friends ever be in need of furniture this is the spot for you! Reasonably priced furniture pile high to the ceiling, toys litter the floor, crates overflow with clothing, paintings cover the walls and knick knacks are tucked away in every nook and cranny. We returned home victorious with a large dark dresser, a side table for the living-room and brown leather gloves for Landon.

you better be good, world

christmas


I hope you are ready to be bombarded with a variety of christmas themed posts for the remainder of the month! Starting with this christmas playlist that I arranged just for you, dear readers! Thank you all for sharing with me a bit about yourselves in the previous post and I encourage any more new readers to do the same, you are an inspiring and wonderful lot.

We've settled in comfortably to our new abode and are happily in the process (my favourite) of nesting and collecting furniture on which to place our rather expansive (thank you pasadena flea market!) collection of knick knacks. If any New York dwellers have suggestions for cheap and handsome furniture we would really appreciate it. This is the first time since leaving Vancouver that we've actually had a bedroom! Generally when entertaining company we all end up in (not unlike the grandparents in charlie and the chocolate factory) our bed eating, watching movies, playing board games or sleeping (up to five people once) now those things will be happening in our very own living room, like proper adults (will make for much cleaner mattress, I think our movers were a bit shocked at the site of our broccoli, wine, menstrual and flu stained mattress, I could only smile with my eyebrows up and shrug a little about it, certainly they've seen worse). Hopefully later this week I can share pictures of a moderately furnished apartment with you!

Enjoy the christmas jams! I'm planning on uploading one playlist a week until christmas (yes, I have that much and more christmas music at my disposal, clearly a woman obsessed).

the brain does more than just recollect

Taking a quick and much needed break from the chaos of moving for a speedy update and sharing with you some final moments at our present (as of tonight, old) abode. Will miss very much the beautiful light and space in this home but will not miss dirty feet and frigid temperatures (and lack of showering as a result of frigid temperature leading to even dirtier feet).

I've noticed a significant increase in page visits to this blog and have not, since the spike, asked for an introduction from you, readers! We will be without internet access for the first few days after our move and I would love to be entertained by your stories during our break (thank you blackberry email!) Share with me as much or as little about yourselves as you please! What's your name? Where do you live? What do you do? What do you want to do? Who do you love? How did you come across this blog? Favourite song right now? Favourite website (especially this one please, my internerding time has become rather repetitive)? Favourite book (have just finished reading Women and have started on delightful, not at all like women, Harry Potter)? What do you want for Christmas? Feel free to ask me questions and I will add them to my FAQ tag.

Must get back to moving duties! I look forward to learning about you!

you must first invent the universe

After taking a "private tour" of the history of the universe at the American Museum of Natural History by a very enthusiastic (and animated) volunteer Landon and I have both discovered a renewed interest in our ancient and vast universe. Imagine our joy then when a friend of ours introduced us to these clever and entertaining symphony of science (click for the full collection) featuring Carl Sagan, Bill Nye and Stephen Hawking by John Boswell.

To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.
-Stephen Hawking

flickr favourites 006 (holiday edition)

 

The most wonderful time of the year has arrived! Landon and i are trying to participate in as many quintessential "christmas in new york" activities as we can. Macy's thanksgiving day parade was the first to check off the list (if you have any secret ny holiday traditions please share!) i enjoyed it with my wonderful surprise birthday guest Rebecca. Landon cooked his first turkey (upside-down) at our orphan thanksgiving dinner yesterday, it was a most excellent feast with friends. now we have a full bed of buddies and homemade crumble watching home alone 2. Very thankful for everything right now. Hope you all had a terrific and delicious thanksgiving!

achieving spontaneous expression

thank you for all your responses regarding my hair dilemma! it seems you were all overwhelmingly in favour of going back to natural ginger locks (though perhaps risky business at this time)! i thank you for picking the cheapest and (eventually) easiest hair-do for me!

those of you who have been reading this blog for awhile are probably familiar with landon's work with american apparel. a few months ago he collaborated with them on this pair of tights featuring his watercolour painting. keep your eyes peeled as they're set to release more of this style in the near future.

pardon my gloomy disposition in above photo, it was part blinding light on pale eyes and part meditating on moving and thanksgiving preparations (and perhaps a pinch of "model face"?). we've set our moving date for this tuesday! i'm eager to settle into our new abode and to welcome a new and furry friend into our family. yes, friends, the time has come - we are having a kitten. he will not be the one-eyed black persian that i had so pined for but he will be perfect nonetheless. he will sleep in our bed and jump on our feet and purr on our faces and at three in the morning when we are fed up with his shenanigans we will put him outside our door but then he will cry and we will admit defeat and let him back in where he will then continue to play with our feet and purr on our faces but we will be happy and fall asleep smiling. yes, these are the scenarios that i've been dreaming for months, no, years (it's been exactly five years since i've last had the pleasure of living with a furry (small, that is, i have landon after all) companion. i have serious kitten fever.

this blog is presently undergoing much needed err "renovations", after seeing landon's beautifully crafted new blog i've convinced him to work some magic on this old thing, exciting for me!

a Blonde, a Brunette and a Redhead

after an unsuccessful at home dye-job (somehow managed to get my roots lighter and rest of hair darker and murdered scalp while at it) i've decided it may be time to return to my natural copper coloured locks in order to save dollars and the hassle of covering up light bald looking roots every few weeks. of course, no hair related decision can be made before consulting the internet! so friends, i ask you, what do you think? a blonde, a brunette or a redhead?

thank you for all your advice regarding digital cameras! hopefully will be able to scrape up enough dollar bills to nab one of my own in the coming months!

the weather outside is weather

blue cape - vintage
red tights - american apparel
red hat - vintage

grey hat - vintage
yellow gloves - vintage
grey coat - lilli ann
yellow tights - american apparel

ear muffs - vintage
pink coat - lilli ann

pink bow - vintage
grey socks - american apparel
blue coat - lilli ann

pink bow - vintage
grey coat - emery bird thayer

turban - vintage
leather gloves - vintage
faux seal coat - vintage

alpaca wrap - vintage

black cape - vintage

black coat - second hand
black bow - american apparel

coat - vintage (landon's)

10 of my favourite winter cover-ups! What are some winter favourites lurking in your closests?

yesterday i limped my way into a proper podiatrist office to have my naughty (ingrown toenail) toe taken care of for good. post-toe surgery was spent in bed rewarded with pirate booty, salt & vinegar chips, oreos, noodle salad and a very doting nurse Landon (minor surgical procedures are awesome)! i'm ecstatic to have a proper toe now and to fit comfortably into my complete shoe collection, one year of bad toe is 11 months too long.

what digital cameras are you lads and ladies using? i'd like to invest in a good one some day.

walking on water

october in pictures. october was month full of bed and kleenex, visits from friends and family, and feasts of turkey, curry and peanut butter, honey and banana sandwiches. i visited with my beloved brother for the first time in a year (pictured above canoeing and performing miracles) in beautiful canada for thanksgiving. how quickly this year is passing! i'm always keen on even numbered years and i have a good feeling about the one around the corner. now is time to enjoy the remaining months and upcoming holiday festivities.

my lovely Alexandra is having a trunk show next thursday! check out her blog for details on what time and where to go to drink wine and try on her lovely collection. charming marshall rake of Epilogue Magazine did a little interview with me a couple weeks ago that is now up on the site!

a very special monkey box

my "special guest" fled the nest early this morning and has left me moping around the bed area for the remainder of the day (i guess it's still early though it's been dark for a good hour already). my dazzling roommate for the week was my one and only best friend forever Rebecca Berg. Rebecca and i met playing angels in chorus at our church holiday recital, we bonded over the same blue nail-polish and an unbridled affection for dollhouses and the rest is history! i remember talking on the phone for hours and thinking about how being with her made me feel the way i felt when swooning over the opposite sex, excited and wanting more time with her. she is my Diana, my kindred spirit, my bosom buddy. we travelled much the same path through high-school as good and goofy christian girls, hippie kids, ska kids, rave kids, emo kids and from there settling into our "own kids". We've lived together, travelled together, crushed on the same boys together, driven golfcarts through home-made obstacle courses together, gotten matching tattoos (of eachother's initials) together, ruined our onstage performances with giggles together and eaten much food on my mum's kitchen floor together. when landon and i planned to get married in three weeks she found that she was not able to join us on such short notice, my magnanimous dad saw that i could not be married without her and flew her out as a surprise the night before the wedding and she stood beside me wearing an almost matching white dress. She is presently taking courses in film and theater production and is an incredibly gifted maker of masks, imitation marble, sculptures, and most importantly (to my taste buds) curry. I'm crestfallen to see her leave but am happy that we are no longer residing on opposite ends of the content and only a (depending on how far in advance you book it) 24 dollar bus ride and a border separate us. so here is to you, my most beautiful and special friend, Rebecca. I love and cherish you forever.

watch us grow! missing some years, and some are not the best representatives but i, unfortunately, only have the few oldies that people have been so kind as to upload to facebook and tag me in as my photo collection is presently hidden away somewhere in my grandpa's garage.
08/06/ 05/04/03/02/01/00/99/97

Happy Halloween!

I've had a very important visitor staying with me this week and have, as a result, not had much time to spend online poking around the blog world. I promise to be back soon starting with an introduction to my beloved guest later today. In the meantime check out this site for a peek at frightening costumes of Halloweens past. Have a scary and tiny chocolate bar-filled night!

she's a dream come true

i have a treat for you friends today! despite accusations of being both "lazy" and "lame" for not updating (or responding to emails) both of which i vehemently deny on account that i am neither lazy for not updating (internet is my lazy time) nor am i physically impaired at this time (unless of course you are considering my bad toe) i am still sharing with you my very favourite jewel of the fashion blog world.

Blog, meet Nicole Eymard! I've been following her for quite some time online and am delighted at every update she makes. Here she shares with us some of her inspiration for her upcoming collection and a brief history lesson. This lady knows the way to my heart is paved in vintage hats and history lessons.

Full name: Nicole Eymard (maiden name Mackey) Married 5 years to a French man

Hometown: Walnut Creek California Lived in Paris, France when I was younger for 3 years

Presently living in: San Francisco California

Mother of: A Pomeranian named Clementine. She looks and acts like a feisty little fox www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/3756278339/in/set-72157621831944578/

What was your first sewing project? Do you still have it?

My first hand sewn project was this little red doll with a flat head that I made out of my moms scraps. The poor doll was tortured because I stitched her dress to her body. I don't have it because it was a gift I made for my sister when I was 7. The first machine project was a terrifying felt panda...lets not even talk about that!!

Favourite pre-20th century fashion moment?

1790-1802 I know this is a long period of time, but they bounce off eachother, one part is the cause and the other effect.

At the end of of Marie Antoinette's life 1790, "the people" were revolting against everything, for example fashion and the political powers. The colors they wore and prints all signifies who they were for in politics. The "Sans Culottes" wore old and country clothing with the with France's colors and stripes and the "Incroyables" (men) and the "Merveilleuses" (women) wore ridiculous proportions , such as giant hats for the men and for the women they wetted their dresses with water to make their garments see through to see the flesh colored knit undergarments. Sans cullote means without pants and Incroyables means the incredibles.

Incroyables/Merveilleuses:
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041483372/sizes/o/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040737257/sizes/o/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040737301/sizes/o/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041483310/sizes/o/

Sans Culotte:
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040737353/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040737339/

After Marie Antoinette's beheading, and people setteled down. Napoleon attempted to put things back together by looking at ancient Greece, and creating an empire. So everyone dressed like their portrayal of the classical statues.

Empire:
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041501016/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040755087/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040755071/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041501006/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041500994/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/

Favourite 20th century fashion moment?

SCHIAPARELLI!!
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/3373904426/sizes/o/in/set-72157615731121510/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/3373903908/sizes/o/in/set-72157615731121510/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/3373903908/sizes/o/in/set-72157615731121510/

But most importantly the relationship she had with all the cool artists of the time. I love how all the cool artist were pals and genuinely "collaborated"

Collab with Dali
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4040774619/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/4041520652/sizes/o/in/set-72157622526493868/

One item that absolutely melted you when you found it?

edwardian beaded black bird 3d appliqué
www.flickr.com/photos/ldv/3161120096/in/set-72157607360064388/

and my 1960s phone purse, that works
farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2828815765_2b2e2f0572_o.jpg

Favourite brick and mortar shop for treasure hunting?

all local san franciscan/bay are dwellers can only appreciate the following:
thrift town
mission thrift
decades of fashion
bellocchio www.bellocchio.com/
tail of the yak
Gypsy honeymoon
advark

Favourite online shop for treasure hunting?
Ebay
Etsy
Rubylane

Favourite cosmetic counter (your make-up is always impeccable!)?
YSL and a few mac and nars, but YSL has the best and most unusual colors

Any celluloid fashion inspirations?
shhh dont tell, but my final collection for school has something to do with this. My lips are sealed!

When can we expect to see your wonderful designs gracing the covers of magazines/filling our closests?
When I finish school, May 7th 2010, thats my fashion show go see it, everyone is invited!! Unfortunately I need to be famous first to be in magazines etc. I think europe will help me when I get there ;)

october edition

most of these chill-inducing pictures courtesy of Vintage Photo. i have found myself once again in a horizontal state, i blame germy transit system and touching my face all the time. i need one of those cone collars so i can't reach my face while in public. i'm determined to make this a productive sickness and will be attempting my first knit hat (to disastrous results no doubt. one time i made my brother a scarf for christmas which he promptly misplaced and knit himself a new one with two stripes more than the first and in much better condition. out-knitted by my own brother and on something as simple as a scarf. hm.) i hope you are all in better health and are enjoying all fall's glories! pumpkin spiced coffee, wooly coats, leather gloves, stockings, and smokey air. mmm. what are your halloween costume plans? my costumes are never very inspired having gone in the past as a "deer cat", cardboard box with metallica written on it (was beavis and butthead but ended up just being the metallica box set by the end of the night), a pippi longstocking pickle and a nothing - you can see halloween dress-up is not a strong point for me, but this year i'm determined! inspire me with your brilliant costumes!