mammal and lamb

2→3

2012-01-19T19:36:00.000-08:00

Amazed by the seriously inspiring "2→3" collection from London based designer Natsumi Zama.

camel on camel

2012-01-17T17:31:00.001-08:00

My go-to winter wear set, '60s wool coat and sweater in the best camel shade. There is actually a mid-length skirt that matches (!) which I'm thinking of getting altered but its nice to pair the set with some contrasting colors. I was kind of going for a mid-century-americana-teenager-waiting-for-the-bus look, some made up style that describes my closet currently haha.

This was from two days ago before the snow flurries started to come in, 3 inches due tomorrow YAY!

coat/sweater/scarf/bag: vintage

jeans: levis

perfect jeans + tees for lazy saturdays

2012-01-14T09:21:00.000-08:00

1. acne
2. han kjobenhavn
3. madewell
4. imogene + willie
5. j. crew
6. etsy

and

the cold ankles look

2012-01-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when its really, really cold out, I still manage to leave the house without socks. I guess my feet don't really like to hibernate inside wool socks and boots all winter...

   scarf/jacket/sweater: h&m
   teeshirt/pants: gap
   shoes: steven

rhymes with purple

2012-01-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

So January is happening, lots of gray, strong tea and my Netflix queue synopsis reads a lot of "twenty something" and "thirty something" something something something.

diy cut out dot tee

2011-12-31T00:06:00.000-08:00

This idea has been in my head the last few days after seeing so many gosh darn, adorable dot sweaters this holiday. Originally, I wanted to use a thinker cotton sweatshirt but couldn't find any second hand. SO I ended up recycling an old raglan tee that's been sitting around.

HAPPY NEW YEAR hope you all have a magical evening!

the in-between

2011-12-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

This time of the year is always so strange because the rush rush rush of the holidays is over and the last few days of the year seem long yet so short. Is it really that time of year again to jot down some resolutions? They are always so easy to think up and often hard to keep. A big one for me coming upon 2012 is pinching pennies, big time. Although I will admit the "extreme" couponing trend is a bit nauseating(sorry, mom), I'll be trying my best to significantly reduce paying full price for things. Especially clothing! I haven't been thrifting as much as I would have liked to in the last few months, this must change.

'50s tweed coat: thrifted
sweater: gap
dress: DIY drip dye
shoes: missoni for target
vintage alligator bag: thrifted

short and satin

2011-12-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

      Yes, it is true, the cutting of the hairs has occurred and I am thrilled. How good it feels to run my fingers through a soft and healthy long bob. I've never been a good hair-keeper as I only really cut it once every 12 months and all these years have refused to have any length above my chest. But, as much as I love my side braids, the time had come for a refresh.

      This chilly morning I'm enjoying coffee and Oscar Wilde before work in mis-matched jammies. I have no idea where I got this satin embroidered top, I can't even tell what era its from but I love the little ruffles on the sleeves.

good night, day goods

2011-12-20T19:38:00.000-08:00

I'm loving the super yummy knits from Canadian made Good Night, Day. I have been eyeing Tara-Lynn's designs ever since I discovered her on Etsy a couple years ago, how exciting and inspiring that she has her own shop now. Not to mention how great the presentation is, the styling in these photos is gorgeous! Its been oddly dry in Portland this month and somehow feels a lot colder than normal so all of these items are definitely on my current wish list.

grumpy grandpa's holiday sweater

2011-12-01T10:36:00.000-08:00

This is not my grandpa's sweater. Maybe it's yours? Maybe its your grandma's? Whomever it previously belonged to back in the day, I imagine someone sitting at a family Christmas gathering drinking scotch and being a big ol' grump. Do you ever just get weird vibes from second hand clothing? Sometimes I can't imagine anything at all but certain items seem to have personality that clings to it like lint.

sweater: vintage
shirt: 90s gap
pants: j. crew

sparkles like mothers milk

2011-11-28T20:02:00.000-08:00

I can't get enough of sparkles and glitter.
More more more.

cotton love

2011-11-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

With a zillion different vintage shops on the web these days, its rare that I come across one that catches my eye. The key is really in the way the items are displayed and advertised by the seller, not just the item itself. Half of my wardrobe is vintage but I'm not a decade dresser, so its important to me that a piece has the versatility to appear modern and classic. Currently grabbing my recycled consumer heart with great aesthetic appeal is Cotton Love. I found this UK vintage dealer originally on eBay over a year ago and was excited to see that they had moved on to their own website this fall. Maybe I'm just a sucker for crisp white backgrounds and pretty models...nonetheless, thanks for keepin' it cool, guys.

the emporium

2011-11-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

I have a strange love for houses that have been turned into cool places where people don't actually live. Even more so when the house happens to be a 1920's bungalow and every nook and cranny is filled with vintage goodness. Recently, I've had the pleasure of photographing some gorgeous vintage ensembles modeled by darling ladies on amazing bubblegum pink background over at Alex Sandra's Vintage Emporium. I'm hoping to share some photos of a very merry holiday shoot soon, complete with lots of red and green velvet and faux snowflakes! How can it be almost holiday season already?

Anywho, if you're in NE Portland, definitely take a gander at the amazing hat collection lining the walls at Alex Sandra's shop. Wait till you see the treasure I snatched up yesterday... ;)

vibrant vibes, furry feelings

2011-11-03T09:36:00.000-07:00

After years of hatin' on the color purple, I've finally come to my senses and am giving it another try in various shades starting with...magenta! I think I am just one of those people that are very sensitive to color. Especially when it comes to clothing, it totally overrides texture and shape in my opinion. That is unless it is something furry and in which case, it can be any color of the rainbow. Which brings me to one of my favorite pieces this fall - my fox fur trim cardigan I thrifted at the beginning of August. I remember that day was in the upper '90s and I should have been spending my money on a lightweight sundress but my heart was set.

cardigan: '50s vintage, thrifted
shirt: j. crew
cords: j. crew
boots: lucky

grenson femme

2011-10-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

While on the hunt for the perfect pair of chelsea boots, I came across this gorgeous pair from English footwear brand Grenson. The classic men's label recently came out with an amazing fall collection for ladies and I want all of it. Aren't they perfect? Not to mention quite affordable quality, stylish looks.

revisitations

2011-10-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

     Oh hello! Thought I'd stop by and share my (seemingly) quarterly black and white self portraits. I missed posting and e-visiting with sweet bloggers on here. My favorites, I still read often but its been hard to update lately, aka since I got a normal, full time job. My first job ever actually, its far from glamorous but I'm enjoying the creative stimulation that comes from mundane routines. Its also downtown, so there's quite a lot of strange and bizarre people and happenings one sees daily. Poetry seems to arise the easiest when you're bored and confused so I'm glad that it is an easy creative outlet. I've started to carry a Moleskin with me for breaks, using register paper when my notebook is locked up. Some I will share with you soon.

     Wearing a bleak and monochrome uniform everyday has actually helped my fashion sense a lot. It allows me to be specific and certain about pieces I wear and purchase for non-uniform occasions, something I'd never realized before. Needing a good pair of loafers right now! Suggestions?

     I'm sad October is nearly over with, my favorite month, I wish it was an extra long 60 days instead of 31. The leaves are so beautiful right now and I'm enjoying wearing a light jacket while I drink my coffee outside.

    Good things today: kale and roasted turnip soup, fur lined collared sweaters, X Files, and listening to NPR and Vincent Gallo soundtrack music at the same time.

half life

2011-08-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

Ah, the end of July/beginning of August, I can hardly believe summer is already half over, especially since the weather has just now started to behave itself. I have yet to visit any large body of water, camp in the woods, or hike up to an amazing lookout. You know, all those summery things that I'll regret never doing once the cold hits again. My hair did smell of campfire waking up this morning, so maybe there is hope for more encounters with nature for the second half of the season.

dress: etsy
necklace: moth house
shoes: vintage

thunderstorms in the morning

2011-07-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard loud roars of thunder in the morning? For some reason, I always associated thunder and lighting storms to be at night, so when I awoke at a very dark 6 o'clock yesterday I couldn't tell whether it was AM or PM, or even if I was dreaming. It made for a very strange and eerie day that felt a lot like late October, especially with the number of spiders lurking around every corner. It's funny how odd weather can throw off your dressing method, or maybe just for me because I over-analyze the "appropriateness"(season, location, occasion, etc...) of my outfit way too much. Although it's almost warm enough to wear shorts and wedges, I'd rather hangout in oversize trousers and wellies for this faux autumn.

hat: vintage Saks
blouse: vintage
pants: stolen from shop
boots: hunter

summertime nostalgia

2011-07-18T22:02:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen these images before via my flickr account but I wanted to share a few photos from summers(maybe four?) ago. Little bits and pieces of memories lost and found. When I look through my small archive, it kinda makes me sad that I did not take more photos during those years where nothing mattered(in a good way) and everything was exciting. There's so many things that I've just plain forgotten about and it's a whole lot easier remembering things when you have a photo to trigger the memory. Mental note: TAKE MORE PHOTOS!

Enjoy!

hair turban

2011-07-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hello dolls, if you're like me and have the trickiest time making your hair look "cute", here's a silly little mess of a 'do that's easy and sweet. :)

First, divide hair evenly in the back and brush to front of shoulders.

Then, twist each side of hair inwards and bring to top middle of the forehead.

Tie both sides together and tuck in end pieces. My hair is really thin and dry so it will stay put for a few seconds, but you may want to use bobby pins to hold hair in place while you finish.

Slip a short sash underneath the knot and tie hair tightly together. I like to use random scraps of old linens but this 'do would also look super fab with lace, hankies, or smaller neck ties. Again, you may want to fix with hair pins.

Voilà!
Hope you all have a lovely weekend filled with sunflowers, strawberry shortcake, and dancing like a fool with friends to one-hit-wonders of the '80s. :)

the dip dye silk dress

2011-06-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

      There's nothing more satisfying than making good use and creating a new love for something that has almost made its way to the trash. This '80s vintage dress that has been hanging in my closet for over two years. I'm a little obsessive about keeping my wardrobe to a minimum, so hanging on to a garment that I don't see myself wearing within a three month period seems pointless.
      Dip dying is something I've wanted to experiment with for about as long as I've had the dress in my closet. I've noticed a lot of girls now trying it with the ends of their hair but I decided the technique would be better suited on something I didn't have to wear everyday. Having bright pink locks the majority of last year was literally a headache when it came to matching.
        Annnnyyyway, this was my first attempt dying anything since a Deadhead inspired t-shirt I made in high school and I have to say I am very happy with the result. The dye I bought at the grocery store was a dark forest green but it ended up turning the dress a pearly blue-green that reminds me of the Oregon Coast. :) Best of all, this dress is far from being thrown out now and will reside peacefully in my tiny wardrobe.
       Hopefully this inspires some of you to give sad, lonely pieces of clothing a new life with a bit of color. Just remember to keep an open mind about the end product and, wear gloves! Those stains don't come out for days...

the bubblegum pink linen romper

2011-06-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

kitty likes ribbon

cardigan: j. crew
romper: kellie marie
bag & shoes: vintage

One of my favorite wears for this summer is this darling, little romper. Its perfect for me because I hardly wear bright colors, especially pink, but warm weather makes you do wouldn't normally do. Apart from being adorable, it was also handmade by one of my bestest friends, Kellie. She sent me a picture of it after it was finished about six months ago and then gave to me as a surprise gift when I visited the Netherlands in April. I love buying handmade when I can afford it, but there's something very special about wearing something made by a close friend. Its also inspiring and now I'm itching to tune up my sewing machine and create some pieces of my own, in bright colors too!

the makeshift photo hanger

2011-06-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

A while ago, I saw a vintage multi-hanger on the front page of Etsy with cute and clever decorative ideas, one of them being a way to display photos. Like most items that make it to the front page of Etsy, it sold before I even got a chance. Luckily I found my own a week later for a dollar! Don't you love it when that happens?

I'm still thinking of how to use the hanger so I thought I would share with you some of the adorable photographs I picked up yesterday from 1964-'65. The last one with the kitty and pantyhose is just perfect. Each of the these photos are being sent out with packages to my Etsy customers this week, hope you enjoy!

all by myself...

2011-06-10T19:12:00.000-07:00

Rekindling an absent relationship with your tripod can be a bit tricky. I applaud those who use their tripod on a daily basis outside of the privacy of their home. Even being in my gated backyard I still felt kind of...silly about posing in front of a camera that was in the hands of no one. Any suggestions for taking your tripod on a date in public?

These photos feature some of my favorite recent thrift finds: the most perfect vintage woven hat, an extremely delicate 1920's cotton blouse, and super comfy Ralph Lauren linen skirt. I've actually had some pretty good luck with thrifting lately so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for yardsale season. :)

♥ ♥ ♥

2 days in paris

2011-05-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

Another romantic comedy movie title haha, although I really did spend two days in the city of love. My first trip to Paris and most certainly not my last, I didn't realize until arriving how big the city is, there's so much more to explore than a weekend's worth. For some reason I was thinking that I would arrive and get hit by this huge wave of romantic surreality but Paris really is just another city with some very special qualities unlike anywhere else. My favorite things were walking around Momart, eating a million croissants and drinking Orangina, riding the Metro, seeing the Eiffel tower(and so many other amazing buildings) up close, and listening to cute cute cute Parisian people speak French their cute cute cute Parisian accent. :)

Hope you enjoy these photos taken by moi et mon meilleur ami Kellie! <3

seafuzz and peachfoam

2011-05-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

So happy to see my blog reach 200 readers today! That seems like a small number in the sense of style blogs now but it means a lot to me so I just wanted to say thanks so much and I am excited to start posting more frequently. This is a silly thing to say but, I've never actually realized until recently how much I adore putting vintage outfits together. Mostly because wearing used clothing is so inexpensive and it leaves me a lot more money to spend on dining out, haha. Some might think that a wardrobe consisting of mostly secondhand pieces could be limiting, but the creative possibilities in that is limitless. I would love to make a post about second hand shopping sometime, there's so many easy tricks to looking stylish on a dime!

cashmere sweater: 50s vintage
trousers: 90s vintage
shoes: 80s vintage, thrifted in Amsterdam

roman holiday

2011-05-13T19:01:00.000-07:00

In honor of today's lucky number, I thought I would share thirteen photos from my travels in Rome last week. After a twenty-seven hour train trip, Kellie and I arrived in the enchanting Trastevere neighborhood where we stayed in a women's prison turned hostel(weird but all the more fun haha). This city is beyond beautiful, filled with rich history, colorful buildings, lavish fountains, and very well dressed men. Seriously, I had no idea that Italian men had such great style!
Since we were on a major budget, the only actual tourist attraction that we went inside of was the
Capuchin Crypt because, well, it was free but also quite an amazing sight. I was unable to get any photos because it's beneath a chapel but if you can imagine the skeletal pieces of 4,000 monks stacked on top of each other and arranged in holy designs, then you can imagine that any photograph wouldn't exactly do it justice. Happy Friday the 13th!

girly man

2011-04-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

I'll admit I kind of have the figure of a fourteen-year-old boy and probably always will, although lately I've begin to just embrace it. Less emphasis on flattering pieces and more creativity with shapes, colors and textures. Because in all honesty, anyone can pull off anything with a positive attitude, right? Right. It's so funny seeing magazines at news stands that bash celebrities on their "fashion disasters", it's pretty brave to wear something unflattering with millons of people watching and still walk around with a huge smile.
Supporting my main point, I'm really loving the whole tomboy style but will always have a hard time pulling away from girly pieces. So why not mix the two of them together? I'm almost positive that these shorts were once a man's.

sweater: express
blouse: 60s vintage
shorts: thrifted
shoes: doc martens
bag: brahmin

2011-04-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello, hello! I apologize for my absence, I have been away on a buying trip, visiting family, and enjoying spring. As well as preparing for another take off; Europe next week! I will be adding a TON of new items to my shop this week so make sure to check them out - lots of pretty springy and summery pieces. :)

These pictures were taken at Mt. Tabor, one of my favorite warm weather evening hang out places. There's always a gorgeous sunset that illuminates the skyline of Portland and wide open spaces of grass to dance in. My friends and I have a theory that there is a secret queen that lives in the tiny castle behind me and if you dare to stay after closing hours, you can see her standing on top with her gown blowing in the wind while she watches over the neighborhoods down below. And that is my strange ramble for the day. :)

hat: vintage
cardigan: j. crew
blouse: gap
dress: forever21
bag: thrifted

heh.

white lace and pale legs

2011-04-09T13:11:00.000-07:00

photos by dillon

Hello dahlings! Here's a few shots from yesterday's glorious afternoon. It's funny because we haven't had much of a spring here yet but as soon as it hits 60 degrees, people already start taking off their clothes and laying out in lawn chairs. Which I guess is good idea considering the lack of color on my limbs, I do believe this is the first day of the year wearing a dress without stockings!
So this 90s white dress has been for sale in my shop for a few months now and after rediscovering it in the closet I am thinking about keeping it for spring/summer. But I'm not sure, what do you think? I'm so picky when it comes to keeping something for myself, my personal closet keeps getting smaller and smaller. :P

dress and bag: thrifted vintage
shoes: golden ponies via etsy

Lauren at Curious Constellations wrote a sweet little post about me today. She keeps such a lovely collection of photos and art on her site, so if you're in need of dreamy eye candy you should definitely check her out! ♥

city of bridges or city of breezes?

2011-04-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

I swear its been oddly, crazy windy in Portland for months now. Maybe that's why I never end up wearing lipgloss or lipstick, my hair is always flapping against my face every time I leave the house. I guess it does make for a cool photo effect? ;)
This 50s peach jacket is probably my favorite spring piece in my closet. Its super girly with its floral print satin lining, but also totally works for the whole tomboy look. Not to mention that the color is great for brightening cloudy days!

jacket: vintage
shirt: h&m
pants: h&m
belt: vintage
shoes: doc martens

Hope you all are having a fantastic week!

I just got my passport today and feel on top of the world, no pun intended haha. :)

nineties cat lady

2011-04-05T20:47:00.000-07:00

Due to my rental agreement, I am not currently a cat owner, but like most girls I have a little obsession with felines. However, there was a time in my childhood while living on a farm with fifteen kitty cats running around, so I think that somehow makes me a crazy cat lady. ;)

In the second picture below, I'm wearing a vintage 1990's Christian Dior gold leaf necklace. Its funny because I bought a bag of mismatched vintage jewelery about a year ago from Goodwill and thought the necklace was really ugly and old-lady-like. For some reason, I kept it in my jewelry box having no idea that it was a designer piece until adding it to this outfit.

jacket: h&m
sweater: 50s vintage
dress: just female
shoes & bag: thrifted

sweets in pastels

2011-04-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

Like most girls, I have a weakness for sweet things and even more of a weakness for sweet things that look pretty. I'll go on a cupcake making binge every so often, so the other day I decided to document the best part of the process; frosting. Its like painting, but you can eat it! My favorite is cream cheese icing because its not too sweet and so easy to make.

Ingredients:
8 oz of cream cheese
8 oz of butter
1/2 - 1 cup of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

And mix it all together! I like to soften the cream cheese and butter with a rubber spatula for a while rather than using an electric mixer because it makes the frosting ultra creamy.

Hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was nice and sunny. :)

phantom giraffe

2011-04-02T10:27:00.001-07:00

This week has went by so fast, a lot of planning for my Europe trip at the end of the month. End of the month?!?! Its weird typing that out, I am a little shocked that I am actually traveling thousands of miles away for the first time in my life. One week in the Netherlands and one week in France, that is the plan for now but who knows what will become of the adventure. ;) If you're a Dutch or French reader, feel free to give me some traveling ideas of cool places to site see, eat, shop and enjoy!

So I found this adorable shirt the other day while thrifting for the shop and a must need to keep it for myself. I was instantly attracted to the shade of yellow and floral design but then I realized the sneaky giraffe ghosts! Pretty neat.

the blouse, shoes and bag are vintage. jeans are j. crew.

Do you know what kind of flowers these are?? They remind me of fairy tea cups.

haha :)

spring platforms

2011-03-29T01:32:00.000-07:00

topshop - shades of summer/saga sigurdardottir

clockwise: rachel comey, jeffrey campbell, jeffrey campbell,

gee wawa, jeffrey campbell, swedish hasbeens, asos

I've been wanting to get a pair of sweet platforms for a while now but there's just so many to choose from! Hoping to find something versatile for different occasions and temperatures. I would love to hear any suggestions!! :)

Also, I added a blog roll of frequent reads. They are all lovely, so I hope you enjoy checking them out!

♥ ♥ ♥

optical illusions

2011-03-27T10:08:00.000-07:00

Loving high waists and cropped tops, makes me feel tall. :)

jacket: h&m
sweater: h&m
shorts: vintage
bag: vintage
shoes: '90s Doc Martens (the best)

For the end of spring break, my boyfriend and I took my little brother to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), one of my favorite places to visit as a kid. I'm not the most patient person when in huge crowds, so the experience didn't quite match up to what I remembered from years ago. We waited 25 minutes to see an anonymous tomb from ancient Egypt, which was fascinating but the most interesting part of the trip was this prism in the window and a face mashing optical illusion.

the bees, the bees, the bees...

2011-03-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

No bees yet, I just have an Animal Collective song stuck in my head. The song is about love, how it swarms you like bees. I have now suddenly realized that I am very much in love with J. Crew sweaters, especially this '50s inspired bedazzled one. Although, that sounds a little ridiculous and on a more serious note, my heart goes out to everyone hurting from the tsunami that occurred less nearly a week ago. One of my best friends, whom I consider family, lives about an hour away from Miyagi and it is a blessing that she and her family are safe! <3

cardigan: j. crew

blouse: f21

skirt: pendleton

shoes: banana republic

clutch: grandma's

glasses: vintage (they look pretty silly, I will admit)

the wind, the wind, the wind...

color inspiration

2011-03-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Lately I've felt in dire need of some color. My closet is mostly neutrals, grays and blacks, which can get a little depressing to wake up to in the morning when you have white walls. I started noticing little bits of color around my room like book covers, dried flowers from V-Day, and my little felt birdies. Instead of spending a bunch of money on large painting as my original thought, it seemed a lot more sensible and fun to just paint a section of my room a bright color. Browsing through hundreds of paint swatches at the store, I instantly was drawn to "Nantucket Red", so vibrant and fresh.

Chirp, chirp.

Meow, meow.

Some of my favorite new buys. I thrifted the vintage Saks hat for less than a dollar! Perfect for spring. :)

march madness

2011-03-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and for the new followers of this blog, nice to meet you!

I have had a nice week with a clean house, good food and fun thrift finds but I'm still feeling a little blue. I'm not such a huge sports fan so I'm taking the term March Madness and giving it a new meaning for how I feel right now. The weather is still pretty cold and dark, there's so many bills to be paid and being your own boss can sometimes be extremely frustrating for when things get hectic there's no one to that can come and save you. Oh, responsibilities...

I think its time to make cupcakes.
......................................................................................................................................

scarf, bag, and jacket: thrifted
pullover: american apparel
pants: j brand
shoes: vintage

here it comes again...

2011-02-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

Why is it that Portland always gets the most snow at the end of winter? Even though it melted fast it was absolutely refreshing and lovely today. I got to wear my furry mukluks I thrifted about a month ago AND satisfied that haute cocoa craving that's been lingering since Christmas. Pretty nice day considering that this morning I completely ruined an amazing 40s vintage Lilli Ann jacket with snake skin!! I know there are certain materials that are sensitive to steam like leather, but I had no idea that the snake skin would completely melt and shrivel up from the inside! Ahhhh, lesson learned.

hat: vintage
coat: banana republic
sweater: vintage
slip: vintage
tights: hue
mukluks: vintage

flickr

day dreams

2011-02-19T17:46:00.000-08:00

cotton, wool, denim, leather

2011-02-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

You know those days when the floor in your bedroom is one big exhausting pile of clothes but getting dressed is a lot easier than if you had woken up to everything being in its place? I think everyday is like that for me, grabbing the first pieces I see. Somehow though, I seem to always wear a mix of the same four materials; cotton, wool, denim and leather. Usually the wool is for a pair of big men's socks, but today its a fun hat. :)

jacket: levis

t shirt: h&m

cords: j. crew

hat: vintage

scarf and bag: thrifted

shoes: golden ponies

Happy weekend!

♥ ♥ ♥

international mail treats

2011-02-15T19:28:00.000-08:00

Today I received these adorable knit handwarmers in the mail from my dear friend Kellie all the way from Holland where she is currently living. Perfect timing too since I lost one pair of gloves and tore another pair and the cold winds will be here for a few more weeks.

And two other Etsy buys that arrived a few days ago from Mexico and New Zealand:

The most-perfect-little-handmade-leather-oxfords by Golden Ponies

Lovely stickers by Sarah McNeil

..........................................................................

Button project and lemon-honey-ginger hot toddy that I can't stop drinking. Mmmmmmm.

♥ Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! (mine was delicious!) ♥

selfish

2011-02-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

Messing around with afternoon light in my kitchen. I upgraded to a Canon 60D last fall and never even attempted to use it as an art tool! I don't know why, I've loved photographing for a long time but somehow let little stresses of life distract me. Which is funny because I've known it to be such a relaxing thing, even just self portraiture. I am going to make it a goal to get out at least one day a week to shoot and hopefully start experimenting with video too.

xo

sock love

2011-02-09T17:52:00.000-08:00

This is just a silly little post, I've had some busy days lately but will be updating more frequently due to the really sweet feedback I've gotten from wonderful readers. :)

About the title, every year for Valentine's Day my mom always gives me a new pair of heart printed socks. I'm not big on too many holiday traditions but I get pretty happy about this one. Thanks, mom!

Also, go listen to the album Alright You Restless by Agesandages !

toggle sweater: ralph lauren

shirt: earl jeans

skirt: american apparel

boots & bag: vintage

maximize

2011-02-04T11:52:00.001-08:00

Its funny how just a few years ago seeing ankle length dresses, I would consider this type of fashion to be extremely conservative and dorky. But after seeing how stylish this kind of modesty can be I've been in love with maxi skirts and dress lately, especially sleek and fitting ones like this dress I found at Buffalo Exchange the other day. I'm not quite sure what to pair it with but its incredibly comfy.

headband: etsy
cardigan: j. crew
dress: thrifted
shoes: bada

& just for the upcoming holiday, knee tattoo shot ;)

sugar cookie latte

2011-01-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

The coffee shop by my house is always packed and unfortunately, I have to resort to drinking my lattes in the miniature forest behind the building. Actually, I just discovered a tilt shift filter on my camera settings. Although this forest doesn't look quite miniature, it does remind me of rabbit hole. And now this blog post is making no sense but thanks for reading anyway! :)

60s vintage coat: thrifted (for $4!!! Its missing one button but still amazing)
shirt: h&m
skirt: american apparel
tights: american apparel
shoes: steven

If you sprinkle sugar on top of the foam and let it crystallize, it tastes like a sugar cookie!

xoxo

47th & Harrison

2011-01-22T18:40:00.000-08:00

There's nothing greatly significant about the title other than it happens to be the location of the pretty white building in the backdrop. It looks like an old library and the windows are all covered so, naturally my darling and I stopped in front of it for a minute to snap some photos. To our surprise, a few moments later a women comes out firmly wondering what we are doing outside of her house and firmly nods when we explain our admiration for the backdrop. What do you do when you get caught using someone else's property for photos? Its a little funny and embarrassing and can completely ruin a good creative moment.

In other news, we had a sneak peak of summer today - glorious!

cardigan: j. crew
40s blouse: estate sale
tap shorts: american apparel
shoes: vintage
bag: vintage coach

Dillon tying my shoe :)

I didn't realize before the juxtaposition of these two photos, I guess it means that I can't wait for warmer weather but at the same time I love winter and its unique beauty.

resolutions schmolutions

2011-01-07T15:46:00.000-08:00

Its a new year now and everyone is talking about things they plan to do this year, plans they plan to stick with, plans of being more than what they were the year before. I agree that resolutions are productive and useful but I have realized that it is better to understand who you are as a person and what you are capable of. SO, my "resolution" for 2011 is to be more ME, looking deeper into my own ideas and thoughts and creating from my own mind. Its been really interesting this past year exploring this whole online world of blogging, style and art. Although I am inspired by so many here in the blogosphere, I realize that its good to be yourself. :) I hope all of you do too and cheers to motivation and self expression! <3

Mirror Pond

2010-12-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! There wasn't to be any snow in Portland this Christmas so I'm taking a little vacation to the lovely Central Oregon to visit my family. We've never made a big deal out of Christmas, just family time and good food. Although sometimes I wish there was a tree, its nice not worrying about presents and things. I'm just happy to visit my home town, the terrain is opposite of Portland, but there is so many beautiful sights. Here's some pictures from Mirror Pond:

coat: banana republic

scarf: thrifted

socks: levis

boots: hunter

bag: vintage filson

I went ahead and bought myself a nice little Christmas present of Hunter boots. They're so comfy and the bright red is so fun! What did you get yourself for Christmas this year?

♥ ♥ ♥

twine and tap shorts

2010-12-18T00:22:00.000-08:00

I'm having fun packaging things for my Etsy customers these days. I noticed that I was way more excited about receiving a package when I bought from someone when they had spent time to personalize it. Don't you agree?? There's an antique shop in my neighborhood called Really Good Stuff (I heard somewhere that its world famous?) with these old filing cabinets filled with vintage photographs. I picked out a good collection to add to my packages as a quirky token of appreciation to my new customers. :)

On a side note, a much anticipated opening of the Portland H&M was last month and to my dismay, I don't think I will be making an effort to shop there after seeing it for the first time. However, I did find this adorable pair of tap shorts, I'd never seen anything like them before and the print is perfect for winter and spring.

ALSO, thank you to everyone who has stopped by on here to look and read and write friendly comments. <3
Encouragement = motivation!

fun house

2010-12-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

I love that time of the year where you feel like you have to run everywhere you go when you're outside for fear of getting completely drenched. Not really - but! I do love running into new places for shelter from the rain. Yesterday my boyfriend and I snuck into The Woods, an old funeral home that has been reincarnated as a neat venue bar. The place is decorated with all sorts of pretty vintage treasures so its perfect for kooky photo shoot.

jacket: vintage

shirt: vintage

cord pants: j. crew

shoes: vintage

bunny broach: Sarah McNeil

little sister

2010-11-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of holidays and family gatherings, I dedicate this blog to my lovely little sister, Brooke. :)

She might be a little embarrassed, but I really can't help but share with you her adorable style and inspiring creativity.

sweater: vintage benetton tunic: levis tights: hansel from basel boots: vintage

Brooke, like a lot of teenager, has a current obsession with feathers. She's been making dainty little earrings and hair clips in her workshop:

Hoping to see some big plans in the future from this not-so-typical 15-year-old. :)

secret spot

2010-11-16T15:26:00.000-08:00

okay, its not really secret, but there's this house I walk by everyday on my way to the post office with moss stained stone steps and hanging ivy that I always have to stop and look at for a second. I think everywhere that I've lived there's always been one house or building that gives me this strange, nostalgic feeling whenever I pass by.

sweater: vintage shirt: h&m pants: h&m shoes: vintage turban: etsy.com/shop/LeilanniLand

bored bunny

2010-11-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

I guess I wasn't expecting today to be so dark and rainy! It doesn't help that the only source of natural light in my house is in the mini dining room/photography studio. So I decided to create a makeshift rainy day hangout to listen to old jazz, drink coffee, and read "The First Thousand Words In French"(yes, that is a children's book).
Also, I want to share with you one of my new favorite accessories; this adorable, bunny broach from the lovely Sarah McNeil. Check out her shop here!

dress: thrifted jeans: levis shoes: vintage broach: http://www.etsy.com/shop/SarahMcNeil

sunday morning

2010-11-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

cardigan: vintage '90s dress: vintage tights: american apparel shoes: vintage

Early(for me) morning walk and breakfast and a little window shopping at the reptile shop - I really want a chameleon for Christmas! They're so cute and can dance!

Loving big-slouchy-comfy-cozy cardigans lately, this one might end up in my shop very shortly though. :)

ivy legs

2010-11-06T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'm loving all of the colors outside right now! Can't believe they'll be gone in less than a month. :(
For some reason I can't figure out how to link flickr photos to my blog?(?!?!) I'm starting to really notice a difference in quality though...

featured in nylon!

2010-11-01T19:19:00.000-07:00

Happy November! I was so excited when I saw this month's issue of NYLON magazine finally out at my local book store. I met up with a couple of editors while they were doing a piece on Portland's culture for their annual American issue last month. As nerve-wraking as it was, I'm so happy to be apart of the Portland feature and also share some of my favorite vintage stores around town.

Hope you all had a great Halloween weekend!

♥ ♥ ♥

hipstamatic : broken social scene

2010-10-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bands ever put on one of my favorite concerts ever this weekend. The nice thing about douche bags moshing is that sometimes you get pushed into a really good spot, right up front with a full view and a full sound.

pale

2010-10-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

cardigan: benetton dress: thrifted bag: vintage shoes: seychelles

I'm really loving neutral shades lately.

On another note, why is it so hard to buy new shoes? I bought these in spring of 06' and they're getting super worn but I refuse to replace them.

twilight walk

2010-10-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

american apparel tights, the rest is all thrifted

I was able to get a new camera the other day, a Canon 60D, and finally found sometime yesterday to get out and take some photos with my boyfriend, although the sun had almost set so these are a bit hazy. Expect to see more pictures soon though!

hipstamatic : the black keys

2010-10-12T13:37:00.000-07:00

A few pictures taken with my Hipstamatic app of a concert I went to last week - the phenomenal Black Keys and guests Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea, who if you have not heard of you should definitely check out! One of the best performances I've seen this year.

The only downside to having an awesome digital camera is not being able to bring to events like this.

anthropolgie finds

2010-09-21T10:14:00.000-07:00

that I didn't actually buy.

papier-mache zebra bust $68

princess jewel headband $32

funky painter's chair $1,589

I wanted to get the chair the most but, yikes! Too much dough for silly-little-pretty things. I would have to say any time I am wasting time in the Pearl district I must stop by Anthropologie for some crafty inspiration. Which I really have neglected in ever turning it into anything I can wear or decorate my home with but the decline in tempature and isolation of the sun calls for lots of warm drinks, strange movies and crafts!!! More to come. :)

dee dee, you're stuck on a star

2010-09-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

This month I have been fortunate enough to be part of a collective show of beautiful photographs taken by women found on flickr. If you happen to be in Portland before the 28th of September, check it out as it is quite an inspirational site.

A photo of the wall, located in the pearl room at Powell's Books.

bright

2010-09-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

happy early autumn & I'm back to bright hair.

magic

2010-08-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

sad sad sad

2010-08-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

my poor camera has been MIA for the last month due to the shutter going out one day. I didn't know that it would take this long to get it fixed, as I've been unable to do a lot of things because of it. when it is back in my hands though, expect a bagillion posts. :)

etsy update

2010-07-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

I don't really like putting etsy updates on my blog, but sales have been unusually low this past month, hopefully this will give the store tinsy bit more exposure. :)

Links:
1. Cut Out Dress
2. Lavender Striped Blouse
3. Zig Zag Jacket
4. Lace Rose Dress
5. Electric Blue Crepe Dress
6. Highlander Backpack

Thanks for looking!
And thanks for all of the sweet comments lately. :)

side braid

2010-07-02T18:21:00.000-07:00

street

nicole

1987

Lately, I've been loving the side braid. The 'do is totally 80s but I love today's modern twist.

july flame

2010-07-01T08:56:00.001-07:00

Sue must have been quite the gal. I love love love finding old photographs like this, especially when they have messages written on the back. Sometimes words describing the picture can take away some of the mystery but also can create an even bigger mystery.

Today;

knit: j. crew shorts: f21 belt: vintage shoes: vintage rome scarf: vintage

pistachio stars

2010-06-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

the sun has been so nice lately.

blouse: f21 dress: sparkle & fade skirt: american apparel shoes: vintage wolf & orchid ring: thrifted

diy flags

2010-06-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

I have been loving little summer time banners lately, they remind me of watermelon eating contests and hula hooping. So, when I saw a bunch of vintage fabric squares come out at the Goodwill outlet crafty fireworks went off in my head. 

Much more to be made, I'm using this one as a new backdrop prop for my shop photos.

Where the hell is summer???? Its only 65 in Oregon. :(

♥ ♥ ♥

teahouse diptych

2010-05-28T15:12:00.000-07:00

A little boredom = style inspiration at a foreign teahouse. I'm out of town for the weekend for some relaxation and a She & Him concert! So glad to own an iphone so I can get some halfway decent

pictures of the lovely Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. 

A few new items in the shop too!

♥ ♥ ♥

strangers

2010-05-13T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a collection of found awkward family photos, I found this one last week in a frame and all. 

&some outtakes for new shop items;

♥ ♥ ♥

i wear my heart on my knees

2010-05-12T18:49:00.000-07:00

new tattoos

&a look for the day

♥ ♥ ♥

rainy monday

2010-04-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

well, rainy month. I know that I complain about the rain a lot, but I don't own a car so everyday I'm either bundling up in not-so-cute waterproof wear or getting drenched. not to mention having to drink lots of milk to make up for the lack of vitamin D.

I'm thinking about starting a new look book series of items I will be selling in the future. here's a few from today;

just had to throw a weird one in there, haha.

hope everyone had a great monday & any feedback would be fabulous.

♥ ♥ ♥

neighborhood bliss

2010-04-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

so happy because Portland is finally seeing some sun and I finally got a new lens! doesn't help that I'm feeling a little creatively disoriented. If that makes any sense. Hopefully this means lots more pretty pictures though! Here's some from around my house...

I want to meet Lou :)

♥ ♥ ♥

Handbags

2010-03-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

In my etsy shop:
1. 1970s Going West Fringe Sienna Leather Bag

  2. 1980s Coach Multiple Pockets Leather Satchel 

  3. 1980s Midnight Blue Abstract Lizard Foldover Purse 

4. 1970s Louis Vuitton Made in France Handbag

I have a semi ridiculous collection of handbags sitting in my room yet known of them do I want hanging over my shoulder. I'm dreaming of extravagant springy/summery purses like these:

anthropologie

anthropologie

etsy

Dolce&Gabbana

Japanese Gardens

2010-03-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

♥ ♥ ♥

this time tomorrow

2010-03-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

where will we be?

♥ ♥ ♥

& a look for today;

no on belongs here more than you

2010-02-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time and was excited to see it on sale at a local bookstore. I get very, very sidetracked while reading books but so far I adore it. Miranda July speaks and writes so many words that most people would let sit in their head for less than a second and never realize the beauty in a thought.

Her personal style is pretty awesome too, in that awkwardly adorable sense.

♥ ♥ ♥

& a look for today;

lookbook

sea of love

2010-02-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

its solitude.
its an ocean of solitude.

the underground life

2010-02-06T23:02:00.000-08:00

Does anyone else ever feel like their trying to crawl away from this idea of the underground life? You know, indie bands, alternative fashion, organic sodas drinks that are only sold in places like Whole Foods... Especially in Portland, it seems many try so hard to search out those things in life that sets them apart from the "average" person. Its all a tad bit nauseating.

On a side note, here's a few highlights of several upcoming etsy updates:

Check throbackvintage daily if any of these catch your eye!

Oh hello sun, nice to see you again!

2010-01-27T15:58:00.000-08:00

Although it hasn't been too terrible this year, the constant grey skies and rain make me want to lay around and watch movies all day because it always feels like night time. I've also had no motivation to put things in their places because its sometimes cozier to sit in a mess. But when the sun shined through my room this morning it gave me much inspiration for new organization.

yes, I do own a copy of Gossip Girl...

rags and Paris

i love Stuff on My Cat

dress: target

stockings: urban outfitters

belt and boots: thrifted

its almost swimmsuit season!

treasures & critters

2010-01-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I went to my Grandmother's house and came back with so many cute, family treasures.

1,

vampires are so overrated

2010-01-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

Its true. I've never been much of a fan for the bloodsucking-sparkly skinned-wing flapping team. But zombies are pretty cool, mostly because their fashion sense is so free-spirited, although that could be just because they have no spirit...or a brain to sense. Hmm. Anyway, I just started reading Pride and Predjudice and Zombies, the same Jane Austin writings but with that extra zest she always intended to add.

And so, comes inspiration for a mini zombie photo adventure;

An outlook to spring

2010-01-06T11:11:00.000-08:00

   With such dreary weather outside, its hard not to get wrapped up in a big bundle and bulk of dull. So here's something to look forward to: Spring! These are some of my favorite for the upcoming season, along with some pretty gorgeous beauty ideas.

Anna Sui 

Balenciaga

Chanel

Marc Jacobs

Balmain

Rag & Bone

Rodarte

Okay, so I'm not totally over the dark colors, I'm just looking forward to shedding some layers.

All photos - style.com  

Sea. Sea - Attle.

2010-01-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

fur coat(vintage)

j.f.k. velveteen tote(vintage)

jeans(people's liberation)

What a beautiful, lovely, wonderful day it was in Seattle on Sunday. I hadn't been able to walk around down town and sight see in ages.

my sister by the pier

in front of pikes market place

home of starbucks - not that I'm a drinker, but its still neat

so many little shops and bakeries near the pier, this savory pastery is fulled with potatoes, cheese and green onionmmms

one thing about Seattle, they kinda do have more interesting street performers than Portland. this one man playing the accordion had a cat wearing an argyle sweater that matched his. So sad the picture didn't turn out :(

this young girl was trying to get back to Italy but she didn't know how to play guitar but got a little help with her fund for attempting :)

Tiny Oceans

2010-01-04T18:51:00.000-08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Seattle Aquarium...

new year, new hair, new resolutions

2010-01-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

Back to my roots. I've sworn to never cut my hair but I felt like I was ready and I don't regret it one bit.

Happy New Year!

Here are my resolutions:
1. Stop mumbling
2. Quit feeling guilty for not always wanting to be nice

3. Explore life outside of the country
4. Exercise so I don't feel like dying when I run up a flight of stairs to catch the train
5. Make grocery lists
6. Save lots of money
7. Turn off the tv
8. Pray for my enemies
9. Brush teeth more than once a day
10. Go to bed when its time to go to bed.

Lets see how long those'll last.

Cupcake* Magazine

2009-12-12T16:36:00.000-08:00

So back in October I was asked to take some photos for a spread and a cover shot for an upcoming online magazine. The first issue of Cupcacke* was to come out on the 5th, so I was disappointed when I heard there had been some technical difficulties. But today it made its debut in the independent magazine world with interesting articles and fascinating photos. My spread is in the back of the magazine but you should definitely check out the rest of this very cute and fun zine as well.

Cupcake* Magazine

Deep Sea Adventures

2009-12-10T00:22:00.000-08:00

Well not quite. I've been having some creativity block lately for capturing pretty pictures of new items. But today I decided to give an underwater splash to everything.

I wore this 60s scalloped paisley dress last spring for this picture. It used to have short sleeve arms but I cut them off very suddenly thinking it would be perfect for an outfit I had in mind that didn't work out. I can't do dresses that are too girly.

This picture is one of my favorites. I love how the yellow pops and what yellow lover wouldn't adore this? 

Tennis? I'm not exactly sure what to think of this dress. The accordion pleated skirt is awesome and I like how the hem and collar are opposites but this dress gives off a very sporty vibe, don't you think?

 Oh! And my Grandmother found me the most darling, as well as educational, sewing book from the 60s. 

pretty cover

cute illustrations and pattern ideas

tons of different types of stitching!

which is wonderful because I don't even know how to crochet. 

Dead Weather

2009-12-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

The sun shining warm through my windows is clearly a trick to lure you outside where the temperature is currently 25 degrees. Brr. I went up to Mt. Hood this weekend thinking that the weather there could not get much colder, then came home to find its really just the same temperature here.

I do love the way that the trees shed in the winter though like this; 

Oh! And this is kind of neat, American Apparel requested to use a picture of me in their shiny leggings item page. Its actually pretty cool how they're featuring real people with unique ideas to promote their clothing. 

Stay warm!

Cup & Saucer

2009-11-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

I got a cup and a saucer at Cup & Saucer. Impressed by the split pea soup. Not so impressed at the $300 finger paintings on the walls.

king of the castle

blogging about my ideals

supatime

kachaw!

before supper

after supper

Attempting pineapple curry tonight. Hopefully it will look like this:

(via Nestle)

Before all the leaves disappear...

2009-11-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

I've been terrible about capturing this season's beauty this year. Looking through my camera I only found a few photos with feeling, but tomorrow's another day and fall isn't over yet. This time of year is so weird though, its dark and cold and feels like something is missing........snow! I can't wait for my mountain zombie photo adventure.

Also, I found this amazing 1930s vanity mirror at an estate sale this last week and am debating whether or not to keep it. Most likely it'll be up for sale sometime soon though in my shop.

Blueberry Tart

2009-11-25T10:31:00.000-08:00

Finally!

2009-11-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

Its about time, I have awaited too long to get myself a blog. I know no one will be reading this for awhile but you have to start somewhere, right?

practice. makes. perfect.   

I thought I would mainly use this blog to organize and promote my etsy store, thank you so much for looking!

new items 11/19: