happy fried egg

since the big lebowski, i have been a serious jeff bridges fan. i've watched the last picture show enough to echo his lines, and crazy heart slew me. he's a dazzling thespian, and i have an old man crush on him... mom, i know you have my back on this one. few people know, however, that he is also an avid photographer. after creeping around his radical website, i grabbed a few photos to show off on my modest soap box. these were taken from the set of crazy heart, which if you haven't seen please do me a solid and check it out. there's lots more where those came from...the website has one of the coolest site designs around, all handwritten and minimal. he also has published a book of his photos, for which he has done a book tour. friend and fellow bridges-admirer shane went to and got this souvenir...

more seamstress-related posts soon... happy weekend!!

vionnet

oh, vionnet. balancing feminine with edgy! modern with vintage! your boots are wicked cool, not to mention the respectful way you use the color red. all the mixed patterns and simple color palette is perfect. i loved the collection so much, i couldn't decide which to choose so i bought them all! uh, posted them all... the jacket at below left is one of my favorite parts of the collection.

whisper of a girl

i had one of those moments when i really liked what i was wearing and felt the need to document. i rang my friend ashley, confidante and fellow spinecracker, to help as she happens to be a fantastic photographer. as it so happens, i've been bugging her to do some "ghost" photos with me. i've always loved them particularly the old black and whites from the early 1900s, where a glimpse of a ghost is seen in the background, or one's spirit seen leaving the body after death. after a few outtakes, here are the results...

faux fur jacket H&M, drawstring dress AA; leggings AA, gray grandpa sweater j.crew; durango western skimmers...sad sidenote: i HATE my hair lately, its pulling a rosanna danna on me and i am bummed as a result. it could be the weather, but whatever...

spring

while san francisco is getting a much-needed drink of water, i can't help but look forward to the warmer seasons. during fall and winter i turn into a dark, angsty, sensible menswear swaddled shadow. the thought of spring this year conjures images of disney's fantasia, particularly the ballet! a weird analogy, maybe because the wedding is there waiting for me in may and it feels like a circus to put on. my favorite springy bits are reminiscent of vintage pastels and sparkly costume jewelry, worn out to spring flings or just around the house in bare feet (this applies to us fogies who are far past their prom years...) i'm ready to put my stomping boots and skull tees away for a while...

corelli silk dress by temperly;large bow bracelet by elizabeth coleanother elizabeth cole bracelet; her designs are not necessarily cutting-edge, but they are executed so well, the materials work well and don't look cheap.these shoes are so bad theyre good. not sensible in any aspect but i love them.
glitter ankle boots from F21rebecca taylor metallic party dress; lingerie set by kiki de montparnassephilip lim conner glassesalexandre herchcovitch slip dress;

lanvin necklacedeena and ozzy shoes from UO; satin feather headband by jennifer ouelettefantasia sketches found on flickr...

have a KILLER weekend

cracking myself up over here...

el grande

not to pin my lack of posts on the holidays AGAIN, but he's askin' for it. shopping, wrapping, traveling, and planning a wedding leaves a girl tired and cranky. to make up for my fair-weather posting, i decided to roll a cluster of things into one heaping post. to begin, christmas i received many thoughtful items, not all of which i'll include in this one post but will certainly pop up i'm sure.

below is a pair of shoes by colonial madness that paul got me and which i've managed to wear to all occasions (christmas eve mass. the higher the heel the closer to god). the gold gorilla cuff was a secret santa surprise from cheryln. she gets me the best stuff ;) shout out to mom: thanks for encouraging the dress + pants experiment.my brother bought me "high society," starring grace kelly and featuring THE dress that inspired my wedding gown...

i'm also pretty happy with the gifts i gave, particularly the prairie dog i made paul, whom he christened 'mortimer paco.'another project, aside from working on a wedding gown pattern, was this moto-style zip dress, as seen in this god-awful photo. i've been wanting to make one since i saw a floral version by zimmerman in russh magazine. i promise to take a better photo soon, the lighting is breaking my heart...new years was perfect, i actually baked, and made a few hors d'oeuvres. there was dancing, and sparklers at midnight served up with a new year's group hug. easily one of the best. below: a chocolate kahlua cake, topped with blackberries my favorite picture: my girls val, meg and ashley doing 'the make-out' move...lovely lisa with her cat mask.AND after much scouring, pining, and praying, i think i finally found my wedding shoes. equal parts bride and glam rock, they're just what i wanted, easy to walk in, they bedazzle my heart... and they are from jeffrey campbell. now to watch ace ventura: when nature calls...

idle hands

i've been up to a few things, by things i mean projects, some of which will be posted soon, along with a recount of my favorite holiday moments... happy new year's guys! xo

grace kelly

i rarely post wedding details, because i could turn this into a wedding blog at the drop of a pin, but since this corresponds to both fashion and sewing, i dare say its applicable. after trying on gowns months ago, i had ditched my idea of sheer long-sleeves for a dramatic shoulder. however, the enchanting grace kelly in high society sent me back to the drawing room...

happy friday

understatement of the year: its been a hectic holiday season. there have been some good times though, including tate's birthday held at the edinbergh castle on 60s dance night. enjoy these polaroids & poladroids and happy weekend!! summa ma lady birds xothe coziest hat that ever lived.post script: i'm currently listening to edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros and i LOVE what i hear...

my black cape

the intent of this project was to explore draping, something i've never attempted and which proved to be harder than i thought. i bought what i think is a polyester blend that feels like a baby blanket. pinning and draping is easy to do on a manequin, but once you start sewing things together, you see how difficult holding the drape is. i originally had the zipper working straight down the middle, but decided to make it assymetrical, which made it fit a little closer, and created this happy criss-cross bottom hem (hard to see in these pictures, my lighting situation is far from satisfactory). i'm happy with the results, though i already know what i want to improve on...

i added leather patches in the back and front neckline for a dash of cool.other projects swimming around my head involve these two bolts of faux fur.
happy friday!

projects

when the weather turns cold, i crank out the sewing projects. i have a few lined up, and one finished that i still need to photograph. slowly but surely, i will get things up. i blame the holidays and the anxiety they sprinkle. in the meantime, get a load of my new machine! as you may recall, my last machine kicked the bucket. after a week of repair, my dad and brother brought this singer over to me. it was my great grandma cardoza's, and lived in her seamstress shop that was here in san francisco. nobody but her was allowed to use it...

PDX redux

mmm... turkey day goes by so fast. i guess my lag in posting i can attribute to the holidays. thanksgiving snuck up on me this year, and i think christmas will probably do the same... so here are a few shots from my trip to portland, where we consumed our weight in food:

paul and i in a plaid-off at kenny & zuke's, where the sandwiches are 'as big as your head.' i had the meatloaf sandwich, paul chose the classic reuben...
i can count myself among a fortunate few who have eaten at beast, a tiny french-american restaurant that is only (!) open for dinner wednesday through saturday- sunday has a four course brunch. and there are TWO TABLES. our meal there included brioche bread pudding with maple bourbon sauce and maple glazed bacon; beast hash- milk braised pork, delicata squash, apple, brussel sprout & market potato, poached farm egg with hollandaise...

contraband: granule-y chocolate bar from cocoa; shark print from land; photobooth pic taken at the ace...me, myself, and i: last but not least, the crowning glory, my cozy sweater, from a vintage store somewhere on mississippi...

filler

while sorting through my portland photos, i thought i'd buy some time by posting these fantastic elizabeth taylor shots. where some girls have marilyn as their favorite vamp, mine is liz. her movies are some of my faves: cat on a hot tin roof, giant, who's afraid of virginia woolf, suddenly last summer, the last time i saw paris, i know what you did last summer... sorry, couldn't resist.... and she balances sex appeal and intelligence with such ease.

girl crush

we all have them, and right now, one of mine is zoe kravitz. granted shes the child of wildly cool parents, but her penchant for vintage, leather, old t-shirts and scarlet lipstick makes her one of my favorite people to watch for...
karen walker gold and tortoise shell sunglasses; givenchy gold chain handbag

rings from ach ach leibling...black oxford heels from OAK. the shot on the left i think was listed as a 'what was she thinking?' photo. well i'll tell you, she was thinking how awesome fringe and cuffed denim would be with ankle boots and she was SPOT ON.preen lightning coat. one of my favorite photos, i she and her parents are adorable together.
tank from doublenaut; i liked it so much (and it was about $14) i got one for myself...dress, another masterpiece by erin wasson for rvcatomorrow i'm off to portland for a long weekend :)

sunday folly

i was going through my archive of specially-saved fashion rags, and came across this harpers bazaar from 1998. mom would let me take/tear apart the photos after she had gone through them (scrapbooks are somewhere, stuffed with images of beaded galliano gowns and calvin klein ads with kate). i used to love bazaar, when liz tilberis was editor, and it seemed the only non-conde nast fashion mag that rivaled vogue. flipping through this periodical from ten years past (?!), i found many pencil skirts, simple shell tops, thick-heeled sandals, and minimal makeup. funny how relevant much of the style is to today's trends...

i love these sandals, and have since started browsing ebay in hopes of finding them.
a very young and fresh-faced maggie rizer.my favorite part of course was this kate moss shoot, by mario sorrenti. the style is 30s/40s glam with lots of beading and sequins and tulle.
fun side note, she and mario dated...
more of these to come, i'll try not to go overboard, but i'm currently flipping through and bookmarking a vogue from 2000...

sewing, eating, crafting

this weekend was lovely, starting with julian's first birthday, and ending with a day trip to occidental to eat at the best breakfast place on earth. howard's station is buried in the forest, past sebastopol, on the most scenic hour and a half drive ever. especially in the middle of autumn. paul and i are gung-ho about our breakfast foods. both days i wore my new southwestern jacket, which i finished by hand *shakes fist at broken machine*

we shared the homemade granola/yogurt/fruit bowl; i had the belgian waffles with bluberries....paul had the brown rice scramble with house potatoes, i'm getting that next time; their coffee aint shabby eitherafter breakfast, we visited my favorite vintage store, aubergine vintage emporium. i tried on a few things...the dressing rooms have walls of hand-dyed lace curtains, and a rod iron and neon sign top.in the end, i walked away with this slate gray wool dress, with black zig-zag detail down the front. a trick i learned, if you are afflicted with giant shoulders like myself (mine developed from years of swimming), to wriggle out of a tight-waisted dress such as this, pull the skirt up from the back, and pull over your head bowing forward slightly...i capped the evening off with a little arts 'n' crafts snuggled up in front of my stereo.**been wigging out to midlake's the trials of van occupanther**

light vision

just like any pretentious shopper, i love a good tip-off to a new online store. so i thought i'd share it with anyone that reads this goony comic book of a blog... lightvision carries some diy-tastic items, some of which are made by fellow san franciscans. my favorite designer on there is micaela greg, their graphic geometric prints crafted into drapey soft frocks are ideal for winter, and perfect for san francisco layering. side note: i love how natural and beautiful the models are, and they all seem to have really cool hair...

mociun:

micaela greg:

there are some choice vintage items too...i need this.

halloween

i hopped between two parties this year, starting with my parent's infamous all hollows trick-or-treat-athon. they're die hards, and have always made sure us kid's costumes have been 100% authentic, including this years...

thennow

then

nowthennow.
guess who...

etsy delivery

i was perusing suzy's etsy shop and happened upon this candy apple red skirt. being that i had extra money in my paypal account, i helped myself and was glad i did because the package it came in made my WEEK. the most darling package i ever got: she packed a special postcard and handkerchief, and the tag was even detailed with special stitching from the machine...

the red is so saturated, i could eat the thing. worn with vintage wood necklace, acne pumps, and a generous application of blush...thanks suzy ;)

broke as a joke

so my machine up and died on me. mid-project. the foot isn't feeding the material, and i have cleaned the bobbin area and re-strung the thread till the cows came home.
so i thought i'd post a few projects i made, and one i'm in the midst of... first up, a slight A-line blouse i made from warm purpley pink plaid flannel. originally i wanted to make a long-sleeved blouse but there was not enough to go around. i prefer the cap sleeves, and my favorite part is the zipper in back. it makes me feel a wee edgy.

a simple tote, made from a gray tweed weave and blue leather straps

my beloved southwestern coat, finish date TBD. mom had cut this out for dad to wear hunting, i would like to guess maybe 15 years ago? its been in our project closet for a while, and i took it out, with mom's blessing and re-cut it to my size. i plan on having a zip closure so the front pattern lines up. there are hidden pockets, and the lining is going to be navy blue...

sad. i guess i could hand-stitch all the rest... ugh.
i may soon resort to an outfit post and more wish lists. pray for me.

all photos taken by me, enhanced by poladroid

mood board

sue ellen necklace from charm & chain, $300

while perusing my favorite image arsenal (them thangs) for the billionth time, i was inspired (anyone with a pulse would be) to do a post on relevant items, fashion-oriented, of course, over-layed on some of my favorite images. it being fall, i'm consumed with foliage, pilgrims and indians, and spooky stuff. i came up with this assortment of items:

keith makes blankets look cool. cool keith.
lindsey thornburg red mendoza cloak, $966less charm bracelet, $1503.1 philip lim dress, $675i love this photo. a white fur hat? for a dude? nothing but wicked... rhinestone studded black leather purse by antik batik, $345wendy brandes onyx skull ring, price upon request

i'm quite taken with the faux fur as i've said before, and just purchased a huge piece of lilac fofer with which to make my own bomber jacket...
faux fur hood from UO, $48ASOS iridescent feather clutch, £25booties from anthropologie, $178

dreamy

just had some photoshop fun with my new crush. $1000 price tag aside, they'd be PERRRFECT wedding shoes, right? RIGHT?

thank you rebecca

for introducing me to sallie...sallie ford & the sound outside, photos found on flickr...

sewing project

feeling as though i've not been the best seamstress i could be, i made a simple blouse this weekend and wore it to the hardly strictly bluegrass festival. the pattern is very simple, though i misjudged the v-neck depth and modestly stitched up a few inches. the top seam of the front and back are both gathered, knocking out the necessity for boob darts. i used a vintage bill blass fabric that i've been wanting to use for years, along with vintage snowflake buttons. i have a blouse like this from gap and have seen a few at urban outfitters, and i think its the perfect design for something feminine without resorting to frills and lacey camisoles...
shout out to little boat: your skirt is at the top of my list ;)

friday fantastic

the above image i took last year around this time, i'm in an autumnal mood, though san francisco is having a summery moment. its totally tame compared to the images below, but i like it all the same.
i feel like its a cop out to blog about other blogs, but paul sent me a link yesterday that is perpetually blowing my mind, it belongs to a designer by the name of justin blythe. probably one of the most provocative photo compilations, i think the fact someone is privy to such images is equally as amazing as the images themselves. but that's the internet for ya... some of my favs:

sunday monday

i slept most of the weekend, as i seem to be harboring "the bug" (i've had a stubborn lump in my throat for a week). however, i did sneak out for a bit sunday to hang with summa my lady friends. first, i watched ashley and cameron make raspberry lemonade. believe me, it tastes as good as it looks ;)

then tianna and julian picked us up for a faux fur hunt downtown. H&M has some really nice versions, this one is my fave as modeled by T. very similar to ashleys. but i think top shop undoubtedly has the best, hands down.top photos by ashley*

its the time of the season

for just a moment, lets forget about the bomb mackenzie philips dropped on oprah, and turn to the new W magazine. the 'art and commerce' spread, shot by inez van lamsweerde and vinoodh matadin, is blowing my mind. i scanned a 'few' of my favorites, please excuse the unavoidable gutter...

all the layering (thank god its fall), candy colors and textures, i'm back to being the wistful pre-teen dazzled by flashy fashion mags. the shoot took place at various art galleries around paris, and stars raquel zimmermann and feja beha erichsen...

roman holiday

my inner lady prevailed this weekend. i tried on wedding gowns saturday morning, with anna and rebecca (merely for inspiration, as i plan on sewing my own with mom's help); went fabric shopping at britex, where i bought a vintage baby bouquet of silk daisies; and traipsed around sephora, where i helped myself to a pink nars lipstick called roman holiday... the girly girl stops here though. i am planning an ann demeulesmeester blouse with black and white and droopyness all over...

california uber alles

i haven't felt this strong an urge to dye my hair blue since 6th grade when i saw billie joe armstrong's smurfed-out hair in rolling stone. my solution was crayola marker-ing strands of my own, resulting in a collar of colors on my white uniform polo. i love proenza schouler, too many reasons to list, but i feel an afinity for this particular collection. the surf/skate/punk elements combined are so west coast...

proenza schouler SP'10

wedding photos

one of my nearest and dearest was hitched this weekend, to a fine strapping young man. the best part was how involved all us friends were, resulting in every detail being executed with love. so i thought i'd share some of my shots. i made the gown, restructuring an old one and making new additions. i'm rather pleased with how it turned out, and i think its recipient looked GORRRRGEOUS, i couldn't take my eyes off her the whole night. time well spent...

my bridesmaid dress & the wedding gownbeautificationhand-made feather hair peiece by lisahiding-out in the bridal room
waiting for our que (that's me second from left, trying to hold down lunch...)a tear jerker....candy tableambiance

i like what you've done here

window shopping, i found that pixie market has my kind of shoes for fall. i have two pairs of western skimmers, that are right below the ankle. they're comfortable, they slip on, the go with EVERYTHING (according to me). i've been looking for a higher, more fem version of them lately, without going the full cowboy boot, just a bit over the ankle. the versions on pixie markets are beautiful, my favorite (and already sold-out) being these 4-buckle boots. very chloe sevigny for opening ceremony:the shoes i bought and am quite pleased with (including the price). i have to say, i found these due to obsessing over siri's at ringo, have a banana. i tried to find some on ebay, to no avail, then hit up my trusty boot barn. dingo! my new dingos...this weekend will be a blast, as the wedding gown i've been working on will finally make its way down the aisle, with my friend megan in it! i've been meaning to take photos but haven't had time, so i will post some when i get back. happy weekend!!

long weekend recap

a perfect labor day weekend. went garage-saling, did some sewing, took in an elizabeth taylor movie, listened to dad's records, ate lots of home-cooked meals, and SLEPT IN. i dare say, alameda has the best garage sales i've been to. spoils as follows:

monogrammed locket, i thought it especially sweet due to the 'P' (for paul), $5, a little more because it was an estate sale

rayon blouse with lace detailing in front and crystal buttons behind, $1.50vintage wedges for $2much to my delight, mom and dad re-discovered a stash of their old records at my grandparent's. on constant rotation was the butterfield blues band's east west. i listened to it easily 10 times while i was sewing, mary mary being my favorite track. i bought it for $6.99 on itunes this morning, as dad refused to lend it to me...

elizabeth taylor and van johnson star in the last time i saw paris. costumes are phenomenal (i missed some of the best while scrambling to get my camera); based on F. scott fitzgerald 's tragic (of course) short story babylon revisited...

another red cape. i think the next time i go fabric shopping, which wont be after a few more paychecks, i will look into red velvet for my faux cape with armholes...

fair friday

perusing style.com for some weekend inspiration, i stumbled upon vionnet's spring resort collection. the line is now masterminded by rodolfo paglialunga (who was once part of miuccia's team at prada). the colors and fabrics used are EXACTLY what i'm looking to work with right now. the focal point is on texture and draping, the latter being quite intimidating though i've dabbled in it here and there... the whole collection is exceptional, and while i tried to narrow it down, i ended up with a plethora of favorites (that word always reminds me of the 3 amigos), my absolute fav being the red cape-like top. i've been thinking of ways to fake a cape, since i like the safety of an actual armhole, but the draping is so romantic. vionnet's version reminds me of a regal red riding hood...

centum blogum

i couldn't think of a better way to commemorate my 100th post than with a new dress and a rockin show to swoon over. we've been thrust into indian summer here in sf, so yesterday i drew all the blinds and set to work on a two-tone dress. the mint is a thick cotton, and i believe the black to be rayon. the bodice is lined, to hide all the seams, and i decided to hand-stitch the front closed. initially i wanted to fold down the corners to mimic a collar, but liked the way they looked sticking up. the skirt is the same pattern i made for the tulips skirts, 4 sets of inverted pleats.the show i speak of, and where i debuted my dress, is the dirtbombs at the rickshaw stop. love the venue, genuinely liked the opening bands (ty segall & the sermon), spotted kelly stoltz in the audience, was right next to ben blackwell when he set his drum kit in the middle of the crowd, and walked away with one of his drumsticks. the dirtbombs killed. they played like it was a hometown show, i felt like i wasnt in san francisco anymore, maybe because i've never been to that caliber of a rock show... i shook mick's hand, the lead singer, walked home starry-eyed and grinning. i love small shows... and now i'm off to the outside lands fest to see the dead weather, band of horses, modest mouse, lucinda williams and tenacious D ;)100th post shout out: thanks for entertaining me with your supportive and encouraging comments, and even if you don't comment, i still appreciate your 10 seconds of attention xo s

this post is all over the place

i'm tired and delirious from fried food and the sudden heat. so to begin, i have been going through a tomboy phase, peach cardigan aside. i wore a vintage denim shirt the other day that belonged to my dad, and i think he bought it at a thrift store. dad, if you're reading, i dare you to find a photo of yourself in this shirt. i should mention i wore this early in the week when it was still winter. this morning the temperature is climbing into the 80s...i also bought a swami records shirt, as modeled by the talented troubador dan sartain. he recently put out a few songs on third man records... i love his sound, early white stripes-esque low-fi with rockabilly. i don't know why hes been compared to johnny cash, other than his looks, but i digress...
this weekend i have a few sewing projects creeping out of the depths of my mind, maybe a nice strappy blouse? or another tulip skirt (i think indian summer is going to show up any minute). or something ornate and velvet like this (kate moss for topshop jacket). there have been numerous russian-inspired spreads lately which is fantastic because i love the embroidery. and i love to embroider. i've never attempted to embellish clothes with it, but there's a first for everything...

j whizz

its only august, and indian summer may show up for a brief fling, but i feel like the summer never really took its stand this year (i'm cuddling with my coffee mug as i write). so i decided to purchase my first ever piece of cashmere and see what the fuss was about. heading to the cashmere mecca, i settled on jcrew's v-neck cardigan. i wanted heather cypress, but it was completely sold out. utterly bummed, i called the stores, which i never do, to no avail. after looking at the sartorialist, i was inspired to go pink, peach-ish. sweet guava, to be exact. not something i would normally choose, but i think it will look cool with all the men's shirts i've been wearing...

ever lovin' mess

i have no cool photos to post, so enjoy barbie's shoe collection. they're so pretty i want to chew on them. maybe soon i will have something impressive to share... which is what the weekend is for.from ffffound.com
currently listening to the dirtbombs

window shopping

blame it on the incessant fog, my choices are dramatic and maybe a little dark. mainly leather and knits for me, with some silver jewelry. hot damn i want a snake ring...

la garconne

pixiemarket

shop zoeurban outfitterscurrently listening to jeff buckley's sketches for my sweetheart the drunk

fair weather friday

i'm afraid to say it in lieu of jinxing us, but the weather here in san francisco has been PERFECT. my weekend plans include sketching in the park, stitching final details on a dress, and lounging on the roof to make the most of our atmospheric luck. some inspiration for you all....

robot drawing by my paul (ink & photoshop) sketch by me (ink)balloon sketch from miss-tal.com
currently listening to bonnie prince billy 'i see a darkness'...

to-do's

not only was the weather beautiful this weekend, but i also got a lot done. i worked on said friend's wedding gown, scrubbed the apartment, and finally set up a respectable work area for myself by paul's various musical equipments. as sparse as it seems, there was lots of moving and shaking of fists to get it that way. inspiration will be added gradually... and finally i finished the "leather" jacket re-construction and i'm quite pleased with the results. i use quotations because while working on the thing, i kept getting whiffs of what i think is the sickeningly sweet smell of old PVC. though the jacket may have belonged to a clove-smoker. i usually never have a problem determining real leather... regardless, i love the thing (it was FIVE DOLLARS on ebay) and was prancing around in it last night. the trickiest part was getting the shoulders to hit just right. there's an awkward pleat that runs from the pocket up to where the old shoulder lived, so there's a little extra fabric. more studs must be ordered so that the collar is completely covered, but for now i like the 2 rows. i may have to stop there.

the weather should be nice

happy weekend folks. i'm going to spend mine listening to 'shot of love' while stitching the final touches on a friend's wedding gown. maybe sip some wine on the roof if i'm lucky...
p.s. i nearly forgot to add a photo of terry, the stuffed cat i made for paul's birthday. he makes a fine addition to the family. i made my own pattern, hence the extra long limbs...p.p.s. bob is playing 2 nights at the greek theater in berkeley in october, and i've got to get my fingers on some tickets. sure, they'll probably be a weeks groceries, but i'm summer music fest-less this year (outside lands $90?!), so there. the last time i saw him was 2 years ago at the bill graham civic auditorium. kings of leon opened for him, and once he started playing "don't think twice, its alright" i was sobbing like a belligerent beatles fan...

ebay DIY project

i won this jacket on ebay for $5 which is great because it is my next sewing project. behind millions of others... i have wanted a leather jacket with studs on it for a long time it seems now, since i saw the all saints version, which is about $653. i'm pretty happy with my win, and can't wait to get my hands on it and stud it out *rubbing hands together* i will always think studs are cool, just like tattoos and cigarettes...

the tie at the waist is one of my favorite bits.if you recall the few studs i put on my backpack, think dark brass, implement those here....i've never attempted to reconstruct a leather jacket, i'm usually adamant about leaving structured jackets as is since shoulders are so tricky to sew already. so fingers crossed everything goes according to plan.

over-sized sequined sweaters

look perfect for san francisco weather. you got your warmth and you got your flair. thanks again, topshop...i cant decide which is my favorite, but it comes down to the parrot and the lips.

amateur handbag porn

in my frustration of a fruitless handbag hunt, i decided to make my own. which is always a good thing. i learn something new each time i make a purse, and this time it was how to make an outside pocket without visible seams. i took a forsaken purse project started with the green leather, and sketched ideas in illustrator, adding black details. i then made a trip to discount fabric warehouse on 11th street for some black leather and bought a generous sized hide for $20!!! the plastic chain and metal turn-lock are from britex (a 4-story seamstress heaven). the construction of the bag was done at mom and dad's, where we have my great-grandma johnson's singer (cuts through leathuh like butta).

i printed the drawings on newsprint...i wanted to make this post count twice, as i am debuting my new acne shoes! worn with vintage top and DIY skirt, and san francisco-frizzed hair...

first day back

recently i had the immense pleasure of styling megan for her ebay store, first day back. yes, playing dress up is just as fun when you're older, especially when your doll is life-size and stunning. megan has amassed quite a collection of vintage items, and as every woman does she had to face the fact her closet needed thinning. below is the result of our hours-long play session... (take note, megan is a petite little thing so some of the clothes may seem big, but on me i'd be stretchin them seams)

an original gunne sax dress, i think she looks like jenny lewis' long lost twin.1940s housewife frockannie hall-esque jacketcropped red-velvet shellhoundstooth jacket- would be beautiful with a mini dress and bright tights...delicate 1920s shift. there are a few minor tears, but overall this dress is a dreamgray anthropologie dress, one of few non-vintage itemsher store not only has clothes, but also antique sheet music, vintage cameras and other delights...
happy friday!!! xo s

feeling square, trying to be more well-rounded

i go through phases where i feel like i HAVE to micro-manage 50 projects or else i'm not living up to my potential. lately this includes: two wedding dresses (one in progress, one i should start relatively soon-ish), planning my wedding for that matter, making jewelry, a portfolio, a handbag, some styling here and there... and a drum lesson from a real old friend.she be on the etsy too.

handbag porn

alas, the brown leather bag i ordered just the other day was crazy big, and though its the closest i'll ever come to looking proportionally like an olsen, i sent her back... which means i've been looking for a replacement. scouring hordes of websites, i've come to the conclusion that for me there exists no perfect balance of quality and quantity ($hee$h!!). i have decided, instead, to make one. in the meantime i thought i'd share some of my favorite findings. its funny because i would never choose one of these for myself. i usually go with a substantial size/shape/color, to utilize its use.

i cant seem to find the site where i found this bag, so i dub it 'studded and anonymous'...

lanvin happy satin woven bagsigerson morrison big bucket bag (have you ever seen leather so perfectly pebbled..?)henry cuir indomptable totemalaba pink drawstring pouch- i think because i've been watching ungodly amounts of sex and the city. the tassels are fabulous...PRADA.... in the end, these are what i walked away with: acne jeans above 1 shoe. they go with everything, or so i imagine...

picnic at the palace

saturday i pretended it was still my birthday and had a little picnic in the park by the palace of fine arts. my nearest and dearest came, and there were many beautiful things to eat. in typical san francisco fashion, the weather was freezing in the morning, hence my faux fur, but the sun peeked out for a few hours in the afternoon.

ashley made cookie cuttered PB&J sandwiches, like in mermaids ;)my brother jake gyllenhaal came (aka jon); i made a chocolate kahlua bundt cakekami & fen came and brought a glorious olaliberry pie, homemade of course, with hand-picked berries...megan (who let asked me to style her for the day) and morgan; cameron offering entenmann's to guestspretty, pretty gifts.nate & rebecca xo, who later brought me to a new bar in the financial disctrict called rickhouse. it was prohibition-style, with wood everything and leather-bound menus. i will certainly be going back.photo creds: ashley & me

top notch

topshop has some extraordinary textures as of late...

bummer i spent my birthday monies on this bad boy...

more birthday love

sorry, i had to...
photo by sophie jarry

birthday love

what a lovely birthday. i walked to work in the most beautiful san francisco weather wearing my new favorite dress. once at work, i was bestowed this homemade card of me as a paper doll which left me gobsmacked. the clothes are adorable, and had sweet messages on the back. not only did i get the card, but also glorious pink flowers, and a stack of beard papa cream puffs...mmmm....

after a hearty birthday meal at the german restaurant walzwerk (i had shnitzel and paul had beef roulade, SO GOOD) we hung out on the roof where i spun off some calories.i'm pooped/dizzy (not angry, as the below photo implies)... party this weekend!!
***P.S.***
happy birthday also to anjelica houston, beck, kevin bacon, billy crudup, wolfgang puck

birthday wish list

lets preface this with "if my loved ones were dot-com tycoons..."

1. alexander wang blazer

2. chloe suede kid in asphalt3.giles & brother irulian collar necklace 4. karen walker sunglasses 5. vivienne westwood gold label Paperbag Etui dress6. uzca gold turquoise snake ring7. pink lavin parme bagtomorrow is my birthday, and though i don't really need anymore stuff,i love playing the 'if could have anything' game.

it might get loud

i wont get a wink of sleep 'til then.

cake topper/outfit post

SO i have refrained from posting wedding stuff, mainly because i don't have much planned yet, however, i did find our cake topper! rather, paul found it, and i agreed it was too perfect to pass up. i can justify it a thousand ways, as that bridal adrenaline rush mantra is "but its my wedding." their names are tula and roman, made from vintage cloth, and found on ms. ann wood's site (along with many other hand made treasures). this will be the only mindless slurge. i hope...

outfits: the last 2 days catered to two extremes of my personality. first up, my multi-tasking, multi-faceted career woman. i went out for a cucumber gimlet in this outfit (no joke). blouse from j.crew, which is the only coral-colored clothing i own; skirt made by me!stop making faces at me, paul....followed by a serving of comfy. the shirt is very special, as it is my souvenir from jack white's record offices, third man records. as i said before , i visited said
office while in nashville and got the star-struck jitters, though jack was on tour in europe... minnetonka moccasins and grandpa sweater.everyone have a great 4th of july, and to my international friends, an enjoyable summer weekend!

homecoming queens

just when i was feeling sorry for myself that i wasn't still in nashville, i was reminded of how special san francisco is, as this weekend was PRIDE!! i missed out on the parade, as i couldn't drag myself out of bed any faster, but i did get down to the civic center area where i ran into good food, happy people, and some charming queens. i wore my new vintage tea dress, purchased at local honey vintage in nashville. sigh...

notice: the pink triangle on the hilli loved these ladies' shirts "when can i vote on your marriage?"

megan capturing a sequined dancer on film.my favorite drag queen of the day...of course there were cheerleaders!i forget her name, but apparently she's on rupal's drag race...

end of the road

its nearly time to bid farewell to my wayfaring ways and sink back into the life of a weekend warrior... update since last blog:

i've seen plenty, including belligerent big-rig drivers, adorable livestock, ancient cemeteries, sweet grandma shopkeepers... chicago where i ate the best pizza, saw the art institute (i was face to face with american gothic and nighthawk!!) also where i ran into lexie from little boat!! (always an interesting experience to see a fellow blogger, i immediately hug them as though we've been freinds then realize i should hold off on physical contact.... was in memphis, where i checked out beale street, ate corky's bbq, and went on tours of sun records and graceland. i love live blues bands and wish to go back when its not 100 degrees and humid... which finds me in nashville. oh nashville, it was love at first site. i love the honky tonk bars, and how music is everywhere. i even checked out jack white's record store (i developed the jitters, even though he wasn't there). i have one more full day, have been checking out recommendations (thank you lexie!! i love fido and the loveless cafe!!) i will most certainly be back, maybe in a cooler month...

a mike in the sun records studios, where elvis made his first recording...staircase in graceland; it was an amazing tour, what a generous sweet guy who loved his mamai grabbed the steering wheel and we stopped here for a cup of coffee and a slice of pecan piewhite stripes headquartersone of the most comfortable dresses i've made; its been hot down here but i love it! time to throw a sweater on once we land in sf.

truckin

writing from des moines, IA right now. not much to report here... thus far have seen the morman temple, mt. rushmore, the vast paradise that is wyoming, and john wayne's birthplace. on my way to chicago, then memphis, then nashville... i've kept my outfits simple, cotton all the way, since its been humid as ever. in fact, its rained much of the trip with thunder and lighting, but i dont think its ever gotten colder than 65. i'm totally spoiled in san fran... tomorrow paul and i are probably going to the art institute, and take in other various chicagoian sites. gobama! will write more soon.

the 'worlds largest arch made of elk antlers'watching the river flow in wyomingobama in rapid city, south dakotalured to the infamous Wall Drugtore in wall, south dakota, where one may find taxidermied deer buttmarion morrison (aka john wayne) childhood home. rio grande is one of my favorites...

chasing white lines on the freeway

i am leaving on a road trip in a few days, and have been finishing up projects here and there (necklace, quilt, skirts...) ahhh! haven't even begun to pack yet. my comrade for life paul, and myself, will be slinking through california, nevada, utah, wyoming, south dakota, iowa, illinois, kentucky, and tennessee until we reach our glorious destination of nashville! i'm a sucker for geography, and CANT WAIT to see the diverse landscapes (and weather too). yellowstone, mt. rushmore, badlands, and the kitschy glamour of nashville... that's what I'M talking about. i am going home tonight with the intention of packing, at least starting it. it should be warm once i leave the bubble of san francisco right? its summer somewhere.... i've included some pictures i found on flickr, with some pieces of clothing i find suitable for the trip. enjoy!

sunglasses from fredflare; boy by band of outsiders trenchnarciso rodriguez dress; sandals from f-troupe; cutler & gross leather trim sunglasses landver spike ring; all saints purse celestina cuffs; frye engineer boot j.crew swimsuit; ach ach liebling ringp.s. any recommendations for stops are always welcome ;)

new new new

my rachel comey for urban outfitters sandals came! i love them!! it took them eons to get to me, but it was well worth the wait. they really are comfortable, and they will accompany me on my road trip to nashville, which i leave for on the 14th (shout-out to all for any nashville recomends!! or places between sf and tennessee) once the weather warms up, i will pair them with filmy tea dresses, cotton skirts and maybe some well-loved cut-offs...what's a friday without a silly picture? of me and my boyfriend, er, fiance... always jumping at the chance to ham it up in front of my camera. happy friday guys!! xo scurrenty listening to huey lewis and the news 'do you believe in love'

erdem

i was looking through old mags i have stacked in my closet, and not surprisingly caught myself studying more than a few marc jacobs peices. the bright colors, and deliberate seams and cuts. this feels like me, i thought. i admire my contemporaries who can wear the drop crotches, all-over jersey, fluid look; but not me, not with these american thighs (that seem to gain more thunder the more i ride my bike?). worry not friends, this isn't a whoa-is-me entry. i just know what works on me, and i've trained myself to create such. in fact, i started working on another high-waisted tulip skirt, in royal blue. i love primary colors right now, so summery. i thought i would share with you my favorites from erdem's line, which exemplifies the cut and color i'm currently obsessed with...

a few fun things

FIRST: i would like to showcase some of my DIY cotton sundresses, i have dozens, though i know there are many out there whose collections rival mine. this green dress i made a year or so back. what i was experimenting with was the halter-esque straps, and the tuxedo type pleating in the front. for those of you who remember the movie the sandlot, this is my 'wendy peffercorn' dress.
this is the my latest creation, i want to call it the beer wench dress because of the scandinavian print and resemblance to the beer hall girl pinafores. i'm pleased with how it turned out, though i think there needs to be readjusting of pleats. too many in front, not enough in back. we'll see...
SECOND: my pen pal rachael at penelope, penelope created this drawing! i LOVE her art and have admired it for a few months now, and was thrilled when she said she wanted to do an illustration of one of my photographs!!just to include a bit here about rachael, she is in her third year, studying fashion communications at ryerson university, toronto. drawing is one of her many hobbies, as she is multi-faceted (i love her photography too!). favorite artists include egon schiele, miss van, and ray caesar. photographers: stacy marks, ellen von unwerth, jeurgen teller and terry richardson. CHECK HER OUT AND HAPPY FRIDAY!!!! xo s

everyone's doin it!

getting hitched, that is! just found out that meg white married jackson smith, son of patti. imagine the surname change there. jackson white, replacing jack white? i kid, i kid... i'm excited about it, as i like to think she's as sweet as her demeanor suggests...for all of you wedding fans, here is a sketch of what i think my gown will end up resembling... the flowers may be lace applique, or silk flowers, or both! not yet decided. the top layer will be sheer, with a sweetheart top under the long sleeve layer... more sketches to come, one of them belonging to rachael over at penelope, penelope. i'm a fan...

making the most of what i got

this has been such a pleasant long weekend, i'm almost ready to throw in the towel but i have ONE MORE DAY!!!! so far have been fortunate to see handfuls of friends old and new, and family. not to mention getting productive: sketching, sewing, wedding planning now that we've set a date and venue...

ate its-its on the roof with paul. they're the most delicious frozen dessert, unnatural green dye aside.for some reason ice cream is more appealing to me on a cold day. maybe on hot days dairy-based foods seem like a no-no...i thought i would make this somewhat of an outfit post, as i felt kinda cool with my durangos and striped shirt. the pants are h&m that i got for $20. i am a strong proponent of budget dressing. i went to american apparel the other day to try on their high-waisted disco pants, not realizing they were $100 until i went to check out... "how much? oh god, i'm sorry, never mind...."
jacket one of my favs, from gap (bought it last year marked from 78 to 40!) shirt j.crew outlet (14) boots from the boot barn were the most pricey ($60)... AA sweatshirt (i was young and impressionable) like $40?) anyhow, hope everyone's long weekend is sensational...!

prognosis: aging

inevitably, i will be told by the optometrist i need glasses. my appointment is tomorrow afternoon. the giveaway should have been my chronic squinting, and more recently a redness that appears when reading or looking at the computer, but i've held out hoping for the best. truth is, i'm actually kind of excited to be told i need reading glasses. i've always thought they looked cool, but never wanted to wear fakes. it would feel like wearing a hearing aide because it was novel (though i'm sure urban outfitters isn't far off from selling neon or glow in the dark prototypes). i even stole the perfect pair of frames from a thrift store just in case i ever needed to use them (i was in high school, they were $3...) i may use these, or i saw some on seeeywear that i love...

newbies

they will be mine, oh yes, they will be mine (after they ship on the 25th ?!) i read about these babies on ringo's blog, and since i needed some not-vintage, plain jane, but classy sandals that wont disintegrate if my toes sweat in them...happy friday, dont mind if i do...

photography

featured on artistaday.com, alex prager is a joy. the tongue in cheek photos have the vulnerability of cindy sherman, particularly when the subject is alone. they also remind me of vanessa beecrofts installations... love them/want to be in them all...
p.s. how the heck do i make the photos larger on the blog? i choose the largest format when i up load them, but they're displayed so tiny...

tom waits getting frozen yogurt

this weekend i left the city to go to occidental, a small town tucked away in northern california, to eat some of the most delicious organic home made brunch at howard's station... but that's all beside the point.

occidental is right by sebastopol and bodega bay. beautiful country, small town. paul and i walked around sebastopol as they have one of the best vintage stores i've ever been to. aubergine vintage emporium, if you're ever in the area.

their dressing room is a piece of art, rod iron sculpture on top, lace curtains dyed all sorts of pastel.some older photos of me at aubergine. in the end i bought the gold dress on the left and a bob dylan record...

afterwards, as it was 85 degrees out, we decided to head home after getting some frozen yogurt. we found a mom and pop establishment that looked promising, and as soon as we stepped in the front door we froze. eyes bugging, we turned and looked at each other as i whispered "yea that's TOM WAITS GETTING FROZEN YOGURT." he was in head to toe perfectly patina-ed denim and heavy work boots. he was lean, and dare i say handsome, and really the coolest person i've ever laid eyes on.

petrified, as i went into a starstruck coma, i grunted to paul to ask him for a photo. yes, i dorked-out and had to ask, but in the end i'm glad i did. he politely declined, as he was with his son, and shuffled out the door. paul thanked him and wished him good day. AH! so i went home and drew myself with tom, just to humor myself. this is what a photo document may have looked like:its a work in progress. in terms of fashion, i've started sewing together a sundress i'm really excited about, particularly the top, which i'm slowly figuring out how to hide all those gnarly seams by lining it. whats tricky is the straps, how i will line them, and hide as many seams as possible. more on that soon...

scenic weekend

I was in atascadero this weekend, for those of you unfamiliar with the central california coast, its right by san luis obispo. i tromped through the paul's backyard in my MISHA MARKET ONE DRESS! i've been meaning to photograph this piece for awhile, but time and backdrop have not aligned until now... the story behind this is that i did a trans-continent clothing swap with misha in stockholm. she's a master at draping, i love her minimal, precise peices. i'm not a master at draping, but can sew structure, so i made her a skirt in exchange. i love how its a big comfortable t shirt, i tried to make the dress my own by slipping the tie that came with it through the sleeves and up around my neck to make a halter look...

she generously slipped this fringe necklace in too...glamorous misha in a one dress. i'm an absolute fan of this girl, i've been reading her blog for a while and highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't checked it out yet. she also has a killer shoe collection that seems to be growing every day hehe...

girl crush/TFGIF

if i'm going to be on honest on here, i just need to get this out: i have a heaping girl-crush on alison mosshart. she's second in line to kate moss, and really is it a coincidence kate is dating her bandmate? UGH i die from the coolness. with this post, i wanted to do one of those individualist-influenced layouts, as alison is quite the fashion force, especially for all of us ex-tomboys...all saints amos leather jacket;UO cigarette jean; erin wasson for rvca tank; all saints sora bedoin scarfrobert lee morris for elizabeth and james cross bracelet; carolee LUX chain bracelet; house of harlow tiger eye ring; robert lee morris for elizabeth and james necklace; ioselliani stacked ring

natalia brilli leather sunglasses case; acne pump;

i will do outfit posts soon, as my 'mango mouth' is retreating nicely, and i will be making my way to a far more picturesque landscape for the weekend. the perfect backdrop for springy dresses...
xo s!

delayed monday reaction

have you ever felt you had a 'kick me' sign on your back? i feel as though one's been pinned on me for a month or so, medically speaking. i chopped off a healthy piece of finger tip while trimming boards for a work presentation, and recently i was the lucky recipient of mango mouth. its not a new lip gloss, but an allergic reaction to the sap in the skin of mangoes, not unlike my reaction to poison oak. in fact they're related guys, so if you're wildly allergic to one, you are to the other. this weekend i went from weird cold-sore to angelina botox mouth, but i am fine now. waahhhh! things could be worse.
in addition to these freak happenings, my allergies have been ridiculous, knocking me out of any creative flow i normally manage to dip my toe in.
HOWEVER! tonight i am on a mission: work on a floral sun dress, even if it just means cutting out the pattern. i've had one in mind, but the top keeps changing. i wanted to play with strappy, but i've had flashes of criss-cross straps and boat necks...
my movie du jour (i have to have one on when i am playing with my manequin) will be the last picture show, if you havent seen it, check it out, small town angsty teen texans, a young jeff bridges, need i say mooooore?