great finds

Hello everyone! It's been a good week and half for excellent finds, vintage and new alike!Found a lovely new green wool sweater for $5, a pair of high-waisted jean shorts (which my mother swears she had in the '90s) for $3, and the tapesty handbag is my favorite! It was a steal at only $2.

My new waist-high skirt from the designer line at Target, which I got for $8. I wore it out tonight, since the weather is so warm, to get dessert with some girlfriends.
My new teal wedges, which were only $9 at Payless, go great with the above mentioned skirt...

My new men's flannel shirt, which I found for $5. This is my fifth mens plaid shirt that I have purchased; they are so incredibly comfortable, and look cute with jeans or belted over a plain black dress.

My new hippie-esque look! The shirt is a men's Yves Saint Laurent silk number (for only $2! I about died with happiness right there in Goodwill). Paired with my new feather headband ($8 at Target), It looks like I'm ready to hit an outdoor concert.The silk shirt is delicately monogrammed with the YSL logo...I also found a black silk cummerbund for $2 and two bow-ties for a dollar each.My pretty mauve-pink bow tie... I wish I had an event to wear it to!The black bow-tie makes a cute headband.

The little deer was a gift from my dearest mother; I absolutely love it! She just has the sweetest expression on her face...

I also discovered what may be my new favorite band, called Owl City. For those who are not yet blessed with this musical presence in their lives, please go check out "Fireflies", "The Saltwater Room", and "Rainbow Veins"!

Day in LA

My mother and I went on a shopping trip to Downtown Los Angeles last Friday; she was in search for some fabrics and trim, and I happily joined her (I was also in desperate need of a new pair of sunglasses, and the Fashion District isn't far from where we were going). While we were at Berger's beads and trims I took some photos. The store is so interesting with pink walls and boxes of beads and sequins up to the ceiling, with one corner just stuffed with all sorts of sewing notions... There are just rolls upon rolls of sequins piled up in a ramshackle order, so sparkly and appealing under the bright lights, along with huge winding cards of decadent ribbons and trims.

Three lovely bolts of goregous pink sequins

Sequins on strings, instead of bolts, and all seperated by color

A box full of tiny suede bows

little beads that looked like faces!

Then we were off to another trim store! We were actually quite frightened, considering that damage that would be done during an earthquake! The boxes were stacked so high they often blocked the lights on the ceiling.

But, it was all worth it when we discovered a 100 yard bolt of vintage French grosgrain ribbon in a perfect delicate pink, and a 50 yard bolt of double-backed satin ribbon in aqua that was labeled 1983.... and all for only $16!

This was some of our haul when we got home: different trims, ribbons, and zippers, along with a ginormous ivory hair bow that I purchased for $2.

Here are all of the things that I brought home: my hairbow, new sunglasses (which my mother swears that her mother owned), and all the things needed to construct 2 bead and charm bracelets.

Before we went into Los Angeles, we went to an estate sale where mother purchased a plethora of vintage postcards. I love the delicate star edging on this one; it is a happy birthday card, with two beautifully bold roses.

I love bluebirds, and these cards are so very sweet.

Here are the bracelets I made with the beads and trimmings I purchased; the lighting is poor so you can't see what a lovely shade of aqua the beads are. My favorite parts are the wishbone and love token charms.

I hope everyone has an equally inspiring week ahead!

Into the light

"Yes, the Gorgon has dried your tears," he said.
"Well, she opened my eyes too; it's a delusion to say that she blinds people. What she does is just the contrary-- she fastens their eyelids open, so that they're never again in the blessed darkness."

The quote is from The Age of Innocence, which is an excellent book if you have the patience for the slow methodical potrayel of peoples lives and deepest fears (fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald would enjoy it).

The photograph is mine. If you are interested in seeing all of the photos of the peonies, visit my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecupcakecrusader/sets/72157618945018656/

Had a wonderful day and have many photos to post, so expect a nice long addition in the coming days! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

fireflies

It was in moments like this that she missed him. In the quiet times, when she sat alone, were the times when she wished the most that he was only a phone call away. She didn't miss the cold stare of his disengaged eyes, or the swelling insecurity that seemed to strangle her in those last days; but she missed the tone of his voice over the tiny speaker when they were apart, his hand over hers when they were together.
What lingered even more, however, was the hurt and resentment which settled over her memories like a fine layer of dust. She could no longer even be certain of those fleeting, happy moments; she couldn't be sure how far is his lies had infiltrated into his actions, words, kisses.

Everything seemed like a lie now, and she missed when he was everything. She missed when he was anything...

Belated May Day

I wanted to post something yesterday in honor of May Day, but it was cloudy and I was sick, so there was no posting to be done. But today I am feeling better and the weather is a little nicer, and more appropriate for some flower posting, so I'm having a little belated May Day celebration!The goregous white roses that are blooming in the front yard right now...

Harlequin Girl

"So testosterone boys and harlequin girls

Will you dance to this beat

and hold a lover close?"

-Panic at the Disco, "Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off"I was inspired to have a mini portrait photo-shoot this afternoon with some costume-esque makeup... these are my favorites!

status: I don't think I've ever hated anyone like I hate you now

"Counting down all the hours I've spent here

Drowning in all of your lies dear

I wish I could have been warned"

-The Scene Aesthetic, "The Alamo Is No Place For Dancing"

finders keepers

I went to an estate sale this morning with my mom, before getting delicious breakfast burritos from Nick's, and I happened upon a few treasures which I thought I'd share...I found an adorable bird figurine, a string of (fake, but a pretty peach color) opera length pearls, some carved mother-of-pearl pieces (which I'm hoping to make into a necklace), and some vintage photographs. All for nine dollars!

My favorite thing has to be this sweet little grouping of birds, made in West Germany.

Here are some of the photographs I bought:I believe that it's the same girl in both photos, and I wish I could have met her. She seems absolutely fierce.

I love photobooths, so I couldn't pass up those shots. I also love old cameras... I wonder if the girl on the left took the picture in the mirror, or if someone else took a picture of her at the same time.
Someone clearly like photography... I absolutely love this compostion. All in all, it's been a good day so far. Some friends and I are planning on going to a roller disco tonight, which I am very excited about! They're so much fun :)

And I see you, you're walking 'cross the campus...

Days like these are my favorite days to be walking around the university; the sun is warm and shining and there are students out everywhere enjoying the lovely weather. I feel like such a college student when I walk among the other students lounging on the lawns with friends, taking naps, and studying in the shade of trees. It makes me smile and want to listen to fun, bright music. So, in the spirit of sharing this feeling with any one who might not be experiencing such marvelous weather, play "Campus" by Vampire Weekend and enjoy these pictures of people enjoying the simple pleasure of relaxing in the grass :) Marie Antoinette, one of the most aesthetically beautiful movies ever... provides the perfect imagery for a lovely spring day.

I love daisies :)

from lastnightsparty.com... while this isn't the particular attire that most of the students are wearing these days, I love this photo too much to not include it. Nights like these are the ones I live for, and therefore makes this photo an appropriate addition ;)