It Takes A Vintage Girl To Tell An Antique

Those Potatoes Aren't Going To Mash Themselves




Looks Like You Missed A Spot




I'd Put On White Gloves, But I Have A Dirty Job To Do




Here's Looking At You Kid




Sex Sells Everything, Even Train Tickets


What a great time Tom and I had in the Tehachapi Mountains rummaging through antique stores and sitting in quaint cafes. I swear there is not a better time to be had! There was even a hobby store full of model trains for Tom to look over. We had a laugh at the advertising plaques that showed scantily clad women to sell train tickets.


Sex sells everything I guess! I was a good girl and only spent a small amount of money. I just had to buy the grape shoe clip at one store. I had inherited one just like it from my Nana! Now I have a matched set to wear on my shoes.



$18.00 Vintage Grape Shoe Clip.

I also bought a pair of black gloves. Perfect for my next tea party. To end the day we split a cheesecake and watched the clouds form and break apart from the deck at Kohnen's Bakery. So romantic! Of course, any time spent with Tom is good :)

Pel

Running Away to San Diego

The stress in Boron was getting to us so we took our friends up on their offer of a spare room to stay in and slipped away to San Diego for the weekend. It was so lovely to see Alma and Robbie and to breathe the ocean air!



Alma and me along the trail in Balboa Park. I have on my new Ann Taylor lace shirt that I got at Goodwill for $2.99 *caching!*


This lovely lady and her pup were walking across the bridge to the museum and her puppy just pooped out and refused to walk anymore so she had to carry him. Sooo cute!



I just love the architecture!


These guys were amazing! Steam Powered Giraffe is the name of their group and they had us laughing so hard during their routine. Then when they sang their harmony was spot on. Wow!


Alma and Robbie with me listening to the music at the park.


Tom, Alma and Robbie watching the Lawn Bowling.


So we go home today and I am sad to leave my friends, but I look forward to seeing them again soon, I hope!

Pel

DIY: Everything's Coming Up Rosettes!

I have been seeing rosettes everywhere so I figured instead of buying them, the shoestring way of doing things would be to make them myself! So here is a little walk through of how I did it.


First I picked out a few ribbons and buttons. You can choose what colors you like. I went with coral and red, but later on I plan on doing more in many different colors!



Cut your ribbons from 5 to 7 inches depending upon the ribbon thickness and how big your button is. The coral ribbon is 7 inches and the cherry red is 6. I plan on doing some that are smaller. Make a loop with the ribbon overlapping the ends about 1/4 of an inch. Pinch in the middle and using a needle threaded with matching thread, run a stitch through the center.


Do the same with the other ribbons stacking on top. Use three to four ribbons per rosette. It is up to you.


Center button in the middle and stitch in place.



For the coral rosette I then sewed a pinback in place.



For the cherry rosette I sewed a bobby pin and then used E-6000 to further hold it in place.


You can use your rosettes to decorate so many things!


Hats



Shoes


Hair


Your clothes!



This was so much fun I plan on teaching my granddaughter how to do it. This will make a great weekend project for us.

Pel

Knitting Frenzy

With Yule fast approaching and money running out I decided to hand make a few gifts for friends and family. I do love the scarves that are in the stores everywhere. The cheaper ones are just that. Cheaply made and out of awful materials. The more expensive ones are so lovely, but out of my price range right now. Luckily I have a yarn stash. A very large yarn stash. My mother and grandmother both had scads of yarn and I got all of it. While I managed to sell some of it on ebay, etsy and at yard sales I have enough to keep me and my descendants knitting for years to come! I have one finished and only have another 6 to go. I plan on doing this in addition to making those 6 bridesmaids dresses I mentioned last week.

If you don't hear from me in the next few days, it is because I have been committed *grin*

Pel

Hat Crazy

There used to be a time when I didn't wear hats. I felt that I didn't have the face for them. That I looked awful in them, that I was unattractive. I learned over the years that I actually look good in hats if I have the right hairstyle and the hat is place "just so" on the head. A hat almost never looks good worn squarely on the head. They need to be tilted, tipped back or forward. Some need the hair to fall to the front, or to be brushed to the back. You just have to experiment! That is half the fun of hats, fussing with your hair and tilting the hat in different positions. I now have a small collection of hats, most of them vintage that call for vintage hairstyles to make them work. This can be a challenge as I can do other people's hair quite well, but have a harder time working with my own. But that is okay. I am learning. *smile*


Black hat from the 50's I believe. I got this last month at an antique store in Ocean Beach. There were so many lovely hats it was hard to choose. I wanted them all!



Brown straw hat that I have had since the very early 90's. The dog chewed on the edge so I had to cover it with velvet ribbon to repair it. I actually think it looks better this way.



Black wool hat bought at a thrift store in the mid 90's in Redlands with my sister-in-law Kathy. That was such a fun day!



White and navy hat from an antique store in Ocean Beach. I think it will go well with my new navy, brown and white plaid sheath dress.



Black hat with roses bought from a retail store in the early 90's. Probably Wet Seal or something like it.



Red velvet 1940's vintage hat bought at an antique store in Redlands. I also bought a gorgeous vintage argyle cardigan that day that my daughter now wears. I sort of wish I hadn't given it to her! LOL!



Lovely beige cloche hat that I have crushed the top in to give a fedora look to. I believe it is a 50's remake of a 20's style. I bought it on Etsy a month or two ago.



Another look at the red crocheted hat. This was made for me by my friend Sherry Fitzpatrick. It took a while for me to wear it since it was red. The same with the red velvet hat. I had bought it because it was pretty, not because I ever thought I would actually wear it. Now I plan on wearing all my hats! I have stopped thinking that people look at me because I look odd. I now attribute their looks to admiration of my lovely hat. I hope that is not to vain of me?

Pel

Channeling Alice

Channeling AliceOriginally uploaded by Peldyn

With the new Tim Burton movie set to come out next year it seems that all I can think about is Alice. The trailer just whetted my appetite for her gothic blue sweetness. I picked up this silk cotton blouse from Forever21 to help stave off the hunger for all that is Alice blue. It's puffed sleeves and shirred waist evoke another time and seem so very right. I paired it with a full black skirt, spectator oxford shoes and a little antique tapestry purse that belonged to my great-grandmother. My cat is a shoo in for Dinah *grin*


Artfire has a few shops that offer items that have an Alice in Wonderland theme. Maybe you can pick up some gothic goodness of your own.



Alice in Wonderland White Leather Charm Bracelet by Sunny Beach Jewelry


Gothic Black Lace Cuffs by maryandangelika


Poppy Longstockings Nautical Stripe by Poppy Clothing Creations


Quietly Waiting Hand Painted Accent Table by MadTeaPartyFurniture

The last is not clothing, but this shop is full of the most wonderfully Alice in Wonderland style furniture that all I could do was squeal with delight as I looked at each item! I want EVERYTHING!

Let me know how you have expressed your "inner" Alice. I am sure I am not the only one captivated by this trend.

Nautical Inclinations

Every Spring nautical designs turn up in runway collections like clockwork. It is so stereotypical that I have so far resisted any type of nautical theme until now. I don't know if it was nostalgia for that old Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra movie Anchors Aweigh, or just plain whimsy one my part. Or maybe it was the really cute options I have been seeing in the shops and online that finally whetted my appetite for the nautical look. Either way, I caved. Here you can see how I put together two looks.

nautical 003
Originally uploaded by Peldyn

Here I have styled a tank top from Hollister that was hand me down from a friend. The skirt was on sale from Anthropologie for $70.00 and I just couldn't resist it. Shoes from Payless for $15.00 and finally to finish the look a bracelet from Wet Seal for $2.00. A cute and casual nautical style that is playful and fun!



nautical 032
Originally uploaded by Peldyn
This look is a more subtle play on the nautical theme. More retro in style, I took a blouse from Kimchi Blue that I bought on ebay for 19.00, sailor style pants from Express that I also bought on ebay for $24.99 and added my favorite shoes from Aldo on that were on sale for $59.00 with 10% off coupon on top of that!! Yeah! The total outfit looks polished and sophisticated. I feel like a 1940's movie star when I wear it! Who thought waiting for the fleet to come in could look so awesome *grin*


*Note This was written before I fell ill.

Pattern Play

Your mother may have told you never to mix your patterns. Well, your mother was wrong. Done properly patterns can be quite delightful when mixed and add an eclectic and funky flair to your look. The trick is to remember to keep the proportions in balance and color families matched. It is easy to overdo it but with a little practice you will get a feel for what is right. Here I will show you a few ways that you can mix patterns to add that certain edge.

This first look I have combined three different patterns in three different sizes. Grey and white striped pants and floral blouse from Forever21, argyle cardigan from NY&Company. Cami is from Aeropostale, pumps from Payless, necklace and bracelet from Cookie Lee.

Why it works: The largest size pattern is on top with the medium in the center and the smallest pattern on the bottom. This sets the proportion. By working with a limited color palette of grey and green it keeps the look simple and uncluttered which can happen when working with so many patterns.

Here is a look with one dominant pattern. Striped pants from Wet Seal, striped jacket from Target and a floral graphic patterned top from Forever21. Wedge heeled peep toe shoes are from urbanoriginals on ebay, cuff bracelet from Claires and necklace from Forever21 add a little panache.

Why it works: The stripes on the pants and jacket are both widely spaced to help balance the bold color and print of the top. A thin pinstripe would not work here. The colors of the pants and jacket are also not too dark. This way they do not compete with, but merely complement the top.

This outfit has two dominant patterns at work. Silk Asian floral top from Arden B, Plaid skirt from BCBGMaxAzaria. Back up from a vintage belt, peep toe Mary Janes from urbanoriginals on ebay, bracelet and earrings from Forever21

Why it works: With such dominant patterns you have to keep the colors in the same family and the scale of both prints need to be the same to stay in balance.

Here are three pieces all in micro-patterns. Micro-patterned blouse from Target, Pinstriped vest from Forever21, Herringbone pants from Wet Seal. Necklace is from Cookie Lee, Vintage style bow pumps from urbanoriginals on ebay.

Why it works: All the pieces have such a small pattern that from a distance they look like a solid color, grey pants, black vest and bluey-beige blouse. In addition they all have the common color of black in their pattern which also helps to unite the look.

This last look is two simple patterns. Floral print blouse from Forever21, Pinstriped skirt from Zizibeh along with Miss Me Pumps from a boutique in Georgia, bracelet from Forever21, earrings from Claire's.
Why it works: The pinstripe skirt is subtle and balanced by the small print of the blouse. This is the easiest of all the looks to pull off since a small pinstripe can be used like a solid color when making an outfit.

So now that you have some examples, take a look in your closet and see what you can put together that you may have never thought of before! I promise I won't tell your mother. *wink*