March 23, 2014

Finally made it back to Palm Springs where everything is warm and wonderful.

A beautiful day with my beautiful hubster.

…and Marilyn is still wearing the same dress

March 21, 2014

Once again it is Friday and that means I have to take my fashion field trip class on an outing.

My incredible shrinking class ( from 27 students to 8 ) met up at an amazing high-end consignment store in Corona del Mar for a fascinating presentation on the resale fashion business.

An amazing $60,000 printer applying all colors in one pass onto canvas shoes

And next we traveled to a small print shop that can custom print just about anything for anybody.

One of the more unique items printed only at this shop are sneakers called Zipz that have a canvas top that can be unzipped from the rubber bottom. Thus tops are exchangeable.

Two very different businesses with two very passionate proprietors.

Interesting and educational.

March 20, 2014

Gilding the Lily is located at 305 N. Harbor Blvd Suite 101, Fullerton, CA, 92832

 One of my most favorite people in the world is visiting from a frozen tundra called Wisconsin.

We met in downtown Fullerton at an amazing little shop named 

Gilding the Lily 

Don't judge a store by its square footage…

Guilding the Lily is a small store but,

PACKED full of surprises in every nook, shelf, drawer, box, cupboard;

it is a fabulous treasure hunt !

The proprietor, Nancy Jamar seems to love all things vintage 

and her collection of one-of-a-kind objects is mind boggling!!

Jewelry, buttons, ribbons, feathers, paper goods, decorative items, 

AND

vintage hats :)

Did I already mention the vintage hats…

My BFF and I never pass up a great photo op

and these hats were all so glorious we could not resist.

Luckily the shop owner and my friend are also BFFs.

And after oohhing and aahhhing over this lovely hat 

my friend secretly purchased it and gifted it to me at lunch.

A dear gift from a dear one.

March 19, 2014

Love how a jacket can instantly make an outfit look more serious.

Originally just had on printed t-shirt and loafers but, was so casual I had to change it up.

Accessory Close-up

Favorite leather sandals by Lucky
Bangle bling
Tiny gold knot earrings by Kate Spade

But who cared what I wore because my favorite wacky students came to class completely costumed.

No reason, just love to dress outrageously and even their eyes were wearing strange colored contacts !

March 18, 2014

OMG! 

Shocked this picture isn't blurry because before class I met a friend for coffee and 

had THREE expresso shots in my Carmel Macchiato.

I was buzzing on caffeine...

Accessory Close-up

Various bracelet bling
Tiny earrings
Leather and cloth sandals ( that I LOVE )
Great color combo scarf I sewed into a circle :)

March 14, 2014

Today is the first day of the 8 week Friday class I am teaching.

Bye-bye five day weekends :(

Accessory Close-up

Black leather wedge sandals that I always plan on giving to Goodwill but never do.
Silver bangles and teeny silver posts

March 13, 2014

Another "Doing What Matters" advisory board meeting today. 

Not as fun as the last meeting at Angel Stadium but, actual meeting was really good.

Tried to look like I am real semi-professional. 

Just can't do a business suit.

Accessory Close-up

Black leather slip-ons that I am obsessed with! Seriously could wear them every day
Black polka-dot scarf I sewed into a circle scarf
Just two Kate Spade bangles
Little silver ball earrings by Ralph Lauren

March 12, 2014

I really love skirts this length. 

Cutting the visual line of your leg off mid-calf is supposedly a big no-no 

but, rules are made to be broken.

Accessory Close-up

Gold bangle bling
My astrological sign constellation necklace gift from my girlie ( Love !)
Brown leather sandals from Nordstrom Rack years ago ( also Love ! )
Tiny earrings continuing my tiny earring obsession

March 11, 2014

Super comfy sweater and comfy big legged pants…I'm ready for bed, oops I mean work.

Accessory Close-up

Funky gold tone and brown leather sandals
Gold bling bracelets
Gold knot earrings

My San Francisco fix

Don't need a reason, just an itch to get up to San Francisco.

Rushed from the airport to a LOVELY dinner at the very posh 

Olympic Club.

Girlie's boyfriend is a member and the food and facilities were amazing!!

Next day back to my funky self as I went to Tail of the Yak; 

a small store in Berkeley that has been evolving for the last 45 years into a wonderland of curiosities. Some items are more practical than others but, seriously you forget to shop because looking at everything is a little overwhelming.

The kind ladies gave us free calendars and I bought a flock of metal bird brooches.

Next on my fun agenda was a 30 minute tour of Britex Fabrics in San Francisco.

I wasn't in town for the intense once a month after hours tour but, my mini tour was pretty interesting.

Lots of details on my other blog WeSew

A whole wall of ribbons makes it difficult to choose just one.

So I always buy many, many, many.

Met up with my groovy girlies in Union Square...

and had some bubbly with lunch at the top of Neiman Marcus,

then it was off to the new Nordstrom Rack that has just opened in the city.

A chance encounter with a large group of naked cyclist protesting gas consumption was unique.

Apparently they don't care if they don't wear anything!

Art Walk in the Lower Haight Ashbury was psychedelic and very aromatic…

But, the natives were all friendly and no one mocked my middle-aged suburban self.

Finally it was the afternoon of a ribbon flower seminar taught by the guru of ribbon work;

Candace Kling.

She is an author, an artist, extremely well known in fabric arts and extremely nice.

The pink flower is the one I made, the others are Candace's examples.

One more day, one more photo of myself :)

More meals…

more hippie chic…

and my five day escape to San Francisco was over.

March 5, 20114

Isn't it ironic that the best picture has you facing into the sun?

But, at least there is sun and I am my normal bare legged, sandal wearin' self .

Accessory Close-up

Wood and metal necklace from super sale at Coldwater Creek outlet
Misc bangles ( my newest constant accessories )
Tiny earrings ( my other newest obsession )
Leather lace up sandals ( that I LOVE ) from Stein Mart