flaming hag folkwear

sunday fun day

2012-01-30T18:15:00.001-08:00

when we lived in berkeley, i remember seeing the signs going up to advertise the annual white elephant sale...but i never went. this year, i finally did it. at the suggestion of mary at terrallectualism, i made it happen.

i didn't take any photos inside, there were just too many people and way too much stimulation. outside door #3 looks so calm, but don't be fooled. after reading online reviews, this newbie decided to go it alone-- hitting the preview sale hoping for a slightly smaller crowd--and sent my husband and kids on their own adventure for a couple hours. in retrospect, though my kids would have enjoyed looking at stuff and are well accustomed to pushy estate sale and thrift store crowds, i think a solo trip was the right choice. the sale is split up into departments, and items must be purchased from each one separately. first thing in the morning the shopping and buying went pretty smoothly, but as more people arrived and were ready for checkout, long lines developed. and you know how kids love lines ;)

once i was done i found a chair outside and used one of my trash bags full of vintage as an ottoman while i waited for my family to come pick me up. i bought a lot. perhaps too much. i bought for c&c, my etsy shop, me. i rationalize it all by reminding myself that i will make my money back, and that in the meantime my investment dollars will benefit the oakland museum of california. [a note about prices: i mostly stuck to the vintage racks in the women's clothing dept. while there were a few deals, most things were priced as they would be at a reasonably priced vintage shop. e.g. everything from a 70s sundress for $12 to a deco era dress for a couple hundred. a surprisingly lovely selection made for great shopping, but it ain't 99 cent day at the salvation army.] photos of my loot!? ha, that will have to wait as i am still trying to dig out from under it...

my husband and kids hit the adventure playground in berkeley as part of their non-elephant sunday adventure. i've blogged about it before, but it's worth another mention. if you have kids that are around 6 years and older, it is a terrific [free!] place to visit.

zip lines = fun

my kids made a friend who painted and later raced cars with them.

one of a couple of paintings my daughter added to the playground.

hope everyone had a winning sunday.

Fairies Wear Boots

2012-01-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

a while back kerry and i were talking about those times when you don't feel like you have anything at all to blog about. she suggested that during those less inspired moments i do little posts about stuff from my closet. so here's one.
i decided to start with boots, if for no other reason than it gave me a reason to post the black sabbath video at the end of the post....and because i have a lot of boots. and with regard to the latter reason, i needed to narrow and decided to focus on my simple solid color (read: boring) boots this time around...

repeat after me: bort carleton. this american brand was creating amazing stacked heel leather boots in the 60s and 70s that rival, or perhaps surpass, the quality of frye boots. these are my everyday boots. when the ones on the right started to split and required a second resoling, i hunted down the pair on the left to replace them....but i still wear the older beat-up pair more often, and will probably continue to do so until my cobbler says there's nothing more he can do to fix them.

these are the tall girls, the ones that cover up ugly knee caps: 80s black suede, brown leather contemporary fryes (blech, love the boots but hate that they now produce their classic american boots in china), and 60s buff suede.

best in show: 70s sbicca platforms. need i say more?

i, along with you and you and you, am drooling over maison martin's new carpet ankle boots. if there's any way i could manage add them to my little boot army, i would...though i would probably feature them in my post about my boots that have fun details, presumably to be called "bells and whistles" or something like that....

happy birthday betty marie tallchief

2012-01-24T03:13:00.000-08:00

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time travel

2012-01-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

just back from a trip with my daughter's class. we visited the rosicrucian egyptian museum in san jose. anyone who knows me or has been reading this blog for a while knows i ate up the chance to see western north america's largest collection of egyptian artifacts. i took way too many photos, many of them of terrible quality, but pictures don't compare to seeing it all in person...so, go go go!

above, the mr. and mrs., akhenaten and nefertiti. below, mummies and coffins!

while out of town, we stayed at the hidden villa hostel in the foothills of the the santa cruz mountains. it was a wonderful place that i hope to visit again.

above, as day broke, we went for a before-breakfast hike. below, the common area of the hostel was well-stocked with games including a couple vintage goodies.

back in town and back to work, i wore a dress from milla's box of magic with a vintage sweater i recently thrifted (it was full of holes but i loved its shape and construction so much that i went at it with yarn to cover the holes so it could live on...).

the lovers, the dreamers, and me

2012-01-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

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a while back i heard former(?) digger peter coyote narrating something, and thought, "coyote. what's his deal, anyway?" soon after i checked out sleeping where i fall from the library. while the book is listed as an autobiography--and it is--coyote writes as much or more about his friends' lives and their common efforts as his own, which translates to a nice chunk of california counterculture history. coyote's perspective on some of the cultural events of the 60s was much different from pieces you might usually read either romanticizing or vilifying the so-called hippie movement. the book seems to tie a cast of thousands--everyone from gary snyder to huey lewis--into an intimate community. i was most interested in his participation in the diggers and the free family, and gratefully, the book was very informative and candid on the topics.

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as sort of a companion piece to coyote's book, i watched the 2005 documentary "commune" about black bear ranch (the free family's northern-most compound). having just read coyote's book dealing with the family and its communal homes in such detail, the film seemed overly condensed and simplified (and left me with the nagging feeling that i had seen it before, though i have no idea of where or when?). still, seeing the old footage of the early days of black bear, along interviews with those so central to the movement all grown up, is fun and at times poignant.

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i also recently watched "saint misbehavin' " about wavy gravy. for many years, i wasn't sure what to make of mr. gravy. he would mc events that i attended and i wasn't sure if he was cool or what, he was just such a...clown. but later i read his book, Something Good for a Change: Random Notes on Peace Thru Living, and realized how much there is to this strange little human formerly known as hugh romney. the film gives you an abbreviated glimpse into what he's all about-- and that's goodness and a bit of magic.

and speaking of magic people, i received another surprise box from milla--this time for little old me :)

nettles and notes...the beautiful and inspiring postcards on which she wrote me a letter will remain on permanent exhibition:

the whole box was packed with goodies, and i was dismayed in retrospect to find that i didn't adequately photograph most things (holy moly, since when did we stop opening mail without a camera at hand?!). in any case, a couple of the items, took my breath away. i want it to rain and snow so bad....and yet these strangely warm afternoons may allow me to wear that gauzy bit of tunic right there....

but the vintage "organically grown" by arpeja sweater went to immediate use...

...with a pair of my funkiest--as in, most of all we want the funk-- 70s platforms

brutal

2012-01-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

carvalhu necklace

ernandes bracelet

carvalhu purse

lately i have been preoccupied with a wave of vintage accessories dating to the 1960s and 1970s (and trickling into the dreaded 1980s, too) that are referred to as brutalist, biomorphic, and/or modernist. often originating in brazil, sometimes signed by the likes of ernandes or carvalhu's (dom carvalhu), these molten brass, stone encrusted chunky works of wearable art warm my heart.

carvalhu belt buckle

carvalhu tray (one could find some way to wear it, right?!)

someday i may venture over to nomade exquis in san francisco, which i understand is owned by folks who also love this style and carry many pieces of it in their shop...though that could be dangerous ;)

my ernandes cuff (above) and a couple unsigned and un-stoned pieces that i picked up at the local antique fair (below)

tunnel vision

2012-01-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

this week i needed some quartz points and other bits for some new jewelry i am working on, so the kids and i ventured to ology in old sac. whenever we go to old town sacramento, we always park in one of the garages that allow us to walk through the pedestrian tunnel that leads to old town. in that tunnel unfolds a beautiful piece of artwork in which i revel each time i visit....

the mural, which stretches almost the entire length of the tunnel [and appropriately enough for this day features many crystal points!], was created by Juanishi Orosco, Daniel Orosco, and Joe Orosco in 1982. Juanishi Orosco is a member of the Royal Chicano Air Force,
a collective responsible for murals here in town as well as at Chicano Park down in San Diego and elsewhere. Juanishi could paint half the city and I'd be happy.

i wasn't planning on blogging about the mural or i'd have taken more photos--but i hope local readers will take the opportunity to visit it sometime soon--it is guaranteed brighten you day.

thrifted gifted and swapped

2012-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

earlier in the week the kids, the person in a dog suit, and i walked to the river. my son (above) wore his "hat of destiny" which was gifted to him by heather of moonshine junkyard, while i wore a belt (below) that my daughter and i traded for with becky of velvet leaf. i also wore (and can't stop wearing, by the way) my new handmade cowl by goodnight day.

maggie, a.k.a. the person in a dog suit, wore a smile

the next day the kids and i did a bit of thrifting--i miss taking them with me when school is in session! we came away with some good loot (daughter found a 1953 issue of vogue!) but didn't take any pictures save for a couple of my daughter wearing her new vintage cardi that was also part of the velvet leaf bizarre trade. i thrifted her "happybaby" tank top a while back and great-grandma gave her a new harajuku lovers purse for xmas.

thrifting is a bit like mining for gold...

new years day we decided to go for a drive and wound up at sutro baths for the first time (thanks for the idea a couple months back, ms. terrallectualism)

i wore the ring my daughter made me for solstice

my daughter wore a vintage vest and skirt set that heather of moonshine junkyard gifted her and one of my vintage grateful dead tees (those super high converse she's been living in were an xmas gift from grandma)

phew, tired of who-wore-what....first pizza of 2012 (north beach pizza in berkeley). mmmm....

wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2012!

nevada city--->newport beach--->north pole

2011-12-27T17:29:00.000-08:00

how does that christmas carol go? "...all is calm"? well, not here it hasn't been calm. december is, was, and has been a potpourri of a busy shop, field trips, faires, festivals, family, and a road trip to boot. an abridged version of the week of solstice/xmas went something like this...

my daughter and i brought crimson & clover up to nevada city again for the holiday bizarre. our booth was perched up on a stage, which made for brave shoppers and a dramatic black backdrop into which my vintage ossie clarke-ish (on a budget) black ensemble blended...

my assistant was very well dressed in a vintage mini dress and fur hat as well as a fringed leather purse that was originally gifted to me by milla...

i was super-neglectful of taking photos as i wandered the bizarre, but i had the pleasure of visiting a multitude of beautiful bizarre people, among them the lovely ladies of gather, violet folklore, moonshine junkyard, and velvet leaf with a cameo by astral boutique and a visit from our kerry. i didn't do too much shopping, but i could (and may..should? will!) well do a separate post about treasures from the bizarre.
the morning after the bizarre it was back into the car for a trip down to the o.c. to visit with extended family and enjoy the solstice....

the sunset and eventual darkness of the drive down led to a gloriously bright next day at the beach...

i was a good girl and did NOT remove the remains of this barn owl from the state beach...but probably only because i lacked a way of safely transporting it ;)

we made our way back home where we were greeted by a package all the way from the north pole--i mean, northwest. fairy godmother milla struck again, this time with a box for my daughter overflowing with fantastical books and a top secret private girltimey letter....

last year we pledged to exchange only handmade (by us) gifts this xmas with a few members of our extended family. as i worked on a bracelet for my brother in law (the quartz one, on top), i had ideas for more that incorporated geode slices from my stash (bottom) that are now at c&c...

i hope everyone is surviving and thriving in this holiday season. take care.

keep your toes pointed

2011-12-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

a few months ago i found a couple old programs from the ballet russe de monte carlo at an estate sale.

from dancer photos--posed or candid-- to costume sketches to the advertisements, there is a ton of inspiration. if i had time i would have scanned every tattered page...

then, at a book sale benefiting the local library, i found a couple annette kellerman pamphlets. actually, all that is left is the cover and some photos of ms. kellerman, but those are the best parts anyway:

perhaps if i take to dressing like her--complete with bracelet worn above the elbow!-- when i exercise, i will do it more often

i have been really terrible about taking outfit pictures lately, but here's a set from way back in november:

i thrifted [with audible gasp] this midcentury floor length strapless gown a couple years ago, it had stains and a couple holes along its hem which i vowed to correct at some point. more recently i decided to give it a choppy new haircut and just wear the damned thing as a day dress rather than letting it sit in my to-do heap any longer....

if a tree falls in the living room, does it make a sound?

2011-12-07T19:33:00.000-08:00

meet doug, our winter solstice tree

the kids took turns sawing through doug's trunk

then the guys towed him back to the car for the trip home

i couldn't wait to use the vintage glass mushroom ornaments that i thrifted over the summer

p.s. after we got doug all decked out, he fell over and i did indeed hear it. fortunately we only lost one ornament. the car ride must have made him whoozy ;)

now that we have a tree, i can go back to making and gathering a bunch of good stuff to bring up the hill. crimson & clover on the road again...

barter is beautiful

2011-11-29T21:21:00.000-08:00

in the past couple months i have been fortunate enough to reap the rewards of trading goods with other etsy sellers. doing it online isn't near as scenic, eye-popping, or awe-inspiring as, say, a barter fair, but it still feels really good.
for starters, i now have a couple lovely, lovely (really, i can't say enough) natural perfumes by kirsten of arabesque aromas

my arabesque aromas package was waiting for me at the shop one day (yay!). i was even more delighted as i opened it and felt the care that kirsten puts into her work, down to the packaging and presentation.

for any fellow patchouli and forest-loving folks, i can heartily recommend the green mantle (it's the one with all the awesome floaty bits!)

and in another trade, shara of comfy cozies included some beautiful wood extras with a handmade cowl. warm and fuzzy.

cheers to good trades!

new

2011-11-28T17:21:00.001-08:00

another new fhf fall/winter design. i wore mine to the shop last week with organic cotton tights, thrifted tienda ho vest, black crane dress, and madison harding boots.

one of these new necklaces was just added to my etsy shop, with another on its way to c&c.

p.s. remember, there's still a 10% off coupon available to blog readers who are shopping my etsy store, just use the code BLOGLOVE

happy thanks-taking, pt 2

2011-11-24T19:48:00.000-08:00

just a few photos from this morning's pilgrimage to alcatraz for the annual sunrise ceremony. this week the 1969-1971 occupation of alcatraz finally received more recognition when a multi-media exhibit was added to the island's attractions.

happy thanks-taking

2011-11-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

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honoring the occupation of alcatraz, november 20, 1969, to june 11, 1971

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many more photos here

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dark energy

2011-11-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

fhf equinox #2 necklace (c&c fave christina adopted the very first one of this new style--thank you!)

this morning i listened to an interview with saul perlmutter on npr. the cal professor is one of three scientists who were recently awarded the nobel prize for their study of supernovae and the growth of the universe...and the introduction of the concept that the universe is filled with 'dark energy'. big, crazy stuff.

saturday at the shop i wore a leather skirt gifted to me by kerry with a vintage laise adzer tunic. i got a wild hair and added some feathers to a vintage beaded collar.

full moon and black birds

2011-11-09T19:15:00.000-08:00

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feathered apes? this recent epsiode of Nature on PBS was mesmerizing....

herkimer diamond earrings by gather jewelry

desert raven by jonathan wilson

at our very cold little shop on saturday...i might as well have worn a tee shirt on top, because the moments i snapped these photos were among the very few during which i didn't wear my big old fuzzy coat. velveteen skirt was a gift from teeny. crescent necklace by gather jewelry, sword necklace by kara.

hermitage

2011-11-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

what he wore. as my husband was leaving for work, i complimented him on his ensemble and he told me i should put him on my blog. i don't think he thought i would actually do it. his work bag is one of my favorite thrift finds ever.

autumn is here, with its gray, wind, and threats of rain. in between work days and school bake sales, i decided that today i would hole up inside. it was me, the couch, and some magazines. i didn't even do any yoga, because i didn't want to change out of the dress i slept in. i was a happy, lazy hermit....at least for a couple hours when it was time to pick the kids up at school ;)

laying the dye on some custom work. note to hermit self: stop doing custom work.

the reads: AnOther magazine did a little bit on Soledad Miranda, Pigeons and Peacocks had a couple great costume-y spreads, and Vogue was Vogue

on saturday (a sunnier day) at the shop. wearing vintage snake print chiffon dress scooped up from a c+c estate buy, vintage suede boots, brass crescent necklace by gather jewelry, vintage boar's tusk necklace found by my son at a garage sale, feather necklace by me.

what they wore

2011-10-31T19:21:00.000-07:00

halloween and beyond

above: my son came up with this ensemble one saturday morning. heck yeah, i was proud :)

above and below: my daughter in her gunnes and layers...

kerry said

2011-10-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

kerry said she still wants me to do outfit posts. so here are a few from days i remembered to take photos.

at the shop wednesday, wearing levi's skinnies with a vintage lacy fishtail top that i bought a while back at the antique fair for $10. our upstairs neighbor is a gardener (and artist and dancer), so our courtyard is often filled with plant babies.

this vintage metallic knit wiggle dress had armpit stains when it came to me so i altered it to be sleeveless. when i still didn't wear it, i figured it was due to its original light tiffany blue color...so i dip dyed it. much better. a customer thought that my vintage rhinestone horn brooch looked like the moon set in the night sky.

i don't shop garage sales (too much new junk!), but i got lucky at one last year and scored three 40s rayon dresses including this one. i love the sweet little novelty print. perfect to wear while eating apple cider donuts and listening to live bluegrass last weekend up at rainbow orchards.

my awesomely awesome shoes were a new splurge. they were made by the talented beatrice valenzuela. i love them, i might marry them if it was legal.

in the works

2011-10-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

autumn's ever changing weather and colors have inspired me, and i am working on new ideas.

fhf landslide necklace

p.s. woo hoo, one of my shooting star necklaces was featured in Etsy finds today

it's beginning to look a lot like bioregional swap....

2011-10-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

a little box of treasure arrived at my doorstep this week, as part of terrellectualism's bioregional swap.

my swap bud was meghann, who currently resides in brisbane, australia.

she sent me goodies related to two of her passions: cooking and music (sounds like my kind of girl!). not only did she share some of her favorite recipes, she included a jar of vegemite to try and provided a soundtrack for my cooking and eating adventure. thanks so much, meghann!

the culmination of the swap, which started amongst the heat of august, is just another kiss goodbye to summer. the temperatures are all over the place now, but even the warmer days are still fall. summer seemed to get swallowed by the puddles left by last week's rains, now stuck in the underbelly of the water cycle until next year.

at the shop last weekend: vintage dvf wrap dress, fhf necklace

edit/footnote: check out meghann's post about our swap here on her blog

holiday?

2011-10-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

l-r: chief joseph, sitting bull, geronimo, red cloud
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i always hated social studies in grade school. there were tales of feasts shared by pilgrims and indians and those hand-traced turkeys in kindergarten, but something went awry in first grade.

i remember distinctly sitting in mr. stidham's classroom with our history books open to a chapter on american settlers. i remember him explaining that these indians, portrayed in the same photos as were used as a friendly introduction back in kinder, were terrible people who killed the settlers "for no good reason." i recall feeling a little dizzy and totally confused at these words. at six years old--maybe five, i have a late birthday-- i had only a vague inkling of what ethnicity was...there was something about my mom's side of the family, jewelry, a big black fabric hardcover book with a missing dustcover (probably my fault). i didn't understand what any of it meant, really, and could not have come close to articulating it even if i hadn't been extremely shy but mr. stidham's words confused and angered me.

children at the Carlisle school

in high school, i tried several times to speak up during discussions of native north american people. i was met with blank stares, shrugged shoulders, or rolled eyes (and that was just the teachers ;) actually it really was, all except one--thank you ms. hull!).

in 1938, u.s. used the 14th amendment to ban sales of beer to indigenous population
this particular photo reminds me of a story my grandma told me about her and my grandfather trying to get served [anything at all] when they were dating

one of the first college courses i took was political science (hello, general ed). the teacher opened the class by stating that christopher columbus had died penniless and insane, still insisting that he had made it to india. i think it was meant to shock, but it delighted me, and it led into a discussion of political socialization (yes!). guess you know what i majored in....

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AIM members

in honor of columbus day:

read in the spirit of crazy horse by peter matthiessen
watch incident at ogalala
send support for leonard peltier
connect to american indian movement radio
enjoy john trudell
buy your traditional native american jewelry and crafts direct from indigenous artists

old home moment

2011-10-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

chelsea wolfe, 2011

occasionally i find myself browsing the blogs i follow and clicking around their links to check out what else is happening on the internets. a couple days ago, after a few such clicks, i ended up on the Lonesome Mama Blues blog. despite the fact that i was unable to read most of her text, i browsed a few of her entries and was surprised to see a post about [formerly local] chelsea wolfe.

a couple years ago, before crimson & clover was born, i decided to start an etsy shop for my handmades and wanted to use live models. i decided that i wanted to use local musicians and artists as my models, figuring that it would be symbiotic to have good photos of my stuff and links to their websites, it would perpetuate the local arts scene, and --no offense to all the models among us ;)--artists and musicians are generally way more interesting human beings with whom to spend a few minutes taking photos. chelsea was the first and only of these collaborations that came to fruition (so please, wherever you roam, use this idea-- it is still a good one!).

the last time i saw chelsea was last year when my daughter and i did a c&c booth at a kdvs event where she was playing, and i noticed her evolution, both in music and style (though still kind as ever). things really seem to be happening for chelsea this year, and i wish her the best.

chelsea wolfe in fhf, february 2009 (above, fhf floppy hat and repurposed lace tunic; below, repurposed tee patchwork skirt/dress with scarf/belt)

equinox

2011-09-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

chichen itza

with autumn and winter approaching, i have been inspired to work on new jewelry designs. i've found myself especially fond of darker dyes, geometric shapes, and porcupine quills lately...

what i wore last saturday: a one shoulder dress that i made using two tees made by/bought from the guy who sold us clothing from his father's estate and fhf equinox collection sample necklace. (i think i was subliminally influenced to go one shouldered on the dress by sadie's guest post over there a while back)

fhf fall equinox necklace

studly

2011-09-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

once again, the thrifting deities seemed to have read my blog? following my last post, i found this striking little 1970s set. yes, i will fully admit to doing a little happy dance when i realized the pants fit. no, you will never catch me wearing both pieces at once...

...only james was cool enough for that.

renew

2011-09-14T19:03:00.000-07:00

$2 -- thrifted vintage navy blue suede ankle boots

$5 -- minor heel repair by cobbler
+ a few minutes and handful of studs
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= a cute pair of shoes for Fall

nature/nurture

2011-09-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

i was so relieved that someone else felt sad about our wild neighbors being killed. we later added a wreath of morning glory and cantaloupe vines to the makeshift memorial.

tuesday night my husband took our dog out for her last walk of the day, and rounding the corner noticed an animal control truck. he didn't think much of it until he passed by the same corner on the way home and the animal control truck had been joined by a news van (local Fox network....of course). it was just about time for the 10pm news by then so we turned on the tv to see if they made mention. sure enough, it was the top story: "Raccoon Attack!" (in bold graphics!). turns out a woman had been out walking her two smallish dogs around 9pm and had crossed paths with two raccoons who proceeded to fight her dogs. one of her dogs was injured and she got scratched trying to protect her dogs. animal control officers--and Fox reporters--immediately started talking rabies. the animal control officer being interviewed made mention of tranquilizers they had on site to subdue the animals so they could be collected for rabies testing. the raccoons had retreated up a tree following the scuffle, and their eyes reflected the light from the reporter's camera down on the ground. just in time for the end of the news broadcast, which we had long since turned off, four gun shots rang out. we put the news back on, and they cut their sports segment short to provide viewers with an update on their sensational top story. the three (huh? thought there were only two who attacked?) raccoons had been been killed by a deputy with a shot gun.

i do not wish any harm to any of my human neighbors or their dog friends, but i am really upset with the way that this situation was handled. our neighborhood not only sits a stones throw from a river, it is full of perfect [human created] picking for critters like raccoons. we are blessed with many trees, loads of garden space, and many good hiding places along sidewalks. raccoons (opossums, skunks, hawks, owls, turkeys, squirrels, rats, a plethora of small birds, and an army of cats) roam here all the time. raccoons are our crafty, stubborn, and muscular neighbors. for the past several years late summer has brought at least a couple raccoon confrontations (always with smallish dogs, never fatal or rabies related). this is all predictable. this bit of wildness is among the reasons i love our neighborhood.

the raccoons in question did not present with rabies symptoms. they acted like raccoons. they didn't want to share space (perhaps food) with a similarly sized dog, so they didn't. just because they aren't registered and named by a human doesn't mean they should be shot out of a tree.

but lest you think the world is going to hell in a handbasket, never fear. for Target cares:

i had the misfortune of making a trip to the bullseyed box store where i was delighted (read: amused to the point of photography) by their conservation efforts. they have created long thin strips of mulched dirt around the perimeter of their parking lot, and they don't care who knows about it! step on it, and you'll have to outrun a Segway to escape justice...

no roly polie left behind.
in my haste i neglected to capture the pile of litter that surrounded the sign--plastic water bottles, crumpled food wrappers, dog poop, and even a rumpled article of clothing. thank heavens no one stepped on it, though.

pre-bioregional swap

2011-09-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

while i am still gathering goodies to complete my end of terrellectualism's bioregional swap, miss teeny and i did a little interhemispheric swap of our own....

actually, it wasn't intended to be a swap. i wanted to send her something, but then...well, it seems to me that kindness is a boomerang amongst bloggers--you can't give it without having it fly right back at you :)
and, oh my, did i ever reap her kindness. a lovely lovely handmade-just-for-me appliqued tote, high waist skirts that will be perfect when autumn arrives, and bits of charming decor to boot.

when i left her a short note to let her know the package arrived, i told her that she was silly, amazing, and psychic, and that i would explain later what i meant by that:
silly, because she thought that somehow her gift to me wasn't as nice as mine to her (as if! how does one spell pshaw?);
amazing, because in the midst of a crazy amount of crafting she has been doing for an important exhibition, she took the time and energy to make me a tote;
and psychic, because she didn't know that i collect old needlework decor like the one she gifted me (see the wall of our washroom below for proof)
thank you so much, t! xo

(needlepoint lighthouse decor was thrifted, "shit" needlepoint was done by my grandma)

ncsb: the loot

2011-09-06T09:42:00.001-07:00

splatter print top by velvet leaf (with fall/winter fhf necklace by me, vintage skirt and shoes)

vintage black jumpsuit (i hemmed it to shorts) from amber of violet folklore. brass cuff and necklace by leora of gather jewelry

my daughter scored this black calico gunne from heather of moonshine junkyard

nevada city summer bizarre

2011-08-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

our c&c booth

our across the "street" neighbors had beautiful leather jackets, but they were just the tip of the vintage clothing iceberg....

amber of violet folklore was the first lovely blogger i ran into (check out her post about the bizarre here)

i sent my daughter (my sales assistant for the day) to capture photos of more friends, like heather of moonshine junkyard. i also finally got a chance to meet heather's hubby (who i felt i already knew through heather's heartfelt posts!)

there was a magic corner where amber's booth bled into heather's which shared space with velvet leaf....awesome.

chris and sasha of astral boutique. yikes, my assistant had a little trouble with keeping photos sharp ... except when taking photos of her favorite clothes at the booth. guess she has her priorities straight ;)

what she wore: the best little 70s tee ever that kara brought into the shop (it sat for a couple weeks waiting to be adopted before i showed it to my daughter--so glad she likes it, it makes me happy that i get to continue enjoy seeing it), vintage skirt, felted floral garland bought from another ncb vendor, and bizarre-applied fresh glitter henna

what i wore: bleach-dyed dress, vintage shrug, lost boys & lovers harness (we missed you, sadie!), fhf tiered leather necklace, and gather cuff freshly purchased from leora (see her bizarre post here). the bracelet was just one of several things i purchased, and i plan to share more of my loot in future posts (so the bizarre will last even longer!)

my space

2011-08-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

work space: at the shop working on new baubles

inspirational space: the view of cafe mekka from our table at pete's, enjoying a little (ha!) pizza after unloading stuff into the crimson & clover booth at the nevada city bizarre

fun space: [white] magic serpent pit made by my kids, my grandma and i at the beach this week

ahh space: my living room (where i rarely sit like that)

going to try to remember to take lots of photos at the bizarre. have a great weekend, all.

p.s. let the kids on the computer this morning to click around and read about the tar sands pipeline, and my daughter made a little sign:

more info about this important subject can be found by googling and/or checking out tar sands action and 350.org. thanks to terrallectualism for ongoing info and inspiration.

little things

2011-08-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

last week at the shop, wearing a dress from the chicago estate. when we got it, it was in need in of a new zipper. it sat in my fix-it pile for weeks before i had the idea of replacing its broken zipper with some chunky hook and eye strip that i had. i wore it with a fun vintage belt that will probably end up at the shop soon.

meanwhile hard at work making many little things to bring to the crimson & clover booth at the nevada city bizarre this saturday...

saturday morning tunes

2011-08-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

also ravi http://youtu.be/vUJiNCO6Qr0 and also janis http://youtu.be/jhBFRNBxT_o and also anything tagged 1967 monterey pop festival :)

have a good weekend, all.

p.s. confidential to L.L.: i finished a necklace like we spoke about last weekend. i am bringing to the shop today and will leave it behind the counter with your name on it so you get first dibs (no rush, it will look pretty hanging there as decor in the meantime). xo

shop uniform

2011-08-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

vintage dress + tall sandals = summer shop uniform

family a fair

2011-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00

poster by alexandra fischer

ah, the state fair, where this year i could indulge both my love for rock and roll memorabilia and... chickens!

vintage rock posters

son drummed, daughter keyboarded "big"-style. mama wore an awesome vintage open weave cotton belted tunic gifted by missa. it arrived one dark and cold wintery day when it seemed like i would never have an opportunity to wear it, but once summer temps hit, it became that thing i want to wear everyday. thank you, missa<3

what i wore?

vintage fair paraphernalia

chickens!

oh how i would love to be around when this little guy moults...

handiwork of talented california young'uns

zoltar speaks!

giant insect display...wasn't sure how i felt about it (more disney-ish than natural and/or educational), but sure liked the giant dandelions

it's not a fair without bumper cars

vine ripened

2011-07-28T20:11:00.000-07:00

at the shop last weekend

my sun gold tomatoes showing off in the garden

new fhf baubles at the shop this week

we did an event at a local vineyard on tuesday

summertime blues

2011-07-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

last saturday at the shop

freshly made fhf jewelry, some for here and some for there

along the 1 last week

yesterday (above) i went to work with my blush looking like that (below). this was not an intentional act of fashion. running out the door after a morning attempting to be superwoman, i slicked a line of terra tints lip balm on each cheek, planning to rub it in. oops. i went about an hour and a half with a shop full of customers before i realized my oversight. nobody said anything, so i probably should have played along, like, damn, i forgot my headdress....um, no.

source

more new fhf jewelry at the shop

crystal

2011-07-15T22:06:00.000-07:00

here comes the sun

2011-07-09T08:54:00.000-07:00

i haven't been taking many outfit photos lately. instead i have been spending camera time snapping away at coastal sand sculptures built by my kids, at riverside trails so thick with pollen that it appears a fresh dusting of snow, at critters on vacation, and of treasures gathered on balmy evening walks.

but i did get these in: photos of a few hand dyed-by-me vintage dresses that i brought to the shop, and enough for a single lonely outfit post...

hope you are having fun away from the computer, too. xo

things worn, things made

2011-06-26T09:48:00.001-07:00

wearing my favorite dress of the moment, snagged from the estate we are currently sorting at the shop. worn with flaming hag folkwear tiered leather necklace and armloads of bracelets from all over

thrifted vintage cotton tent dress with jewelry made by many tribes, from Navajo to Berber

new fhf pieces at the shop

oh deer: antler pendant by rejoice the hands and antique deer toe necklace from loved to death. worn with thrifted vintage 70s dress (psst: i wore it as a one shoulder dress by not putting one of my arms through the sleeve and letting it drape).

just added some fhf hairpipe earrings to my etsy shop

i am having a passionate affair with quartz these days. above, wearing a quartz necklace by me/fhf, as well as a little crochet beauty by littleowlarts. below, new quartz fhf pieces at the shop.

BackLOG

2011-06-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

i owe emails, i need to check in on my favorite bloggers, clothing and jewelry projects are mounting, and we are buried in newly acquired vintage at the shop. hopefully i can catch up soon, but in the meantime, here's a some outfits and newly made jewelry that have piled up...

far and away

2011-06-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

a few photos from my daughter and my muddy weekend at the northern california women's herbal symposium

giveaway winner, strange but true....

2011-06-11T20:25:00.000-07:00

and the winner is....
brigit, who also won my last giveway. wtf?! but you can't hate when she is so lovely and possesses such a wicked sense of humor :)

some freshly made fhf jewelry that i put out at c&c today. more coming asap to the etsy shop, too.

happy weekend. xo

giveaway

2011-06-03T14:33:00.000-07:00

you may have seen missa wearing on e, or milla wearing hers, and now to acknowledge my little blog reaching 100+ followers, you could have one, too.

i am giving away one of my carved bone feather necklaces. each of these necklaces that i have made are a little different; this one features turquoise drops and repurposed silver tone chain. (and note to m & m: please DO enter, if you win, i will send you some other little trinket instead of the necklace)

this giveaway is limited to blog followers (new followers are a-okay); just leave a little comment and you are entered. one entry per person. giveaway closes friday, june 10, 2011 at 11:59pm pacific time.

thanks so much for checking in on me!

keep on the sunny side

2011-05-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

this floral wrap dress was made by my mom. she made it for herself years ago, and more recently while cleaning out her closets, gifted it to me. i love it--too bad she didn't make a few more in different colors so i could wear one everyday :)

you can't keep us away from the river in spring

some of the freshly made fhf goods planted at the shop this week

off for a few days with my daughter to attend the women's herbal symposium.
putting etsy shop on vacay mode, with plans to return with new listings and fresh inspiration.
and it looks like my next blog post will need to be a giveaway commemorating hitting 100+ followers:)
wishing everyone a long weekend full of sunshine and smiles. xo

i've fallen

2011-05-22T21:09:00.001-07:00

i have fallen...and i can't get to my blog. or anyone else's, for that matter.

some of last week's new fhf goodies at the shop (the earrings both sold, but i have made more since)

p.s. i haven't actually fallen. i'm just busy. have a good week, all. xo

neutral party

2011-05-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

when i join the circus, it will be as a contortionist ;)

fresh fhf baubles at the shop

cold wet mourning doves hunkered down below my kitchen window. winter has returned to northern california temporarily...just hoping my little green babies in the garden can make it through alive

wishing everyone a peaceful and happy week. xo

color

2011-05-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

photos of spring color i have taken in the past few weeks....

boom splat

2011-05-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

my last week or so in a nutshell: busy shop, busy home; lots of jewelry making, gardening and a walk by the river; and as always, somewhat crappy photos of some of what i wore :)

wishing all the mamas a happy mother's day. have a lovely weekend. xo

p.s. both the sand dollar and wood charm necklaces have already sold

masquerade

2011-05-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

source

my daughter and i are getting ready to attend the women's herbal symposium at the end of the month. this year the saturday celebration's theme is masquerade. a fun idea to ponder....what, oh what, will i come up with for us? i found a few images i like, not to replicate but rather to note a shape or texture (sequins need not apply). of course, no matter what i come up with, i can't share until afterwards :)

hope the week is treating you all well. xo

laceface leatherhead

2011-04-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

at the river last sunday, wearing a lace top i made. when i thrifted the big old doily with its funny points at the center, i immediately knew that it would be perfect to use as a top with the beautiful old crochet collar gifted to me by missa.

under a rock this week, working on lots and lots of leather stuff for a custom order, a mini collection to send to enid & edgar, and new designs for c&c....

happy friday, all!

taking care of business

2011-04-25T15:48:00.000-07:00

file under stuff i forgot: my only real purchase at the vintage expo in march, besides the custom shoes kara and i each ordered, was this antique embroidered fringed cape. worn over one of my fhf layered lace tunics.

big news: congrats to brigit of bonfire of my vanity, winner of my little giveaway!

in the past two weeks i have been working on consolidating my two etsy shops into one. i am relieved both that i am almost done, and that i will remain a proud member of the etsy indie free spirits team. to celebrate my new shop, team membership, and blog, i installed a coupon in my shop for my readers. enter the coupon code "BLOGLOVE" to receive 10% off your purchase from flaminghagfolkwear.

i am trying to be better about listing some of my handmades in my etsy shop, for those who can't visit crimson & clover in person, such as my tiered leather necklaces( like the one above) that were initially inspired in part by god's eyes (like the one below that i made for the shop).

i hope that everyone had a lovely weekend. thanks so much for checking in with me! xo

p.s. happy birthday to my mom today, who's presently off traveling around europe with my aunt. yay!

last call on the freebie

2011-04-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

just a couple hours left to enter my giveaway. it closes tonight at 11:59pm pacific time.

i pray you win :)

weekender

2011-04-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

saturday at the shop

lots of new fhf jewelry

(vodka necklace is sold )

sunday

the branch that i found with my husband at the river monday (above, with poached mugwort peeking out of my bag--sorry, but i was too impatient to wait for my mail order seeds to grow! luckily it seems to be adjusting to its new home, so at least i didn't steal and kill...) went up to hang some of our necklaces above the table at the shop (below)

hope everyone enjoyed their weekends. xo

p.s. still time to enter my giveaway....

meanwhile, back on the ranch...

2011-04-13T19:49:00.000-07:00

my saturday at the shop

finished some new jewelry

did you enter my giveaway yet? these two goodies could be yours, just leave a comment here

with a little help from my friends: a giveaway

2011-04-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

up for grabs: two new fhf spring/summer 2011 pieces (tooled leather and repurposed chain earrings and fringed leather pouch necklace made of repurposed leather and lace)

amber of violet folklore in her fhf tee (read about it here)

sadie of sadiedeluxe in her fhf top (read about it here)

missa of thrift candy in her fhf necklace (read about it here)

kerry of fashion farms and freedom (read about it here)

my lovely customer sanya in her fhf necklace

in the last week or so i was treated to pictures of not one, but two of my favorite blogging ladies wearing their fhf tops, plus a sweet etsy appreciation photo of an fhf necklace at its new home. it both humbled and inspired me, and made me want to give a little back to those who support my work.

there's no need to follow or promote, just leave a comment and you are entered. one entry per person. giveaway closes on april 24 at 11:59pm pacific time.

thanks so much to all who have purchased or shown interest in my stuff. you inspire me! xo

dude, where's my blog ? (outings, outfits, etc)

2011-04-07T12:12:00.000-07:00

tuesday at the shop, wearing vintage jumpsuit, vintage turquoise native-made jewelry, vintage platforms, and belt by arebycdesign (purchased a couple years ago).

can't seem to find my way to the computer to post or read or keep up with the like. but before too much time passes and too many images pile up, i figured i would plunk down a few....

wednesday at the shop, wearing vintage dress, thrifted cynthia rowley white leather pants, vintage platforms, and more of the same jewelry above.

last sunday afternoon we took a little walk at effie yeaw nature preserve, a 77-acre oasis along the american river...

...where there are deer...

...and turkeys (at rest, above, and in battle, below; battle photo taken by my son)...

on the way out through a park, the kids had an urge to stop to spin and hotdog roll and frolic through a field. and so they did...

new fhf jewelry at the shop yesterday, with more to come.

kindness and chicken poo

2011-03-31T21:04:00.001-07:00

at the shop on tuesday, wearing vintage indian gauze dress from DivaInWonderland, harness by sadie, fhf necklace by me, and vintage boots.

woo hoo, the sun finally came out this week! i have spent as much time as possible outside, soaking up rays. perfect for getting started on our backyard garden...

...and for wearing the sweet vintage skirt gifted to me a little while back by anne.

i wore this outfit to go to the nursery (and a couple thrift stores, of course), but didn't actually do any gardening in it :) vintage peasant top was thrifted last year.

and later, when i was done gardening for the day and rubbing salve on all my mosquito bites, i received a little surprise package from milla. "it's only stuff..." her note begins, to which i respond with a heartfelt pfft.

wishing everyone a little sunshine and kindness...

leather and lace...again

2011-03-27T19:32:00.001-07:00

at the shop yesterday, wearing a vintage suede skirt from Diva in Wonderland, antique lace blouse from local antique fair (tattered, stained, and i had to add a panel in back so i could actually fit into it...but i love it), and a new necklace i made based on old ways. i am planning to make more to add to my etsy shop, so this is a little preview.

my obsession with leather and lace continues, as evidenced by this week's outfits (even in cold wet weather, brr) and my latest jewelry designs.

another sneak peek: freshly pouches made of repurposed lace and repurposed leather

this afternoon we took a quick trip to the beach. it was misting so profusely that after just a few minutes we were all drenched, but we were rewarded with handfuls of beach glass and crab exoskeletons (my son loves collecting the crab parts...on the way to the car he asked if i could make him a crab leg necklace-- gotta love that mental picture!). oh, and we spied rainbows on the way home, too.

they say we are in for some much needed sunshine around these parts this week. fingers crossed.
hope everyone had a happy weekend. xo

p.s. milla's post inspired me to figure out adding video to the blog...and reminded me how impatient i am for the golden animals to come out with a new album :)

overEXPOsure

2011-03-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

victorian beaded collar and boots, flapper headband and more on our table at the Vintage Expo last weekend.
lighting for photo-taking sucked majorly, so please excuse the photo quality throughout the post.

the expo started on friday for vendors, when literally tons of baubles and textiles were unloaded into the pop-up vintage megastore. i wore this practical ensemble (hats really keep your head and face nice and dry when making repeated trips through the rain!), heavily inspired by a photo i had recently seen here.

what we wore: we didn't take any proper outfit posts on saturday, just this sasquatch sighting-like photo i snapped of me wearing a beaded 1920s dress from the collection and Kara's vintage Sbicca platform boot.

before we opened on sunday i snapped the views from our booth. it is funny to see it so empty.

what i wore sunday: vintage hand crocheted dress with an old cardigan and suede boots.

beaded dresses from our collection. it was only after placing the cream dress (below) on the mannequin that we noticed that the beaded design had animals in it (!).

one of the best parts of the show was finding homes for our special pieces with people who actually intended to wear them. above Mary adopted the 1930s feathered capelet that she'd been admiring since we posted it on the shop blog. we also sold a little fur capelet to a woman who will be wearing it to her wedding in a couple weeks, as well as one of our 1930s bias cut gowns to a charming gal who plans to wear it to the upcoming Deco Ball.

we had so many beautiful collars in our collection. the victorian beaded capelet below sold sunday evening as we were packing up (goodbye, little capelet....)

our vast collection of itty bitty shoes.

our other favorite part of the weekend was meeting the proprietess of Rubaiyat Handmade Shoes as she browsed our shoe collection. she and her husband made all the shoes above, and they are now making Kara and I each a pair of shoes based on our favorites from our collection (below). we will surely share photos when they are done in May (can't wait!).

beforehand i had worried that the Expo would boast a snobby atmosphere with astronomic prices, but the vast majority of people were quite nice and there was a large range of price points. definitely worth your time if you have the chance to attend.
it was tiring, the weather outside was miserable, and we invested quite a lot into it...but we'll probably do it again sometime :)

out from under a rock...

2011-03-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

last saturday at the shop, wearing a dress from milla, a lost boys & lovers harness by sadie, maggie's organics tights, vintage boots, and a beaded necklace i got at a pow wow last year.

out from under a rock, well from under a heap of vintage, really, for a very brief hello to the blogging world before diving back head first into the colorful abyss known as the Vintage Expo for the rest of the weekend.

next week i will catch up on others' blogs, emails, and housework. i swear.
in the meantime, here's some photos i took last week while on a field trip with my daughter's class. while living at an art museum (a la From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler) would definitely be awesome, i would also not mind taking up residence at the Sac State Biology Labs:

the desert greenhouse

the rare north american flower child cactus

on to a more humid greenhouse, where plants grow beards and eat insects...

...and smell good

and the animal labs, where you can cavort with animals cool....

...and warm

check out what my day was like today on the shop blog. i will be back next week with many photos of vintage madness. have a great weekend! xo

things worn, things made

2011-03-11T10:23:00.001-08:00

tuesday at the shop, wearing a vintage indian dress from RadharaniDesigns on etsy (i love me a little trading!), my lost boys & lovers leather harness by sadie, vintage bort carleton lace up boots, and fhf tooled leather necklace by me. see how the little leaves are all in focus and i am hazy in the photo above....totally intentional ;)

wednesday at the shop again--look, no harness!! it won't last, though...--wearing rumpled vintage indian gauze dress, old fringed scarf (it usually spends its time hanging along the rail of the bed), vintage sbicca boots, and fringed leather necklace made by me. oh, and a little vintage bird pin held the scarf in place...

this week i managed to put out a bunch of freshly made fhf accessories:

a batch of earrings...

more tooled leather butterflies....

and a new crochet neck modified tee top (this one is a nice long tunic length).

have a ton of other things that i am finishing, but i should really start focusing on getting organized for the Vintage Expo that Kara and I are doing in less than ten days.....

G is for generosity (pt. 2) and more....

2011-03-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

back when i did a post about my ongoing obsession with 1920s and 30s fashion, i received a comment from anne--whose blog i have been adoring and following for some time now-- saying she had something for me. i couldn't imagine what she was cooking up with her offer....

last week a puffy little envelope all plump with generosity landed on my doorstep to reveal....

this gorgeous old beaded handbag!

as i explained to anne in an email following the package's arrival, i have never owned one of these little treasures. i drool over them regularly, but their delicate fancy nature doesn't fit into my lifestyle in a way that i can rationalize splurging on one (so instead i have twenty thousand pairs of boots, hardy har har).
this bag has been living in one of anne's family's closets for some time, and she shows a little wear (nay, love and life! if only she could tell of her adventures), but i adore her from her delicately detailed frame to her tattered fringe. i will treasure this little bag both for its beauty and by the most touching way it came to me!

oh, and if that wasn't enough, anne went and included a skirt from her etsy store that i had been admiring since she did a shop preview post many moons ago. i cannot wait for a warm day to break it out. [and can we talk about the adorable hand drawn mushroom note? i kept putting it in all my photos before i realized and stopped myself!]

well, don't think you are getting away with all that lopsided generosity, anne! keep an eye out this week for a little something on your doorstep :)

and speaking of generosity, don't you sometimes wish you could give a hug to the folks who donated the awesome items you find at thrift stores, rummage sales, etc? i do.
so thank you to the person who donated her soft and floppy gray lace-up Laredo ropers (above) to salvation army and to the person who donated the box of old jet beads to the rummage sale i went to last week (below, with extra thanks to to person who priced the whole box of beads at 25 cents).

the beads came in an old candy box from the foster & orear shop in san francisco:

source

as for outfits--which i promise not to stop posting, by the way--it has been all leather and lace for the last week, with no signs of letting up anytime soon:

saturday before last at the shop wearing all vintage with a wool and leather pouch made by milla, fhf tooled leather necklace made by me, and maggie's organics tights.

i thrifted these suede bell bottoms a while back and figured that i would try them out on tuesday before selling them. but i don't think that i am done with them yet :)

my very favorite outfit this week--worn this saturday past at the shop-- was a vintage Lanz lace dress from an estate sale last year with my new leather Lost Boys & Lovers harness by sadie. i will try not to wear the harness in every outfit post from here on out, but i love this little leather contraption so i cannot make any promises...

hope everyone had a great weekend! xo

G is for generosity

2011-02-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

at the shop last tuesday, wearing an outfit i thought i would like more than i did (should have worn some boots instead or something....). thrifted vintage dress, sweater and belt. the most important and pleasing part of the ensemble were the hand tooled leather leaf hair pins made by milla.

just one more little aftershock from last week's extravaganza of sisterhood: gratitude.
because not only did they come all the way to my shop to see me, excuse my awkwardness, and loan my kids gloves so that they could properly conduct snowball warfare, they came with freaking gifts?!

literally a suitcase full of goodness from milla, suitcase included. fodder for many postings to come...

treasures by way of missa. can't wait to wear that patchy dress all. summer.

and there was a little plaid dress from amber, too. i don't know what i did to deserve all this (tangible and not), but i am humbled. thanks again for everything, girls.

at the shop last thursday, has autumn returned? vintage head to toe, about half of which was thrifted. and why are outfit postings suddenly feeling so stupid to me?

the best things cannot be told

2011-02-25T18:43:00.001-08:00

for a far more eloquent and better pictorialized account of the weekend, check out heather's beautiful post. then , if you already haven't already, check out the lovingly written first reflections of the weekend by missa and amber...

one day when i was in college i walked into my art class to find that our professor had written this proverb on the board:

the third best things we talk about
the second best we dream about
the best things cannot be told

i may be a word to two off, but that was the gist of it. it seemed pretty powerful to me then, at age 18 years. powerful enough that it has stuck with me through many years and life experiences. i love words and at times find them so profound...and yet there are very significant things that one can experience that absolutely flood the senses and totally defy anything a dictionary or thesaurus might offer.

that's pretty much how i feel about last weekend. i should have known better, because i have already had the pleasure of making a friend through someone i met online blogging and selling vintage. but still, as an introvert having a month from hell, i felt great nervousness about meeting this group of women. and having them to the shop amidst a busy saturday may not have been the best idea, but they didn't mind. and they didn't mind that i was nervous. there was just warmth and joy at the time we were all spending together.

i grabbed my family and joined the ladies (and their families) in nevada city the next day. i have always loved that town, but never as much as i did wandering its streets with this particular group of people.

i didn't even get to spend the entire weekend with them, and i missed them even as we drove away. the comfort of the crowded little cottage, the sound of laughter and the kids jumping on the bed, the taste of adie's homebrewed beer or sadie's local sweet wine, the smiles that felt so familiar.

i may be shy, but i am no fool. i know i won't squander the opportunity to spend time with any of these folks again.

on our way to the main street, by way of an historic graveyard

at the national where we added sadie and her son to the pack. my husband took two photos and i managed to close my eyes for both...but everyone else looks lovely so who cares.

purty

photos, photos, photos of photos being taken

even purtier

back at the cottage

oh sad little snowman, built in the dark by my husband and son. he must have known he was going to miss everyone, too.