By the seashore

click on photos for sources.

Isn't the girl just beautiful?! I have come to the conclusion that a) natural wind in hair (even if it's covering part of the/entire face) always looks nice in pictures and b) red heads almost always photograph well.

My lovelies, what are you up to this weekend? I'm going zip lining in San Francisco tomorrow. I've never been zip lining, but it should be fun (and maybe a little bit scary since I'm afraid of heights)! Then, on Sunday, I'm off to LA for a few days (but don't worry, I'll still be blogging!)

An ocean apart but still close to my heart

(lona found via reality escapes her.)

Don't you just love these photos? Everything looks like it came out of a childrens' book (did you notice the view from the window of the second photo?!) The photos are of the Netherlands-oh how I desperately want to go there! Air fare is just too expensive :(
So for now I'll just have to travel vicariously through her Flickr photostream.

I know a husband & wife who temporarily moved to Amsterdam for six months because of the husband's job (I should have hid in their luggage!)

I stumbled upon a pretty pretty little cottage house with a field of poppies in the front yard while out walking last week. I'm seriously considering taking pictures of it, but then I'm afraid the owners will be home and see me and be upset. Wouldn't be the first time I got yelled at for taking pictures of other peoples' stuff, though!

Shaina Mote Spring 2010 Lookbook

(photography by Samantha West)

Shaina Mote's spring 2010 collection is all about femininity, nature, and touches of intricate detailing. Her inspiration was drawn from women such as Anais Nin, the colors of an early spring sunrise, Paris, the 1930’s, and childhood memories. Each garment is handmade in Los Angeles.

Did I mention Shaina lives in her hand built house of glass bottles?! What a true artist in all aspects of design!

Visit the website here.

Counting constellations

click on photos for sources.

The Virgin Suicides is hands down the most chilling/haunting yet beautiful/melancholic/insert whatever more adjectives you want here book I have ever read (and it's full of great quotes too!) Sometimes I watch the movie trailer over and over again to be inspired.

I'm guest blogging on sfgirlbybay today! I'm sharing some pictures I've taken of those two little girls, so do stop by and say hello!

You are lovely, oh yes you are!

photo by me.

I love abandoned houses. Don't you? I love chipped paint, crooked shudders, and sagging roofs. I took this picture of this abandoned house near where I live a couple of months ago. They recently knocked it down (sad!) because I guess the neighbors voted to have it torn down. Now it's just a lonely empty lot of land.


photo by fadedfilmstrips.

On a totally different note, check out my friend Mila's (of Loveology) lovely new blog layout! Mila and Liss of Daydream Lily did the html coding modifications, I did the header design (using Ana Laura Perez's illustration), and Danni of oh, hello friend did the side bar header and footer designs. I love it when a bunch of bloggers all pitch in on designing one layout-they all seem to add a bit of their own style.

Thrifting endeavors

src: ashleyg (found via sfgirlbybay)

Guess what? I'll let you in on a little secret: I don't know how to thrift. I know, I know ooohh, the horror because I talk about how much I love vintage things all the time.

I know there's no official formula to thrifting (or op shopping as others call it), you just have to periodically check the stores and be willing to dig until you find something you like. I just feel so awkward in thrift shops... there is usually no one else in the store but me and I feel like the cashier is always watching me (which I know the cashier probably couldn't care less what I do as long as I don't shoplift). So I always end up leaving before I can find something I like.

I wish I could get all kinds of good deals and dress so thift-y chic-y like these lovely ladies:


(one, two, three & four)

But I made a goal for myself to buy more thrift and dress more lookbook worthy so I am determined to achieve my thrifting endeavors.

Do you, my dear readers have any tips for scoring good deals at thrift shops? Or any particular thrift shops you find very good? For those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, what thrift stores do you like?

CAMINO DE MESA

Creo que se nota que soy apasioanada de las rosas, son unas flores que me vuelven loca. Hermosas el patrón lo doy por desaparecido........ creo que ampliando la imagen...se puede hacer algo.

SM2 Clothing

Japanese label SM2 Clothing Spring 2010 Collection found via Loveology.

The Japanese really know how to make beautiful things. Funny, this style of clothing reminds me very much of the Dutch. It's very simple yet beautiful. I have to plan a trip to both places sometime! If only they weren't so far away.

I wish I could read the website, but just swooning over the pretty pictures is enough for me right now. I wish shipping wouldn't cost so much but maybe it's a good thing because otherwise I wouldn't be able to restrain myself :)

INTERVIEW: Nadinoo

I recently had the privilege of doing a little interview/chat with Nadia Izruna, the creative mastermind behind British label Nadinoo. She is such an inspirational woman, truly pursuing what she loves. I hope this leaves you feeling inspired to create. Enjoy!

Me: Tell us a bit more about yourself.
Nadia: My name is Nadia Izruna. I’m a 25 year old British designer currently working out of my East London based studio.
Me: Oh, fun! When/why did you start Nadinoo?
Nadia: I set up Nadinoo early 2009 after leaving my cozy job designing for Puma. I wanted to get back to designing product I truly loved and enjoyed wearing myself. I began the first collection with my final pay packet, sewing small quantities to start with, most of which were custom orders. A year on and I am working on Nadinoo’s fourth collection for the AW10 season.
Me: WOW! You've really accomplished a lot in short amount of time! That's really amazing.
Nadia: Yes, I’m so pleased with the wonderful online following Nadinoo has received through the many kind blog posts and features. It has opened up so many doors and helped Nadinoo get off the ground.

Me: What inspired you to become a designer?
Nadia: I’ve always had a great passion for clothing so it never felt like a conscious decision to go into fashion.
Me: Have any particular designers influenced you?
Nadia: Designers like Hussein Chalayan and Rei Kawakubo definitely drew me towards fashion from an art perspective but I think the love grew mainly while at University getting to create a garment and understand the processes involved.
Me: Very cool. And what's your favorite part of designing?
Nadia: My favourite part is definitely seeing my collections on the beautiful model for the photoshoots, it’s really the first time I get to step back from it and see it all come together. I really enjoy the styling too, it’s like having a life size doll to dress up as I please…
Me: So you do all the styling for your shoots?
Nadia: I used to use stylists for the on location mood shoots but realized I had a good idea of the look after researching for the collection. It's really a great excuse to make use of all the hats, shoes, and accessories I have hoarded over the years at flea markets and vintage stores and even a better excuse to buy more!



Me: Why do you like having an online store vs. a brick and mortar store?
Nadia: I think the practicalities of setting up online were far easier also reaching a wider audience.
Me: Yes, that is the general appeal of an online store. Would you ever like to open up a brick and mortar store?
Nadia: Yes, I still have the dream of setting up my own Nadinoo boutique with adjoining atelier. I daydream about it all the time, imagining my own little Nadinoo world.
Me: That sounds absolutely lovely! What would you enjoy most about opening up a boutique?
Nadia: I think the face to face interaction with customers is something I’m really looking forward to and seeing a customer walk out of the store with a happy Nadinoo purchase.

Me: Where do you find your inspiration?
Nadia: I find lady’s fashion from the early to mid 1900’s incredibly inspiring, I can’t help dipping into era’s and plucking out details and silhouettes that are too good to be forgotten. I chop and change between my favourite eras.
Me: Any eras you're particularly fond of?
Nadia: I’m currently smitten with the 1940’s and all the wonderful accessories a lady must wear: gloves, hats, broaches, petticoats, stockings... the list goes on.
Me: Oohh I LOVE the '40s as well. Do you have a '40s (or any era for that matter) style icon?
Nadia: I love so many it's hard to choose... Kate Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Audrey Hepburn, Jane Birkin, Mia Farrow, Audrey Tautou, Zooey Deschanel, all cute, cute cute! Louise Brooks look in the 20's is also one that always stands out for me, it's wonderful to think 100 years on her style is still edgy and relevant.

Me: Any advice to people who want to start their own clothing line?
Nadia: Make sure you are designing something you truly love, it makes the long hours and hard work all worth while.
Me: Well thanks so much, Nadia for that lovely interview!
Nadia: It was such fun! Thanks again for letting Nadinoo be a part of your beautiful blog!

Be sure to visit the Nadinoo shop and blog and be prepared to swoon!

And the Mad Hatter said to Alice...

photo source: lenaah.

This quote is my favorite out of the entire Alice in Wonderland movie. It might even deserve to go in my quote book! As soon as I heard it, it put a smile on my face and I've been repeating over and over in my head ever since.

We're all a little bonkers in our own ways!

EDIT: Also, remember when I asked you guys if you wanted to see my interviews section come back on the blog? Well, the majority voted yes, so I've decided to do interviews every now and then in which I will be talking to different creative people, from online shop owners to artists, etc. I hope reading these interviews inspire you as much as they inspire me! The first interview will be posted tomorrow, so stay tuned :)