Don't Worry, I Have a Plan
February 1, 2008

This might be the ugliest thing I have ever posted on my blog...but not to worry, I will make it pretty very soon.

I literally woke up one morning having dreamed up 3 0r 4 projects that night. I don't know if I just think I came up with this stuff while I was sleeping, or if I saw it somewhere and then dreamed that I came up with it all by myself, but whatever...I wrote it all down in my moleskin immediately and have been determined to try and create them.

One idea is a jewelry cabinet to hold my bracelets and necklaces. I have a jewelry box that works well for earrings and rings, but my big bangles don't fit and necklaces tend to get tangled when I store them in there.

My thought was to take a small medicine cabinet and turn it into an organizer I could hang on the wall near my closet. I have been looking forever and finally found this one at a thrift store for $4. I plan to paint it, remove the glass and replace with board covered in fabric, then figure out the best way to arrange things on the inside.

I still might have to wait a few weeks to start this, but I'm so excited to see if I can turn my idea into something real. I'll hopefully have a much prettier version of this to show you soon : )

Posted by raya 11:24 PM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, She's Crafty

See Jane Work
December 19, 2007

I'm sure quite a few of you have heard of seejanework.com - the office supply loving girl's fantasy land. But did you know they have a retail store in Thousand Oaks? I've been wanting to check it out so today I drove down there to do some Christmas shopping (it's only about 20 min. South of where I live and 45 min. north of LA)

Posted by raya 8:00 AM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Link Love, Look what I found

Baby Shoes
October 31, 2007

I might like them more than grown up shoes. These were at a kid's consignment sale in Ventura this weekend. They are pretty much brand new and Forest is a big soccer player, so he'll be just like his daddy. Aw...

Posted by raya 10:06 AM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, Look what I found, With Child

Stitch
October 19, 2007

This came in our mail yesterday. The paper is different than the normal Anthropologie catalog so I thought it was some new company..then I saw the tiny "Anthropologie" written on the cover. Sneaky.


All of these knitted tops are so lovely. Yum yum yum. This white top looks especially cozy for the approaching winter. I wish I could knit beautiful clothes like this. Instead I just have that scarf I started last DECEMBER that is still not finished.

On the home front, we have not done a single thing to the baby's room yet. I've been ignoring it and just shoving everything that doesn't have a place into that room for the last few months. But now that we're only 4 mos. away with three holidays in between, I'm feeling the urge to get going. Currently this page out of Found Style by Amy Butler is inspiring me. I love the robot made out of an old toy refrigerator.

That's all I could muster today - photos of other photos. I have an engagement photo session in Malibu tomorrow - fun! And hopefully next week I'll have my own work from the wedding and three family sessions I did last week to show. I really really hope so.

Posted by raya 12:47 PM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Classic Fisher Price
October 2, 2007

I found this vintage Ferris wheel set from the 60's in a local antique shop months before I knew I was pregnant. There is something wholesome about these mini legless-armless people and I'm sure we had this when I was young, or one of my friends had it because a flood of nostalgia overtook me when I cranked the dial and the little song started playing.


I didn't even buy it that day, but on another post-pregnancy test trip it was still there and it had to be mine. The theme of our baby's room from the start has been "vintage toys" - now that we know we're having a boy I imagine tin trucks & airplanes, tops, etc...


Alishia has the station wagon/pop-up tent trailer/motorcycle set from when she was a kid. I wanted to sneak all the pieces into my purse and bring them home for Baker's collection (did I tell you his name yet? It's Baker - my maiden name. We don't have a middle name yet, but it will come to us) but her kids really like them and that would be mean. I'll have to get on Ebay soon and start scouring the piles of toys at the thrift stores.


It's good to be home after my packed trip to Phoenix - see Faith's post about it. One new thing I've discovered about pregnancy, as Faith told so well, is that I spill on myself way more. And instead of it just falling to the ground or hitting my jeans, it lands smack dab on the top of my belly in the middle of my shirt. I feel like Homer Simpson. Because of the stained white shirts, and my constant craving for donuts : )

Posted by raya 10:51 AM 9 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, Look what I found

New Thrifting Finds
August 31, 2007

Yesterday I scheduled in some time during my day to hit up the thrift/antique stores downtown. Two hours of guilt free rummaging, then back to work. Here are some quick photos of what I found:

- little container for bathroom
- ceramic apple trays
- blue curtain tie backs for dining room French doors

- yellow baby sweater. I couldn't resist - it was only .95
- yards and yards of these two fabrics
- silk scarf. I love the colors and design

Posted by raya 9:44 AM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found

Found: White Record Frames
August 29, 2007

I've been looking for white record frames for these kids records I've been collecting for the baby's room/guest room. I realize now the records I picked are kind of girly, so if we end up having a boy I'll have to switch out the Mary Poppins and Sound of Music for more manly ones like Robin Hood & Peter Pan or something like that. I think Forest would appreciate it.

If you have a need for white or non-black record frames you can find them online @ hobbyframes.com. They come in 12 stains and colors, ranging in price from 14.95 - 17.95.

Posted by raya 10:55 AM 7 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Rearranging & Repurposing
August 23, 2007

Last night I moved everything off this shelf...

So I could move it into the living room...

And make room for these bad boys in the office. We bought this set of lockers from our school-district-maintenance-man neighbor for 15 doll hairs. Score! I was expecting him to say $200 when I asked how much he wanted - I said I would give him $20 and he said "for $20 I'll deliver them to you". We have such nice neighbors.

Forest is going to paint them this green color, inspired by these lockers we saw at the Santa Monica Antique Mart.

I liked my craft shelf, but moving things around and re-purposing them is a fun part of the home-decorating process. I would have never thought of putting another piece of furniture in our already small living room, but it actually fills up that area which was previously a big empty wall nicely and adds a little color. I'll post some photos when we get the lockers painted, hopefully this weekend or next week.

Posted by raya 8:59 AM 8 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Aprons, Cookbooks & Weekend Update
August 20, 2007

A few months ago Forest's Aunt Annie said she had a "silly" gift for me. They had been cleaning out some of Uncle Frank's mom's stuff and she found all these vintage aprons that used to be hers. Rumor has it that Uncle Frank's mom was a stellar chef and they even have a cookbook full of her Portugese recipes...I don't think Annie realized how excited I would be, but receiving a handful of vintage aprons made my year. Those inspired me to finally photograph my entire collection, so I did that this morning and have made a new set on Flickr if you want to check them out.

She also gave me this old tattered cookbook from the 50's:

Most of the recipes look kind of scary, but the illustrations are beautiful and there are tons scattered throughout the book. These will probably end up in a new batch of collages very soon.

How was your weekend? Ours was busy - here's the breakdown:
- Drove to No. Hollywood to hear our friend Hoku perform for a small audience of friends and family in preparation for her show this weekend - she's opening for Gwen Stefani in Hawaii! It was fun to hear her new stuff live and see friends.
- Shopped for jeans for Forest..always fun for me...maybe not for him though. He doesn't always "feel comfortable" in the styles I like, but we found some at the Barney's outlet in Camarillo. Those are great outlets if you haven't been there and its dangerous that I only live 15 min. away.
- Enjoyed a short visit with Forest's mom, dad and nephew on their way to camp in Big Sur for the week. Swam in the pool, shot the Airsoft gun, ate ice cream and played Yahtzee.
- Drove to No. Hollywood again to drive cars. We are selling our Subaru wagon and upgrading to something newer and a little bigger.
- Went to Aaron Brothers and gave my right arm to have a few pieces of art framed. None of my art costs more than $50, but I love it all and want it to look nice, so whatever. I'll get over it.

Posted by raya 9:50 AM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, Look what I found, My Home

I heart the 60's
August 17, 2007

I have a love affair with the years 1940 - 1970, especially the clothes and photography of those eras. Faith obviously knows this and sent me this fabulous book of fashion ads from the 60's.


I eat this stuff up - every page is awesome, but here are some of my favorites:

Posted by raya 11:15 AM 0 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found

Thrifting/Antiquing Finds from this Weekend
July 10, 2007

Here are few things I nabbed this weekend. I haven't been to the shops in awhile and I was on a roll...but all things I needed of course.

Posted by raya 2:08 PM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found

Must Close the Browser
July 9, 2007

Every time Fo goes away on a business trip, I get bored and buy things on the Internet. Happens every time. Tonight I purchased...

Posted by raya 8:56 PM 3 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found

Vintage Handmade

I had quite a successful weekend at the antique/thrift shops in Ventura with my dear friend Amy who came up for a spontaneous shopping day. If you live in the So Cal area or are passing through, downtown Ventura has a great collection of not-too-expensive antique stores and great thrift stores.

One of my favorite finds is this dress found at Sassy Sally's. Sally said her grandma made this dress who knows how many years ago. She had just put it out on the racks that day, which was perfect timing because I had a wedding to attend in the afternoon and had completely spaced about finding something to wear.

I've always fancied the idea of having vintage dresses, but don't often find ones I can wear on a daily basis. Sally does a lot of reconstructing old clothes + carries all kinds of other vintage finds. I would love to do a full post about her shop because its super cute! Hopefully in the near future that will happen.

I'll post the rest of my finds tomorrow. Until then...

Posted by raya 12:22 PM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found

Have art. Must hang.
July 6, 2007

If you've been to our house you know that our walls are pretty much empty. This is because I'm indecisive and have a hard time committing. Here is a small collection of artwork I've collected over the last few months, but have yet to hang. I think most of this will go in my office - which doesn't really solve my problem with the rest of the house, but it's a start. If anyone has any favorite artists, or sources for cool prints send 'em my way.

From left to right: print of a girl with a camera from Etsy, Vogue cover with Jane Fonda from Ebay, small printed card from a shop in Santa Monica, Print from Etsy.

Posted by raya 5:02 PM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Newishness
June 4, 2007

We got a new look for the living room up in here. It's been a few weeks now, but Saturday we sold our old stuff at our yard sale and now have room to get the new stuff set up. When I say new, I don't mean new of course. This is the credenza I bought on ebay and the table is part IKEA, part 50's hairpin legs stolen from a display case I bought on craiglist.

I love how the new look is shaping up, and now we need new pillows and some art work on the walls. I am the worst when it comes to putting things on walls. I never can decide what I want, or what I want costs a fortune.

I just saw that decor8 is having an Amy Butler mood board contest and the deadline has been extended to June 11th! I haven't made a mood board since this one, and I'm itchin' to do another. I'll show you what I come up with and will post more pics of the house as it comes along. Happy Monday! Hope it's sunny where you are...We leave for Maui in 2.5 weeks and the California Summer weather is not coming through for us...I might have to resort to desperate measures lest I go to the tropics in my winter skin and get fried the first day.

Posted by raya 10:07 AM 0 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Weekend Warrior
May 29, 2007

I feel like I've been a little absent lately, but truth is I've been so busy working that I haven't had as much time to shoot for the blog and make things as I had earlier this year...of course when I'm not busy with work I want to be, and then when I am I wish it would all go away so I can sew aprons and be crafty. I just need to get better at doing those things at night and on the weekends...This weekend however, there was no time for that but it's O.K. because I was having plenty of fun:

• Shooting the lovely Jessica & Jason's engagement session in Santa Monica (photos coming soon!)
• Picking up our new credenza for the living room, purchased on ebay. It was a steal and has the funky 50's vibe we're going for.
• Strolling through the Santa Monica Antique Mart with our friends Lindsey and Raan. I seriously get a high from that many antiques in one place. I was totally overwhelmed, but I did find a chandelier for our kitchen, also a steal...
• Walking the dogs on the beach with Kasey & Tarah, and Casey & Janelle who were visiting from Colorado
• Checking out the i Madonnari festival at the Santa Barbara Mission

Scenes from the Antique Mart:



and from I Madonnari:

Posted by raya 8:45 AM 6 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Family Life, Look what I found, places

Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, California
May 21, 2007

We like to go places, and on Saturday we took a day trip to Santa Monica with our good friends Jenna & Trevor. Montana Ave. holds their "May Sale" every year which is basically a really really long sidewalk sale. I picked up some fancy new yoga pants from Lucy, which just might actually make me start going to yoga again.

My favorite part of the trip, though, was when we drove over to Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice. I worked in LA for a year, and have friends who live there, but for some reason I have never walked or shopped on this street. Apparently I've been missing a lot, as the photos will show. I haven't had this much fun photographing "a place" in a while. Head on over to my flickr site to see them all, but here's a sneak peek:

Most of these are from Bountiful, which LA.com calls "10,000 sq. feet of lovely French chaos" (via la.apartmenttherapy.com) and it couldn't be said better. There is barely room to walk, but every corner you turn comes with more awe-inspiring goodness. I may never be able to actually afford anything in this place, but it wouldn't stop me from dropping by any chance I get. You can tell the proprietors live and breathe to make Bountiful what it is. I happened upon one of them sunning on the patio amidst the rusty lawn chairs and crackled armoirs...just another Saturday to her, but a dream to most of us.

Posted by raya 8:32 AM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, places

Hot Hot Heat, and Vintage McCalls
May 14, 2007

I just got back to California after being on the equator - I mean, in Phoenix - for three days. Faith and I were trying to get her house in order, but it aint easy when you have no air conditioning and it's 107 degrees outside...yes, I said 107. Read more of the hilarity here.

I don't especially like hot weather because I really don't look good in no clothes. I am a layers kind of girl and I don't do shorts. I am going to miss my Faithy dearly, but Forest promises we can go visit often (just not in July) and when I stepped out of the airport in LA the ocean breeze never felt so good.

Before I left last weekend I snuck off to the Ventura flea market for the morning just to see what was out there. I'm looking for a credenza for our TV...didn't find anything, but I did find these fabulous McCall's magazines from the 50's. Who knew? They are big like W magazines and filled with so many amazing photographs and dresses. They also have a little feature in the back of each on fabric and their new patterns.

I want to scan and frame just about every spread, but here a few of my faves:




Just got word that our friends who are coming for a visit are just pulling into town so gotta go finish cleaning! I'll post more of the mags on my flickr soon too...

Posted by raya 12:31 PM 5 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found

New Little Things
May 1, 2007

After thumbing through these books all weekend, I had the un-ignorable urge to go hunting at the antique stores downtown. Forest went hiking on Sunday, and after pondering heavily which I would rather do - shop, or get all sweaty - I chose shopping.

I really like the style of this room, courtesy of Found Style by David & Amy Butler:


And I found a few things to start my own table top collection:

The decanter on the left is a family heirloom from the Carlisle side. It belonged to Forest's great-great-great grandmother and has her initials inscribed: MJC. Her husband was Secretary of the Treasury & Speaker of the House under Pres. Cleveland, so I guess she did a lot of entertaining and had an extensive silver collection. Forest's mom gave this to us when we got married and I have had it in my room until now. Out in the dining room is a better place, gives it the exposure it deserves. : )

The two little bottles and the wine coaster are from Sunday. The larger bottle says "Clicquot Soda" and I could tell it had been in the shop forever because you couldn't even read the price tag and the tape wouldn't come off (I was too lazy to "goo gone" it. maybe someday). Reminded me of my favorite champagne "Veuve Clicquot", so I had to have it.

This is just a start, but it was fun to find some new things and get a little further in the seemingly endless process of decorating our house. When you don't go buy everything new it takes time to find just the right things, but in the end (if there ever is one. ha) it is worth it.

Posted by raya 1:22 PM 2 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Look what I found, My Home

Bangles & Baubles
April 12, 2007

Plastic bangles are where it's at. I wandered into my favorite store the other day looking for a present for a friend, and could not resist their piles and piles of bracelets. I had to buy some, even just for the pure fun of shooting them.

I have been coveting a few vintage Bakelite bracelets at a local antique store, but the prices are quite depressing. I think I would have to be a true collector to justify those, but these - these are easy. Like, don't even have to have the argument in my head between the practical me and the impulsive me easy. The practical one's like "oh yeah, those are a steal. It would be impractical not to buy them."


I'm not the best at accessorizing. Some of my friends are very very good at it - I'm trying to get better, more intent because the accessories really do make an outfit. Something Coco Chanel said once though really stuck with me. She said, "before you leave the house take off one piece of jewelry". I like that rule, and it keeps me from, you know, wearing all of these at once.

Posted by raya 10:56 AM 4 comments Links to this post    

Labels: Let's Talk Fashion, Look what I found