Archive for the 'Inspiration' Category

Delightful Collectibles

Published on August 24, 2010 in Inspiration, Jewelry and Shop. 2 Comments

Just a rundown of my purchases from the Collectors Expo. All of the items (not including the vintage jewelry box which was a hand me down from hubby’s grandmother) came out only $14! The brooch above ($3), I believe, is destined to become a pendant for a long chain necklace. The pearl clip on earrings ($1) below will double as shoe clips to spruce up my plain pumps.

This divine little bow watch pin ($2) will transform into a cocktail ring. I think I can just glue it onto a ring base, or if I get lucky my sister could solder it onto a ring permanently at her school’s jewelry studio.

I love that the pin was originally priced at $65 somewhere in the world, then found it’s way into a $2 sale bin and finally home with me!

This whole collection of earrings below were in one little bag all jumbled together for $3! The studs are missing their anchoring, but I can easily use some from other earrings. Some of the pieces I will leave just the way they are, especially the gorgeous gold and pearl number. But others will be taken apart and and refitted with embellishments and parts to create whole new earrings.

Finally, a silk scarf for $5 rounded out the rest of my purchases. Incredible steals, no?

More shopping finds to come!

A collection of extravagance

Published on August 18, 2010 in Inspiration and Shop. 0 Comments

Once again, feast your eyes on a shopping experience to overwhelm the senses. That’s basically what it felt like to attend the annual All Collectors Show 2010 at the Neal Blaisdell Center. My vintage loving buddy Trina and I hit the expo after work on a Friday, both planning to make it to drinks & dinner after. Three hours later, we parted ways in the dark and while she marched on to her dinner, I dragged myself home and promptly took a nap. It was exhausting to rifle through so much stuff – random collectables, valuable antiques, vintage wares and jewelry and junk! Amazingly, I only spent $14 (more on my purchases next time), but I easily could have ran wild if I wasn’t so awestruck. With hundreds of vendors and aisles of goods, I am definitely looking forward to next year.

Ironically, the very first vendor we visited was our jackpot. Hailing from New York, this antique shop had sale bins chock full of jewelry. This is where I made almost all of my purchases for the night. The first photo above illustrates a small portion of their immense collection.

So many neat little things to look through. But really, what would I do with vintage political pins or match boxes?

Trunkfuls of embroidered hankies, hats and crystals… oh my!

A whole bookshelf of old cameras. I had one in high school just like the photo below, but I have no idea where it went. Trina’s view finder camera above was supposed to find it’s way home with her, but someone snatched it up while she was deciding to buy. Sad face.

Great sewing machines, tables and notions. If I ever get a house big enough for a sewing room, I am definitely decorating with one of these puppies.

Original scripts from Hawaii Five – O. So cool, but again what would I do with them? I am looking forward to the new show coming this Fall. Vintage photos are also interesting to look at, but I would feel weird taking one home. It is fun wondering about the people though…

Above are pieces that I put back. The brooch was a really hard one to walk away from. I had actually worn a little sunburst brooch to the expo, but noticed when I got there that it was missing. I had lost it! Saddened, I set out to find a replacement and this one would have been perfect! But, it was more expensive than I was willing to pay and no amount of bargaining would bring it down to my price point. Double sad face with tear.

Overall, the experience was great and I will, without a doubt, be back next year.

Taking the day off

Published on August 13, 2010 in Inspiration, Personal and Shop. 0 Comments Tags: .

Yesterday, I took the day off and wandered around downtown with the end goal of catching up with an old friend. In my wanderlust, I finally made it to a vintage store that is only open during the work week, Catherine’s Closet. It’s the very same store that held a trunk sale from which I bought my 1940′s chapeau a while back. The owner, Catherine, was great and pulled out a number of “special” hats from her own collection for me to try on. She also had a wonderful selection of antiques like this monogrammed silver mirror from the 1920′s, but mostly I was concerned with her dazzling array of accessories. I was smitten with a burgundy-colored, silk cross between a hat and a fascinator. I wore it around the store for what seemed like forever before putting it back. Sigh. I may go back and get it, but it was a little loose and I didn’t know exactly how to secure it to my head.

She also had these great little hairpieces that are locally crafted which I will use as inspiration for my own creations.

Just some shots as I walked around. The sun was particularly scorching.

I love the wide range of architecture found in Honolulu. It is such a jumble of decades and styles, almost as if the city itself has split personalities. I don’t think anyone would describe Honolulu as a well-planned city, so the buildings kind of resemble that impulsive, frenzied energy.

The last part of my day found me cooking dinner for a group of friends. On the menu: puttanesca made famous by my mother-in-law and roasted balsamic chicken from Giada. Friends brought over a great salad with gorgonzola, avocados and strawberries, delectable petit-fours from a favorite bakery of ours, and jugs of sangria. YUM!

Japanese-y For Sheezy

Published on May 11, 2010 in Ensemble and Inspiration. 2 Comments

This ensemble post is actually from last week Friday, but this weekend was way too packed with activities, I couldn’t get around to putting everything together in time. For some reason, it seems I’ve had a wonderful run of luncheons this last month.

This one was a retirement party for our favorite grandma at the office.  She is truly one of a kind – born and raised in Germany, she came to Hawaii at 17 and fell in love with a Japanese man and his culture.  We were asked to dress in Japanese attire for the occasion and to honor her adopted identity.  Since I had just inherited a number of kimono’s and happi coats, I decided to go all out for the luncheon.  I mean, how often can you wear kimono sleeves to the office?  (Although, I did find out why you wouldn’t, they kept getting in the way and hooked on to everything). The lunch was at a Japanese tea house, which has beautiful grounds and even better food.

The kimono is shibori, which is a method of dyeing that uses binding, clamping and stitching techniques. Interestingly, I just attended a lecture at the Honolulu Academy’s Art Center earlier last week about the same technique.  Good stuff that I might get into when I’m a little older … or a lot older (the average age at the lecture was 60).

kimono – vintage from Japan, passed down from hubby’s grandmother
tights – banana republic
belt – bcbg
booties – vince camuto from endless.com
camisole – can’t remember
mini skirt (that you barely see) – urban outfitters
necklace – thrifted and morphed by me
earrings – jewelry trade show
trusty work watch – kenneth cole

Oh, Mother!

Published on May 10, 2010 in Ensemble, Inspiration and Personal. 2 Comments

I had quite a full Mother’s Day yesterday.  In the early morning, I met with the hubby’s family for a nice breakfast at their favorite chinatown eatery.  After braving the chaos in the flower shops, I jetted off to a buffet brunch with my mom and her side of the family including my maternal grandmother.  Then, my sister and I drove out to visit with my paternal grandmother.

We wanted to look through her old photos, so that’s just what we did.  Almost 20 albums later, we came up with these favorites.  All the while, my grandmother couldn’t understand what I was doing taking photos of her photos.  I told her I was going to post them on the internet and she just laughed.  Well, here they are!

I believe the photo above was taken at my grandmother’s (top row, middle) wedding shower.  I love the bold contrast striping of the wall and all of the stylish ladies.

When I was a child, I was obsessed with my grandmother’s wedding photos.  She had this one and another favorite of mine on her wall.  Her dress with the lace, dramatic train and boat neck was so lovely.

My grandmother and grandfather on their wedding day (above) and at a friend’s wedding below.  They were both born in the 1920′s and grew up in Hawaii.  My grandmother was from Maui and my grandfather was raised in Honolulu.  They are considered the Nisei or second generation, since it was their parents who immigrated from Japan.

My good ole pops below when he was about 3, taken in the late 1950′s.  My sister and I were cracking up as we looked at all these old photos of him.  We took photos on our iPhones and texted them to him all day!

The advent of color photography: this is my grandmother with my aunt – dad’s younger sister.  My grandfather was a techie and worked for the electronics company JVC.  I always remember him with a camera, video camera, or radio in hand.

And at the end of the day, my sis and I took a walk through Waikiki…  Earlier, I had on cute slingbacks.  But, by this time, it was all slippers for me!

top – thrifted
skirt – Forever21
belt – Target
bag – vintage
earrings – Forever21
slippers – can’t recall
nails – American Apparel in Hunter