Shopping Like a French Girl - Part 1

Picture from Kelani Fabric

The way to shop…

If she can’t afford it, she won’t buy it. If it doesn’t fit (or make her feel good, or flaunt what she’s got), she won’t wear it. If she can’t find it, she won’t compromise. If she loves it, she won’t toss it. She reuses it, rethinks it, lets it age.When a French girl shops, it isn’t a solitary act of buying something new. It’s part of a lifelong process of editing her environment, making small but meaningful additions to her home, her closet, her life.When you shop like a French girl, you buy only one of anything – and make sure it’s the best quality you can afford.- from Entre Nous: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner French Girl

Right now, I am having one of those moments where I wished I shopped more like a French Girl. 

I just splurged again on a dress, leg warmers, a new leather belt, and some socks. Sometimes, it feels like I am on a constant quest to: A) Obtain the biggest closet in the world or B) Dance around the edge of debt or C) Fill a void deep within me. When I get really overwhelmed I shop. When I feel down I shop. When I am happy I shop more… It’s a vicious cycle. 

Neat Freaking It, City of Craft, and Other Art Show Wanderings!

My 'natural parts’ supplies that include pieces of once living things mostly.

My small doily collection, with hand crochet flowers by my mom, and vintage lace applique.

HALF of my cream and white lace collection. These are the more expensive pieces from Mokuba
a lace trim place that I simply adore and spend way too much money at. Sorry, pocketbook!

I have been on holidays for the past week and whenever I have the opportunity I love to live a little. I don’t like the routine of non-spontanepus actions so this entails the setting of impossibly high standards, crazy dates, projects, and parties. Usually, being a person of whim I only get around half of the things I want done.

For example, I have been procrastinating with my bird skull clutch. I look at the pattern and I feel like it just may need more tweaking. I’m hoping I’ll have the guts to really face my fears and just do it sometime this week before I am worked to death at the part time job. 

One thing that I have done is sort all my supplies into boxes and sections as you can see above. While, this is only 10% of my total supply hoard I am very proud that I sorted everything out. I have this habit of thinking I know where everything is but…it usually results in me spending a lot more then I should and having doubles of certain supplies.

The Creative Heart Collective, New Ideas and a Farting Alpaca!

I really love having those moments in which inspiration just strikes you hard enough to wobble your brain. I had one of those moments at 5AM while reading my Ecological Economics textbooks for University. I kept thinking about Consumerism and how it was King -> Crown -> Death…viola! My latest inspiration and foray into more gothic aesthetic. See the picture above. Wouldn’t they be perfect for an ornate necklace or ring? :)

The Creative Heart Collective was pretty nifty. I table-shared with Morico buddies Chu and Cindy. It was nice to meet old familiar faces and new ones. Thank you everyone who came out to support me! I hope to participate at bigger venues next time around. 

I end this entry with my Farting Alpaca totebag from Chu of Morico. It’s a beautifully random bag of sorts…I’m not sure what draws me to it more. The fluffiness of the pictured Alpaca or the blissful expression on it’s face as it passes gas. Hahaha. Go figure. 

Currently, in woe over two pairs of green shoes (one vintage and another XXI) that have slipped from my grasps. Now, before classes I’m going to go looking for some green shoes to fill the void. 

Pictures and Purchases!

It's actually my Birthday today! But, I have had a stomach bug for the past few days. It's been a little too long to be food poisoning. I had big plans to go to Centre Island and fulfill my childhood dream of riding 4 person bike and canoeing. But, it's raining as I type! :( I also wanted to go out for a massive sushi dinner - but, it's ruined by my stomach problem. So sad! :/

But, I managed to finish all the sample products for my Men's accessory line called, Dandy! :) I have a meeting with a popular Goth store on Queen Street West this Tuesday with the Owner and Buyer. My only concern is that I will desperately need to break my supply binge for the month of August because I need more black bird skulls. I need enough for more cuff links and necklaces. I also ran out of silver chains prematurely. I really under estimated just how much coverage I would need to cover two consignments and a craft show in September.

I'm actually going to be at the Creative Heart Collective Craft Show at The Gladstone Hotel September 18th. If you are in Toronto, please, feel free to drop by and chat! :)

I have also finished a new range of items which include hair slides and teeny brooches. It'll be posted in my next post! I promise. I will also begin updating my Etsy like mad in the coming days. I know I have been posting a lot of products but never listing. Sorry! I promise to get to it soon! I'll post my complete Men's Collection soon. :)

I have always been really bad at styling my hair. Haha. But, now that I am growing it I have decided to try my hand at braiding. Not bad. I added my H&M flower headband for a Mori and Natural-Kei touch. I'll be updating more outfit posts, too!

My mom made me a Toadstool hat one Christmas. I love it to death and it looks great with braids!

My new apartment is close to so many vintage stores. One notable one is, I Miss You which specializes in 1980's-1970's and under high end vintage. I found this gorgeous leather bag for a mere $25 and it fits my iPad 2! :D

Another vintage store I would recommend is called CTS which is a short form for Canadian Thrift Stores. Their tiered pricing system actually makes things more at a thrifty value then a market value. Many vintage stores in Toronto price their items based on trends and market value. CTS defies this - I got this skirt for $12.99. It's a dropped waist with pintucks, clung lace, ruffles, and cream cotton. It's absolutely perfect for Mori Girl.

So, has anyone made any recent VINTAGE purchases? If so, what? I'd love to see your stuff!

Blogged from my iPhone

New Handmade Creations, Buys, and Outfit Shots!

I tend to do my posts in a giant conglomerate of my whereabouts, buys, and creations every so often. Which, isn't quite that often. I've been ill a lot recently with frequent trips to doctors. Let's hope the blood test today I will be doing will tell me why my immune system has been so lacking of the late. I may have cut back on some shopping it hasn't stopped me from adding to my Dolly and Mori Girl wardrobe. Been shopping SALE areas of my favorite stores and gathering inspiration from what I see around me. Lately, the inspiration been from texture, soft Spring colors, and pompoms. 

  

Here is one of my first buys for 2011. I found a Gunne Sax looking 60's dress at CTS (a local vintage store located at Spadina-Queen) for $9.99. You could have imagined my joy at the fact ALL their vintage dresses were $9.99 and I found one that fit me perfectly (except for the height part) and was the same era as my Gunne Sax dress. It's a Canadian brand called Shamash & Yofi which used to be sold at the Eaton Centre during the 60's. It had slight spot stains on the netting but it all came out during a light hand washing. I tried my best to coordinate it and it came out pretty Mori Girl with my new bag especially.

Here are some of my next purchases. The bag is from a local strip mall I found for $10 flat. A nice brocade with gold thread weaved dress from Urban Outfitters on sale for $29.99, a butterfly headband on sale for $4.99, a lace tanktop from Dragon City shop in Chinatown for $19, and organic yarn for my mom at $15. All of which I coordinated in the outfits below:

This outfit is my 2nd attempt at Dolly Kei. The first one can be viewed here: Dolly Kei Coordinate. This one has a non-Lolita silhouette. Items used:

Headband: Urban Outfitters

Necklace: Curious Oddities

Cardigan: Anthropologie

Scarf: Gift

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Bag: Random store in strip mall

Puff: Marionette - my brand

Tights: H&M

Shoes: Aldo

 

This outfit is one of my many attempts at Mori Girl. At least I photographed this because I didn't have a tripod until recently - yet another 2011 buy. Haha. Mori Girl plays on textures, layers, and softness. I have always loved the first kind of Mori Girl that uses excessive layers of creams with occasional use of other colors. The dark beige ham sleeved cardigan was bought two days ago at the sale rack of Costa Blanca in Yorkville (PATH Mall) for $4.99. Usually, not a fan of acrylic but for $4.99 and 10% lambswool I think it was worth it. Oh! And those khaki colored boots are from Aldo purchased 2 days ago online for $19.98 on sale down from $70. :D Awesome!

Headpiece: Marionette my brand

Scarf: XXI

Necklace: Curious Oddities and Marionette - my brand

Cardigan: Costa Blanca

Chiffon Blouse: Pmall

Lace Tanktop: Dragon City

Belt: H&M

Skirt: Pmall

Tights: H&M

Boots: Aldo

Finally, I got my Xmas gift from my mom. It's a fox stole made from yarn. I saw one on the Anthropologie website for a whopping $380 CDN and got my mom to make me a similar one. I LOVE IT. It's a shame I lost the acorn scarf she made me or else these two scarves would be friends in my wardrobe. I am so glad I have such a talented mom who gave me her talented genes. :D I'll coordinate it once I can find a way to incorporate more gray into my wardrobe. My mom has already begun making me a new acron scarf but I want my next one to be made of godly materials and not acrylic. It'll cost me a leg but it will last forever. 

MARIONETTE SAMPLES FOR...

Ofelia Ljuv is one of my brands under Marionette Atelier. Marionette is owned by my best friend, Aya and I. But we have such distinctly different tastes that it conflicted with our visions. So, we split to sub-branches. I have a more gothic, nature-inspired, and vintage theme going on. While her tastes can only be described as super girly la-la land to me. Lately, I've been on this crazy hyperactive Mori Girl and Dolly Kei sewing bug and here are my most recent results:

Necklaces made from wool, chiffon, Japanese imported lace, pearls, chains, ribbons, and crochet flowers!

Detailing

A side headbow, a convertable pompom necklace that turns into a brooch, and a headpiece that can be used for Mori Girl and Dolly Kei. 

Detailing

A picture taken upon completion of the headpiece, yesterday.