Heavy Heart and Purchases

I have finally been feeling the effects of losing a close friend. A best friend for that matter. But, in many ways my life is a lot more simpler and it’s a lot more suitable for my introvert personality. I like placid days of just ‘Me’ time. There’s less drama, less heartbreak of seeing someone intentionally want to hurt themselves with their relationship, and a lot less things to worry about in terms of responsibilities. At the same time sometimes I feel like I am losing it without some piece of her close to me. I think I really lost something and I’m really too stubborn to fully acknowledge it. But, I don’t think it will ever be the same for a little while - she has changed too much even though she may not acknowledge it. That change is the true beast rearing it’s head and I want no part in such pettiness. 

I have been slowly working on my June Collection. But my heart weighs heavily on the fact Canada Post is still on strike and lockdown. I really hope it ends soon - I just sent out an update to all buyers on their items (be it stuck somewhere in Canada or has yet to be sent). It reminds me too much of my York University strike two years ago where students like myself were barred from classes for almost 6-7 months because the Teaching Assistants went on strike. It actually makes me a little depressed thinking about it. I really feel intimidated by strikes and the rallying crowds. I’m sure everyone has their causes but don’t try to get me to join in as it’s not my fight. 

I cheered myself up with a new dye job. I am now somewhere between an ash brown and old remains of my fiery red hair.

And, I went shopping for more supplies. I am the biggest supply hoarder ever. I went to one of my favourite stores (which I live rather close to now). MOKUBA is a Japanese lace trim and notion store and everything they carry is made by their company in Japan. I am in love with pastels right now and you’ll see lots of it in my new June Collection. It’ll also included clothes! This isn’t the only lace I bought either…I’ll do a separate post on that later. 

I have had people ask me why my items are so expensive (I don’t think they are). Well, this is one of the reasons why. I use very very high quality lace. It’s either from Mokuba, heirloom American lace, out of production laces or one-of-a-kind vintage. Mokuba costs me an arm even with my business discount and I don’t compromise. I only go for the best. While, my vintage laces (some which are out of product laces) can never be found again. 

With such limited quantities and amount of time it takes to hand sew (I don’t glue anything unless it can’t be sewn on) my pendant pieces - why should I charge myself under? Also, keep in mind if a pendant necklace takes 2-3 hours to make and the Canadian minimum wage is $10.25/hour then it’ll cost a LOT more then some worker in China making $2 a day. This is the value of handmade and quite frankly to have it not done in a sweatshop means you have to pay the prices. 

I also bought a dress in Chinatown. My close friend, Em, bought a dress different from mine. Looks heavenly on her! I hope we can have an outfit shot of both soon. This was a little more pricy then I’d like to admit but it was so different from the sickening clusterfucks of floral on floral in the store. Plus, I am a huuuuuuuge sucker for flowy georgette and chiffon. I like simplicity with chiffon. It fits me like a glove and looks perfect. I can’t wait to wear it out. I only have another green dress in this tone and for some reason this color looks really nice on my tanned skin. :) 

And, now I leave you random pictures with their explanations below. 

Bubble shorts I was considering on purchasing. Em bought the black pair.

Strange bird eating an apple core in front of my building. I have yet to identify it.

A picture of me waiting for Em to get dressed for a Lolita Meet we never made it too. My eye might not look irritated much in this picture but it got irritated that day because I got gel liner stuck to my contacts...

I have moved! Product now available at TNK Vintage in Bloordale Village!

My view. I can see Lake Ontario. Taken with my iPhone 4.

No skyscrapers blocking my view directly. :) Taken with my iPhone 4.

The eye of a storm captured two days ago with my iPhone 4. 

My friend, Emily’s beautiful birthday cake I got her. Also, taken with my iPhone 4. 

I recently moved. 5 days ago. It’s been an extremely stressful time but at the same time I am so ecstatic about it. One of my oldest and closest friend’s, Em, lives several floors below mine. It’s a brand new building in a budding area of the city right by Liberty Village. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances in the area from elementary and high school. I’m on penthouse level, too! The view is amazing! Check out my pictures above! I am so happy. Everything is finally unpacked, too. Can’t wait to start creating beautiful stuff for my brand, Quaintrella. 

Also, I finally dropped off my items to TNK VINTAGE! Please, check them out. I dropped off pendant necklaces, avian skull necklaces, avain skull rings, and fascinator-brooch combinations! 

At the same time. I featured my items today in ETSY pendant jewelry section! Hopefully, it pays off!

How is everyone else doing? Anyone moved - like me?

Quaintrella Etsy is Updated!

I listed things on my Etsy Shop. 90% of my Ofelia Ljuv May Collection is on there.



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Quaint tidbits for the enlarged soul

I am just a little upset I didn’t go to Anime North this year. If I had gotten a table - I would be there as it would make it financially feasible to attend. I had given my hotel room to a friend but I found out recently that they didn’t remove my credit card information from the file and now I have a hold on my freaking credit card for the hotel fee. Doubletree - I hate you.

Either way, moving is a top priority - and can you believe it?! I move in a week. A WEEK! I can’t wait - I have a penthouse level apartment that I will be deathly scared to peer out of due to a phobia with heights. Heights make the fireflies that live in my stomach whirl around and around and around. Or, so I would like to think. :)

I was inspired by a friend of mine, Chu, also a fellow Mori Girl. She had a table at AN last year and it was amazing. I wish I could have bought some things from her but I wasn’t physically there this time around. :( So sad. Her stuff has the aesthetic of what I would call ugly-cute. It’s very endearing - at first it was strange to me but then it grew on me like mould.

I was inspired by her to remember my previous plans (among many) to incorporate Pink House aesthetic of childishness into mature detailing. It’s hard to explain - but Pink House is one of the oldest labels in Japan for modern alternative clothing. It is said to be the root of Gothic & Lolita fashion before it became what it is today. But, Pink House is an expert at melding seemingly childish things into something wonderful and cute. Japanese housewives are their main clientele and we all know Japanese housewives are also huge lovers of Hello Kitty. So, there is something about cute and mature that somehow goes hand and hand in this scenario.

That aside. I made my first multiple sale and went crazy using that money to buy supplies. I bought 20 tiny handmade doilies, 18 handmade-and-vintage doilies in small and medium sizes, and 100 buttons made from wood in the shape of adorable animals like the ones I posted in my blog. I also got a Heartsy Membership and bought a voucher for 200 stamped wildlife tags. I’ve noticed that while my stamps are awesome the ink isn’t - it smudges. So, until I get more awesome ink I’ll be using these gorgeous tags for my items. :)

Ofelia Ljuv - May Collection!

Hey everyone! May is just about to end which means I just about finished my May items for Ofelia Ljuv. This month’s items is inspired by Spring, my awesome Mother, and Heirlooms. I ordered a lot of vintage and handmade doilies and enjoyed working with them so much that I used 9 of them in a matter of 1 day or sewing. Which is an accomplishment as I generally hoard supplies for months. I have ordered a lot more doilies now and in different sizes. I also have have used up all my brooch-clip combinations which means I’ll have to order a massive amount in the next week.

Scroll down to see everything!