Day at the cafe

 

Iced soy mocha at Coffee Society

Rock crystal necklaces

Close up of my rock crystal necklace.

Use small jewelry pliers to attach rock to necklace.

And voila!

Rock crystal necklaces can be expensive so I chose to make my own. You can use rock crystals/healing crystals or any other type of rock you would like. My boyfriend and I were given small rock crystals as gifts one year for Christmas. I didn't want them to just sit on my mantle and I love jewelry so I decided to make them into necklaces. The only other three things you will need is something to attach the rock to your necklace like a wire or metal loop etc, a chain which you can easily get at any crafts store and a pair of jewelry pliers. The rock I got came with something small I was able to manipulate and attach onto my necklace. If you want to do something edgy you can wrap it with wire. I sometimes wrap rocks or other stones with wire for a different look. They make great keep sakes and fun gifts :>

Storyteller Keys

The key I got from storyteller keys. I like this. It has a sort of gothic flair to it :>

One of my favorite things to do is go to festivals to check out artisans, jewelry and clothing artists for fun, fashionable finds. I am very particular about what I like and I always browse for a few hours until I come across one or two artists that really makes an impression on me. At the Ala Carte and Art festival in Mountain View, Ca I came across Storyteller Keys: Antique key jewelry by artist JoAnne Hunot. She is really friendly and also has such a passion for what she does. Seriously go to her site and check out her stuff. Each of her key necklaces holds a unique and awesome appeal to them. I browsed through a couple of keys that came from England, some long slender ones with hearts attached to them and finally decided on a more gothic looking key. There was a really cool brass one with a four leaf clover that I fell completely in love with and I do intend to purchase it next time I see her if it is still there. It was one of those moments where you see cool jewelry and you go "I want to buy them all!" I honestly think I have found a bit of a new obsession. I have always loved keys they remind me of pirates, romance, secrets, passion and fantasy. I like the idea of storyteller keys and people being able to find their own little story to go along with each key they get. Whether you are a fantasy enthusiast, looking for something cool or just looking for a nice romantic present to get your loved one there is probably something that she has that you'll like.

Here is the link to check out more of JoAnne's stuff: Storyteller Keys

Cool idea for a makeshit purse :>

One of the funnest things to do is find other items to use as purses. One of my favorite movie series of all times is Pirates of the Caribbean. When I was out with a friend of mine browsing for cool stuff one day he spotted this Pirates lunchbox for about 2 bux :> I was super stoked and exclaimed "that will make for a great purse!" Everywhere I go I get loads of compliments. If you check out thrift stores or kid's departments sometimes there is some really kitsch stuff you can find. I am known for sewing up a gothic corset or small hoodie and creating make shift bags when I'm feeling like doing something creative and unique. You can often find lunch pails and stellar things for under five dollars. Check out the dollar store, thrift stores like salvation army, buffalo exchange or even yard sales!

New hoodie!

Hoodie, concert. Velvet skirt, thrift store.

I go to a lot of shows with my friends and boyfriend. I recently went to a really great Motorhead show at the Warfield in SF and got this hoodie. We had so much fun. The concert was awesome :>

Nostalgia

Sweater, thrift store in L.A.

I still own that beaded purse that I got from a boutique in San Francisco. Long leopard print skirt and shirt, thrift stores in L.A. I had just dyed my hair pitch black here.

Corduroy jacket, Banana Republic.

Checkered tights, Hot Topic. I still own those non leather gothic boots :>

Corduroy with faux fur jacket, picked up at a surf shop. Sandals, thrift store.

Wow ha ha I can't remember where I got that top but the skirt was from a little rocker store and of course in this pic I am in front of a coffee place!

Tee from Salvation Army.

In my room in front of one of my paintings.

This was one of my all time favorite items in high school. I bleached my hair platinum and then dyed it yellow and orange so I wanted a dress to go with my hair. Found slip dress in Tahoe vintage store.

Black flower in my hair, fabric store. Black jacket, Salvation Army. 

When I was younger I would have days where I just needed to put on raver pants. For some reason I loooved raver pants. I was not a raver by any means I was a skate boarder and I still skateboard but I would go out dancing with friends. I dyed my hair with a red dye from a drug store here. 

This little star shirt is one of my favorite old items I owned. I love this shirt so much! It was more of a tunic but I wore it as a dress. I found this at Buffalo Exchange.

I found most of this outfit at Ross actually. I loved those pants.

Shiny non leather pants from a store in SF. Tee from thrift store in L.A.

I have been wanting to do a post about my fashion transition starting from teens until now :> Ever since I was young I was a little budding fashionista. I still have and wear some of my favorite clothes that I picked up at main stream stores and vintage shops in high school. Some of the outfits were experiments but I'm not embarrassed to show them because we live and we learn. Other outfits were super cool and I have days where I say to myself "Darn where did that old shirt go?" I am happy to still hold on to some of my favorite vintage tees that I wear now and then when I am feeling nostalgic. One of the things that has remained consistent for me into adulthood has been my love for thrift and vintage. I shop at main stream stores and more popular stores too but I love mixing a new popular item with an old vintage wrangler blouse or old school ripped jeans. I find fashion inspiration everywhere. I hope I inspire others to put together a fun fashion nostalgia album of their own! Enjoy :D

Gothic plaid

Standing inside of Red Rock Coffee in Mountain View, Ca. Plaid skirt, Hot Topic.

Photo credit: Cameron Depalma

Soy vanilla latte at Red Rock

35mm

Ripped shorts, surf shop. Vintage blouse, Jet Rag. Shoes, Hot Topic sale rack.

Holding my blue plastic lomo camera and my other 35mm.

Fallen Angel

Necklace, thrift store. Lace tunic tube, H&M. Arm warmers, Treehouse 28. Faux leather black boots, Payless. Shredded skirt wrap, As you wish (Lake Tahoe)

Reflections

Faux fur is cruelty free and much more fashionable than real fur. I got this jacket for 15 bux! The wrist cuff is hand made. Photo Credits: Cameron Depalma