A New Year's Resolution

Happy New Year to all!

I just love the start of something new, especially a new year. But with the new year, I find myself desiring a new self. Who doesn't? But this typically entails a new wardrobe, new knickknacks to freshen up the appearance of my room, and so on. So in more simplified terms this means spending--and certainly the makings of a newer, richer 2013 version of myself, if only in my mind. 

But  today, ignoring this slight financial setback, I did as I do every year and commenced my New Year's online window-shopping spree.

While doing so, I rediscovered the Etsy store, Haven Vintage, and subsequently formulated my late New Year's resolution. 

An old scale with decorative pine cones would add the perfect touch of rustic to any room. I would put it in my kitchen.

Toss out the old magazine rack and use an old colander instead. It has so much more whimsy!

While you're at it, throw out the old side table or nightstand! Short ladders make a great makeshift  bookshelf.

I found this store several months ago and saved it in my favorites.
It is an amazing store filled with old, somewhat nostalgic, items that have been photographed to show their new repurposed uses. I would definitely recommend checking out Colleen's various items for inspiration or purchase!
After perusing the various items and seeing how creatively Colleen repurposed these everyday items into unique pieces, I began to really ponder my notion of the "new self."

Who says a new self is dependent on new things? 

I say a new self entails a new way of thinking, a new way of seeing; a technique that Colleen seems to understand as is demonstrated by her work.

And that, friends, is my New Year's resolution: to think with a renewed mind, to see with newly opened eyes, and to create with a fresher outlook on life. 

Cheers to 2013!

Feeling a Little Indie

Back in fall of 2010, when I lived on the northern side of Berkeley campus and made the occasional stroll over to Philz Coffee for a delicious Iced Mint Mojito coffee (yeah, you read that correctly), I picked up a glossy postcard-sized flyer advertising something called the Indie Mart. At the time, I honestly didn't care about the flyer's advertisement so much as the gorgeous design of the flyer itself--very bohemian/tribal with its bright orange tones, plethora of triangles, and skinny, compressed font-face. Everything about it just screamed, "Take me and put me on your wall NOW!"

So I did. And on my wall it has remained, though the wall and house changes from time to time. 

On Monday, during one of my many procrastination sessions, I happened to glance up at my wall, see the flyer, and proceed to look up the Indie Mart online. 

I was ecstatic to learn that the Indie Mart was indeed still an ongoing thing and was going to be held in the Mission District on Sunday (today!).

 Occupying a few blocks in the Mission, the Indie Mart features dozens of vendors selling gorgeous handmade jewelry, clothing, vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, handmade stationary and greeting cards, plants, and artwork. The mart even features DIY tables where you pay to partake in a fun DIY craft (today's craft was terrarium-making). Not leaving you to fend for food after all that shopping and walking, food trucks provide delicious eats, while various bands keep the crowds entertained and energetic.  

 Seeing the mart for the first time was something out of a movie--getting off the bus, watching it pull away to reveal the glorious splendor of people and items dazzling behind it in all its glory. We didn't really know where to start...

 Walking from booth to booth, the four of us were constantly pointing out something fun and creative for the rest to see. These bottle lamps were no exception.

The mart was absolutely fit-to-bursting with jewelry. I was absolutely torn between these pyramid studs and a pair of coral rose earrings (coral, as usual, won as shown below). 

 As is to be expected, due to their handmade quality, many of the items were pricey. I loved these silk headbands from Bachman's Sparrow, which you can find here, going for $24.00.  But in my honest opinion, I recommend spending a little bit more and buying handmade. It supports local artists and promotes a small business mentality. Moreover, you end up with a one-of-a-kind, quality-made item like these scarves! (I'm pretty sure I'll be making this purchase sometime soon.)

 As many of you have probably already seen, painted/color-blocked wooded bangles are all the rage on Pinterest right now. I almost bought the set of three on the bottom right, but I think I may try to DIY them sometime in the future (so keep an eye out!).

 And then, of course, each vendor's presentation of their items was just as cute as the items themselves! Loved this cowboy boot-as-planter idea!

With it's barely-there entrance fee of $3.00, the Indie Mart was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I loved my experience, my purchases, and the company with whom I enjoyed it!

SO CHECK IT OUT! 

(I recommend joining the mailing list--you will get updates much faster.)

Summer Neckties

I love repurposing/revamping old things. It's becoming a hobby. I just moved back to Berkeley to begin the school year. As is custom, I brought back LOTS of new goodies to fill up my already exploding Ikea closet. To make room, I got rid of a few things. This linen shirt was in the donate pile before I had a change of heart. 

I bought this shirt used, seeing some really great layering potential for the winter months. But I didn't wear it at all last winter. 

So I decided to stop waiting and wear it now!

 To give the shirt a more summery air, I cut off the sleeves. I have been wanting a shirt with neckties for ages. So I used the sleeve material to make a little necktie by cutting two strips and tying them in a knot.

 I then picked some embroidery thread (coral and pink) to enhance and brighten the olive green material of the shirt. I stitched little x's and ='s to the corners of the collar and changed the button thread color of the top-most button.
To clean up the overall look of the shirt, I stitched the edges of the necktie using a light pink thread before pinning it to the underside of the collar.

And it's ready to wear! What do you think?

For Those Lacking in Frosting Talents

I have been so excited to make lemon blackberry cupcakes. Unfortunately, I came to the really sad realization that I do not know how to frost cupcakes to save my life, so I improvised and decided to play with some powdered sugar to spruce up their aesthetic appeal (and taste!). I think I made it up, but who really invents anything anymore with Pinterest and memories of everything seen online?  I just got a piece of cardstock, cut a heart in the center, placed it over the frosted cupcake and sprinkled powder sugar over the heart.

They came out really good! The tart, lemony goodness of the cupcake perfectly balanced the sweet homemade, blackberry frosting. The cupcakes have pretty much disappeared from our countertop here at home, so I would consider the recipe a success. 

Just a note: I only used 3 cups of confectioner's sugar for the icing (half of what it asks for) and the icing was still a bit too sweet for my personal liking.

Feeling Crafted...and Employed

 I am so excited to say that I am now happily employed at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's LARGEST permanent marketplace! But before that, I had such a great time yesterday exploring the various stalls of artisan goods. I really liked MerieBabie's wooden floral necklaces and leather fold-clutches. But Anony-Mouse stole the cake. Their wedding invites, save the dates, and wedding programs were just irresistible! If you cannot make it out to Crafted, which I HIGHLY encourage, check out his work here! The artisans, the goods, the food, and the music were great! The next time I go, I plan to try the woodfired pizza for the red double-decker food bus (yeah, you read that correctly). But an hour just isn't enough time to wander through all the stalls, so plan accordingly... <3

Food truck tacos, always my favorite!

They Still Do Get Usage...

 For one of my final art projects, I decided to portray the loneliness of payphones and contradict the New York Times statement above that payphones do in fact still get usage. In a time in which cell phones are permanently glued to our hands and ears, how useful are payphones? Of course, I cannot knock them in times of emergency, but I thought it would be interesting to juxtapose the payphone with the convenience and frequent use of the cellphone. I thus photographed unused payphones, placed in the foreground of the photo to capture its lone solitude and make it the ironic focus of the photo, as people walked by on their own phones and in their own worlds, completely oblivious to the payphone's presence.

[And, one a side note, it was just fun being a creeper with a camera for one afternoon]

A Watermelon Craze

I have been craving watermelon agua fresca for days! And the heat has not eased my craving at all. To satiate my desire, I have been frequenting my favorite haunt almost daily (I lived on their agua fresca all during dead week and finals week), but sadly they have not had it.

SO...I decided to make my own, but only after my best friend assured me that making my own was not only possible but easy peasy! 

{Thanks, lovely!}

Watermelon Aqua Fresca

Makes One Tall Glass

1/4 Cantaloupe-Sized Seedless Watermelon, cubed and refrigerated 

1/4 cup of water

And, are you ready for this, all you have to do is blend these two ingredients until chunky!

Serve Immediately! 

I know I will enjoy my delicious drink while reading my new book, Chanel!