Old clothes, poetry, music and the beauty of the natural world inspire me to be present and yet transcend time at the same time. Every day in each moment we have the opportunity to create magic in myriad ways and for me clothing is such a deep part of that. What character do I feel today? What am I going to make and give to the world? An outfit in itself can be a work of art...I guess that is what is meant by style...how we collage together clothes out of how we feel emotionally and physically. It is magic really, the creation of a beautiful illusion that we present to the world that affects those around us. The ability to create is one of the greatest gifts we have as human beings, so in my small way I hope by offering wonderful clothes and old goods I can inspire those who come across my shop to dream their dreams and create their own magic.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Little Surfer Girls

Because I miss the ocean in California......







Little surfer little one
Made my heart come all undone
Do you love me, do you surfer girl
Surfer girl my little surfer girl

I have watched you on the shore
Standing by the oceans roar
Do you love me do you surfer girl
Surfer girl surfer girl

We could ride the surf together
While our love would grow
In my woody I would take you everywhere I go
So I say from me to you
I will make your dreams come true
Do you love me do you surfer girl
Surfer girl my little surfer girl
Well
Girl surfer girl my little surfer girl
Well
Girl surfer girl my little surfer girl
Well
Girl surfer girl my little surfer girl
















Friday, June 24, 2011

The Love I have for Vintage Laura Ashley~

When I was a kid growing up I loved going into the Laura Ashley store we had in my hometown of Houston, Texas. Everything was so beautiful from the clothes to the house ware. I remember when I was 12 my Mom finally bought me a bed room set of sheets, curtains and pillows for my room and I was so happy I would just lay on my bed smiling. It evoked another time and place for me, like being transported back in time to a Jane Austen novel or something of that nature. When I got to high school I was into punk and new wave, but my girlfriends and I became obsessed with Laura Ashley and started wearing her dresses with crazy hair and makeup and old victorian granny boots and 1940's shoes. It was like old west prairie girls go punk!


Laura Ashley herself was a welsh fashion designer and got her start designing designed headscarves, napkins, table mats and tea-towels for the Women's Institute on quilt work, which her husband Bernard printed on a machine he had designed in their attic flat. Laura's inspiration to start producing printed fabric came from a Women's Institute display of traditional handicrafts at the Victoria & Albert Museum. When she began looking for small patches carrying Victorian designs to help her make patchworks, she found no such thing existed. Here was her opportunity, and she started to print Victorian style headscarves in 1953. The Ashleys' scarves quickly became successful with stores, retailing both via mail order and high street chains such as John Lewis - Bernard left his city job to print fabrics full time. This put them on the road to becoming an international company with a brand that is recognized around the globe. Laura designed the prints and Bernard built the printing equipment; Laura remained in charge of design until shortly before her death, while Bernard handled the operational side. Laura Ashley's first shop was opened in Machynlleth, Powys (35 Maengwyn Street) in London.

I Have never really been a collector of one thing in particular but today I have the sudden urge to start collecting vintage Laura Ashley. Maybe some of these designs below will inspire some of you to start your own Laura Ashley Collections.



























Saturday, June 11, 2011

I LOVE CATS!!!

I am definitely a cat lady! I just adore the cat and am constantly amazed by their special spirits and behavior. My own cat is a year old Black domestic named Kiki Pamplemousse Fontaine and she fills my days with love, happiness, spirit and laughter and teaches how to really meditate on life. I love watching her as well as any cat I come across actually. I have had a few cats in my day and they are still with me each day and their spirits live on in my life and always will as they gave me a love that is beyond words. They are truly noble beings. I was looking up cats in art and came across some fun and interesting pictures. For all of the cat lovers out there I hope these make you smile.