Summer in Santa Monica - a little late this year

(A view North of the pier towards the beach clubs homes on the sand)

OK, so after a summer of fog, a cooler then usual temperatures and one week of heat, a heat wave has taken over Southern California. While I was starting on fall and winter knitting, it is so hot and without a/c (especially since rarely needed) seems a little weird to be getting ready for fall on etsy. so, as summer winds down, here are a couple pics from a bike ride a few weeks ago around the Santa Monica Pier. Class was out for an afternoon, and my patella had moved back into place from being dislocated so I celebrated with a bike ride.

Best of all, as passing under the pier, a sound check for the Twilight Dance series was under way (free concerts - featuring a variety of music and performers that happen weekly for about 2 months). Enjoy.



Biking back south - looking towards the pier

Inexpensive and Eco Girls Night Clothing Swap

With recycling, decluttering, and saving money all the rage, why not spend an evening with the girls, clean out your closet, and get new clothes and accessories to bring home?

I've been a fan of reselling my clothes since undergrad - especially when going through a vintage and thrift store phase at some point in 1993-1995. When I moved to LA, I mostly brought clothes, even after selling and donating at least a car full of items. While attending Pepperdine, I got introduced to sample sales, and some of the best boutique and high end sales for unique and designer pieces, and also how to sell on ebay.

Last month, friends from school hosted and organized a super fun clothing swap, which was also very much a Girl's Night since, the one male crasher left quickly, and there were plenty of laughs and drinks. Beyond having a blast, it also served a purpose - and was a great way to clean out the closet, and get new and wanted or needed items without being as wasteful, stay fashionable, recycle, and save money. Plus the items that didn't go home with someone, got donated to charity. Here is a picture of the bag I took and a few of the lovely new items I brought home. It was a great event, and could probably write many entries on all the benefits, and everyone who went had a great time and already talking about the next one....

wow catching up

Ok, so I have photos taken for two posts, and a third one planned. However, due to a midterm last week, a final tomorrow, and my odd summer quarter schedule, I am really just grateful that my browser is working again - also was acting weird for a few days.
Anyways,my next blog post will be about a great and fun idea for a Girls Night that helps clean out your closet, tons of laughs, and some great finds to bring home.

I am also working on creating a tulle petticoat skirt to layer into a dress for next weekend. it is fun although my creative energy is getting redirected from knitting and splitting it with school. I have been meeting some amazing Etsy shop owners and trying out some wonderful products, and looking forward to next week and having a little more time to blog.

Afternoon on Main St.

Yesterday, do to looking for a dress or tunic to wear to an event, I spent some time window shopping and browsing along Main St. Unfortunately, 2 of my favorite stores have gone out of business, and a few have turned over since I had last been in, including a store that had been a consignment space for independent lines -Hopefully the just moved. My friends used to have a great store before the rent went up a few years ago in same space. The replacement store was like etsy (before I knew about it) in a storefront. Now it is a luxury children's store.

After browsing several boutiques, and avoiding the newer chain stores, I ended up making a purchase for "supplies: at The Urban Craft Center. Located a convenient 7 or 8 block walk from my place, it is also a block from the Beach, and a popular local surf spot at Bay St, famous for the Lords of Doggtown, and minutes from the pier. This store offers a summer crafting camp for kids, and has a variety of hemp, wool, and cotton yarns. They also have fabric, felting supplies, sewing machines, and space for quilt blocking and working on projects. What is great about this store, is much of the housing in the area is apartments, condos, and small houses, that in many cases, were built as weekend beach homes, and are short on a lot of crafting space. It is also in a great plaza to hang out at, and near tons of unique shopping down on Main Street.

www.theurbancraftcenter.com

Shopping for Bloomers - Summer Wedding

So who doesn't love getting to browse around and have an excuse to pick out and and look for new pieces to wear and play with? A friend from school is getting married next month and on her wedding blog, posted many links to items sold on Etsy to help guests find ideas on how to participate in the theme.

The last time I went to a themed wedding, it was actually harder then I expected to find the right outfit for a Pink Wedding, in November, in the Northwest, with a reception at a microbrewary. When I got to Oregon. forgot the skirt I'd raced all over to purchase, and ended up buying an outfit a few hours before, and seeing someone else wore the same skirt I'd left in California. I had spent many hours looking for the right combination of "pink" and "warm" plus would fit in - and actually still wear the lovely and classic pink boucle plaid skirt I had bought for the event . (and got rid of the last minute "rush" purchase).

But I digress, this time, I am shopping for a bicycle friendly outfit to fit a Victorian / Modern Steampunk theme comfortable enough to be able to be on bluffs over the beach in August. Several of the pieces linked to from the offcial info blog were sold, extremely expensive, or for men so I've been browing etsy looking for perfect pieces that I could create my own look with and be able to use at other times.

I am , probably, due to my love for high heels, going to change shoes between the ceremony and reception, but that is because I found perfect heels to match the other pieces - the ceremony is actually on bikes, and in attending, will be taking my mountain bike and most fluffy things will catch on the surfboard rack. This fact alone, has put the some reigns on my ideas and love for costumey outfits, and gets into some of the bloomers I've been looking at on Etsy these days.

cream cotton bloomers

http://www.vilicious.etsy.com
pretty bloomers in cream cotton.
they have an elasticated waistband, and are elasticated at the knee, and edged in pretty cream lace. (they are also shown in 2 lengths and 3 colors)

Classic White Bloomers

http://www.neworleansmagpie.com
These bloomers are a classic...knee length lightweight cotton in white pique or ivory stripe. Perfect for riding the wheel or lounging around at a summer picnic. These bloomers have a wide elastic waistband, and are minimally gathered, so that the waistline is slim, unlike bloomers made with a drawstring. The waistband can be worn at the waist or hips.

FREE SHIPPING Bayou Bloomers simple rustic ruffle pantaloon in Oyster ...size Small...from down de bayou http://www.bayousalvage.etsy.com

These sweet simple and rustic bloomer/pantaloons are modeled after my own antique pair. I decided to forgo the drawstring and put elastic in the waist. Fashioned from 100% made in the U.S.A. cotton and sewn with care in the city that care forgot. You can wear them as lingerie or as shorts or as an underskirt. Perfect to wear with your bayousalvage art to wear!

Etsy is making it much easier to shop, and also fun and economical at the same time. Also, being crafty helps, since after fining the embellished slip dress "sold" in my favorites when I was ready to purchase, I saw a plain slip yesterday at a boutique I walked by and am probably going to embellish my own as a study break. Accessories are still up in the air - next post !

Spring and Summer Cleaning

I have been sorting through my yarns and supplies to find new ways to use some of the smaller pieces. A simple idea, that I have seen, and while not unique, am finding a great way to reduce extra yarns fast, is making very simple knotted lariats. I initially tried to make a braided scarf, with long strands of yarns, as a holiday gift for my Aunt. My cat, found it extremely entertaining and had his first experiences getting tangled in yarn (considering how much I knit, and have had him for 12 years - was a surprise) - he usually ignores yarn and my kniting- which is great for me to keep hi away from projects.

Since I had to untangle, I ended up hanging this from my curtian rod - the braiding still tangled, so after stumbling across a similiar item, thought hmmm, I 'll just knot it and then I can finish the gift. However, I didnt think I would actually end up adding any of these to my store. A few weeks ago, that changed, as have a box of supplies that I was considering donating since I do not like knitting with them, or not enough , or do not match very many yarns. I was watching "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and making some wrist cuffs. I got inspred to make a few more of these simple, knotted lariats, and last week started listing on etsy and am finsing they are great for spring and summer. This one sold and is being shipped out today.

An Amazing Bath Treat for Sore Muscles

When I first joined Unique Women in Business, I needed to make a purchase from another member. I was looking through the choices, and thought hmmm, what do I actually need right now, after looking at stores and websites offering everything I could imagine, cosmetics, jewelery, cards, prints and much much more. While I tend to be on the practical side, most of my extravagant and impulsive purchases tend to be designer shoes and on occasion handbags. However, bath products are also one of my favorite items, so much that I really have to watch it, since end up stocked for 6 months or more at a time on the basics.

Since I had been busy working, and spending my "free time" opening a store on etsy, and posing for pictures and video filming for my pilates website, I my muscles were a little more fatigues then usual. A regular user of epson salts and or fresh lavender (I can pick it outside my door), I decided to get some bath salts from Soap Rehabilitation to try out.

Swiss Alps Bath Soak--Fizzy Bath Salts

After browsing through all the options, I went with "Swiss Alps" an infusion of mints, and prefect for tired muscles. when the package arrived, and I had a chanc eto chec it out, I had spent an hour of my work break filming advanced exercises with a friend on a concrete surface, and was pretty sore from a mat class earlier in the week, and a concentrated photo shoot of ab work.

These salts blew me away instantly. The aromatherapy blend worked very similiary to my old and familiar stand-by friend Tiger Balm, and these Golden Flower patches from my school clinic. The plus is that these salts were also relaxing and soothing, for mind and body, and did not have the strong smell since they are more of a spa product then part of an orthopaedic prescription or treatment. However, I thought they worked just as well, if not better, since they also helped me wind down and sleep since was in a go, go , go type of mode with starting a project (that is still awaiting full editing and posting) after a few months of various changes and weather delays.

For a full range of products, check out Soap Rehabilitation at http://www.soaprehab.etsy.com. Sara also has adorable packaging with a little nurse in her logo. Her lip gloss and the samples she included of sample soaps are also amazing and it was a great welcome to Unique Women in Business. Check out our group page for a wonderful variety of shopping for all your needs and wants. http://www.uniquewomeninbusiness.blogspot.com