Harvest Time

 

 

 

Oktoberfest is nearly fini. Still, I must show you a compilation photograph of three generations... celebrating the season wearing traditional gray suede German lederhosen. My husband about 80 years ago, my son around 40 years ago and his son this year. All photoshopped into one timeless image.

 

 

 

 

 

Now on to Day of the Dead. The day after All Hallows' Eve,

 it's a 3,000 year old Mexican tradition celebrating and honoring the dead.

                                          

Last year, on November 1st, we celebrated Peter's 80^th in Oaxaca.
 From music, to marigolds to margaritas... indeed it remains a memorable 100 hours.
 

                            

How FAB-N-FUN are these “to die for” Day of the Dead wellie cowgirl rain boots.
 I scored them this weekend at a hip resale shop... right here in our hood.
 

 

  

 

   

 

    

 

 

This Fall, I've been noticing a plethora of fur trimmed accessories. This phenomenon may be due to yet another Anna Karenina movie that will be coming out in a few weeks. Just to get into the know/now of it all, I trimmed a collection of vintage fur collars with pearls crystals and beads.


 

                            

By making use of a few  feet of: "what will I ever do with these" coin & feather trims,

I gave this tired out of date wool purse a much needed Anna Karenina facelift.

Although this classic Art Deco bag is perfection, like icing on a cake, I couldn't resist piling a few jewels atop it's Bakelite crown. Thankfully, TOO MUCH is not TOO MUCH this season.

 

 

 

OK, I'm now officially out of trim control. Our Alameda museum has a charming small town kind of shop...that until now, was a well kept secret. This treasure trove is where I found my latest: “please take me home and freshen me up” bag for two dollars.

 

Exquisitely constructed out of Australian Ostrich skins, sad to say it was infused with a sort of: “been in grandmother’s attic too long” certain je ne sai quoi kind of scent. I tossed this 1950's beauty into a Bounce tissue lined plastic bag and let it just sit for a week. The odor vanished and the trimming began.

In a deep dark corner of my coat closet, I found this magnificent Russian looking coat. Although it fits like a tight, tight glove, I'm still planning to wear it with a fur hat and boots... at least to the “Anna” movie premiere.

 

              

“Need had nothing to do with it”. My piggy bank nearly ran dry after buying this compendium of forever fabulous jackets. I might paint and gold leaf the tired and faded YSL red leather one.
 

Without even looking at the price, I snapped up this ZAC POSEN number. From black tie to jeans,
 I can snap a waist and style dramatic cuffs into it's silhouette. Yup, I'm mad for this one.

 

                  

This past summer... a few second hand, or should I say: a few second foot shoes, with my name on them... called to me from various “new to me” shops. I felt that: this girly girl simply had to answer these calls...again and again and again. All flats. All feel fantastic. All flat out fab-boo.
 

Maybe it's the snob in me, but: “crafts person” is not a title I adore. Designer or artist is the tail one can pin on this donkey. That said... in a crafty way, I painted 75 California Poppies on this $10.00 Salvation Army “Alice Blue Gown” and wore it under a $20.00 flea market 1960's I. Magnin Hermes orange coat to The San Francisco Opera Opening. It was a real twirl of a night with my prince charming.

Last week, after escorting me to the opening of The San Francisco Fall Antique Show, Prince Peter took this picture of me, using a new impressionistic process. After a night of MUCH TOO MUCH, which is always TOO MUCH... I suggest using this very forgiving painterly process.

                                

This year, the theme of the antique show was nautical. The following day, I couldn't resist wearing my: “I've had it forever” 1920's wool swimsuit to the nautical fashions lecture. Although my blouse added a bit of weight to the suit, I can't even imagine ever swimming laps in it.

 

To finish off this: "too heavy to ever float" swim suit,
 I made a belt out of a STRIP TEASE belt buckle and a STRIP of plastic.

 

  

 

 

 

 

These clear plastic bangles are easy as pie to make. That said: I'd never attempt to make a pie.For starters...  I had 2 inch tubes cut and polished. Next: I simply glued buttons, pins, earrings, sea glass and beads around the plastic bangles. A little gold leaf here and there and now I've got the NOW/NEW/IT gold cuffs goin' on... on my wrists for just a few bucks.


 

 

Last month I bought these “every designer is using them on everything” studs by the yard trim and then I waited and waited impatiently for inspiration. Voila the idea came to me: a simple black clutch with rows of trim... and now... just like in the fashion magazines...  I'm all studded out for Fall.

 

 

At our First Sunday Flea Market, I noticed a lovely tea set and a pretty creative tee shirt.
 The guy in the red beard kept the “T” shirt while I prepared a spot of “T” in the “T” pot.

Wishing you the time to IN JOY all the magic and beauty that these Autumn days offer us.