bits and bobbins

some (mostly) recent (mostly) thrifted acquisitions:

from a secret east bay button mecca:

looks latin american in origin to me. i like the animals, natch:

from kridaracraft’s etsy shop…a tiny thai patchwork bag that i absolutely adore:

the black one is my most recent liz claiborne bag…i seem to have amassed a small collection of such over time. as my online pal swan diamond rose recently said in the comments on this photo over at flickr, these old liz bags seem perfectly right right now.

there’s just something about their bright colors and the geometry of triangular liz logo that seems relevant again.

i was happy surprised to find out the bust of this crazy lace number fit *me* in the bust area. shock and awe!

i don’t plan on wearing it as is, even though i’d like to (these girls need a bra!)…so i’ll probably pair it with a tank top or perhaps even some kind of button down something or other.

two knitted things i’ve recently completed:

i’m mad about cowls…as anyone who’s lingered around me for any decent length of time knows. they are great because they brainless knitting projects for me…just a tube of knitting, essentially. also, they are a great way to use up small bits of yarn (which i have boatloads of), while making a “scarf” that’s not really a “scarf”. and of course, they are a fun way to play with color, or texture (from the yarn itself or through the use of pattern stitches).

this particular cowl is made from some tomato red silk and rayon ribbon yarns i found at one of my favorite local yarn shops, imagiknit, which is located in the castro, and happens to be within dangerously close walking distance of my house. the fuchsia ribbon yarn also has some red sequin carry-along thread yarn knitted together with it, hence the bit of spangliness you might see flashes of.

i love adding sequin yarns or metallic yarns with other yarns into my cowls…it makes it feel like a piece of sparkly fiber jewelry rather than a scarf.

i paired with a strapless lace 80s cocktail dress i thrifted at goodwill, haight street, SF, yesterday.

and here’s yet another feather and fan scarf. also sort of a mindless, fun knitting project. i’ve made three of these so far.

made from cascade 220. such an easy, smooth yarn to knit with, that comes in a myriad of colors and is extremely affordable…i love it for those reasons and more.

some recently acquired things i’m completely grooving on:

the most perfect cloth napkins ever, ever, EVER. a birthday gift from my new pal lisa. she is *awesome*.

this flower facinator from the ebay shop i mentioned in my recent cocktail hat post:

and this crazy-fish emblazoned vest, from goodwill, on haight street. i’m still pondering whether to restyle it or turn it into a cool pillow. either reincarnation would please me equally:

found this past week and weekend (most of it at the alameda antiques and collectibles fair, on alameda, in the east bay).

couldn’t resist the orange spangliness!

mmm, my favorite colors:

decanter and shot glasses, from france:

(now i just need a cool bar cart to set it on!)

though i don’t smoke, i was entranced by the mod, simple, boldness of this ashtray (which can just as easily be put to use as a bowl for keys or candy, natch):

just pretty and loud and thus irresistible to the likes of me:

and the best find of the weekend, my birthday present…this danish teak dining table.

now we just need chairs for that table! these brightly colored bertoia chairs are nice. expensive, but nice.

and a bigger apartment might help too. ha!

perhaps someday…on both fronts!