I used to have a total girl crush on Claire Daines.  I was one of the many minions who thought ‘My So Called Life’ was unjustifiably cancelled, and saw Romeo + Juliet in the theater.  I cried when her version of Beth died in Little Women (also seen in the theater, which my sister has never forgiven me for.)

Then she chose a couple of crap parts and hooked up with a pregnant lady’s man.  I rarely take a stance about personal dealings that I have no knowledge of, and hate to be the type of person who points fingers at the ‘other woman’ (Billy Crudup is really the sleaze in my book), but any remnants of affection I may have had for Angela Chase disappeared with that whole brouhaha.

Last week, however, I realized she could still put in a moving, sensitive performance.  I caught Shopgirl on IFC and was surprised by Danes’ appeal.  Of course, it could have just been the wardrobe.

Though it’s set in the present day, Danes’ wardrobe looks like some elegant throwback to the magical moment in the late 40s and early 50s when shoulder pads had finally returned to normal proportions but skirts weren’t yet poofily enormous.

The film has a dreamy quality and a slow pace that perfectly suited my Sunday mood.  The clothes were definitely a bonus.

Example of really bad tourist gear.

Pretty dresses I couldn’t possibly afford.

Rabbit doorstops I was so tempted to steal.

In all honesty, the boyfriend and I only chose Victoria as a destination because neither one of us had ever been.  We were caught off guard not only by the beauty of the city, but by the plethora of boutiques centralized around Pandora and Johnson Streets.  There were beautiful shoes, detailed dresses and more hemp shops than you could shake a stick at.  The best finds, however, were to be had at Flavour and Patch, two vintage shops.

Perhaps it’s because the time of year is perfect for jacket hunting (everyone else has sandals & dresses on their minds) but Flavour had one of the best selection of leather coats I’ve ever seen.  And though I’ve had my heart set on a hooded version, I couldn’t resist this one.

The boyfriend fell in love with their selection of Threadless tees (who knew they sold wholesale?!) as well as the shelves of vintage Nintendo games on the second floor.  Sadly, this snap button shirt was a bit too big.

Patch was less selective in their vintage stock, but the dress rack was bursting with cute, frothy things, mostly 1950s.  The color of this dress caught my eye.  The zipper is in shreds but the open, net fabric joined by big flowers was too wonderful to pass up.  I’m not sure if I’ll try to repair the zipper or just use the fabric for other projects.

On a last note, a giant sorry for the lateness of this post.  The wireless connection was pretty much near zero in the B&B and my laptop refused to work with the boyfriend’s connection last night.  More pics will slowly make their way onto my flickr stream.  Those, along with this post, should convince you that Victoria is definitely a place worth visiting.  I know I’ll be going back.

The morning started with this:

And finished with this:

But I get ahead of myself.  Last Memorial Day weekend, the boyfriend and I took a road trip down to Portland, over to the Oregon coast, and back up to Seattle via the peninsula.  We vowed to do something similar this year but wanted to go somewhere new.  Seeing as how neither one of us had been to Victoria, it was an easy choice.

Though there’s a clipper out of Seattle, we wanted to take the car.  To avoid the holiday rush, we went to Anacortes the prior night to better jockey for a sweet spot on the ferry.  Little did we know that Anacortes doubles at night for something out of Mordor.

This was all forgotten by mid-morning however, on the ferry ride through the San Juans and into Canada.  The fog made for mistily pretty pictures, and we were even favored with the treat of seeing an orca pod.

But enough of the scenic pictures.  Tomorrow I’ll fill you in on the excellent vintage shopping I never knew Victoria had, as well as the parking ticket warning we received this afternoon.  I always knew Canadians were nice, but never that nice.  In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend.

With my newfound sewing skillz, it should have come as no surprise that I would suddenly be the pillow commissioner.  I’ve had at least three people, one being the boyfriend, ask if I can stitch something up to brighten up the sofa.  I don’t mind, especially since making a basic pillow involves sewing four straight lines.  You can imagine my awe when I saw these gorgeous examples by Ruby Crowned Kinglette.

 On lovely linen with stark outlines, these pillows would be perfect with anything.  What I truly enjoy about them, though, is that they feature fauna I recognize & know.  As much as I love hedgehogs, horses and all of the other animals that I see everywhere in jewelry and design, there’s something sweetly familiar in these raccoons and crows, so common to the Northwest and so solemn in their presentation.

The verdict has long been in on Kate Moss’s TopShop collection, the Patrick Robinson collaboration over at Target and the Bitten line by Sarah Jessica Parker.  Though my opinion cannot begin to matter as much as Anna Wintour’s, I am the person these lines are directed at; a middle class consumer not given to spending more than a few hundred dollars on clothing annually but with an interest in style regardless of my inability to afford a gown that costs as much as a used Prius.

I have to say, despite the hype, despite the crowds, despite the inflated prices over at ebay, all three of these collections completely underwhelmed me.

 These are two of the Kate Moss items that are still available on TopShop’s website.  The dress could be from anywhere: Forever 21, Gap, or Wet Seal.  The jeans look exactly like similar pairs carried by Urban Outfitters and American Apparel.

I’m not accusing anyone of copying–I expect a degree of saturation for certain trends.  But it’s not to anyone’s credit at TopShop (whether Kate Moss or whoever interpreted her ideas) when the line doesn’t really stand out from the rest of the hipster gear on the market.

The Patrick Robinson collection at Target is a bit better in that a lot of the pieces were done in an interesting, Moroccan-looking print that easily sets them apart.  The rest of it?  Eh.  Simple pieces in white, black and an admittedly pretty indigo blue that could have come from any other shop.  Given that the Go! collections are priced higher than Target’s usual clothing lines, it becomes hard to justify buying a white camisole or black skirt from there–instead of say, J.Crew or Ann Taylor, where the quality will be better.

Don’t even get me started on Sarah Jessica Parker’s new line, Bitten.  Blah, boring basics that are, if anything, more nondescript than the clearance rack at J.C. Penney.  You add the fact that the selling point for this line is ‘Fashion is Not a Luxury,’ and the whole thing starts to feel like a giant joke on the consumer.  I mean, really, would any of those people queued up outside of TopShop, fighting and stampeding to get a pair of basic shorts, been so excited if her name wasn’t attached to the line?  (I’d have posted pics of the Bitten clothes, but it seems their putting their foot down about it elsewhere.)

If you’re going to bother to collaborate on an affordable line of clothing, it has to have something to set it apart from all the places people in my demographic usually shop.  Given how common these collaborations have become, someone’s name isn’t going to be enough to get me to plunk my money down–and I’m guessing many others for that matter.

Doesn’t this:

Make you think of this?

Maybe? Kind of? Not really?

Sara in Geneva tagged me to list my five favorite places in Seattle to eat.  To see where this post began, and to find some great places to grab chow on nearly every continent, read the links below:

Nicole (Sydney, Australia)
velverse (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
LB (San Giovanni in Marignano, Italy)
Selba (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Olivia (London, England)
ML (Utah, USA)
Lotus (Toronto, Canada)
tanabata (Saitama, Japan)
Andi (Dallas [ish], Texas, USA)
Todd (Louisville, Kentucky, USA)
miss kendra (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Jiggs Casey (Berkeley, CA, USA)
Tits McGee (New England, USA)
Kat (Ontario, Canada)
Cheezy (London, England)
tafka PP (Jerusalem, Israel)
Liza ("Northern" Israel)
Beth (Dublin, Ireland)
Emily (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Sara (Geneva, Switzerland)

Seattle, given it’s diverse population and position on the Pacific coast within shouting distance of Alaska, is known for it’s pan-Asian cuisine and seafood.  Having grown up here, I was surprised when I got to Prague and met folks who thought fish was an exotic thing reserved for special occassions and sushi cost the same as steak.

Racha:  Thai with an extensive menu and hearty portions.  The service is always friendly and fast but the atmosphere doesn’t ever feel fast-food-esque.  You also get a sweet little crepe with a dab of ice cream at the end of your meal.  It’s within walking distance of the boyfriend’s apartment, which is part of our motivation for going there often.  But if you’re a tourist and foot-weary after tooling around the Space Needle and Seattle Center, you won’t have far to go to get a better than most Thai meal.

Serafina:  Italian restaurant on Eastlake.  There aren’t any views of Lake Union but the bustling interior and knowledgable waitstaff more than make up for it.  The food is to die for, the kind of dishes that have layers of taste.  The boyfriend thinks the preparation skewers a little more northern Italian (his stepmother is from Turino) so don’t expect lots of red sauces and meatballs.  This is where we go when we’re treating ourselves.

611 Supreme: crepes, French press coffee, fresh squeezed juice and wicked cocktails.  The first time I visited this small restaurant was for a friend’s birthday where we proceeded to drink $7 latte martinis as if they were the sustenance of life.  It was only later that I realized they also served awesome savory and sweet crepes.  Two blocks from my apartment, this place has been my savior on gloomy mornings.

Agua Verde: tucked away near my place of employment, I’ve only popped in when the boyfriend’s schedule allows us to meet for lunch.  I really need to try to go more often.  Overlooking the ship canal with speedy service, the Mexican food here is suprisingly light and healthy.  I’ve enjoyed their mangodillas (a quesadilla with mango salsa) and tacos.  They also compost, which is a nice feeling when you bus your own table.

Five Spot: one of six restaurants owned by the local Chow Foods chain, this Queen Anne location never fails to have a crowd of people outside waiting for seating.  The sign states they specialize in regional American food, but that never means burgers & fries.  With a rotating menu in addition to a staple of regulars (the jambalaya is my favorite), the food can range from Polish sausage (when the menu is out of Chicago) or five cheese macaroni (when the theme is Wisconsin.)  It’s definitely a wonderful thing to go to a favorite neighborhood place knowing you’ll always have a few surprises to pick from.

Dragonfish:  I had to include a location with a dim sum brunch and this downtown location is my favorite.  Across the street from the historic Paramount, this is a prime place for anyone visiting from out of town.  For dinner, I prefer the yaki soba but the sushi and meat dishes are always excellent as well.

I know I didn’t include any of the numerous places to eat pho, renowned Ezells, or any location south of downtown.  Believe me, there are tons more places but this is a good starting point, especially for visitors.

I tag anyone a good distance from the Pacific Northwest who doesn’t see their region represented on this list.  Looking at you, Maryam, Selina & Meg.

I rarely pay much attention to fashion shows given their fantastic nature & complete separation from the reality of wearing clothes to an office every day, but I really loved the look of Louis Vuitton’s floral headdresses.  Though perhaps the only real-world translation of this look might be on a bride, I’d like to think this would work for a trip to the beach, for a nice dinner, or even at a garden party.

Apparently, I’m not the only one with that opinion  This bright, extravagant headdress is by Samantha Sultana.  Between it’s overblown height and her dark coloring, it’s hard not to think of Frida Kahlo.  She offers less ornate pieces for those of us with a little less chutzpah.

At 32.00 and 40.00USD respectively, these will dress up any outfit for a lot less than a tiara.

My Netflix queue is beyond out of control so I have no idea why or when I added The Long Hot Summer to the ever-growing list of movies I rarely have time to watch.  The plot, a mishmash of two Faulkner stories, is one of those steamy Southern melodramas with lots of shouting about ‘fiery women’ and brandy drinking.  Contrary to what you might think, I actually like that kind of thing, especially if the costumes and actors are pretty.

Made in 1958, this was the Mr. & Mrs. Smith of the 50s; Paul Newman left his wife for Joanne Woodward shortly after the completion of this film and they had a child a little more than a year later.  And do I envy Joanne Woodward or what?

Holy cow, peeps, he’s actually hotter than Brad Pitt.

But I’ll stop drooling long enough to share some screen caps of the lovely dresses.

Joanne played the stuffy sister and her costumes tended to match that persona.  Lee Remick, on the other hand, was rarely out of the wiggle dresses that I see replicated everywhere these days.  I can’t imagine what kind of undergarments she was strapping herself into, but her waist sure does look tiny.

This church bazaar scene caught my eye if only for the portrait collar on the dress of the girl on the far left.  I wonder if she bribed the costume department to get her hands on the best dress in this scene.

This dress was the closest Joanne Woodward got to wearing anything revealing.  The cut was very form-fitting though the collar was obviously quite modest.  Love the brooch, too and reminds me I shouldn’t shy from wearing my own.

I haven’t been to the University District Street Fair in years.  With my new obsession in all things crafty, I knew I would have a new perspective on all of the booths, displays, and goods.  So we went partially as shoppers but also for inspiration–if only because I’ve been contemplating taking part in something similar (though on a smaller scale.)

Because of a vet appointment for the new cat, we got there a bit later than I would have hoped.  It wasn’t too crowded–not yet shuffling-like-cattle-speed, but it soon got that way.

Despite the crowds, we did have fun perusing the ceramics, checking out the jewelry and people-watching.  The booth which caught my attention the most was one carrying vinyl goods.  With handbags, business card holders, clutches and even hair clips, MishMash had just about anything you could want.  Her bags & accessories are carried by lots of local businesses, but she also does custom orders. 

For more photos, feel free to check out my flickr.

There’s nothing like a sunny afternoon, listening to a mix of new music (LCD Soundsystem, Feist, and Pink Nasty) and sewing something that’s for yourself.

It’s also pretty nice to package things up to send around the country (MJ, your package is on it’s way), draft some ideas for jewelry, and still have time to run out for prosciutto tortellini for a late dinner.  And the sun only just started to set as I tucked into my food.

Love summer.

Irony is a vegan shoe store in a former butcher shop. 

I stumbled across Moo Shoes, whose selling point is their cruelty free products, while browsing online.  Yes, they have the eyesores that are Earth Shoes and Birkenstocks, but they also have some really cute basics at reasonable prices.

The sandals are as simple as a flip flop without looking anywhere near as terrible.  And I know Gwen and her L.A.M.B. line beat houndstooth into the ground, but I still really like these buckle flats.  $60 and $36, respectively.

They also have bags and other acessories.  Given that my overnight bag has just about had it, I’m definitely in the market for something a bit oversized that I can shove various crafty projects into.

Love the pockets and the rich browns on this one.  And there are lots more on the site. 

The boyfriend and I unexpectedly stumbled into Point Defiance Zoo on their busiest day of the year.  We still enjoyed all of the exhibits despite the crowds–I’ve never seen so many strollers lined up outside a building ever.

Though the tapirs and small Asian otters made me smile, the aquarium filled me with awe.  The colors in the tanks of the spinefish, sea dragons, and razor fish had me longing for more bright blue in my bead collection.  The stark beauty of the beluga whale had me browsing for glossy white.

And we’ll just have to wait & see how these colors inspire me.

Beluga and peacock photos by the boyfriend.

I think it might have been Emily who first made me remember when I sported thigh highs a la Clueless back in high school.  Of course, her take on knee socks was much more vintage and quaint in style rather than the posh, slightly titillating look Cher & Dion were going for back in 1995.

Socks as an accessory that can be worn past primary school without looking cutesy or regressive–it’s not something I’m sure I could pull off.  But these femmes on Facehunter’s site show that it is possible.

The first pic has a slight menswear thing going on with the colors and textures.  The ballet flats and off-shoulder top keep it feminine, though.  The second pictures is just vintage charm all around.  It’s coy & sweet without being cloying, probably because she keeps the colors so simple & neutral.

I’m off to Sock Dreams to see if I can’t find my own perfect pair.

My inspiration in making jewelry is rarely straightforward but if you’ll bear with me, at least you’ll get to see some teeny amphibian fingers.

My good friend Travis has had newts for more than a decade.  Yes, the same ones; apparently some amphibians can live that long when there are no predators or scarcity of prey to threaten their existence.  When the boyfriend saw them, he had to have his own.  A few trips to a variety of pet stores later, and Winston and Franklin were installed in the equivalent of the newt palace–because the boyfriend is incapable of doing things by halves.

Winston is a pig and will eat anything you put in front of his myopic face.  Franklin, however, nearly wasted away on the pellets & bloodworms we were trying to feed him–but which he refused to eat.  The boyfriend finally gave in &  bought crickets.  Franklin ate them like they were the nectar of the gods and now eagerly comes up to the glass whenever he sees us in expectation of his next meal.

Part of the reason we were reluctant to buy crickets is the maintenance.  They have to be alive for the newts to show any interest in them, which means they need their own container as well as food.  In the past (with lizards and other childhood pets) the boyfriend had kept them in a tupperware with a piece of lettuce or potato–which rapidly starts to smell.  Now, however, with modern technology engineering even cricket food, there is a sweet-smelling cube in a bright unnatural green; the crickets feast on it with no idea of their fate.

That’s why I couldn’t resist these beads:

The second pair I actually made in duplicate because I love these beads so much.  Both are in the shop.

Newt photos by the boyfriend.

Someone needs to let Stephen Colbert know these puppies are only 44.99 on Overstock.com.

Because patriots need jewelry, too.

The second wedding I’m attending this year will be very different from the first; much more traditional with eight bridesmaids, a big church, and crying matrons of honor.  I’ve decided to wear the same black J. Crew dress I wore to my first anniversary dinner with the boyfriend.  For shoes, however, I’ve decided to get something floral.

I usually don’t go for prints on shoes, much less flowery ones, but there’s something sweet about this look that I think will contrast nicely to the black dress.

These two pair are available on ebay for 14.99 and 19.99 respectively.  I honestly can’t decide which is better–the navy pair definitely have a sexy kick to them but I’m not a huge fan of ankle straps.

Then there is this amazing pair by Charles David.  However, being that they’re priced at 92.00 and I’m likely to wear these puppies no more than a couple of times a year, I’m reluctant to splurge.  Thoughts?

I am so in love with ginkgo leaves at the moment.  I had to pick up this fabric, not just for the colors but the simple, elegant pattern.

And these tiny plates by Sumiko are making me crazy.

Want!

The boyfriend couldn’t resist making playful jokes about Wallace & Gromit after I picked up this frightening looking thing:

The reason I bought this thing–and it’s big, you could seriously brain someone with it–is because I was determined to use grommets in the purse I just finished. 

It’s embarrassing how long it took me to actually start cutting the fabric and putting this together.  It was late March when I ordered the handle and fabric and it just….sat there while I did….something.  I’m really pleased with the a-line shape and the grommets were cake to put in–though it might have helped if I’d read the instructions first.

In other news, I’m happy to announce that MJ’s suggestion blew me away.  If you couldn’t already tell by the addition to my links, Belle Epoque grabbed my attention in multiple ways.  She’s a prolific crafter, posting even the losers of her projects.  She’s also a sewer, which I’m getting more and more sucked into with each completed project (Apologies to the yarn-lovers, but knitting is starting to feel so labor intensive–we’ll see how I feel when winter hits, though.)  Also, the site is designed with an aesthetic I wish I could replicate. 

Thanks so much for all of your suggestions–it was real fun to filter through all of these sites.  MJ, I’ll be in touch.