Or maybe it should be, life through a keyhole? Sometimes, I find the concept of internet spaces to be so amusing because it can feel much like watching lives through a pinhole. So much goes on in a person's life, so many facets, but we focus in on one (or a handful) for a blog post, and voila, that becomes the recorded moment… A representation of a life. Fun, wacky, wild, somber, sparkly, whatever it is becomes part of the reel. Often it keeps us going back for more. Like a novela.
It is fun to watch, which is probably why we peek into the sharing of others and take part in sharing bits of our own world. It's fun!
So, in my pinhole in time, I went to the city house early yesterday, while I waited for a friend to have a medical procedure ( I was her driver). It was still raining. We never have day long rain. Ever. 3 days of nonstop drizzles, unheard of. This is so wonderful. The plants are just loving it.
My courtyard at the city house is full of beloved green growing creatures. The ferns above, were given to me in tiny little plastic containers. Tiny 99 cent ferns. 3 of them. I planted them, and they took off. Aren't they happy ferns?
The garden only gets morning sun and I think the plants love that because, this has been one madly thriving space since I started planting in it… A dirt filled garden, open to any budding offerings, that kept me company during early twenties emotional quests. It filled voids and thoughts. It grew, and as it grew so did my heart and mind…
But that's a whole other story.
Sooo, as I waited for my friend in the early morning hours, I played in my closet. I wanted to grab my vintage boots that were a gift from Mister Lovee circa, ages ago. But that lead to something else…
You see, I was in highschool in the early nineties. I got residual 80's fashion mixed with a small town that had a mind of its own regarding fashion trends. So let's see, I guess you can say, it was 80's mixed with discothèque chic, sprinkled with rocker girl and a tiny teensy hint of grunge, and then tied with a Mexican television soap (novela) + European twist ribbon.
What does that leave you with? Well, for discothèque nights at least, you got monster rhinestone earrings…
So, I did get sucked into a bit of that, but I threw in my own retro + vintage + romantic love into the mix… And guess what? I still have almost all of it. Including giant tree stump platforms from the seventies that I got for 25 cents in 1992. Oh, and I also raided my grandmother's stash of fab late 60's wear when I ws a teen, but I can't find a lot of it. Nevertheless, I do have other vintage garments readily available…
I looove old vintage sweaters/cardigans. This one is lovely in person, but it is getting very fragile…
In my highschool days, the spaces in the mall that now hold J.Crew, J.Jill and Banana Republic, used to house shops like Contempo Casuals, Judy's & Dolly's. Do you remember any of those?
I still have an abundance of proof that those shops existed –
I guess crosses were all the rage back then. I still have all of mine, including a jeweled 6 incher. And, I still love them…
My Mom suggested I take some of my highschool graduation pictures in a black spaghetti strap palazzo pant jumpsuit and giant star earrings covered in crystals, that were bigger than my head. She said it would be a cute memory of the times… Oh, it's a memory alright 😉
Playing dress up or hair do's is fun, but it is exhausting. I used to have to pay my sister to play dress up with me when we were kids. She was a toughie… She would always escape and hide if I needed to go raid my Mom' stash and get another can of Sebastian extra hold hairspray or Aussie scrunch spray.
Oh speaking of dress up, in a quest for a certain Margiela boot, I came across A Sea of Shoes. It seems I am the last shoe/fashion lover on the earth to know about Jane (Jane Aldridge). Her Mom, Judy is a former model and an interior designer. She has a vintage shop online… I l-o-v-e Judy's dining room…
Anyhowwwww – this is the 80's residue + early 90's disco drawer. Am I scaring you? I scare myself ;) I tell you, I have lived 10 lifetimes in my little life… The only thing catches me by surprise is when I am called Ma'am. Or is this the part where, you think you are still a kid but you are a full blown adult on the outside? Someone warned me that would happen 😉
C'est la vie ;) I'll take anything, Ma'am, Miss, Lady, anything, as long as I am alive and having a blast! Woo hoooo!! And, aren't we having a blast?
Yes, we are! Even though there is a little guilt after a bit of this. Poor lobstah. My friend wanted lobster after her procedure. Can you believe it? And after what she had been through, I said of course, lobster is just what we need!! I have to admit, it was delightful.
I was trying to help her crack her lobster because she was too weak to do it herself. Just as I started to help her, a lobster claw flew out of my cracking tool, up into the air and landed on the floor. We giggled so much. I am still giggling about it. Her lobster was huge and strong, mine was dainty and easy to crack…
We were such a mess after that…
What a day that was. I returned to the country house, where life is polar opposite to the city world.
15 rabbits greeted me into the shoeless tale filled world that I so love. Cool breezes billowed my skirt and kissed my cheek, reminding me that this is where my heart lives…
A place where a man-boy fills my radio flyer with flowers…
Feeds birds out of the palm of his hand…
And, puts up with me wanting to listen to the new Tori Amos album, and slow dance grooves with me, cheek to cheek when I find a song I like. Fire to your plain… While I explain to him that you can't listen to Tori expecting what she did in the past. You have to treat her new music as if you just met her… I have been listening to her since 1992, and she has changed vastly, but I still keep an open mind…
After which, he plays a few tunes for me himself…
Oh and by the way, Mister Mad Hatter Lovee, dressed himself for the Mad Hatter photo shoot. He is a real mad man, I tell ya. I don't have to con him into anything. He actually has helped me break out of my shell in some ways. If he had had his way, the photos shared would have been madder than I was willing to display 😉
Today brought a super wonderful yard sale down a dirt road, a street across from my street…
And lots and lots and lots of treasures, yipppppeee!!
So, my treasure desire is fulfilled for the week. I spent all Friday night, moving my entire bookcase to the other side of my room. So, havoc ensues in my boudoir. Helpers? Elves? Anyone? 😉
Tomorrow I paint all day…
Oh, and on my photos, since many asked. I am using photoshop, and since I have never taken a photoshop class, I am kind of winging it, playing with layers and gradients, and making filters and borders myself. It's so addicting!!
I suppose I best be off, I am going into town now, to my old office to bring stuff to my office at the studio. It is almost done, thank goooodness!! (yes I still have a bit of a double life, can you believe it? I can't.)
Oh and, if you want to see two good movies. The Railway Children, just wonderful! And Miss Austen Regrets. I netflixed them. I also saw The Station Agent which I enjoyed…
Okay, I have rambled for days… off I go!! Tons of lovely wishes to you!!
🖤 ,V
ps: Tea Party Madness is seeping in. The list is in my right hand sidebar, and you can still sign up with plenty of time ;) I am going to disable my regular blog roll until after the party, then I will able it again, so it isn't so hard to decipher the lists….
Always a delight to visit here…what a big couple of days you’ve had little girl!
Ah, yes, I often feel like I am viewing other lives through a “pinhole” (through blogs) as you call it!
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I so remember the gargantuan disco earrings, the Sebastian Hair Spray and Aussie Scrunch Spray along with all the other myriads of fashion faux pas’ that were committed during that time, LOL!
I’d love to see your vintage sweater collection sometime! I love vintage cardigans, too! I’ll bet your collection is gorgeous!
That was sweet of you to help your friend out by taking her to a medical procedure. I’m sure she was very grateful for your help. How kind of you to spoil her with lobster, too!
Thanks for the fabulous post!
((Hugs)),
TattingChic
FIFTEEN RABBITS?
It’s not faaaair!
what a terrific post!
even though I’m only now realizing through the pinhole, that I”m old enough to be your father…graduated in the nineties, indeed!
haarumph
fun, fun, fun post
It is, as you say, such fun to see little snippets of other’s lives! Loved the tour of your wardrobe-it is great to keep things I think as it is just so hard to believe the different people we have been.
As for the elves, I am afraid I had booked them all to help me to sort out my book shelves-but they didn’t turn up here either! Can you believe that?
Sarah x
Well, I can’t say that I can connect on your 80’s, 90’s clothing/shoes/jewelry, but I grew up in the 70’s – full of bell bottoms, bad hair, and platform shoes. Hey, maybe it wasn’t that different after all! Have a fun holiday weekend!
Popping in to say a belated hello & wish you a wonderful Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Chris (-:
I felt like I was smiling and laughing, walking along with you on this post. You are definitely a creator of joy. Blessings dear.
Too much eye candy too much eye candy!!!!!
{{{self implodes for a little minute}}}
Oh, yeah, the 80s and 90s, sure I was there. Totally. Like Omigod!
Awesome retro walk..wait..retro? You mean we dont dress like that anymore?
{{{takes ponytail flipped on right side down and removes shoulder pads}}}.
Right. I’m all better now.
Oh, Lovee! A wagon full of flowers. And that pic of him playin…heeeyy, hold on a tic…those curly locks, smooth dressing guy….is Lovee the Mad Hatter or Carlos Santana???
Hee. Congrats on uber scores at neighborhood yard sales!!
xoxoxox
PS Trade ya all my crosses and gold and silver bangles for those boootttsss!!!
I loved how you write about your fashion influence. I was a teen of the 80’s..all with my day glow earrings, my favorite was hot pink lighting bolts I use to wear, my head filled with Duran Duran, passion for buttons filled all over my jeans jacket.
Truth is I’m still looking to get another updated version of my lighting bolt earrings!! Sometimes the 80’s still lingers on…
you know, it’s a rare occurance, but every once in a while i will pass someone on the street who has used aussie scrunch spray and it brings back soooooo many memories of high school for me – i am a totaly 80’s kid – and all those shots of bespangled lovlieness – especially the crosses – just makes me want to drag out my siouxsie and the banshees and do the breakfast club dance!
I thought I was the only one who still had her high school wardrobe! Only mine’s from the sixties and considered vintage, I guess. Sigh~~that makes me feel so old :~/
I had “outfits”~~the shoes, the purses and the jewelry too. I had to look like I had just stepped out of the pages of “Seventeen”! I couldn’t walk out of the house with out my eyeliner and mascara, oh, and white lipstick at one point! I was such a fashionista back then. Those days are gone~~now I just like to be comfortable :~)
And of course I remember Judy’s~~I loved that store! I even have a pin of the Judy’s Girl!
This has turned into a mini blog~~thanks for making me feel a little bit better about holding on to those memories! Hmmm, we could stage a fashion extravaganza of our high school wardrobes!
Vanessa..you can take the simple goings of a day and turn them into magic. You observe each nuance and notice the details. I adore that!!
White lipstick in the 90’s?! That’s a hoot, Vanessa! I just had another idea, too~~paper dolls of your costumes over the years :~)
I LOVE what you did with your photos!
~elaine~
You’ve been a busy lady Ms. V! I do love what you are doing with your pictures too, very cute! I love all of your vintage clothes, shoes and finds…you racked up at the neighbors yard sale, so fun! I can’t believe Jane is only 17…amazing and great style! I just have the feeling my 8 year old will do something like that one day while she’s young. So brilliant, and totally in her own little whimsical world, not all a bad thing I don’t think. She already has tons of ideas swirling around in her head, it’s fun to watch. Such an entrepreneur already, tee hee. Hope you have fun painting, I have loads more work to do this weekend too but Hershey Park was a blast!
Chat soon,
Jamie 🙂
You know what would be an especially wonderful treat? A small video (like the one you made of your rain day) of Mister L. playing that bass!! Just a whimsy of an idea!!!
Hola Vanessa!!!
Como siempre es muy agradable pasar por tu casa tan calida y magica.
Los 80 y los 90 fueron epocas muy bonitas de las cuales tengos recuerdos maravillosos.
Me anoto para el “Tea Party” la vamos a pasar genial ese dia.
Ya me lleve el boton a mi blog.
Un beso enorme.
Jorgelina
That was FUN! Makes me think of Mamma Mia and her little reunion with old friends! Remembering the clothes and fun we had back when!
Oye Chicita!!
Thank you for solving a mystery that has vexed me for months, well since I set up my little casita in Bloglandia. I now have the answer to why I fit so easily here… my pin head (and trust me on that, I have to wear kids hats and glasses!) fits rather nicely through that Bloglandian Pin hole!!! 🙂 Yippeeeee one less “how come” question answered 🙂
Chicita, I want to do a round robin travel journal. Yeaaa we are going to visit any places in the whole world or “nother world” we have ever wanted to visit!!! You know like book a seat on the Lunar Moth for a trip to la luna 🙂 or the pink city of Petra!! This will be so much fun. Not to worry the expedition won’t be leaving until after the M.H. Tea Party, I can’t break the teddies hearts. Stop by my blog and let me know if your knapsack is itchin for a trip. I’ll post more on my blog in a day or so. Just need to figure out the logistics of things.
Oh and if you want to bring friends or if this sounds like a trip of a life time to you guys reading my note, come on over and join the fun 🙂
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mx.
I just LOVE what you are doing to your photos these days. They resemble old paintings!!!
I have a laundry group on flickr, you should add your shirt photo to the group 🙂
I’m challenged with invites and codes so I have to invite people the old fashioned way..in blog comments!!! 🙂
Mr. Lovee is a real man, I could tell by that previous post when he donned the stripey tights…he is very secure in his manhood. That’s very cool.
🙂
Enjoy lady!!! Have a great week xoxo
I would go absolutely mad in your closet! I would not be able to part with anything 🙂 I have a small collection of cardigans too…it’s an article of clothing I MUST have!
I loved Mr. Lovee’s stripey tights and his tennis shoes…awesome!
Have a wonderfully, magical day.
Love,
LuLu~*xoxo
Oh…that yard sale looked like a treasure trove of loveliness…then again, so does your closet!!
oh, first…I loved Miss Austen Regrets!!
Your posts are getting even more wildly beautiful these day, my dear! 🙂 Such lovely pictures and all the photoshop magic! love!! 🙂
I think I was a couple years behind you in school…you probably would not have given me the time of day!! tee hee!! Silly little me! 😉 I was an R.E.M. addict in the early 90’s….and the B-52’s too! What a time!! tee hee!! 🙂 And all the while scouring thrift shops for 60’s frocks and beehive wigs……that’s when the things in the thrift shops were fro the 50’s and 60’s…..not the 80’s and 90’s! You could get things so cheap!! Sigh……alas! If I had only known!! I would have taken more pretties home!! 🙂
I love love love what you are doing with your photos…still love the old, but love the experimenting. All so beautiful, but for some reason, I really like the Laundry photo…it is so peaceful, so light. Brother, the one I call Terminal Hippie (he is also an artist) asked me to tell you that your photos should be hanging in a museum. **blows kisses** Deborah
Fun Stuff! I too have lots of jewelry from the 80’s. It’s a lot of fun to look thru it sometimes and remember the outfits I had and what I wore with them. I had a lot of shoes too but after having my first son (swollen feet and ankles) I couldn’t fit in them anymore and ,alas, had to give them up. I remember a bright purple pair of pumps fondly.
Ah memories, Thank you for sharing your lovely items with us.
Take care,
Tracy M.
I wanna come shopping in your closet!!!
oh me oh my!! I can’t believe you found that trunk at a yard sale!! What magic!! I love looking at old adds…..I have an 1880 edition of The old Curiosity Shop (part one….it’s one of the serials) and there are the most curious adds in the back….strange concoctions that will relieve the dropsy, you know. 🙂 My favorite are “Blairs Pills” the Great English Remedy for Gout, Rheumatism, and kindred complaints”….oh and Thurston’s Tooth Powder sold at all Fancy Stores!! tee hee!! 🙂 Perhaps I should post about it sometime!!? hmmmmm….
I love the new look of your photos…If I only had time to play with it like you!
What we reveal and what we hide is what makes us so mysterious, don’t you think? You are so out there for us to admire and follow and oogle, but yet you are hidden in the shadows of your trees and the folds of your crinolines. Have a wonderful day, Miss V!
Enjoy the day!
xox
E
LOOK at that bass!!!
Tresor Galore!
You deserve!
So happy for your grand two day adventure. It’s kind of a special anthropological dig don’t you say? Nice score!
And Lovee’s the absolute best model in the world!
xox
Constance
Mr. Lovee is in a league of his own – and so are you, so a perfect match! Love the lobster tale. Can’t believe you still have all those clothes and accessories; they’ll probably come back in again! Or perhaps you’ll create a new/old trend. Wish I’d been with you at the garage sale! xoxox
I am enjoying my journey and I see you are enjoying yours as well. Okay…back to my color and light.
Hugging you
SueAnn
Beautiful blog with great informational content. I have know a lot about this news ! TKS !
Hello,I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.
Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed your most recent post. I think you should post more often, you obviously have natural ability for blogging!
I love the new look of your photos…If I only had time to play with it like you!
What we reveal and what we hide is what makes us so mysterious, don’t you think?