Shine and Sparkle at the Santa Monica Flea

The Santa Monica Airport Antique & Collectible Market is a feast for the eyes (and a drain on the wallet). It's within walking distance of my abode, which is DANGEROUS.

I already posted these photos on IG, but not all of you go there.
Enjoy!

First the shiny stuff:

This and the next are rugs. Um, yeah.

How would one clean this?

Another rug, more practical

Other cool things

The perfect umbrellas for the Year of the Dog

HULA PIE!!!!!!

Oh Ken with your laser eyes and man bag.

Red, white, and blue

Rim reflections and red Danskos

I bought two items, I'll show you the Ajrakh textile from Gujarat (Vix has been there!)
Here I am wrapped in it on my way home:

click image to embiggen, I didn't reduce this photo

It smells just like the Indian textiles of my youth!

Linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

SpyCam: Our Lady of Klamath Falls

Spice of the Pilot Truck Stop

Posh on top, Sporty on bottom. With some Scary mixed in for flava.

Note: this was missposted, onto my travel blog, On the Edge: US. Oops!
Blogging from my phone is a challenge!

SpyCam: Fun Feet in Venice CA

[Enid] P is for Patucci's Knit Scarf

[ENID]

Transcription:  

4.18 P
Oh Preety Pleeeese let me go get my Party on!
Who made the rule about working on Saturdays anyway?
Prig.

Peaches on the Digital Catwalk and Shining Stars

CREATED/ LINKS/

Shining Star, by Earth, Wind & Fire, came up on my iPod the other day, during my morning commute. After replaying it about five times (or maybe more -- it got me from the 405 @ LAX to the 605 x 60), I thought about the SHINY 52 Pick-me-up sketch still in need of completion. I was also listening carefully to the lyrics (see below) and thought about all the Shining Stars in my universe.
Then I arrived at the day job, got slammed with a load of work, and was "forced" off the internet for days.
"What? You want me to WORK at work????"

Anyway.

Meet Peaches, the Queen of Diamonds!

Peaches of Peaches McGinty

I have SO many sketches in need of coloring. And instead, I'm in the midst of completing my Sketchbook Project 2014, which changed course and is now of maps of all my US road trips. That's due postmarked 1/15. Why do I always do this to myself? Ah well, pedal to the metal.

Wanted you all to know you're my shining stars!



Lyrics:

Yeah, hey
When you wish upon a star
Dreams will take you very far, yeah
When you wish upon a dream
Life ain't always what it seems, oh yeah
Once you see your light so clear
In the sky so very dear

You're a shining star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
That you can truly be

Shining star come into view
Shine is watchful light on you, yeah
Gives you strength to carry on
Make your body big and strong
Future roads for you to pass
Love to watch your mug past

The shining star, lucky you
The sinful redeeming shall be true
On an adventure of the sun, yeah
Yeah it's all awake and just begun
Yeah, thought I had to stir the mood
That's it now I got my own oh yeah

So if you find yourself in need
Why don't you listen to his words of heat
Be a child free of sin
Be some place, yes I can
Words of Wisdom: Yes I can

You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be
You're a shinig star, no matter who you are
Shining bright to see what you can truly be

Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be
Shining star for you to see, what your life can truly be

[source: above YouTube video]

Shiny Objects Are Closer Than They Appear

CREATED/ PURCHASED/ GIFTED/ LINKS/

Severo and I both had Saturday off, time for a date!
The night before, I gave him parameters for our breakfast dining: within 3 miles radius of home and before 10am. (It gets crowded in eateries after 10 on the weekend, especially with this glorious weather we've had).
He found a new place, Cafe Buna, in Marina Del Rey. Their prices were a little higher than I like to pay (over $10), but our coffees and breakfasts were great. Only the grits were lackluster, we brought them home for doctoring. Service was fantastic.

After breakfast, Severo asked if it was OK if we made a detour before going home. It was to M Street Bakery on Main Street in Santa Monica for sweets. Let's just say M stands for Mmmmmmmm. The chocolate chip cookies are maybe the best I've had in soCal. They were REALLY good. If I get my act together, I'll go into more detail over on Dessert Safari. Note: we just ate the apple oatmeal cookie and that is great too. Two for two -- we'll be back.

Then we walked and explored Main Street.
Which is where the shiny objects come into play.

Giant shiny fork

Shiny script sign that has seen better days. Severo demonstrates.

We found the best shiny thing of all -- a Christmas tree formed out of shopping carts!

You can find it at the Edgemar complex, 2415 Main St. It was designed by Anthony Schmitt.
Read about it here.
 
Did I wear something shiny? Sort of.

The skirt with metallic threads that wreaks havoc at airports.
Subtle, to the naked eye.

Metal mix of
copper threads in the skirt and golden dragon brocade.
Dashes of leopard for extra sizzle.

I'm linking up with Patti's Visible Monday.

Meanwhile, Mixed Metals fortnight continues. You have PLENTY of time to join the party!
Have something shiny planned for a New Year's Eve party? Do share!

52 Pick-me-up: Holiday Ornaments and Mixed Metals

PURCHASED/ PURLOINED/ GIFTED/ 

Merry Christmas to everyone that celebrates!
To everyone else, it's Wednesday, and the 52 Pick-me-up Show goes on.
This week, GET SHINY!
Nothing shiny in your closet? How about accessories? Or look around the house -- your kitchen is FULL of shiny objects! Or steal something from the Christmas tree. Or your goofy New Year's Eve hat (which you can also share on Style Crone's January Hat Attack). Or find some glitter and dump it on yourself. I authorize you to get creative and/or silly!

I will keep the linky up an extra week, so you won't have to fake your New Year's look. Aren't I generous? [No sketch decided until 1/7/14]. Multiple links encouraged. Instagrams, Twitter pix, (hashtag #52pickmeupstyle) -- have at it.

I wore this shiny ensemble to my department luncheon last week (that's called planning ahead):

Wait. You MUST see a close-up of the purse:

I purchased it for $5 at Pic N Save (RIP). Don't you love the ball on the zipper pull? There used to be two, but one of the cats chewed the other one off.
Probably Chuey. He has that name for a reason!

"Who, me? I'm innocent!"

Come on everyone, get your shiny on!

Gluttony in Little India: Shopping

In Part 1 of Gluttony in Little India, I showed you some of what Deborah, her husband David and I ate at Jay Bharat.

Now, let's shop!

We always stop at Cottage Art.
On my last visit, I saw these vintage purses. I had to get one this time before they were all gone: 

Mirrors, cowrie shells, silver tassels, embroidery, pattern mixing... LOVE

We usually venture no further than the one block of Pioneer Blvd between 187th and 186th. Call us lazy.

There are many sari shops, ranging from fancy encrusted wedding ensembles to more quotidian styles. New-to-us is Sahara Vintage Boutique, which has a huge array of tunics, scarves, saris and even some household goods (why didn't I get the cute yellow orange squeezer? WHY?) All items have been donated and a percent of the proceeds benefit the Sahara organization, which helps battered women in the SoCal South Asian community.
There was way too much to choose from...

Tunic too small (curse you fat arms).
Tie dye pattern caught with trusty iSpyPhone

Another too small tunic, grrrrrr.
Don't you love the beaded tassels?

New scarf -- I never have size issues with scarves
$8!

New sari, which I'll probably refashion into a tunic.
It has a transparent black/white windowpane plaid with strips of printed cotton (more solid white ground area at bottom)
only $10!

Here's the scarf from the ensemble that FINALLY fit...
3-piece set: tunic, scarf, and pants for $15!!!

Styling experiment #1 -- too matchy matchy.
Maybe what I'll wear for the OTIS Benefit rehearsal on May 4th...

What I wore to teach in on Saturday -- you can't see the orange skirt/dress that I'm wearing underneath.

One of the things I love about living in Los Angeles are all the ethnic enclaves.
We are able to (almost) travel the would, without leaving the LA basin.