How do you guys do it?

It has been forever since I last posted... I haven't been out thrifting in so long... I have been so lost in my world of accessories lately that I haven't had the money or time... not to mention the time to type endlessly to a blog. I would love to pick this back up again, but will I continue to not have time? No idea.
 

My "WHY" Blog....

Everyone gets to have a few of these. :D

 I have had a VERY bad day. Started as soon as I got up... and continued with me fighting with someone I have not known long, but that I respect and admire. My day has left me asking a BUNCH of Why questions... Here are a sampling of the things going through my random ass head....

   1st and most importantly - Why must I be limited in EVERYTHING I do?
  This one came from Facebook. I recently started up a page on Facebook to showcase all of the things I have been making. I am just starting out, but I have alot of background in making things. I started off on this page with earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.... a couple other random items. Now I have been working with more things and I want to expand, but I am being given advice to "earn the right" to expand. WTH?? I understand that to sell on Facebook (or anywhere else) I need to have a reputation as a trustworthy person and a trustworthy shop. I am willing to wait for that reputation, although I will always have haters. Everyone does. However, why should I limit myself to making just those things that I started off with just because someone else makes the same kind of item I am trying to expand into? Who in this world doesn't make something that someone else makes or has made?
  Example, I have been working on some very cute fascinator ideas. There are TONS of people who make fascinators. Does that stop the rest of them from trying to make them? Nope. I am certainly not going to go and make the SAME ONE as someone else... using the same materials and the same theme. I am going to use photos as inspiration of things I do not know how to do yet and then do it my own way... Is this not the way of the world?
  Does performing someone else's song at karaoke or making a cover of it mean that you are copying them? No.
  Does making a recipe for your family that someone else wrote or made FIRST (before you did) mean you are copying them?
   NO.
So why should me making fascinators, or anything else for that matter, mean that I am copying someone else? Like I said, if I were making it the exact same way, then I would be copying. But that's NOT what I'm doing. I have never seen things made exactly the way I am making them. With the same materials. etc.

  2nd and 2nd Most Important - Why is it that where I come from people accept you and expect you to be a good person, but here in So Cal, it is exactly the opposite?
  What happened to Your Word Being Your Bond and a Handshake Sealing a Deal? It's like everyone here expects you to be a cutthroat dirty bitch?
    That's NOT who I am. I was raised with morals... to stand up for what I believe is right and fair... to be completely real with someone... to see the good in people... What the Hell is wrong with the parents of these kids now-a-days? Noone values morals or respect anymore. Noone trusts anyone and noone can be trusted. Again, WTH??

Those are really the most important.... everything else can wait, I think.
  
  I just don't understand. I want MORE in life than a facebook shop or people that don't understand or respect me.


P.S. On an equally important note.... I GOT TO GO THRIFTING!!! I went to Gina's, because she wanted me to fix a necklace that she had. And I got 2 awesome bags of random broken jewelry for a GREAT deal because I was fixing her necklace. EEEEE!!!! I was so excited that I didn't even take pictures of it as I went through it. haha
   I'll have to dump out some stuff and show everyone.

 

Ok, I'm officially DEAD.

It's been more than a month since I went thrifting. My only consolation is the jewelry supplies I have been buying from Ebay for 99 cents each. I love my small start-up business and making things for it.
   I am actually working on booking some shoots with models with some unreleased items I have. I have been working on some avant garde sunglasses and fascinators. :) And they are turning out GREAT!!!
  But I am very disappointed that I haven't been thrifting. :(

Still No Thrifting... I'm DYING!! haha

   Still haven't been thrifting... but I DID get a mixed junk jewelry lot on Ebay, so that should be coming in and hopefully it will cure the itch for a bit... lol

    On a bright note, I made something utterly fantastic... didn't even know I could make it when I started, but I DID IT!!! haha

What do you think??? :D    

Working on some new stuff!!!

I just finished some custom owl earrings! Have a look!! (Sorry I couldn't get a better picture, I took it to her before I realized I hadn't gotten a better picture!)

I love them!!
    AND I made a custom fascinator.....

You like?????

Went to the swap meet today but all I got was 4 pounds of cherries for $5 and some socks. :( No good thrifty finds. I'm getting the itch so bad!!! I MUST go thrifting SOON!!!!!!!!!!!
     

Still No Thrifting... SIGH...

   I'm getting the itch... and it's not fun. :(

 I've been trying to create at home and have been making some cool things, but I feel the need to get out and THRIFT.

   For the heck of it, I'll share some things that I've made... I've been working on floral picks... they are so pretty and I can't wait to put them up on Etsy. I also have some vintage stuff to put up on there... (at least I'm pretty sure they are vintage... I would love some advice on how to spot it easily....!!! ) 

   Black Gem Picks.....

      Black Heart Danglies... For the Lover of the number 13... 13 black hearts, 13 bugle beads and 13 small round beads on each pick...

              Bat Danglies....

                                  Green Leaf Danglies...

                                   Pearl Picks.....

                   Purple Glitter Heart Picks.....

                                  Crystal Snow Heart Picks....

                             Purple Swarovski Loop Picks....



What do you think??? I'm also working on getting the beads to start making these..... Only BETTER... cuz these are WEAK.

They are pretty, but there are only 400 beads and they want $350 for one bouquet. I'm thinking of around 1000 beads for $200 or so... I haven't gotten it all calculated yet. Even if I do have to charge the same price though, I will have 3 times the beads on it to make it even sparklier. :)   I LIKE SPARKLIES. haha
  I also want to make some kind of like this...

     But again... better.... they want $350 for this one too!!!!!!!!!!


   Anyway, off to Etsy, I think!!! Hope everyone is having a good week and wish me luck on getting out to thrifting SOON!!!!!
   

Haven't been thrifting this week... Stupid sickness...

    So, as if being sick could make my life any worse, it took out all of my thrifting this week. :(
 I had a funeral and a wedding in the same week that I had to attend... even though I was sick... and each one made me even sicker... It started off as allergies and sinuses... which then turned to a sinus infection.. then on to a head cold. I am just starting to feel better today.
   On a lighter note though, the wedding was very pretty. Silver and purple were the colors and the bride looked absolutely beautiful. They aren't very close friends of mine, but are of my fiance's. A rather nice couple, if I may say so. Anyway, you know how they say a bride has a glow on her special day?? Yeah, this girl was glowing 15 feet around herself. She couldn't stop smiling.

               It makes a person wonder if there is such a thing as a "One True Love". 

She obviously has found hers... if such a thing exists in her world. :)

Trying to go out...

Well, the fiance and I have had the most stressful days yet these past two days. We found out yesterday morning that one of his friends... who was to turn 21 today... failed in his long fight with cancer. His funeral was today... we attended, of course.
  After we found this out, my step-daughter and I got into this big fight. She thinks she rules this house. WRONG. lol I won't give you the details, but I laid her arttitude out.
   Then, we were coming home from grabbing dinner and there were two dogs in our driveway. My fiance honked his horn a couple times and braked in front of them to get them to run away. (We would never run over a dog or a cat or any other animal....) The next door neightbor saw this and immediately started yelling at my fiance. "If that were my dog, I'd kick your ass, you stupid mother f&%$^." Well, of course, in a battle between men, testosterone wins. My fiance got pissed off and said something back... which wasn't even nearly as rude as the things this guy was saying. Well, he said a few things that were so rude to my fiance that I got involved in it, saying something to the effect of, "And what the heck makes you so amazing of a person to berate us like that?" To which he replied that I was a.... a-hem... c-word...

     Anyway, it was a very long drawn-out word battle in which he ended up relenting and apologizing profusely. Damn right he should apologize. Neither of us have ever done anything wrong to the guy. The whole feud with this guy started a few weeks ago when his dog took a dump in our yard. My fiance witnessed said event and asked the neighbor to pick it up. So, apparently asking someone to pick up their own dog's messings is an insult... which is funny because all dog parks and cities ask you to do the same. We do not have a dog for the exact reason that we do not want dog droppings all over our lawn. (Although I kinda want a little Jack Russell. :) )

    That was our yesterday. Today was crazy as well. We went to the funeral service at the funeral home and as we were getting ready to go to the burial, the step-child's mother called and asked us to come get her. Apparently, my step-child got the nerve to punch her mother. NOT COOL. And definately not condoned by anyone raising her. So, we had to run and pick her up and then take her to her very first funeral. Stressful couple of days.

   I'm sure I could have written this better. I love the way I write, but today, I am just too dang exhausted.

YAY for Gina's!!!! (Again! haha)

    So, ever since I met the owner of this store in San Bernardino, I can't quit going back. I have completely cleared her out of her crafting stuff so far. (Sad face)   Here's what I found at her store this week.

    A HUGE BAG OF BROKEN JEWELERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     A close up of some of the stuff inside...

      More stuff.... Honestly, I only have a sandwich size baggie of stuff I couldn't use from this. Gina gave me a great deal on it... and she even threw in a tray of wire and red glass beads for free with it. I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!! lol

    I only hope that when she gets more in, she calls me up to give me first dibs. I have to go back soon anyway to talk to her about extending some necklaces that she has. No problem!

   I also got this stuff at some other thrift stores.... these finds aren't quite as exciting, but I love them just the same!!!!

       I got ten of these tin containers.... they are an ugly yellow color right now, but I'm going to paint them and they will be AWESOME! 3 yards of the white star fabric... stem wire and a huge bag of thread. The moon thing is an oil burner. :)      

      Anyway, not much else new going on. I wrote a story and I have a publisher looking at it. He's not big time like penguin books or anything, but he's still a publisher, a friend, and a damn good guy. lol Let's hope something comes of it!!!!!!!

Confused...

     I am confused on how to take the news of Osama's death. I agree that a dead Osama is a good thing, but do we really need to be celebrating in the streets that he is dead? Maybe if it was only him, but think of all the innocent people who died trying to reach him. I don't feel right celebrating, but I don't feel right not saying anything either.... Hmmmm...

 
    On a lighter note, while I ponder my quandry and probably never come to a conclusion, I have been working on floral picks lately. Bouquet Jewelery of a sort. I went to a florist shop to ask them how they put them in and get an estimate on how much extra it would cost, but instead of him telling me what I was asking, he thought I should come in in a few weeks and talk to him about selling them to him. Awesome. :)
  It's hard to make things and present them to someone... It's almost like singing for the Amerrican Idol judges... the person you are presenting to is judging your talent. Judging something you are proud of. That you worked hard on. This time it worked out for me. I am still hoping someone likes my things on Facebook and Etsy and starts to buy them. Maybe someday I will have my own accessory line and have the money to do the Avant Garde designing that is in my head.

    Sorry this is such a short blog... I just knew that I needed to blog... so as not to lose your interest. I want to be remembered for some reason. Even if it is just by the people who read my blogs. haha

Queen... A sample of my poetry. :)

***Queen***

  Written May 2008         

                                     Blackest night

                                        World is on fire

                                            With heat from my gaze

                                                                                                                                     

 Blood, a deep crimson
  Pouring from necks
    Carefully cut

Destruction lies
    In a wide path
      Behind me

Bodies thrown to the side
  As one by one
                     They are slaughtered

A hundred pairs of eyes

 Watching
                          From a thousand different places

My arms covered
                             With scratches from fingernails
           Of fallen victims

Guards slain
       Pushed aside
                            I reach my destination

She who sits
                  In a throne of black
                                    Torturing innocent peasants

She who fails
  To see me
                             As I sneak into position

Arrow drawn from my quiver
  And lain carefully
         Across the bow

Aim delicate
                      As I watch her intently
                  Waiting to strike

Drawing silently
  For the one
                       Opportune moment

Her gaze landing on me
  Too late
             As I release the arrow

Her shoulder pinned
                To the throne of darkness
    I approach

Swiftness not deserved
  Dealt in haste
              To aid my escape

Mission completed
  As I slip away
          Into the night

On to the next
              That dares to harm
            My innocent

 

   It's dark, I know, but I like it. :) 

Just opened my Etsy account!!!

Can't wait to get listings up.

   Has everyone who's watching seen my Avante Hearte page on Facebook? It's where I show the stuff I make.
     www.facebook.com/avantehearte

Check it out!! 

  I'll be putting up some listings on Etsy tonight. I'm so excited!!!!


   On another note, the step-child has myself and her parents in a small bind. We don't know what to do any more. She is constantly lying to everyone. The lying is probably the worst problem we have, but she also tends to steal things, cause fights and distractions in class at school, and refuse to do her homework. We have tried grounding her... doesn't work... punishments like standing in the corner, pulling weeds for an hour, doing a huge pile of dishes, etc etc etc .... but nothing seems to work. We have tried talking to her about the problems and the being nice approach and none of it works. We try to explain what she did wrong every time it happens and we let her know when she has sarcasm in her voice so she can learn, but she always acts like it's our fault that she did something wrong. We don't know what to do at this point. We even put her through Scared Straight already.
     Anyone have any suggestions?   We are desperate to get her turned around at this point.

Rest of my thrifting Saturday... Timeless Treasures, House of Return, and The Address Boutique Resale

       Let's just get straight down to the reviewing, shall we?
  
     Ticktocker Timeless Treasures Thrift Store
       9441 Culver Blvd.
       Culver City, CA 90232
    Phone - 310-559-8338

This place was SO cute. It is in between a bunch of restaurants too, so I'll bet it gets quite a bit of business. Here's the outside... although it's not a very good photo, as there are these amazingly charming trees surrounding the outside...

     Here are my finds....

    Over-The-Knee High Patent Leather Boots... Reasons for purchasing, you ask??  One - Because I have the perfect dress for them... Two - Because I am confident I can make them look classy... and Three - Because, let's face it... Every woman needs a pair or two of HO shoes  (I have several... haha)  Wear your ho shoes with pride, ladies!! Just don't dress like a ho while you are wearing them! haha

                   The business card... :)

                    and crafty finds... a small bag of beads for $2 and some more bracelets and a necklace to take apart for $2.
     I spent only $8 here. The boots were on sale half off and only marked at $8 to begin with.... Ho heaven... hahahahahaha

   Anyway, the place is so well organized and the prices here are FANTASTIC! There is an art room, a furniture room, a book room... in which all the books are displayed nicely and even sorted into category...LOVE... and a gold room, which displays the best quality stuff and formal things. I found a GORGEOUS short prom dress here marked at only $29. BARGAINS GALORE.  The sales people are nice... so very sweet and kind-hearted... not to mention that they are willing to make a deal with you!!!!
     
             I cannot boast enough about Timeless Treasures.  So I'll only say one more thing....
                                       
                        SHOP HERE!

    Next, The House of Return... also in Culver City, right down the street from Timeless Treasures. I don't have the address and don't know that I would give it to you if I did. The main saleswoman was so nice and tried to make a deal with us on an Adidas jacket the fiance wanted, but the manager woman shut her down and we ended up spending only a dollar on two pieces of jewelery I could tear apart.  Everything I saw in here (except the 2 pieces we bought) were overpriced and the rest of the sales people were rude and didn't want to help anyone. The high point of this visit was a woman who asked my fiance to try on a jacket she was thinking about buying for her son. It was a great jacket. I wouldn't have paid that much for it, but for a gift for her son, she got it.    Maybe I just got a bad first impression, but you know what they say about first impressions.

      And lastly, the Address Boutique Resale store.
   
The Address to The Addess -
     1116 Wilshire Blvd.
     Santa Monica, CA 90401
  Phone - 310-394-1406

        

    First, I will tell you that this is not a THRIFT store. This is a RESALE store. Meaning if you are looking for a pair of Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, etc etc etc etc shoes, this is the place to go.
     The saleswomen are very nice, especially Crissy, the woman who helped me. I am kind of an independant shopper though, and I don't think they are used to that. The other two women would not stop watching me. I felt like since I was young, they thought I was going to try to steal something or something. Crissy, however, got that I was not wanting to be coddled, and just popped in to see how I was doing. Bless this woman.
    The prices, for what this place is, are amazing. I found a pair of Christian Louboutins here for $500 and some dollars, but they just did not fit me correctly. :(   Trust me, if they would have, I would have had me some heavenly red soles... no matter how much they cost.
   They also have a 30-day layaway program... LOVE!!!

  Overall, I loved this place, even though I couldn't find much that fit me. I ended up spending only $20 on two Free People Brand Long Sleeve Sweaters... which is a pretty good price. And the best part was that Crissy treated my measly $20 purchase like I was buying those precious Louboutins...
      And trust me, I will buy some Louboutins.... Crissy has my number on speed dial for some size 8 four- inch red-soled sex-on-a-high-heel shoes.... :)   Someday. :)
 

Thrift Store Reviews... American Way Thrift, The Yard Sale, and It's A Wrap!

      So, Friday, the man-candy and I started in Burbank, CA for a little bargain shopping.  Isn't that what I'm always doing? haha

    In Burbank, we went to 3 stores, all within a very short distance of each other on Magnolia Blvd.

     First, we found "American Way Thrift Store" - This place was the epitome of what thrift stores are commonly thought to be...  Dirty, Smelly, Overpriced..... RIDICULOUS. I found a few good deals for myself... what seemed to be the only gems in the entire store...

I found a forever 21 dress for $3, that's the colorful fabric, a fox brand white and argyle print sweater for $4, and "The Goddess Guide" - the pink book there... for only $2. I love this book. I might do a review on it later as it is so fun!

   The keychains to the left and the cups on top are going up for sale as soon as I get my sites up and running... SOON!!! YAY!!!!

     ---Reviewing this place is my task... the task I have given myself on this blog, so here goes... I'm afraid to say much, as the old saying goes "If you can't say anything nice...."

     This place was dirty, smelled like old sweaty body odor, and was way overpriced. I looked up at the specials board but only found 3 items that were on sale... all in horrible shape... stained, worn, etc. there was no dressing room (which doesn't bug me honestly). You stand in front of the entire store trying on clothes in front of mirrors on the wall. Like I said, this didn't bug me so much. I think the thing that bugged me worst, over the prices and the smell, was the customer service. I tried to speak to someone about some items that were laying in a pile - I thought they were part of the sale- but I was completely ignored. Several of the employees even bumped into me as I was shopping without saying sorry or even acknowledging that I existed.
     I decided to devise a test. There was a book that my fiance slightly wanted (not enough to buy for the original price they had marked on it... $4.99). It was a recent comic type book. The price was written on it and another book like it in red grease pen. So, fully intending not to buy them, mind you, we wiped the price off of them and took them to the counter. "How much for these?", we asked the 2 ladies at the counter. Each one of them made their own price for the first book.. originally $4.99. The first woman said $6. The second woman said $8.50. The first woman then said, "Oh, she's right, it's $8.50.
    The second book was also originally marked $4.99. This time the first woman stayed out of it completely and the second woman told us that it was $10.99. For a comic book that's not worth anything to anyone except my fiance because it had zombies in it. These books are selling on Ebay for 99 cents. I looked them up.
   We told them to keep them and bought the other items that you saw above.
               On the way out, I saw a teenage boy ask these ladies the price of the books and he was quoted $2.99 for each. He bought them. It makes me wonder if the color of mine and my fiance's skin had anything to do with it, to be honest. I'm no racist, that's for sure, but I think they might have been.... and I was apparently the wrong color. I will not be going back here for any reason.


     
On to the second store we visited... The Yard Sale... This place was completely different from the first. Here's the storefront...

                And the rack of 99 cent clothes out in front.  Nice brands here actually... American Eagle, Abercrombie, Forever 21, etc...

Their business card says "Come for our prices, Come back for the quality." And it is right.

This place was clean and organized. The inside was well stocked and kind of eclectic. It was very pleasant to shop here. In the end, I only bought a few things...

         All owls. Ok, so I'm obsessed. Most of these are for sale... in fact, everything in the top picture is. The bottom picture is mine. I love this little statue. It will look fantastic with my trinket collection.  :)

    Like I said, shopping here was divine. I will be going back to look through all their clothes, that's for sure.
The saleswoman, who seems to co-own the store's name was Ivone, and she was SOOOOO sweet. I found a broken necklace that I wanted to add some feathers to and re-sell and Ivone gave me a great price for it. She talked and joked with my fiance and pulled every owl ring out that she had for me to look at. Overall, this place was an A+. I recommend a visit if you are in the Burbank area or visiting it.

         The YARD SALE
       2022 W. Magnolia
      Burbank, CA 91506
     Phone - 818-736-5002


  Lastly, for this blog anyway, is It's A Wrap! Resale Store. This place deals mostly in reselling props from movies. The prices here are ok, for what it is. Props from the movies. lol    I found quite a few great deals in here, but didn't buy them.(Lucky Jeans worn in True Blood for $3, orange espadrilles worn in CSI for $8) I found a couple things I didn't want to leave without and they took priority. :) 

   An owl ring... in my size.. from the new movie featuring the girl that plays Quinn Fabray from Glee called "I Am Number 4." 

    A heavy, sparkly bracelet worn in the movie "Burlesque" with Cher and Christina Aguilera. I am looking for screen shots that show my items... I'll share them if I find them!!!!

    And two general merchandise items for crafting and for resale.

    These butterflies will be going on hats and hair accessories soon...

  

And these owl earrings are for sale, either as earrings (but they are kind of big), or as pendants with beaded strings. :)

It's A Wrap Prop Resale

3315 W Magnolia Blvd.

Burbank, CA

Phone - 818-567-7366

This day stayed good... I think the only negative critique I had was the first place, American Way. Everyone else was so nice and the service was so good. I can't wait to go back to It's A Wrap when I have more money and buy something awesome someone cool wore in some movie I really like. (like the burlesque bracelet) hahahahaha

I haven't watched "I Am Number 4" yet though... haha

Watch out for the rest of my day in the next couple blogs, to go up in the next couple of days!

Swap Meet Wednesday - $7 TOTAL!!!

   Black bag full of clothes for myself, the step-kid, my niece and nephew, as well as several to sell... I stuffed at least 30 pieces into this bag.... ALL FOR $1.

     Craft stuff... and a duckie on the top right...

     A box my step-child picked out for her jewelery.... $1.

    A notebook and pencil case for her for school...

 More crafty stuff... not a very good picture though... :(

                                                           The snake-skin purse :)

                              And 5 pairs of shoes....

                                                  I love Swap Meet on Wednesdays. :)

I realize... a blog for my readers.

    I realize that someone reading my blogs might not get a very good sense of who I am. So, in the best words I know how, as noone can explain themselves very well, I am going to try to fix that.
    
      I am 23... young, I know. You wonder if I have even had enough life experience to relate to you, right?
 
                                         I wish I didn't. haha

                      I wish I didn't have such a long 23 years.

    Let me start with the subject all women start with when they describe their lives. MEN. As if our lives as women simply revolve around the world of men. HA.  I don't think, since about 13, that I have been without a man however. Married at 16 due to a horrible incident when I was 11... you'll hear about this in my memoir eventually... to a verbally, mentally, and sometimes physically abusive husband. I was no angel either though... what do you expect of a married 16 year old who has never spread their wings?  Finally got out at age 20... to move 3,000 miles to California. In the past 4 years since I moved here there have been a military man with extreme depression from the two tours in Iraq that he served... (I know things I don't want to know) ... a few complete assholes that aren't even worth mentioning...and a moron who tried to tell me he was signed to a professional hockey player contract... (He told me we were moving to Canada for him to join his team and I actually believed him... IDIOT)...
    I won't talk about the new one... the fiance of a year... who has yet to be a major asshole... I refuse to jinx what seems to be a good thing. ;-)   Luv ya babe!

     How about talents? Is that a good subject to move to?
           I've been singing since I could speak. I was adopted by my grandfather on my biological dad (who I have never met)'s side and he has been in bluegrass bands most all of his life. Anyway, he would be practicing his songs, trying to learn the lyrics, and I would walk out singing them. I have always been able to do this, you see, memorize the lyrics of other people's songs. When I write my own, however, I can't remember more than the chorus. Stupid. haha  So, I started out singing blue grass and country... and that's still what I like to sing most... country... but I have added showtunes to the mix. Who can't love singing show tunes? These are the ones you get to let loose with and show off with the most! haha
    (I  AM going to load videos of me singing on here soon... I just have to get up the guts to do it... haha!)
  I've been writing songs, poetry, and stories since middle school. I love the way I write and I get sucked into my own writing... even though I wrote it. That's why I love writing. Because if I can get lost in it and I wrote it, then I can weave stories for other people to get lost in. What is better than an hour or two of falling helplessly into a created world where you can forget the troubles of your own life? Where the story feels so real that you watch for the characters to appear in daily life? When the main character does something you have wanted your whole life to do and it inspires you to try just a little harder...
     I've also been beading and crafting since I was little. I was just telling my fiance about the time my grandmother bought me a big bead sorter full of seed beads... the little tiny ones... only they were all mixed together. First thing I did was dump them all into bags and sort them into colors. Took me three months... little old 8-year-old me. My artistry seems to be the only thing I have a huge amount of patience for... and the part of my life where my OCD is the worst. haha   I always want things I make or sing, etc. to be perfect. 

    Let's see... what's next???
 How about some random facts about me?

   --- I hate politics and refuse to participate in them. I make my own destiny and who rules what has no power in deflecting what I want to do most in life.
   --- I am a collector of random things. Small things that I put in to the corners of my drawers and boxes all around... some memories, some things I am fascinated with, and some things that just make me happy... I call them trinkets... other people call them smalls... treasures... etc.
   --- If it's crafty, I do it. PERIOD.
   --- I have no friends but best friends, and none of them are in California.
   --- I am extremely afraid of pregnancy and birth... it's called Tocophobia. I can barely look at a pregnant woman passing me on the street without getting sick. Which is perfect, because I want to adopt a child, as I was adopted. It saved my life and I want to do that for someone else.
   --- I make random crazy noises to annoy the people around me.. or just to make them laugh.
   --- And lastly... for now... I am a jack of all trades, but of course, a master of none. I took years of piano lessons (was training to be a concert pianist), but I quit and now I can barely play. I know only a little about making jewelery, but adapt well. I cook very well, but can't make a creme brulee or a souffle. I know a little about a lot of things, but not all about a little. lol


   Is there something you would like to know about me? Something that makes me more relatable? Because really, why would you read a blog about someone's life that you don't relate to or find interesting? I have done alot and seen alot and been through alot in my short 23 years. Let's just see if we don't have something in common... haha

   Night, all. Sorry for the touch of melancholy in my otherwise cheerful thrift store finds. I'm thinking already of changing my blog name... tortured artist, passionate artist, something good...
 

Crazy Saturday Part 2 - The Rest of the Holt Blvd Stores

So, to finally wrap up the weekend before last, when we went on a CRAZY thirifting weekend, these are my finds from the rest of Holt Blvd... well as far as we went anyway. It's not like I followed Holt to the very end. We didn't leave Pomona. haha

 Quality Thrift Finds - Two butterfly shaped Plastic Charms I am going to make into necklaces and a pair of heart earrings I am going to tear apart because they are boring as they are. haha

    Salvation Army Holt Blvd Finds - a pair of Hot Pink Hot Topic Earrings (I was desperately in need of a pair of pink earrings for something....), a pair of orange heart earrings that are destined to be necklaces.. they are kind of gaudy as is... 2 necklaces (on the sides) that I am tearing apart to use the beads, and a Jenna charm for my mom, because she can never find her name anywhere. I made a good find...

       Shop Smart Thrift Finds - a bunch of rocking horse charms... yes, they are actually charms!... a bunch of baby shower safety pin favors... they actually look cute on a pair of earrings... 3 cute little dog toys (which are already dead unfortunately... I wanted my guy to drill holes in them so I could stick them on keychains and necklaces, but when he drilled, their little heads just fell right off. :(  ) There are also a bunch of napkin holders (those 2 things on the right) which I took the charms off of. And a bunch of necklaces, bottom left, that I tore apart for the beads. :)   All this cost me less than $3 together.

     Uptown Thrift Finds -  An entire bag full of sequins, buttons, jewels, zippers, elastic, etc etc etc... and a bag full of feather trim... Total cost $5 for both... that feather trim is utterly awesome... I haven't ever had anything like it!!! YAY!!!

                                  SO, to conclude, last weekend was totally awesome. 

Tomorrow is Swap Meet Wednesday and to top it off we get to go about an hour earlier than normal, so I'm crossing my fingers for some awesome stuff... and more crafty stuff for my ever growing supply boxes. :) Wish me luck!!!

Crazy Saturday Part 1 - Chantal's Thrift Store

Finally, I'm getting to blog about LAST Saturday. Taking me forever to get everything in!!! :-D

These are my wonderful finds at Chantal's Thrift Store on Holt Blvd in Pomona. Two pair of shoes for $2 each, a bunch of ponytailers (don't know why... just liked 'em :-D), a pretty butterfly skirt, and a white dress with black polka dots. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

   It's got a real boutique feel, but is priced very well. It is a small place with a bunch of rooms decorated and well organized.  I liked it so much I decided to take you on a short tour...
                        This is the young women's room... my finds on the chair in the center there...

   The other side of the young women's room......

   The main room... books mainly...

    The kitchen room......

    The children's room................

    The women's room...... YES, that whole rack is full of shoes...

     The clothes on the other side of the women's room...

    The electronics room....

Not only is this store so very charming, but the people who run it are also so very charming. Chantal's father was here on this day and he was so nice. He laughed with us and joked with us and even gave us 40% off our entire purchase (rather than just the clothes, which was what the sale was.) But don't tell Chantal! I don't want to get him in trouble! haha