the Un-Conventionalist

Where did I go?

2011-01-10T10:39:00.000-08:00

I truly miss this blog-land... however, my blog that is on my website, http://www.loveitshop.com/Blog.php , is the one that I keep updated most! I also have a blog that focuses on my designs at, www.LoveItShop.tumblr.com . Finally... you can find out about any upcoming sales, get updates from my blog and more at www.facebook.com/loveitshop

We have a lot of big plans this year! Hope you can join(:

The Past Few Months

2010-03-31T16:45:00.001-07:00

I found my twin. I get told I look like a mannequin at least 6 times a month.... really... no lie!

Imonni wore a poncho due to massive flooding... except it ended up staying up for 2 weeks.

Tequila shots were done by these three.

LOVE

More LOVE.

and yet more LOVE.

Grrrr.

I am lucky to have such great friends(:

I even got to see Beth!!! Yeah!!!

Don't tell Yumi I put this up... she would get so embarrassed!

Jason and I had to move our entire house into the kitchen for new carpet.

This was only the beginning~

We saw The Queen!
Mary... that is...

It was windy, yet Leslie still looked perfect, as always!

I enjoyed "The Baby" the entire weekend... that is the necklace(:

I hope someone else will enjoy it as much as me... if not... I am keeping it!!!

See how awesome it is... I want it... I want it!!!

Inspiration!

My new friend.

No, we didn't even have food!

My favorite place to be.

Till next time...

Alright Already!

2010-03-31T16:12:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to write more on my blog... I am a busy gal, and unfortunately, this is not my top priority! I am getting ready for my first fundraising event, "Save Sea Lions," which is so exciting! Remember that cute seal pic from awhile back?... well that was the Marine Mammal Care Center (MMCC), and the reason for the fundraiser!

April 15th- July 15th, I will be donating 25% of select Un-Conventional Jewelry items, to the MMCC. Spring and summer are crucial months for our Sea Lion friends, so they will need more supplies during these trying times. I was just there last weekend, and it was sad to see a very full house. Made me want to push harder to make this fundraiser a big success!

I have been making special items for the event, and just wrapped sending the first round of press releases. So.... I will be trying to keep up with this blog in the meantime, since it has been since the beginning of the year!!!

So it is a New Year?!

2010-01-14T18:47:00.001-08:00

The Un-Conventionalist's New Year Resolutions!

Have Intellectual Conversations.

Love My Friends Unconditionally.

Celebrate Life with awesome people.

Dance Freely... whenever I want to.

Keep taking those wonderful mirror shots!

Walk more in large groups of people because it is fun.

Act crazy because I need to be true to myself.

Celebrate love always.

Eat healthy... which I do... except for salt... and coca-cola... yum!

Enjoy the holidays more.

My Apologies!!!

It has been a century and a half since I last posted anything! Sooooosorrrryyyy!!! Between all the other sites and such, I find it hard to divide up my time! Of course, I am always designing, even when I should be off the clock(; I just can't help myself! So cheers to 2010!!!

The Joy of Disneyland!

2009-12-19T17:20:00.001-08:00

I came just to kiss the turtle at CA Adventures!

I finally got my ears!

We come to watch the ducks... really!

Of course have some beer!

Enjoy the Trees!

Crowds make me crazy! We stayed at Disneyland for about 10 minutes.

Me after the trying experience.

One more beer and some food at Downtown Disney.

Till next time.

Birthday Weekend Ignited

2009-12-12T11:35:00.001-08:00

Starting Dec. 3rd. At Imonni.

The highlight of my day! I saw this in the window of the AIDS Assistance League the previous day. The store was closed to prepare for the Annual Glitz Event. I stood in line, waiting patiently, and was a nervous wreck... until it was in my possession.

Santa comes to town right around my birthday every year! Christmas trees too!

I was having fun sitting on my "looking post" taking pictures.

This was a flier for a music event... I was trying to make it look as if the tiger was feasting on my

favorite Un-Conventional ring(;

What better way to celebrate your birthday, by putting together a table and chairs!

Bathe Yumi in a Dirty Martini.

It is my Birthday!

I bought these at the Glitz Event at AIDS Asst. League! One for a me, one for Leslie.

Yes, I was wearing sequins before they were trendy(;

The next day, Dec.5th. My birthday creme brulee.

Later that evening, we met up with more friends at the local pub.

I always sit shot gun in the taxi. I love the stories taxi drivers tell!

To end my birthday weekend, my friend, Jani, had to show "Surprise Kitty."

Best video ever!

We watched it like 8 times in a row(;

The Get-Away

2009-12-06T17:43:00.000-08:00

Climb trees in stillettos.

Be one with nature.

Drink Beer.

Wave at passerbys on huge cruiseships.

Drink more beer and take more photos.

Always move full speed ahead.

The fun of a little blue hat...

2009-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

Little blue hat + white sangria = party(: This was my Thanksgiving Party outfit.

You can get your little hat at Imonni on 4th street!

For white sangria try Sauvignon Blanc, Thyme, Cardamom, and White Grapes. Yum!

Mashi felt sexy in it...

Katana Loves It(:

Un-Conventional's Inspirations

2009-11-29T17:41:00.000-08:00

My favorite number on a pink elephant... awwwww!!! Love Love Love

Scary clown... pointing... not so much, but gives me ideas....

Hmmm...

Oooohhhh!!! New things stirring in my brain! Even though I have been in this building a million times.

This is my favorite tree ever! It has inspirited necklaces since the beginning. Wait till I put up the pictures of me in this tree(:

I love the textures in nature. Magical. The ocean and marine life have influenced many necklaces in my collections. "Troubled Waters," "Fish Story," and many others!

Awe! I just Love the Korean Friendship Bell... such a beautiful site!

This inspiration is the story of friendship and real animal emotion. I was visiting the Marine Mammal Care Center, one of the charities I donate to, and spoke with one of the volunteers. These two sea lions missed each other's company, after one had to be seperated to ensure it was eating.

I donate 15% of full priced merchandise so these cuties can be rehabilitated(:

My clothes always inspire my designs!

My closet even has an inspiration board(: Notice Christopher Kane's 1st Collection!

Can't wait to make the earrings I see in this millipede~

This grasshopper jumped from my screen door, to the wall, then back to my screen door... maybe I am it's inspiration as well?

Imonni is Heaven!

2009-11-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

I am the luckiest girl to have 4 jobs I love, and still have free time~

Imonni is the best place in LA to buy vintage apparel.

Biggest Holiday Sale Ever!!!!

2009-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

The lowest prices ever on the one-of-a-kind necklaces we all love!

60% off or higher!

Get them now before they disappear!

http://unconventional.etsy.com/

The Best Models

2009-11-15T15:53:00.001-08:00

Katana, Tamashii, and Yumi Umi Ojo are three very spoiled cat children.

They entertain me with their strange poses.

I Want It!!!

2009-11-08T10:47:00.001-08:00

This beauty is at Imonni. I really wanted it to work as a dress, but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't work); So I had to take pictures to remember its' beauty!

My Friday Walk...

2009-11-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Perhaps not the greatest, because I was in a hurry!

Will I Ever Get There?

2009-11-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

My walk to work on Friday was filled with more plastic bags then normal. Usually it is one or two, this time 5 or 6. There is no way I can walk by a plastic bag in the street, without picking it up. These little carriers of our merchandise, fill our oceans, and kill marine life.

Every year, a staggering amount of birds and seals ingest plastic. It is left on our streets and sidewalks, by passerby and bad trash collecting (Friday is trash day), and makes its' way to our shorelines. Seals mistake the plastic bags, as squid, due to their not so keen eyesight. You can imagine what happens to them after there deadly dinner. Some actually get a second chance, thanks to places like The Marine Mammal Care Center, which I donate to.

For more information check out http://www.marinemammalcare.org/.

As for those plastic bags.... don't use them if you don't have to!!! I have people that want one for a small belt, when they can shove it in their enormous purse.... or somewhere else... hahahaha...
I really didn't write that!!!

If you see one, floating in the breeze, like evil spirits, please Pick It Up!

Your hands are washable.

This goes for everyone, whether you live near the ocean, or not. Plastic kills.

As for my walk to work, I got there in time! I picked up 6 or so plastic bags and other miscellaneous trash bits. Had to walk around a van, because they obnoxiously blocked my path. Then, around a huge pile of cut trees, that were blocking the sidewalk! Needless to say, it was quite the adventure on 4th today(;

Toot-a-loo Halloween!

2009-11-02T20:40:00.001-08:00

Today was filled with great conversations and interactions. It was also 80 degrees, which always makes me happy. I started the day with Skyler, and ended with Vampire Weekend.

I swear that everyone in Long Beach is friends with Skyler. I can totally see how, because she is literally, a burst of sunshine! Cat also came in for a visit, and to buy a super cute vintage dress and a ring from my line, Un-Conventional. What a fab way to start my day with two people that have a love for vintage and appreciate it! Heehee... especially being the 1st day after the Halloween non-sense.

Back to the Ice Age, I suppose, as the end of my work day is approaching. I was working at Imonni, for those just tuning in, and some random dude walks in. He has a backpack, and is a little scruffy, I think he is a random walker of the sidewalk. About a minute later, 2 girls come in. All I can make out of them saying was, "Vampire, I recognized you," then "You are playing across the street, I am standing in line."
My interpretation was that this girl has a crush on a guy, that dressed as a vampire for Halloween, and he is in a local band that is playing across the street.

I know there was more to the convo, but I wasn't listening! They asked for photos with him, and so I volunteered to take the photos. At this point, I was so enthralled with it all, it was so hysterical!

After they left, I said, " That is so cute how you have fans following you around asking for pictures," then " Where are you playing?"

At this point, he was staring at me like I was crazy! Then another guy comes in, with 3 camera people trailing behind him... of course, I state they can only come in if they don't get me on camera... I am famous in my own head I suppose... of course, I did my time in Hollywood...

Who only knows what they thought at that point. So needless to say, it was all super silly, that I didn't know who they were... yet a large billboard across the street at the Art Theatre read Vampire Weekend Nov.2 Sold Out. To top it off, I know I have heard one of their songs at least. I had to check it out. I know my bff, Leslie, will think I am nuts, she knows all the hip bands and such... she is in the "Know."

Disco Diva

2009-11-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

Jaime and Ted are awesome, what can I say? These two are so much fun(;

Jaime is rocking a jumpsuit from LoveItShop Vintage, Un-Conventional necklace, and Sephora Make-Up Forever eyelashes.

Broken Hearted

2009-11-01T16:06:00.001-08:00

My seester's fabulous costume!

She made her own hair piece, it is fabulous!

My Alter Ego Emerges

2009-11-01T15:46:00.000-08:00

I am wearing a vintage leotard by Baryshnikov. American Apparel leggings. Vintage sequin jacket. Un-Conventional necklaces and rings. Vintage bracelets.

Talk about Eclectic...

2009-10-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

Yes, I dress like this everyday. My motto is, "Sparkles are the toppers for the most fab outfits."

I just made that up right now(;

Here was my outfit to keep me cheerful on the last "costume day," and to prove that vintage is fabulous and can be worn Everyday!

I am wearing 2 vintage layered skirts, made by Eiko, at Imonni on 4th Street.

Black tank and a black satin ribbon as a belt. Betsey Johnson sequin bolero.

A necklace from my 1st collection of Un-Conventional.

"Industrial Madness," ring from my 3rd collection of rings.

The awesome bracelet is a gift my friend Skyler made me, absolutely perfect, because I don't like to make bracelets(;

She is an avid collector of Un-Conventional, and I am happy to start collecting her art!

Best Outfit Ever!

2009-10-31T10:23:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love the way Eiko dresses, but today was perfection! She had on a vintage Vera skirt that was reworked by Dorian, with cute vintage frog appliques.
Delightfully paired with a necklace from my line, Un-Conventional. Teamed with vintage red cowboy boots. LoveIt(:

Just One More Day

2009-10-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

I am happy that today is Halloween, and that when I return to work on Monday, it will be a day of people shopping for their wardrobes. Every year, it annoys me, people come in and buy the cutest vintage dresses, just for one night.

Vintage is stylish and awesome, it doesn't deserve such abuse. Especially when the culprit is asking me what dress is in a certain era. Why not look it up before heading out? I am nice enough to help, but how bad did I want to tell them a 1970s dress was 1950s? They wouldn't know the difference. Perhaps I will next year.... mwaaaahaaa haaa!

My New Vintage Fabric Bow!

2009-10-28T23:44:00.001-07:00

I am so in Love with this!!!

Handmade bow using vintage fabric!

You can get yours at http://mamacassvintage.etsy.com/

Mixing Patterns Perfectly!!!

2009-10-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

Here is Cassie's pattern mix... which I love!!! I need to mix some patterns in my wardrobe!

The Brighter Side of My Day!

2009-10-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

Not all was dreary in the day of the Un-Conventionalist!!!

Two of the most entertaining, and well-dressed individuals, Cassie and Jae, came in today. Somehow, they always come in the days that I need their funtastic (my dictionary has it) vibes!!!

The symptoms of Life....

2009-10-28T22:39:00.001-07:00

Another day, and I am on my way to work. A brisk and breezy morning, I really had to use the lavatory when I arrived. Seeing there was no toilet tissue, I decided to call Yusuke, the man in charge, but received Emi on the other line instead. To my surprise, Yusuke is in the hospital, after not being able to breathe the day before, and the Doctor said he had a cold, and not to worry. What is the deal with Doctors and Vets that they misdiagnose their patients? Do they just want us to all be paranoid freaks?!!! Really? I hate it! What are we suppose to do when we rely on these people to tell us what is wrong?

About 3 years ago, I had my baby boy, Yaju, who passed with a brain tumor. It was by far, the worst time in my life. I had been through surgery 11 years ago, and still, it wasn't as traumatizing. Yaju started with a patch of fur that went missing from his cheek.... from there, he stopped eating, and after a couple of months... he lost his vision.

I tried to diagnose his problems myself, researching online and such. I had to drive about 10 miles 4 times a week for about 2 months, trying to find out what was wrong with my child. They didn't have an answer. The answer came, after I had completely lost myself, to my son's illness. I was at work, and I was told he had a brain tumor. It wasn't until I saw the x-ray, that it was evident, he was going to have to be set free from his pain.

The strange part, was that the Doctor who performed the cat-scan, was a friend of my Father-in-Law. As soon as I saw the massive tumor, pushing his brain to the side, I cried like a maniac. The fact it wasn't diagnosed earlier, made me furious... and sad. To top it off, I had to decide right there, if I was going to take my son home, or if I wanted to lay him to rest right then.

I knew my Sister would want to say goodbye, so we decided to take him home. He rode on my lap, content, as we made the long journey home. When we got there, we decided to pull the mattress down so he could sleep with us. I was like the Mother Hen all night, as I watched my Baby Boy find his way through his dark visions, to his food bowl and back to the bed.

The next morning, after I had finally fallen asleep from my Mother Hen duties, I quickly awoke to the sound of my panicked husband. My son was convulsing in his arms. I didn't know what to do, except cry, and ran next door to my Sister's, to tell her that "It was time."

After making that decision, my vet asked me if that was what I wanted to do. I know that he hadn't seen the x-ray, but was still very pissed off that he had the nerve to ask me this. No, I didn't want to do this... it was the only option to releave my Son from the pain.

I wonder why people of healing, can't mix spiritual and western medicine together.

My Mom, is both. She performed healing touch on me, 11 years ago, to diagnose me with my illness. So here the next story goes....

This guy I dated on and off for six or so years ( I might get into this story again later on....), passed away, unexpectedly. I found out, a couple of weeks later. After knowing, I was devastated, never had I felt such sadness. The next couple of days, I was working, as usual, and began to feel a lot of pain in my abdomen. I came home from work, and my Mom did Reiki on me. After the entire process, she asked me what I felt. I told her, that I had felt these little men inside me, pulling things aside, and there was a hole.

Come to find out, after 9 hours of surgery, that there was a hole. How completely amazing... and scary. There is no medical explanation that 1/2 my colon had to come out... my appendix was wrapped up on it, making a hole shape... all my Mom told me was that part of me died with him.
The 11th year of his passing was yesterday, which makes it a grand ol' time for such speaking... which brings on....

Why?!!! Why do people have to deal with this? Deal with this modern day medication and paranoia?! Why can't we all just be natural healers... with energy and plants.
I can't stand pharmaceutical companies that only focus on mind drugs... let your minds free.... of course you will have anxiety... especially if you focus on this.... ah!!!!

So I know that Yusuke is going to be alright.... but it is this focus that is reoccurring day in and day out for me. People keep going in, and coming out of the hospital lately and I just want to say to pass the good energy along. Energy is what surrounds all living things... we need to keep it positive, to better those around us.

The Photos that Followed...

2009-10-26T19:21:00.000-07:00

The pictures don't want to cooperate and I am discombobulated... at least I have a beer handy(:

Emi looked super cute today. She is super silly because she didn't want her photo taken, but I told her that people needed to see how cute she looked, even when she was working at home. I am the same way when I work from home, but I would have heels on(;

Cat and I were just talking about the guy who lived at the house across the street, and how he has random people take him back home everyday. He used to do it himself, just flip around in his chair and go backwards. Sometimes I wonder if helping people in the long run actually hurts them.... hmmm.

The rest I think I previously wrote about, the guy who did a wardrobe change, the mops, oh!... The Penguin Puffin hat thing is at NaNa-La! I have always laughed at him, but just the way it was wardrobed and put with my "Mr. Logic Man," one of my Un-Conventional one-of-a-kind necklaces, made me laugh even harder. That was sort of the story behind the necklace... a sort of silliness behind it.

1st Real Day as A Blogger

2009-10-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of my 1st week as a blogger. On my way to work, camera close by... I think I might be addicted! Doing my usual 3 day a week commute, on foot, down the dreary 4th street, I am quite certain you will have a lot of fun getting the Un-Conventionalist's view of this street.

I am aware of everything... oh, except that my ankle boot was unzipped for half of my walk... silly me. I was laughing and of course, I have it documented. Today was a different Monday, b/c instead of Yusuke being next door at NaNa-La, I worked there today. I am usually at Imonni, which is the girl clothes, today I got to work at the boy store (which is actually for grown men, I think "boy store" sounds cuter.)

Cat worked at Imonni today, and I couldn't help but take a million pictures of her fabulous outfit.
I always think it is funny, that I mop in heels and fab outfits, so I decided to take some cleaning inspired shots of us.

Across the street, there is a half-way house. It took me awhile to figure this out. I had seen random people leaving it, walking around. Now, it has been 2 years, and the familiarity is in tune. There is a newer addition to the house, a man who goes around and asks everyone for money, yet, he gets everything paid for at his house. Today, I actually caught him out panhandling, then he didn't get any money, so he went back to his house and changed into something better!!! I couldn't believe it. I used to feel sorry for him, but this guy knows what he is doing. He would come to the store at first, and learned that just asking the street walkers was more sufficient. Being in Hollywood, I am quite used to panhandlers. I would give them my leftovers, which they in turn, would throw away right in front of me. It was upsetting to me because I would have eaten that food! I had very limited money and food was normally a bowl of rice in those days... ug...

Point of the story, I suppose, is that I hate when people ask for money and don't need it. I know this guy looks a little rough around the edges, but what is he collecting for? Perhaps I need to ask. Oh yes... I will report back later.

Later...

AH! I wrote before adding pictures and now I am having difficulties! I have tried to add the photos a million times, and it isn't working out the way I want it... So, I am going to post this, then add the photos... because I can. This is my blog... so there! heehee

The Morning After

2009-10-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

I feel like I just discovered a new invention, a journal that can be read by anyone who finds it. It is amazing, and strange at the same time. Having been the grounded child, as I wrote previously, I have a well documented life story. Even when I moved to CA, in August '99, I kept a documented drunken existence. It made me feel better to get it all out, like someone was listening, but not. I can see how this will be addicting, like TopShop mixed with a dose of AmiClubWear.

I have already started a picture book for this "outward journal," last night, while my husband and I were just hanging out at home. My neighbors wondered where all the flashes were coming from, while we were shooting away in the corner of our courtyard. My sister had even thought we went out for the night, but we were documenting the first night of my new blogging obsession!

I had just bought the skirt, worn as a dress, at my local Bufflalo Exchange earlier that day. The leggings were given to me a couple days ago... they are from American Apparel. Those fab vegan shoes are from AMiClubWear... unfortunately, they are made in China, which I normally would never buy... but I only buy vegan, unless they are vintage. Last, but not least, that amazing little earring is from my collection, Un-Conventional, which I thought had been lost forever, and I finally found it in the depths of my couch! Hahaha... amazingly enough, it went perfect with the outfit.

Really, can I write some more run-on sentences and crazy word choices... not like I am being graded on my diction, right?

Welcome to the New Century

2009-10-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

So here I go... off to the new millennium... to the day and age of blogging. I can't compete with all these million dollar bloggers! I don't have a cell phone or an I-Pod! I live in the Ice-Age. If I had a cassette player that worked, I would be jamming to the best tunes of the 1980s and 90s.

The first one to be pulled out of the dusty box, is from March 1993, made by Aunt Julie, of Sonic Youth, Donna Summer, Pet Shop Boys, Messiah, and The Pixies. Second mix I found is undated, but remembered to be around 5th grade, Snap, Deee-lite, Ministry, and World Party. This is only 2, out of the 50 I have... all of them are a very eclectic mix!

I love the relationship of music with fashion. When I was in the 7th grade, my obsession was Deee-lite. I wore the cut off jean shorts with psychedelic tights and dangle long earrings. I even had the floppy hats! I will have to pull a picture from my sister's album (mine are in Mom's garage) later of that... you will get a kick out of it. I laugh about the 90s frequently, the time of flannels and flower hats. However, there are parts that I somehow miss. The outfits of pleather and latex, the sort of space-age suits. My sister and I both loved that edgy look. I wore the pleather look including a red and black python skirt all through my junior year of High School.

Oh yes, even though I am being blown away with new technology, I am in tune with the fashion forecast. The 90s are coming back in a Big way... prepare your wardrobe with velvet, lace, velour, bell bottoms, rainbow colors, psychedelic prints, mini mod dresses, and crochet.

The photo above is of me and my sister circa 1992/93. Courtesy of Aunt Julie. I am on left, Anne on right. I would have put the photo on the bottom middle if I could figure out how, and would also put it as a new paragraph if the computer wasn't fighting with me!

Oh to live in the Ice-Age!