Lola needs surgery.

My best friend is in need of a minor surgery. Lola, my 9 year old Boston Terrier, developed a small lump on her arm that fills with blood. The vet had good and bad news. So far, there is no sign of cancer, but the lump needs to be removed in 2 weeks. More testing will be done to make sure there is no cancer.

So, I’m asking for your help in paying for this unexpected expense.

Please make a purchase from my Etsy store, or donate whatever you can. I am humbled and grateful for any help you may provide.

Thank you!

Elina and Lola

Update: We sold some Cashmere and got some donations, raised enough to cover the surgery! It went smoothly and Lola is cancer free!!!! Thank you so much for the support, both $ and emotional. It means so much to me.

Read Full Post »

October is breast cancer awareness month!

October is breast cancer awareness month. So many of my hats have been purchased by women battling breast cancer.

We will donate 10% from ALL sales, on October 17 and 18th, to Suzan G. Komen Foundation

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Yes, those are hats!

Become a fan on Facebook

Read Full Post »

Fashion design copyright bill

The Design Piracy Prohibition Act, introduced by Reps. Bill Delahunt (D., Mass.), Bob Goodlatte (R., Va.) and Jerrold Nadler (D., N.Y.), would amend current law to allow companies and designers to register their fashion designs for three years of copyright protection. Apparel, handbags, footwear, belts and eyeglass frames would be covered. The measure would also establish penalties for companies knocking off designs.

“We believe the [bill] addresses the very real problem of fashion piracy,” said Steven Kolb, executive director of the CFDA. “Pirates steal American fashion designs, make low-quality copies in Asian factories with cheap labor and import them back into the U.S. to compete with the original designs.” Kolb said the legislation is “badly needed” to give designers some protection and act as a deterrent against companies that knock off their designs.

But Kevin Burke, president and chief executive officer of the AAFA, said: “We’re not opposed to protecting products, but it’s the process here we are opposed to. The process is cumbersome. The essential driver of fashion is inspiration. This bill outlaws inspiration. Everything a designer comes up with will have to be looked at by legal offices in companies to see whether or not it passes muster.”

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Read Full Post »

Street style – A week in the Mission: Doggie diner, art, food, bluegrass, hats

It was another eventful week in the Mission. There is never a shortage of things to see, hear, taste, and wear in this neighborhood.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

My week started, with a trip to one of my favorite fabric stores, on Tuesday. In the back of the store, I found a bolt of beige canvas with splatters all over it. Apparently it is fabric the owner dug up from storage. Circa 1979.

"splatter" vintage fabric, 1979

I’m making sun hats and caps from this fabric. They look great!

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

On Wednesday night I had Sushi with “K” visiting from Australia.

On my way home I was walking past Elbo Room on Valencia Street and this is what was parked in front…

doggie diner dogs

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thursday night I went to Atlas cafe with “B” to listen to Bluegrass music. It was great to see so many young people (teens to early twenties) in the audience.  Many of them were wearing hats. There was a stylish young man in the front row in a great Fedora. A young woman in front of me was wearing a slouchy beret.  An older gentleman in a military beret….and of course lots of driving caps.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Friday I had dinner with “J” and made it a point to not have desert. I heard that the Creme brulee cart guy was going to be out and about, and I could not miss that.

I walked up to a small crowd gathered around two carts. It turns out that the cart guys are brothers. Curtis is the creme brule cart guy and Brian is the curry cart guy.

Sarah was assisting Curtis and I asked her how this got started.
She said ” Brian started doing the curry cart, so this is where the idea came from. I wanted Creme brulee for my birthday and Curtis made it for me. He said it wasn’t that difficult”

Offerings included vanilla bean creme brulee, chocolate grand marnier creme brulee and Bailey’s Irish creme brulee. $3 each. I had the chocolate grand marnier and it was delicious!

Check out the hats and the food…

Curtis, in his chef's hat, torching creme brulee

creme brulee galore!

Ryan wearing a straw stingy brim, Sarah wearing a driving cap

Brian making Curry, wearing a military cap

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Follow the creme brulee guy on Twitter – cremebruleecart

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

After my sugar fix, I continued my adventures up Valencia Street. I walked up to the Artist cooperative gallery and saw these installations right on the street (in the parking spots outside of the gallery)…

giant fabric dolls

Kermit

art

Tiare wearing a faux fur hat

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Saturday night I’m off to see MAPP – Mission art and performance project.

The group met at Napper Tandy which is a great bar on 24th Street and South Van Ness. We strolled over to the Red Poppy house and picked up a map for MAPP.

As we were headed to the second location on the map, we came accross a bunch of baseball caps all over the sidewalk..."enjoy". Coincidence? Me thinks not!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

I have to say that the gentlemen had the fashion covered this evening…

Manu is wearing a distressed canvas driving cap. He told me he is the Tamale guy. (he'll give the Tamale lady a run for her money)

Eric is wearing a plaid wool 1930's News boy cap. He looked fantastic in his hat, cream coat, and beautiful ivory scarf.

Robbie, the DJ, looked stylish in his brown felt bowler with multi color band and feathers. I loved how he paired it with a vintage style jacket and a striped shirt.

At the poetry reading I ran into Jeffrey who was wearing a striped hat he bought at ADS hats just a few days earlier.

Mario is wearing a striped cadet cap and a great smile.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

My favorite hat that evening…

Vernon is wearing a very unique hat with random triangles, folds and tassles. The fabric reminded me of African mud cloth.

this hat looked great with his suede jacket and striped scarf.

Read Full Post »

Street fashion – Great hats at the Mighty Slim Pickins fund raiser

Last night was the Mighty Slim Pickins fund raiser at Thee Parkside.  They are headed to Vegas!

The music was great and the crowd was decked out in stunning retro fashion. Ofcourse there were several stylish attendees that I just had to photograph.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Elizabeth

Elizabeth was decked out in retro glamor. She was stunning!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

The gents were stylin.

Richie in a stylish Fedora, loverichie.com

A handsome fella wearing a 1930's style cap

A textured velvet, Stingy brim Fedora by Borsalino, which was actually purchased at ADS hats!

Read Full Post »

Hat quote, Woody Allen

“It is impossible to travel faster than the speed of light, and certainly not desirable, as one’s hat keeps blowing off.”

~Woody Allen~

Read Full Post »

Hat quote, knitting

“Knitting is all about the tension”

~Elina Tachkova~

Read Full Post »

Hat quote, Dorothy Parker

“It’s a small apartment, I’ve barely enough room to lay my hat and a few friends.”

~Dorothy Parker~

Read Full Post »

Urban dictionary – Recessionista

I love urban dictionary. I think slang is colorful and fun. I subscribe to word of the day and this one cracked me up!

Recessionista

A person who is able to stick to a tight budget while still managing to dress stylishly.

She’s superstylish, always able to buy a round of drinks and still seems to be wearing a new outfit every time you see her. She’s a recessionista, that New York marvel who’s a magnet for a good deal. And in this economy, she’s got a lot to teach us.

Urban dictionary

Read Full Post »

Hat quote, Mark Twain

“You take the lies out of him, and he’ll shrink to the size of your hat; you take the malice out of him, and he’ll disappear”
~Mark Twain~

Read Full Post »