SOUL PRETTY

Seasons seem to get shorter and shorter in NYC...last week it was summer, this week it's winter...with a couple days of fall sprinkled in...just thought I'd share a really easy DIY to update your fall wardrobe.

They are this easy to DIY...

I have been working hard photographing and updating my Etsy shop.

I come across a lot of junk and a lot of treasures when I'm out sourcing items for the store.

I only post what I think are the most unique and beautiful pieces I come across...I never sell anything that I would not have in my own home...and I'd love to keep it all...but, I can't...It's just a two bedroom in NYC people...so help me out...and check out my recently added treasures.

I'm going to do a giveaway.

If you help me spread the word about my Etsy shop by pining, tweeting, facebooking, blogging or instagraming this post...and leave me a comment letting me know...

I will choose something from my Etsy shop to giveaway.

The winner will be chosen next Friday, November 22, 2013.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Haitian beach basket

mid century portrait

beaded silk tunic

embroidered navy top

vintage indian rug

Live the life you dream about...I dare you.

I have had this sewing machine for about 10 years...about 5 years ago it stopped working...so much was going on in my life at that time I never got around to fixing it...My mom had a very similar machine and was always after me to get mine fixed...she even gave me the number of a repair guy who makes house calls...I tucked that piece of paper away for one day...

Fast forward to a couple of days ago...I'm home purging stuff...lots of stuff...when I look at this machine that has been sitting in my kitchen...broken for at least five years when I decided it had to go...I wanted to donate it...I get like that sometimes...everything must go!

One night while cleaning out a couple of junk drawers...I took a few boxes of garbage down stairs for the trash...when I got back on the elevator to return to my apartment there was a single sheet of torn paper on the floor...Hum, there was a number written in my handwriting...AVI Sewing...

Hum...of all the things that could have fallen out of that box...I thought that was weird...so I picked it up and usually I can procrastinate with the best of them...but, I had an overwhelming need to call the number on the paper...could this really be the number my mom gave to me over 5 years ago...the sewing machine repair guy?  Nah...and if it was, how did it happen to be the only thing that fell out of my box of trash?  I had to know...

So I called the number right then and there...a man answered with a thick European accent...I asked if he repaired sewing machines...he said, "yes at one time but not anymore"  ...I said "oh, ok thank you"...feeling a little disappointed...when he said, "but I know someone who still repairs machines, would you like his number...?"

Got chills yet?  Smile...

I said, "yes, please."  Fast forward to today...a week later Jacob, the repair guy came to my apartment and repaired my 100 year old sewing machine...sigh.  Its running like new...he said it's an excellent machine...do not get rid of it.

I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by the whole experience...Did my mom not want me to get rid of this machine...or is the universe trying to tell me something...

Either way, you can't make this stuff up...there are no coincidences.

In honor of my mom I made a quick pillow today...just to test out the machine...I'll call it, the "Daisy" pillow...thanks mom...RIP.

Go ahead, live the life you always dreamed of...I dare you.

A couple of quick shots of Mini and I out and about in the NYC yesterday...

We had breakfast at Amy's Bread on 9th ave. and 46th street...just 2 blocks from the thrift store...

Check out my new braids...Mini helped me put them in and she did a pretty good job.

Mini tried on jeans in the Adidas store...she didn't like them...I loved them...but they did not fit my tush...

I love making cookies because there's always left over cookie dough...YUM!

Mini and I made it to the beach this weekend...we did not make it to the supermarket...lol.

New to the beach this year...bike rentals...YEAH!  Now Mini and I don't have to stuff our bikes into the car...we can just rent one for $4.00 an hour.

...love these baskets...

...such a cool idea...this vendor buys old denim from the thrift store...cuts them into shorts...distresses them...adds fabric and viola...they sell for $40.00 each...and let me tell you, they were selling like ice water...lol.