Out on a Walk

I’m just kickin’ dirt in my nightgown, cowboy hat, and boots.

wishing I was being serenaded by this guy.

all this walking, is making me tired. I think I’ll hike up my nightgown and rest a little. The songs of Pete Seeger, and his mentor, Woody Guthrie, play through my head.

Oh hi, Pete Seeger. Of course, I will sing along with you.

enjoying the breeze on my neck; it's the simple pleasures.


While out on my walk, I spotted these two dudes who were walking to Los Angeles. Don’t they know, nobody walks in LA.

gotta air out a bit; it's hot outside.

Have a good weekend! I’m headed off into the sunset.


I'm entertaining myself with this post; it's totally random. Tonight, I have some fun plans in downtown Los Angeles, which include learning how to dance to Zydeco music at the Music Center, and watching a free performance of the Lula Washington Dance Company at Grand Performances. I'll post pictures of the outfit I'm currently wearing tomorrow. Meanwhile, Happy Friday!!

Pictures of me -- Barefoot Studios.
The other photos are not my own, so click on the photo for the source.

Buffy Sainte-Marie

Cree Indian maiden, playing your mouthbow, singing bold in a tremble, bluesy woman, in the tradition of the Mississippi Delta singers, like Bukka White -- Buffy Sainte-Marie, folk queen, such a shame there's none like you today.

It blows my mind that she can sing with such power while playing the mouthbow.








"People shouldn't put other people into corners, and I hope I haven't. I intend to sing forever, when I'm old and have no figure and no long hair and an ancient face, then I will still be singing." - Buffy Sainte Marie

I'm going back to ole' Kentucky

well, in my imagination. These are some pictures from the "Southern Birthday Tour" I took back in April. My boyfriend, Pete, and I explored the Smokey Mountains, Nashville, and surrounding areas of Tennessee, as well as Bluegrass Country, Kentucky, which included trips to Cumberland Falls, Natural Bridge State Park, Loretta Lynn's Homestead, and Shaker Village. The folks in these parts were so friendly, and there's so many natural parks & historical sites to see. I don't know if I could live there permanently, but I sure as heck could spend Spring there every year.

Minister's Treehouse, Crossville, TN














Outfits -- all thrifted, pics by me & Pete.

Lavender Zen

I have been thrift store shopping since I was 12 years old; that’s over half my life time. Growing up poor, but still wanting to look stylish, while expressing my individuality, I found a passion for thrift store shopping. It is a consuming hobby, and one that necessitates a place like Etsy to sell overstock. Having as many clothes as I do can be both a burden and a blessing – a blessing because I can be inspired by something & go to my wardrobe most of the time to fulfill the look, a burden because it’s overwhelming! I have clothing racks in the most random places – winter clothes in the laundry room, Etsy clothing on a rack in the living room, a roll-away rack of vintage dresses within my already full closet. I designate certain chairs within the house to pile clothes upon, and usually put everything away by the end of the week. Well, I’ve been a little behind on this task & the these chairs are now completely covered. Meanwhile, the clothing tide is rising and about to tsunami. Seeing these chaotic heaps of clothing is having a profound effect on my psyche. I haven’t been able to sleep properly for a couple of days, and I’ve begun to question the rationale behind having so many stinkin’ clothes. Would I feel less overwhelmed if I had a simpler wardrobe? I suppose this longing for calm within my wardrobe has led to this post on lavender clothing - a warm, feminine, soothing color.

Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.
-Gustave Flaubert

You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star. - Friedrich Nietzsche
(But, Nietzche, what about chaos in the wardrobe – will that breed a dancing star?)

Images of Laetitia Casta, Vogue Russia, August 2010, Matt Irwin, from Fashion Gone Rogue.


Outfits – everything thrifted

See You at the Beach.

My talented friend, Cheri, of Scout Holiday just sent me this beautiful "Yacht Sea" flag necklace. It’s goes just swimmingly with summer, and all that activities that this blessed season encourages like roller skating & going to the beach. I spent lots of time at the beach this weekend. Southern California has got to be the best place to spend the summer.

I posted some more items on Etsy, so be sure to check em’ out.

“You can’t roller skate in a buffalo heard, but you can be happy if you’ve a mind to.” - Roger Miller

Outfit - wearing vintage 70s calico dress (thrifted), Scout Holiday flag necklace, vision street wear socks, and speed skates.

Got a Lot of Rhythm in My Soul

Now that's what I'm talking about -- big messy glamorous hair, lookin' delicious fancy in the dirt, western bow ties, sheer 50s inspired clothing, strawberry belt buckles, cowboy boots, organza, detachable collars and sock ruffles. Perfect! I love this editorial from Paris Vogue Fevrier 2008; it inspires me endlessly. Soundtrack to this photospread: Fats Domino "I'm Walking," The Modern Lovers "It Will Stand," Vibrators "Whips & Furs," Solomon Burke "Cry to Me," Gary U.S. Bonds "I Wanna Holler," Elvis Presley "Crawfish," Betty Swannn "Make Me Yours," Patsy Cline "Got a lot of Rhythm in my Soul", Nina Simone "Aint Got No," Clarence 'Frogman' Thomas "Aint Got No Home," Wanda Jackson "Let's Have a Party," Willie Nelson "Stay all Night," France Gall "Laisse Tombes Les Filles," Eddy Arnold "Cattle Call," Big Mama Thorton "Hound Dog", Slim Whitman "Rose Marie", and lastly Dolly Parton "Jolene"
Leave a comment if you'd like a cd of this soundtrack sent to you, and email me your address. It's bound to make you wanna cut a rug. It's been a beautiful, sunny, weekend in the LBC, and I am in good form; I hope your weekend was as pleasurable.

from 5:55 p.m. to about 6:00 p.m.

This weekend, I’m going to try to get some more etsy items up instead of dilly-dallying like I’m doing in these photos.

Outfit # 1: 50s vintage top, 50s skirt, 50s western tie, and 80s pumps. (Everything found at the thrift store except the tie, which I bought on etsy from Carol Mai’s Vintage Clothing.

The Teds

Introducing the formidable, flexible, bold, irreverent, ironic, fashionable, rowdy, rambunctious, dancing, TEDS!

Dancin’ Ted. This guy has serious core strength.

Old Guy Ted

Bendy Teds

Vain Teds. Check out their self-portraits on the wall.

Piano Playing Teds

Teddy Pals. I love the draped jackets & the large Triumph belt buckle!

Teddy Girls. Dig the gal’s shirt in the middle. She’s wearing a knit shirt, with mesh bodice, and her name is embroidered. Get out!

Coolest Family Ever Teds

Gratuitous Elvis Teds

Ted Lovers:

Teddy Bear Ted. He looks hugable. What a cute room!

If I were a boy Ted

  Dear Teds,  I have looked at your pictures for hours on end, lamenting that people these days don’t dance with abandon like ya’ll once did. These days, I’m always the first on the dance floor, and not once has someone offered to hang me by my feet while I play the piano. There’s a couple of decent dance clubs in Los Angeles, namely, Part Time Punks, and Funky Soul, and one monthly soul club in Long Beach, called Secret Affair, where my good friend, Jesse, djs, but where’s the 50s music? Where are all the honky tonks? I have dreamt often of opening a honky tonk club on a hill in Los Angeles, in an old barn, and calling it “Hog Wild”. Shoes are not required. Fried chicken and pie will be served. Everybody will be showing their butts. Oh, one can dream. Love, Crystal Lee
all pictures scanned from "The Teds", Chris Steele-Perkins, Richard Smith, 1979, Dewi Lewis Publishing, England. The book is full of more awesome pictures. You can purchase it on Amazon.