Happy 2010 Everyone!!!

 ...My little salon on the ocean..I feel like Coco Chanel in 1920s with my little French village out my window...well 505 shops do look like a quaint village! Heres to a great 2010 everyone and lets get the economy back on track by shopping at little local shops and restaurants...Online shopping is great but without sales our tiny boutiques wont make it! Mahalo to all my loyal,local customers...without you I would be just a design Studio and I love having the interaction with customers and I love finding fabulous vintage treasures for you!!!!

New additions for my Etsy Shop!

Here are a few new purses I did for the holiday show! I also designed a black velvet one! For spring I think I will do some lace and light solid colors! cant wait..

Happy new Year,Anna

Fun Quote for the day

If i keel over in Wal-Mart drag my body to Neimans

NICHOLAS KNIEL MY NEW INSPIRATION

AFTER LOOKING THROUGH VICTORIA MAGAZINE i CAME ACROSS THESE GORGEOUS RIBBONS FROM NICHOLAS KNIEL! I ORDERED HIS BOOK"RIBBON-THE ART OF ADORNMENT" I AM SO INSPIRED NOW TO DESIGN A NEW PURSE USING PEACOCK FEATHER TRIM!

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND INSPIRED DAY...LOTS OF ALOHA,ANNA

PS. I HAVE BEEN UBER BUSY WITH THE TRUNK SHOW RACHEL AND I ARE DOING AT LONGHIS RESTAURANT NEXT WEDNESDAY!! I WILL TAKE A BREATHER AND WRITE LONGER POSTS NEXT TIME!

Ebay fun

Well I just added some of my gypsy jewelry collection for sale on ebay!!!

I started the bid at 39.99 which is fair because they are all genuine chocolate pearls,garnets,marchasite,rhinestones and mother of pearl....I think Ebay is fun for the holidays because people can get 21 items for about 5o cents each for gifts!!!

In a rough economy how cool is that? Then you can wrap with your own creativity and Voila a great gift!!!

Have a creative blessed day Lots of Aloha,Anna

Swoonworthy Vintage Fabric

My new friend Brian at Hipasbury Vintage Fabric and co. has such a gorgeous collection of perfect fabric for my purses that I am not sure which ones to choose!

Check out his great ebay store for tons of vintage barkcloth and old fabrics!

He is also a handbag designer and shared some of his great collection with me. Although we couldnt be farther apart geographically (he in Florida...I in Hawaii) we are definitely kindred spirits with a love of swoonworthy vintage fabrics!

Have a spritually bonding kind of day! Lots of Aloha,Anna

MY CHRISTMAS SALE

WELL FOR THE PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN PUTTING ALL MY VINTAGE JEWELRY COLLECTION ONTO OLD BUTTON CARDS AND PROMOTING A CHRISTMAS SALE AT MY STUDIO TODAY!

THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY HARD FINANCIALLY BUT RATHER THAN ASK FOR HELP I REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING "GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES"

SO I THOUGHT OF SELLING ITEMS I DONT NEED.......HOPEFULLY PEOPLE WILL SHOW UP...I HAVE SAID PRAYERS THIS MORNING SO HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE ANSWERED.

SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE THINK THINGS ARE ACTUALLY HARDER THAN THEY REALLY ARE...I WOULD TRADE ALL MY MONEY PROBLEMS HEALTH PROBLEMS AND STRESS FOR JUST ONE MOMENT WITH MY PARENTS AGAIN.

SO IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO STILL HAVE YOUR FOLKS IN YOUR LIFE,EMBRACE THEM CALL THEM...LOVE THEM! YOU ARE SO LUCKY!!!

HAVE A POSITIVE,FAMILY DAY! LOTS OF ALOHA,ANNA

Unique Brooches

One of the things I love about designing my purses is buying all the wonderful vintage brooches that I embellish them with...

Everything from adorable french poodles with rhinestone eyes to 1920s style flapper lady faces....

If you have a specific theme in mind for custom purse please let me know as I have a collection of over 400 brooches from the 1940s!

Have a wonderful Day Lots of Aloha,ANNA

Custom Purses are Fun!!!

Well I just finished a custom purse for Julie Marie over at Idyllhours! She wanted a gypsy scarf so Mireille was born! Now I am working on a fun pin up purses for my hairdresser/friend Rosie. Her salon- Everythings Young and Rosie has a 194os feel with alot of pinup influence. So since she loves leopard skin (even has a leopard skin broom!) I will use that as the theme...I found this great brooch from ebay..its from the 50's so it will look adorable with the leopard fabric! I will post a pic when its done....

If anyone would like a special purse anything from glamour girl to rasta man please email me or go to my etsy site under custom orders! Love to hear your ideas..The holidays are coming so if you want a velvet or satin clutch with a vintage christmas brooch...just ask! Special orders take about 10 days

Lots of aloha !!! Have a creative day! Anna

Dreaming of Christmas

 We had a fun Halloween (I will post pictures soon!) but now my heart is heavy.....another Christmas without my mom and dad......I spent every one with them my whole life up until their recent passing on. I guess that is why I love it so....it reminds me of them! All the wonderful memories come back when I smell pine trees ,hear old Christmas songs or watch old movies......I miss them all year round but the holidays are the time I think of their smiles,their huge hearts and generosity. From up in heaven please know that every one I spent with you was magical and blessed! Mele Kalikimaka,Merry Christmas is coming soon.......know how much I love you !!!

Any stories to share about why you love the holidays? Love to hear!!!!

Have a jingle bell kind of day....Aloha,Anna

J'ADORE AUDREY!!!!!

When my daughter Rachel told me she was going as Audrey Hepburn for Halloween I was so excited!!! Not only is she my all time favorite actress she was such a loving humanitarian! Being 5 foot 10 and size 4, my daughter will be stunning with her hair pulled up in a French twist, accented with a tiara....The long black gloves, black signature tank dress, strands of pearls and big sunglasses will emulate her so beautifully!! My mother loved to put me and my sisters hair up in beehive twists back in 1962...ok we were 8! All the kids laughed at us...we cried....Ill never forget coming home once from school, I told my mom the kids said I had an ashtray on the top of my head!!! They said I looked stupid....She told me to say "the feeling is mutual!" I said that to the other bullies and they were so confused that they stopped picking on me....If you are listening up in Heaven right now Mama-that was great advise...I never told you but I wish I had....

Have a wonderful" TIffany" Day ALOHA ANNA

MORE GYPSY TRINKETS

THE MAGIC OF THE GYPSY

THERE IS SOMETHING SO MAGICAL TO ME ABOUT THE GYPSY LIFE....PLAYING THE TAMBOURINE IN THE MOONLIGHT....BY A CAMFIRE IN A WOODSY PLACE.....DRINKING WINE AND MAKING LOVE TO A HANDSOME GYPSY MAN......HOW ROMANTIC!! DO YOU THINK I WAS A GYPSY IN ANOTHER LIFE? I DO!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY...WHAT GIVES YOU THAT DEJA VU.... BEEN HERE BEFORE FEELING? ID LOVE TO HEAR...ALOHA ANNA

"GYPSET STYLE"

I love this book Gypset Style by Julia Chaplin.....I have been in love with all things gypsy since I was 14 ,and this book was so inspirational!

The fashions, jewelry and the lifestyle are so free spirited and easy going....like yesteryear.

I would love some ideas about other gypsy things you have come across in your travels and day to day life.

Aloha to all the gypsies in side of us!!!! Anna

Rhinestone Rhapsody

My love of rhinestones goes back many years to when I was in High School.I would borrow my mothers necklaces, bracelets and earrings to complete my vintage look each day! Now that I am designing my handbag line Hula Gypsy the only choice to embellish each unique clutch was one of this glittering treasures. I have been researching them through books and the internet, learning about the 1940s designers like Weiss,Coro and Lisner. Yes you can purchase new ones and they are quite nice...but there is something so special about the vintage ones...Who wore it and where did they go? I love to picture Hollywood starlets and socialites getting ready in their lovely budoirs....so romantic,so feminine!

Do you love the rhapsody of rhinestones? What is your favorite jewelry item? I would love to know!!

Have a shiny,colorful and enchanting day!Aloha,Anna

Chasing Bohemia

Lately I feel as if I am trying to capture days from my bohemian past...my hippie gypsy buddha days...listening to Joni Mitchell,Its a beautiful Day and Laura Nyro. I miss the clothes,the art ( stained glass windows,macrame,patchwork quilts) I miss canning fruit,baking banana bread and hiking through the woods. I am always chasing that bohemia..that feeling of carefree yesterdays.

Any stories you would like to share about your quest for simpler times gone by? You know I would love to hear about it.

Have a birkenstock,granola kind of day,Peace,Anna

photo from book: Sisters by David Hamilton

Gypsy Trinkets

Ever since High School I have loved all gyspy style trinkets.......anything with rhinestones, a hidden romantic story behind the unique piece,whatever it may be. I collected jewelry boxes,purses,mirrors,poetry and even old photos of gypsy ladies dancing with tambourines by a campfire! The story behind them seemed so mysterious and a little dangerous. I have always traveled alot and moved many times so my family used to call me a gypsy.Since I live in Hawaii ,Hula Gypsy seemed to fit well. Any stories to share about things they loved growing up that influenced them to be who they are today? Have a gypsy good day! Anna

Ariana 2009

Here is an actual photo of my seamstress Ariana. She has the most beautiful cascading hair and a great sense of style. I am meeting her for lunch today and picking up 6 new purses! The fabric I have been finding is amazing -lots of French Damask Scroll Budoir Loveliness! So I will post them next Tuesday after we photograph them ( my daughter Rachel and I ) at the studio..Please look for them and I would love to hear your comments. Have a wonderful day, Lots of Big A loha, Anna

A tribute to Ariana

After publishing an ad for seamstress wanted I instantly hired Ariana. She was truly sent to me from heaven as I couldnt have asked for a more talented and sweet girl. I sent her this picture of a girl from the 18oos and she agreed it looked so much like her she added it as her screensaver! She is very articulate in her sewing and also helps me with color coordination for brooches and lining. She is currently a fashion major at Maui Community College and has recently had some of her designs of skirts in the college fashion show! I will blog about that later when I get some photos....her skirts are amazing! I think we make a great team and wanted to give her recognition and thanks for all she does! MAHALO ARIANA !

Featuring Pam Claussen

I was looking through Victoria Magazine when my heart started pounding as I cam across Pam Claussen's story! Wow what a fantasy! Do you ever find someones designs that you feel so connected to? That is how I felt about Pam....After a few emails back and forth we both agree we are kindred spirits and hopefully will actually be working together in the future.You have to stop by and visit Pam Claussen at Glambypam-her unique headpieces,bridal accessories and gifts are definitely swoonworthy!

http://www.glambypam.net/default.aspx

Coco Chanel.... My idol

I love to daydream about what it was like for Coco Chanel in Paris in the 1920s....she had only made a few hats, couldnt pay her rent and opened a little salon.....but she was a head of her time. Only after an influential socialite took interest in her designs did it finally take off....I know that feeling of finally being validated that what you have created is also loved by others.I love that she was not stuck up and really wanted to design comfortable clothes, not binding like other designers of that time.

My Love of Vintage

Now that I have my line of purses launched I keep thinking about what inspired me to design. I know it must be my love of vintage because even as a child I loved my moms jewelry box filled with rhinestones from the 40s!!! I use to sneak into her closet and borrow her clothes in High School.....her velvet cape, fur coat and beaded sweaters...I WAS A HIPPIE OK? Anyway it of course continued thru to Senior year where everyone knew me as a rock stars old lady...my favorite outfit was a 1920s chiffon floral dress, a burgandy velvet peplum jacket over it with red velvet ankle strap wedgie shoes!!!! I was hot.......(HAHA) So when I still covet beautiful brocade fabrics and vintage jewels to embellish the clutches it all makes sense.

ALOHA Well I just got to my studio,went to my email and found out I sold my first purse! We just put up the site on Etsy a few days ago and I feel like getting some champagne and popping the cork!!! A nice lady in Canada bought the Chelsea bag for her wedding! I am over the moon.....

Etsy Site is Up & Running!

Woohoo!

Please take a look at hulagypsy.etsy.com

The Studio!

My daughter came over yesterday to take some photos of the new clutches and while she was here she took some of the studio!

We are working on getting the website up so look for it soon! www.hulagypsy.com