the littlest polly

My favorite places in Champaign-Urbana: Cream and Flutter

2012-02-27T21:33:00.001-08:00

Cream and Flutter is one of my absolute favorite "must visit" places in downtown Champaign-Urbana when I'm in the area. I LOVE their pinwheel macaroons (my favorite flavor is Pistachio) and I love eating it with a Cappuccino. What an amazing combination. These photos are from when Emily and I went early last week. We had such a great time. XOXO

I just love the handmade atmosphere there...

love, polly

Advertise with The Littlest Polly in March!

2012-02-27T16:43:00.004-08:00

Hi, there! I am now accepting sponsors for the month of March. If you'd like to see my press links, statistics, and some of my reader's favorite posts, check out my advertisement page. If you already know that you'd like to advertise, please fill out this form. Also, there is an option of a free giveaway.. these are a great *free* way to promote your business or blog! If you'd like to host a giveaway on my blog, please take a gander at this form! If you have any additional questions or concerns about sponsoring or a giveaway, email me at: polly AT paulieantiques DOT com. Thank you so much!♥.

love, polly

outfit: sick muse..

2012-02-24T23:10:00.003-08:00

LISTEN WHILE YOU LOOK!

WOW. Today was an extremely crazy day. First off, I was not at all prepared for the freezing wind with flurries when wearing this springtime jacket this morning. Whew! Thank goodness for my earmuffs! Anyway.. we had our second dress rehearsal for Barber of Seville tonight and the costumes are looking good. I am working 15 hour days at school every day now. This will continue for the next week. I can't wait to share the photos of the costumes and set with you very soon! :D

These shoes were a gift from my friend Emily when she came to visit earlier in the week. She is so amazing. I just love her.

outfit details: vintage 1960's/1970's yellow quilted mini coat- Salvation Army in Champaign, IL

vintage navy loafers with tassles- gift from Emily Rautio

light blue tight socks- Salvation Amy

red tights- ebay

vintage 1940's navy cotton dress- Salvation Army in Champaign, IL

red leather gloves- gift from my mom & dad

orange faux fur earmuffs- ebay

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

love, polly

Happy Birthday, Dad!!

2012-02-24T15:17:00.003-08:00

(My Dad and I on Easter morning before church when I was about 5 years old...)

Hi, Dad! Today is your special day. I wanted to tell you that I don't know what I'd do without you and you are my rock. Thank you for all you do and all that you are. You are so strong. Thank you for teaching me the most important lessons in life. I'm glad you liked your post card today... I wish I could be there this weekend to celebrate your birthday with you. I love you to bits and see you soon! You are a very special and important person to me. Happy Birthday!!!

love, polly

College Fashion Week: Be Iconic Fundraiser

2012-02-22T23:07:00.000-08:00

Hi, there. Last weekend I attended College Fashion Week's Be Iconic Fundraiser and had a blast of a night. I've never publicly announced this, but I wanted to let you in on a project I am involved in on campus where we are revolutionizing fashion for the student and by the student. I am so proud to say I was chosen as the Vice President of design and decoration for the first *ever* College Fashion Week! It's happening right here in Illinois. It's truly an honor to work with such amazing women on something that truly inspires us all in our own individual ways. I love coming together over fashion. I've made so many friends and I've become so inspired in the process...

My friend, Jennifer Ruppert is the creator of College Fashion Week and I love her to death. She is a kind hearted motivational person with a unique sense of style that I adore! She has built a whole team of inspiring people to achieve her dream of the first college fashion week ever. We are SO proud of our Vice President, Gordana Rasic who showcased her designs for GOCA at NY Fashion week this year! I can't wait to post more about CFW and let you in on more of our events! I will also be posting my inspiration photos for the design and decoration of the venue where we are having a student fashion show. I am working on some designs now to feature in the show in April. April is going to be such an exciting month!

Here are more photos of our members at the even last weekend.

All photos taken by my beautiful friend, Grace Kelly Jones!

love, polly

days downtown..

2012-02-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

LISTEN WHILE YOU LOOK!

Emily and I had such a great time downtown the last few days! We went to numerous cafes, vintage stores, thrift stores, and flower shops. I really feel deeply centered since her visit. She is a great friend that I've been waiting to find my whole life and I appreciate our friendship so much. Thank you for visiting me, Emily! I love you!

love, polly

Emily comes to visit!

2012-02-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Emily took this really neat photo of my socks and hand. I love it!

This is my friend, Emily. She is visiting me for the next few days and we've been having a blast. We used to live together in Edwardsville a couple years back and we're still best friends. She is an amazing person. I love her style so much and she reads the most interesting books. Who is an inspiration in your life? What do they inspire you to do?

love, polly

photos of my new room!

2012-02-19T07:57:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots of my new (old) room that I moved back into this January. If you'd like to see how it was last year when I lived here, click here to see the photos!

It's definitely a work in progress, but I wanted to show you :) Happy Sunday!

love, polly

A Collection Complete!

2012-02-16T05:18:00.000-08:00

LISTEN WHILE YOU LOOK!

Teresa Brewer- Music, Music, Music (1953)

Hi, loves! Remember how I didn't quite have a full collection of vintage compacts when I showed them to you? Well, I am proud to say that I am officially the owner of a compact collection thanks to my Grandmother Kutch! She gave me a beautiful old compact for Christmas. Okay, okay... so maybe three isn't really considered a collection to some people, BUT I am convinced that three individual unique items constitutes a collection (or at least a definite beginning of one!). It's quite hard to draw the line between the number you must accumulate of a certain item to consider it a collection. What do you think?

love, polly

My Great Grandma Lucille and Great Grandpa James' wedding in 1930

2012-02-14T06:01:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled upon this wedding video of my Great Grandparents online and thought it was so beautiful. They have both passed away now... I'll never forget them as long as I live. I am such a fortunate woman to have all these photos, stories, mementos, and memories of them...

In case you were wondering, "Zeigler" was my Great Grandmother's maiden name... it's German. Also, "Frisina" is Italian and is my Great Grandfather James' last name & my Mother's maiden name (it used to be my last name, also!) If you'd like to see more old photos of my Great Grandmother Lucille Zeigler Frisina and me wearing some of her beautiful vintage clothing, see this post and this one!
Happy Valentines day! Anything special planned?

love, polly♥

A peek at my new room/ the sweetest package!

2012-02-13T14:18:00.000-08:00

So, this Sunday I organized my room a little and especially my vanity. EEK! I will have to unfortunately admit that I'm not perfect (haha) and I get really busy and make quite a mess of my room! I love organizing it, though! Having a clean room makes you feel so good, no?

AND......... I got the best package EVER today from my best friend, Emily. She found these amazing 1940s vintage books in a dumpster in Chicago! They are all so perfect! Thank you, Emily! I love you to bits and can't wait for your visit this weekend!

I also recieved this very sweet card from my parents for Valentine's Day. It made me smile so much :) Do you have Valentine's Day plans?

Happy Monday!

love, polly :)

Suitcase Sunday!

2012-02-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

Hi, there! Today has been a GREAT Sunday so far! I am getting so much done. Here is a cute little GIF I made for you for this week's Suitcase Sunday :) You might remember these little birdie salt and pepper shakers from another GIF I made last year... I just think they're so cute. I found them thrifting in Springfield, IL. XOXO

Happy Sunday!

love, polly

Alexis turns 22!

2012-02-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

Last night my amazing friend Alexis turned 22. I've been wanting to test out my camera in a low light setting for a while now... and this gave me the opportunity. I don't frequent parties too often.. but when I do... I love to take photos of my friends. I feel like the most interesting and entertaining photos always result. These and other photos seem to have captured my night pretty well. Oh, to be in college. Happy Birthday, Alexis!

love, polly

set free!

2012-02-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

I took these photos last week when playing around with my balloon from this shoot. I love balloons... they instantly make any photo twice as amazing. I also love my ritual of buying bubble tea and then walking to the campus florist on Green Street and buying a helium balloon for $1.50. I LOVE the way it smells in flower shops... the smell is such a happy place for me.. What smells do you love?

love, polly

Outfit: A False Spring..

2012-02-07T11:42:00.000-08:00

All of the flowers are blooming today as if Spring is arriving and the bitter cold frost is beyond us. Little do they know.. we are getting a snow tonight. I can feel Springtime in my veins, almost... gasping for air. I am also gasping for what spring brings to my life.... love, sunshine, and a new found sense of creativity. Please, Spring..... do hurry.

Thank you so much to Karin of Wunderlust for this beautiful pink and green floral crown. Getting it in the mail really made my entire day so much brighter♥.

outfit details: vintage green coat- Salvation Army

vintage 1970's blouse- Salvation Army

Flower crown- c/o Rogue Pony

dusty pink pleated vintage skirt- Goodwill

red granny boots- Grandma Kutch's closet.

love you.

Polly

Polly Picks!

2012-02-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

1. OBSESSED with these made to order peach bridal satin pillows!

2. I'm pretty in love with this amazing fox at dawn print!

3. Let's be honest... I need this.

4. IN LOVE... I need to make one of these myself :)

5. Died and gone to coat heaven!

6. this vintage wood necklace wants me as it's owner...

7. If my life was a little more fantastical than it already is... I'd wear this every day!

8. THE cutest way to use felt..... ever.

9. I can has?

10. This necklace makes me so happy.

have a lovely day!

love, polly

Behind the Scenes: Dried Nature Photo Shoot!

2012-02-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Hi, friends! You might remember the photo shoot I styled a couple weeks ago called Dried Nature. Since I love to show behind the scenes peeks so much, here are some shots that I rather like even though they didn't make the final cut. Enjoy!♥.

Thanks for taking a peak! We had so much fun on this shoot!

love, polly

unexpected kitty...!

2012-01-31T15:19:00.000-08:00

This beautiful little cutie came out of his hiding place on a fire escape I was photographing yesterday. I wanted to take him home! Unfortunately, he wouldn't let me get TOO close to him. Isn't he beautiful? I love surprise kitties! Hope your Tuesday has gone swimmingly!♥. P.S. If you're still interested in sponsoring for February, please fill out this form! I'd be glad to have you! My current statistics are listed here.

love, polly

To express oneself completely..

2012-01-30T16:47:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking a lot about ways to express myself completely through one medium. I express myself through so many mediums though, that this one task seems difficult. I think taking photos and making up outfits every day is among one of the most important ways I can and will ever express myself. Two people in the costume shop told me today that I basically never wear the same outfit and it really has been dawning on me that it's close to true. But where's the fun in wearing the same outfit even twice unless if it makes you feel like a million bucks? This I ask you.

I found this vintage 1950's dress at a yard sale marked down because it has some pink stains. I am going to try to get them out with Palmolive. My friend who owns Figmint Vintage says she soaks her clothing in a bathtub with Palmolive and it works wonders! I'll let you know how it goes! :D

outfit details: blue wedges- Jeffrey Campbell

suitcase- Salvation Army

vintage 1950's dress- Urbana yard sale

vintage cream blazer- Great Grandma Polly Whitmer

love, polly

rain drops on dried hydrangeas

2012-01-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

Hi, loves! I hope your weekend has been well. Today is the second day for my crew and I shooting Academic Integrity. It's fun and exhausting at the same time... but we are getting great shots. It's all worth it. Here are a few photos I made into a GIF from yesterday when some snow was melting off a roof of a beautiful garage and onto a hydrangea. I am a little obsessed with hydrangeas. Can you tell?

love, polly

100,000 thoughts.

2012-01-28T13:00:00.000-08:00

My crew and I are shooting a short film today and it's absolutely freezing. We shot a scene outside and these earmuffs kept me unbelievably warm. I just got them from ebay and what a smart choice I made ordering them! I am completely and totally in love. The name of the new film is Academic Integrity. We are having fun shooting it so far and I am always loving the job of costume designer although things are incredibly hectic and rushed.

My mother gave me this pin and it makes me laugh so hard. It's very old and I treasure it. Also, she received this vintage Gucci scarf when she lived in Hollywood, CA in the 1980s. She was kind enough to let me borrow it..........

Hopefully I will be back when I'm not so busy. I start assisting an opera this coming week called Barber of Seville. It's an exciting whirlwind! It's good to be back. I hope your weekend is as creatively fulfilling as mine!

love, polly

SHOP UPDATE.

2012-01-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

1. vintage 1950's gold flower brooch

2. 2. vintage flower brooch and earrings

3. vintage coral celluloid floral clip on earrings

4. vintage teal and silver 1950's floral earrings

To view more of the shop update, visit the Paulie Antiques blog or the shop!

love, polly

the lost photos...

2012-01-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

Nathan and I went to the Sculpture Park today to play around with my new camera and it was so much fun. We got back to my house and I started trying to transfer my photos on to my computer and all of the sudden they were lost. I started getting frantic because I knew they were so great. I tried uploading them to a photo recovery software and was able to see small previews of the photos but I couldn't download the actual photo. I took screen shots of each one and collaged them here because they are so small. The program says I need to pay $40 to see the photos in their entirety. This made me sad because I can't afford that. Is anyone out there aware of a photo recovery software completely free of charge? If you are, send me the link.. I'd appreciate it. Although I kind of like the fact that these are the "lost photos" because there is a sense of mystery to them... I'll never know exactly what they look like close up :) These are the exciting things in life, I suppose :)

love, polly

Meet Courtney..

2012-01-23T19:16:00.000-08:00

Hi, there! I want you to meet someone new... someone very special. Her name is Courtney and she has a blog called A Bevy Of. I saw she commented on one of my lookbook photos so I visited her, too, and turns out she is totally and absolutely stunning and inspiring. She deserves her own post on my blog. I asked her a few questions to get to know her a little better.... Enjoy! ♥.

P: Courtney, where do you live? C: I live in Los Angeles, CA, but I'm from Michigan. This might surprise some people but I really don't like it out here and actually plan on moving back to Michigan in the Spring. My boyfriend and I really miss trees, open spaces, nice people, and oddly enough, freezing cold winters. Plus, Detroit is going through this beautiful artistic renaissance right now and my boyfriend and I want to be a part of it.

P: What are your hobbies? C: I love spool knitting and crocheting as well as thrifting/vintage hunting. I have an etsy shop for both of those hobbies! I have been ice skating since I was 3 and did that pretty much non-stop until I graduated from high school. I'm also a Graphic Designer and my friend who started the organization Detroit Lives will ask me once in a while to design a poster or two for him. Designing posters is probably my favorite Graphic Design pastime.

Some other non-fashion things about me: I worked for the co-owner of The Drybar, he was the one who designed everything for them. Under his direction, I designed everything for the makeup and beauty lounge, Blushington. Right now, I am designing similar things for various beauty lounges. I love it!

P: Do you own any pets? C: Prior to transferring to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, I actually went to Michigan State for two years with the intention of becoming a Veterinarian. I have two cats with me here in CA: Ponytail & Mustache. Ponytail is a rescue and Mustache is a beautiful yet goofy Ragdoll. As I'm typing this, Mustache is attempting to knock over my coffee mug. I keep telling him no, but that doesn't mean anything to him.... When we move back to Michigan, my boyfriend and I plan on adopting a Boxer and a Golden Retriever. My parents have two White Golden Retriever puppies named Sadie and Oakley, a Ragdoll named Elvis, and a chubby little tabby named Madison, I consdier all of them my pets.

P: How would you describe your personal style? C: Very eclectic but consistent. I love vintage clothing as well as thrifted clothing, and I think it's obvious from looking at my outfits that I love patterns and prints, and I've been really getting into textures, too, like velvet, suede, and knit. I love creating beautiful and interesting color pallettes of certain hues and tints. I try to mix prints based on the colors within the print. I'm really excited to see how my wardrobe will evolve over the following seasons, and to see how I'm going to deal with less layers when I get back to the humid summers in Michigan.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story with us, Courtney.

love, polly

Fashion your frames DIY

2012-01-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

Hi, loves! I bought these frames at a thrift store in Springfield, MO when Nathan and I went to visit Red Velvet this past summer and I still hadn't done anything with them... so I started getting antsy. Last night I was cooped up in my room so I decided to re- do the frames and feature two of my favorite Marc Jacobs design ads. He is such an inspiring designer and these are so close to my style!

1. Take your frame and take the glass and backing out of it so you can paint it.

2. Gather your paintbrush and your favorite hue of acrylic paint (this will probably take two-three coats) and paint away!

3. Gather your pieces of art and place them on your mat-board or thick paper of your choice. Make sure the material you chose will act as a sufficient mat-board and is large enough to frame the whole photo.

4. Put your photos on the back and in the center of the mat-board/paper and trace around the edges. Depending on how thick you'd like your matted frame, allow 2-4 inches smaller than the actual size of the photo. This will cut off some of your original photo, but it's necessary to frame the photo.

5. Tape your artwork to the cardboard frame provided with the picture frame.

6. Cut on the inside line that you drew for the mat-board with an exact-o knife and a cutting mat. You should be cutting out a box shape in the middle of your paper.. and the frame you end up with should be smaller than the artwork you're framing!

7. Now that you have the middle of your mat-board paper cut out with your exact-o knife, tape your mat-board on your photo and turn it upside down so you can see the excess paper.

8. Cut the excess paper with scissors or an exact-o.

Last but not least.. place your matted photos in your beautiful new frames...

And you're finished and ready to hang your beautiful creation!

love, polly