ADIOS

So, this is probably not my last post ever since I still have a few chapters left on my Emma Loca Chronicles to finish (sorry I haven't kept my promise to write the full story before this day, but I've been crazy busy and emotionally unstable...)
Today is the last day and I can't believe that this day has come, let alone that it's about to end..

I'm having a massive party for my closest friends and dearest customers in a couple of hours. Don't know what to write now really, just wanted to stop by and say thanks for everything. I'm getting all choked up everytime a customer says goodbye, but yea.. this really is time to say goodbye and move on.

Not yet on this site though, so keep stopping by. Write something back sometime, say hello, make yourself known and heard!

Gotta get back to my super sale.. what's left of it that is. If you're in Stockholm, stop by for the party <3

Today's been a melancholic day. I've had a ton of work, people are going crazy over the clearance sale and I've even started to sell part of the inventory, decor etc.. Insane!

However, the day started with me visiting my friend Fanny (R.I.P) 's mother at her shop here in Gamla Stan. She called me yesterday saying she had a dress that Fanny wanted me to have and had set aside for me beofre she passed away. Knowing Fanny of course it fit perfectly and  was beyond beautiful. It's a turquoise and pink tuille and sequince dream! I think I'm wearing it on the shop's closing party next Friday. I know that would make her very happy. (Tack snälla Fanny, hoppas du hade en fin födelsedag igår. Tänkte på dig)

Even though I should be happy about how well the sales are going these days it makes me quite sad to see the place so empty.. I just wanna get it overwith at the same time I don't want anything to change. Weird.

Oh well, I better get used to the thought.

Ooops

My sister just called and usually I try not to talk while having customers inside the shop but I haven't talked to her in what feels like ages so we had lots to catch up on.

The only woman browsing was this old lady with a map and camera in hand, so I figured she was a tourist and kept on gossiping away.

After telling my sister all about how I got horribly drunk the other day (long story.. I skipped dinner to go to meet my sister in law for drinks straight after work and..well.. it didn't end very pretty.. NEVER SKIP DINNER KIDS!) it figures that the old lady was Swedish and is now very familiar with how much I drank vs. how intoxicated I got. Hahaha.

40's girl

As previously mentioned, I've struggled to find inspiration to combine fabulous outfits. It's getting better now that I have all of my clothes in one place (now that I actually have a HOME again) but strangely enough, what I find most joy is in doing my hair.. Weird, I've always been super low-maintenance and lazy about my hair but yesterday I used heat rollers to create romantic curls (for the rose dress) and today I made this pinup style 'do that matches the 40's dress I wore to work.

Expiration date

I'm not fussy about that stuff, but seriously, ten days past is pushing it - even for me. I did however use the last few drops in today's coffee. Gave it a special umpff. Good stuff.

Roses

This old 50's dress was one of my favorites 3 years ago, since then I kinda forgot about it.Such a shame, since it has the most beautiful rose pattern and is painfully pretty.And it has pockets! You can never go wrong with pockets. Love it.
Matchy-matchy song
PS. Yes, I know I gotta fix that light bulb on the left. A customer broke it and it's stuck..

CHAPTER ONE

So I thought it would be nice to use these last weeks to reminsce over the whole Emma Loca story, from the beginning 'til the very end. It's gonna be quite extensive, with names, songs, places, parties, photos.. all kinds of memories, but I'll hope you'll enjoy it as much as I'll certainly do!


May 2007 - June 2008

It all started with a massive renovation. I designed the interiors, bought material and then supervised the contractors. Had so much fun during the entire process - as well as a chronic headache due to delays and road bumps.. But anyway, in the end it was all worth it because it turned out fantastic!

Opening night with friends and family was pretty much the most amazing day of my life. The sense of pride and accomplishment is something that will live within me forever and ever.
Oh, the memories.. let's look back at some snapshots from that event..

It's funny to look at these old photos because it still looks kinda the same, just a tiiiiny little bit more cluttered.. hehe

Went on quite a few business trips that first year; Barcelona, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, California (twice).. now that I put it like that, I don't even know how I had time to get any work done? Was I even here? 

Luckily I've always found great staff to help me out when in need. It's pretty amazing how lucky/blessed I've been to get so many beautiful, smart and reliable girls that want to work for me. Alisa, Helena, Bea, Maja, Isabelle, Irene, Maria, Astrid and of course the one and only Therese. My rock that's been with me almost since the start. Love and trust her to death. Always sassy and always there with a smile, keeping the place nice and tidy (Thank God for OCD haha!) 

I'm forever grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful girls, of which some I today am fortunate enough to call 'friend'. 

I hosted the first annual Christmas party that year. Remember baking saffron buns and cookies like a maniac,  you can see the result on the pictures below.. Also visible is the alternative hairstyle I was sporting, combined with silver glitter eyeshadow, black sequence skirt and my favorite silk tunic. I miss those days! I was so sparkly!! 

Soundrack of Year One 

(I'm sure I've forgotten most, and the playlist on iTunes got wiped out along with everything else on my old hard drive, but you get the picture)

Belanova - Tus Ojos

Lily Allen - Smile

Musiq Soulchild - Just Friends

Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder

Jason Mraz - Curbside Prophet

Lily Allen - Everything's Just Wonderful

Vapnet - Kalla Mig

Vanessa Paradis - Be My Baby

Belanova - Mirame

Jason Mraz - The Remedy

Chapter Two will start with the event of Emma Loca's 1st anniversary party and how two drunken girls got inked some very foul words.... Oh my...

Moving day

This week I'll be getting comfy in my new (old) home. Feels weird being away from Emma Loca while still in Stockholm though.



Marley seems to have found his favorite place already. Cutie.

Lady of the ring

I just got my first overseas order thanks to the blog post I posted the other day. (BTW your ring should be on its way now Kirsten, hope you'll like it :)

Maybe that's what I should be doing? I'm seriously considering asking a jewelry designer I know to take me in as his apprentice. He's offered a few times to teach me but I haven't picked up on it, although next time I will. For sure! This could be my new business venture...!

With all of the horrible happenings this past weekend it hasn't felt appropiate to post shallow and thoughtless posts about my everyday life.

I still can't digest what's happened and how many people have died - for what? The ideas and fanatism of a narrow-minded young man? It makes no sense and although I keep reading about the timeline of the bombing, the gathering of the young kids at Utoye, the shooting, the testimonies of the victims.. it's too much to take in, it's absolutely horrible and I can't understand it.
My thoughts go out to all of the Norwegians, especially those affected personally.

Also, RIP Amy Winehouse. Such a sad loss for her loved ones and fans. This is my favorite vid of her performing 'Valerie'.

What a sad and dark weekend. Reminds me to love each day and make the most of life.

A little bit of this and that

Sorry for my absence guys. It's come to my attention that I haven't written in a while so here's a little summary of this last weeks happenings.

1. I've started to make rings again which is so much fun! These ones are made out of brass thread and glass stones.



2. I've been craving handbags like crazy. Bought a similar one to this but in black. Still dreaming about this beautiful red one though..



3. I helped out this sweet German guy who wanted to buy men's vintage and made a shopping guide for him. As a gesture of gratitude he stopped by the day after with this note. "I found a very special shirt so you've earned a little piece of my heart" naaw.. Thank you Daniel!



4. I've been staying at the apartment in Hornstull and therefore been hanging out and drinking lots of coffee at Dello Sport (back to the roots) This is Tony's thumb next to mine. HAHA!



5. I've had little to none fashion inspiration lately but today I found this dress in the back of my closet and went for a 60's look.


This week's biggest drama was when a pigeon entered the shop and attacked me (mildly exaggeration) I started crying and had to call Vicente to rescue me. Hate those nasty flying rats. Hate'em.
Oh, and a date has been set for the shop's last day: August 31. Might be doing a closing party.. I'll keep you all posted. 

Highway to hell

This day's been great. I started working at 13.30 so I had time to chill out at home, soak up some sun, eat mom's delicious flan and then take a long walk before getting to Emma Loca. Lovely!

The only bad part was this dodgy woman that stole a handful of saint bracelets a short while ago. I saw that she was up to no good, but had too many other customers to pay her the needed attention.

If there is a God you know she ain't joining him in heaven, that's for sure.

Beware of men

I have a horrible confession to make. Almost every time a man walks in to the store I get uncomfortable and afraid that he might be up to no good. It's crazy thinking, I know not all men are evil, but I've had a few scares and am pretty traumatized (the naked perv, the young guy that threatened to rob me, the scary men that gamble outside on the street that followed me, the two men that tried to steal the register at my dad's shop....)

Also, it's pretty weird when 'normal' men walk around in a women's fashion shop aimlessly. It really gets the alarm bells ringing.

Anyway, today that instinct of caution saved me from getting robbed.

A man entered and asked to see some handbags behind the counter. He had this creepy vibe. A few minutes later a second man enters (by now the shop is empty apart from these two)
The 2nd one is standing by the door, looking at the displays and asks me to go there to help him pick out a gift (THE most classic decoy of them all... you see, the first 'customer' is now standing close to the register while deciding on these purses he asked to see. If I go over to help the other man -at the other end of the store-  the first one would be able to get behind the desk and snatch today's earnings in a heartbeat)

I politely told the second man that I couldn't go over there and that if he wanted help he had to approach the desk himself. He got a bit annoyed and insisted that I'd go to help him pick out a present, but I refused. So they left. I'm absolutely positive they were plotting this together, and I'm also sure they're gonna try it at some other store on the street but I can't send the cops on them since they didn't actually do anything illegal.

I'm telling you, it's not for nothing some male customers freak me out. I'm sooo happy I have a can of self defence spray just in case I might need it someday. I hope I won't.

The best combo

Freshly-brewed coffee with milk and this lovely Jack Daniel's whiskey fudge. Mmmm... it's my every day indulgence.



The awesome coffee mug was a gift from my sister (she knows me too well, haha) and I got the fudge at this last Emma Loca party. Don't know who it was from or where it was bought though.. Please tell me if you know where they sell it, I want more!! It's probably the best fudge I've ever tried.

Greetings from the beach

I know I've been somewhat absent lately, but there's a reason for that. You see, I've been on a mini-vacay in the archipelago. Now my batteries are re-charged and this week is gonna be productive and amazing! 

Resten av ditt liv

Jag hoppas att ditt vin blir till vatten. Blixtar prickar dig. Hälsa till satan, vi hörs!



I LOVE THIS SONG! It's so full of bitterness and resentment that it gives me goosebumps.

Må dina hårddiskar för evigt, alltid, krascha.

Happy 4th of July!

Sorry for the lousy blogging but a girl's gotta work! Here's a little outfit snapshot bonanza to compensate.

Today - work mode: stripey blouse (H&M) and a vintage leather skirt I bought this past weekend.



Yesterday - lazy Sunday at the movies mode: purple pants (could be my mom's...??), my ALL TIME FAVORITE silk tunic and my sister's silver sneakers.


Saturday - party mode: Ray-Bans, green earrings and orange lipgloss.

Friday - work & errands mode: denim skirt (Gina Tricot) orange top (H&M) brown heels (American Eagle)

Wednesday - tanning mode at the park: circus striped skirt (vintage) and mint blue bikini top (H&M)


Well, that's pretty much what I've been looking like for the past few days. Hope you're all having a great start of this new week and month!

What would Jesus do?

sloganmaker.com knows.

All things that sparkle

You can have so much fun while trying on glamorous sequin dresses. Too bad there's never a perfect occasion for these kinds of gowns, other than a masquerade or a Syrian wedding.



Nice to see we're hard at work huh? Ice-cream and playing dress up. Great day!

I scream for ice-cream!!

One of the smallest, yet greatest, joys in my life is frozen dairy.

When the girl from the shop next door stops by with two cones for Therese and I as a token of her affection, well that's just delightful!!!!





Thank you Alicia!