Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Weirdest Estate Sale of 2011


Wow. Let me tell you. This was pretty interesting, and really advantageous that I am completely and totally UNafraid of mice.


I was tipped off to this sale near my office by my coworker who is my Thrift Store Thursday co-conspirator. I walked in, and realized that it was 95% garage sale, 5% estate sale. This week is spring break week in our area, so the kiddies were home and they were having fun.

When I went to the kitchen to pay, this little mouse was running out from under the fridge out to where the kids had thrown chunks of Velveeta on the floor. They were patiently waiting to lure this little dude out with the cheese and they had their butterfly nets ready.

I don't think they succeeded in catching him, but the whole family seemed completely unfazed both by the fact that they had a mouse (or many mice...?) or by the fact that, during this event, their kitchen floor was littered with cheese. Hm. Anyway, it reminded me that I need to cultivate a zen mama perspective and not get too uptight about the (very) little things in life. Like mice. Here are some of my recent scores, although none from the "mouse house."

Friday, February 18, 2011

Knitting Dresses for Babies and Girls

I found this adorable vintage girl's dress pattern in a book I picked up at the thrift store this week. I fell in love with the white edging and the buttons down the front. I haven't knitted any dresses yet, so I'm super excited to get started.

I scanned in the pattern but I'm not sure you'll be able to use it...

So I hunted for some other free knitting patterns for dresses for babies and girls. Now I have my work cut out for me!
Here are my current favorites:
Do you have any recommended girl dress patterns to recommend? As if I need any more...

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Thrifty Thursday

I had to change the title of this series because this week, it's all about a fabulous estate sale and not about a thrift store. I hit this sale during my usual Thursday lunch hour, and although I got completely lost, managed to make it back to work on time. Phew! If any of you are looking for gift ideas for me, I think a GPS is in order as I got totally lost on my way to an estate sale today, too. Anyway, here's last week's score!

Gorgeous rabbit fur earmuffs


"Chicken legs" bright yellow thigh high stockings new in the package

Gorgeous vintage velvet beaded jacket

Super awesome teal and navy poncho with fringe

Long patchwork hippie skirt

Beaded foldover clutch (SOLD)

Black velvet pageboy knickers with buttons at the knee

Great bold floral print long hippie skirt

Any great buys in your area this week? I hit a thrift store today and got the cutest vintage knitting pattern book. I'll scan the girl's dress I want to knit for a post for another day. I guess that was the one bonus of getting lost...I found my way back by my awesome thrift-dar (or should I say that I can navigate based on the fact that I know how to get to or from almost any thrift store in town...scary!).

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Thrift Store Thursday


For this installment of Thrift Store Thursday, I'm going ski crazy despite the predication by Puxatawny Phil that we're expecting an early winter. I'm showcasing something that came from a thrift store ages ago. It's this amazing patriotic ski sweater made by Bemiji Woolen Mills. According to their website, they've been in business for 90 years and now it's being run by the fourth generation. The company was apparently started in 1920 to make clothes for the Minnesota logging industry.

I'm not a skier, but I have enough snow in my yard to need a pair of snowshoes. And I really love the look of ski wear, especially this amazing women's ski shirt, and this adorable sweater with skiers.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Thrift Store Thursday



Ahh, the dead of winter. Good times. The temperature hit 25 this week and so I trekked outside for a mile walk on my lunch hour yesterday. It felt WARM! Seriously sick when you think of it. But 20 degrees or more above last weeks highs, so it's all relative. All this balmy weather got me thinking about garage sales. And you know what? When I checked Craigslist, I found TWO garage sales! Indoors, mind you, but garage sales nonetheless. So of course, I hit them up.

One was a total bust, but the indoor church sale proved pretty okay. I got a great sweater and a cute vintage tank, so I consider it a success.

Now, I am really looking forward to the return of estate sales, garage sales, church rummages and everything that will break me out of what could definitely become a thrift store funk if I keep hitting the same spots as regularly as I have been.

Speaking of which, a friend who reads my blog said I should post my favorite thrift stores. Hmmm. Isn't that kind of like divulging grandmas secret apple pie recipe? Dare I give out my most closely held secret? Will you all go rush out and pillage my hot spots? Or should I play nice and share? I could definitely give a pretty good run down for Milwaukee area, Madison area and even my old stomping grounds in Minneapolis. Should I?

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Thrift Store Thursday


This week, my big finds were for me. That's unusual for me but kind of a nice change. I didn't photograph it, but one of my biggest scores was a hand knit blanket in off white that's just gorgeous. It's currently snuggling up on my couch, looking wintery and festive.

I had fun hitting my favorite thrift store with one of my favorite coworkers and now I can't believe we didn't start Thrift Store Thursday earlier. It's getting me through my weeks!


Last week I mentioned that one of my finds almost brought me to tears, and here it is. It's an adorable doll bed for my sweet little girl. When I brought it up to the register the volunteer behind the counter (this is one of those independent church thrift stores that are the best kind, in my opinion) said it had been her donation and had originally belonged to her mother. She told me the story of it and that it had been played with by three generations of her family. Yes, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It's absolutely perfect for my sweet baby girl, who *may* be getting a doll for Christmas. And now I have my work cut out for me making the perfect pillow and mattress and quilt for it.

Have you found anything great at the thrift store lately?

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Thrift Store Thursday

This week was all about Christmas. From cool ornaments to little deer to a great granny square stocking. Here's what I scored.






Unfortunately everything has already sold in my vintage shop except this adorable little angel.

Did you hear that there's going to be a show about thrift shopping on PBS? Here's a little snippet about it. I have never heard of Alexa Chung (I'm from the un-cool Midwest, apparently) but it sounds like she's going to be coming from a fashion angle. I'll still watch it, but I can honestly say I'm not all that interested in learning how to dress like a hipster. But like I said, I'll give the show a try.

This week I bought something for my sweet little baby girl. It almost brought tears to my eyes when I found it. I'll tell you why next Thursday!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

More Vintage Finds: Mad Men Style



I'm not a big TV watcher. My work friends tease me all the time that I'm not up on what's going on on their favorite shows like "Loser" and "Idol". But I did manage to catch the premier of the AMC series "Man Men" mostly because I'd heard about the great fashion.

Intrigued as I was, I can't say I've turned the show back on since. But I do love vintage fashion, and I do hit the thrift stores regularly. After a recent trip, I realized that I had the beginnings of a great Mad Men party outfit. The shoes, the clutch, even the cake plate could make a girl look pretty fabulous. I'll probably not be attending these parties, so I have listed all this great stuff in the Etsy shop I share with my mom.


What are you watching these days? Should I give Mad Men another try?

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

My Parents Were Awesome (Still Are)






I'm newly addicted to My Parents Were Awesome, the blog that features photos sent in by readers of their parents looking their awesomest. A few years ago, my mom supplied me with some totally awesome photos of she and my dad back in their youth. Today I submitted a few to the good people at My Parents Were Awesome. I hope they make it on!!

Were your parents awesome? I would love to see some photos!!! Blog them, or send them to myparentswereawesome@gmail.com.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Blogiversary Freebie: Cool Vintage Bracelet


This is it! The last day of my blog anniversary month of June. I really can't believe that I've found things to ramble on about for years on end, but I have. And a couple of you have even listened! Amazing! So to thank you for being there, listening, I will send (for free!) to one of you this really cool vintage bracelet from my vintage shop on Etsy called I Love Vintage Stuff. I'm not sure who made it or what it's made of, but it's cute and I think you'll like it. Or you can regift it. It's all yours, if you tell me your favorite jewelry maker or place you like to buy jewelry. Just post it in the comments section and leave your email address if I don't already have it.

Tomorrow I will announce all the winners, so make sure to get your comment in if you want to be in the running for any of my freebies. I have more big announcements, too, so stay tuned!

Big news in Minnesota today -- we finally have a senator. I actually abhor talking politics, so I'm celebrating an end to this being a news story. As if Minnesota was not a weird enough state for politics with our pro-wrestler Governer of years past...

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Newly Most Coveted: Tammis Keefe Textiles


Ever since my mom, sister and I opened our vintage shop on Etsy, I've been crazed. You'd think I'd want to be selling, selling, selling. But, no. I want to be finding, shopping, collecting! It's terrible! My mo discovered this great textile designer named Tammis Keefe who I'd never heard of, but is my new favorite. There's even a Flickr group dedicated to photos of her hankies and tablecloths and things.

Current favorites:
Home is Where the Heart Is
Japanese Design
The Circus
High Street
Whimsical Insects

Friday, January 09, 2009

New New New Year...Happier and Happier and Happier



I started the new year in a pretty ho-hum, parental sort of way: knitting whilst watching TV with the hubby, in bed by 10 PM. Not quite the party animal days of yore, in which I think each year involved dancing like a maniac, certain years involved whole bottles of champagne consumed entirely by me, and not always gracefully like an adult, but maybe more like straight from the bottle. Which probably cost $12 and caused a painful hangover.

This year, however, is a good year, started exactly the way I wanted it to. Quietly, but peacefully. Contentedly. With resolve. And hell, there was wine so it was fine.

At work a few years ago I was asked to take this "personality assessment" like many of us are asked by our employers, called Strenthfinders. First you answer a bunch of questions about yourself; annoyingly, it's timed so you have to think fast about whether you prefer to coach people or teach people, etc. At the end it churns out this report that sums up your inner workings in frighteningly accurate ways, in some cases. Well, my results shed light on the part of me Strengthfinders calls "Acheiver" which basically means that if I'm not constantly acheiving something--could be anything: dishes, a knitting project, folding clothes--I'm discontented. But it's also combined with another of my personality traits called Focus. This one-two punch means I'm never content and I'm always looking to the future. Essentially I sit around and fret about what's going to happen, and how I can get to where I want to be. Sometimes it's like motivation, sometimes exasperation. Strange that a little survey could be so insightful. I suppose I could have just asked my mother or my husband and they'd say the same.

So in 2009 I've made a commitment to move some things forward. We're going to move out of our house, whether it's to another part of town or another part of the country we don't know for sure, but we're moving outta this dumpy suburb f'shizzle. That's the big one. And, I'm going to start spending more time pursuing goals, instead of checking tasks off my to-do list. We'll see how it all works out, but I have the vision in my head, and now I'm ready to get it going. No more whisper of discontent, I'm moving and shaking. On day five of our new year, I got a promotion at work: a sure sign that things are looking up!

In other news, I'm downsizing. It's a hard thing to do, but the right thing to do if one wants to move and one doesn't want 29 PODS parked outside ones house. My mom and I opened a new Etsy shop called I Love Vintage Stuff just for, you guessed it, vintage stuff. Check us out, we've already made some sales which means more space in the moving truck for all my fabric (not being downsized)! Yay!

How are your new year's resolutions coming along?

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Vintage Wreath Goodness


I really wanted to write about how I got a new baking book, Baking by Dorie Greenspan, and how I made some awesome cookies out of it and how I am now the queen of the universe, at least by baking standards. I mean, I am a pretty good baker. I do bake a lot. Usually things turn out delicious. However, for the last two weeks, I have been cursed by the totally flat, crisp cookies (not like good crisp, but weird, greasy crisp). I so wanted to join Tuesdays with Dorie, but alas, I suck. My cookies are a wreck, and I decided I better hope I get invited to a cookie exchange where I just get to take the cookies and don't actually have to give any.

BUT, I did accomplish the patching of a few pairs tiny pants and finishing of a wreath I started last holiday season all in a night. See, when these things start to pile up in (what once was) my neat and tidy sewing room, I get anxious. So I get a few things crossed off the list and moved to other piles and I breathe a small sigh of relief.

This wreath has a kind of funny story behind it. Well, okay not really, but I have to write about something, right? Well, I saw so many awesome wreaths on Flickr that I wanted to make my own. Like this one from Alicia Paulson, or this one by SweetImaginations or this one wrapped in yarn by KatieRunnels or this cute quilted style one. So last year I wrapped my styrofoam wreath in a nice, felted sweater and there it sat. Then over the summer my hubby, whilst stay-at-home-dadding around town, stopped by a granny's garage sale and bought the "mystery bag" of craft supplies for me. It was mostly a bag of total junk, but I did manage to store the little santa head, wreath with bell, gold leaves and weird flower thingie that I incorporated into this wreath. Not bad for a buck, I think.

Can you believe it's December 10th? Shit, only like 10 more days to figure out why I suddenly suck at baking!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

De-Stash...and I Don't Mean "Dustache"


I don't have nearly as much of a stash as some folks, but I have collected my fair share of fabrics over the years. Most of them are great, but they do seem to take up a lot of space. And I guess what really bothers me is that they are great, and they do deserve a great purpose in life. So tonight I decided to start setting them free by making this onesie.

This is a really easy project to pull off.

1. Take an embroidery hoop and use a fabric pencil to trace it's shape around something cool on a piece of fabric (I used the strawberry)
2. Then, trace the same hoop on a piece of fusible interfacing
3. Cut out the shapes (cut the interfacing a little smaller so that it doesn't hang outside the edges of the fabric at all
4. Iron the interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric
5. Peel the backing off the interfacing
6. Iron your fabric onto your tee shirt/onesie/whatever you want
7. Use a zigzag stitch to sew right around the outside of your circle
8. You could even add an embellishment over the top of this, like a button or some rick rack if it needed "sprucing" (Just don't use buttons if you're making this for a baby because they can get pulled off, choked on, etc.)

Have fun!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

The New Earflap Hat: ManFlap!



My husband has always wanted a matching outfit with our son. So, after I had perfected my earflap hat pattern he asked if I could make matching ones for he and Little Pumpkin. Sure, right? No problem!

I "eyeballed" the pattern and whadda ya know, it doesn't quite fit him. It's about an inch too small. Oh well, it's perfect for Elmer Fudd. Or, whomever is so lucky as to purchase it from my Etsy shop. Since I eyeballed it, I'm not really sure how to make another, bigger one. Guess I'll eat some carrots and eyeball it a little better with my fresh beta-carotened eyes or something. Maybe this time I'll actually make a pattern so the results can be reliably repeated. Genius!

I looked around Etsy to see who else was making flannel or fabric earflap hats and I really didn't see too many. I guess I should step up production or expand the line a bit. Maybe my next hat will be a ladies hat. Pink flannel, anyone? I think I can come up with a whole family of earplappers.

It's hard to believe we're already thinking winter...yikes. Well, we do live in Minnesota, after all.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Spoonflower Fabric Girl's Outfit


Spoonflower has got to be one of the greatest inventions ever, right? Although the real, sad truth of the matter is that I'm not graphically inclined, so it's really tough for me. I tried a few things and thought the results were okay. But seeing what others are doing made me realize I should stick to what I know. Can't teach this old dog new tricks.

I think the best idea I had was to use my niece's artwork to have some custom fabric made for her birthday. That fabric turned out pretty good (despite the fact that it had black lines all over it...me not knowing how to do the graphics, bah!). Then I ordered up a great vintage dress pattern on Etsy and set to work.


Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I decided to make a set rather than a dress. I also discovered that my new sewing machine did not come with a zipper foot (What the hell? Is that normal??), so I sewed in the back zipper with my regular foot. I added a band to the top of the pleated part (the custom fabric) that coordinates with the shirt and put elastic in it. I took a queue from my recent hat creation and sewed on a little decorative flower to tie it all together.

I sure hope she likes it! It felt like the whole process (from getting the artwork, scanning it in, uploading it, getting the fabric in the mail, putting in that darn zipper to sewing on that little flower) took about three months. It probably won't even fit her that long!!! Oh well, it's always the "thought that counts" right?

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Reviving the Tiesie, with a Twist


Once upon a time, I had a brilliant idea. One, as in singular. I point that out because I really have very few good ideas...mostly they're a bit half baked. Anyway, on to my point.

Last year before my baby was born, and I had a lot of time on my hands, I was out and about at some estate sales and happened upon a huge bag of really, really nice vintage ties. There was a woman standing next to them, just sort of lamely looking at them. I thought she was going to buy them, but then I realized she was a "staffer". I asked her how much they were and she started telling me the story behind the ties -- they were her dad's and she thought they were really cool, but didn't know what to do with them. I didn't have a clue, so I didn't offer any ideas.

After mulling it, I decided that the ties needed a home. More specifically my home. So I bought them and they sat around my house for a few months in a ziplock bag until my brilliant idea came along. I decided to cut them up and sew the onto onesies. I wanted one for my baby to wear to his auntie's wedding. So I made a few, chose my favorite for Baby Pumpkin, and put the rest on Etsy. They sold moderately well, probably because the photos do not do justice to the extreme cuteness of a little boy in a vintage tie onesie.

Recently my brilliant idea became, er, brillianter when I decided that I should use nicer, organic cotton onesies and I should make them for bigger boys, too. I've started the process of prepping all the ties and sewing them up, and they turning out so cute. When my son wore his, he always got so many compliments. And looked pretty dapper, besides. I'll have a bunch of these in my shop eventually, when I solve the bigger problem of how to photograph them without hiring a gaggle of infant models. I'm also going to be giving a tiesie away on another great blog. Stay tuned for more details!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Using up Scraps: Fabric Hair Pins

Looking for a really simple way to use up every last scrap of fabric? Make some fabric covered buttons, and turn them into bobby pins, magnets, push pins, any number of great uses (besides the obvious use as a button!).

I purchased a kit from Tobysmom on Etsy that helps push the fabric onto the button nicely. You can do it by hand but it isn't as easy or as clean looking. Here are the easy steps to making your own:
1. To cut out the perfect fabric circles, I used the lid of a baby food jar.
2. Then, using a needle-nose pliers, I pulled the little loop off the button back (don't do this if you plan to use the button as a button!)
3. Next, I covered the button with the fabric circle.
4. Finally, I used Gorilla Glue to glue the fabric covered button onto a nice sturdy bobby pin, which I also purchased on Etsy, from KikisKlippies.

To complete the etsy circle, I'm now selling these on etsy. My primary motivator to make these, though, is that I HATE throwing away fabric scraps, no matter how small. I also wanted to have some fun things ready for No Coast Craft-o-rama this winter. I'm also going to make some smaller bobbies, so stay tuned for that.

What other cool things can you do with these fabric buttons? The possibilities seem endless!