Ever since I shifted my focus from designing and creating children's boutique clothing, I have had quite a journey! One of the best things I have discovered is the wider online community of "vintage" sellers, as well as finding that there are so many, many ways to be creative through upcycling, recycling, restyling, and refashioning. And since I love to go shopping in every thrift shop I can find, this has been a perfect fit for me. Well, except for the day I ran into a few "vintage" purists / experts who decided that it was their responsibility to teach me a thing or two about the TRUE meaning of "vintage." Just for the record, I know the difference between "vintage" and "flea market" items . . . . both are wonderful and both have a place in the diverse marketplace where we all like to hang out. But I'm thinking that with so many of us struggling to balance the family budget, and yet we all still appreciate beautiful garments and shoes, how about a category somewhere between "vintage" and "flea market."
You know, "recycled" or "upcycled" that is carefully selected, restored, cleaned and pressed, presented in a classy manner and offered to customers as just that - "gently used" but still in absolutely gorgeous condition, perhaps with a few little embellishments to dress it up a bit . . . . not quite "vintage" so still affordable, but not quite "flea market," either. I heard on the radio last week about the "10 Mile Yard Sale," that was going on somewhere in the Midwest. I've heard about it before, but was reminded of it the other day. Apparently someone organizes (?) this event every spring, where all sorts of vendors, churches, schools, and any and all individuals who want to participate, set up their little sales all along this main highway for about 100 miles.
So you can drive through this 100-mile stretch and stop at as many of these "yard sales" as you want! There are flea market vendors selling trinkets and treasures, regular moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas offering baked goods and handmade potholders. Baby blankets, last year's blue jeans or prom dress, curtains, dishes, and lamps. There are churches with their notorious "bazaar" items and elementary schools selling pencils and erasers to raise money for their new playground. And everything in between.
One of my favorite places to go in the summer is to the Shipshewana auction. I've almost always lived within easy driving distance to this amazing event, so we like to pop over there as often as possible. When you go to the auction barn, you will find complete controlled chaos! In this HUGE building there are at least a dozen auctioneers hawking all at the same time . . .. . so you better hope that you don't find TWO items you want to bid on, because they just might be up for bidding at the same time on opposite sides of the auction barn! And then outside the auction barn, there are rows and rows and rows of flea market vendors. It pretty much doesn't matter what you are looking for (or not looking for, actually), you will find it right here, somewhere among the tents or in the back of someone's pickup truck. Great fun!
On the other hand, you can go to an antique mall, or an upscale vintage shop, or go online to a gazillion vintage websites and buy a 1940s dress by a famous designer and pay $300 for it . . . . or more. Absolutely gorgeous! There is definitely a market for these incredible garments. Or perhaps you are looking to redecorate your kitchen all in a 1950s theme. Coca Cola, Elvis Presley, and Poodle skirts, et al. Now that can also be had for a pretty little penny. But here I am, without too many "pretty little pennies" that I can spend on redecorating my humble home or update my wardrobe. But I do still love beautiful garments, shoes, and accessories and I would also like to jazz up my little corner of the world without spending a fortune. And unfortunately I don't have the time to go to the 100 Mile Yard Sale this year. So, is there something in between these two polar opposites on the spectrum of recycled respectability? Something that I can afford, along with millions of other Americans in the middle of a recession?
Well, I think there is and I call it Renaissance Boutique . . . . beautiful, classic and classy, timeless treasures for our wardrobes and our homes, that are upcycled and refashioned . . . . items that are somewhere in between "vintage" and "flea market." So I'm on a mission to make that an acceptable category somewhere in the world! My little Etsy shop is filled with items that have been hand-embellished or upcycled in some way, and I've just opened an Ebay store where I can offer my Renaissance Boutique items, as well. Gotta run, but I'll post more on all of this later!
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