Mamas*Little*Treasures

Pretty Little Things in My World

Just wanted to share a few items from my collection of vintage housewares and my tiny teapot collection.  Because they are just some of the "pretty little things" that fill my world.  We lived in an old Victorian house for almost 20 years in Michigan . . . . and then, when the economy was getting bad there and our Daddy had a job opportunity in Colorado, we lived in a mining village way up in the mountains.  Most of the houses in our little town were old Victorians, and many of them were the original miners' family homes.  But we still had that old-fashioned charm that comes with a house from that era.  And it was kind of easy for me to decorate my homes in both places, because I love the look of vintage everything.  So it all "fit" with the personality of our houses. 

 

So when we needed to move out of the mountains for my health, we ended up here in a midwest farming community . . . . and it is beautiful here, too!  But no more Victorian ambiance for us   ;o)   We found a darling little house near a lake, with a wooded area in our backyard.  There is lots of yard work to do to get things the way we want them (after all, I had perennial gardens in the yard of my Michigan house that I'd been working on for a very long time!), and we have all kinds of "fix 'er up" projects for the house, too.  But now I have to adjust to a new way of looking at my home decor scheme . . . . and I think I like the cottage style, a bit of the "shabby" chic.  And I'm hopeful that I can incorporate some of my old collections of teapots and other treasures.  Although our little cottage isn't all that fancy, it is home and that is what counts! 

All of this soul-searching about my place in the universe is getting me focused on simplifying life and seeing the "pretty little things" in my world.  I'm thinking about the various ways that we could all take a minute to slow down and re-connect with our selves and our families . . . . and the creative Spirit that resides within each one of us.  The artist in me is searching for a place of peace and quiet (right!  In the middle of two little girls giggling and tumbling all over the floor, laughing hysterically at underwear jokes!) where I can remember what life is really all about.  Join me on my journey! 

Wisdom from the Thrifty Chicks and a Give-Away at Cynthia's Cottage

Wednesday mornings are usually the only time during the week when I can spend a bit of time wandering around the blogosphere and reading some of the inspiring posts of other bloggers.  I really want to make a bit more time for this in my schedule, but it is tricky with all of the other demands on my time.  But this morning I received an update from the Thrifty Chicks entitled "Harbingers of Decline."  And being a life-long student of history, that piqued my interest.  Well, and also my philosophical, theological, and political interest, too!  This is a great post from a wise and observant blogger, who also just happens to share my love of all things thrifty and frugal.  Since thrift shopping, repurposing, and restyling are some of my most favorite things to do when I get a minute to spare, I love following other bloggers who love the adventure of the search and the fun of discovering beautiful items for my wardrobe, my home, and my garden in thrift shops wherever I happen to be. 

The observations made by Ms. Shopping Golightly remind me of days gone by when I was studying ancient Roman history.  Her thoughts on the consumption mentality that has developed in our country during the decades of prosperity suggest that perhaps we need to recognize a pattern here.  In a society where we very quickly "use it up and throw it away" has resulted in mountains of trash and tons of junk everywhere we turn.  I saw a program on television a few months ago (I hardly ever watch TV, but this was interesting!) where they were documenting one woman's escape from the prison of her own home that she had filled with so much STUFF that she could no longer function within her own house.  Friends and family could not come into her home because there was no place to sit down, and they could barely walk from one room to the next.  And after all of the junk had been removed to a warehouse so that the house could be cleaned and re-organized, she was overwhelmed at the sight of ALL of that junk, spread out on table after table.  Now, most of us aren't THAT overwhelmed with stuff or that compulsive in our buying habits, but we definitely have a culture of "more stuff is better" mentality. 

Ms Golightly makes that observation on her most recent trip to a thrift shop where she discovered piles and piles of junky stuff that she wondered why ANYBODY would buy it!  Thrift shopping is a great way to recycle and reuse perfectly good "stuff" that one person no longer needs and another person could use.  But when we are so overwhelmed with junk in every corner of our world, I think we are getting a bit depressed just trying to find our way out of the morass of stuff.  Perhaps a bit of downsizing would be good for all of us!

GIVE-AWAY at Cynthia's Cottage!  And then on my journeys this morning, I discovered Cynthia and her little Cottage blog where she is having a give-away of some of the most beautiful items I have seen in a long time!   Since we are all being a bit selective in the "stuff" that we are acquiring for our homes, I would recommend you jump into THIS give-away because this is the kind of "stuff" that all lovers of vintage and retro design would be delighted with.  Cynthia's cottage style designs are so inspiring, and her pictures will set your own designing mind in motion to come up with your own ideas to bring beauty to your little corner of the world.  I'm so glad I found Cynthia this morning!  Thanks to the Thrifty Chicks and my inquisitive spirit.  Here's to a beautiful Wednesday . . . . enjoy all the simple pleasures of your life and treasure every minute of your day.  I'll be searching for more lovely blogs as I have the time, because I still have to honor a few bloggers with the "Most Lovely Blog" award!  If you want me to visit your blog, please post a comment and I'll pop on over!

PS   Thank you to Cynthia for the use of her pictures about her give-away!  All of the beautiful pictures in this post are originally from Cynthia's blog. 

Not Quite "Vintage"

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! 

 

Monday Morning Blessings

I'm going to start this week by focusing on what I have accomplished, what I have planned for my week, instead of worrying about all of the things that I didn't get done!  That's kind of like counting my blessings . . . . .and not carrying around the burden of unfinished business.  So, I'll make my list of things TO DO this week, and check them off as I accomplish them, and try to stay focused on living in the moment.  Enjoy what I am doing right NOW and not always be thinking about what I need to do tonight, or tomorrow, or Thursday afternoon.  If I write it down, and get it out of my head, that seems to help.  But usually my brain is just in overload, and I can't quite get it under control!  That sounds scary!!!  Perhaps I'm the only one with this problem . . . . . it's like I can't turn it off.  I even feel like I'm creating "stuff" in my sleep.  And then when I'm awake I keep thinking of all of the "stuff" that I could create, and how to do it, and what it would take to make it work.  Maybe I'm an inventor . . . . or perhaps I should have been a scientist . . . . . or maybe I should just be myself and keep on creating stuff!

I recently received an email from a customer asking if I would consider doing custom-made clothing . . . . . for her.  Of course, I CAN do that, but do I have time?  Well, she saw a dress that she really likes but it is not in her size - so I'm in the process of re-creating the dress in her size.  In my spare time   ;o)   And then another customer wants to know if I could write a few eBook patterns for children's boutique designs in sizes 8 - 12.  You know, the really fun stuff for the 'tweens.  Because it is SOOO very expensive to buy gorgeous clothing for young ladies in this age group, and she wants to make a few things for her daughter.  So, would I write a few more eBooks?  Of course, in my spare time!  See what I mean?  I just have way too many ideas bouncing around in my brain, and it just never seems to be ready for a nap.  But I am . . . . I'm tired so I guess I'll go to bed and try to get my brain to settle down for a few hours.  But then I better get busy making that dress and writing those eBook patterns . . . . . along with all the other "stuff" that just constantly fills up my brain. 

I'm counting my blessings - just can't count that high right now!  If I have time, I'll jot down a few of my plans and goals for the week when I wake up in the morning.  Perhaps if I organize some of that "stuff" that is cluttering up my brain, I'll be able to focus on living in the moment.  I just am having a hard time keeping up with all the activity up there! 

PS here are a few of the beautiful Mother's Day gifts I received from my girls!  They made them for me in art class and they were so proud of their wonderful, hand-crafted gifts for Mom   ;o)   I love them!

Simplify Sunday: Back to Nature

Every where I go, just about everything I read, and most everyone I talk to is interested in simplifying their life.  Are we all longing for a bit more peace, a little more quiet, a few more hours of intentional living, instead of always rushing, hurrying, and stressing every minute of every day?  I know that I have spent many years of my life struggling to keep it all in perspective, and limit the amount of energy and time I spend on worrying about what is completely beyond my control.  With so many of us in the midst of financial crisis, I'm thinking it is more necessary than ever before to step back, take a deep breath, and re-evanluate our lives.  Of course, that's easier said than done . . . . but nevertheless, I think we would all benefit greatly from reviewing where we've been, where we are at the minute, and where we might be going from here.

For many of us, "simplifying" life could mean anything from cleaning out our closets and getting rid of the hundreds of things that are in there that make it impossible to figure out what to wear in the morning . . . . . to going away for a weekend, all alone, just to have time to think one thought from beginning to end without being interrupted.  And anything and everything in between.  One thing that is important to me is not just having time to "do nothing" (although that might be a good thing if one needs to just take a nap), but more importantly to me is having time to do the things that I want to do.  I know, that sounds selfish, right?  But when we spend so much of our time doing what we HAVE to do (go to work, feed the kids, clean the house, do the laundry, drive everyone everywhere, call Grandma, plan birthday parties, buy the groceries . . . . . . ) it is kind of nice to have an hour or two to just read a book, or sit down at the sewing machine, or post on my blog    ;o)  

So I've decided to devote some of my brain power to simplifying my life and really make that a focus of my day on Sunday.  Now, usually we go off to church and Sunday School on Sunday mornings . . . . that is just a tradition in our family, and it is important to us.  And then we have a simple lunch, such as grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup (or something equally low maintenance) and then we have "quiet time."  Sometimes we read, or watch a movie, or even take a nap.  And then in the evening we try to get things ready for the week, have a big bowl of popcorn, and just hang out together.  That's a good Sunday, in my opinion!  But it doesn't always work out that way . . . . especially if we have had to take care of other family obligations all day on Saturday.

Like yesterday . . . . . our daughter invited us up to Michigan (about a 2 1/2" hour drive) to go to our grandson's dance recital, and Grandma and Grandpa needed a plumbing problem fixed.  Fortunately, all of this was within a few miles of each other.  But we still left home at around 8:30 a.m. and had a wonderful time with our family, but didn't get home until 11:00 p.m.   Exhausted!  So, today we decided to recover from all of that excitement, and that is when I started thinking about ways to make this day meaningful.  How could I do what I HAVE to do and also have a bit of time to do what I WANT to do?

Well, I'm going to be working on this more over the next few weeks, and I hope you will join me if looking for ways to simplify, to clear out the confusion and chaos of the daily demands of life, and to make choices to live very intentionally.  What does that mean?  To me, it means that I am going to try to make more choices about my own life and existence, and minimize the demands of others that jerk me from one thing to the next, with hardly a second to catch my breath.  And that means I just might have to say NO to a few things . . . . . but then that gets us back to the conversation about priorities.  And that discussion is for another day! 

For THIS Sunday, one of the things that I wanted to do was go out into my backyard and find something beautiful, something that would make me smile, and know that God truly is interested in making our world a wonderful place in which to live.  So, here are some pictures of a few thrift treasures I found yesterday at a garage sale on the way to Grandma's house (BTW, sweet hubby did get Grandma and Grandpa's plumbing fixed!).  And later this afternoon, we are going to have a bonfire and roast hot dogs for supper - and the girls want to have toasted marshmallows, too!  Those are some of the things that make life beautiful as we travel our journey to simplify life.  Tell me about what you are doing to simplify YOUR life! 

Frugal Friday: Redecorating My Blog and an Award!

 

How long does it take one mama to update her blog?  Really, how long does it take YOU to rearrange and redecorate your blog?  It is kind of like rearranging the furniture in the bedroom, washing all of the windows and curtains in the whole house, reupholstering all of the furniture in the living room, and painting the kitchen . . . . all at the same time! I've been working on this project for a few days now (nevermind that I had about a MILLION other things that I needed to accomplish as well) - and it has just about made me crazy!  Well, crazier than usual.  When I start on a new "corner" of my little cyber-home, I think that this part should only take about a half-hour and when I get that finished, I'll go fold laundry, sweep the kitchen floor, and make the beds.  So, I sit down and get started, and four hours later, I'm ready to take the proverbial sledge hammer to this *^&$%& computer!  I guess we better take it in and have it looked at before I completely destroy it . . . . or destroy something close at hand!

So, I started to work on my sweet little PayPal widget storefront, that is just so entertaining as it shuffles pictures of my beautiful garments, shoes, and handbags and flips them over and over.  I don't remember it taking this long the first time I created it!  I have now worked on it for two evenings, after getting the girls settled (well, except for the 9,000 times they get out of bed to go to the bathroom, get a drink, need to tell me something that I was supposed to do before morning, tattletale on each other . . . . . ) and I just couldn't get it right.  First, I couldn't figure out how to get the descriptions to "save."  They just kept disappearing.  Then I couldn't get the prices to "take."  Guess I needed to have my "number lock" key pressed down.  Then, I got all of the pictures in place, the descriptions "stuck," and the prices inserted . . . . and I did something (I have NO clue what!) and suddenly every one of the items that I had worked so hard to get into this sweet little widget, ALL said "SOLD OUT"!!! 

OK, so I'm not a computer geni us - although I'm pretty good at some other things in life - but patience with computers is definitely not my gift!  Well, I finally got it finished, uploaded it to this little blog of mine, and WHEW!!!!  It is right!  But that's ALL I accomplished in two evenings of messing around here.  And I have so many other things I want to do . . . . . like paint the kitchen, reupholster the furniture . . . you know, really spiff up my little corner of the cyber-world.  Well, one special event did happen today - I was honored with the "One Lovely Blog Award" by Sonya over at Dime Store Thrift.   I met Sonya while I was wandering around looking for some new vintage / thrift blogs to visit.  She is such a sweetheart! 

Please go on over and visit Sonya and say HI to a new blogging friend   ;o)  Now, it is my job to pass this beautiful award along to 15 other bloggers (actually I was given this award last week, too, and I just haven't had the time to honor 15 other bloggers with the award . . . . so does that mean I get to choose 30 new blogging friends for this award?)  Is this kind of like that Friendship Bread starter that I used to be blessed with from my friends at church?  You know, the stuff that you have to do something with in the next 3 days or it will multiply and become a Yeast Monster that will devour your kitchen???   I'm trying to keep up with this, really I am, but those ^%%$* little widgets just keep me tied up for WAY too long!  I promise I'll be back soon to bestow the "One Lovely Blog Award" on as many beautiful blogging friends as I can find, as quickly as possible!  In the meantime, stop by my Etsy Shop, Gossamer Wings Studio and see some of the beautiful vintage / and thrift shop treasures that I've discovered this week.  Actually, there is so much more just waiting for me to photograph and list . . . . . those *&&%$ WIDGETS again!!!  

Wednesday's Renaissance Treasure Hunt in the Rain

We woke up this morning to a gloomy, misty, rainy day . . . . but that was alright with me because I had a treasure hunt scheduled for this morning! I went out with a friend from work so she could show me all of her favorite "thrift shops" and little vintage treasure haunts. And I've recently been trying to determine if "vintage" only means "old and classic," "high-fashion," "couture," "movie star"  and "exclusive designer" garments . . . . oh, and also "very expensive," or can it include beautiful, well-made, classic garments that happen to be "not brand-new."  I'm discovering that there is that "vintage" community that has very limited  criteria for inclusion.  So, I'm thinking that I should designate my "style" as "Renaissance Boutique."  I think that says what I'm trying to create:  restyled, upcycled, and reconstructed garments from any era, that are gorgeous, well-made, and stylish all while offering my customers the opportunity to show off their fashion sense and STILL be able to pay the bills and feed the kids! 

Apparently I don't really fit into either the exclusive "vintage" club, and I don't think I fit into the "flea market" category, but somewhere in between.  In any case, I have quite a few happy customers who have ordered items from my Etsy shop and absolutely LOVE their purchase.  So I continue on, looking for my niche in the cyber world community of online sellers.  By the way, one thing I have noticed everywhere I go, looking for sites that sell vintage, thrift shop items, flea market communities, etc . . . . . there are lots of people who are trying their hand at offering quality items for sale, but they are struggling with how to set up a shop, write descriptions, take pictures, edit pictures, and market their little shops.  I've even received emails asking me for ideas about how to improve their little corner of the cyber world.  Maybe that will be my next eBook! 

But for today, this rainy Wednesday, I want to show you a few of the Renaissance Treasures that we found on our adventure . . . . . somedays you can find so many wonderful treasures, and other days there just doesn't seem to be anything out there.  Well, today was great fun, because we found the kind of things that are just perfect for our little shop.  We found dresses, and shoes, and old bottles, and purses.  We found some beautiful cropped pants in white for summer; a little sequin shrug sweater; a couple of funky shirts with fringe and embroidery; and a bunch more wonderful items that I will be listing in my Etsy shop.  I'm also working on setting up shop on several other marketplace sites that feature vintage and / or thrift shop treasures.  I know that there are all kinds of people out here who love the look of beautiful, well-made garments, shoes, and accessories but who also want to be wise about the use and abuse of our resources.  Renaissance Treasures are the perfect answer!  We are gorgeous, we are stylish, we have attitude . . . . . but we also have the determination to do our part in keeping our little world less cluttered.  A simple lifestyle can be yours with Renaissance Treasures! 

PS This little lime green top with the black piping just sold!  I listed it and then came over her to post, and when I went back to grab the link, it was gone!   

What would you do? New "stuff" or vintage "stuff" or just go take a nap!

How annoying can it be anyway?  Do you ever have this problem . . . . . there are just TOO many ideas in my head of things to create and write, and then when I don't have the time to work on all of the "stuff" that's spinning around in my brain, I get really wierd.  I mean, stranger than usual.  I'm always distracted, trying to figure out if this design will work, and how to make it happen - and then when someone asks me a question, I guess I look at them like I have no clue what they just said.  Because I don't.  And I am even annoyed when the telephone rings, and I have to stop thinking about what I want to think about and shift gears mentally to think about what the person on the other end of the telephone wants me to think about.  I resent that   ;o)   If I wanted to talk to them, I would have called them!

So, here is a new day, the sun is shining and it is a perfectly perfect spring day here in northern Indiana.  Yep, I have a couple of responsibilities today (do kids and husbands fit into this category?), but I'm also looking forward to a day of opportunities to work on what is in my head.  The problem?  Where should I start?  I've got several vintage reconstruction projects started that I really should finish, and I wanted to take some photos to post here and in my Etsy shop of other designs.  I get kind of bogged down when I think that I should do THIS, but then I really want to do THAT, and I can't forget to finish up all of THESE projects.  OK, I need to focus!  Perhaps if I write some of it down, it will clear out the fog in my brain.  But it is so scary to actually write all of this stuff out in black and white!  You will think I'm kind of wierd . . . . didn't I already say that?  So here goes:

1.  Finish the vintage reconstruction summer top for the weekly creativity challenge at "Creative Construction:  Life and Art."  Needs to be finished and submitted by Tuesday night.

2.  Take some photos of my vintage "stuff" to put in my OTHER Etsy shop, Gossamer Wings Studio.

3.  Gather up bunches and bunches of buttons, beads, ribbons, lace, fabric, and other treasures to list in my Etsy shop as well as to work on one other project this week . . . . embellished cuff bracelets.

4.  Perhaps I should also tidy up my studio so I can find all of this stuff!

5.  START one new vintage reconstruction garment . . . . maybe a dress this time.

6.  Finish at least 5 pages of my eBook on making crazy patch journal covers.  5 pages . . . . I can do this!!!

Well, at least that gets some of the "stuff" out of my brain, but of course there's tons more.  Just writing it down makes me feel less wierd.  That's progress! 

Fashion Bailout: A New Way to Think About Your Wardrobe

   

What’s YOUR style?   Have the current economic trials affected your fashion awareness?  I wonder what it must be like for people who have always had the resources to buy whatever they wanted.  You know, just go into a mall and shop for a new outfit.  I suppose that it would be hard to adjust to the limitations that so many of us are experiencing during this economic downturn.  Of course, this won’t last forever, and one day we will all look back on these days of financial struggles and remember what it was like “back then.”  Kind of like the memories that my mama used to share with me of her childhood.  Being a kid during the Great Depression was not easy . . . . being an adult during the Great Depression was even harder.  But they got through it.  And so will we.  But in the meantime, there are some days of financial struggle ahead for all of us. 

           

 

One of the wonderful lessons that I learned early in my life, was to appreciate the beautiful things in my world, even if they were hand-me-downs.  Of course I always had the beauty of my little neighborhood, where I played in the woods designing imaginary houses.  And the wonder of a springtime morning when the mist was rising from the lake and I played beneath the Weeping Willow tree with my dollies.  As an only child, I learned to play alone and I learned to love the simplicity of life in a small town.  I’ve discovered as I gotten older, though, that not everyone enjoys those seemingly mundane, ordinary events in life.   And if you are used to being able to go out to dinner and a moving or to go shopping for a brand-new outfit when you need one, then discovering that you just can’t do that right now, might be difficult for some people. 

           

I've had great fun lately to search through the Etsy shops and discover beautiful, classic, high-quality clothing at prices that more people can afford.  Since I’ve been selling on Etsy, I’ve discovered that there is quite a market for “vintage,” “retro,” and reconstruction garments.  That can be anything from last year’s styles that have been donated to a thrift shop, or truly vintage garments that are discovered at an estate sale, or even gorgeous treasures that have been stashed away in MeMaw’s attic for twenty years.  And since I have so much practice “making something out of nothing,” as my mother-in-law used to say about me, I’m having great fun searching for and discovering some of the wonderful garments and accessories that are available in a variety of Etsy shops.  If you are looking for a “new” outfit, Etsy is a great place to start! 

 

Here are just a few of the fun items I found this week . . . . . I always like to start with the foundation garment for an outfit.  Here is a beautiful spring and summer dress that has so much versatility!  You could dress it up for an elegant evening occasion, or keep it simple for a daytime outing.  This sweet dress is from Turquoise Heaven and it is only $26.00!

 

Once I find the foundation garment for an outfit, then it is really fun to find all kinds of stuff to mix, match, and coordinate.  The next thing I start searching for is a great pair of shoes that will add some pizzazz, or class, or charm . . . depending on the style of the outfit.  For this beautiful dress, I was looking for shoes that would really enhance the classy, femine look of the outfit, but be just a little bit sassy, too.  I found these gorgeous summer slides that pick up the rosey pink in the dress, and they are simply classic, but those little bows really say "personality"!  I found these at vjones1 for just $20.00!

 

Now that I have the dress and the shoes, it's time to search for some accessories.  It is just so much fun investigating all of the little shops on Etsy!  I just enter the search term "pink purses" and I found so many totes, handbags, purses, and wristlets that would go perfectly with this outfit.  But I thought THIS one was the best!  This sweet pink purse can be found at  nickandnessie's for $16.00.  So now our outfit total is up to $62.00.  How does that compare to shopping at the mall?

 

Or here's a cute little purse from my own shop, Gossamer Wings Studio, that would go perfectly with this outfit.  And this one is only $14.00! 

 

 

My final treasure hunt was for jewelry that would go perfectly with this outfit.  I was looking for something that would carry out the pink theme, of course, but also jewelry that would really tie it all together. I searched for vintage and retro, simple and elaborate, sweet and elegant.  It was so difficult to decide on just one piece of jewelry, so here are a couple of choices.  Which one do you like best?  This sweet set is from gilligansgate for $18.99.

 

And these adorable little button earrings I discovered at smallearthvintage for just $14.00! 

 

 

So, depending on your choice of jewelry and handbag, your entire outfit could cost you as little as $60.00 - $75.00 or as much as $80.99.  Maybe it is just me, but I'd sure rather spend less than $100.00 on a beautiful outfit that is "new" to me, than whatever it would take to get similar items at a department store in the mall.  When you are looking for that special outfit for an upcoming event, please take a minute to browse the shops of Etsy.  You just might find exactly what you are looking for and still have enough money to buy groceries this week!  Stop back later this week for another feature on more gorgeous vintage and retro items from the sellers of Etsy!  Have a wonderful week living the vintage life and experiencing the joy of simplicity in your life   ;o)   Nina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

Audrey and Grace: A little bit country, and a lot of class

Being a seamstress myself, I can truly appreciate all of the time, energy, and love that goes into creating such a gorgeous dress.  I discovered Audrey and Grace's little Etsy shop while searching for items and sellers to feature in my Thrifty Thursday series.  Well, the beautiful designs of Audrey and Grace do not fit into that category, but I just had to share them with you!  And they are definitely worth the prices that are on them - the time invested in making such a work of art would be impossible to calculate accurately.  Garment like the dresses you will find in Audrey and Grace's shop are fashion treasures today, and heirlooms of tomorrow.  Just take a few minutes and visit Audrey and Grace's shop and see all of the wonderful, whimsical dresses they have in stock.  And maybe convo Lesha and send her some Etsy friendship!  

One of the things that has surprised me in the past couple of years, is the discovery that handmade garments are so "trendy" or "fashionable."  When I was growing up, if you wore handmade clothing, it was because you couldn't afford to buy new clothes from the store.  As I was raising my older children, I made most of their clothing, as well as my own, not so much then because I couldn't afford to do anything different, but because that was just the way I grew up, I was used to it, and I loved to sew.  So, when I realized that "handmade" was a good thing, I decided to see if there was a market for my handcrafted children's clothing.  And there was!  The only problem I encountered, was that I couldn't sew things fast enough to keep up with my orders . . . . which was a good thing in some ways, but it was wearing me out. 

The other thing that I discovered, that was also a bit of a surprise to me, was that there were LOTS of younger women who wanted to learn how to sew for themselves and / or their children.   As I began to get more and more emails asking for advice and help on how to make certain design elements, or just how to get started sewing, I began to write up my eBook patterns.  That way I really felt like I was making a contribution to the lives of other women who had never had the opportunity, or had not been interested earlier in their life, to learn how to sew.  Writing my eBooks, of course, takes more time initially than to sew a dress or an outfit.  But . . . . once it is written, I can make it available to lots and lots of women!  Perhaps Lesha will decide one day to share some of her secrets with other women who might like to learn how to create such amazing dresses, too.  But until she does, if you are looking for a dress that is unique and will be the fashion statement at your next Big Event, be sure to stop by and visit Audrey and Grace's Etsy Shop.  Tell Lesha I sent you!