Thrifted Thursday

           Last weekend found us doing all of the vintage shopping- hitting up several special vintage sales here in Vancouver. We have casually been looking for a new to us table- square instead of round- which is what we currently have. As I have said time and time again the best part of vintage shopping is the thrill of the hunt- you never actually know what you are going to end up with and this was just the case for us this past weekend. We had an idea of what we were looking for and yet when it came right down to it we decided on something completely different- we had originally thought to get a set of chairs that matched- but ended with three completely different mix matched chairs to go with the perfect square table.

     Also the girl came home with a sewing basket- the boy got some comics and I bought fabric- treasures all around!

Thrifted Thursday: More Clogs

            I feel like I hit the thrifting Jack Pot with these sweet clogs that were thrifted last weekend in Portland. Also I may or may not have a wooden shoe problem- but that is besides the point! When I saw these awesome clogs tucked away under a rack in a random thrift shop the other day I walked right by them- I thought to myself that nah they won't fit. Something drew me back though and I ended up trying them on- voila they fit- voila they were purchased and  voila now they are all mine! I'm wondering if I am the only nut bar that brings home thrifted souvenirs from vacation?

Thrifted Thursday: Vintage Quilt

         So naturally my love of textiles extends to vintage textiles- I love to think of an item having a life long before me and potentially long after me. When I came across this sweet little quilt a few weeks ago in a shop I fell in love- with the colours and hand stitching- even the worn spots- this quilt has travelled. I behaved though- I held off- I walked out of the vintage store that day with no quilt in my hands- my rule is if something is still there when I next return then it is meant to be. I went about my business with this beautiful quilt tugging at the corner of my imagination- it would be perfect for my girl- the perfect size for her vintage 1950's bed- plus the colours called out her name.

       I walked around with the thought of this perfectly imperfect little vintage quilt for quite a few weeks- put off mainly by the cost but also the thought that I might find something else. I think I knew in my heart of hearts I wouldn't find anything more perfect and I made my way back to the vintage shop with fingers crossed that my little red quilt would still be there- and of course it was because it was meant to be.

             This quilt is perfect for a girl about to turn six years old- the perfect combination of whimsy and colour- scraps of fabric from the 1940's and 50's combine together in a Dresden Plate pattern on a well worn white background. What I love is the equal amounts of hand and machine stitching- I imagine this quilt was sewn when home machines were starting to become more sophisticated as there is a fancy machine embroidered edge.

        I will admit that this vintage score was tough to give over to my eager girl- she loved it as soon as she laid eyes on it- this really is the perfect quilt for her. In a world of pink this quilt embodies everything I strive for in my girl's life- it's different and special just like her.

Thrifted Thursday!

       For me thrifting isn't about individual scores any longer- its still about the thrill of the hunt but over the last little while I have been refining my entire wardrobe. So it only follows that instead of thrifting willy nilly I now thrift with a keen eye to my over all look- I am creating a capsule wardrobe with in my own closet. Paring things down to a look or aesthetic has really helped with impulse purchases that end up just heading back to the thrift shop- saving me money- time and most of all emotional energy.

      This entire outfit- except for the socks which I stole from my son and the pin which is from Dress sew- is thrifted. The fantastic heavy knit vintage cardigan was found on Gabriola Island by a friend of mine at the recycling depot- it has been my go- to staple since she gifted it to me- the perfect weight for this time of year and its a wonderful shape. The little brown bag I blogged about last summer- again this is one of those pieces that is always in use. The linen dress and Birkenstock clogs- those are my newly thrifted treasures from over the weekend!

       Someone said to me yesterday that I must have a thrifting fairy sitting on my shoulder- I think she was right. These clogs are possibly my best score of the year- they were something I was going to buy new anyways but just hadn't gotten around to it yet- then into my life the land! That's the best part about thrifting- you never know what your going to come home with!

Thrifted Thursday

          This Thrifted Thursday item will be familiar to a few folks already as it has quickly become my favourite item to throw on this winter. A long-woven - wool vest- I suspect it is handmade as there are no tags and it is quite rustic- it just has that made by hand feel to it. One day last month I was hustling up Carroll St to get over to the school for child pick up and as I was speed walking past Community Thrift I noticed this gem in the window- I didn't stop. I obsessed all the way to the school in the pouring rain and decided that if it wasn't there on my way home then it simply wasn't meant to be- thats just how I shop.

         Well clearly the vest was still hanging in the window upon our return- had it not been such a miserable day out and the streets deserted I am sure this would not have been the case. Luck and the Thrifting Gods were on my side that day and I walked away with this beauty- truly a thrifting score! To me this vest evokes a totally 60's art teacher vibe- I can just imagine some complicated housewife sipping gin and tonics while perhaps spinning ceramics on the wheal or rushing off to a life drawing class.

        Lately my style has been described as cozy- more specifically like a tea cozy- and I do feel this to be the case. This fall and winter has been all about the layers of wool- the more layers to keep me warm and cozy the better. This vest fits that bill perfectly- keeping my back warm and my arms free- for anyone who works with their hands will tell you this is a key issue when wearing sweaters. At any rate as mentioned this is one of my favourite pieces to wear this season!

PS- also my super cute shoes are thrifted from the Salvation Army- they were brand new- handmade in South Africa- another mega score for this fall!

PSS- yes I know that is coffee in my cup- this is an older picture from over Christmas- the super cute mug was handmade by my friend Andrea- the tea challenge is still on!

PSSS- why yes that is a glorious tassel hanging from my neck! It was gifted to me by my secret Santa- Portia who makes all sorts of glorious tassels!

Thrifted Thursday

           Today's Thrifted Thursday is a little bit thrifted and a little bit crafty- truly the best of both worlds- made all the better because it came in the guise as a gift from a dear friend. I have been meaning to write about this for quite some time but honestly so much has happened this summer that I just haven't had the time to write about yet! At the end of July we were paid a visit from my dear friend Sarah- who incidentally wrote a guest post for me last summer which can be read here- she and her family were visiting from Wisconsin. Sarah truly is one of my kindred souls- we bonded in University over beer and thrifting- some things really never change!

          So anyways Sarah and her sweet family stayed with us for a few days and of course she and I both had a few gifties for each other- I almost died laughing when we essentially exchanged wool! Into my yarn stash went this dreamy, soft neutral skien- from a local Wisconsin mill- Blackberry Ridge- the perfect base for one of my natural dyes. Along with this yummy little treat was this wee maroon satchel- purse to you non fashion types! I used this diminutive little bag only a handful of times before my little Miss declared it perfect to tote around her treasures- so I feel I may never get to use this bag again- shades of things to come!

         In other news as much as I am desperately trying to hang onto these final gentle days of summer I can see and feel fall creeping in. The mornings now hold a crispness that simply wasn't there last week- soon it will be boot and sweater weather. The nights come quickly now and the beach toys have all been packed away- I'm reassessing our rain gear- patching jeans- starting to think about soups and baking bread again. The Littles are still out of school- which feels a bit strange and yet totally right- their nature collection is growing daily as we wander and explore our way through our city- easing out of our summer skin and on into fall.

Thrifted Thursday

          Of course this Thrifted Thursday has a story to go along with it- a story of a sunny day at the beach with my girly- but of course the story runs much longer than that. This Thrifted Thursday is all about this wee little leather purse that a friend spotted at a vintage store and said "hey you need that"- I had been looking for a bag like this for months- just barely big enough to fit my wallet, phone and keys- with a long cross body strap- perfect for everything I need to keep close.

     I bought this week leather purse on a crummy day in February- I remember my friend and I had just had the best lunch of poached eggs on toast- we left the warm comfort of the cafe and spontaneously dipped into a oft visited vintage store. On this day in February it was struggling to snow- raining for sure- it was cold and dark-  when I saw this wee little bag I thought "this is perfect for summer adventures"- a little bright spot on a grey winter day.

     This little leather bag travels everywhere with me these days- including to the beach of course- across my body- freeing my hands up for important work like shell collecting and hand holding. In what might be it's second or even third life it is collecting so many more unspoken stories- tucking places away in the folds of leather- secreted away. One of the things I love best about pre-loved items are the past lives lived- this little bag travelled all the way from India to a vintage shop in Vancouver - I wonder where it went in between!

Thrifted Thursday

      By now I am sure that all readers know about my obsession with collecting- AKA vintage shopping! Vintage doesn't just stop with clothes for me or cool house wares- my vintage obsession has naturally transitioned down to my Littles. Both kids but especially Miss Lo love "old" things- they both have an eye for seeing vintage items in heaps of second hand things at the charity shops.

     It was during a bit of Mummy- Daughter time just last week that Miss Lo spotted this adorable little wool pea coat hanging on the bottom rack of one of our favourite vintage haunts- Community Thrift and Vintage on Cordova St. Community has two locations that are equally fabulous- the unisex shop is on Cordova and the ladies Frock Shop is over on Carrall St- both shops have a well curated selection of children's clothes- in addition to fantastic treasures for ladies & gents. This really is my go- to spot when I am in the mood for something fresh for my closet.

       It never ceases to amaze me the quality- the work and detail that went into vintage clothing- not to mention how much more interesting vintage clothing is! This wee jacket features leather & cotton loops & beautiful toggles- the hood is super generous - providing loads of space for an extra hat or scarf. I'm loving that my Littles are starting to get more excited about the thrill of the hunt at vintage and thrift stores than they are about popular merchandised t-shirts. Watching them develop their eye is fascinating to witness- and fairly risk free as children's vintage clothing is very affordable still. Saving the environment and looking stylish- sometimes I really do feel like a super hero!

Thrifted Thursday

         This weeks Thrifted Thursday score is super exciting to me- I am a lover of mail- weird perhaps- but I love getting mail and feel there is a bit of romance surrounding actual letters. Remember mail- handwritten letters and cards that arrive in your mail box- put there by a real live person? Yeah mail. So when I was at the Urban Market a few weeks ago and spotted a vintage Canadian mail bag I jumped on it- when thrifting there is no time to think- if you spot a gem you must snap it up- there is no walking away and thinking about it- the very thought of that fills me with anxiety!

       The canvas on the bag is perfectly worn- aged to the perfect patina- all the while remaining sturdy and strong- no visible rends. I could only image the love letters it carried, the bad news contained with in, the birthday cards and bills- always the bills! Which made this the obvious candidate for a make over from mail sack to tote bag!

       I had two sets of leather handles from Merchant & Mills London on hand and it took awhile for me to decide on placement- in the end I went with a single cross body strap as I felt this would be the most used option. With eight simple rivets and a hammer this little project was done in no time flat!

         This "new" tote does not disappoint- it is the perfect solution to my yoga mat, umbrella, lunch kit conundrum! Moms always end up carrying everyone's stuff home after school- into the bag it goes! I love that it is deep enough to accommodate my yoga mat and I can keep my hands deep in warm pockets on my way to class! 

          When heading out on a thrifting or vintage expedition you never know what you are going to stumble across- this serendipity is what I so love about thrifting- the thrill of the hunt! I would never have thought I would come across such a find- now I have a unique tote bag. Going out with an open mind and being flexible in your finds leads to a uniquely curated collection- in a world of sameness your unique style can stand out!

PS- thank you friend Erin for snapping these pics of me post yoga last week!

Thrifted Thursday

                  I have decided there is a lot I don't really like about Fall this year- usually I like the changing  of the seasons and the crisp- sunny- weather- but this year there is no sun- just rain. I'm also not a fan of our new schedule- I'm not an early riser by nature and certainly do not enjoy having to hustle everyone out the door into that rain. OK so complaining aside- the one of the things I am enjoying about this Fall is my newly thrifted vest! Found at my favourite thrift store- Community Thrift and Vintage on Carrol St- just the other day during one of those walks to the school for pick up.

                I'm loving the super retro vibe that is having a moment right now- this vest reminds me of something my Dad used to wear when we were kids- every weekend in the fall our entire family would head out into the forest to collect firewood for the winter- this usually involved some sort of forced child labour. I remember my crunchy grass and leaves, filtered sunlight, wasps, blue sky with bright yellow birch leaves- I remember hanging out by the van eating sandwiches and drinking hot tea.

             Obviously when I saw this vest I could not pass it up! Community Thrift and Vintage is stocked full of great retro gear right now- everything from chunky cable knit sweaters to super soft cashmere- and I can't even talk about the fantastic vintage Hudson Bay blankets. It is taking everything in my being not to run back over there and snag one! Incidentally a few other items in this outfit are thrifted- the boots- yes Hunter boots that I thrifted last fall. My scarf is not so much thrifted but inherited- it was my Mom's scarf when she was in high school- so it is authentically vintage- and so cute- it's my favourite!

            So I may be grumpy about early mornings and the rain- oh the rain- I miss Summer- but at least I can look cozy while slogging my way through the wet streets of Vancouver. Thank you to my friend Andrea for snapping this quick pic of me yesterday afternoon- and yes I know my eyes look weird- I think I was talking- of course!

Thrifted Thursday

     I have not done a Thrifted Thursday post in a super long time- like since last fall- so I thought it was high time that I start posting about some of my super fun thrifted items! My latest favourite item comes from Erin Templeton's collection. I have long been an admirer of her bags and decided to stop into her Gastown studio last week- which is where I stumbled upon this vintage gem!

    A simple kimono cut dressing gown in plum- covered in a yellow and white stylized floral- I think this is a great colour combo for fall- on trend with the plum shade but with bright pops of colour. I have no idea when this piece hails from- I am guessing maybe the seventies- the great thing about vintage dressing is that it really doesn't matter- if you like it wear it!

     Not to turn this into a "what she wore" post but if anyone is interested my sandals are Eileen Fisher, jeans are Citizens of Humanity, basic grey t-shirt is Club Monaco and the vintage bag hails from Community Thrift and Vintage- I blogged about it last fall here! I love how with such a simple item of clothing my entire outfit was transformed from basic and prosaic to interesting- thats the beauty of vintage!

Bonus Post on a Friday

     Hi Friends- I know I already said "Happy Friday" in my post earlier today- but I wrote that post before even venturing outside this morning! The girlies and I were on our own today- The Boy had his Introduction to Kindergarten that he went to with the Mr. So sans boys we headed over to Robson park for a bit of spring time fun- and errr some fabric from Spool of Thread! 

    I'm walking along- girlies in the double stroller telling jokes and giggling, my back pack is full of fabric and dandelions, my jacket is off and the air is swirling with Cherry Blossoms- magic! We walked all over the fair East side of this city today- ending our journey with a visit to our favourite thrift shop- Community Thrift and Vintage- even more magic was to be found there!

    Digging through the children's drawer I came across this beautiful, soft fabric in vibrant green and purple- initially thinking it could be sewn up into something else I pulled it out- only to discover an amazing vintage maxi skirt- although I'm sure it is meant for an older girl- it is a maxi skirt on Miss Lo! We also scored a beautiful embroidered white on white tunic/ apron top for her as well- the nice thing about vintage is you can interpret it into what ever you want really!

       I have been scouring Etsy for a vintage Mexican top just like this one for months now- sturdy fabric with vibrant coloured embroidery! Every top I came across was way over the top- I was looking for something more simple-  and this little number at $9 fit the bill and me perfectly!

      Some days the planets line up just right and everything in the universe just seems to click- today was one of those days- nothing extravagant- just the magic of Spring! Happy Friday Friends- I hope you find some magic today!

Nesting

 

   
  As mentioned in yesterday's post I have that nesting feeling- the desire to refresh our space- infuse it with some newness and warmth for these coming months. Here's the deal- as the stay at home parent I spend a great deal of time with in these walls during the winter months. To make matters even more complicated as an artist I get bored easily and am in a constant state of re- invention- often this involves furniture moving. No furniture moving occurred this weekend but between my trip to Spruce Collective on Saturday with Lovely Cousin Laura and a brief trip to the States yesterday I managed to gather a few new treasures to freshen up our space.

      From Spruce Collective I purchased a cozy vintage wool rug with multiple shots of colour through out- this will prove ideal for what ever colour I end up painting our kitchen table. I totally admit I can envision this in the kitchen of my dreams- casually strewn out on barn board floors maybe in front of a porcelain farm house sink- a girl can dream right! Anyways back to reality- my other treasure from Spruce Collective was this funky little multi coloured globe- yes it has the U.S.S.R. on it and Nunavut is missing from Canada- our kids might get confused by that but I think it is a charming addition to their globe collection!

    Yesterday was another stormy day and so we hopped in the car and headed across the boarder- the only solid stops on our list were Trader Joe's and Target- now normally I am not a fan of big box stores but Target always has such great house wares! I scored myself this awesome Poison toss pillow which I think looks great in my favourite orange chair but The Boy claims he wants it for his bed- maybe we can share. Another fantastic find was this Smith & Hawking lantern- a solid hurricane vase surrounded in lovely "aged" wood- I was looking for something substantial for at our entrance way and this fits the bill!

      I have a few other projects up my sleeve to cozy up our space- some furniture painting and screen printing of fabric- and always more thrifting. I think this year we might also put up some curtains- this will be a big step for us- a move that suggests some permanence- if only temporarily! We are also starting to think about replacing our sofa- yes a big purchase, but as anyone who has sat on our couch in the past year or so can attest to it is much needed! Making a home out of a rental space can be a tricky thing but I feel bit by bit this place is starting to feel just like us!

Thrifted Thursday

 

    I need some new glasses- badly and I have been looking for months for a pair that is unique and interesting but not insanely expensive. So far no luck- then I was rummaging under my bed in my box of accessories and I came across these two beauties. I love the top pair but they really pinch my nose and hurt- but they are pretty so I thought I would share- even if they are not really a contender!

     The second pair is actually a pair of glasses I bought in University- so 90's- I wonder does that count as "Vintage" I don't think so- not yet. When I put these on though I remembered why I love them so much- they fit perfectly and have just enough retro flare to satisfy my inner 50's housewife!

   It's so strange how something like a pair of glasses can change how you feel about yourself- obviously I associate these with my slightly mis spent youth- and I think they make me look just like I looked in 1995! For now at least these are top choice for my " new" glasses! Stay tuned to see what I end up with!

Ps- back in 1995 I borrowed $100- they cost like $360- from my friend Amy to buy these- we both were working at shoe stores in our local mall- I like to refer to these as my time share glasses- thanks Amy!

Thrifted Thursday

          I have been think a lot lately  about moving and the different ways we move physically through the world- patterns if you will- about ancestors and travelling and migration or immigration more specifically- because no one really migrates any more these days do they? My family's story is the classic Canadian story told by a pile of trunks stashed in my parents basement- the only real physical tie we have to our family's origins- evidence of the great migration to the promised land of Canada. Four different nationalities brought together into two people- my sister and I.

   This idea of the migration of families has always intrigued me and I myself have always been a bit transient in my own life- after a very stable childhood I moved about every six months through out University and after- travelling, camping, moving- the idea of starting fresh has always appealed to me. Even now I get the itch to pack up and "try out" a different area of the city or a new town all together- much to my Mr.'s relief a road trip usually cures any desire to move.

   Perhaps it was all those years of pseudo living out of suitcases that draws me to collect them today- some have come down through my family like the little faux wicker number which originally held my Great Grand Mother's belongings when she made the journey from Minnesota to Alberta. Others like the sturdy black suitcase, lined in royal purple, I have purchased at thrift stores. I have a few trunks of my own but I am saving those to share with you another day.

   All my suitcase's hold something special- fabric scraps, vintage linens, knitting, with even the smallest- like these below- storing seeds and thread. They all hold something - some the story of my ancestors and some choose to keep the secrets of their journey.  These are vessels of new beginnings, the promise of something fresh and new- be it in the past or in my own future.

     I would like to add that yesterday would have been my Grandpa Henry's 102 birthday- It was a conversation with my mom yesterday that inspired this Thrifted Thursday and got me thinking about all those pioneers who made the journey so I could be here today.