Monday, April 25, 2011

Blasted Threads!!

If you're like me, every once in a while you have to re-thread your serger.  @$*%&*!!!  I get very upset.   Luckily I found instructions on how to fix it.  I have a basic 4-thread Singer serger, and I'm not sure if it works for other sergers, but I hope that at least one person can benefit from this post!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Etsy: HereInSmallTownUSA

This might be the weirdest shop ever on Etsy.  Dried baby mice, rattlesnake rattlers, and pheasant feet are only some of the strange items for sale at HereInSmallTownUSA



Now, I know what you're thinking--"Who buys that stuff?!"  Being an amateur psychologist, I am also very curious.  But don't think this unique Etsian isn't successful in his/her business endeavors!  HereInSmallTownUSA has hundreds of sales.  What a genius to tap into a market I didn't even know existed.  What I have learned from this shop is that you have to find your niche--the more specific, the better.  Man, do I have a lot of work to do in that area!




What niche shops would you like to see on Etsy?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Music: Ready To Start

My boyfriend and I are obsessed with this song/video right now.  It's from this past weekend's Coachella,  I've never really listened to Arcade Fire before...but maybe I should.


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Etsy: Purple Maxi Skirt - Harve Benard - Vintage

I just listed this on Etsy.  I have a lot of vintage right now.

This soft purple skirt is made of a mixture of wool and viscose, made by the designer Benard Holtzman. It is vintage, and the tag says "made in Belarus." I don't know exactly when it was made, but it seems to be 1970's style. The lighter "stripes" that you see are a kind of inside-out seams, which is decorative but also allows the skirt to highlight your feminine curves. When worn at the waist, the hem falls at your calves, known as "tea length." It zips up the back with an invisible zipper and buttons at the top--fully lined, a signature of quality construction. I love the light purple because it is such a wonderful Spring color.

Waist: 29"
Length: 32"
Zipper Length: 7.5"
Full Width at Bottom: 84"

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Thrift Store Find: Feraud Pencil Skirt

I'm piecing together the history of a lonely cream pencil skirt I found at Salvation Army a couple of weeks ago...

My Chicano studies class was dismissed early, and on the trolley ride home I decided to take a detour.  I had always wanted to visit the thrift stores hidden in Point Loma--today was perfect because I was itching to get out of the house.  I got off the bus at an unfamiliar station, and made my way to the Salvation Army entrance, feeling unsure of myself.  I thought of all the beautiful vintage stuff for sale on Etsy--would I be lucky enough to spot a gem?
I looked through my usual sections--dresses, blouses, skirts--for any unusual prints or bright colors [love].  But what I found was soft cream wool.  The moment I felt that fabric, I knew it was a quality garment I was touching.  This is one reason why I love vintage--every piece has a history, a story to tell. In this case, I didn't have to just imagine its history.
I looked up Louis Feraud on Google and found that he was a couture designer who had begun creating pieces in France in the 1950's. He met Brigitte Bardot and designed some of the costumes for her movies. He presented his couture collections in Paris, alongside Balenciaga and Lanvin.
I feel honored to have one of his pieces in my vintage collection! I don't know what year the skirt is from, but it says Made in West Germany, which indicates that it was made before the destruction of the Berlin Wall. The skirt is made of a lightweight wool and is fully lined with cream satin. There is a small 3.5" slit in the left side at the bottom. It zips and buttons in the back, and it's in beautiful condition.
Waist: 26"
Hips: 35"
Length: 26"
Width at Bottom: 38"
Zipper Length: 8"
You can buy it in my Etsy shop .

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Shopping: Platform Heaven...

I think I just died and went to platform heaven!!!

Ok, the secret's out:  I'm a white trash girl...
I found this website, SinfulShoes.com, courtesy of the Fashion Pirates blog.  Another one of my faves is TheRedDoorStore.com.
You can accessorize with this:

eBay: Summer Espadrilles

 Summer/ Spring espadrilles in a size 6 (US).  Cream and tan stripes on the toe strap.  Suede lining in sole for comfort.  The bottom of the sole is rubber, allowing for good traction.  Overall, these are some of the most comfortable shoes of this style that I have owned.  And lucky you--they're already worn in!.  They are from American Eagle Outfitters, a very common mall brand with quality that makes their products last more than one season.  :)  Getting harder to find...
Heel:  3.5"
Platform:  1"
Toe to Heel:  9.25"

Friday, April 1, 2011

Indie Designer: Showpony

I found independent designer Showpony on a great website that is similar to Etsy, SupermarketHQ.com.  Emma, the creator, lives in Scotland and mainly has screenprinted stuff in her shop.  I like her idea of screenprinting a fancy bag onto a tote bag--I have always thought that juxtaposition of rough/refined or pretty/messy was intriguing. 
Since I love t-shirts so much, I have always wanted to try screenprinting something lacy onto a plain cotton tee.