A Touch of Vintage Asian Inspiration

It's been ages since I've posted!  After a very busy winter and spring (I've added professional sign maker to my resume) I'm finally feeling like my feet are under me.  Managing two businesses, from home, can be overwhelming but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Today's outfit is a sundress in lime green with dots of white and black with black shoulder straps and trim at the neckline.  It is home sewn by yours truly from a 1955 pattern.  It is not well sewn - there are a few wonky seams and a strange little gap under the arm!  I like it though and will use the pattern again and see if I can improve on the next one.

The skirt of the dress is fantastic - a full circle.  Note to self: sew fishing weights into the hem.  I actually flashed the entire parking lot of Kroger grocery store this afternoon when a gust of wind took me by surprise.  Sadly I was not wearing a crin which would've looked a heck of a lot sexier than the plain white slip I wore.  I was laughing so hard - first the back flew up over my shoulders and as I reached back to settle it the front flew up in face, I was a sight.  To all of my fellow shoppers - you're welcome for the comic relief I provided.

The sweater is magnificent - 1950s lambswool lined in silk crepe with the most amazing beading.  Asian characters (wish I knew what it said), a rickshaw on front and a fab pagoda on the back.  I purchased it from the lovely Nicole of Bombshell Shocked.  

The earrings are from the every-so stylish Melanie at Vintage Fashion Boutique.  Celadon (they aren't quite as yellow in real life as they look in the pic) painted metal Buddhas dangle from pagoda studs.  1950s clip ons at their finest.  I love them and bought them specifically to wear with this sweater.  I do have a growing collection of asian inspired vintage jewelry - I'll have to post some more photos!

Household note - I haven't had the time to sew anything since last fall so I'm really hoping to carve out some time and space to make a new dress.  Better news from the garden though - I realized today that the enormous flowering shrub that appeared a few years ago is an elderberry plant!!  I have already found a recipe for elderberry jelly.........and wine!  Yep - I'm going to try my hand at wine making.  Sadly the recipe says you should wait a year before drinking it - I'm sure that won't happen in this house.  We'll be too curious to wait that long.

Elderberry flowers

If you're looking to add a little Asian style to your vintage wardrobe here's a great swim suit from my shop.

Link here

The Magnolia Collection

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you - leave a comment!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

Christmas 2013 -Elfing Around the House

Elfing around the house!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I can't believe it's over!

I've compiled a few photos taken during the Christmas season....

  Here's a photo of me taken earlier in December for the Advent of the Dress project on facebook.  A fabulous green 60s square dance dress trimmed in layers of white lace.  I paired it with black vintage cowboy boots but of course Lucy's derriere is in the way.

Here is a more sedate dress - 40s black crepe with wonderful collar and cuff details - sadly the photo isn't very clear and the dress is so damaged that it's not really wearable (it looks like someone stabbed the poor thing while it was folded - lots of 2" cuts).  The tiara style mink and velvet ring hat however is so easy to mix and match with vintage and contemporary clothing that it has gotten a lot of wear while it's still in my possession (It is for sale in my ebay shop)!

The Christmas season is hands down my favorite holiday.  I love being able to unwrap all of my favorite ornaments and decorations.  So many of them bring back wonderful memories.

Since we got Lucy we're sticking with a small table top tree!

My collection of Swarovski crystal snowflakes started years ago with this one - a gift from my mom.  Also shown - Holly, my 1960s Italian glass ornament and a darling Scandinavian wooden ornament of a cat and bird with their own tree (found with my mom at the bins)

A collection of English, German and American blue ornaments from the 1880s to the 1950s.

 The blue tree (above) has long been a favorite of mine.  I started the collection of antique blue ornaments when I was still living in Baltimore in the early 90s.  This was probably one of my first "grown-up" collections.  I lucked out finding the bottle brush/feather tree with the wide wooden base at Big Lots.  This collection and tree has moved with me all over the country and for years was the only tree I put up.

My grandparent's 1930s-40s chalkware nativity

Lucy and her gift

Poudre and his gift

Christmas dinner!!  We decided to eat in the kitchen as it was only three of us, and honestly, eating in the dining room would've meant I had to find a new home for my sewing machine!  Dinner consisted of a rib roast, scalloped potatoes (from scratch), asparagus and broccoli.  I started the tradition of the English Crackers years ago thinking the boys would get a kick out of them and now at 18 and 11 they still love them.  Our bottle of wine was a special treat - Opus One 2009!!

Cookies made by the 11 year old and I, home made rum cake and curried pecans for dessert.

Would you like the mink ring hat?  It is really fabulous, easy to wear and right now it's on sale (only $15.20)

Mink Ring Hat - Tiara Style

The Magnolia Collection on Ebay

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

Thanksgiving 2013 in a 1970s Sears Dress

 

It's been a whirlwind around here for the last month but I did get a photo of me in my Thanksgiving dress!  It was pure luck that on Tuesday the 26th I stopped into my favorite thrift store just in time to spot this deadstock beauty!  The dress has gathers at the shoulders (very 1940s-ish), a nice V neckline and a very full skirt.  Even better - it's marked a Tall so the sleeves actually fit the length of my arms - a rarity in vintage dresses.

I paired the dress with my 70s lace-up Frye boots that I purchased about 6 years ago on ebay.  Wore my hair in a flip and was ready to party!

James and I spend Thanksgiving with our dear friends Pete and Julianne and their enormous extended families.  We brought green bean casserole and a rum cake - items that are requested every year!

By the look on my face I am clearly giving my husband photography instructions!

Lucy in her autumnal brown velvet pill box - recently sold in my shop!

For those of you who love wearing dresses there is a new challenge on Facebook - Advent of the Dress.  Loads of vintage sellers and aficionados are participating, but it isn't limited to vintage dresses only - modern dresses are more than welcome.  The challenge is to wear a dress every day for the month of December and snap a picture!  Stop by and take a gander (and check out lots of great vintage shops) or, even more fun....join in and add a dress a day from your wardrobe.

Need a new vintage frock...or some fabulous Frye boots of your own?  The Magnolia Collection is having a 35% off CYBER MONDAY SALE.....and it started today!  The Magnolia Collection

7.5B in my shop and 35% Off  Here

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

Packing for a Long Weekend

I feel as if I've been packing and unpacking for weeks now.  The Magnolia Collection has moved!  What a chore to pack and unpack 500 dresses and just as many pieces of jewelry, pairs of shoes, hats, handbags and bits and pieces.  It's been 9 days since the move and I think I finally know where everything is!!

Today's packing is for fun!  A long weekend in Colorado!  As much as I love Colorado I always have trouble packing for these trips.  The weather can turn from sunny and 80 to snowing and 20 within minutes (we're staying in the mountains) and of course there is fly fishing and hiking and night's in Fort Collins so packing for all of these activities and making sure there's a touch of vintage in each is a challenge.

We can assume that at any given point I will be one or more of the following:

• Too hot
• Too cold
• Over dressed 
• Slightly queasy due to the elevation
• In an uncomfortable political conversation with the in-laws
• Having a Blast

Packing List (I'll post some pictures asap)

• Brown Pedleton 49er jacket (so excited as it's new to me)
• vintage Coach Willis crossbody bag - perfect for in town and in the mountains
• 60s bejeweled red wool hat
• 2 pairs of jeans - one slim and one wide legged
• 1 black and 1 white long sleeved t and 1 black short sleeved t
• 50s grey and black hip length swing jacket
• vtg red wool Geiger jacket/sweater
• blue scarf
• gloves
• brown squatty heels, and grey suede booties
• Waders, fishing vest, hiking boots, fishing hat, tank top and sweatshirt - fishing rod and tackle box

So what are your "must haves" when you travel?  Is there something you always pack and never use?


I am so tempted to pull this jacket out of inventory and take it for a spin in the Rockies but I'll resist!  Available in my eBay store

Vintage 80s Pumpkin Spice Mohair Jacket with Buffalo Nickel Coins! 

Thanks for reading, and of course I'd love to have you stop by my ebay shop!  I'd love to hear from you!  Until next time.....Happy vintage hunting!

Carrie

Sunday, Rainy Sunday - Kitschy Diner and Antique Bedding

Sunday was the first cool, rainy day since last spring!  Fall is definitely in the air!!  James and I decided to find a new diner for breakfast and somehow made it to the Benson area and found Joe's Cafe - everything you want in a diner!  Small but packed with vintage stools, booths and counter tops - and vintage because they were there since 1942 - not because they were curated for effect.  Above the coffe makers were these super cute and uber kitschy doll head things.  The spaceship is made from a thermos (they had two) and if you ever wondered how the insides of a toaster worked.....well, let's just say it's love!

yummmmm, coffee

My outfit is not vintage but it definitely has a little vintage 40s inspiration and a retro nod thanks to the bright red lipstick (note to self....take photo before eating next time), the peeptoe wedges and wide-legged sailor pants.  Terrible photo but hey, it was a rainy, lazy day!

The gingham shirt is from The North Face and is my favorite fly fishing shirt!  It has adjustable ruching at the sides that are finished in bows and slightly poofed sleeves which give it a beautiful feminine look but it has the back vent and hidden breast zip pocket that work so well for fishing.  Tucking this in would've given the outfit an even more retro look.

The pants are a sailor button front, high waist, wide leg pant in lightweight denim by Larry Levine.  The shoes are by Predictions and have a comfy wedge, black and white polka dotted faille and a big white leather bow!  My dear friend Suzie from Pinup Dresses actually has these available at her ebay store here!

A bit of vintage kitsch on my back patio!  They always look so angry.

The best thing about the first truly cool rainy day is getting to go to sleep under blankets!  I only use vintage and antique pillow cases - the cotton and linen is so soft and they always look so romantic.  Also they are cheap!  While you can pay a pretty penny at antique shops these show up regularly at garage sales and thrift stores for around $1!

Quilt Season with cat topper

This is Poudre - named for the Cache la Poudre river in Colorado.  My husband is from Fort Collins so we have a lot of family and friends out there.  Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is effected by the flooding.

The Magnolia Collection

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

A Garage Sale Re-Do in Hot Pink

Garage and yard sale season will be drawing to a close soon so I'm taking every opportunity I can to hit as many as I can before the weather turns.  Some of my favorite pieces have come from garage sales including a stunning 1913 wedding dress earlier this summer!

Shipping large items is a challenge so most of my furniture purchases go to The Magnolia Collection's antique booth at the Fairmont Antique Mall in Omaha's historic Old Market.

This was a little bit of an odd purchase for me - an 80s faux brass vanity bench.  I've come across these so many times before and never looked twice at them but the $1 price tag meant this was an affordable challenge!

A ratty purple cushion actually was the inspiration for the new colors.

Primed with spray metal primer and painted in Krylon Glitter Pink ($8.99 at Hobby Lobby and probably cheaper at Home Depot).......Side Note - While I love the color choices in Krylon I've found Rustoleum is a much better quality and easier to use.

Once I moved the painted bench to the patio to snap a picture it occurred to me that a couple of these in bright colors would make prefect extra seating - I'm now keeping an eye out for two more - one I'll do in a bright blue and one in a lime green and cover those two cushions in this all weather/outdoor fabric:

I made the seat cover for this hot pink mama, using the dimensions from the original cushion,  from one of my favorite bits of Pucci-esque polished cotton.  I will be so sad when I've used all of this fabric up!!

So this $1 beauty will head down to the antique mall tomorrow!  If you're looking to spruce up your dressing table I'll be listing this darling 1960s purple floral oval train case on The Magnolia Collection ebay site tomorrow!

Note my fab pink marbled chrome 1950s kitchen table!!!

The Magnolia Collection on eBay

We are having a 50% off sale so please stop by on ebay and grab some fabulous vintage at killer prices!

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

The Late Summer Garden

Such a beautiful day today after the incredible high heat and humidity of the past week.  The garden is in its last throes - it's looking tired and hot (aren't we all!) but is still producing tons of veggies.  I am still waiting patiently for the morning glories to bloom but the hyacinth beans are looking beautiful!!

Lucy, out three year old Weimaraner is still trying to convince us she's not a vegetarian...she does, in her defense, eat entire lasagnas, pans of brownies and Prada prescription glasses when given the chance.  She also hunts vintage mink and rabbit and isn't opposed to the occasional electrical cord (luckily none have been plugged in and she does seem to have outgrown this chewy delicacy).  But, on a daily basis she raids the garden.  We have yet to eat a pepper - she gets them first and they are her favorites!

Today's harvest - peppers!!!!  Eggplant, tomatoes, cukes and beans.

Some flowers....

The mums are planted in the pot that was my birthday present from my 11 year old!

No real outfit post today...I wore a pretty a-line princess cut jersey knit sleeveless shift by Melvine of Miami - the tag line on the palm tree bedecked label reads : Hits of the American Riviera - how cool!  It has a pretty border print:

I did spend some time this morning fooling with my hair - it's the exact same texture and number of actual hairs that I had when I was 2 - my hair never grew up!  I am pleasd with the faux 40s look though and will get a better shot in the next few days.

I hope you had a chance this weekend to putter around your garden!  Did you have any favorite new or old plants this year?

A garden inspired skirt from my shop....this is an all time favorite of mine!

60s 70s Reversible Watermelon Wrap Skirt Small-Medium 

The Magnolia Collection on eBay

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie