So this is what I've been up to

I went home for the holidays, home being Vancouver, WA.  No... not Canada, my home town in directly across the Columbia river from Portland, Or.  I had a great time catching up with friends, shopping (thrift and vintage), hanging out with family and generally just being on vacation. It was a whirlwind of things to do, places to go and people to see.  This post is very picture-tastic!!!

Lets start out with the shopping!  This store Smut was the place that my friend found her NYE fur coat (pic 2nd to last photo below).  This is the reason that I got the amazing fur cape from the last post.

Smut had a great mix of all kinds of fun vintage things.

These vintage photos were so much fun to look through.

This next store, Rad Summer was where I found my new favorite coat.

The window display at Rad Summer.

Besides shopping I did a lot of hanging out with my best friend who I have known since 8th grade.  I just turned 32 on January 3rd so thats a long time.

We went to a Blazer game, it was so much fun.

My home town had it's first snow of the year, which was so beautiful to see.  Now that I live in California it's not a regular view for me.

Here I am on New Years Eve with my ladies.  The patchwork fur coat on Jen is from Smut, see above.

My outfit is

Dress-30's

Necklace-vintage rhinestones

40's hair and makeup

Close up of the hair and makeup, I was wearing eyelashes too.

Cha Ching, thanks to SFstyle!

A few months ago I won a 50$ gift certificate for savers thrift store from SFstyle.  I still hadn't made the 15 minute trek out of the city to use it until yesterday.  It was my birthday and I knew that would be the only way I could convince my sweet Thrift Phobic boyfriend to take me.   He was a great sport as I looked though the store.  Luckily, I am a pro and really fast so I made it happen in record time.  I had already scored tons of great Items while I was back home in the Portland, OR area, more on those later.

I have so much updating to do, sorry I have been so MIA.  I didn't bring my computer traveling so there was no way to update.   In the last week besides all the regular fun holidays it was also my birthday. I am exhausted from all the fun but also invigorated and looking forward to a new year and a new start.  Here are my Savers finds and a couple of the amazing things I got in Portland as well.

This amazing coat was a last minute purchase.  It is so thick and stiff and in pristine vintage condition and looks great on.  I had seen it while shopping but my boyfriend said it looked urine colored so I put it back even though I have been searching for a while for something in this color.  I had already purchased all the other things and was sitting in the car.  I couldn't stop thinking about it and I still had 14$ left in gift certificate money so I ran back in and purchased it.  It was 17.99.  I only spent about 5$ of my own money on all of the following items!  There were also a couple little items that I didn't photograph, a really neat scarf and a little necklace too.

vintage silk leggings, I love the print 2.99$

One of the coolest Jackets, stretchy velvet Oscar De La Renta 7.99$

Really avant garde polyester batwing dress/tunic  5.99

Cute little HnM dress 5.99

These next two are finds from Portland/Vancouver

  This one is a vintage, real fur, cape and it's stunning.  I found it for my friend at the thrift store while we were shopping together.  She was looking for something similar for her new years eve outfit.  She later found something more suitable and then gave it to me for my Birthday.  It was found at the Vancouver, WA Value Village.

EDIT: I just did some online research on this tag and Thelma Todd was a famous actress who's life ended tragically.  The tag says "furs by Thelma Todd Milwaukee WI"  I have no idea if this was designed by her but I could not find any other fur makers with that name.  I believe this is seal fur and very old, besides the fact that she died in the 1930's.  Similar ones I found online were marked 1930-1940 this one is in like new condition which is remarkable for it's age.

EDIT 2: Come to find out via a member of the Yahoo group "ThelmaToddFans" the maker of the fur was in fact another Thelma Todd.  It was fun to have a mystery to try to solve!  Thanks to the person who let me know, the mystery is now solved.

I was searching for a new coat and found this perfect one at a really cute little vintage store in Portland called Rad Summer. It is reversible which I didn't notice until a few days after I had it.   It was 24$.

I <3 I heart norwegian wood.

I heart Norwegian wood has been rocking the most amazing creations. I have been waiting to buy some of her leggings on etsy for a long time now. Today was my lucky day. I had a good week on Etsy so I decided to treat myself by purchasing these lovely vintage fabric leggings. I am such a sucker for vintage fabric and usually use it myself when I make things as well. I am hoping that these leggings will inspire me to try to make a pair myself. I have some stretchy fabric that is velvety, colorful and psychedelic, perfect for some leggings. Thanks to Angie for the lovely creations.

See you at the crossroads

I went to crossroads again this week. I love exchanging clothing I don't wear anymore and getting new stuff. I took a bag in and they took everything except 2 things. In addition to these items, minus the last black dress which I got at a vintage store, I got a awesome pair of Hudson jeans that fit like a dream. I spent a total of 6$ at cross roads and 18$ on the vintage ethnic dress which I had to alter just a bit on top (took in the sides a couple inches on each side). I'll show the jeans soon. Im wearing them right now with a cool vintage dress DIY, you will see in the next post.

Details of clothing

White blouse-f21 and so pretty

Black/white dress-not sure what brand but awesome for summer

Blue/cream dress-Dress up NWT very 40's looking, fits perfect

Black ethnic dress-Clothing by the pound on Valencia (LOVE it)

Days off in wonderland

Adventures this weekend included the Contemporary Jewish Museum, cuddling with my kitties, spending too much time at the BMW dealership, just so we could end up pulling out a fuse and putting it right back in and the best falafel ever. Today we did some shopping for my boyfriend at the Rugby store and AA. I also went into a ralph Lauren store this weekend and was really impressed with the designs. I always thought RL to be for old men, but I saw the most gorgeous patchwork white lace dress. It looked like it was patched together with all kinds of different vintage lace. I am going to attempt a DIY using this dress I made as the base layer.

I am wearing

vintage lil boys jean jacket-thrifted

white 70's shirt-thrifted

skirt (altered by making shorter)-thrifted

Grandpa's old belt

AA high waisted leggings

Shoes from Burlington coat factory

Necklace-thrifted

Bracelets-thrifted

Purse-marshals

I look like a giant in this shot taken by my BF, funny angle. I am as tall as the door, ha!

Todays hairstyle-top knot with braided bangs

Lots of car time today

Contemporary Jewish Museum

Jewish Museum

Sam snuggling with my purse (from Marshall's no brand tag)

Sylvester looking evil mid yawn

Sam cleaning Sylvester

Antique's in Alameda!

I finally got to go to the outdoor vintage sale in Alameda this weekend. It worked out perfectly because my boyfriend's sister started a craft distillery and they had a convention at the Hangar one distillery right next to the sale. We went shopping for a couple hours then got to go try all kinds of unique liquor from all over the country. Koval was the best, of corse, especially the rose hip liqueur. I ended up just getting a few little trinkets at the sale, 3 broaches, a really pretty vintage bracelet and a little victorian metal thread holder that has cute little flowers etched in it. The booth I got all the things at was having a "everythings 2$ sale". It's hard to find good broaches for reasonable prices at thrift stores, so it was perfect. I might sell some of them in the store.

I met a sweet girl who's father owned this gorgeous, old checker cab so we did some photos with it.

I am wearing a

vintage dress from the 50's

vintage belt that belonged to my grandfather

vintage 40's shoes from Ebay (new dead stock)

New stuff in the store!!

Etsy update!! Check out my store!

70's wide leg flared jeans with braided back pockets

70's flared jeans with rhinestones

Awesome 80's leather fringe jacket

Gold leather ankle boots with fringe

Victorian inspired ribbon lace heels

Sales, sales, everywhere!!

What's a girl to do when work is slow and the economy is so bad that sales are everywhere?Break my shopping ban of corse. I Actually didn't spend much money in the long run. Getting dresses for trading in old clothing and shoes that I don't wear, a Zara and Marshalls super sale and last but not least the Goodwill (my new favorite thrift in SF). I live close to many great thrift stores, that are usually pretty picked over, but the goodwill, wow, I am in love. It's only a few train stops away which makes it very easy to get to. And, really, how can you beat Forever 21 for jewelry prices? Don't forget you can click on any photos for more detail.

Brand new, (with tags) dress from Crossroads trading co. I love the sleeves on this dress, it's like a cape in the back too. Traded for clothing.

Another (new with tags) dress from Crossroads, I was worried this wouldn't be flattering on my womanly shape but somehow it looks slimming. Traded for clothing.

This shirt was found at Zara for 6$, it is a drapey cardigan with a built in under shirt in the front, it's sort of see thru which I like

I found this coat at Marshalls and it was my perfect size, and at 10$, what a bargain. I love the details, the zippers, the belts on the sleeves and the fun sparkle threads running through it.

I am in love with these great heels, they are such soft leather. I have realized if I go up one size in heels they are so much more comfy. These are the second pair of "too big" heels I have tried on and been pleasantly surprised that they fit great. These beauties were on sale at Marshalls for 10$, originally from Tahari they have a great triangular shaped heel.

I was on the fence about this dress when I found it at Goodwill, but when I tried it on it was gorgeous and I bought it! It is a challenging length but I wouldn't want to cut it because the print is so beautiful and being that I am tall I can pull it off well. It was 9$ Love the bows!

This dress is originally from Go international (target) it fits amazingly and Is very vintagey feeling. It was 6$ at Goodwill.

Necklace from F21 I think it was about 6$

This one also from f21, it was about 5$

Details......

This necklace was attached to a really weird tube top at marshalls, I loved the necklace so I bought them together for 5$. I might turn the tube top which is a pretty teal color into a skirt.