I'm Gonna Need a Bigger Jewelry Box...

... or I'm gonna have to list more on Etsy.  I recently decided that in addition to my jewelry armoire full of interesting modern junk jewelry, I needed a vintage jewelry box to house my vintage stuff.  It's full.  I started slowly incorporating color into my wardrobe a few years ago, and I knew it would be dangerous.

I sold one just like this a while back.  Maybe I should have kept it.  I used to have a big white jewelry box like this, given to me full of old jewelry from the 50s and 60s.  I was also given another one full of miscellaneous junk.  Both were mistakenly thrown out by someone who is not me and I don't wanna talk about it.
At any rate, I've been finding some pretty things here and there recently.  Here's the first one- clear faceted beads in hues of fallen leaves:

The next one was found in the same place- orange pearls in more muted tones- I think I have to keep these.  They almost match some pearly orange earrings I found a while ago.

And every girl needs a strand of pearls, even if only faux.  Some of us have several of them, but that's because we're compulsive shoppers.

This next one is my new favorite.  I saw this set at the Burnout http://theburnouthouston.com/ and forgot to go back to the booth before we left.  When we went to the Hot Rod Revolution http://hotrodrevolution.com/ it was there again!  My honey bought this beauty for me from the lovely ladies at Pinup Accessories.  They have an Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinupAccessories, a website http://www.pinupaccessories.com/ and are at just about every car show around.

I love me some green!  I've also developed an affinity for the clip and screwback earrings that tortured me as a little girl with unpierced ears. Anyone who knows me knows that I have an penchant for interesting shiny things altogether, not to mention a glitter obsession.  I think I have raccoon dna.

I'll be listing more on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorockit?ref=si_shop...who knows what'll turn up or how long they'll be there.  A few things I listed last night sold while you slept.  (insert suspenseful music here)  I'll probably be posting Etsy coupon codes here, so keep checking the shop and keep your eyes peeled here for coupon codes, dear readers.

Fur-tastic!

It's a touchy subject, I know... fur is viewed as cruel and extravagant by some, killing innocent animals inhumanely for the sake of fashion, parading around in suffering and pain.  Vintage fur has been dead for a long time, and if I wear it, then it's still being used and not wasted. Besides, I can't keep a normal human body temperature on my own, let alone in cold conditions.  Seriously, my temperature is below normal average, and at the risk of being lectured, re-educated, and generally frowned upon by vegan and animal-loving friends and acquaintances, the long-gone creatures sure can help me stay warm.
That said, I happened upon an thrift store in a neighborhood I never go to, just the other day.  It used to be a very nice neighborhood once upon a time, and some very nice things were hanging on the racks priced cheap and then marked down on top of that.
This beauty is a very heavy wool coat from the 50s, with a fur collar.  I initially thought it was fox, but upon doing a little research, I suspect it could maaaaybe be a type of marten.  I'm gonna have to get Alyssa to take a look and play "name-that-fur".

I'm pretty happy about this find, especially since I'm afraid I'm wearing my modern wool coat into the ground.  If I told you how much I paid for this, you'd say "no way" and then come steal it from me.  They practically gave it away.  The cherry on top is the label:

 "Shagmoor".  Rrrrrewwwwrr!

The first thing I found when I walked into that store is this beauty, priced cheap and marked down and practically given away.  It's one of those things that made me quit breathing for a minute when I found it-  another case of thrift-apnea...

I initially thought it was blond mink, but there's a chance it might be some pale fox instead- fur is not yet an area of expertise for me; I'll be calling some people who can learn me a thing or two.  It does have a few splits on the sleeves, which I will be mending as soon as I get my hands on a leather needle.   The inside had embroidered strawberries and appliqued monogram patches.

With these two pieces in hand for less than a Jackson, it took a bit of self-control not to dance out of that place singing a gloating song sprinkled with happy obscenities.  I know, I'm a mess.  I do have a lot of mending on my hands now, though.  In addition to the aforementioned fur coat, I've also been meaning to repair these pretty things:

I bought this chocolate mink cape from my friend Foss.  There's one split on the back that I need to stitch up, and then it'll be good as new.  It appears to be postwar 40s.  Those are not sleeves, but slits that are gathered underneath, making a nice little hammock for your hands.

Cozzzzy. And the label?  "Lurch".  What better name for luxurious ladies' furs? Ha!

Last, but not least, I acquired this baby in a hand-picked lot at a private sale.  It's Persian lamb from the 50s, but it needs a lot of love.   It had been improperly stored for a long time and has a lot of little splits that I'll be repairing soon.

One of the splits on the shoulder is visible on the photo, but there are a lot more across the back.  With some love and my conservation training, it'll be beautiful and wearable again in no time.

Seriously, how could I not salvage this piece?  It's lined in faille and has a pleated ruffle at the collar, for bleep's sake!  Not to mention that it's from an old Texas department store!  This one will be a challenge, but I will make it happen.  

Until next time, stay warm and toasty, and continue to have Happy Holidays. <3

Holidays, Schmolidays...

Despite my scatterbrained tendencies (I still stand by my statement that I used to be organized and punctual, really.... I did), I usually have all of my holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving.  Not this year.  I have to run out into the madness, where people threaten each other over parking spaces reserved in their own minds, and grab a couple more things for my family and my mancreature.  On a happier note, I also have to pick up a vintage pearl-encrusted bolero and a Victor Costa dress that a very sweet colleague thinks should live in my closet instead of hers.  (Thanks Barbara!)

So while blitzing a local charity shop, I did come across a box of records from the 80s.... all 45s and all in flawless condition!

The top row is all Duran Duran, some of which are still sealed and include posters.  I did find one more record, but I can't show you 'cause I know my mancreature reads this blog and it's already under the tree anyway.  Some of these are going to a friend's collection, a few to my brother's collection, but the Cinderella one is definitely mine. Not only are these in great shape, but they also cost less per piece than a gumball out of a machine these days. (Remember penny gum machines? Those were the days...)

So I bid you "adieu" as I prepare to brave a couple of retail stores (resale is my natural habitat) and wish you good luck if you have to do the same.  I'll be watching Charlie Brown, the Grinch and Pee-Wee's Christmas specials tonight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wed1lI3B7Xk  Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, Merry ChrismaHanuKwanzikah...Solstice... Whatever you celebrate, make it a good one, and count your blessings.

Jackpot!

I stopped at an estate sale last week on my way from one job to the other (I would have told you earlier, but I just found my camera).  Lucky for me, acting on my impulses, it was CHOCK FULL OF VINTAGE PATTERNS!

I bought most of them. :)  The lady told me there had been more.  (I have GOT to get on estate sale mailing lists.)  This type of stuff really makes my day!  All of these are from the 40s and 50s.  I'm particularly excited about some of the older ones.

I acquired a few more party dress patterns in Austin over the weekend, and another I'll tell you about later from eBay.  Patterns make me happy.
I have some more stuff to purge and reorganize, a new shelf thanks to Alyssa, and need to learn how to upload photos from a new camera courtesy of Erin.  There will be more, I promise, and I still owe you a delayed lingerie week now that I found my camera.  Thanks to those of you following my blog, especially my estate-sale-thrift-store-garage-sale-blitzing-partner-in-crime Carlos. <3

Once Upon a Time....

...I used to be organized.  Then I got busy and I think I have ADD.  At any rate, if you follow, you may have noticed Lingerie Week didn't happen, or that nothing happened and I haven't posted an entry in a long time.  I'm bad, I knowww.
I've been up to a lot.  I've been reorganizing and making messes and reorganizing again.  I've been lifting patterns from vintage dresses and blouses (although not nearly enough).  Since it got cold in Houston, I've been cashmere hunting.  I hunt angora, too.  A few friends call me Ed Wood.  I just decided about two years ago that there is no room in my closet or my life for ordinary sweaters.  Therefore, I hunt cashmere and angora, and I can spot it on the rack without touching anything. 
Hunting habits aside, I will be blogging more frequently.  Lingerie Week will happen.  Then, you can see the vintage nylons I found today, among the other treasures I've come across recently.

So I leave you with this:  

Vanity Fair started making novelty prints in the mid 1950s.  I collect their leopard print, among others, and there's more where that came from.  This piece sold a while back.  In addition to posting more blog entries, I need to list more pieces on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorockit?ref=pr_shop