Christmas in July

Cue the Jaws music.  It's that time of year again, the annual reminder by the traditional (and not-so-traditional) retail world that Christmas is coming.   

And it is, whether we like it or not, whether we're ready or not. 

Shop-wise, I'm getting ready.  I leave this offer here for you all, to take or leave as you please.  

My sticky summer discount code is CHRISTMASINJULY, and it works in both the handmade and vintage shops.  In the handmade shop, it's a 10% discount, and in the vintage, it's 15%.

**  This would have been posted sooner but Etsy suffered a glitch going into the holiday weekend that hung up credit card and some PayPal payments.  After 5 days, I finally have sales clearing again.  I didn't want to add to the headache - yours or mine - by offering this earlier. 

Happy holidays!

Updates, Shopping and some Enabling

I know I've been MIA for a bit, but I think I'm back now.

Sometime last week, while working on the gray pinstriped ruffled skirt project, I decided that it would be fabulous if I could finish it - and the matching jacket - in time to enter the outfit in the Natural Fibers Contest for the American Sewing Expo in Novi in September. Entries were due by midnight on Sunday.

Of course, when I decided this, I hadn't forgotten we were going away for the weekend, but I believed that I could do all the necessary hand-sewing while riding in the car. Then all I would have to do on Sunday evening when we got home would be to make the buttonholes and sew on the buttons, get cleaned up and get pictures taken, uploaded and entered. Right.

I really thought I could hand sew the lining into the jacket in the car. Or that I'd have time at night after spending Saturday afternoon and evening with my upstate NY relatives, who I haven't seen in years. Somehow sitting around a bonfire, drinking and talking and watching shooting stars was more interesting.

Even the getting cleaned up and getting photos taken part wouldn't have worked. When reality hit, somewhere around 5:00 p.m. when we were sitting in traffic on the PA Turnpike, I gave up nicely and then didn't get around to finishing things until Thursday of this week. Why miss a deadline by 10 minutes?

Done now, still need photos taken.

Yesterday was half price day at the thrift store, my favorite time. I also hit the local flea market in the morning and got this great set of vintage pink and white sheets (that want to become a shirt using the contrasting pink edging for cuffs and collar) and 10 rolls of rayon seam binding. The seam binding was 50 cents a roll and the sheets were $1 per. Not bad.

At the thrift store, I accumulated two tshirts - one with a fabulous Peter Max print, the other an old Gloria Vanderbilt with a Philadelphia themed print. Both of these are going to be turned into different tshirts. Ones that fit me, first of all. The Max shirt is a size 4, which looks more like a size 0. Honestly, if it was a little more kid-friendly, I'd cut it up into the world's funkiest onesie for my pregnant friends.

At the bottom are more supplies for craft show bags - a size 4XL faux-suede long skirt, and two silk quilted jackets, both with minor damage. No qualms at all about cutting them up.

In the enabling department, at the back of the store are small appliances and random other goodies. Yesterday's goodies included a Singer Touch-n-Sew in pretty nice condition, for only $29. I didn't need this machine, but I wanted it. I wanted it to not be in the store, to be with someone who would appreciate its tank-like awesomeness. I called a friend, because I remembered she needed a backup machine. She still needed the machine, and was at my house in under 30 minutes, and went happily home with her new acquisition sitting snugly in the back seat.

Right now I'm sitting, listening to it rain, and feeling quite smug becuase (a) the tomatoes are getting watered, and not by me, and (b) it doesn't appear to be raining at all in the dining room, so maybe the roofer got all the leaks after all.

Retail Therapy

Not that I needed retail therapy, but I was out walking at lunchtime and happened to pass Buffalo Exchange, my favorite consignment shop. I don't buy a lot there - I don't buy a lot of clothes these days, period - but I do like to look at stuff for inspiration. Well, what inspired me today were a pair of ridiculously cute BCBGirls shoes. White, with pink and yellow flowers and tiny little pink kitten heels. In my size. Completely unworn, and only $20. Well, how could I not?

For basically the same price, when you add on shipping, I also acquired one of the new HotPatterns today. While I loved the Carrie-d Away skirt suit (I thought SJP's "vintage" suit was so cute in the SATC movie, though if it was 2008 Christian Dior, why did they call it vintage? Why couldn't they just have found an adorable vintage suit?), I didn't think I would make it anytime soon. I do want to try more wearable HotPatterns one of these days, but going by my previous results I'm not an easy fit and I really didn't feel like making a muslin of that jacket, at least not right now.

The Metropolitan Homage (to YSL) tote bag is a whole different kettle of fish, though. That has my name all over it. I think depending on your choice of fabric or leather, that one has almost everyone's name all over it.

Here's HotPatterns description: "Celebrating the design genius of the legendary Yves Saint Laurent, and inspired by the YSL Tribute bag, this fabulous oversized Tote is designed for decorator canvas, denim, corduroy, twill or brocade-but it will also rock in real or faux suede or leather. Oversized Tote has a darted base, with shoulder straps, snap or magnetic fastening, optional luggage-tag trim, and side zipper openings at each side. Tote is lined with interior zippered, cell phone and small open pockets. This spectacular Tote will make a great everyday bag for all seasons...make it in sturdy canvas for a perfect beachbag; try it in real or faux suede or leather for work; work it up in denim and pad it with some quilt batting for a totally stylin’ laptop/notebook bag."

I may put together a fabric version as a test run and give it to someone as a gift, but to me it's definitely a statement bag and needs to be made up as such. I'm going to stop in at Leather Suede Skins next time I'm in NYC and buy enough leather to make one for myself in screaming red leather. Now that's a statement.