Vintage Here, Vintage There

I have become pretty comfortable in the last few years with my eye for vintage furniture and kitchenware and have taught myself how to mix certain silhouettes, play with patterns, and pair the old and new for a fresh look. I'm not quite as self-assured in the vintage styling department when it comes to fashion. However, I've been inspired by a host of vintage-loving friends to explore a more exciting (and sometimes more affordable) wardrobe infused with vintage pieces.

The darling, RubyEllen, and I have been hatching up a plan for a few months now to share how we wear vintage throughout the changing seasons and to encourage others, moms or not, to do the same. It's also a way to keep us interested in dressing up when some days the cold weather might tempt us to stay in flannel nightgowns. Just kidding. No flannel nightgowns in my closet.

We decided to do a little Q&A to get familiar with each other's vintage back story.

Q: When did you start wearing vintage and why?
A: My best friend, Katy, and I used to hit up the Salvation Army for grandpa cardigans and fun shoes in high school. We lived in Central California at the time and had a casual, surfer, boho style. My vintage fixation shifted towards home goods and random industrial pieces about midway through college and our current furnishings are mostly vintage. I'm most excited to start figuring out vintage shoes!

Q: What do you look for in a piece when you're shopping?
A: I have been gravitating towards blue and red dresses and feel most comfortable in classic prints but I'm trying to diversify!

Q: Favorite vintage find to date?
A: I found a pair of vintage FRYE boots in college for $4 that I wore until I got pregnant with Sebastian and my feet got wider. They stopped fitting so I sold them to a consignment store in the U-District in Seattle and now wish I'd kept them just in case. I'm happy to know that someone else is enjoying them.

Q: The one piece that got away (or would've broken the bank!)
A: Oh, there are so many beautiful 50's cocktail dresses on Etsy that I would add to my cart in a second if they were about $80 cheaper.

Q: How do you style your daughter(s)?
A: I have a lot of vintage dresses for Ruby but not a lot of pants and shoes so I tend to mix the dresses with leggings or skinny jeans to even out the silhouette and have recently stocked up on adorable tights for the colder days.

Q: Favorite sources for online vintage?
A: Obviously, I love the vintage dresses at Red Velvet because they have such a strong collection. I also have purchased items from or plan on purchasing from 3 Ring Circus, Lishy loo, Cherry Bloom Vintage, Ms.Tips Vintage, Oh Sydney, and Fine And Dandy Vintage, and Freckle Wonder!

I'm Wearing
Vintage dress gifted from RubyEllen
Vintage belt, thrifted
Shoes, Target

My Ruby is Wearing
Vintage sailor dress found locally
Jeggings from Target
Mocs from Old Navy

Head on over to RubyEllen's beautiful blog to see more on what she and her sweet girls wore on a recent trip to the pumpkin patch. They are darling! We're going to be posting 'Vintage Here, Vintage There' once a week and can't wait to share some of our favorite vintage mamas and online sources with you. Stay tuned!

xoxo,
Rachel

Doll House Inspiration

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I put Ruby's doll house together yesterday morning while she climbed all over me trying to help. She's already taken to scaling it like King Kong and has decided the second story is a good sitting spot. Oh my...

I was truly taken aback with this photo above. I love the styling and simplicity of it. It's the kind of place I'd want to display all of my treasures. Doll house post coming soon!

My Kind of Pumpkin

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Isn't this graphic pumpkin fantastic? I prefer saving our pumpkins for porch decorations past Halloween and through the rest of November so we haven't carved any yet but I'd be happy to let Sebastian go to town with a sharpie on the one he brought home from the pumpkin patch. The kids in his preschool class got a chance to carve pumpkins and pull out their guts earlier this month. I'm pretty sure the kids who used to hate getting anything messy on his hands thoroughly enjoyed it!

How did you decorate your pumpkin(s)?

xoxo,
Rachel

Interview and Giveaway at Poor Pitiful Pearl

Head on over to Poor Pitiful Pearl to read an interview we recently did and find out what I let Ruby do when Sebastian's not home. Shauna, of PPP, recently made her 2,000th Etsy sale and threw a big party to celebrate! She offers reworked clothing with laid back, California style and donates 10% of all profits to Casa Hogar Orphanage .

all photos belong to Shauna

Her stuff totally reminds me of the beach! Ahhh....the beach....(trailing off in thought)...(okay, I'm back). You can see Ruby wearing one of Shauna's beautiful, patchwork tops here.

While you're over there checking out photos from her blog party, read my interview and enter for a chance to win a free Mini Ad space for the month of November on Smile and Wave!

Thanks for reading! I'm in full sick mode over here and still have a little costume to make for my sick little girl that I am determined to get done before 4:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. It will happen! Check back later on Thursday to see the BEFORE and AFTER photos of the children's space I designed in the new RVA dress shop on Commercial Street!

xoxo,
Rachel

Let's Get Lost In The Weekend

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*Brett and I went on a movie date to see The Social Network last night and thought it to be exhilarating.

*I fell while in the shower yesterday morning and have a fairly sore bruise on my lower back from falling on the side of the tub.

*Brett managed to bribe Sebastian to get a flu shot with him today but Target doesn't administer them to four-year-olds. Trying again somewhere else tomorrow. There was an Optimus Prime involved.

* I've decided on a theme for Ruby's first birthday party but will need the assistance of my parents and a box containing things from my childhood that is still at their house. Dad, I'll call you.

* Took the kids thrifting this week and hit the jackpot on second hand (but not vintage) clothes for them.

* Met a new online friend and her daughter at Nathanael Greene park for a kid's concert. Got lost trying to exit the park after dark and ended up almost driving across a grassy opening to find a way out. It wouldn't be the first time, right Mom? (Don't tell my coach it was me that ruined the soccer field.)

* Working really hard this week not to let life feel overwhelming or to pretend that it's not really feeling that way.

* Feeling inspired by a medium I haven't spent much time on in the last two years.

Whatever your week was like you have my permission to enjoy and get lost in your weekend. Leave Friday behind and don't come back until Monday.

xoxo,
Rachel

October's First Sunday

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It's hard to believe my Little Red is just over a month away from her first birthday!
We're headed home from a long weekend in Dallas visiting family and seeing my brother before he deploys. It's going to be quite the road trip home today but I can't wait to see Brett again tonight! He had to stay in town for a three day ROTC weekend practicing in the woods so we all miss him. Date night coming soon!

I hope you have a lovely Sunday.

xoxo,
Rachel

Oooh, I Like It!

Brittni from Paper n Stitch recently shared this lovely DIY on her blog and I am in love with this idea! She's combined form and function in her new art wall piece that utilizes the beauty of vintage book covers without changing their intended purpose.

It's going to send you to the thrift store to find pretty canvas hardbacks this weekend!

And in case you haven't heard, the fourth edition of Cupcake Magazine is now available online or in print.

I did a little interview with Amy that you can find almost in the middle.

I suggest 'flipping' through to see all of the beautiful photography and some lovely illustrations throughout the magazine. Thanks, Amy, for letting me be a part of all that eye candy!


I also want to tell you about a giveaway/fundraiser that I'm taking part in that is raising money to help the Gumpy family. They've recently lost their baby after he was born ten weeks premature and their friend Ashley has organized this fundraiser to help offset the costs of medical and funeral bills. Every donation is a chance to win one of two prize packs full of generous donations. If you'd like to take a look and hear their story you can find it here.

Back soon with a sponsor highlight and giveaways!

xoxo,
Rachel

Link Love

Hiding art for people to find. This is a fantastic idea found via Aesthetic Outburst.

Just found this via Poppytalk.

Danielle's fantastic arrow DIY found on Modern Kiddo is one of the best I've seen this year. Love it.

Elsie's in the latest issue of BUST! I'm grabbing a copy tomorrow. So proud of you, E!

Have a lovely weekend!
xoxo,
Rachel

La Petite Magazine=Lovely

In case you haven't yet seen this lovely collaboration between Rachelle of Kenziepoo and Jennifer you need to hop on over! I've long admired Rachelle's penchant for fashion and design for the little ones and always look forward to her Turn This Room Into An Outfit posts!

Issue One was absolutely lovely and Issue Two is full of pretty dresses, unique illustrations, and links to great online shops.

One of the contributors to Issue #2 is one of my longtime sponsors and online friends, Stacie, of Gingiber! I love her illustrations so it was great to see her work showcased in this lovely online mag.

And Rachelle's daughter, Kenzie, has one of the trendiest little wardrobes ever! I'm always looking for unexpected things to add to Ruby's wardrobe and Kenziepoo never fails to provide that inspiration. Have yourself a little look see!

xoxo,
Rachel

Fall Weather Makes Me Want To Start New Projects

You can see all of Carrie Strine's gorgeous work in her flickr feed.
All photos above are directly from there.

I hope to be offering a few meatier posts in the next few days but until then, enjoy the most inspiring quilts I've seen in awhile.
xoxo,
Rachel

p.s. First attempt at a leather shoe design failed. However, I've learned a few things that make attempt #2 look promising!

Seasonal Shifts

Ruby and I had the house to ourselves this afternoon for awhile and while she gnawed on a random jar lid I took down the paper airplane garland and changed out a few images on my inspiration board. My mom gave me this copy of a photo of my PawPaw this summer and I suddenly realized who my brother looked like in our family. My PawPaw died over 21 years ago and my memories of our holidays spent together are faint but I remember his smile. My mom tells me I would've really loved him. He's up on the wall until further notice.

Speaking of my brother...we found out he's deploying in a few weeks. I'm hoping to work out some details to see him in a few weeks before his send off and planning my care packages already. Never did I imagine I'd be familiar with military life and now my brother and husband are both under contract. I'm proud of them both.

On a lighter note, I spent an hour in the sunshine plotting, I mean, documenting my plans for fall projects, blog topics, and goals for our family time and feel much more organized in the midst of teaching an online class and planning for the next one. My next project for blog purposes only is to test out making my own leather shoes for Ruby. I went to Tandy Leather last week and snatched up a few scrap pieces on sale and have every intention of coming up with something adorable so stay tuned.

xoxo,
Rachel

Always Inspired

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I love Flickr.
xoxo,
Rachel

A Memorable Birthday

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I'm one tired 29 year old! I had such a warm, surprise filled day thanks to so many loving people taking the time to celebrate my birthday with me. You have my gratitude! I'll be back on Wednesday to share some details but I'm calling it a night. It's been a grand first day to my 29th year!

xoxo,
Rachel

Small Craft Video Sneak Peek

Hi! Elsie and I spent a good part of today filming videos for Small Craft, our upcoming online class. We are each doing 3 projects in video sessions! While we were at it, we filmed a quick little sneak peek video for you...

Small Craft from elsie flannigan on Vimeo.

This is one of Elsie's favorite projects. It's called the 'Gramma Chic Diaper Bag'! I'm pretty sure this is what I was wanting to do with my mustard yellow train case when Ruby was born. I still have it and I think it's going to get a makeover for fall!

Don't you love those adorable handmade dresses on our 'studio' backdrop?!

P.S. Earlybird registration includes a download of all 6 of Elsie's paper doll designs as a fun bonus! There are 5 girls plus a cute dress set that you can print out at home! Register here. (all photos Elsie's.)

xoxo,
Rachel