Hump-day Revival

When it comes to thrifting, you have your good days and you have your bad days. Today, this week was very, very good. Here's why:

1. Three fabulous hats:

2. Four snap-button Western shirts for my mayun for .50 cents a pop!

3. This beautiful white eyelet dress:

Check out the buttons in the back on this beauty:

4. These cut-offs. (I guess good things came in 4's this week!)

Like my DIY scalloped shorts? Check out this super easy no-sew tutorial to make your own!
And yes, I finally tracked down those American flag cut-off Levis shorts that I've been drooling over for at least a year (at Kobey's swap meet of all places). There they were, just sitting on top of a big pile of clothes. I didn't even have to dig for them (like I had to for the Western shirts). I was so excited when I saw them, but if there's anything I've learned from watching American Pickers, it's to not show your cards. I casually picked them up and briefly inspected them for holes,stains, and/or tears. There weren't any. I was even more excited, but I had to keep my poker face on. I draped them over my arm and continued browsing for a few minutes until I couldn't take it anymore - I had to own these shorts and I had to own them now.

I couldn't wait to start the negotiating process with the vendor. "How much are you thinking on these?" I asked. (You see, instead of asking "How much are these", you have to ask, "How much are you thinking on these". This phrasing automatically sets you up for non-awkward negotiating.)

"Oh, those?" the vendor began (as he looked me up and down). "Those belong with you. You can have them for a dollar."

Being a girl also helps in getting what you want for the price that you want. All you have to do is smile.

OK, where were we?

Ah, yes,

5. This 80s prom dress:

6. Another little girl's sailor dress (I just can't help myself):


7. A pastel plaid button-down with a peter-pan collar. Bliss. Wore it yesterday (and today too):

8. Last but not least:
The holy grail. Fourteen words: Size-Seven-and-a-Half-FRYE-Banana-Leather-Campus-Boots-For-Under-Twenty-Dollars. Holy shit. Really?
How did I luck out so hard this week??
I guess when it rains, it pours!
Have a lovely evening!

Hump-day Revival

One of my favorite things about thrifting is that you never know what you are going to find.

Today's discoveries included:

This painting of a wide-eyed "danseuse" (female ballet dancer). I'm pretty sure this little cutie is holding a gun behind her back.

In the 1960s, American painter Margaret Keane developed the unmistakable "Big Eyes" style. Her paintings depicted kitschy, colorful, "teary waifs with equally sad pets" (source). An interesting factoid about Keane is that her ex-husband used to claim all the credit for her paintings. When she and her husband divorced, Keane gained ownership of her paintings by engaging in an in-court paint-off versus her former husband and won by default (he declined to paint due to a sore shoulder - wank, wank).

By the end of the decade, prints of Keane's big-eyed paintings were being mass distributed, along with knockoffs by other artists including Gig, Eden Lee, and Eve's "mod-kids" (seen below).

The wide-eyed fad also inspired Hasbro's Little Miss No Name, Fun World's Suzy Sad Eyes, and the infamous Blythe doll.

How's that for research? We're just getting started... Moving on!

I was particularly proud of the find on the left. It is an old nurse's uniform (I'd say from the 60s) by Barco of California. I actually found another one of these beauties right next to it, but the cashier wouldn't sell it to me because it was missing a tag. Just for the record, thrift stores will NOT sell anything to you that is missing a tag no matter how much you beg, plead, and/or bribe them. I know this from repeated first-hand experience.

My mom used to have a skirt exactly like this one. I wouldn't be surprised if this one was actually hers. I know she just cleaned out her closet. Why would my conservative mother own a full circle-skirt covered in a cowboy boot print? You see, my parents, now retired, used to own a store called Country Furniture Faire. If I can recall correctly, this is the skirt she wore to the grand opening party (with matching cowboy boot earrings).

Perhaps an evening in Hillcrest for some gay-bar line-dancing is in order in the near future...

Here's a close-up of the print:

Lemon-meringue pie 50s/60s formal dress:

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice!

This miniature globe. I just love miniature versions of things. In fact, remember that toy piano I blogged about last Wednesday (the one that got away)? It was still there today. It was in my cart. It was out of my cart. It was in my cart again. Then I took it out right before I got up to the register. It was a really emotional process. It was just way too busted.

Anyway, this has got to be at least 20 years old because Russia is still labeled Soviet Union:

After thrifting, I did a pop-in at DSW and couldn't believe my eyes (or my luck) when I came across a pair of Kork-Ease for 60% off... you just can't pass up a bargain like that.

Since this has turned out to be the most extensive, thorough, well-researched hump-day revival post to date, I guess I'll go off on another little tangent now.

Kork-Ease were the original wedge sandal in the 70s. Kork-Ease shoes are constructed from supple, biodegradable, vachetta leather that develops a rich patina over time. According to the Kork-Ease website, "The original Kork-Ease Wedge has been immortalized in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Landmark Shoe Collection -- an honor bestowed to only 25 styles of footwear all-time".

Where the Surf meets the Turf

It's opening day at the races today. Today, many of us will be utilizing this day as an excuse to validate their alcoholism. Though I might not be getting an early start on drinking, I will be getting an early start on thrifting.

Before I get a move on, here are some images that have been activating my neurons:

I realize that I have done a horrible job at sourcing the images that I use on my blog. There really is no excuse for this except for admitted laziness. From now on, I'm going to do my best to be a little more organized and link images to their appropriate sources. It's the right thing to do.

I lost track of the original sources for most of the images above. If it's any consolation, the balloon leggings are by We Are Handsome.

Stay tuned for a hump-day revival post later today (A Week in Pictures also to come)!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Shoop-shoop

Everybody has a hidden talent. Mine - is hula-hooping. When I was little, I was the reigning champion of hula-hooping contests. No joke.

Last night, I ended up at a hippie party (clothes-free zone, filtered fog machine, body-painting station, hummus and all). At the party, I decided to visit the "designated hooping area" (yes, there was a sign) to say hello to a very old friend of mine - the hula hoop.

I was a little apprehensive at first to get back in the ring - pun fully intended. I am sure that the last time I hooped was in my pre-pubescent days, before I had hips. I wasn't entirely sure how it would go, but after a few whirls, it was like riding a bicycle. Now, I don't want to brag or anything but ... I still got it. And not only do I still got it, I got it good.

Now, I don't know why I ever stopped. It sounds like a trip to Home Depot is in order. I need to pick up some 100 psi, 3/4 inch irrigation tubing and some couplers STAT.

Hump-day Revival

It's Wednesday and I went thrifting.

Here are today's finds:

Love this cut-out on this black knit dress. Unfortunately, there is a small hole on one of the sleeves, so this baby needs a little operation. Obviously not a deal-breaker though.

A super high-cut (hello hip-bones) one-piece bathing suit:

A pirate-ship sun-catcher:

A bag full-a-bows ($1.75 for 8 pieces):

This adorable little girls' sailor dress:

Often times when I get home from a day of thrifting, there is an item that I neglected to buy that stays on my mind all day (and usually, for weeks, even months afterward). I call them, "the ones that got away". Today, it was miniature toy piano. Yes, it was completely busted and only 3 of the keys worked, but for the $5 price-tag, it could have been a statement piece. It could have been mine. Le sigh.

The week (or so) in pictures

Happy belated birthday, America! Hopefully you all had a wonderful 4th. I spent the day at the beach with friends, followed by fireworks in the evening at the country club. Minus a handful of mosquito bites, the day couldn't of gone any better.

It's really starting to warm up here. This is our first summer in our home and can I just say, WOW! I really took A/C for granted. Practically all the walls in our house are wood-paneled so on a hot summer day, it can feel like a sauna in here. Luckily, we're close to the beach and if we open up some windows, we can catch a nice ocean breeze here and there that cools us off quickly.

Anyway, here is what I've been up to lately in pictures:

4th of July beach party:

Galaxy fireworks:

Perfecting my latte art:

Trying to pick out a friendship bracelet at a booth at Fiesta del Sol, getting extremely overwhelmed, and walking away empty-handed:

Popping in at a pet-store on a thrifting day just to visit:

A picnic with a dear friend:

Tracking the growth of my "camel-toe" cactus:

Owning at darts (for once):

A new tattoo (more pictures to come):

Eavesdropping on a conference call:

Striking a pose before watching MC Yogi at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.

So that's what's been going on lately.

Tonight, I'm taking Noel to the Casbah to see Ms. Anya Marina. I've been feeling under the weather but I'm not going to let that stop me from getting down and boogie-ing!

Have a lovely evening!