Thrift Hoard: Fixer uppers

I think I'll do a whole post of "before and after" shots featuring the various repair jobs I've attempted and/or succeeded. Some of them are easier than I thought! Look!

Eww, that's nasty. That old scale for $2, is all dirty from foot dirt! Let's see what water and window cleaner does...

Daaaayum! Look at the sweet vintage mint green with sparkles Detecto scale! It's retro-tastic! I can't do a whole post on clean up right now. Because I already sold that scale and I've gotta haul it to the post office. Hope it doesn't cost too much to ship. I have no idea how much it weighs. BRB.
Now, that beauty was an easy sell. Do you ever pick something up due to its sheer bad taste and hope to find a buyer with a strong appreciation for tackyness?I do it frequently. I try and sell it based on kitsch value and end up having great fun writing up the listing. Behold:

Jesus H. Christ, that's a huge, 70s wall tapestry! (I'm sorry, Christians.)When I saw this piece hanging with the fabric at Savers, I was like, "oh, rapture!" It is so glorious with its bold, vibrant colors and epic 56" x 40" size!
Sure, it's tacky fun, nut would an actual religious person hang this in their home? If so, I may have alienated my fan base with my sarcastic listing. I guess, I'm trying to sell it ironically? Find Jesus on Etsy. See if you can count all the dumb jokes I cracked. If you don't think my listing is the least bit humorous...Sorry, Christians! 

Perhaps the deer is more your style. Yes, I have not one, but two richly toned, 70s wall tapestries. This one came home a day or two later on a Goodwill trip. I was like, "Deer God, that's cool!" (Sorry, again.) Deer tapestry on Etsy
On that same trip, I spotted, and left behind these next things. Then I came back. I had to return something. Then buy these:

 Rum jug lamps! A pair of them! Are you not impressed? Closer look at those ships might help:

Yo, ho, ho--actually, I think it would be a bit hackneyed to use pirate talk. A bit too obvious, don't ya think? OK, just a little...
Arr, the scallywags at ye thrift store hornswoggled me nine doubloons for this booty! Ye think it could fetch a wench a nice bounty?
Seriously, I have no idea what something like this goes for, because I really haven't found anything else similar on the internets. No markings, don't appear hand made, only sign of wear is the gold paint rubbed off each handles. The jug is about 16" tall. Eventually, I'll get some nice pics up and just throw a price out there.
Lately, I seem to have that problem. Like, those sweet jug lamps (jug is a hilarious word), I find something that I believe to be incredible, but I don't have any information to guide me.
For instance, these incredible things:

 

OMFG THOSE ARE SOME GORGEOUS MID MOD WALL PANELS. A pair of 3' tall, matching wooden wall art, featuring Greek people with pops of textured aqua and orange. (shrugs) Yeah, I guess that's pretty serious. Of course, with me; there's always a catch. Let's move in closer...

You see it? Keep going...

There's the top of the lady's urn...and there's the big, dumb scratched area. That's the lady panel. Let's check out ol' Stamos's:

Great Zeus! Look at that! (I wish I had more Greek jokes. In fact, given my heritage and homeland of former long time companion, it's somewhat ironic that I don't.) That's the scratched up top shown without flash in all its natural hideousness.
EDIT: after uploading these pics, I managed to finish up my wood staining job and may have somewhat camouflaged these things.
Here's what happened. When I saw them at Outfitters, they each had a thin but strong wire wrapped around the wall hanger hooks on their backs. When stacked back to front, these little wires on the back of one scraped the front of the one behind it. They must have switched positions a few times (giggle).
That makes me angry. Who did this?! Who, so carelessly caused the damage to this beautiful god and goddess?! WHY??!

There is a reward for information leading to the apprehension of whomever was negligent in his/her care of these art pieces. Just kidding, I just want information on the wall art. Also, there is no reward.
I feel like Danish inspired, MCM, wooden wall hanging pairs in aqua and orange are totally common. Yet, I can't find anything else to compare these to! They are unmarked. Names I came up with include Turner Wall Accessories, Belart, and Witco. No hits on any of those.
So, they're no name knock-offs. Just kidding, they have names. Narcissus and Aphrodite. I just don't know how to find homes for them, yet.
Linking up at Sir Thrift a Lot, a living space, and thrifter maker fixer farm.

Thrift Hoard: Bigs and smalls

Mostly big. Remember bread boxes? Do people still have those? They should. Look at this one I picked up ;ast week at the yard sales:

Guess what? Photographing super reflective objects like that is very difficult. Remember that time a guy got naked and then shot a few pictures of a shiny teapot or something and then listed said teapot on ebay, thus sharing a reflection of his junk with all the bidders? Then, that was a trend called reflecto-porn? (I just Googled it. The internets remember.)
Sorry, I don't have any of that here. Just some bad pics of this awesome breadbox.

 There it from the front! Blending right into its background! Can you see the cute little details? Nope, me neither! Of course, I'm pretty pleased with how nice this looks in real life. It had quite a bit of rust, which I managed to remove with baking soda and steel wool. I'm going to list it, when I can build a big ass light box, I guess. 

One of the first sales I hit up that morning was probably really full of good stuff. Had I shown up before 10 AM, I probably could've seen it. Eh, I'm not a very competitive yard saler. I like to show up late when the people are giving stuff away. This guy still had plenty of cool things, and almost everything was $1.

This adorable deer planter is from Lane and Co., those folks who made TV lamps. This one's from 1959. I don't haggle over a buck...
I'm sorry, that joke has no business even trying. That's clearly a doe. I got him listed here: deer planter on Etsy Hey, look at this one I got at that sale!

I love how it's shaped like a log, but it's neon green. It's by Gilner; know what that means? It means that it probably once had an elf or something adorable attached to it. See that spot where a fake little plant stands? It was just a glue spot when I brought it home. I don't have any sweet little elves laying about, so the little tree will have to do.

Beautiful ceramic aqua ash tray! Isn't it glorious? Thing still had ashes in it, when I found it. (That panther is just prowling around, he's not for sale.) The ash tray isn't either. Someone bought it the same night I listed it. Nice knowing you, ashy.
Hey, how about these coffee mugs?

They're from an old local hardware store, which is apparently still operating in my city. Who know? I freakin' love old milk glass advertising mugs. Ya like how I posed them next to my rusty tool box? If you like that matching set of mugs, wait there's more!

I'll also throw in this old-timey mug! Also from a local-ish business. Here...my mugs on Etsy
I saved the best for last.

This is probably my favorite find of the week. I priced it as such, too. I have this little lamp...mid mod, tan, bowling pin shape...it's cute as hell, just needs a shade. I walked into a thrift, closing my eyes until I got to the lampshade area. "Just look at the shades, dummy, you don't need any more stuff," I thought, in a self-berating tone. Then I saw this thing. It was a large, ceramic lamp, high up on a shelf. From a distance, I thought it was priced much higher, so I got double thrift euphoria when I saw it's actual price (my secret.) I ran and grabbed a carriage to gently place it in, lest my bumbling hands lose their grip on my way to the register. At this time, I bumped into another thrifter/reseller. We once worked retail together. years back.
"Nice mod lamp," she said.
"Why thank you!" I replied all thankful that I got there when I did. "Yeah, and you wish you had it!" I thought to myself, whilst flashing my most villainous smile. I get a little possessive with my precious scores. For all I know, it's a hideous lamp and I have terrible taste. Let's take a close look:

I love lamp! It's got a fancy-ass shade by Stiffel, too. Read about that, here: Mid century lamp on Etsy.

This is another thing that I'm in love with. Yes, it's sad that I love an inanimate object. Fine, I will marry it. It's an original batik, made and signed by a local artist in 1981. Lily of the valley batik, in a sweet professional frame with an artist's signature. The color combo makes me swoon. WTF is a batik? I cut and pasted a paragraph from Wikipedia on my listing: Lily of the Valley batik on Etsy.
One last thing. You know when you're in a thrift store, browsing a bit through the toys for some reason, and you spot a little bag of something? Look closer...

Ooh, it's a $0.99 bag of something! What are these? Little houses? Oh...my...god...

It's a little wooden wonderland! And it's fracking adorable! That's just a preview, here's more:

12 little houses! They're like an inch and a half tall. So damned cute, I could slap someone.

Ooh, made in Germany. More pictures!

One more?

I've got them all photographed and counted, I'm just not entirely sure what to do with them yet.
Here's my "big announcement" lol. I need a different shop for which to sell clothing. I scored some really good shit in the dresses and whatnot department, but I've suspended listings until I figure out how to push those wares.
For months, I've been saying that I'll start listing on ebay. I guess now's the time. Should I try and sell my vintage clothing by opening a second, more femme branded Etsy shop? Or try and sell everything on ebay? I have to start work at summer school tomorrow. Goodnight.
Linking up at Sir Thrift A Lot and a living space.

Part 2 of my 101st post: It is nautical time

Let's keep this short. One year ago...June, 2013. I stopped on my way home from school and picked up the sweetest little dress that was too big. It was all silky and blue and featured a print of little rope knots. I think I just pointed a phone (no flash) at my mirror for this one:

Yup. That's how I tried to capture the "before" shot, one year ago. Luckily, I have more. I thought my best option for one of my very first refashions was to lose the sleeves and take up the shoulders.

So, uh, that's what the top looked like. You can kinda make out the knots. See that gold thing, just at the neck? That's a shiny anchor button. At this point, I didn't own a sewing machine, just borrowed the one at my parents' house. I think I decided to unbutton the top, fold it under and call it a day. I even tried to use my camera's self timer for the first time!

Nailed it

Well, now that I've practiced my sewing skills, and almost mastered the ability to point and click a camera, maybe I can do better! 

Once I pulled it from my refash stash, I came up with something that might help. I could take in the elastic waist. 

Look! I'm doing it! I'm pulling out old elastic and putting in a new one which I will pull tighter! Like a freakin' sewing whiz or something. 

About that camera pointing technique...My bedroom has practically zero natural light when the air conditioner's in the window! And it's a very shiny fabric! Those are just some pins in the new neckline. And look what I did with that button:

It's a DIY belt I made from a piece of rope. I just measured the rope around my waist (x2) and tied knots at both ends. Then, I sewed the button on. That knot fits just around the button, holding the belt on. It's "knot" functional, just decorative. Closer...

See? Kinda cute? Well, I actually thought the dress looked better without a belt. Maybe I'll sew another anchor button in the middle. 

All right, I finished my dress! Only thing left to do is wear it! Yup, my vintage size 4 silk dress...

Wait for it...

How unhappy do I look? Do I look like someone with a too tight dress? Oh, this is embarrassing. It's now a little sleeveless jacket thing! I even put on that huge anchor necklace from the old pics. ENJOY >: ( 

I actually really like this. Also, screw you cake. Screw you, donuts. 

I'm so tired right now.

 Attempt to show detail of the print.

100th--er, 101st post! It's nautical time again

I can't believe I stuck with this blogging thing long enough to have 100 posts. That's so unlike me. It's summer again, and the weather is nice, people are swimming, whatever, etc. It is now socially acceptable for non sailors such as myself to wear anchors and boat themed crap. It is nautical time again.
This post is a two for one! First, I'm showing you this dress:

Another from the $0.50 rack at Outfitters. I wasn't feeling a refashion at the time, (months ago) so I put it on the dress form to sell on Etsy. I took a few pictures and said, "ugh, no."

Look at those sleeves. And look at how the front of the bodice appears to be independent from the rest of the dress. What's that for? I couldn't sell that to polygamist cult member.

I mean no disrespect to their plights...just their clothes.

Left crumpled in a pile of other things I wasn't sure about, it suddenly seemed appealing to me as the temperatures rose. It was long and loose for hiding legs, but lightweight for keeping cool. Perhaps I could un-modest it?

First, I just chopped the hell out of it. Goodbye, huge sleeves; goodbye neckline. My inspiration came from one of my most favorite refashions, this paisley 80s from New Dress A Day:

My dress is nothing like this. Not even close. I don't even know why...anyway, I digress. After taking all that material off. I pinned and sewed the raw edges. I guess I didn't photograph that part. I actually had to do it a couple times, forgetting how terribly petite I can be.

Next, I had to take in the sides of the top. See how much? That's a big-ass dress. I usually pin it down the side like and then try it on, before marking that line and then repinning and finally sewing. It's amazing that I ever finish anything. Everything takes so long.

Do you see the problem that I'm seeing? Look at those side flaps, all sticking out like that. I will sew them down. Also, what's missing? My plan was to un-modest this dress, yet my cleavage is no where to be seen. As I sewed down the sides, I realized how very easy it was. "What is this? Is this chambray?" I asked myself, thinking that very question would be a great silly title for this post. My mom said it was "oxford" or something. Where was I? Oh, I probably should've let it be, but my inspiration dress had a v neck. So, I unbuttoned and folded under.
I figured my next step would be to add straps. I wanted something navy blue and stretchy.

Yes! It's a big, thick shoelace or something. It's some kind of rope. That came in one of the free bags of sewing supplies that a seamstress gifted me. I've got a lot of that.

I sewed it in place in back and then tried it on to determine where they should be attached in front. Once that boring shit was out of the way, I needed some sort of signifier to show everyone that this isn't a regular pale blue dress. No sir, this is a nautical dress. What symbol should I use?

Anchors away, jerks! (I'm sorry. No one's a jerk.) As you see, I've got several appliques from my precious stash to choose from. Spoiler alert: I went with the gold one. After ironing it on, the packaging recommended sewing it in place for more permanent hold. I actually used $2 from my Jo-ann gift card to buy gold thread. Haven't used it yet. Oh, I should mention that I have 6 silver anchor buttons that I scavenged from a $0.50  skirt that I bought just for that purpose. They were bigger than the button holes. Enlarge button holes? Back in the stash you go, little anchors!
Just when I think I'm done, I try it on again. The length is weird. I like it just below the knee, but nowhere near the ankle! I groaned at the thought of having to measure, pin, iron and sew the whole hem.

 But seriously, folks; this type of material is just so easy to work with. I pretty much just snapped my fingers and it was done. Now, I just need a suh-weeet belt to really finish this.

Oops, bad picture quality. I've got so many belts! Pardon my boast, but look at the selection of navy blue belts I'm choosing from. I'm not even showing off the red and white striped with vinyl anchor in the middle. May I draw your attention those these?

Wow, it's a ship's wheel buckle! And that belt has adorable white and yellow anchors!
Just when I think I can't get any lamer...I take time out of my blog post to brag about my thrift store belt collection. Most of them didn't work, as the waistline was kinda high (how I do) for this dress. Without any further ado...

The wind blown look! Aiming a fan at your face may cause squinting.

What can I say...photo effects are fun to use. How do we feel about the dress? Not perfect. I probably shouldn't have messed with the top there. Also, there's an unfortunate button gap. Happens every time.

Oh my god, is this post still going? I said it was going to be a two for one, but I think it's gonna be a two-part deal. It's too long.