Question from Eris V Andal

Eris V. Andal asks: "Aside from the love of old clothes, are there any other advantages to wearing vintage? Is it cheaper to rejuvenate something old rather than buy something new?"

This is a tough question so; I’m going to answer it in sections. There are many different reasons and advantages to wearing vintage clothing. Firstly, there is the opportunity to save money. Buying thrifted vintage is usually much less expensive than buying newly made clothes. In addition you’re recycling what you wear. It’s a more ecologically sound practice than buying clothing produced in a factory. Vintage items also tend to be unique in that they are older, and usually one-of -a-kind items. It’s very nice to go out without having to worry if someone else will be wearing the same dress at the party. Another thing I really like about wearing vintage is having the opportunity to share my love of these gorgeous styles with people who ask “What are you wearing?”

As for the price aspect of rejuvenating vintage; that is dependent on many different factors. To simplify matters let’s stick just to clothes. First, what is the condition of the item you are seeking to rejuvenate? This is probably the most important thing to consider. Second, what skills do you have that can be used to rejuvenate this item? And last, how much time, money or effort do you want to put into this rejuvenation? Let’s examine a couple of different scenarios …..

1. You find a stunning dress in excellent condition. Little wear to the fabric, all seams intact and it fits you beautifully! It costs just $10.00! However, there is a fairly obvious stain on the skirt of the dress that will not wash out. Thankfully, you’re pretty handy with a needle. So, you decide to monogram your initials over the stain, hiding its ugliness and creating a special, unique touch. Since, you already do a lot of needlework you had the items on hand to do this and it cost you nothing but time. Bargain!


2. You find an adorable vintage skirt in a thrift shop. It fits you very well and just happens to be your favorite shade of green. However, the hem is very worn. It’s torn is a couple of places and should probably be mended if it’s to be wearable. The price is pretty reasonable, $5.99. Since you really don’t have the skills or sewing machine needed to fix it, you take it to a seamstress. She says for $10.00 she can rip out and re-hem your skirt. The total cost for you skirt is now $15.99. If you love the skirt and wear it frequently it may still be a good deal!

These are just some examples. There may be times when you find an item that is damaged beyond repair. Even if that dress is given to you for free is it really worth the 100 man hours of meticulous stitching it will take to make it wearable. Or how about that great sweater you bought for $1.00 but, still haven’t worn? Really, cost is personal. What may be worth it to one person, may be a loss to another.

The Kitchen Linens Book Review

The Kitchen Linens Book

Using, Sharing and Cherishing the Fabrics of our Daily Lives

By EllynAnne Geisel

As a collector of vintage, one of my favorite things is to decorate my home and craft room with my finds. I love to display my treasures and share them with the world around me. Among these items displayed are linens. Many of these I maintained in their original state as tea towels, tablecloths and such. However, others that are a little ragged, stained or worse for wear I rejuvenate and transform into aprons, potholders and other multi tasking laborers. This book was an inspiration. For me, it articulated the love I had for linens and so much more.

“The Kitchen Linens Book” is an invitation into the daily lives of the women who ran the household, managed the expenses and looked wonderful doing it. In the first chapter the reader is introduced to Geisel’s feelings and philosophy of linens. “Maybe because they have borne witness to so much family life, however, kitchen linens hold a special place in our hearts”. …..”One look at a crocheted hot pad or an embroidered apron unlocked years of happy memories as mistress of the household”. I can’t help but feel the same about my own collection of linens. We continue to explore kitchen linens through excerpts by her friends and their sharing of memories and their own collections.

While EllynAnne shares fond memories, she also includes a lot of history and knowledge. We learn about the best weaves to maximize a towel’s absorbency. Everything from waffle weaves and damask to bird’s eye. She encourages us to “know your fabrics” and shares with us the differences between cotton, flax, ramie, rayon, etc, etc. I found that a lot of this knowledge to be very useful while hunting for other vintage items of textile nature. In addition, we learn about different decorative techniques. The beautiful pictures in this book include lush examples of these techniques. Cutwork, cross stitch, crocheted lace and (my favorite) embroidery can be found in abundance. As we continue through the chapters in this book we are treated to many different tips and tricks. We revel in the knowledge of how to remove candle wax from our linens (it really works!) Everything from fabric care and stain removal to storage of vintage linens and ways to rejuvenate and repurpose damaged textiles.

This book combines knowledge, history, love and humor. It then presents it to us in an easy to read manner. A traditional “Chocolate Mousse” recipe is paired with a witty tutorial on “How to Brew a Proper Pot of Tea” invoking a sense of nostalgia that made me wish I lived back in the time of ladies luncheons and sewing circles. With all the fun recipes, stunning photography, touching tales, how-to’s and bonus vintage Butterick iron-on transfers this book is perfect for coffee table or as a resource. “Like vintage aprons, these old pieces of linen celebrate the tireless industry, familial devotion and enduring spirit of mothers and grandmothers the world over”.

Thoughts on Vintage Shopping

When shopping for vintage treasure there are many ideas and thoughts going through my head. Everything from “Ooohhhh, that’s so cute!” to “I wonder if that is my size?” However, I personally consider these to be some of most important things to remember while shopping.

First and foremost, what is the purpose of this item?

-Collectable?

-Resell?

-Gift?

-For use?

-For display?

-Up-cycling?

The answers to these questions will play a lot into the purchasing of this item. For example:  You see a gorgeous, name branded vintage scarf. As a personal collector you might be willing to overlook the small pinholes from the price tag. However, would a reseller? What about your special friend who just looks great all the time and has a birthday coming up? As an artist could you use the fabric around the hole? These are the things that should be considered.

What are your personal standards? This question is not meant to invoke an attitude of vintage snobbery or competition but make you think about yourself, the item in question and your love of vintage. I also believe that this is closely tied to the purpose of the item. Personally, I happen to love an item that has a patina. I like a little wear or “personality”. To me, that’s part of the magic of vintage!  But, everyone is different.  A serious collector may only purchase “mint condition” or “new in box” items.

Your standards may be different based on the purpose of the item.  For example…… do you care if the fabulous vintage broach has a broken clasp? No! You were going to thread it on a velvet ribbon and wear it as a necklace, anyways. If you purchase an item for display you may not even care if it’s functional.  However, if you want to wear vintage clothes you might want to be a little picker. You may be able to make small repairs to some items but, how much time, money and effort do you want to put into it?

Being polite and honest is ALWAYS the best policy!! I think this is really important to keep in mind while treasure hunting.  It’s hard to expand on this idea without droning on for several pages. Think of it this way….how do you like to be treated when you’re shopping somewhere?  Particularly, in cases where there is often sentimental value attached to these items. There are some situations where it’s rude to inquire about another person’s sources (I really don’t know why.) If you feel this is the case, don’t.  If you see something that is a fair price, do you really need to haggle? If it’s not, you might want to ask for a lower price but, don’t be a sore loser if you’re told no. It’s just rude to argue. Basically, use common sense, good manners and have fun.

La Déesse de la Lune D’albâtre

A "Sublime Stitching" pattern. Artist series. By Molly Crabapple

All that hair....must take hours to style!

Well.....as promised I've added some pictures of the embroidery project I'm currently working on. I've just started, as you can see. However, she's been alot of fun to work with.

Progress Report

So, for the curious (and those nice enough to pretend to care) I thought I would post a mini update. I'm currently writing on two separate blog subjects that will hopefully titillate you, the readers. I'm also contemplating the "about" section. This is proving to be difficult for me.
In addition to this I'm pondering how to organize my work space to make it multi-functional as well as attractive and inspiring. A very tall order. I'm also working on an embroidery project in my free time. It's a heavy hipped burlesque goddess I have named La Déesse de la Lune D'albâtre. (French to English translation....Goddess of the Alabaster Moons). Pictures of her soon. I promise.

What to do?

So, I'd like to ask my friends what they would like to see here on our blog site? I was thinking of doing tutorials....things such as......things to make and do with vintage hankies, taking care of your vintage treasures, re-purposing old treasures, hunting for vintage, etc, etc, etc. What do you think?

New beginings.....

So, thanks to the encouragement of many of my friends and family I've started the process of opening my own online vintage store. I'm lucky enough to have wonderful people who unabashedly believe that I have talent, insight and something to share with others. (Aaaaawwww, thanks guys!) Hopefully, I won't disappoint you.
This blog is a celebration of all the things I love most....creating and vintage. Clothes, household items, dishware, linens, accessories, hats, jewelry and so much more!