Office Makeover *Sneek Peek*...

So... I've been working hard (or hardly working... I'm having to reach deep for the motivation) on my work space... It needed a complete over haul, and I have to say that the before pictures are rather shocking...  I'll share them with you when I do the complete reveal... Any ways... to say that it needed to be organized is kind of an understatement... so the process seems to be moving at a snails pace as I organize things and find proper homes...Here is some of the organization so far...


I use alot of vintage buttons... and buy them whenever I can get them dirt cheap... They have wound up all over my office in multiple containers.   I am constantly digging though them for specific colors... my bright idea for organizing them, was to rummage through my recycling and pull out glass containers... After cleaning them and removing the labels, I organized the buttons by color... I think they look rather fetching...

My piles of vintage fabric(and I mean piles literally) have also been in a state of chaos... Shoved behind a door, in a cupboard.   I basically had to pile everything on the floor to get to anything... and at that point I had no motivation to fold it, and put it back nicely... because I was just going to pile it up again the next time I needed something...  My solution for this was via my Husband... who took pity on me and came home one day with shelves... My fabric is slowly working it's way into neat stacks... arranged by color...

Well this month does not really seem to be about *fun* projects... but the faster I can get my space organized... the faster I can get back to crafting...
Are you making a fresh start in the new year?
***Jennifer

Inspiration doesn't have to live in your home town...

We are on a family vacation... and I am loving it!  I enjoy exploring new places, and finding new inspirations... Here are some of the things that have caught my eye...

These wonderful pods are found in the trees outside my parents house...

I can see many possibilities...

I also spied this Fox Tail asparagus fern... the ends look like mini decorated Christmas trees... how cute would they be displayed at Christmas!





Here are some of the stores that caught my eye... found some ski pants for my daughter for $4 and spied a mantel like mine in the antique store...

By far my favorite find... I've been looking for some black boots and found these leather ones at the local Buffalo Exchange... $26

But the most magical place of all... Is the Long Beach Outdoor Antique Market...

I spied this coat and fell in love...


It fit perfect... but sadly I walked away because they wanted $75... I'm just to thrifty to pay that price!

  

Vintage clothing paradise... most things priced between $3-$15...

   

Vintage Christmas...

Lace... and buttons... and trim... oh my!

  

 Here is what I went home with... Thank goodness we took our car this trip...

My highest $$$ item was this 1930's Erector set... including instructions!  I walked away with it for $40... I don't usually spent that much on an item, but this will be my sons Christmas present... so I can justify...

I almost fell over when I found out the price on this 50's built in ironing board cabinet!  When she said $20 I could barely contain myself...I have to admit I did a little happy dance...

Like I said I'm glad we are traveling by car...

Got these fun trays for 25cents a piece... I had to stop myself from buying more...

$9 spent on vintage fabric... I'm thinking of using the car fabric on pj's for my son...

Buttons!  Buttons!  and more Buttons!  I always can use more... can never have to many... these pretty vintage beauties cost me $3 for all...


How cool are these... sliver wire looped into flower shapes...

I just adore them...

And from a couple of vender's I collected these vintage flocked Christmas trees...  total $5... can't wait to put them out at Christmas...

Wow!  What fun finds... I can't wait to get them home!  Are you a treasure seeker/thrifter like me?  Don't let the opportunities pass you by... my favorite thing to do when I'm in a new place is to Google thrift stores from my phone... you never know what you might find!  Also take in your surroundings, I'll be definitely taking some of those pods home with me... I can already envision adding them to my front door wreath.  Also fun, is to press leaves or flowers in what ever book/magazine your vacationing with... It's a fun keepsake... and it's free!  Happy Hunting!
***Jennifer

Putting some Fall in my wordrobe...

My favorite part of the week is Friday... this is the day that I can unwind, enjoy a cup of coffee, and search for treasures...



This week I found a vintage velvet jacket... just in time for Fall...





I paid a whopping $6 for it... who says fashion has to be expensive?

   

The only thing I didn't like were the buttons... 

So I switched them out with some black vintage glass buttons...

Makeover complete... sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference!

***The second piece for Fall that I put in my wardrobe was a sweater vest...

I am in love with this seasons trend... layering lacy slips with sweaters...

I started with this vintage 70's pattern... 

 



I had just enough of this vintage sweater knit to cut out for the front...





But, I had to use this plain red sweater knit for the back...




  

To give more detail to the belt, I layered lace over green seam tape(on top of the red belt pieces) and then zigzag stitched it down... encasing the green tape down the middle...

 

After it was completed, I felt the belt was to bulky to tie... so I improvised a bow closure instead...

Snaps ensure it stays put...

 

I could not wait to wear this with my vintage slip(Grandma's)... paired with my beloved rain boots made it a fun and functional outfit... Love the mix of frilly and rugged... I've been known to be described as eclectic, but I don't mind if that means I get to have fun with my clothes... 

So, I challenge you to take look at your wardrobe this week... bring out those long forgotten slips, and layer them with sweaters...coats.. or over sized shirts.  Have a jacket or dress you never wear?  Try changing out the buttons, for a completely new look... I try every season to inventory what I have... sometimes it just takes seeing it in a different light, to make it new again...