What We Wore: In the Navy

Heather and I got together for a day of fun and took a few pictures. We were digging the sailor polka dot and stripe look in navy, white and ochre.
I wore a vintage navy and white polka dot shirt, urban outfitter shorts, woven oxfords and a thrifted red purse. Heather wore a vintage navy and white striped dress, woven flats and a tasseled purse from Morocco.
-Alea

What We Wore: Waiting For Spring

Waiting for spring to arrive, I have been getting out some of my bright and colorful clothes that have been gathering dust in the back of my closet. Feeling some March madness of my own, the only cure I could find was to brighten up my day with some color. I wore a vintage floral mumu, thrifted navy belt, Target navy tights and yellow flats from Spain. 

-Ladybird

A Very Vintage Day: Couch Hunting

Twill and I spent the day together thrifting and vintage hunting, looking for apartment decor. I was on the hunt for a couch. We started at Cottage House where Twill found a great chair. Then we went to Broders for lunch, a great panini and salad were inhaled. And then off to Hunt and Gather. In the end, I think I found my couch! A great day spent with my favorite lady.

Twill wore a flannel skirt from American Apparel, a thrifted skinny leather belt, a J. Crew tank, a  ruffly sweater from Ambiance San Fran, Target tights, Minnetonka Moccasins and an adorable locket from an estate sale, soon to hold a picture of me ;)

- Ladybird

DIY: Repurposed Wee One's Bib

 It is getting down to the wire, and I am still working on handmade gifts. That is the problem with making things yourself, it is easy to just go buy something, but it takes a lot of time to make things. This is one that I just made over the weekend for the plethora of friends who recently popped out their little wee ones.

Materials:
Terry cloth (can be thrifted towels)
Vintage fabric, thrifted linens or a pattern you like
Snap closures, I love the little pearly ones
A hammer
Sewing machine
Scissors

Cut out in terry cloth a shape that you like (I used an already made bib as a template)

Then fold it over and place it on a folded over side of your fabric, cut that out. 

Lay the pieces together and attach with stick pins

Then sew it together and cut off any extra bits.

Hammer the snaps on to the ends
Then wash the bib, because terry cloth sheds like a hairy dog. You are done!

-Ladybird

DIY: Bookish Holiday

I found this amazing 70's book, "Treasury of Christmas Decorations." It has some classic ideas, and some that may be best forgotten. Decorating for seasons is a love of mine, ever since my mother spray painted a branch white and let us decorate an "Easter tree." I love coming up with interesting repurposed decorations.

While I was at the grocery store, I picked up Real Simple, and perused it. There was a really great holiday decoration that I knew would be perfect for my tiny little pad. Being a book nerd, this seemed to fit both the holidays and me to a T! I changed it a little, as I like to do, enjoy!


What you need:

10+  hard cover books in red and green or all of one color  in various sizes (I only had 8 on hand, but my tree will keep growing as I find more books)
2 glass jars (or 5 small brown hardcover books)
1 small strand of LED lights
1 pair of vintage glasses (or a bow)

1. Put the LED lights into one of the glass jars, set the two jars next to each other, make sure the strand can reach an outlet (Base can also be made just using 5 or so small brown book, for more stability)
2. Open all the red and green books to the middle
3. Stack in size order on top of the glass jars (or neutral books), starting with the largest on the bottom
4. For a nerdy finishing touch, make the glasses the bow to the top of your tree, Ta Da!
-Ladybird

DIY: Trompe l' Oeil Headboard

 Since I moved into my apartment, I have been working on "headboard" ideas. I decided not to get a bed frame, because before this apartment, I owned just about nothing, and it was getting expensive to keep up with the random things that you need living solo. So I had been thinking about ideas for a cheap, but totally rad headboard. I made a stencil in an old apartment, and i really like the look of that, but this time I wanted to make it something really special. So I went to Savers, my local standby thrift, and found a $4.00 piece of lace with a design I liked. Then, inspired, I went to work figuring out how to create the idea in my head.

my bedroom before

What you need:
Lace fabric the size of your headboard, thrifted lace is perfect on the cheap.
A newspaper taped together the size of your headboard
Scissors
Painting tape
Double sided tape
Spray paint

1. Tape the lace, making sure to measure the center and put a little dot


















2. Tape the newspaper together into one large sheet using the double sided tape

3. Fold the paper in half and draw half of your design making sure the middle is on the fold


















4. Cut out your design, retaining the top part, tape it on top of the lace, making sure to line up the center with your measured center

5. Get out your spray paint and go wild

















6. Remove the lace and paper from the wall, and you have yourself a cheap, handmade, awesome headboard!

The hardest part of this project was picking a shape. In the end, I went pretty simple, but I think that let the pattern and design show through. If you make one yourself, I would love to see how it turns out. This was an experiment for me, and I am very happy with the results.

-Ladybird

The Happenings: Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Black Friday is tomorrow. So in honor of the biggest shopping day, I am giving my top five favorite local shops for reused, vintage, repurposed and handmade gifts! Of course you can always make things yourself and stay warm and cozy at home!

5. Hunt & Gather - This adorable shop is full of great housewares, from decorations and pillows to tables and chairs. Every nook has something surprising.

 4. Electric Fetus- Great record shop that carries a variety of local bands. You are sure to find some amazing music. Bonus, they are having a 20% off "Black Friday" sale!

3. Crafty Planet- I often go in this shop just to look at the beautiful fabrics. For that crafty person, the gift of a sewing class is just the thing!

2. The Wild Rumpus- Local bookstore, dedicated to kids, is the perfect place to pick up that children's classic to read with a young person in your life.

1. Rewind! - One of my all time favorite Minneapolis vintage clothing shops, they are always stocked full to the brim, and I never leave without dropping a large sum of money. Their accessories are incredible, the perfect place to find a gift for that special someone. . . or to re-vamp your own wardrobe for the Holiday season.

Of course, if you can wait a few weeks check out the Mighty Swell sale! We will have tons of gifts and party clothes, a little something for everyone.




Happy crafting, shopping, and thrifting!

- Ladybird

The Shop: Pile of Vintage

My days worth (very good day) of vintage finds. I have really been digging vintage gloves, they add that perfect vintage touch to any outfit.

-Ladybird

What We Wore To The Happenings: Getting Lost

On my way to do a little thrifting for The Shop, I got lost and wound up driving by a market. So I stopped to see what it was about, and it ended up being a farmer's market. Since I only had a limited amount of cash I ended up with just a bunch of purple kale, but I took a few pictures. While I was shooting, a man behind me said "You gonna take my picture? Or will I break the lens?" So I took a quick shot of him, and wound up talking to this cabbage farmer for a long while. An interesting man with a hearty laugh. All in all a pretty good day.

 



























I wore vintage wide leg jeans, brown leather loafers, and a pink blouse.

-Ladybird

The Shop: Attention to Detail

Twill and I have been scrutinizing over minor details. We are by nature, perfectionists. So today, when thinking about the price tags, I had an idea for handmade, recycled tags. I thrifted a book on pressed flowers and decided to use that book for our tags, cut out in the shape of teacups. I just started, made the templates and began the process. I think they turned out mighty cute!

 -Ladybird