Not At All what I Was Looking For!

This morning, Internets, we got up and decided to go to Portland Flea. And, sadly, it is not nearly as awesome as their Facebook page led them to be. I had been following them for a little over a month (missed the last sale) and wanted to go to the one today. So, we went. And it was tragically terrible.
I dunno what it was, in actuality, but it was not at all very vintage-y,  and there were more handmade wares and magazines than anything. Which is fine, but not what I'm after at the moment. We went in, wandered for about ten minutes, and left, rather disappointed.
Afterwards,  we went up to Hawthorne, but took the backwards scenic route to get there, even though it was really only a few blocks away.

I have never taken a picture of this sign before, so figured I ought while it was rather close. And yes, this year his nose was bright red at Christmas time. It is adorable at Christmas, looks like Rudolph!!

And we drove through (what I hope was only part of) China Town. It wasn't very big, and it seemed pretty small, so I'm hoping there's more of it lurking around that we didn't see. The street signs have Chinese on top of them! And red light posts!

We went to the Goodwill Boutique, which is highly overpriced, but rather good quality (almost new things, but at almost new prices, too). I got a jacket, seeing as it was rather cold, which I will get to shortly.
We went to another vintage-store. Clothing, though, called Red Light Clothing Exchange. The outside seemed like it would be awesome. The inside was, well, depressing. I'm not sure how much bad 80's floral print I saw in there, but it was more than one person should see in one go, that's for sure. There wasn't really anything that was life-changing, even though their Google Reviews are awesome. I'm not after 80's. 70's is even pushing it sometimes. But it was just a let down. Honestly, I got tired of looking - that much floral!

We had to wander a bit before getting into Red Light Clothing Exchange, because it didn't open until noon,  and we were done with Portland Flea by 10:30, so we ended up in the Goodwill, in a guitar store, the Fred Meyer, and just wandering around the streets.

I'm not sure why I decided that a shadow picture would be good, but I'm glad I tried it, I'm rather fond of it. There aren't many pictures of the both of us, and this doesn't exactly count, it's close!

Speaking of new jackets - this be it.

And, once  we got home, I set up office in the bedroom and took a few more pictures, just for good measure.

I decided this is just going to be my go-to hair-do for the moment. Three bobby pins and a crazy amount of hairspray for how much hair is involved, but it's something better than just a side-part.

Apparently, this is a bad colour to photograph. It's almost an army-green, really, but looks very grey here. But it's not grey. It's green. And very soft. Like a good sweatshirt, but a jacket instead! There are a jillion pockets, and there's a hood that zips on and off. Was very overpriced, seeing as it was from the Goodwill (Boutique or not, ridiculous prices!) but a good sturdy jacket.

Overall, not a terrible excursion, but not at all what was expected. Sometimes that's how it goes. Right, Internets?

xoxo, Jess (who is still looking for some good shoes - so many stores, so few shoes in her size)

Thrifting Goodness

Dear internets, I am crocheting. Yes, you heard me. I've had a few days off, and that's fair, I suppose, and am back at it. The dishes are in the dishwasher, swishing away, and the laundry is getting dry (very slowly, shall we say) in the dryer. The DIY Network is on the television, and I'm parked on the couch crocheting.

I'm working on a blanket for a coworker. She's having a rough time of things, and she's supposed to be going to a different location soon - they've told her she's an in for management. That was in June. It's almost January, now, and she's still here. It's stressful for her, and there's lots of other aspects of life right now that aren't going too well. So, I asked her if I could make her a blanket. She agreed, and asked for either colours for The Blazers (basketball) or The Giants (football). Since I'd rather look at red and black than white and blue, Blazers it is.

It's a granny stripe, but different. There's a regular 4-round granny in the corner, and then you go in the stripey way around two of the sides of the square. Thank you Lion Brand patterns, because this is super simple, yet won't grow exponentially like a regular granny square will. Also, pattern link here.

However, internets, Friday was rather productive. There was no work for the day, so I was able to go to a lovely place everyone should try if they have not done so - Goodwill.
It's a good store. If you don't mind digging a bit. There are some good things to be had amongst all the weirdly coloured shirts and odd-ball dinnerware.

I was actually successful, for once. Most of the time I'm only slightly successful, cannot find what I want, but something intriguing at least. I found a few things I was after, however did not find a good skirt nor pair of pants. Well, I take that back. I didn't find good capris. I found a pair of pants, and bought said pair of pants, to get home and find out I'm exactly 5 pounds too fat for them! They button and zip up, but not all too flatteringly!

The shirts I bought, though? Delightful. None of them vintage, but they have a certain happy-go-lucky-yet-adult look to them, which is one of the things that draws me to the vintage style anyway.

I also found a waist-length sweater/cardigan, that has a very low v-neck and buttons and tiny little square pockets on the front, but it's a dark grey colour, which made it very hard to photograph. I tried, but there was no telling to any detail, just a blob of grey on my frame. So, that was also had, but not pictured here.

I also got some sewing patterns. Because I'm going to learn to sew, don't you know. And no, internets, no matter how much I pretend, I do *not* know how to sew. I can feed fabric through a machine, and there will be a seam, and there might even be two pieces of fabric held together, but I cannot sew. I am going to learn. Taxes will be processed, and whatever (if anything) I get in return, will go for a sewing machine. Well, hopefully not all of the return, but you understand internets, don't you?

There's the retro patterns on the right, that I desperately need, and then the ones on the right, flowy long dresses and some shorter and very bright and airy. If I end up sewing well enough, and can find a good fabric, I may end up making my own wedding dress!

But don't tell D, alright internets? He cannot know yet. Not until I get the machine. It'll be our secret.

I'm off to work on the blanket, dear internets, and until we meet again, I'll keep you in mind.

xoxo, Jess (who cannot believe she thought the thought of making her own wedding dress, squee!)

New Additions!

Ohhhh, Internets, I'm so excited!!! The vintage dress I purchased on Etsy finally arrived! It took farrrr too long (I purchased on the 13th, and the listing said would only take 1 - 3 days to get out...postage was dated the 21st!) but I'm so glad it's finally here! I had to ask the seller what the sizing was, because they listed nothing of the sort in the posting and, to my luck, it was my size! Well, as close to my size as any dress can get!

 

The picture makes it a bit hard to tell, bathroom light and all (and please excuse the toothbrushes and whatnot!), but it's more orange-y than it looks. It's a lovely paisely print, and I'm in love with it. The bust is a bit loose, because I lack in that area, but from the waist down, it has a good fit. 

There is some pleats right under the waist-line, which is nice, because I have a bit of a tummy, which is why I do not wear dresses. But with the pleating, it's almost like it's not a big deal! Well, as big of a deal. There is no bulging, let's put it that way!

Oh internets, I am so very happy! I have never liked wearing dresses, but got an itching for a vintage one, so browsed Etsy (and eBay - which was terrible) and found this lovely number. D said to just get it, I wanted it, so get it. In my cart it went, and bam, now it's here!
I'm not sure what I'll wear it for, and at this point I don't even care! I love it with far too much of my soul right now!

A few weeks ago I picked up another dress at Goodwill for a few dollars, it has a nice vintage feel to it, but I'm sorry to say it is not very old at all.

It doesn't have a waist-banding-area like the orange/brown dress does, but it has a nice collar, and a button down top. The pattern is very geometric and the colours have that old vibe to them. 

Oh internets, now only to find the rest of a vintage wardrobe, and I will be higher than the moon! No really, I would be! I want all of it! I have mighty plans for these clothes, you see, I would love to be able to wear these types of things every day.
There is a lady upon you, internets, her name is Twila Jean and I love her style. I also want her bright red hair. I've actually wanted to dye mine that colour for a few years now, just haven't had the chance (it's not a natural hair colour, therefore not work-appropriate; bah humbug!).

I would like to be able to dress like that at least once in a while, for now, anyway, and work my way up!
And thank goodness internets, that you are here to help me! Lovely situation we have, isn't it! 

And yes, internets, that picture of the dress hanging on the door is on Instagram. You don't have to rub it in! I'm not a good picture take-r! Not yet, anyway. Need to fine tune a things, but until then, this will have to do. 

xoxo, Jessica (who is trying to think of a reason to wear a pretty dress)