Sommer Designs

Thrift Thursday, and a little babble.

It feels good to play hooky. Serious hooky. Like taking off for the Antique Mall just-because-I-feel-like-it good. That trip had been aching in my brain for weeks. There is a newish vendor there that has some cheap costume vintage jewelry, and you know me. It's a big-time weakness of mine.

I found these three rhinestone pieces for $5 each. The bracelet is pink rhinestones and the necklaces are perfectly clear. I like layering these things and wearing them all together. It lets me channel my inner Junk Gypsy.

This is my whole little primp area; it's a little alcove as you enter our master bath. For some reason, the sink is in this area, as well as my closet and a door to the shower/toilet. Most of my vintage jewelry is hanging here, or in the drawers. I found that dresser at a garage sale about 18 years ago for $45 - it's got a thick coat of ivory paint and is birdseye maple.

When I bought it, I was dying to strip it to see the wood, but the finish is just amazing and I'm glad I've held out all these years. I replaced the knobs with clear glass. The mirror was a Long Beach Flea Market find about 5 years ago ($30!) and is killer-sweet. It's got all those amazing silver flecks throughout, and is one of my favorite finds.

We have grand plans of remodeling this area to make it a dedicated bathroom, but that hasn't happened and I don't know when it will. Currently, we are saving to put gas in our vehicles every week.

Is gas outrageous in your area? It is here. Yesterday I filled up my Honda Odyssey for $73 at $4.17 a gallon. Last week the same station (Arco, the cheap place) was $4.01. It went up 16 cents in a week! The station down the block was $4.45. That's crazy. I told Scott I am seriously not leaving the house (now I have an even better reason), and when I do, I will consolidate trips as much as possible. He drives a Toyota 4Runner, and I've been trying to get him to trade it in for a Prius for about a year. I might be getting somewhere, because he has to drive down to San Diego about twice a month for work. It's just not economical.

Oh, and don't forget, we have two boys that just turned 16. They haven't gotten their drivers' licenses yet partially for this reason, and partially because I just found out that car insurance for ONE of them will cost almost $3,000 a year! That's more than double what we pay for just us. But let's be reasonable, how long can you prevent your child from growing up and taking the next step in life? The economy is out of control.

I'm going to try not to think about it right now. I have to drive down the hill later for a laser hair removal treatment (third in a series of I don't know how many, but not much more, and I'll never have to wax my upper lip again - TMI? Maybe. Deal with it.) and I'm combining it with a trip to my favorite yarn store. I have a gift certificate to spend. That's the best way to stimulate the economy, yes?

Thrift Thursday...et.al.

This is a really busy week for me. Coming off two events, I have another this Sunday and then we are leaving on Wednesday for Thanksgiving in Mammoth Lakes (my favorite place). We return on Sunday and I have another event on Tuesday, and then two more after. I'm frantically trying to replenish stock because I won't really have time in between the next 2 shows. This is when all that procrastination from the summer bites me in the ass. I'm such a dip.

I got out another order to Nest yesterday, so if you've been looking at those aprons, they will be restocked soon! I love working with Nest, it's such a great site and such a great cause.

I also have to tell you, if you've been thinking about Lavender Liners for holiday gifts, don't put off your purchase! I sold out last year, and even though I made tons more for this season, they are moving fast! This makes me oh-so-very-happy, but just a heads' up...k? When they are gone, they're gone. I'm out of fabric, and not expecting any until after the holidays! That's my PSA for the day.

AND, Thrift Thursday, before I forget! I found another vintage crochet apron! In a box of crochet trims/pieces/doily's - most of which were in terrible condition, except for this little beauty, which was in perfect condition!

Yesterday was Candy's birthday! She turned 8! We were all so happy for her and tried to make her day extra, extra special - but she seemed a little down.

"Woe is me. I'm so depressed."

"Is this all there is? Nap. Nap. Stretch. Play ball. Nap."

"Deal with knucklehead over there"

"Case in point. Hey, grow up Gracie, will you? Knucklehead."

"What was that? My birthday? Today?"

"You got me a cake? A doggie cake?"

"Well alright then. You can stay."

Thrift Thursday - Vintage Crochet Apron

How about a happy post?

I've been hankering for a crochet apron ever since I saw this beautiful tunic apron. At first, I thought I would just make it, but then I realized I have no crochet skills for this project. Then I found another crochet pattern, and another, and each time I thought, maybe, maybe, maybe!

And while reading The Apron Book by EllynAnne Geisel, I realized that I really wanted a vintage crochet apron, made a long time ago, by someone else, who sat down and poured hours of love into their handiwork.

While perusing eBay a few weeks ago, I came across one - and while not exactly thrifted, it fits the bill.

I couldn't believe nobody else came and snatched it away from me in the final moments. It was in perfect condition, albeit a little discolored and had a few brownish/rust stains on the front. It was the discolorations that gave me the perfect excuse to try some Retro Clean, which I had heard about on Flickr. Retro Clean is available on its' own website, as well as eBay - check it out, it really works!

Just 2 tablespoons in some warm water (I threw in some other laces and those vintage doily's from last week) and soak for up to two days. I put the bin outside in the sun, but I think you can also soak indoors.

It came out pristine white, and the colors so bright! Did you notice those little crochet flowers along the waistband? Love those.

Love my vintage crochet apron.

Love Retro Clean.

Thrift Thursday

Last Friday, in San Diego county-ish, I hit the literal thrift bonanza. I dropped Scott off at work in Rancho Bernardo, and made my way (map in hand) to thrifts in Rancho Bernardo, Poway and back up to Escondido. Poway was especially lucrative, as I found an entire strip mall devoted to thrifts - about 6 of them!

I ended up with two skirts (one demin Halogen - $3.50 from Salvation Army & one black watch plaid Lands' End from a smaller thrift for $3.00); a beaded jacket ($8.50 - Salvation Army - it's not really my style, but I couldn't leave it there at that price! I'll figure something out!);

several half slips ranging in price from 99 cents to $2.99; some vintage buttons & lace (50 cents each); a 3-strand faux pearl choker ($5); and two groups of crochet lace doily's that were $1 and $1.25.

All in all, I spent a grand total of $31.00. That was a good day. A very good day!

I plan to embellish the denim skirt with the doily's and have already shortened the black watch plaid.

I only wish every Thrift day could yield such a bounty! More Thrift Thursday here!

Thrift Thursday...*sigh*...more vintage jewelry

How fun is this? It's all one necklace of faux pearl & gold tone chain - joined together at the ends. I. Love. It. $12 at Second Time Around (consignment shop) in Torrance. I also bought another [big fat] faux necklace, but we'll hold off on that until the outfit is right.

Oh, and the outfit? How about a Wardrobe Remix?

Stripey top: Gap
Babydoll sweater: Target
Jeans: Jagg
Shoes: Dansko - my old, old, old ones!
Ring: can't see, but it's an amazing Murano big glass band that my mom brought back from Italy last summer. I'm always afraid I'll smash it.
Earrings: favorite reworked vintage from Ornamental Things

Oh, what the heck...here's an earring detail:

You can't see them very well because they were swinging as I tried to beat the camera. But I love Natalie's reworked vintage jewelry.

The babydoll sweater up there I actually bought to rework. I was planning to add some embroidery and maybe lace to the sleeves. I'm in the middle of another rework right now that I hope to share next week. Fun stuff, that reworking.

More Thrift Thursday here!

Thrift Thursday...tiny oil paintings

File under: this I love.

I picked this up last Sunday at the Old Torrance Antique Street Faire for $5. Five dollars. I have a thing for floral oil paintings, but the tiny ones get me every time. It looks grand, but it's only 5 x 7.

It's unframed (another aspect I love) and the edges are perfectly frayed.

I can only imagine the time that V. Cabisada spent hunched over this little canvas, with a teeny, tiny brush in hand, painstakenly painting this lovely canvas...only to have it eventually end up on a table at a flea market to be sold for five dollars.

I would have paid much more for it...sweet little thing.

More Thrift Thursday here!

Thrift Thursday...

Vintage Jewelry...I love.

I stopped by the Antique Mall last week and ran through really, really quickly. I wasn't supposed to be there - I was supposed to be on my way back from Orange County and I was supposed to drive straight home.

My car wasn't supposed to unexpectedly veer to the right and follow the offramp...

And I, certainly, was not supposed to get out of my car once it came to a stop. And turned off. By itself. I'm sure.

Vintage necklace by Marvella with three strands of pink, ruby red & clear beads with a stunning cluster clasp ($20 - I know I overpaid. But it's stunning. And I'm wearing it today with jeans, a white blouse & black sweater. I love that.) Vintage marcasite ring (shown above in group photo - $5.) & vintage crystal cluster clip on earrings ($5).

Hit. Score. Game over.

More Thrift Thursday here!

Thrift Thursday...

Long time, no Thrift Thursday. I've been thrifting...just not very successfully.

Last weekend we happened upon an Estate Sale. That counts, right? I try to never pass up Estate Sales...they can be a bonanza of fun. I always gravitate toward the silver...timeless and classic, that's my style. So I was so happy to find this three-piece sugar & creamer set.

Very deco, and quite heavy. I love the detail...

The tiny tongs are marked 'sterling', the bottom of the sugar and creamer are not, but this is the mark stamped on the bottom

They don't look or feel like they are plated, and if they are indeed sterling, then I think I did pretty darn good for $20. I haven't had time to look up the mark - is it familiar to anyone? If you recognize it, please let me know!

More Thrift Thursday here! Join the fun!

Thrift Thursday!

Saturday, after the Craft Swap, Shari took me to a local vintage clothing store called Flashbacks in Orange. Now, this was a funky spot! Jam packed with a lot of vintage goodies, but unfortunately, many of them were stained or ripped (and still pricey at that). But I did manage to find a fantastic vintage beaded cardigan, in perfect condition, for $32.00. Behold.

I. Love. It. Perfectly intricate beading, all intact, fully lined and a blend of mohair and cashmere, not one hole. A good score in my book.

Of course, neither of us could stop with the pictures while shopping. How can you when there are opportunities like this:

I still think you should have bought them Shari. I had to try on a pair too:

Clearly, they are not made for walking. Much. I think I'll stick to my Crocs. The most hilarious part was the owner, who is a Debra Harry look-alike, and is usually dancing behind the counter to the 80's rock they have blasting. She apparently could not figure out why we were laughing and taking pictures.

And, lots of tulle skirts. I wanted one, but alas, they were dinky tiny.

More Thrift Thursday here...I hope!

Thrift Thursday!

It's been eons since I've had a Thrift Thursday post! How bad is that? Well, I have to admit, thrifting has been on the back burner lately, which is too bad because it's just too much fun. I was actually planning to post this last week, and forgot!

So, a couple of weeks ago, after I dropped off Drew at school, I noticed a sign for a local Estate Sale and had to stop by. I waited in line (don't you just hate that?!) and was pretty disappointed in the slim pickings and high prices.

But as I was making a quick eyeball scoop of the last room, I spotted a funky, smaller chandelier (squeel! and checking to see why nobody else noticed it) in a corner. It has some weird prongs sticking out around the top, and I later found out it was for a ghastly lampshade (oh, yes!), that actually sat on top. Why? No idea. You'd never see the chandy with that hideous contraption.

Price? Be still - $25.00. I figure a good coat of ivory paint and some extra crystals is all it needs. I have no idea where it will evenutally reside, but for now, it's hanging in my workshop.

More Thrift Thursday here!