A Little Bit of Enid

Sooooo guess what! Ian and I were thrifting the other day at a local flea market and I came across this little beauty! An Enid Collins Original! Imagine the look on my face when I saw the trademark "ec" in the corner and the price tag only said $20.00!!! After snatching it up and doing some research, I've concluded that it is indeed an original creation of Enid Collins that she made and sold prior to the sale of her company.

After Enid sold her business, she still oversaw the design process and production but the bags were not created by her by hand. The lower case "ec" is the telltale sign of a coveted original!

She makes such cute and fun designs! I was initially drawn to look at the purse because of it's cat motif (It's the crazy cat lady in me), and I'm excited that this particular one is the first that I add to my personal collection!

This will definitely go down in history as one of my favorite thrift finds of all time!

<3
E

Vintage Matchbook Re-Style

A few years ago, I was at a flea market that had little grab bags of vintage matchbooks and I couldn't pass them up. They were all so colorful and graphic that they just seemed perfect for some sort of project. I never knew what my plan for them was, but I figured it would come to me someday. Well recently, I came across the matchbooks again and the sight of them sparked an idea! I knew I had to frame them somehow and display them on the wall of our new apartment.

I got a square display frame at Hobby Lobby for 50% off and used a piece of subtle print scrapbook paper for the backing. Then it was just a matter of measuring out distances between each matchbook to make it symmetrical. (That took some time and I hate math. lol)

The project came together nicely and it's just waiting for me to decide where to hang it! Possibly in the hallway or far wall of the kitchen. Who knows. :) Ian LOVED the outcome too and was impressed at the impact those little pieces of cardboard made!

This project was SO easy to do, relatively inexpensive, and a great way to display vintage art and little pieces of history in your home. You could do this with literally anything you found at a flea market or antique mall and have a real conversation piece in your home!

<3
E

The Ones that Got Away

Hello Friends! Earlier today I posted about my recent thrift finds and I got an urge to do a post on "The Ones that Got Away." Read: the thrift finds that I found, loved, but didn't buy. I got my inspiration for this post from one that Elycia did awhile ago. I thought it was such a great idea because if you're a thrifter you know: if you take a picture of it, you partially own it. ;)

What: Vintage baby doll cradle
Where: Muncie, IN Goodwill
Why I loved it: I thought it would be PRECIOUS for my little girl someday & the colors were fantastic! *blush pink* Also, the Noah's Ark theme was irresistible
Why I didn't buy it: I didn't have any room to store it
Do I wish I bought it: Kind of! I'm sure another will come along, but truly loved this piece.

What: Vintage fruit cake tin
Where: Muncie, IN Goodwill
Why I loved it: My Nana had one JUST like it when I was a little girl that she kept the crayons in at her house. Such fond memories!
Why I didn't buy it: I really don't know. At the time I think I thought just a picture of it would be enough.
Do I wish I bought it: Absolutely! It was only $1!!! What is WRONG with me?

What: Old marquee letters in different typefaces and sizes
Where: New Flea Market in Muncie, IN (I forget the name!! Tori-- do you remember!?)
Why I loved it: Very graphic and fun!
Why I didn't buy it: They didn't have any letters I wanted & they were EXPENSIVE!
Do I wish I bought it: Naw. I don't need them, but the picture is fun to have!

What: Vintage chenille letter from varsity jacket
Where: The Peacock's Perch in Rossville, IN
Why I loved it: SO cool! Had a very "Grease vibe" to it!
Why I didn't buy it: Had no real use for it and didn't have any jackets or pillows to put it on.
Do I wish I bought it: No, but maybe someday I'll come across an "E" or "D" and snag it!

What: gorgeous floral crochet afghan
Where: CDC Thrift Monticello, IN
Why I loved it: The jewel tones are gorgeous & I thought it would look nice in my future apartment.
Why I didn't buy it: It kind of smelled. I knew that particular thrift store didn't wash items beforehand, and I wasn't sure I could get the smell out of it. Yarn items tend to carry an "ick factor" for me when thrifting.
Do I wish I bought it: Sort of! I think the colors in the blanket would fit nicely in our apartment and someday it would have made a great throw for our guest room!

What: Colorful sunshine embroidery
Where: Suncoast Humane Society Thrift Venice, FL
Why I loved it: It really popped! It just SCREAMED Elaine and would be great in a nursery!
Why I didn't buy it: We didn't have a way to transport it in the car safely all the way back to Indiana. Plus it was REALLY stuck in the frame it was in & boy was it dirty.
Do I wish I bought it: I don't think so. Amazing crewel embroideries are hard to find around here, but I know that another will come along someday!

What: Vintage condiment set.
Where: Suncoast Humane Society Thrift Store Venice, FL
Why I loved it: ummmmm HELLO! How cute would these have been for a cookout!?
Why I didn't buy it: I HAVE NO IDEA!!!!!
Do I wish I bought it: YES A MILLION TIMES OVER! I'm kicking myself! They were .50 per bottle! Ian & I went back the next day to grab them because I couldn't stop thinking about them and they were gone. :( You live & learn!

What: Compass folding table
Where: Englewood, FL Goodwill
Why I loved it: Just so unique!
Why I didn't buy it: It was kind of beat up around the edges and I wasn't sure where we would really PUT it. Plus we were running low on money that day.
Do I wish I bought it: Yes because it was so cheap-- only $7.00! But sometimes you weigh your options and have to let some go. It would have been hard to bring back to Indiana. The photo makes me feel better about it though!

 So those are my "Ones that Got Away!" Thank you SO much Elycia for giving the awesome idea to share our thrifting "almosts!" It was a lot of fun to find these images and compile them into one big post. You should try it too!
<3
E

Thrift Scores from Apartment D

The Thrift Gods have been the perfect amount of kind lately: helping me procure lots of incredible finds, but not SO much that I can't afford it. HA! Thought I'd share some of my favorite finds as of late:

Fashion related: a soft V neck tee in a raspberry color, vintage grey cross-body purse with a bow, vintage muslin coin purse, vintage dyed pastel scarf, crochet edge hankies in blueberry & mint colors, brand new Isaac Mizrahi snakeskin boat shoes *swoon*, & minty vintage maxi skirt. Those buttons are wooden! SO cute!

Home related: 2 nesting Pyrex bowls, the Angel of Affection WILLOW TREE ANGEL I HAVE WANTED FOREVER!, vintage Tarpon Springs postcard from the 60s, Ghost World comic, vintage Black Beauty book, little clock, and a tiny wooden jewelry box for me to paint!

This month Ian & I are trying a little money saving adventure, so I'm not going to be able to do much thrifting if ANY. (We're calling the adventure MAY i spend money? No you MAY not! because it's the month of May. haha We think we're hilarious by the way.) But I'm looking forward to shopping my stash and repurposing things I already have! Sometimes that's the best and most satisfying way to shop! Link me to YOUR recent finds! Love to all! <3 E

Table with a side of Graphic

As you know, Ian and I have been in the process of re-doing our back patio. Part of this process that I desperately have needing to complete is the refurnishing of a little vintage table I've had since Fall 2011. My mother-in-law Renée grabbed me this table at the Christian Center where she works last fall. They were going to throw it away because it was falling apart, so she got it for free. She thought it had "potential" and I agreed! I've finally got around to giving it a proper facelift.

It's a Formica top and the bottom is compressed plywood that's "shedding" like crazy, but it's an outside table so who cares, right? haha. The top is gorgeous though and the photos don't do it justice! It has little gold flecks in it. The hairpin legs were all rusty and nasty too so they needed work. I ended up wiping the legs down, then painstakingly masking off the chevron detailing with painter's tape on the top. Then the aqua spray paint (which I already had). I sprayed the hairpin legs black, and went to glue on the trim. I eventually realized the black plastic glitter trim I got was too thin to cover the whole edge, so I painted the edge black, then hot-glued the trim near the bottom to cover up the ragged bottom edge. To end, I sealed the tabletop with a high gloss sealer I got 40% off at Hobby Lobby. This whole project cost me about $6 or $7. I think it turned out SO cute!

It's not a HUGE transformation, but it makes all the difference sitting on our patio and I love a good vintage DIY project anyway. I think Spring is just the time to give everything a fresh coat of paint. :) <3 E

Thrill of the Thrift

Been thrifting lately and I've had some awesome finds!

Vintage tea towel in PERFECT condition! Look how pretty the colors are! Plus those lovely vintage Breyer horses that I love so much. (A new collection that's going to be the death of me I'm sure.) I also snagged a pretty old pincushion, some old vintage children's books, and a whole collection of swizzle sticks! They're from all different places around the world and all vintage! <3

I've got all sorts of things on my thrift list that I look for every time I go thrifting. I love the thrill of the hunt! My recent obsession has been dollhouses and antique ring boxes! What are things that you seek when you go to thrift stores?

<3
E

oh you know...

Been CRAZY around here this week! The Christian Center acquired an estate of this community woman that died and in it was HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of vintage pieces! She was going to open a store, but died before she was able to accomplish it. That left me to the task of sorting through this massive amount of clothes to pick and choose pretties for the Red Door Vintage fall clothing line.

So with the help of Tori, I've spent the last 3 days submerging myself in vintage fashion! We have looked at probably close to 400 pieces one by one and hand picked the best ones to showcase in the fall line. (And we're only halfway done sorting!) Here are some listings that have been posted already for shoppers:

The Neon Garden Crochet Shawl



The Mint to Be Maxi Vest



The Bicycle Dream Cropped Sweater



This season is quickly becoming so inspiring! I'm ready to accomplish tasks that have been pushed to the bottom of the pile. I'm ready to develop the vintage shop for the Christian Center and above all, I'm just ready to be creatively free. <3 Please take some time to check out Red Door Vintage and help a great cause!
<3
E

P.s. All the modeling was done by the lovely Victoria Thomas! Isn't she a treasure? :)

Picnic Kit for the Newlyweds

As you know, I've been posting about Allie's Wedding a lot lately (Sorry about that, but it was BEAUTIFUL!). And as you know, we're really good friends but live in different states. Therefore, I knew when I got the invitation to her bridal shower, that I wouldn't be able to make it. BUT! I still gave her the shower gift I made for her at her rehearsal. I worked really hard on this gift and I was super proud of it! I scoured thrift stores for a nice vintage picnic basket, and when I found one, my plan went into action.

One of my FAVORITE gifts I got as a wedding gift was a picnic kit from my mom and dad: vintage picnic basket, plastic plates, and my mom made me a beautiful quilt for a picnic blanket. :) I decided to do the same sort of thing for these pretty people.



I adhered some cute thick ribbon around the rim of the basket and then some coordinating tule underneath. Then I painted the top of the picnic basket by hand with their last name and flowers that match the ribbon. To seal the paint, I sprayed the top with an art sealing spray from a craft store. I then filled it with pretty floral dishes, a picnic cloth, and some flowers.


I think she really liked it! She seemed surprised and I hope they get some use out of it this fall! Maybe they'll go for a picnic at the Kingwood Center! I just love DIY gifts. :)
<3
E

V is for Vintage

Do you know how long I’ve been meaning to do this post!? For SO long! A month maybe? It’s been one of those topics where you have to have time to get good lighting for pictures in the afternoon and so on. So here we are with some pretty things I’ve found at thrift stores recently. (ie: semi recently. HA!)


*handmade daisy afghan
*pretty vintage waist aprons
*Victorian mirror
*Buddha figure that I spray painted aqua
*swirled melamine bowls
*Give us this day plaque <3
*beautiful vintage globe. It has the signs of the zodiac on the stand!
*a slew of vintage girl scout patches!

I should also do a post soon on some of the vintage pieces we got as wedding gifts! They are truly gorgeous!
<3
E

High-Low Fashion

I read this article on College Fashion about mixing contrasting pieces of fashion together in one outfit. I thought it was so interesting and very similar to what I do with my own wardrobe every day!

In light of the grand opening of Red Door Vintage for The Christian Center, I thought I would talk a little about how to pair amazing vintage pieces with the clothes that already exist in your wardrobe!

1. Pair vintage statement pieces with modern basics. Grab some essentials like plain camisoles, leggings, and cardis in neutral colors and you're in business! A pretty vintage floral dress paired with some heather gray tights and a colored cardi is a great way to mix clothing genres.

Golden Afternoon Silk Dress

2. Cinch in ill-fitting waistlines with belts over top. I'm sure everyone has been in that thrift store and found the perfect vintage specimen that was just a SMIDGE ill-fitting. Either the waistline was too big or a little too tight with a judgmental pinch in the fabric. A belt can solve both of these problems cosmetically. As long as the garment fits around you, you can cover up the middle seam or cinch in that waist with a belt. I prefer the wide, stretchy belt with pretty buckles that you can wrap around and go!

Mr. Maverick Air Force Shirt

3. Try some shoes with character! If you have a simple vintage dress or shirt, some statement shoes will make a world of difference. Shoes can really give an outfit SO much character without looking like you're trying too hard. This trick works both ways as well! You can pair some great vintage shoes with an otherwise modern wardrobe.

Meeting Mr. Darcy Gauze Dress

4. Accessories are everything! Sometimes you can wear a garment with the risk of looking completely out dated and jaded. As troublesome as this may be, I know one quick fix: accessories. Wearing the right accompanying pieces can make or break and outfit. I find that a sure fire way to modernize ANY pretty vintage piece is nerd glasses. Call me crazy, but I'm in love. They're my trademark. :)

Aloha Hawaiian Maxi Dress

5. Weird is the new Normal. In this day and age, the more interesting and unique the piece, the more in style it might be. Consider fashion icons known for their characteristic ridiculousness like Betsey Johnson, Lady Gaga, and Elton John! A hat with a lot of character could be your new personal trademark.

Threads of Gold Veiled Hat

Well I hope that was a fun look at ways to successfully pair vintage with modern in such a way that you can convey pizazz and flair while still looking your utmost cute. In my opinion, there's hope for every single piece of clothing paired with the right companions. :) It's true. Happy hunting and be sure to check out the shop for some cute and unique pieces you can work into your own closet!

<3
E

Bon Appetit!

Everyone has those few AMAZING thrifted finds that they're SO proud of. It's like finding a rare gem amidst a pile of gravel. Like finding a 4-leaf clover. Like finding the limited edition Carmen SanDiego decoder ring in the cereal box before your brother does. This weekend, Ian found something for me at a garage sale that I've been seeking for almost a year: Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking!


It is an ancient 10th printing and it was only 25¢! BOY what a find! It still had crumbling remains of the dust jacket too, with a picture of the 3 authors cooking on the back: Julia Child, Louisette Bertholle, and Simone Beck. But the real gem is the first recipe I looked for inside: her famous Boeuf Bourguignon.

Quoted from the cookbook:

"As is the case with most famous dishes, there are more ways than one to arrive at a good boeuf borguignon. Carefully done, and perfectly flavored, it is certainly one of the most delicious beef dishes concocted by man."

I have to say that my admiration of Julia Child grew first after seeing one of her original filmings in my sophomore science class, then more after seeing Julie & Julia. It was such a cozy wonderful hug of a movie (especially since the main character is a BLOGGER!! HA!).


I'm not sure if I'll ever be the one to cook gourmet creations out of this cookbook, but Ian is a wonderful chef and I can't wait to see what he does with it. haha

As Julia Child would say,
Bon Appetit!
<3
E

as promised

thrifted goodies and my skirt. We went to a few flea markets on Saturday which turned out to be busts, but we didn't forget to stop by our favorite local thrifts and goodwill. Here's the vintage dress I scored:


It's kind of really crappy fabric, but it was just so cute! It definitely calls for leggings though because it is SEE THROUGH, baby! haha I tried it on at the thrift store, walked out to show Tori, and she could see my pretty brocade underwear through it. hahaha

I also found a little fawn on my adventures Saturday (the one laying down in front:

My deer all love each other. :)

Soooo this actually isn't really a better photo of my skirt that I made, but it was my wardrobe remix photo for yesterday, so I thought I'd share.

It's a wrap-around with a GYNORMOUS tie that makes a GYNORMOUS bow that I love. :)

*side note: I think it's funny that the only fabrics I ever go for in fabric stores are the ones that are in the clearance section. I guess no one else likes the quirky vintage-looking pieces that I love? My mom always says: "Elaine-- there's a REASON those are in the sale section, honey." hahaha she thinks I'm crazy.

I'll be back later today with my fashion loves at the moment! Is everyone pumped about spring fashion!?
<3
E