It's Kismet...

You will recall the other day I told you the story of my bowling finds, well it seems that there has been more magic in my thrifting adventures this month... It's been a good month for good quality vintage items (thanks to the Halloween racks) but almost every piece I've bought has had one commonality.  PINK! Never have I found so much pink in all shades and styles in such a short time .  How does that saying go again? "I'm tickled-- pink? So here is a sneak peak of a few newly acquired dresses that will be coming to the shop soon.

Bye for now, and Happy Halloween!

meka leka hi meka hiney ho

Over the weekend we took a little drive up to Orono, land of all things cool and quaint.  We had some time, so we stopped in at a few of our favourite antique spots just to "look around".... we were pretty successful at just looking until I spotted this dreamy vending machine.  I was thrilled to find it, and at such a great price.  Clayton gifted it to me as an early Christmas present (he's a keeper).  It fits in so well with our industrial/kitsch/vintage aesthetic. I couldn't have asked for a better find!  Here are some other vending machines that I fancy:

For Candy
For Stamps
For Condoms (this would be fun in a bathroom)
For Peanuts!

SteeeeeeeeeRIKE!

About a month ago I had an afternoon thrift adventure...the kind where the stars are aligned just right and I end up leaving broke as a joke. I can't really complain since I came away with some pretty great things. It's taken me a while to share them with you all, but have no fear cause I'm about to show you some of the best bowling kitsch ever! I don't know what is about this vintage bowling gear that makes me so happy, but both of these pieces put a smile on my face....

The sweater, aka my Duder sweater, has quickly become my favourite cozy cold weather accessory. I am totally fine with how cheesy it is, and it makes me think of The Big Lebowski....

Now would you believe that on the vary same day that I found my Duder sweater, I found this gem!  If you can't tell from the picture the sweet lady bowler is cross stitched to the back of this sweatshirt.  How amazing is that?! 

I don't know if it was pure coincidence  that I happened to find so much bowling apparel in one day or if it was something more magical, but whatever it was reminded me of why I love thfirting so much, and how many wonderfully unique items there are out there to be had.  So here's to you striking it rich on your next visit to the thrift store (I couldn't resist the pun)

Displaying Collectibles With Shadow Boxes

One of the problems with collecting things is finding a suitable place for them.  One thing that I have learned is that collections always look their best when they are kept in a group.  But finding that perfect spot to showcase your finds isn't always easy. 

 Left: Mr. T Cereal Box. The shadow box protects from fading and deterioration. Right: a pair of Col. Sanders salt and pepper shakers.  Kitschy companions for Mr. T to hang with.  These are a fun addition to our kitchen and always encourage fun conversations!

My collection of vintage eye glasses. The clear shadow box lets you see all the detail on the glasses. They look so smart displayed all together...

Shadow boxes are definitely a quick and easy solution if your collections are currently without a place to perch. And let's face it... no one likes dusting.  Shadow boxes will protect your collectibles from being covered in 3mm of dust.  Shadow boxes are fairly inexpensive an can be found quite easily.  And don't worry if you want to display any 3D item, just add a little sticky back Velcro and your all set!  Give it a try you'll be sure to have your collection noticed!

DIY: Doily Cuff

I get so excited about each and every DIY I post up here, and am so glad I have found a place to share and try out some of my crafty ideas.  Today I'd like to show you how to make this simple cuff bracelet out of a doily.  You don't need a lot for this project and it is quite inexpensive. If you'd like to try  it out for yourself, here is what you'll need:

*A small doily

*A measuring tape

*One paper clip

*A paint brush

*A pop can or beer can

*Fabric stiffener or starch

*Some newspaper

You have to look for a small doily, small enough to wrap around most of your wrist, but not too big, as you don't want the ends to meet.  Measure your wrist first to get a better idea.  Your wrist measurements should then be used to determine the diameter of your "mold"  I used a tall boy can as this was roughly the size I was going to need for the cuff to fit on my wrist.  Whatever it is you are using for your mold, should not be fiber based. So no paper, fabric etc. You don't want your doily to stick to it after it dries.

Next, take your paper clip and hook it in either side of the doily to secure it around the can.  Since you want the doily to take the shape of the can it should be snug so it can dry in this position.

Finally, brush the fabric stiffener onto the doily.  Be sure to cover every inch of the doily.  I did about 4 coats and sped up the drying with a hair dryer.  You want your finished product to be really hard like plastic, so put as many coats on as you can to achieve this texture.  I let mine cure for about a day or two before I wore it.  When it's all done you should have something that looks like this...

Pretty simple right?! A great accessory for both casual and more dressy looks...

Collectibles

Hopefully you all haven't forgotten about me... October has been a busy month!  It seems that lately, I've been like a bear preparing for hibernation.  I've been cleaning the house and doing some purging, gathering warm sweaters in preparation for chilly days, and doing lots of visiting with friends and family.  I have also been trying to organize some new projects to keep me busy throughout the next few months.
I guess you can say I've been experiencing a bit of a creative burst but I've been too busy to share my ideas with you, which is exactly what my blog is here for... kind of a catch 22 i guess.  I have had a new DIY completed that I've been wanting to share, but haven't gotten around to photographing it.  I've been catching up on most things yesterday and still today since I was away on a work trip for three days, so I hope to have this posted for you this weekend. YAY! 
Today, I want to share with you this mega huge exciting score from an impromptu country drive we took .  Inevitably when we go for country drives we manage to find either a junk shop, a flea market, yard sale or antique store, and last weekend was no exception.  I came across a basket full of gutted watch faces, and snapped them up instantly.  My brain is swirling with ideas, and I've come up with a few exciting ones so far.  I hope to eventually sell my new creations made from these old watch parts over at Sunday's Child. 
Tomorrow we will be headed over to Sunday's Child for their grand opening. And also hopefully stopping by the newly renovated Isabella's for a warm beverage. I also hope to do some light carpentry work with Clayton (when I say we I mean he and I will likely just be in the way) and maybe go for a walk in the woods if the rain holds out. All in all looking forward to diving into some arts and crafts and enjoy a relaxing weekend at home. Hopefully you too are doing something you love this weekend!

Outfit & A Mixtape

It's been so long since I've done an outfit and a mixtape post.  I think this is one of my most favourite outfits I've ever put together.  I want all these pieces! This would be perfect for today's weather.  It's moody and romantic.... Perfect for a crisp fall day like today. I hope you enjoy the accompanying mix I put together.  Listen to it here

News...

Last week, I mentioned I would be teaching a little workshop over at Sunday's Child in Orono.  Well I have all the details for you now!  I am thrilled to be included in this great craft community, and privileged to be working Jude and Rachel's gorgeous space.  If you don't know where Sunday's Child is, check out their Facebook group and join to get in on all the exciting workshops and events coming up.
This is a great opportunity to unwind, craft, meet new people, and maybe learn a thing or two.  I have a few more workshops coming up in the next few months, so come try this one out and get a feel for it. These fascinator's are so darn cute, you'll definitely want one for yourself!
If you have any questions, or would like to sign up for the class, shoot me an email at thevintageramble@gmail.com.

Party...The Vintage Ramble Way

I started The Vintage Ramble a couple years ago solely as a travelling shop.  Since then I have branched out a bit, and today The Vintage Ramble is so much more than just a vintage boutique on wheels.  The blog and the Etsy shop have become a huge part of the brand, and I've started to focus more on emphasising the glory of vintage in all aspects of living. But a part of me really misses the parties!  So I'd like to talk about some of the advantages of having The Vintage Ramble in your home, and the fun we've had helping others host their very own vintage party.

The concept is not new.  Avon ladies have been doing it for years.... The idea of travelling sales works well with vintage too... We have helped host many parties in houses, apartments, even a coffee shop, and there is always so much fun to be had!  I bring the racks and the props to set up an easily accessible arrangement of clothing and accessories for you and your guests to browse through. 

The advantage of this is that you don't have to dig for the good stuff, because I've done the hard work for you!  These parties are ideal for the person who loves vintage but doesn't have the time to sort through the thrift store or visit a number of shops to find that perfect vintage dress you've looking for. Another perk to having a vintage party is that you can actually touch the garments and try them on.  This is one downfall to vintage shopping online.  As much as I love the option to buy great pieces from all corners of the world,  it's always nice to be able to experience the details in the clothes, and even though my Etsy shop is packed with great finds, I have so much more than what you see online. 

Parties are not limited to women only.  I also sell men's vintage and some children's.  So you can include all of your friends in the fun.  Typically, parties are a great way to hang out with friends and play dress up, drink wine, and have a few treats.  There is little work involved for the host and there are even incentives if you decide to host.  Some of our past hostesses have given their guests the option to pop in at their leisure making it more of an open house style gathering, others have reserved time for friends to gather together and shop all together. 

All in all Vintage Ramble Parties have been a great success for those who have chosen to host parties.  I love travelling around and meeting new people and seeing how some of the pieces I've picked up can be styled in different ways. Celebrating an interest in vintage fashion is so fulfilling when you find others who share the same feeling. So roundup your vintage loving friends, and celebrate together!

If you want more details on how to book a party see my book a party page, or read the about page for more info.  You can also see a sample of what I sell in my Etsy shop.   Book your holiday parties now!  TVR parties are a great way to buy gifts, or get suited for the upcoming holiday season!

Life Lately...

It's pretty hard not to be optimistic about life on a beautiful day like today.  I can hardly believe the warm sunny days we've been having lately in our parts.  We enjoyed our thanksgiving dinner in our back yard yesterday under a canopy of yellow leaves.  It was so nice to have the leaves fall on us as we at our turkey dinner. Wanting to enjoy every minute of this fall or shall I say summer like weather, we headed out to the woods for a long walk this morning and then stopped by a local farm for some pumpkins, squash and apples.
The bright colours on the trees, and the overall coziness, has take over both my wardrobe and my home.  I've been crafting up a storm and staying close to home most days.  I'm working on a short term list of goals that will hopefully lead to some bigger picture stuff.  Trying to find a new career path and dealing with other issues can seem a little overwhelming, but I'm working on approaching these challenges in more of a step by step manner.  That being said, I've finished my next DIY that I'll be sharing sometime this week, and have a crop of new items that I'll be listing in the shop.  I know I haven't been on the ball in the past couple of weeks, but I'm gaining momentum again and will back on track in no time!

Happy holiday Monday!

A New DIY (With A Twist)

I've been keeping this DIY under wraps, but can no longer contain my excitement.  Starting this month, I'll be hosting a DIY workshop at the newly opened Sunday's Child. 

The first workshop we will be making this lovely feather fascinator.  More details to come.  I hope to have the date and the cost of the workshop here to share with you soon.  So if you are in the area, come share a fun hour of crafting and chit chat and make some new friends!

When You Least Expect It

I should know by now, that the best things come when you least expect them... Meeting my then future husband, finding our most excellent home, or getting a raise at work. All of these milestones have come to me while pleasantly unaware they were about to happen. 

Now, I'm not saying that finding these shoes was as monumental, but finding the perfect pair of shoes wasn't exactly on my radar last Saturday, and I'm still enjoying the thrill of this catch. After all an unworn pair of vintage navy blue soft as butter leather 7B open toed, conical wooden heeled shoes with the perfect scalloped detail, don't appear everyday...

Boots Update #2

There is an upside to being sick and not being able to sleep.  More waking hours to get work done! So I decided to do a little shop update this morning...

 All the boots that I had listed earlier in the month are sold! So I've updated the shop with a few more pairs of boots for this great autumn season.  I'm glad everyone likes boots as much as I do.  If I could fit into each and everyone of these I would wear them all!