Vintage Roses │ Dying Roses Make Beautiful Roses

I thought I was done with posts for this vintage blog today, but I guess not.

I received these gorgeous roses from my husband for Valentine's Day a couple of weeks ago.

Even though they're fading now, they're still gorgeous; they're still emitting an energy and beauty that makes me gasp and stare as I take photographs in the afternoon light here on a dreary, damp day in California.

What's incredible about flowers, especially roses, is that they still retain their beauty even though their outsides - and insides - are visibly dying.

I'd like to take a lesson from my roses: to continue to thrive even if I don't think I look my best.

The truth is that "our best" is subjective.

We're hard on ourselves. We go through hard things. We do hard things. Life weathers us. But you know? We're still alive. That's huge. That's everything.

This means if that's the case, if we're still alive, then we're still beautiful and we can still do beautiful things no matter how we feel.

Both the fresh new rose and the dying faded rose are beautiful. They're beautiful in their own way.

And God uses all the roses.

God is never done with us. Nor is he ever far from us. What he made beautiful to start with he can make beautiful again... or just continue to keep beautiful.

Have a great evening.

Vintage Mugs │ The Art of Curating a Vintage Mug Collection

Do I need another vintage mug?

Nope.

But will I go out of my way, run people over (sort of), and snatch up a vintage mug if I see it idly - or not so idly - lying by in a thrift store?

You betchya.

I've talked about my vintage mug collection before. It's a real treasure to me, and the more I thrift, and the more I look for them, the more I realize how rare they're becoming to find.

I have friends who are now wanting these for their home use. And I'll gladly look for ones that fit their curated collection as well.

But they are getting harder to find. Not just because they break or chip being used in kitchens all over America, but because I know there are plenty of people who are just like me and love these mugs.

So, they're in demand.

I also sell a ton of them. Over the last nearly 14 years, I've sold over 350 mugs. I'd say that's quite a few ... a few that I didn't keep for myself! I'm still selling them and have about 20 listed right now in the shop.

So, when I say that I love them, I really do. I am selling what I love... which is the best rule to keep to when sourcing items for your vintage shop.

But, I do have my small collection to tend to, so when I saw this set of three vintage mugs today at my local thrift, I had to have them.

Will I keep them all?

Perhaps. But more than likely, I'll sell one or two of them as I use them and realize I don't need nearly as many as I think. (Maybe.)

For now, I just added them to my vintage mug collection and I think it looks quite nice. 

Today started out great but ended up thrice great.

Do you like vintage mugs? I've had so many varying opinions from folks on TikTok (sometimes I'll post a "mugtok" on my Pyrex TikTok account. Some people love these mugs, and some think they're ugly.

My little collection

I think they're beautiful because they're all so unique. 

And as always, when things are unique, when others see the value in a vintage item, when more people like something than they don't, they become harder to find... which makes me want them all the more.

Have a great rest of your day. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot!

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Perennial Vintage Pinterest Boards │ The Joy of Pinning Beautiful Things

Pinterest is an interesting social media platform.

Because more than being "social," Pinterest is a search engine.

Interested in roses? You'll find a billion photos on that.

Interested in vintage typewriters? You can find that there, too.

While Pinterest may just seem like a crazy way to save things we love, or like to look at, I've found the more I use it, the more it allows me to research the things I'm interested in.

It's not just a vision-board type of thing (pinning things we want for our future) - which it can be -  but more of a way to group together all the things that interest you.

I obviously love vintage so almost everything I pin is vintage.

From vintage clothing for women, vintage art, vintage labels... even vintage dogs!

If you haven't checked out my Pinterest boards, take a look. I've linked them right here. If you like what you see, follow me! It's all vintage (mostly), all the time.

While for some, Pinterest is a way to post what they "want," for me, it's a way to pin and repin all the beautiful things.

The things I find attractive, alluring, and tantalizing to my eyes. 

Have you been on Pinterest? What do you think of it? It's easy to get lost in there, but at the end of the day, being surrounded by beautiful things lifts me up. I almost gave up on the app (there’s an app for Pinterest, too) because I was getting tired of social media.

But as I said, it’s different: it’s a search engine not a social platform. It’s as personalized as you want it to be  

If you haven't checked Pinterest, I'd recommend looking at it. There's so much inspiration to be found.

Pin away, my vintage friends.

Thrifted Finds │ Fifth Week of February 2024 Thrifted Finds

This week's thrifting was a wool-filled event.

When spring (or at least the idea of spring first hits Sacramento,) I think folks start to go through their warm clothing and begin donating it. This is when I end up buying most of my winter things for sale in my shop. It works out quite well.

Buying off-season is the only way to stock my shop. Because by the time fall arrives this year, everyone is so intent on finding sweaters - and all things wool - for themselves, there is little for me to find.

So even though we're going into warmer months, I'm finding - and listing - warm winter things. And that is wonderful because I prefer warm items. So much of what I sell in my shop is for the fall through spring months.

I love wool; I especially love vintage wool, from vests to sweaters, skirts, and dresses.

I found three wool skirts, and a couple of wool vests this week.

One vest is the perennial favorite, LL Bean men's wool vest, and the other vest is an Irish-made wool vest.

If this Hanna Hats vest was my size, I'd be keeping it. The quality of this vest is insane. The colors are rich and variegated, and the quality of the wool is so special. 

I'll be listing the wool items this week.

Stay warm!

Vintage Books │ An Antique Mark Twain Adventures of Tom Sawyer Book

It's no secret I love words.

I'm a writer by trade, and love reading.

I also love vintage. All things vintage.

Several friends have given me these lovely signs about vintage and I've put them on my bookshelf. Partly because they fit right, and partly because it's a nice intermingling of two things I love.

That may be the most fun thing to do. Take two things you love and put them together for all to see. I love green and blue and wear them together often. It's my favorite combination. Much like the "Black Watch" tartan plaid. 

Anyway, this Mark Twain book I've owned for years. I'm pretty sure I thrifted it and if not, then maybe it was in an antique and used book store that I picked it up. It was printed in 1904.

Regardless, I love it. Mark Twain had the best sense of humor.

And I love this story, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, along with the picture on the inside near the front cover.

I'm meeting a dear friend for coffee. In fact, this friend is someone I met over a decade ago in a thrift shop.

We bonded over thrifting and vintage clothing and have been the closest of friends ever since.

Isn't that a great thing? Fortuitous.

Happy Wednesday, my vintage friends. Hope today is wonderful for you.

Vintage 70s Boy Scout Trousers │ Olive Green Perfection

My husband was a Boy Scout.

So when he sees me selling these vintage Boy Scout trousers in my online vintage clothing shop, he has to laugh.

And then ask, "Why would anyone want to wear these?"

I understand. It still amazes me people want the things I used to wear in the '80s and '90s.

But boy scout trousers have an edge ... there's a certain goodness to them that, to be honest, a lot of things in the '80s didn't have style.

Don't get me wrong, the '80s were wild. Wild and crazy in the 1980s bubble paint, neon colors, and zig-zag lines sort of way.

They're not for everyone. Heck, they're not even for me. That's the stuff I tend to shy away from selling. Plenty of other folks do, so no worries. If you're looking for a wild neon green sweatshirt, they're out there.

Olive green trousers, much in the same likeness to military Olive drab green, are a little more classic and conservative.

These pants are a tad more "normal." Perhaps you could call them semi-boring. I wouldn't call them that, but a pair of acid-washed jeans may beg to differ.

I just listed a great pair of Boy Scout Trousers, roughly a size 30. They measure 30x32.

I love the color. Olive green is my favorite color so when I see it when I'm out thrifting, if it's olive green and it's vintage, it's in my hands as soon as possible.

I sell these often and sell them fast.

My husband may shake his head, perhaps never wishing to own or wear these ever again. But, Eagle Scouts get to do that if they want.

They paid their dues.

So, if you want some olive green trousers, or know you'll need some, then do what the Boy Scouts tell you to do: Be Prepared.

They're a great color, very durable and utilitarian, and an all-around perfect pair of trousers to bash around in. For men or women.

Get them today!

Have a great rest of your week, my vintage-loving friends.

Harvesting the Oranges | February in Northern California

We have a giant orange tree in our backyard.

The tree is vintage. Probably close to 40 years old.

Some years, dependent on the rain we've received, the crop can be scant. Last year, we had something like 35 oranges. Which isn't a lot.

This year, we have something like 350 oranges. They are abundant and the harvest is plentiful! (But the workers are few... I am the only worker! 

Even though I have two strapping young boys, and a tall, strong husband, I'm the one doing the work.)

I think secretly they like it this way. And maybe secretly, I like it this way too. I'm one with the tree when I'm on my own. I talk to it, take its fruit, and prune branches as I go. 

We have a nice relationship. We really do.

Regardless, harvest is in winter, but spring comes extremely early here in the Sacramento Valley, so buds begin forming in mid-Februrary which means blossoms will arrive in March. Yikes.

So, during February, when the harvest is over-the-top ridiculous (like this year), I tell myself "Take off 10 oranges a day."

It doesn't seem like much, but over the month, almost all the oranges are gradually removed and the task isn't as daunting as saying to myself, "You need to get ALL the oranges off today."

This is so much easier. I'm able to distribute oranges to family members or friends who want them (I'm not eating fruit right now, but I did sample one last month... juicy and amazing), and the rest are put into our compost bin or green waste can.

It's a high of 64 degrees today, no rain, no wind, no snow... just another beautiful pre-spring winter day.

For those of you in the snow, orange you glad I'm showing you pictures of my oranges?

I'm sending warm wishes and toasty thoughts your way.

We tend to want what we can't have. Would you believe I wish we had snow? Sacramento doesn't even know what snow is.

Anyway, if you're harvesting fruit like me, happy harvesting!

Vintage '70s Turtleneck Sweater + Vintage Belt │ Vintage Outfit of the Day

I'm trying to post one of my vintage outfits every week.

They're usually super casual outfits and today is no exception.

I'm wearing a vintage '70s top, a vintage '70s belt, and modern Levi's straight-cut jeans.

The top is a '70s space-dyed, made-in-Italy turtleneck sweater that I was supposed to sell. It was deadstock and had the tags still on it! 

But after inspecting it, I noticed several "holes" just from the age of the fabric, and I didn't want to repair them (I'm not the best), so I kept it. I mended the holes, but they're far from perfect.

Regardless, it actually fits like a dream and the lady checking my things at Target today loved it and we got into a big old conversation about how great thrifting and vintage is. 

My people are everywhere.

I thrifted the belt and purchased the "Heather" buckle from eBay. I saw it years ago, and hello, had to have it. Who doesn't need a belt buckle with their name on it?

The jeans are several years old, but they are Levi's and have lots of stretch. At my age, comfort has become more mandatory with every passing year.

So that's my vintage OOTD (outfit of the day). I will post modern links to each item and if I can find a vintage comparable, as I always try to do, I'll link that as well.

Have a great week, my vintage friends.

-Heather

Top: Striped Turtleneck

Belt: Vintage Belt

Jeans: Levi's 517s Straight Cut (light wash)

(As an Amazon Associate, some links are incentivized.)

Thrifting Magazine │ Mini Review of the Latest Thrifting Magazine

My friend and fellow vintage lover, whom I met on Instagram years ago, saw this magazine the other day and she posted pictures about it on her account. She has great taste and a great fashion sense of vintage style. 

But she was a little unnerved.  

Why unnerved? Because she hadn't seen this type of magazine before and this is what she and I do - we thrift. And we sell our thrifted items in our Etsy shops. This felt like an invasion.

The magazine is beautiful, though. There are gorgeous, glossy pages, and it's full of information about all sorts of things vintage: where you can find them, how to look for them, what to collect, etc.

Basically, everything we already do.

She was concerned, as was I, that this was going to take away from what we do.

How will there be enough for us if the secret is out?

But after perusing the magazine, in all its glory, I've come to realize that it just doesn't matter. This appears to be a one-off magazine. There's not enough thrifting information to print a monthly magazine like this. Trust me, there isn't. So it's probably an annual magazine, at best.

Great. 

But, will others be bitten by the thrifting bug? Will there be enough for me? Is this the end of thrifting as I know it?

There's a scarcity mindset behind this and it's unwarranted. After thrifting for decades, and looking and finding what I want, I can tell you that there's plenty out there. Plenty for everyone.

We all have different tastes, and we all are looking for different things.

I know firsthand this truth. When COVID hit, tons of new resellers emerged in my territory. It was frightening. All of these new people, who didn't know a vintage t-shirt from their hand, were out there picking up all of my things!

But wait, was that really the case? 

Sure, more people were looking at what I was looking at, and some were taking what I wanted, but they weren't taking all of it. In fact, I upped my thrifting game and went more frequently. Problem solved.

I have plenty to find and plenty to choose from. And even in collecting Pyrex for myself, I find more than I need regularly. There's enough to go around.

Anyway, this magazine is beautiful, but also kind of curiously funny. Yes, thrifting is trendy, but thrifting has been in my life for decades. Thrifting isn't a new thing, though it's written about as if it was.

I'm happy that others are learning how to live more eco-friendly and buy sustainable clothing. But, that this magazine decided to jump on the bandwagon of thrifting - all to make a buck - is kind of hilarious.

Sustainable fashion is something I've been doing for years. Many folks have been doing this for years. And I would highly recommend it. Why buy new when you can buy used? You're saving money, reusing and repurposing items, and being an active sustainable- living participant.

I'm a minimalist as well,  and thrifting it's an integral part of my minimalist wardrobe. (I talk more about that on my minimal living blog).

All that to say, if you see the magazine out and about, pick one up. It's $14, but the information is relevant and fun, and the pictures are beautiful, too. I've linked it here, as well.

If you want to know what I do and why I do it, this magazine is the very definition of all of that. I had to have it because it's basically information about my work. (And technically, I can write off the purchase of the magazine!)

Do you need this magazine? Maybe. It depends on why you want it. If you're looking to thrift, it's possible it may whet your appetite for all things vintage (or even thrifting for new things). But, you don't have to buy it to become a collector or someone who can appreciate antique things.

Here's all you have to do to become an expert thrifter: thrift! 

The more you thrift, the more you see what's out there, the more you know what you like, and the more you can find what you're looking for.

There is plenty of vintage to thrift out there, my friends. 

So have fun, pick a day to thrift every week, and see what sorts of treasures you can find. Tuesday is my big thrift day and I try to go to at least four thrift stores. Today was that day and I found some great items. 

Let me know in the comments below some of your favorite finds. I'd love to hear about them.

Good Morning with a Vintage Mug

Good morning, my vintage friends. This is my beautiful vintage mug of the day - the colors are muted and perfect. 

Two nights ago my oldest son asked his girlfriend to marry him! I’m thrilled. His fiancée is so perfect for him. She is a gift from God. So, my head is up in the clouds still. I’m gaining a daughter.  

I’ve come to the awesome conclusion that this vintage blog of mine is turning into a vintage daily blog. I’m a vintage blogger! Blogging is not new to me. I've had a slow-living/writing blog for the last 15 years. It's called A Work in Progress and I love that blog.

But this blog is all me. In that, I get to post regular stuff about my everyday life. It feels very freeing and authentic.

Vintage is such an integral part of my life and I use, wear, live, and breathe so much of it in my pursuit of slow living that it just oozes out of me. 

I also love photography - good photos of simple things -so taking pictures is a daily thing too. I take daily pictures of the vintage things I sell… but vintage living is all-encompassing. 

That means there are pictures of my vintage garden, vintage outfit, or vintage mug of the day on my phone, and are all viable posts. 

Or at least, I think so. This is my vintage journal now. 

Anyway, getting to share a part of my life - whether it’s my vintage home, vintage clothing, or vintage television - is what makes this blogging so much fun. 

I love vintage and want to share this love with all of you.

And I know so many of you love vintage like me. So all that to say, daily photos, and my daily vintage living will be posted here. 

I missed out on ten to fifteen years of posts, now that I think about it since I opened my Etsy shop, but better late than never. 

And if I’m posting daily, well, you’re going to see more than you bargained for. If you have any requests on specific vintage things, let me know. 

Have a wonderful Tuesday. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot. 

What is a Hudson's Bay Blanket?

If you've been around vintage blankets, and perhaps been noodling around Etsy, you'll have probably come across the Hudson's Bay Point Blanket. 

They are a type and quality all unto their own.

What are Hudson Bay Blankets? Wikipedia says this," A Hudson's Bay point blanket is a type of wool blanket traded by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in British North America, now Canada and the United States, from 1779 to present.[1] The blankets were typically traded to First Nations in exchange for beaver pelts as an important part of the North American fur trade. The blankets continue to be sold by Canada's Hudson's Bay department stores and have come to hold iconic status in the country."

I've come across only three in my years of sourcing vintage. I sold two and kept one.

This is a beautiful one. While it's not perfect, it doesn't need to be. As is the unwritten rule of vintage, the more wear and the more patina an item, the better it is.

The "Points" on the side of the blanket (the black pointing) reveal how large the blanket is at a glance, which is genius, in my book. Rather than having to open the blanket and figure it out, the point system says it all for you.

My blanket is a four-point Hudson's Bay Company blanket. It fits perfectly on our king-size bed. 

While the blanket is only good for the winter months in our neck of the woods (northern California), can I just tell you how excited I am when this time of year comes around?

It's all because of the blanket.

Are you interested in a blanket like this? Here's a link to one. If you do a search on Etsy or eBay, you'll find many. They are works of art, really.

They may cost a little more than your average blanket, but then, you're getting far more than an average blanket. You're getting quality, real wool, true craftsmanship, and beauty. And it's vintage!

That's all a huge win.

Vintage Leather Buttons │ Perennial Vintage Supply

There is something about vintage buttons that evokes luxury.

Especially since most items don't even come with leather buttons anymore. The ones on modern clothing are cheap plastic fake leather buttons.

You can find leather buttons, but they'll cost more, and you're going to have to search them out. They don't just show up in the local JoAnn's.

This is my vintage cardigan. It is a men's cardigan, but it fits me perfectly (as do most men's small cardigans). I feel blessed by that little tidbit. Ha. But, I really do. I love vintage sweaters. And I have long arms, so finding sweaters and cardigans that fit can be a chore.

The buttons on this piece are stunning leather, and the wool is thick and beautifully created.

It has a few random holes that pop up over the years just from wear and age and I go back in and close them up; insistent that I have many more years left with this beautiful cardigan in my wardrobe.

Vintage Mexican Leather Belt │ Perennial Vintage Supply

I just listed a beautiful belt. I love belts. They're the forgotten accessory that packs a punch. 

And this belt is one of the few I come across that are such quality. It was most likely made in Mexico and from the '70s. 

The leather they used back then is so much better than the leather of today. It's thicker, stronger, more durable, and more beautiful. The craftsmanship is stunning.

If I didn't have a belt like this in my collection of belts, this one would be in there instead. And not listed in my Etsy shop.

As it is, I have one very similar and I'm in love with it. One of the best of the best.

Gorgeous leather, patina from decades of wear, vintage, patinated brass buckle... what's not to love Quality like this would cost a lot if it were modern made. It has a huge Ralph Lauren vibe to it.

This belt has decades more life in it.

There's so much to love about vintage. 

Kitchen Herbs | My Vintage Garden | Oregano Love

I love gardening as much as I love reading. They’re both labors of love and escapism. Two glorious things.  

After all, Cicero once said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Agreed  

I am beginning to check the soil, clean up the garden, and figure out what I want to plant now that it’s starting to feel like spring in Northern California. 

I have a lot of herbs growing because they’re so good at being - and staying - perennial in California - the weather is mild enough to keep them growing year round.

My oregano is looking mighty good right now. The green is verdant and it smells incredible. 

I would love this little herbs chart for my kitchen. It’s both beautiful and educational.

March is nigh, as is Spring. For all of you knee-deep in snow and rain, hang in there. Change is coming. 

• Herbs Chart: Amazon
• Cicero Quote: Etsy

Sunday Best | Vintage Outfit of the Day

I don’t post what I’m wearing much on my Instagram (I used to have a fashion account) but I do like posting occasionally and that tends to be my “Sunday best” outfit. I may try to post those here. Since so much of what I wear is vintage, it belongs on this blog.  

Today’s look is one of my favorites. Denim on denim. 

It’s a uniform, really. I own a lot of vintage denim. So denim and top and bottom has become my go-to look. 

Today’s look is actually more modern than vintage. The jacket and belt are vintage, the rest is modern. 

I’ll link what I have on as far as the modern items are concerned and for the vintage, I’ll link back to comps in my shop. 

These boots, by Red Wing, are some of my favorites. Made incredibly well (and made to last - also made in the USA), they’re comfortable and classic. Will last for years. Worth every penny. 

Women's Red Wing Clara

Happy Sunday, Friends!

• Jacket: Vintage Lee Denim Jacket
• Jeans: Levi’s 711 (I LOVE these jeans -wide leg.)
• Boots: Red Wing Heritage, Clara
• Belt: Vintage 
• Top: Target Turtleneck