Thrifting Lately

On the same trip to Goodwill that I found the cane back chair, I also left with a bounty of office decor. One of the finds was this globe. We have been collecting different maps and types of travel momentos for our future gallery wall in the office / studio that we will have upstairs in the new place, and this globe will just be the perfect little extension of the travelesque vibe. A few other goodies from that trip to Goodwill were a pair of embossed gold sail boat prints and an oval mirror framed in a grey marble that was a steal. Gosh you guys, thrifting is just the best. the. best.

In the spirit of thrifting, reused, and vintage, here is a post that I really enjoyed by Jenny over at Little Green Notebook: Vintage Furniture Shopping Tips and Tricks. Jenny sums it up perfectly, and its just so true that frequency is key to finding diamonds in the rough!

Something To Write Home About: The Brooklyn Flea

Ever since I started reading Jenny's blog, Little Green Notebook, years ago, I've been slightly enamored by her trips to flea markets, antique shops, and other vintage vendors while she lived in New York- mainly while in Brooklyn. I've always told myself that one day, one day, if I found myself in Brooklyn, I would go to the flea. That I just had too. Coney Island and the Brooklyn Flea. Priorities. And finally, that day came--today! 

I am definitely starting a bit backwards, in more mays than one, with documenting this trip. First, today is day three and half, and my trip to the Brooklyn Flea comes after a long list of other really incredible things we've done while here. Second, I have been taking photographs this entire time with my cannon, but opted out of carrying the precious cargo to Brooklyn this morning because I wasn't really sure where I would end up or what I would end up doing. Thankfully, I did end up where I planned, and saw way more than I could have imagined. And I tried on lots of vintage clothing out in the open, which was way easier without straps and things hanging from me like a coat rack. Nevertheless, the flea was amazing, so much so, that I am sharing this intentionally first before any other NYC documenting, because I just loved it that much.

Before I even get to the flea, I have to tell you about these antique shops that have been popping up and pulling me in like a refrigerator magnet. They are full of beautifully salvaged items. A beautiful rust and reeling paint sort of beautiful. If you don't like shopping second hand, these shops might just convince you otherwise. The little shops in Williamsburg off the Bedford subway stop are too cute, they make you want to find your grandma and say, "Look, look, all of these things make me think of you, and your house, and that smell in your closet!." I didn't buy anything in these shops, because I wanted to keep my hands and option open for what was to come at the flea market. But one thing is for sure, if I I lived near these stores, I would be lost in here for hours, and my apartment would be full of vintage dishes, old clocks, and repurposed window panes. And a closet that may or may not smell like my grandmas.

Onto the flea: In the winter time, the flea is indoors in this big ware-house like building. Its right town the street from the antique shop above, and along the way there are tons of little restaurants and stores. And it was such a quick subway trip to get to from mid-town. It seems like a super fun part of Brooklyn. But you know, I was on a mission to get to the flea--so other than my one little detour, the flea is where I spent most of my afternoon.

I was as happy as could be by just being at the flea and then I came across this clothing vendor who not only had amazingly priced vintage pieces, but she herself was sincerely down to earth and so lovely to talk to. And then I found this shift coat on one of her racks. She told me I was the first girl to actually fit the shoulder width of the coat. Which is usually where I run a bit snug. I had been looking for an ivory or tan coat for years and to stumble across one so uniquely vintage that actually fit? I was sold. 

Then came the mecca of rugs. If only I had the room to take the pink, yellow, and orange rug over 100 years old from Turkey (below) back to Denver in my carry-on. This would pretty much be a dream to have in our house. Gosh darn the rugs, they are so so so beautiful.

Ridiculously gorgeous. Right?

I came home with more than a just a coat. Some rusty finds and vintage school prints that I'm really excited about made it back on the Manhattan bound subway as well. I'm pretty much still giddy from the fact that I finally went to Brooklyn for the flea. It was this long awaited adventure I had always dreamed about. And you know what? It was so much better even than I could have thought. Plus, I conquered the subway and walking there all on my own, a feat and adventure in itself. That's something to write home about.

Nervous / Excited

This is my nervous excited face. 

Why a nervous excited face, you ask?

Well, let me tell you:

 After a few nudgings from friends and always wanting to share my personal style...

I am setting out to do just that.

I really want to inspire myself and you as readers to buy thrifted, upcycled, affordable, or second hand clothing on a more regular basis. How amazing would it be if Goodwill and consignment shops became our go-to's just as often as we default to other favorite stores, like J.Crew, Madewell and Anthropologie?

I am all about finding styling trends and inspiration from favorites and then setting out to find that look for less. It's actually how I fell in love with style at the very beginning of my eyes being opened to fashion. I was a highschool girl who until that Freshman year grew up wearing uniforms--school uniforms or a swim suit, as my life outside of school was mostly spent in the pool. My best friend and I would scour thrift stores and swap meets, finding the best things ever. And that is what I wore. All the time. Thrifted and second hand, this was my style. And I loved it. And I still love it but it has become only about 25% of my wardrobe. Slowly, as I've matured, my thrifted clothing has become less. Which now, I'm determined to change.

So why exactly a nervous face? All of the above is so exciting! It's exciting to share style and move towards changing the clothing perspective, for myself and hopefully for others. But it is nerve racking to be photographed. It is nerve racking to see a handful of photos of yourself. And it is even more real  in the nervous department to post those photos for all to see. But I need to change my perspective on that as well. I need to not be nervous about any of that--those photos are me! And I am beautiful just the way I was made, imperfections and all. This is what I wrote about the process the other evening, after Matt snapped a few photos of me last week:

"What started as continual fear of being photographed to reflect my personal style for the blog ended up being a truly freeing experience, especially so having my husband take the photographs. I'm excited to share style that is thrifted, second hand, and affordable in the coming months--with hopes to inspire you to shop for used items. And if not shopping second hand, why not make it a goal to donate a used clothing item or two to the homeless or Goodwill for every new item you do bring into your wardrobe? I'm completely up for the challenge, what about you?"

I write a lot about true beauty here, and I feel this fits perfectly. I want  to continue to change my own perspective on outer beauty and the worth that I put on clothing. (Which at times, is a lot of worth, let's be honest). So my hopes with this series, I'll call it WEAR, is that my heart would change in the process. That I'd be moved to shop second hand, donate unused clothing more often, and find myself content with the clothing that is already in my closet--ridding that desire to consume more and more, yet being frugal and thoughtful about it when I do shop. 

What do you think, are you with me?

Teacups Teacups!

You are probably wondering why on earth anyone would need these many teacups--really, ever! I promise I am not a hoarder. And as much as I would love to host a tea party for the masses, that is not the why behind the large quantity of glass teacup purchasing either. These delicate little cups will actually become part of wedding decor in less than a week! My sister in law is doing most everything handmade, and repurposed, hence the basket and box loads of teacups.

Chartreuse Cups & Ampersands

Chartreuse is a color I just love right now. It compliments the other hues that are dispersed around my house perfectly-its a crowd pleaser really as its guy/girl friendly. After making the E A T kitchen sign with chartreuse craft paint a few weeks back, I came up with a few more little projects to use it up and bring more chartreuse pretty into the world.

Thrift stores have seen me A LOT this week, which is always a good thing, while I've been on the hunt for pretty glassware and teacups (more on that later), and when I saw this little vintage jar, and its outer texture, I knew that for 25 cents it was worth it. Worth transforming. Worth chartreusing. Worth becoming a vintage modern pencil holder. 

Rusty Metal ABCs

I felt like Mike and Frank from American Pickers as I came across this vendor at the Outdoor Pop Up Market on Saturday. A serious pot of gold, in the form of rusty metal and peeling paint. Some old signage letters, and others vintage scrap metal reclaimed and upcycled--oh the ways they could be incorporated into the home! Are't they a junkyard dream?

Two Thrifted Looks

I strike gold, adding up to an average $5, each time I stop in at the Goodwill down the street. Does anyone know it exists? Because I seem to be finding the best clothing items for my pennies--and this is always on a whim. I hardly ever drive there with fashion as a mission. Usually furniture and revamps are my focus. Lately, no such luck. But clothes, tons of luck. So I find myself casually looking through the racks when furniture is a miss. My latest finds, a down puffer vest, a boat neck striped tee, and a brown midi skirt (a velvet / cord hybrid fabric that makes it feel vintage). I love that you can find clothes from a different era, or items that can complete a modern look--thrift stores are the one retail store that can always meet the ever evolving you ( and for that, they are forever my favorite).

Pearls Poppies PICKERS.

Traveling the backroads of America looking for rusty gold is quite possibly one of my dream jobs. I love the show American Pickers with Mike and Frank, and getting to pick myself when the opportunity comes along is something I never pass up. It happens very few and far between seeing as though I've typically lived in a big city, or near a big city, with slim to none in the "backroads of America" category. And typically the times I happen upon a junk yard of treasure, it is very unplanned. Hence, this Saturday. I tagged along with the men {Matt and our neighbor} for a bit of offroading and to scout out some great camping spots. After a day of bumpy roads, driving through rivers, and Yankee Doodle Lake, we stopped for some food which was right next to a plethora of rusty gold in this little indoor/outdoor shop. I did not buy a single thing, but I LOVED and savored the experience of rummaging through this mercantile junk yard antique shop. And I will definitely go back to this spot. I thought you might enjoy perusing and picking too ("window picking" we'll call it), and gathering up a few tips for braving the rusty venture of a bargain hunting pick...

Wouldn't this chair be great on a big porch or deck, painted navy with mustard yellow striped cushions? It was only $15, which I would have been all over if I had the place or space for it! And note the orange chair in the left photo. It was so darling as well!

Here are a fewTips that I have picked up from Mike and Frank, the American Pickers themselves, which I love to lean on at all picks/ garage sales/ bargain hunts {You don't just have to be on the backroads to do this! Try it out at your next neighborhood garage sale!}: 

• Break the ice with the vender/junk owner by paying the suggested price for the first item. Get the ball rolling and prove that you are serious about buying and know a gem when you see one!
• Save negotiating for the item that is just so-so. If you find an item that is a decent price, and you just love it, buckle down and pay the marked price.
• Bundle items. Find two or three items that you want and offer a single price for the group. When you bundle you often end up paying a lot less and the seller typically loves this because you are buying more of their treasures!

• Look high, look low. Sometimes you won't even realize it until you look up that chairs, photographs, frames, baskets, and light fixtures are right above your head when on a pick. And don't be afraid to look under chairs and in trunks and boxes. Often, antiques and junk are being literally stacked up as the collector or seller is getting more and more in their space, so things are everywhere!

• Venture outside and don't be overwhelmed by junk. Often, there is something so wonderful hidden in there that is hard to see from just scanning the outdoor area. Things kept outside get rusty and peely from weather, but be optimistic about a fresh coat of paint or some tuning up! These are the deals that are the best finds, because outside junk is big, bulky, and often overlooked by the average passer by. 

• Have a pickin' buddy. There's nothing better than having a partner in crime to sift through junk with. A second set of eyes can find things you might pass up, offer good advice, and help you break the ice, bundle, and negotiate. The roads traveled can be long and windy, and having a friend there along with the stories to tell is vital. What would picking be without this essential piece?

Do you have any pickin' adventures to share? Any tips you've learned to rely on? 

Thoughts for Thursday: Brave the Thrift

photo source {and some more amazing thriftstore inspiration at this source!}

Have you ever stepped into a thrift store and immediately found yourself just. so. lost. And this is after your first shock of musty smell and not so aesthetically appealing display. The motivation and courage you mustered up to get your booty in the door begins to waiver and you start to ask yourself, why didn't I just go to Nordstrom Rack? Home Goods? Or anywhere else but here? Even the thriftiest have felt this way, I'm certain (or at least, I can vouche for myself here). It takes some getting used to. A crafted skill you might say. To be able to quickly sift through and skim the surface for the good, skipping the bad and the ugly. After time and time again in a Goodwill/Sals, I have been able to craft my eye for the thrift. Even when looking at clothing, I am open minded yet at times when I have a mission like "look for work clothes" or "be open for prints". Having a bit of direction when walking into a thrift store can really help the whole experience. Yet, there are times too where I walk in and wander and have no agenda at all. I'm going to send you over to A Beautiful Mess where you can be visually inspired by the thrift in photographs and also follow along with Elsie's Thrift Store Tips! I loved this blog post when I first read it, and rather than recreate something similar, just go see what those stylish ladies have to say about thrifting for yourself! A few of my favorite of Elsie's tips include: Keeping a list of running wants & needs. Don't forget the little things. It's okay not to find a 'find'. Happy thrifting!

{And, on another note: Exciting non-blogging news, I (Lauren) have taken on a new role in my full time profession working in the field of Child Development, and will be working in a new position as an administrator in the heart of Downtown Denver! This means that my free time is drastically cut back, so you may be seeing a little bit of a change around the blog. I do promise to keep Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up going and growing! I appreciate each and every one of my readers and so love this little creative outlet of mine. There may just be a few changes here and there, ie. a few more articles like this one sending you to my blog faves or maybe a missed day or two at times! Just wanted to be real and tell you what is going on with me in the non blogging world. XO, Lauren}

For the Love of {Chair} Fabric and Curves.

There are two chairs that I am currently obsessed with. One being a Pinterest find, the other being a Goodwill find. Can you guess which is which? {Not that the huge 'Buy Me!' tag doesn't give it away} I have some alterations I need to make to the Goodwill find, including doing something with the legs that are black and somewhat of an eye sore. But OH. MY. GOODNESS. The seat shape is just to die for. It is real wood. The print is ever so vintage. And the black painted detail is just the cherry on top. The details of the Pinterest find are equally if not more appealing (that plaid, the leather piping, those curves!), but I would be too lucky of a girl if I owned both. Question posed by my husband, "Where are you going to put these chairs?" First, did I mention the Goodwill find came with a twin! Yes, great things do come in twos. Second, in response to his question, "Who knows yet, but I will make it work!" Wouldn't you for two beauties like that for $12 each? Any thoughts on what year the Goodwill find may be from, or ideas for leg transformation? Happy Friday! 

It's Named "Chair No. One Eighty" in Plaid, HERE

Colorblocked Wooden Baubles.

On my outing to Goodwill this past Saturday, everything was 50 percent off! So coming across a strand of seven wooden napkin rings for $1.50, hands down no questions about it, they needed to come home with me. Just look at the neat geometric shape to add to the already super great price of these wood bits! When I put an instagram photo of these wooden rings up, the question I asked was "Chunky necklace or color blocked napkin rings?" My friend Natalie replied, "Both!" Perfect, right? Create a colorblocked necklace that can easily be untied and used as a table setting accessory.

Statement piece jewelry is everywhere right now. The bib necklace and other bits and baubles are something I have been noticing all over Denver {and Fashion magazines}. I think they are such a great accessory, yet so many of them can be costly. Now, I know it is not the norm to come across wooden napkin rings at every thriftstore out there, but any type of wooden bit with a hole in the middle can be used for this project. Check out your local craft store, or keep on the hunt at flea markets, Ross, HomeGoods, garage sales, etc. 

Making your Colorblocked Bauble: 

Gather your wood pieces, paint, yarn or string, and something to hang your wooden rings on to dry. For drying, I used a pencil set across two jars {The pencil being where I hung the wooden rings, and the jars as an anchor on either side-- creating a little trapeze looking contraption. It kept my painted wood from setting on anything, allowing them to dry properly}1. Dip your wood piece half way into your paint. I used BEHR's sample size of cobalt blue. It is a matte finish, which is what I wanted {and what I had in my paint bin}. You could also use multiple paint colors to achieve a different look. 2. After dipping your wood piece, hold it over the paint to allow excess drips to go back into your paint can. You can also utilize a flat paintbrush to wipe off paint if the coat is too thick. 3. Hang your half painted wood piece on your pencil trapeze drying contraption {or by other means} so as not to set the paint on any surface while it is drying. 4. Repeat steps 1-3 for each wood ring. 5. Allow to dry fully for one to two hours. Maybe more because the dipping process creates a thick layer of paint {I left mine to dry over night} 6. Cut your yarn to length, giving extra slack to play around with once you have the baubles around your neck {I like to have options for long, medium, and short, how about you?}. 7. String your colorblocked wooden baubles onto your yarn. You can really be creative with this. Use ribbon or even a long chain repurposed from another necklace. Make it completely your creation. It is truly up to you! 8. Add your necklace to your outfit of the day, and get ready to wear your statement piece about town! {And, if you somehow aren't agreeing with your necklace. Take it off, pop some napkins in your baubles, and throw a dinner party! Your guests are sure to notice your statement colorblocked accessories }

Guest Post: Confessions of a Thrifting Momma

photo source 1/ 2

Thrift store hunts may be a daunting endeavor to some, and an even bigger scare when thinking about thrifting with children in tow. To encourage you to brave the thrift store treasure hunt, my friend Noelle is here to share her experience and attest that it is not the impossible {even as a mom with two little ones}! 

In her words:

Lauren has inspired me so much with this little blog of hers, that I’ve gotten back into my love of frugal treasure hunting, repurposing and handmade gift-making with a renewed passion. I’ve been wanting to jump into the blog world for quite some time since I am a graphic designer and also a mom: (lots of stuff to write about, be inspired by, etc). But alas, life gets the best of me and I’d rather be busy playing with my kids and making things. I have so many projects in my head right now. I can barely think because all I want to do is go cut some fabric and start sewing! It’s literally killing me to sit here, knowing that I have brand-new fabric downstairs waiting for me to start planning with. Anyway, I told Lauren that thrifting with kids was a whole new ballgame and thought that sharing my experience might be fun for others to read about.

Last week I had the itch, so I decided to stop by my local Goodwill (conveniently right next door to our Vons grocery store) before going grocery shopping. At noon. Before feeding the children. Genius idea #1. Then I got sucked into the New Arrivals rack and found tons of brand name, new clothing and decided to try some things on. Genius idea #2. I asked if I could take the kids into the changing room in the cart with me and the clerk said sure (14 year old boy who has no clue), and dangit, they put a flag on the cart so no one will TAKE CARTS in the dressing room. So I took the baby out of the carrier and the 3 yr old out of the cart and entered the dressing room. Genius idea #3. Mind you, it’s about 12:45 at this point and we haven’t eaten or done our grocery shopping yet.....ughhh. I’m getting tired just thinking about that trip! I ripped through the clothes all while yanking my 1 yr old back under the very high doors and making the 3 yr old stand up after peeking at the next door neighbor and asking loudly why someone was in the room next to us, all while constantly apologizing to the neighbors. Tired yet? I sure was!

Despite the craziness of hunting with kids, I managed to come away with a Forever 21 hoodie, a Target tanktop, a Banana Republic sweater top, a comfy new jersey knit dress, a gorgeous lacy blouse, a Lauren Conrad t-shirt, and these BEAUTIFUL gems:

Tray and gold dish were each only 99 cents! EEK! Jar is for my sis-in-law for Christmas, hope she doesn’t read this. But only if I’m willing to give it up!

My favorite aisle is always the kitchen/housewares section. People walk right past these treasures thinking they’re dated or too beat up and completely miss the beauty in them. I’m going to hang the tray on the wall near my kitchen to tie into another piece of artwork with similar colors. I was planning on using the gold dish for rings in the bathroom, but it found a new home as you’ll see below.

Well, the itch wasn’t thoroughly scratched, because the very next day I had already planned a treasure-hunting trip with my good friend Danielle, who also has a love for all things worn, peeling and rusty. We somehow escaped our houses and children for an entire afternoon alone together (thank you hubbies!!) and just went from shop to shop exploring. That’s when I found a huge collection of old Reader’s Digest short story compilations from the 60’s with GORGEOUS covers, full-color interiors and beautiful illustrations. I was in love, and I got 26 books for, wait for it, $3.25!!!! They were marked as 25 cents each and I found them on the 50% off table! 

It made my day, my week, my month!

Some of the beautiful books I picked up for a steal.
I actually only bought 10 and then was so sad about leaving   their friends behind, I headed back (with children) for 16 more and made the store clerk carry them out ha! 

I was so inspired by my finds that I finally had purpose for my drab living room built-in that had been sitting half-empty for 2.5 years since we bought the house and moved in. It has been a thorn in my side forever and I finally had enough treasures to fill all those daunting shelves. Filling shelves is LAST on the priority list when you have 2 small children and are self-employed and working from home. But I did it! It took probably 3 hrs on a Sunday afternoon, but I did it and boy am I proud of myself and can’t stop staring at my creative masterpiece!

Even the sconces were $2 from a garage sale!
The huge rustic U was from Ross for $3 on clearance.

The only letter they had and it’s our last name, booya! 

Disclaimer, the baby was NOT a thrift store purchase! ;)

  Frame: Flea market, $2. 

  Bird: hardware store(?!), $1. 

  Gold dish: thrift store, 99 cents.

  Books: library sale, $5.

 Books: thrift store, 12.5 cents each. 

 Vintage Golden book: thrift store, $1. 

 Glass jars: garage sale, 3 for $1 

 (gave one away and now regretting it, I’m a hoarder) 

 Bird: gift from my mom who knows me :)

  Books: library sale, $7. 

  Potpurri: Big Lots, $2.

I can’t stand throwing away beautiful cards 

so I just decided to tuck this one into an 
empty frame and it perfectly ties in the 

mint color on the book binding, I love it!
Frame: Flea market, $3. 
Letters box: library sale, $5. 
Mirror: Ross, $20 (pricey for me!) 
Book: thrift store, 12.5 cents.
Bird candle holder: gift from my momma again!

I knew something was missing, so I stole an Ikea lamp from my office and added it later in the evening, and it was just what the space needed. Now I sit under it’s warm light while chilling with the hubby and working on new projects after the kiddos are down each night. It was light I desperately needed to be able to see my needle and thread.

I truly hope this post inspires someone else out there who’s feeling frozen by lack of time, resources, etc. because all of these shelves were filled with thrift store, garage sale and Ross finds from over the years. And that’s the biggest part, it took me a few years to feel like I had the right stuff to fill these shelves and finally call this project complete. Or maybe just complete for now. Anyway, it has already inspired me to make new pillows for the couch (hence the fabric taunting me downstairs!) Maybe I’ll send an update when those are done. But with my kiddos, that could be next Spring!

Noelle Uzzi is a wife, momma to two awesome little girls, and designer extraordinaire! She spends most of her days wiping butts and taking names on the Central Coast of California, also known as the Happiest Place in America {according to Oprah}. You can follow her creative work at www.uzzicreative.com.