Passion for Shoes ~ Hereditary?

If your grandmother had a pretty decent shoe collection for the era, your mother has an incredible shoe collection, and you do as well ~ now your children are totally obsessed with shoes, could this passion be hereditary??


As most of you know, when i was 9 i had my right leg amputated.. before that i was confined to wearing a brace and black high top ugly boy's wing tip oxfords... so of course i awoke to 13 pair of shoes after surgery! it was worth every stitch. Shoes in any color imaginable! And the addiction began. Everyone constantly spoiled me with shoes, and to this day, I never have enough shoes.

Now in retrospect, i realize my mother is worse than i am. It was a gradual thing, a new pair here and there. Now completely out of control, so much Dad actually found "over the door" racks that he put on the inside of every single closet in their home, and mom proceeded to easily fill each rack. And she didn't have to purchase new ones to do it.

Then we have my daughters.

My older daughter is a bit more bohemian. She prefers Crocs (ugh!) in every color and style imaginable, flip flops (same criteria, every color) and anything that glitters. Make it camo flats that sparkle? she wants them in every color please. I think she is part Crow, if it sparkles she loves it, especially in footwear.

When my youngest daughter left for college, a cousin visiting here offered to take her shoes to her, since we couldn't get them on the airplane. Imagine his surprise when we carried FOUR of the huge black Lawn & leaf bags to his truck. The expression on his face was priceless. Men just don't understand women & shoes.

So of course at any estate sale, I run for the bedroom. For lingerie, then shoes & purses. Not necessarily in that order... depending on what catches my eye. It never ceases to amaze me that people can posses these fabulous shoes, and never wear them! So many are classic styles that are just timeless, others very vintage that are fabulous and often trendy again!

You won't find many shoes in my shop~ but i do promise the ones you do find are fabulous! and know the rest of them went to a good home, my family!

Here are some in my vintage outlet ecrater store:

http://vintageoutlet.ecrater.com/c/312789/shoes-boots




50s aligator platform shoes 5AAA


classic Bass Loafers size 9




gray peep toe pumps size 8AA


Rocakbilly Hush puppies 6.5

And look what i found in Raia's Gurlz ecrater boutique in hard to find larger sizes :

http://gurlz.ecrater.com/c/753014/larger-size-sexy-shoes


fredericks strappy stiletto size 12


St. John Sparkles ~ size 11


red hot stiletto's ~size 10

If we don't laugh we would all go insane

Jimmy Buffet said it! and boy, was he right. Sometimes you just have to laugh, especially when things just cant seem to get any worse.

A week ago Sunday i booted up my computer. typed half an email, and boom. Fade to black. nothing i did could make it work.

A neighbor had brought over a little emachine he no longer wanted. Get that baby out, do all the plug & cord things.. and what? nothing?

surely its the plug? try another outlet. nope. a second dead computer.

Monday morning i did the mad search. Computer "illiterate".. i depend on salesmen. After a rude experience at Walmart, i head to Best Buy where all those guys standing around aren't very helpful. Next door to Office Depot. A bit pricey.. and what? they don't MAKE computers with modems anymore? really? i happen to have recently googled this and know there are 33% of the world's population still on dial up.

So down to Sams. Bundles. don't need that. and the "tv guy" wasn't very knowledgeable with computers.

Back In the car, frustrated and with limited funds, i decide to take the forty-five minute trip to Goodwill headquarters & training center. They take donated computers, hire people that otherwise wouldn't have jobs and train and employ them building computers.

What? they only build them, they don't know much more about them.. can't advise or recommend. Least expensive ~ $300 with a 30 day warranty.

Its one of those 104 degree days. Stick me with a fork. i'm done ~ emotionally & physically. I head back to "mom and pop" computer repair shop where i should have went originally. the $50/ 30 thing and all. I explain to craig i sell on line. lots of pictures, i'm on line probably 10 hours a day. need lots of memory, and the key word ~ dial up.

So he sells me a re built computer, carries it to the car and i spend 5 days trying to figure it out. it refuses my pictures, the USB port doesn't work, my card reader won't get read. Back to Craig, who informs me its ME, not the computer, but leave it and let him look at it. I'm scheduled with his "picture pro" for the next day to help me with pictures.

This is the first "you gotta laugh" part... the picture pro? she's never used a card reader. she has no clue how to re-name files. she has no clue how to right-click save. Her solution is to use the camera cord and load directly to the computer. Not a viable option when you sell on line. I'm totally self taught, but those are some very vital skills for me. ITMT Craig's had enough. he goes out front, selects another computer and tries to compensate me for all the aggravation. Slams in a modem and sends me on my way, as he closes for the weekend.

Did you guess already? the modem doesn't work. i feel like i'm in a comedy of errors by now. Back to the store monday morning. And Craig's pissed at ME? what? you're kidding. why? because i have dial up. Mind you he KNOWS where i live, knows there is nothing short of satellite available.. and is just a grumbling away about never working on dial up again. I'm thinking i have a 6 month warranty on this sucker.. ha! if it breaks he won't be happy, but he will work on it.

New modem, computer back in the car, and i'm on my way home. Still can't right click. still having issues, but i'll get it. Of course lost tons of pictures, programs and information in the old hard drive that was not backed up.. But i will catch up on blogging, listing or working for a week. its one thing to take a vacation from working, another to be forced into it.

But hey.. the cd player in the new computer works, i'm listening to jimmy buffet "Changes in Latitude" ~ and you just gotta laugh at all this drama or we'd all go insane!

A Hawaiian Shirt for Everyone!

My passion for Hawaiian shirts began in 1969 during this "yankee's " first trip to Key West. They were EVERYWHERE~ glorious floral print shirts on MEN! I fell in love with the islands and the wardrobe ~ you sure didn't see this in Michigan.

And men wearing them had a completely different "attitude" ~ they were relaxed, smiling and seemed to be having fun. There is something for everyone ~ subtle, demure, wild, flashy. And prints from surfboards, motorcycles, pin up girls, cars, birds, and of course the traditional floral.

As an avid Jimmy Buffet fan, I get to enjoy eye candy at every Buffet concert ~ parrotheads wearing Hawaiian shirts. A requirement for VLV, and any rockabilly fest ~ We KNOW the guys are definitely having fun then!

Recently, i discovered two local group homes were going to a luau. They were SO excited. When questioned, i learned they did not have Hawaiian shirts to wear to the party. So, I grabbed my huge rubbermaid tote of them and headed to the homes.

You would have thought it was Christmas! The young adults were even more excited now! Each grabbing, trying on and choosing favorites. Employees were offered shirts, hawaiian skirts and dresses as well, until everyone had the one they loved and were all ready for the party ~ which was a huge hit, and they looked so cute.

So.. my personal inventory of Hawaiian clothing, especially mens Aloha shirts is pretty wiped out, their happy faces were worth every single donation, and I know karma will replenish the stock. With so many estate sales coming up, surely there will be one from a well traveled gentleman who collected Hawaiian shirts.

In the meantime, here are a few I have left, and a ton of amazing ones from Raia, who even has one from the 1940s, shown above!!










to see my little selection:
http://vintageoutlet.ecrater.com/c/343502/hawaiian-rab-vlv-fun-shirts


and Raia's amazing offerings:
http://threads.ecrater.com/c/239695/hawaiian-shirts-more

Vintage Robes & Caftans ~ A Hard Habit to Break

The habit began early, and was probably "out of control" by the late 70s, early 80s. Working, going to school and a single mom in the days of panty hose and heels, i would come home totally exhausted.

I'd kick my shoes off at the door, drag myself to the bedroom and slip into a caftan. I fell in love with them. Completely comfortable, luxurious, "decent" if a neighbor or unexpected company popped in, just heavenly.

From caftans i progressed to zip front robes, again for the same reason ~ but available in "seasons" ~ what a find! Long sleeve velour robes for cold winter nights to curl up with hot chocolate and a good book in front of the fireplace.

Short sleeve, lightweight nylon for summer, in pretty floral prints. Ahh.. loungewear all year long! I was in heaven, until they suddenly were no longer available. This is probably about the time I discovered vintage. New designers were no longer making them, but the old faithful's were still available.

To find an estate where the lady of the house shared my passion was better than a gold mine! I had every color, style and shade imaginable. And amazingly, still have most of them 20 years later!

Absolutely! Vintage LASTS! Quality fabrics, excellent construction, amazing detail. And all these years later, i love slipping into a zip front robe when i get home, lounging in one on Saturday mornings with my tea outside on the back porch.. or just to get warm and cozy on a cold night.

I seek them out. Rarely will you find my shop with out one.. usually a nice variety, but they go fast as other's learn my secret. But, you will never find one in my size available in my shop~ finders keepers! :)

If you share my passion, check out my shop for caftans and zip robes for all seasons!

http://vintageoutlet.ecrater.com/

In time for the Intime'

known fact ~ mention "road trip" and i have my shoes on waiting at the door. just love them! When we first moved to texas, we'd explore constantly.. always going on little rides, taking country roads and just checking things out in our new state.

then allana became a cheerleader.. horray! we had an "excuse" for road trips. We'd all caravan from the school to the town where the football game was, but after the game, we'd venture off on our own. We'd have lunch at a little local mom/pop diner.. stop at antique malls, and of course road side stands for produce.

the kids are grown.. so now our road trips are justified with estate sale..not that we need a "reason' for one, but it makes them fun.

So Saturday, off we go. My middle daughter Melissa and I head two hours south. for one well advertised estate sale. Did i mention its over 100 degrees in Tx? and of course, hotter south.

we get there, wait in line.. get in and no luck. lots of pottery and china. smalls. things i no longer am interested in ~ already have a garage full of that!

squeezing our way into the bedroom.. nothing. wah! she was a "pajama lady".. no pretty nightgowns. But wait! i spot chiffon. and black! i move over to the dresses and YES! she had a nightgown! i grabbed it, a few purses and off we go.

we find a cute little resturant, have a wonderful home made lunch with out of this world barbecue, then hit the town square and the little antique shops. No other purchases but enjoyed all the little shops.

We took our time driving back, again using country roads and avoiding the freeway. by now its probably 103. And i realize we need to start doing estates either north or east where its a wee bit cooler to walk around.

and the nightgown? totally worth the drive, even if it was only one and not perfect but gorgeous.. a vintage Intime' of California with a fabulous massive sweep of chiffon.

Hats, hats and more hats ~ Vintage of course!

Hats are darling. There is a shape for everyone, a style to flatter any face. Yet.. rarely do we wear them! Of course in winter to keep warm, or in summer to keep the sun out of our eyes working in the garden. and those who i admire but consider self assured to wear them on a daily basis, no matter the weather.

Remember when it was mandatory to cover your head in church? I fondly remember hats every Easter.. and the tradition of all the kids getting new Easter Bonnets annually. Evidence below.. i'm the tall one standing in back, surrounded by my sisters and cousins, circa 1960.






Mom always wore her little pill box hats. My favorite were always picture hats.. great big brim that were so dramatic and i owned quite a few, proudly wearing them!

Then came the pretty little net whimseys that did the job.. covered our head without the bulk of a hat. Cute and trendy for teens in the 60s and 70s.

This week's theme on another blog (Reflections of Vintage) i participate in is "hats".. so the mad race was on! get those hats listed, so i can be included in the blog. Out comes the huge rubbermaid tote full of hats. So many, and most i had completely forgotten about.

There were even some my dear friend from kindergarten found at a Michigan estate sale and shipped to me. Some from my "designer upscale lady estate" in Dallas.. others i had picked up individually along the way with the intent of wearing.. instead they all went into the tote.

I've only made a small dent in it.. but i needed the incentive, glad i got it, and am really enjoying them, a nice switch from clothing! They are listed here:

http://vintageoutlet.ecrater.com/c/1184967/hats-ladies-vintage

but keep checking back.. i'm still plodding along! :D

Eyelet & Embroidery ~ did you know?

Have you seen that ridiculous commercial for Bing ~ the one that shows information overload? well, that's where i am right now.

i miss the good old days when you went to the library, pulled a ton of books from a specific section, took them home and gleaned the information you needed.

but now? nooooooooo.. Why drive all the way to a library (if your's is still open).. when you can just google it.. but..you get information overload. Unfortunately. I couldn't even get what i was looking for.

what was i searching? eyelet. Crisp, beautiful, embellished embroidered eyelet. I listed a few items last week in eyelet.. one of my ultimate favorite treatments on clothing.

To get to the history of eyelet, i had to weed through embroidery first.. but it was really interesting.

One version credits embroidery to the Egyptians. . The earliest surviving embroidered cloth is Egyptian, preserved by the dry desert climate from the 6th century. Ancient Egyptians also created embroidery with white threads on a white canvas that was so sophisticated that even today's modern technologies can't exactly duplicate it.( getting closer to white eyelet?? nooo)

In the 16th Century, the Chinese were creating two sided embroidery with silk threads on silk fabric.

We also have Greece, Italian workshops, Czech and German ecclesiastical embroideries of the 10th and 11th centuries, which were mainly created in monasteries and convents.

The earliest embroidery to survive in England (from 906) is a stole and maniple (church vestments) from the tomb of St. Cuthbert at Durham.

Yet another source credits the year 1639 and the Monarchy in England. . England was also credited "Elizabethian Embroidery" in the 16th centrury as raised embroidery, which we call "crewel" today.

We cant forget Ireland, who is also famous for it fabulous Irish linens and gorgeous cutwork, both ancient products.

Much like Mexican embroidery, different regions offered different styles and techniques. All were being developed simultaneously by any country that practiced sewing; each area unique, despite being a common skill.

Evidently, embroidery began as a male thing. Yep.. men invented it, then some time through the years, women enjoyed it as well. Victorian embroidery was considered an important part of a girl’s education and for part of her trousseau. Poor girls could use their needle skills to find paying work. Girls living in their Little houses on the Prairie did samplers.. Pieces of embroidery with sayings, the alphabet or just a "sample" of all their skills with various needle stitches.

But.. i still couldn't find my eyelet information. Also referred to as openwork, white works, pulled-thread, and Ayrshire Needlework, which originated in Scotland in the late 1700s.

Then i researched Broderie Anglaise - (English Embroidery), with its large eyelets and simple cutwork, was used to embellish clothing and linens. Sometimes referred to as Eyelet, Madeira, monochromatic embroidery or Swiss Work.

So i had even more names to research.. see what i mean about "information overload"??

Closest to what we currently in America refer to as Eyelet Lace is by the technical name of "Cutwork." Areas are finished with closely placed buttonhole stitches and then the inner fabric is cut away. Satin stitch is used, and for the more ornate varieties, buttonhole bars are used to fill the spaces between the remaining fabric. The result is a lace-like effect., except i thought the buttonhole bar style was called faggotting. i know horrible name, but i didn't invent it.

Then we have "Specific styles of cutwork" ~ Renaissance, Richelieu, and Venetian.

Geeze! all i wanted to know was who invented embroidered eyelet lace?? From all this, i narrowed down to "Whitework" and discovered Redwork, (first became popular in the 1880s) then bluework ~
outline embroidery almost identical redwork embroidery except stitched with blue thread instead of red.


Then i discovered eyelet was extremely difficult and most likely conceived in the 1700's. I pretty much guessed the difficult part~ stitching with white thread on white? exact, precise perfect stitches? Excellent eyesight would be a requirement, I am sure. And i did discover that early eyelet was embroidered first.. the holes cut after.

Sadly, our little local library is closed, due to county budget cuts.. so i had no alternative to google overload. And after all this research, I thought i'd pare it down to basics and share it ~ it was fascinating, i hated to waste it..lol.. and honest... all i wanted was a little blip about the history of eyelet to share with you, and three of the new eyelet pretties i have on vintageoutlet.ecreater.com.