recent thrift store treasures

I'd been looking for a marquetry wood painting for years - they were either vastly out of my price range or the subject matter wasn't to my liking (lots of churches), so I was pretty excited when I found this one for twenty bucks at a thrift shop in Manhattan. My other recent finds included an orange blouse from the Brooklyn Flea...

 ...summery flats:

And a polka dot shirt from Buffalo Exchange:

©photos by me

recent thrift store treasures

Recent non-new finds include a butterfly necklace (above), boring yet practical camel sweater (below):

 Oscar de la Renta plaid skirt:

 and a brass shell to add to my growing small-things-made-of-brass collection:

©Photos by me.

film biz prop shop

The Film Biz Prop Shop is a non-profit thrift store in Brooklyn that gets its donations from the film industry. It's surprisingly cheap (for New York), well organized and has a pleasant staff. Because everything is donated from the film industry, the wares are super random - you never know what you are going to find....antique commode, anyone?

I got this trophy cup for my office.

initial decorating attempts

A few people have requested some photos of my new place and although its not nearly where I want it to be, here is where I am at so far. Above is a windowsill in the kitchen with (from left) a brass apple bell from Etsy, a small plant I just bought at the Greenpoint farmers market, toast holder from the Alameda flea market, part of my Muji Paris in a bag, and a mustard Jonathan Adler vase.

Another wall in the kitchen had two shelves that we are using to hold cookbooks, the menu from our wedding, and a cupcake container from Rose and Radish.

Inspired by the Maira Kalman exhibit I saw semi-recently, I hung all my white framed pictures in a row. The photos on the left and right sides are mine, the middle left is by Francois Vigneault and the middle right is Cindy Tomcyzk. We're still in the kitchen.

This family of brass quails live on a half wall dividing the kitchen from the living room. Behind the sofa, I hung some of the pictures from my mom, Julia Rothman, some thrift store paintings and another one of my photographs.

I'm going to skip over my office at this point (there's really not much in there except for my desk and two bikes) and head to the bedroom. I still haven't made a decision as to bedding at this point, so let's also ignore whats presently there. Our bedroom is in a bit of a disarray, but I do like how Jeff's cowboy hat looks as display, and all the bright colors of my clothes (mine are on the right, obvs).

Since our bathroom is super itty bitty, I'm creating a small vanity area for myself in the bedroom. Above is a vintage orange tray from my grandparents, apple containers from my aunt, a green ceramic bowl I made a million years ago, a super old photo of Jeff and I in SF, and a photo of my grandmother, among other random bits.
Those are all the photos I took for now - I'll post more soon!

what i wore (6 weeks, one suitcase)

It's been about six weeks since we arrived in New York, and I've been living out of one suitcase the whole time. I brought enough clothes to last me the two weeks I thought we'd be without the rest of our stuff, so its been interesting to make my wardrobe work as the weather's been changing (as evidenced above). I've worn some variation of the above items every day and to be honest, it's totally fine. With the exception of a pair of flats, I could probably keep going with my limited items - it really goes to show how little we all really need.
Far left: Jacket: borrowed from my sister, Scarf: gift, Hat: self-made, Boots: Steve Madden
Second to left: Skirt, Shirt: thrifted, Sweater: Vince via Jeremy's, Boots: Steve Madden, Tights: Antro, Legwarmers: self-made, Sunglasses: Paul Frank
Second to right: Dress, Purse: thrifted, Sweater: Vince via Jeremy's, Scarf: gift, Boots: Boutique 9
Far right: Skirt, Purse, Shirt: thrifted, Sweater: Banana Republic, Shoes: Converse

los angeles favorites: shopping

Since I still don't buy anything new, I'm limiting my shopping picks to vintage, used and thrift stores solely. Los Angeles has a pretty fantastic selection of vintage clothes - Jet Rag and Shareens are my favorites. As for flea markets, I think PCC is the best...not in terms of selection per se, more in terms of value and manageability. I've had some great luck at the Goodwill on La Brea, and Out of the Closet and Ladies Council on Fairfax. Lastly, the lamp store on La Brea is pretty incredible.

recent thrift store treasures

Picked up a couple shirts at St. Vincent de Paul last weekend. I'm pretty sure this blue sweater was hand knit!

recent thrift store treasures

While thrifting in Albuquerque, I picked up this coffee pot (which matches these glasses I saw this weekend!), and this J. Crew dress (sorry for the blurry photo):

White and brown leather belt:

And another tie for my husband:

All items from Mano en Mano and Thrift Town in Albuquerque.

what i wore

Dress: thrifted/ Sweater: Old Navy/ Belt: borrowed from my mom/ Tights: We Love Colors/ Shoes: Villians/ Headband: made by my mom/ Necklace: Anna Blair

what i wore

Dress: Crossroads Trading Co./ Shirt: H&M/ Sweater: J. Crew via Jeremy's/ Sandals: Steve Madden/ Purse: Vintage/ Pin: gift from South Africa (thanks Keren!)

bargain shopping + a giveaway!

Some items I picked up at the Jet Rag $1 sale (last frequented circa 1998) included a denim colored cinched shirt (above), and  flowered shirt (thinking of making this short-sleeved) below:

Pink plaid shirt:

and this adorable 60's number (sans ghastly yellow bow that was on the collar):

This was the piece I was most excited to find and the one thing I didn't try on (have you been? You wouldn't want to try anything on there either) and therefore does not fit. So, I'm giving it away! It would probably best fit a size 4 or 6 and is a tad on the shorter side, but not so much that the world becomes your gynecologist. Would you like it? It's very cute despite that fact that I didn't iron it. Just leave a comment here telling me why you want it, or what you'd wear it with, or just something random. Best answer wins!
Shipping is on me, so US residents only please. Thanks!

what i wore

Dress: Anthropologie (also seen here)/ Camisole: Thrifted/ Belt: Rose Bowl flea market/ Tights: Loehmanns/ Shoes: Kenneth Cole/ Scarf: gift (thanks Anna!)/ Clutch: Alameda flea market

what i wore

Dress: Anthropologie, altered/ Shoes: Sven/ Purse: thrifted/ Sunglasses: Paul Frank/ Jewelry: from my grandmothers 

what i wore

Dress: thrifted/ Belt: H&M/ Shoes: Nine West/ Purse: gifted vintage Gucci (thanks Sara!)/ Sunglasses: Paul Frank

what i wore

LEFT: Sweater: Old Navy/ Shirt and belt: Thrifted/ Jeans: Levis/ Headband: handmade RIGHT: Dress: Zac Posen for Target (also seen here and here)/ Shirt: H&M/ Shoes: bought in Brooklyn years ago
I just got this scarf as a gift from my aunt. I love it!

what i wore

Dress: Buffalo Exchange/ Camisole: Cosabella/ Shoes: Sven/ Purse: thrifted/ Necklace: Anna Blair/ Sunglasses: Anthropologie

what i wore

Top: Banana republic/Skirt: thrifted (also seen here)/ Belt: Rose Bowl flea market/Shoes: Sven/Necklaces: gifts

what i wore

Shirt: Thrifted/ Skirt: A Miner Miracle shop (also seen here)/ Shoes: Sven/ Sunglasses: Anthropologie

recent thrift store treasures

Some recent thrift store/garage sale treasures included a sparkly brooch (above), white pots (not photographed), a book about house plants (below),

and party invitations!

I was tempted by the following items, but they didn't end up coming home with me, like this green decanter:

or this old-timie hair dryer:

or this rock polisher:

Vinegar and oil containers:

Size 6 Pierre Cardin shoes: