Time to be a realist

As much as I've loved stockpiling all of these vintage things that I don't really need, like the picnic kit, the 50s cookbook, the clutch purse, the globe, the prom dresses, and such, it's time to look at my life realistically. I want to go to college in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, or Pennsylvania. Originally, England was in that mix, but my goal is to live wherever I go to school, and that plan runs into several hitches when the UK is in the mix.
Here's the issue: if I move across the country for good, I can't do it unless I have adequate finances and minimal baggage. In simpler terms, more money and less stuff.
In this spirit, I am going to open an Etsy store and try to sell my things. In addition to vintage, I'm also going to sell a lot of things that I've made myself. It'll be a 50-50 mixture.  This is probably going to happen in the next month or so. Here is a taste of what I'll be selling:

Original plates, cups, and silverware included. In great condition, except a few plates are warped.

 This clutch has a few tears on the opposite side of it, but they're superficial and aren't that noticeable unless you carry this purse backwards.

 Really really don't know if these books will be in the store, because my father got them for me, and so they're very special to me, but if it comes to it and I desperately need money, I might.

 I'm selling the dress from this picture. Not the veil.

 This is from the nineties, more like a collectible than an actual book you should use the stickers from.

 Vintage brooch. One rhinestone missing, not noticeable. At all.

 Vintage pin, again.

 This is a steampunk chain bracelet that I made myself.

 A Lolita headband that I also made myself.

 Woven bracelet, again made by me.

Studs from the 80s. Marbled turquoise and blue.

More DIY inspiration

I am so sorry! It seems like it's been forever. I've been so wrapped up in my new job, I've been neglecting my (possibly existent) audience!
Searching across Etsy, Modcloth, and the like, I've found some products that inspired me. Now, most of these gave me ideas for similar items, but with a gentle tweak from the original.

This purse from Modcloth. It could be made out of tweed with the front detailing done in a more delicate ribbon. For the zipper pull, I was thinking of this broken earring I have from the 1980s that's kind of like an abstract butterfly...

Again from Modcloth. Really simple, just make cute little bows out of any color ribbon and sew or super glue them onto a pair of plain fake lashes. Maybe in a cute shade of sky blue. Hmm.

From Topshop. Really really simple, just use a bangle bracelet instead and use various colors of embroidery thread to thread-wrap it. Then add a jump ring and an earring hook. 

 Saw this on Tumblr. I have a few ideas as to how I might do this, but I'm thinking I have to start with a pair of pants that are too big. I'm working on it, Folks!

 I have a bunch of pairs of Hello Kitty socks that are practically dying to have lace trim sewn onto them! Going to do this too!
There are a lot of lacy socks that I looked at, but I believe this pair was either found on Forever 21's website or Modcloth's.

Alright, this one would take forever, and I need to buy a plain white spaghetti strap tank top before I can (or any plain color spaghetti strap top). After that it's just time-consuming sewing by hand, sewing on tiny chiffon or tulle or organza circles. 

This top is around 72 dollars, if bought from Topshop, where I found it. 

 Ideas? Cut out the raccoon shape out of tweed, sew on different types of fabric to create the other features, etc. Tweed is always my answer, until someone gifts me with several yards of faux leather. Hint. Hint.
This is another Modcloth bag. Cute, isn't it?

 Pretty simple, just find any ole bag with a back pocket like this, cut out a kitty from some fabric, and stitch him (or her) on. Might also want to stitch on the features too.
The bag in the picture was one that I fell in love with at Modcloth's website.

 Modge podge. And a button. Made into a ring. This beautiful, inspiring pendant was found on Etsy.

 I really want to get a dorky sweater that I can just cut up and do this to. This pic is from Tumblr.

Grommets. Shoelaces. Old pair of skinny jeans I don't care about. Oh, and this pic was found on tumblr.
I hope that these things inspired you as much as they did to me.
This is only the tip of my bag of tricks, and as soon as I find the time to complete these projects, rest assured, I will post them.

Forest and haze.

Greetings, my lovelys. I've had a lonely past couple of weeks. My phone's been almost completely silent, without the pleasant buzzing of messages to keep me sane. The passing of time was marked by Will and Grace reruns at 11 am, followed by What Not to Wear at 12, and on and on and on. I feel almost as though I've partially lost touch with reality because of this loneliness. The only person who's been to see me has been Ashley, and bless her sweet soul for trying to keep my head in the proper amount of clouds. I had another friend who I get occasional messages from, but only between 9:30 and 10 at night. I can practically set my watch by it. This can't sustain me much longer. Nor can it sustain my wallet.
Ah yes, my wallet. Soon to be completely empty, at this rate. I combat my fears of abandonment by swiping my debit card. I have currently buried it at the bottom of one of my mushroom jars. It will not see the light of day again until my bank account is above its original balance. It needs to be above 292 dollars. It's around 220 right now. Not as terrible as it could be, given my current mental state, but still. These aren't good habits to get into. I could post pictures of all of the things that I have gotten, but this post would go on forever. Instead, I'm just going to post my wallet, which I just purchased from Modcloth.


These are both from the website, which DOES NOT ENDORSE MY BLOG. No copyright infringement intended, blah blah blah.
If you want to purchase it, you can get it from Modcloth or from its mother site, Poketo. It's near the same price either way.
I'm beginning to get in the swing of things at work, and hopefully I'm going to turn things around soon. When my bank account gets to be over 300 dollars, I'll make sure it never goes under ever again.

Stressed, depressed, but well-dressed.

Today was my first day in a while getting dressed up and going out on the town. The town, being the pathetic little creation I live in. I walked to the post office, decked out in my vintage duds and carrying my pretty little clutch. After that I walked to the surplus warehouse, snatched up two cans of high quality gold spraypaint for a little more than three dollars, and got weird looks as I carried my prizes all the way back home. I swear, I'm going to die from boredom before long.
I don't start work at my new job until next week sometime, and I find out my hours this Saturday. I swear, it feels like it'll never get here.
Speaking of things getting here, my new debit card finally came in the mail! This means that I can finally start an Etsy store, and do some online shopping. I'm going to make sure to keep a very careful log of all my activity, because my sister overdrew her account once, and ended up a couple thousand in the red before she received the notification in the mail.
Another plus of today was that I finished watching Sherlock season 2, which was loaned to me by my amazing sister. I had heard disclaimers from numerous fellow Sherlocked citizens about the Reichenbach Fall Episode, and so I was prepared to shed some tears. What I was not prepared for, though, was the fact that Sherlock was completely alive at the end of the episode, standing in the cemetery oggling John walking from his grave. No one had told me that he cheated death! I had heard talk of clues, so I thought that it was merely an internet rumor that he might have survived, but concrete survival was not something I foresaw! I was so thrilled, I started clapping as the end credits began to roll.
Needless to say...

The filming of season 3 starts this January!!!

The July-4th-isn't-shaping-up-well-oh-hell playlist

1. "Losing My Religion" R.E.M.

2. "Sex On Fire" Kings of Leon

3. "This is Letting Go" Rise Against

4. "Tainted Love" Soft Cell

5. "On Call" Kings of Leon

6. "Paris is Burning" St Vincent

7. "Bang Pop" Free Energy

8. "Everlong" Foo Fighters

It's an odd mix of songs, I know. Bear with me, it's been a long, disappointing day...I just need some ear candy at this point. There also might have been some Taylor Swift mixed in there, but I'll never tell. 
(photo from picship.com)

Rise Against - This Is Letting Go

Rise Against - This Is Letting Go