I love my job.

Every few months my boss Chris, Jen her employee, and myself stay after the shop closes and rearrange her vintage shop. It's always a lot of fun, like redecorating, and making things more attractive and accessible. Tonight we all agreed was our most successful rearrangement ever, all ideas seemed to flow and everything fit together like a perfect puzzle. We even talked about me starting an Urban Eccentric blog, so for those a fan of the shop, that will be coming this week! All in all, sometimes I forget I am getting paid to do all this, which is why I feel so lucky to have such a job.

I have the petticoats in my closet hanging from the ceiling, and it's such an enchaining effect to have light shining through them. We have perfect grates hanging from the ceiling that worked perfectly for hanging petticoats.

This jacket is so cool, it's been in the shop since October, I don't know why it hasn't sold. If I didn't already have a red band jacket, it would be mine.

Two cute mannequins in the stockroom.

It is foggy.

Usually I see Portland. But not lately, I'm lucky if I see four blocks away. Today's a work day, and afterwards my boss Chris and friend Jen are meeting me there to re-arrange the shop. Long work day.

Ciao :)

Perfect coat in navy.

Yesterday I got to work to find the usual pile of merchandise on the floor to steam and put out on the floor. It's great because then I get first pick of things, and how I get lots of what's in my closet, the most memorable, bird hat. Well, I'm going through everything, steaming away, and at the bottom of the pile is my perfect black coat. In blue. I tried to think of a way I could dye it black, but finally came to accept that this will be my new navy coat, because it really did have everything I wished for, only in a different color. I'll be wearing navy for a while...


Coat, shoes- The Urban Eccentric

Purse-Michael Kors.

The rest-I don't even remember, that hat was a garage sale maybe...

Oh and I took the stockings back to the store, then spent the money at the bins. It was SO BUSY! I almost wanted to leave as soon as I got there, but then I started finding things which is always encouraging.

Knitting pattern fashion.

I got about a half a dozen vintage crochet and knitting pattern books a few weeks ago, and thought about keeping them just because the pictures were adorable. Then I realized I could just take pictures of the pictures. What a concept. Here's a few of my favorites, not only for the sweaters, but also for the poses, and fresh smiles. Maybe I should start modeling like this...

CoatsCoatsCoats

I'm getting rid of coats. Thats right. The crazy coat lady will become just the crazy lady. Ok, ok, so I'll still be the crazy hat lady, but I'll get to that collection someday.
At one point I had 23. That was a while ago, I'm afraid to count now. And this cold season I've been paying attention to which ones I actually wear, and which ones I don't. Not to mention how long it takes for me to find a coat or jacket to wear with my outfit each day, because I don't have "basics" I have a bunch of really funky cool, multiple personality coats. Ask Sam how long he waits for me to find a coat after the half hour ordeal of getting dressed, and he'll roll his eyes. So you see, I'm trying to save both time and space, and you my friends get to benefit from my closet purging. So next week there will be a bunch of vintage coats in my shop, and I need you to get them away from me as soon as possible.

In order to let go of so many coats though, I'm going to get one nice, black coat. I know, sounds kind of dull, but trust me, when I find that coat, paired with red lipstick and my giant rhinestone bow brooch, it will be far from dull. Although I must say, I think I've looked at just about every black wool coat on the internet, and nothing pleases me. So, if anyone knows where I can find a black coat, about knee length, with a fitted bodice and sleeves, button up, a-line skirt, with two side pockets and collar (not too wide), let me know. Oh, and not $1,000 like a Burberry one I liked, 'cus that was misleading, it was in the "Sale'' section. And it was one sale, just...not enough. Besides, if I'm going to pay $1,000 for a coat, it shouldn't have plastic buttons. Come on Burberry, spring for some quality buttons.

Zzzzzzzzz.

My mind is asleep so I'll just leave you with Coco Chanel's wise words:

"In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."

Coco was too cool for school.

Funny words.

Vintage paper words

A few years ago I began a mental list of words that made me laugh or cringe. Once I made this known, people began speaking up, saying "Hey, I don't like that word either." and possibly starting their own unpleasant word list. So here it is, the bad word list, with some good ones for a positive note :)

(First three words make up the worst sentence ever)

1. Moist-This is the word that almost everyone I know dislikes. It's uncomfortable for your mouth to say. But, I will find myself saying it once in a while, because there is rarely an alternative to "Yum, this cake is nice and moist." You cant really say damp, or dewy, it pretty much has to be moist. It weeds it's way into my vocabulary, therefore I hate it all the more.

2. Bargain-In my little thrift store hopping world, I hear this constantly. Unlike moist there are other alternatives. Like moist, its uncomfortable for your mouth to say. There is no attractive way to say bargain.

3. Panties-Such an odd word for a grown person to say.

4. Ma'am-At work every now and then, someone will call me "Ma'am". I'm 19 years old. Now, when you are a middle aged mother of three, calling a person half your age "Ma'am" is socially inappropriate and insulting. Even when I am 90 years old, if you call me "Ma'am" I will punch you in the face, and you wont be able to do anything about it, since I'll blame it on being senile.

5. Artsy-When I was in an art high school I dreaded telling people where I went because 90% of the time people would respond with "Ooooh, so you're artsy...".

6. Babe-is a pig.

Words I love.

1. Dame-or pretty much any word used in 30s gangster films. Dame, gams, dollface, clams, whatever. It's fun.

2. Flutter-The soft sound of a birds wings during flight. Such a pretty sound and such a pretty word.

3. Schedule-Really only good when a British person says it.

4. Cashmere-It sounds like it feels. And I cant help but elongate it, and say Caaaaashmere.

5. Portobello-I think I like it because it sounds Italian. Maybe it is Italian, what do I know.

6. Crimson-Explains the color beautifully.