FF #124

I absolutely adore this dress from The Velvet Bird! The picture is awfully pretty too!

(via: The Velvet Bird)

These halloween lights are mighty cool! I'm still obsessive over all things eyeball and skeleton related.

(via: pickegg)
This stump table is really awesome, but I'd be lying if I told you those boots didn't immediately steal my attention!

(via: realwoodworks1)

Modcloth is having a huge Last Hurrah sale. These drool worthy shoes, that cute necklace and fancy dress are all on sale along with tons of other awesome stuff. You can see of the items here.

(via: modcloth)
These necklaces are so pretty!  I like they way they looked all together like in the second photo.

(via: nanoukiko)
Totally lovin' Minifanfan's work!

(via: minifanfan)
Eeek! Aren't these boots so awesome!?

(via: NYhop)
This whole little set up is beautiful!

 (via: jeremiahcollection)
Ribbon made from a vintage map, so pretty!

(via: saratops) 

•  Fair Ivy looks like a really awesome site! You can send surprise packages to people, they even have a pet option! 
• This bag is so pretty!
•  Woweee, I love this vintage dress!
• Love this huge granny square blanket! It would look so pretty on my bed.
  

xoxo!

What Doctor Octopus Wore; so dapper!

Is it safe to say I have the most dapper cat in the world? I think so!

When I saw this suit and bow tie combo on ebay I knew he had to have it. It's so not fun to put on since they're real buttons, not snaps or velcro. But it, clearly, is so worth it. I might have even gotten a little teary eyed looking at him all snazzy like this. Just wait til I have human children someday ai yi yi! The glasses and hat are from the doll section in craft store. All the doll accessories are kitty sized! I cant wait to look at other craft stores for more "doll" clothes. 

Hope you're having  a fabulous day!
xoxo!!

the rag trade

1947 Carole King dress ad, from Silverbluestar's Flickr.

If you have worn or owned a vintage dress with a Carole King, Doris Dodson, or Minx Modes label in it, there's a possibility that at some point it passed through the hands of my grandmother, or one of my great aunts or uncles.  In the mid-1930s, the concept of junior fashions was born in St. Louis, Missouri (I was born there, too--but a bit later) making it, for a time, an unexpected hub of the fashion industry.  A 1940 article in the Palm Beach Daily News had this to say about St. Louis' burgeoning dress business: "The junior dress industry in St. Louis today employs more than 6,000 people and is growing as rapidly as trained help can be found for the machines.  The industry is entirely a local project.  There has been no outside capital to subsidize it.  Eighty percent of the designers employed are young girls fresh from the art school of Washington University [in St. Louis]."

None of my relations designed the dresses--I don't think any went to art school, either--but my great aunt Margaret (seen in the above photo with her brother and nephews) worked as a bookkeeper for the Forest City Manufacturing Company, which owned several junior dress lines.  

My mother remembers her Aunt Margaret saying she worked for "Grace Dozier Durocher's company." Grace was married to Leo "The Lip" Durocher who played baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals.  She was head designer for the Forest City Manufacturing Company, and later had her own line in the company, Carole King.  I didn't find a lot of information about Grace.  She and Leo Durocher were married for nine years and divorced in 1943.  I thought this divorce notice--from the October 11, 1943 Milestones section of Time magazine--was pretty funny: "She [Grace Dozier Durocher] said that The Lip was 'constantly of nagging disposition,' and asked no alimony."

Here's Margaret with her niece, my mother.  (I'm loving the scalloped trim on Margaret's dress here.)  Margaret would bring home sample dresses from work for her three eldest nieces, one of whom was my mom.  The dresses would all be the same style/cut, but in different colors.  My mother would get the last pick, and usually ended up with the pink dress.  She was happy though.  No one in the family had a lot of money, and a brand new dress that wasn't a hand-me-down was something rare.

My grandmother Marian (in the center of the above photo) worked in the St. Louis dress industry, too, doing piecework sewing.  My mom told me that a couple of her uncles also worked in the industry as fabric cutters.

It's a little sad to think that this industry that employed many of my family members no longer exists in St. Louis--or even in this country, really.  My grandparents and my great aunts and uncles had very little money to spare, but they still managed to dress well--in clothing designed and manufactured right here in the US!  Amazing.

xo

K

The Collector: Part 12

Cuckoo clocks! I know I've briefly posted about my collection of cuckoo clocks in the past (before the collection series even started) but I recently acquired two more (back in August, for my birthday!) so I thought I'd do a new post about them with updated photos.

They're so pretty and possibly even one of my favorite collections! 

The wall is basically filled but I've always got my eyes peeled at thrift stores, auctions and garage sales for more. For the most part I've quit browsing online because even the ones marked as "for parts only" (which means they don't work or are missing something) are over priced.

The cheapest one in my collection was less than a dollar (it came in a "junk box" from an auction that was filled with tons of other awesome things and only cost one dollar) and the most expensive was $15 so I'm pretty proud of this collection seeing as cuckoo clocks can get pretty pricey! Having thrift patience really pays off sometimes. ;)

Almost all of them in my collection work (except for one which is gutted) but I never wind them. I did once and immediately regretted that decision. They're far too noisy for me! I just like looking at them.

It's hard to pick a favorite but I really love all the smalls ones!
xoxo

What I wore: to the park

the details:

vest - target

flannel - thrifted

shirt - thrifted

jeans - target

shoes - c/o Blowfish Shoes

camera bag -  Jo Totes

nails - see tutorial here!

So in love with this outfit, so in love with this weather! It feels so nice to layer. It's cozy! The weather here the last few weeks has been changing so often though. It'll be warm one day and very chilly the next. I can't wait until I can wear outfits like the one above everyday.

We're trying to squeeze in lots of walks in the park before hunting is allowed in the park for the year again. (the 15th!) I still can't believe you're allowed to hunt in the state park, how ridiculous! This is my favorite time of the year to explore. Almost everywhere is all ours, no one seems to explore the parks in the fall, and there are tons of mushrooms!

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday!
xoxo

PS. I took pictures for a new "What Doctor Octopus wore" post yesterday. I am dying to show you! Soon!!

Nail Tutorial: Strawberry Nails

I have another cute tutorial to share today (see the last one here, it's on how to make a triangle design). I'm going to show you how to make your finger nails into cute little strawberries. Sure there has been a million other tutorials on strawberry nails but the problem I found was that I can't freehand with polish. But then it hit me...I could use tape!

 • pinking sheers • red nail polish • green nail polish 
• a nail art pen (or black nail polish and a toothpick) • top coat • scotch tape

Now that you've gathered your supplies, let's get started!

1 // Paint your nails red!
2 // After the base coat is dry cut ten strips of tape using your pinking sheers. Firmly apply one piece per nail.
3 // Apply the green polish on the area you left un-taped for the leaves.
4 // Gently, and slowly pull of the tape. I find my nails turn out best if I take the tape off immediately after painting instead of waiting until my whole hand is done.
5 // Using your nail art pen or a tooth pick and black nail polish randomly place polka dots on your nails
6 // After everything is dry, add a top coat! My current favorite is Essie Good to Go, it dries so so so fast!

7 // Enjoy!!!

It's very easy, just make sure to have patience and take your time.
Make sure to leave me a link if you decide to try on your nails! ;)
xoxo

bags and shoes

A sneak peek at the shoes and bags coming to the Etsy shop soon!

1970s Garolini satin and rhinestone high heels.

Au lait leather cone heel loafers.

1980s Etienne Aigner tassel brogues.

1960s loopy lace black suede pumps by Geppetto.

1950s red, white, and blue scalloped high heels, by Society Debs.

Black leather brogues.

Tooled leather floral messenger bag.

Beaded evening bag.

1950s pewter gray Lucite purse with carved lid, by Charles S. Kahn.

Tooled leather handbag.

Bejeweled wooden treasure chest box purse.

xo

K

Wild For Wedges!

When I was in third grade I wanted to be a Spice Girl, they always had the best shoes. I had so many ridiculous pairs of platform shoes, and they could never be high enough for me. Eventually I stopped wearing them, more recently (the last five years) I don't wear shoes that give me any amount of height because Kevin isn't very tall, and I don't really like to be taller than him.

But on a recent shopping trip I tried on a pair of wedges just to be silly and both Kevin and I agreed they were pretty fabulous (errr, he said they were "cute", I though they were fabulous) and that the height difference really wasn't as bad as we thought it would be! Sadly they didn't have my size so I passed them up but now I'm on the hunt. I can't even begin to count the number of awesome shoes I've decided against over the years because they had any amount of heel.

Here are some I've been ogling over the last few days! I sure do love ridiculous shoes! ;)

1 // The Color Wheel Deal Wedge.
2 // Go for Brogue Platform.
3 // Case Closed.
4 // The Vertigo Shoe in Coral.
5 // The Tardy Shoe in Yellow and Green.
6 // Dawn and Dirty.

xoxo