DIY - Industrial Accents

this post topic may not be a newbie, but it's a goodie for sure.
after being in our house for over a year, we decided it was high time best to start hanging up some permanent fixtures, like ... curtains. 

we both love the fancy restoration hardware look, but definitely can't afford the prices at this stage in our life. so, we figured we would diy something we felt was just as good. welcome, our industrial pipe curtain rod! simple, fast and affordable. beat that fancy stores!

if you want to try this yourself, here is what you'll need and the how too:

1. buy a piece galvanized pipe (be SURE to clean it or you'll get back oil on your hands and curtains - i learned that the hard way) in your desired length and two toggle bolts to help support the weight of the piping curtain rod

2.  you'll also need to buy the flat piece which affixes to the wall, called an iron floor flange, and the macaroni looking piece, formally called the galvanized elbow, to connect your pipe to the flange 

3. once you have washed and cleaned (and if desired, spray painted), you are now ready to start the assembly

4. start by putting your curtains on your galvanized pipe facing the correct way 
5. next holding screw all the pieces of your pipe curtain rod together
6. now hold up the assembled curtain rod (you may need an assistant) and mark your drill holes on the wall 
6. put everything down and insert your toggle bolts 

7. pick-up your piping with curtains already on, line it all up and drill, baby drill (just make sure your curtain is already arranged facing the correct direction ... we also learned that one the hard way)

creating your own curtain rod out of galvanized piping allows you the flexibility to customize your rod for any sizing you need, and allows you the ability to turn corners for a corner windows. if the industrial look isn't your thing, you can easily spray paint the whole thing before assembling it in any desired colour.

helpful hints: 

• at your local hardware store, ask if they can cut and thread the end of the galvanized pipe in the exact length that you need. This will be safer and you'll ensure it's the extract length required. 

• also, unless your using shower curtain hooks, once this puppy goes up, those curtains ain't easily coming down - at all. so if you like to do more than steam clean your curtains  it's something to think about before screwing it all in and having an "oh-crap" moment.

The Cord Taco

the first two images from the wonderful folks at This Is Ground and
the last image is by the talented lady at Coco and Mingo.

would you like a little salsa and margarita with this? I do! one of my biggest pet peeves in life is messy cords. bain of my existence. between the iPad, phone and laptop, i'm a messy tangled lot of cords by the end of each day. then i heard about The Cord Taco by the amazing folks at This Is Ground! – a beautiful shop of handmade leather goods. i'm hooked. i'm totally stuck on the adorable name and tiny taco shape of these cord organizers. it's a simplistic and totally brilliant idea to help keep your bag and let's be honest, our lives a little more in line. Their craftsmanship is unreal so you will be hard pressed not to find some great gifting ideas from this shop! in fact, when you start to drool over their products, i double dare you not to buy something for yourself.

Decorating with Little Green Friends

images are from here, here, here, here and here.

lately i've been excited to bring little green friends into our home. little green friends who help clean the air and bring a little life to some bare spaces. i haven't always had good luck with little green friends, but i'm hoping we can reconnect. after countless hours of reading online about easy to care for indoor plants, i finally think we are ready for a second go. surprisingly, my little black thumb, cannot kill an orchid. there is just something about orchids that do so, so, so well with me. always blooming, content, always looking so purdy. knock on wood now that i haven't jinxed it now.  

plants can add a lot of character to a room in a way that architecture can't. try placing oversized plants in impractical places, hang tiny plants vertically as an accent on a wall, or grow an upside down herb garden in your kitchen windows using varying hanging planters. start thinking outside the box when it comes to adding vegetation to your home. if my bathroom had a window, let me tell you i would surely be shoving a fern in the shower to sing along side me each morning. plants want to live creatively too.

yesterday my newly bought first ever hanging pot arrived on my door step from this lovely shop, made by a lovely lady named Monique Cote. i highly suggest you check her work out. it's an early birthday present to myself and a fresh start at welcoming plants into our home.

so, to you dear succulents, lemon tree seedlings and ferns recently purchased. please bare with me. i promise to be good as good to you as  i can. to share you with the sunlight and to keep you fresh and happy! now please don't die.

Colour of 2014 - Radiant Orchid

recently it was announced that the colour of the year for 2014 is  Radiant Orchid. to be honest, i wasn't so sure at first (and let's be honest, i am still not sure) if i can get behind this colour. it's bold and it's very, very brave, which i love, but it isn't a tone that i often wear or am drawn too outside of a lipstick choice. after some thought i came to realize that while it isn't perhaps a colour i could paint my walls, it might do well as a small accented pop of colour. from a single patterned pillow, to a textured purse here are a few different ways, and in a few different shades,  how you can incorporate this vibrant and very sassy colour throughout the year ahead.

to view past colours of the year visit The Pantone Website

Trending: Designer Landon Dix

if you haven't already heard of Landon Dix, you may just want to check this out before the holidays. recently i came across the newly revamped online shop/website and i can tell you right now that this has just become my go to store for more unique home accessories. when you just want something that has that ideal mix of sleek and a little retro, then Landondix is it! you can check out the his whole website here - www.landondix.net

the online shop offers everything from furniture, accessories, rope work and to lighting. you can find the perfect home decor item for yourself or someone you know. based in Vancouver founder and designer Landon Dix was inspired by his surroundings, and with a place like the Vancouver North Shore as your backyard how can you not feel inspired. be sure to check his website often because the ideas and success of this growing shop is just beginning! I would highly recommend that Landon is one designer to watch.  You also follow Landon on Facebook, or on Twitter too.

OOAK 2013 Hot Holiday Picks

 for the past three years i have religiously attended the One of a Kind Christmas Show (#OOAKX13). each year it has been one of the best places to find unique and creative specialty gifts for anyone on your holiday shopping list. with well over hundreds of artisan to choose from, it's an inspiring event that will leave you feeling in the crafty spirit. going to a show like this gives you an opportunity to chat one-on-one with local Canadian artists about their craft and their creative process. as Canadian's we should be super proud of these talented individuals. personally, I love buying homemade artisan gifts for others. I think there is something so very touching about finding a gift that speaks to someone – that was made slowly and thoughtfully by hand.

if you are in need of holiday gift ideas, here are my top six picks for the season! 

1. PIETERSMA TINWORKS

did you know that historically tin tinsel was used on Christmas trees? designer Greg Pietersma did as he was learning the craft. after a few years he opened up a shop in Upper Canada selling not only tin tinsel, but these beautiful individually hand punched hurricane lanterns. with patterns including "the compass," "the bridal wreath" each design look stunning when lite indoors or outdoors to brighten a room.  

 2. AVRIL LORETI - MODERN HOME COLLECTION

Avril Loreti's entire collection of work is incredibly bright and colourful. I especially loved these tea towel calendars which sure you could use on a daily basis, but wouldn't they also look great draped on a wall in a home office, or a baby nursery to mark the year!

 3. MONKEY BUTTER

monkey butter is the very best new gourmet peanut butter in town (even suitable for vegetarians)! based in Vancouver a hard working trio creates these tasty treats in small batches with the utmost care. after taste testing flavors like maple bacon, white chocolate, blueberry, i dare you to just have one bite. 

4. CREATIONS LI 

artist and activist Wai-Yant creates these hilarious handle-less mugs. these slowly handcrafted eye catching creations are sure to warm the hearts of any guy or gal. I mean, how can you not love cups with teeny little faces. I mean come on!

5. GRAHAM BLAIR WOODCUTS

these woodcut prints are show stopper. based out of Newfoundland artist Graham Blair starts with a sketch that is then transferred to a wood block and then hand-carved out. following traditional Japanese methods each impression piece is then created by rubbing a bamboo spoon on the back of the block after it has been inked. due to the nature of the artwork most prints are limited editions. what a perfect conversation piece.

6. TEALISH LOOSE LEAF TEA

TeaLish is something that could be the stocking stuffer OR the perfect gift should you arrange a few options together. i literally could not walk by the booth without smelling  all the opened options. with beautiful packaging and award-winning teas, TeaLish will make seriously only coffee lover into a tea drinker.

The Holiday Card Collection

cyber monday has arrived and for those of you who don't already know i have a little online shop through Society6! With thanksgiving behind us all this is the perfect time to starting prepping for christmas. start decking those halls and picking out our christmas cards. this year why not check out my online shop and peruse my growing card collection which are perfect for this holiday season! today Society6 is offering free shipping worldwide so take a peak Society6/Oomphlove and hopefully something sparks your interest! happy online shopping!

Wallpapered Dining Accents

1 via, 2 via, 3 via, 4 via

in our home our main living room and formal dining area inhabit the same open space, and while i love the open concept, I do feel we need to better visually define these two areas. luckily, we have one short wall that backs against the hallway/entryway, and on the other side is this formal dining space we speak of. the eating area is very narrow in comparison to other homes with dining rooms, so we can't house extra furniture like a buffet or shelving without having guests bump into everything getting in and out of chairs. however, since you can't see the dining space from the hallway we thought why not take this opportunity to do a feature wall on the short wall. this way as you come around into the living/dining room, you will a) be surprised by the wallpaper accent and b) feel a separation between the open living space and intimate dining space. lots of people will argue that wallpapering is a huge hassle, but in fact wallpaper has recently made a serious come. especially some of the more mod style or art deco designs with metallic accents (think great gatsby style). there are a ton of options and price points to choose from and a variety of stores,. even pre-pasted wallpaper has gotten easier to hang than it was before. so really, why not give it a try.

i've been learning more and more that interior design is all about proportions, textures and colours, and great design is about how you cleverly play with the combination of those three. wallpapering is still one of the fastest and dramatic ways to transform a space. as much as some may advise that stenciling is easier (especially if you want to remove it later), wallpaper gives you that extra bit of texture that i just don't think you can always achieve with paint. besides, i'm not sure i have a steady enough hand needed to tackle stencils.

the one piece of advice I can give is make sure when you pick a wallpaper that you try and tie a few colour elements from the paper throughout the rest of the room. that isn't to say you can't do three white walls with an accent bold navy wallpaper, but if you do, be sure to incorporate a few elements of that navy in a few small accents around the room to help visually tie it all together.

so, i think we might just give this wallpapering a go! has anyone else used wallpaper recently or are thinking of a project? I would love to see and share any before and afters! 

helpful hint - need to remove old wallpaper first? use a mix of equal parts water and Windex in a spray bottle. then spray on surface and let sit for 1 -2 minutes, then take your scraper and voila! old wallpaper comes off easier than you could imagine.

The Winter Garden Party

this past weekend we closed what we like to think of as our homes first little garden. for anyone wondering what that means you can check it out here. sure it's small (ok, very small), and probably hilarious to some – but hey, it was our first attempt at creating a small space to grow some delicious bites. i think i can confidently say that neither my husband or i have a strong green thumb. let's be honest we have killed our fair share of house plants this past year (r.i.p. little ferns), but that is not going to stop us from trying to grow and even bigger garden... with big vegetables! we recently decided that we would take the winter months to grab books, google around, pinterest in an attempt to be "responsible" gardeners by making  a smart 3 year backyard plan. the house we bought fortunately has NO landscaping whatsoever. totally bare bones we're talking.  so of course that means my brain and notepad have been running  a mile a minute already.

^ our blank backyard slate, ready for the taking ^

pinterest images via

it feels so good to get ideas down on paper, but the real harsh truth is that even in brainstorming we both started to feel overwhelmed by what to do with this big empty space. we actually became stressed by the number of "we could do this" statements we were making (please tell me i am not alone in this feeling). we started to panic at the thought of where things would go, or what supplies we needed, how much sun certain plants required.  and to even add to that, how could we plan anything without some kind of visual of what we were working towards? being newly married is great, but newly married with your first house and home reno's is tricky. and now, newly married with first house, renos and trying to tackle a HUGE 3 year garden plan? I was already sweating the fights. so much so that i was starting to feeling concerned about how we would ever decide a final plan, since communicating what we each want can be difficult at the best of times. all of this then, of course, lead me to yet another online search, that thankfully brought me to the  SMALL BLUE PRINTER

this tool is seriously amazing. 

i totally suggest you download the free trial if you are thinking about any landscaping projects – big or small.

i quickly gave it a dry run the other day when i first found it and put together the snazzy backyard plan you see above. not only does it let you build an idea, BUT it also creates a shopping list of everything you will need including total quantities in order to make it happen. after finding this tool i immediately felt more at ease. i knew we could design visuals together that would no doubt make clear what the other was "seeing" in their mind. what i think i love even more is that we can create multiple plans from all our ideas which will better help us explore every option before making a decision – and this tool will save all your designs!  i should clarify that by saying we want to make a 3 year garden plan it's because we recognize that good gardens happen over longer periods of time, by learning what works and what doesn't, moving things around and with lots of trial and error. so now that i have found Small Blue Printer i am definitely looking forward to utilizing this online visual tool during the winter months, along with our books and notepads of ideas. watch out blank yard, just try and stop us now.

does anyone have any tried and true advice for landscaping? what about favourite low maintenance plants and flowers? vegetable gardens? the pinterest pictures above are a small sampling of inspirational ideas that i'm hoping to build into the plan. 
here is to being a daydreamer.

Four Pin-tastic Pumpkins

halloween is just around the corner. i don't even know where this month went! this is going to the first time i'm home for this holiday, so i'm dusting off my costume box, busting out some ears and getting ready to greet the new faces in our neighbourhood. in light of these upcoming festivities, i thought i would share a few pumpkin design ideas that are really getting me inspired for this holiday. now to choose which one i want to try.

via

 dab on some golf leaf to glam up your pumpkin by using a general glue adhesive. this design also be done with any basic gold paint either brushed on our dipped

via

add some scary accents like these vampire teeth from the dollar store costume isle. this little accent can go a long way for a scare factor 

via

the washi tape magic. this is likely the fastest and least dirty option. perhaps a good one for any last minute planners out there

via

 drilled pumpkins look even better when they are lit up against a house or porch at night. just create a simple repetitive pattern for an even stronger visual effect

Upcoming Trends for 2014

 (left to right) 1 via, 2 via, 3 via, 4 via, 5 via, 6 via, 7 via,  8 via

Worldwide colour authority and grandfather of consistency, Pantone, recently release it's Fashion Colour Report for Spring 2014 and these 10 above are the voted winners to watch out for. to those of you who might already follow colour trends you already know that Pantone release the colour of the year for 2013 which was Emerald.  for the spring report there is clearly a strong pairing between bright bold eye catching colours and softer more muted and delicate pastels. my personal favourite is by far the Hemlock choice. it's soft and fresh and just that little dab of retro that is so popular. we actually just painted our living room with this colour, not even knowing about this report, and i'm loving how this tone looks on a wall.  i know spring is still a few seasons away, but i'm already excited to see this colour palette hit the shelves, between home decor stores and fashion finds. which one is your favourite?

Check Me Out ... Checkers

one of my favourite games growing up was checkers and i realized recently that i don't have any board games of my own. in fact as an adult old school board games aren't something that i seem to have acquired, but i'm starting to think it might be fun to have. one night while cooking i saw my old burnt trivet that I had been meaning to throw out and this idea popped into my head. here is a simple, quick and resourceful diy travel game which can be made in less than an hour.

if you live in Canada you know that the penny is no longer something we can use, so this DIY project also helps you find a little useful purpose for those pennies you might find laying around the house. old buttons work just as well too in case you surprisingly have no pennies.

1. grab up all the supplies you will need as listed above 2. if you don't have an old burnt trivet like me, then a piece of cardboard or even the inside of a cereal box will work. 3. take your tape and mark out a grid pattern  4. take your brush and black paint and fill in the holes on the grid with one or two coats and allow that to dry completely. 5. remove the tape and fill in the remaining square holes with your white paint to complete the look of the grid pattern. helpful hint - if you want a sharper looking grid, take a black pen or marker and outline each square for a cleaner looking style 6. once your paint has dried grab your pennies or button, partner, popcorn and beverage and play a few rounds. A super great way to recycle, reduce and reuse (insert cheesy music with that last statement.. haha!).

Zara Home

all lookbook images are totally the credit of  Zara (via this link)

my posts don't normally warrant two in a day, but this one is definitely worth it. Zara Home just opened up it's first Canadian shop yesterday at Yorkdale Mall. holy hannah stop the presses, this just made my Friday! alsdkflskdflasdlskjf (how else do you show excitement via copy!!!) yes, that is right, now you can fill your home with all that stunning European glam that Zara has to offer. from a mix of bedding and towels, to what appears to be seriously stunning tableware and decor accessories, the company looks to be offering seasonal variety at affordable and reasonable prices. wait, it gets even better. you can also shop online! omg!!!! ok, so aside from making our annual-from-scratch-tomatoe-sauce-for-the-year this weekend with my new family, you can also find me at Yorkdale face planted in all this gorgeousness. swoon.

How to make someone happy.

How to make someone happy. Choose any one of the follow items above for guaranteed smile on Valentines day. For as much as some people like to moan and complain that this day is just for girls or is all about consumer greed, I propose thinking of it as a day to remind myself to appreciate others. It's not about the gifts or anything to do with money, it about doing something nice for someone else. It's generous acts of kindness that on a day-to-day basis we forget because we are all overly busy. Let it be a day to put yourself and your actions in check. Any of the ideas listed above are more thought than the price tag. Make someone breakfast in bed before they get up, take the time to paint or design a homemade postcard for a friend. Create hearts out of felt and put in a fun coupon or fortune for kids, or dip cherries in chocolate and enjoy them with a friend. For the extra adventurous reader,  mix and match all the items you see. Or even just do a random act of kindness for someone in need. Voila! Watch smiles grow and make your guts feel good on the inside. 

xoxox.

A Breakfast Nook

A lot of people have been asking to see updates on the new house and all the renovations. While I have ton of photography to sort through still, I thought I would start with one of my favourite spots. The house we bought was built int he 70's and while that isn't old enough for ultra cool vintage style architecture, it does have extremely unique elements of it's own. In the galley style kitchen there is a cute small window seat. The second I saw this unused space, I knew it was meant to become a lush, comfy breakfast nook. Perfect for early morning tea, newspaper reading and looking over the yard/huge tree covered space/ravine outside (it is quite the yard). I am obsessed with window seats. In fact, I think I love this house so very much mostly for this little area.  Next, bring on the paint! We decided to brighten up the room but adding a warm buttery tone. It is actually call Dijon ... perfect for a kitchen right?! (it's also my favourite mustard, so big bonus). The fitted red cushion adds a bit of a contrasting colour and some extra comfort for the "bottom". We may decide to change the red to a different shade later, but for now it fits well.  The seafoam  table is an old Cragislist find from my downtown apartment, that works perfectly in this small eat in space. The frosted glass top on the table also helps to reflect the overhead light into the nook area making it feel bright and more cozy. An effective design is one that should speak to as many senses as possible. Look to blend different textures, two or more colours and varying sizes. After a few days of working on this little space, it was now time to relax and enjoy it. I put on a fire in the newly cleaned fireplace (which I can also see from the kitchen nook - heavenly) and poured out some dark hot chocolate. 

The Art of Pulp Fashion

In celebration of Halloween just next week I wanted to share an individual, who to me, inspires innovative costume design. Isabelle de Borchgrave is a creative genius. I believe that few people in the world are as talented and/or clever as her. Isabelle's raw talent literally recreates history in a three dimensional art form by way of strips of paper and bowls of glue. This is exceptional artistry.

On a trip to San Fransisco I came across a street sign for an art exhibit called "Pulp Fashion" at the Legion of Honor Fine Arts Museum. After a brief cab ride up a very long hill with some amazing postcard views, I found myself at the museum. Let me start by saying that I'm a bit of a costume lover. No, let me try that again, I'm a bit of a costume snob. My heart flutters and melts at the sight of costumes. Ever since I was teeny weenie, I've always handmade my own, and attending special arts schools and studying theatre I spent a lot of my time working on my performance skills and the rest working in backstage costume shops. Costumes are a conversation. They are individual works of art that incorporate historical elements, emotions, methodical planning, visual interest and specific story telling skills. They are not just elements of fabric slapped on someone's body. Costumes, no matter what they are designed for, should never just stop at the clothing. They should incorporate the hair, the jewellery, the make-up and the accessories. Each piece handselected and/or recreated based on craftmanship and research. So much goes into making a truly well orchestrated costume.

Artist Isabelle de Borchgrave and her "pulp fashion" embodies all that costume design is (to me), but on a more innovative and heighten level. With her background in visual art and textile painting, she pays tribute to some of histories most famous fashion moments in exquisite detail out of mere sheets of well placed paper. She has created historical replicas – perfect in every detail – out of varieties of paper and acrylic paint. She has crafted shoes, jewellery and home decor, out of sheets of paper.  It's not just the visual that gets you when you see her work, it's the emotion, texture, the bends and folds,  hand painted patterns and braided layered elements, that you only notice over time that makes these creations so jaw dropping. Every detailed element, including the set design for her shows is custom-made of paper. I feel fortunate to have found the time to visit this exhibit, and am even more grateful for the gift shop coffee table picture book – my prized souvenir. I have to say, if there was ever a fire, one of the things I would surely be grabbing on my way out, is her design book.

The Broom Company

photo credit all goes to the shop: www.broomcompany.com

Because I've traveled a fair amount for business and personal exploration, I tend to try and look for something/someplace unique to visit on each trip. I figure that with the opportunity to travel comes the chance to taste something new, experience something new, or locate some very unique artisan shop and share it. Two years ago, before I started this blog, my work took me to Vancouver. During that trip I managed to squeak a little free time to explore Stanley Park and Granville Island. For anyone who hasn't  visited Vancouver, BC I highly suggest it becomes a "must explore" on your travel list. It's by far one of the most beautiful natural cities in Canada, with a strong connection to native history and the arts. In roaming the island I stumbled across a place called Granville Island Broom Company. Let me just start by saying that I can't begin to express my love for this little artisan shop...

Sister founders and owners, Mary and Sarah Schwieger, have created one of the more rare shops I've ever come across, transporting visitors back to a simpler time through the art of handwoven brooms. Upon entering the shop, you can do nothing but immediately take in the very soft wood smell and the immediate awe of old spindles and stacks of straw – not to mention the general allure and vast array of  brooms that decorate the walls in all shapes and sizes.  Folklore tells us that brooms have always been  a symbol of good luck around the world, sweeping away bad fortune and protecting against evil. Even the phrase “living over the brush” dates back to Europe in the 19th century when a couple would jump the broom to signify marriage if they could not afford a wedding. Some couples still incorporate the jumping of the broom in weddings today (and the shop does have beautiful marriage brooms) which history teaches us means that good luck and fortune will abound in their union.  There are also lengthy writings on broom superstitions which have gone on for centuries.

From cobwebbers, turkey wisks and scrub brushes, to good luck gifts for all occasions, you really can purchase practical household items that should last you a lifetime. This weekend I was fortunate to find myself back in Vancouver on business. Who knows, maybe it's just my love affair with the fall  and the fact that I'm always in BC during this season, that I've come to find myself so enamored with this little shop ... but I don't think so. Maybe it's the sister owners with their spark for conversation and true passion for this handmade craft ... but again I don't think so either. In fact, I know that the real reason I just can't get enough of this place is that in a time of mass production and product overload,  it's the magic of a truly rare find (like these) and the idea of simpler times that just keeps drawing me back. (www.broomcompany.com)

7 Thrify Steps

Take a moment to assess your neighbourhoods and the stores you are interested 

in. More often than not, thrift stores collect from their community members, so learn 
about  the cultures that reside in those areas, and/or the style of products that those 
stores seem to carry on a regular basis. So, if you are looking for a specific item, this will 
help to narrow down your list of stores.

Good thrift shopping takes time. If you are looking for a quick trip or a specific item, 

then this line of shopping isn't for you. Make sure you have time on your side. Plan 

an afternoon, go with some friends, pack a snack and pick up a coffee or tea. If you 

take the time to do the proper digging, you will not be disappointed. Also keep in mind 

that if you don't love it, don't buy it! Chances are there will be more interesting items

 to come!

Make sure you know what it is you need. Shopping is never a good idea with out a list. Keep

 in mind what you are looking for and when you see something you like try to envision 

it (all cleaned up) in your home or space.

Sometimes we see things that we don't even realize could be stunning after a little 

tender loving care. When thrift shopping, try and see past the chips, scratches or mix-matched colours. Keep an open mind and envision what you think it could look like. 

Focus on what makes it is that makes it an interesting piece.  Ask yourself, if this was all one 

colour what would I notice first? Often times what you find in a thrift store needs a

 little personalization once you bring it home, but it is in doing so that you really create the statement pieces that you'll come to love the most.

 This might just be the most important golden rule - know the schedule. Keep a notepad and 

pen with you when you start figuring out the stores you like to shop in.  By asking the 

staff, make a note of  when they typically bring out new product (most times it is 

during the week on a Tuesday or Thursday), and if/when they have sales or special 

events. This will help you to source out the best products before they get picked over.

When you start spending enough time digging through stores, you can sometimes get 

lucky and come across some very chic brands. Pay attention to the labels because 

not only may it be something that you find you love, it may also be worth something.

The real trick to good thrift store finding is to go often. The items you see will change 

hands frequently, so it is best to go hunting on a regular basis keeping in mind what 

the items are that you need or want.   

Happy hunting!