Tamara

self-protrait

Tamara Lempicka

I've been obsessing a bit over Tamara Lempicka lately, the first "glamorous artist". Though familiar with her work for years I really didn't know much of her life and wasn't prompted to until I read a quote by her regarding her "Self-Portrait".  It depicts her driving a green Bugatti, when in fact in real life she drived a yellow Renault.  When asked about this she responded, "What is important is I dressed like the car and the car dressed like me".   And with that answer I totally got her and a new appreciation and perspective was gained.

I'm Having an Affair

With another stain stick. I was so sure the Tide 2 Go pen was the one, and I admit I was committed to the very end until one fateful day I went to the store and they were out of the Tide 2 Go pens.  And that is when I met:

And since then I haven't looked back.  Funny how relationships are. The Oxiout pen is by the people who make Oxiclean. I had some spots instantly and effortlessly disappear like the stains seem to do in the infomercial.  Results I had not gotten with Tide 2 Go. 

The Oxiout has a fabric applicator which makes for a delicate application unlike the Tide 2 Go's hard plastic tip. The fabric applicator however is also a minus, because after awhile it falls off or even sooner if you are little too aggressive w/ a stain.  The only other con to note is the Oxiclean pen is not as easy to find in stores as the Tide 2 Go.  Locate a retailer or order online from their website.  

Now I know I don't need to tell you how awesome these are for testing stains on items at thrift stores before committing to purchasing them so best to stock up!

Crazy Sweater Seller

Basic sweater design just hasn't been doing it for me lately. Above represents my latest buying trend when it comes to sweaters. The more oversized, asymmetrical, deconstructed, abstract and sculptural the better. Nothing wrong with a classic cardigan, afterall it is a classic, and because of that fact makes it an easy concept to sell.  Great for making money but ultimately not very stimulating for me as a shop owner.  I like presenting things that for most shopkeepers are not obvious sells.

Most of the sweaters shown are already available in the shop in case you were wondering.

If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?





This past weekend we rebelled against the natural order of things and went to the beach. Sure it was 30 degrees and the sand cracked like ice under my feet, but tyranny like Mother Nature's need to be stood up to. I will not submit to this winter any longer, I am summoning Spring.

The Bears and the Bees

A hive of bees and a sleuth of bears hungry for honey...doesn't look as if it's going to end very well for the bears. The 1970s came out with some great graphic sweaters and I've had the good fortune of finding quite a bit of them lately.  This particular one coming to the shop soon.

Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty.

The above quote is what came to mind when I thought about writing this entry.  But for the sake of keeping the content fresh here, I present my 2011 resolutions/goals(12 days in):

1. Stop selling my vintage....no clue how I am going to do this, I might have to win the lottery.
2. Actually keep track of my deductible mileage(along w/ other business expenses)
3. Get the twins potty trained...we are so far behind on this.
4. Give http://www.thechurchofvintage.com/ a face.
5. Get my European passport, I'm eligible because I have relations in Greece. So why not right?
6. Take a vacation this year, a week at the beach an hour away would work.
7. Finish the house! But I will settle for a kitchen that has a refrigerator on the same floor.
8. Go to the longest yard sale in the world. As well as a few other rather large out of state flea markets.
9. Take the house back from the vintage....almost every single room has a work station that includes a pile a vintage....people don't live here, vintage does.
10. Be a good person.  Seems trite but it's actually something I am conscious of daily. I want to be a positive person and only emit positive ideas and energy as much as I can. Which is rather hard because I do have a rather cynical outlook on society accompanied by a biting anger that hits me in the gut from time to time, but I am working hard not to succumb to it,  afterall my children are watching and learning from me.

I'm humming it right now

New Year's means more than just resolutions and Twilight Zone marathons at my house. It also means that the lottery opens up for Antique Roadshow Tickets!!!

Every year it's marked on my calendar and every New Year's Eve while Dick Clark is on and for the next week I'm humming that familiar Roadshow theme song.....heck I'm doing it right now as I type.   The hubs and I went two years ago when they came to Atlantic City, stood in line for hours waiting to have our things appraised but really you go just to take in and oggle at everyone elses stuff and of course try and get lucky with a Keno brother.....I think it's the novelty of them being antique appraising twins is what does it for me really.



Twins!

 Tickets are free, but  given out randomly. The closest city to us this year is Pittsburgh so we are shooting for that one.

In other news,  after just over two years and two Mike's Hard Lemonades later I am proud to declare The Church of Vintage on Etsy FINALLY has a banner....well sort of, the name is missing from it (knew I should have had third bottle of Mike's), but it is better than nothing. Sort of gives the feel of looking through a window or maybe more like the slats of a mini blind, still sort of pretty. If anyone asks though I meant it to look that way;)