just a few clothing upgrades

i have lots of things i've been making lately, that i'd love to share, but it's a matter of taking pictures and uploading them and all... and i've been taking things really slow with my new mac, so i haven't exactly figured out how to upload pictures from my nice camera yet.. in fact, the ones from today's post were emailed from mr. o's laptop. kind of a drag! what's up with no memory card slot?! ugh..

anyways, there are a few things i do have pictures of. first of all, three of my cardigans that i have replaced the mundane original buttons on. it all started when i saw the adorable buttons at harmony, and  i have to say that i love these sweaters so much more with their new "bling".
(**you should really click that last link!!)

and then.. i found a super cute pair of jeans at the thrift store, however they were a few sizes too big and several inches too long, but a really great price. i debated about getting them, whether i wanted to try altering them and if i thought they'd turn out, and i finally just went for it..

and so here is the before. they don't look too bad here, but that's because i chose the best picture. from straight on they made my legs look huge!

a few hours later, after several attempts, repeated trying-ons, and lots of unpicking, here is the after:

i kind of looked around at a couple tutorials, but mostly winged it. i am sure that following a tutorial of some sort would be better, because i did a lot of unpicking!

but i am pretty happy with how they turned out, although i have learned that skinny jeans really should have some stretch to them, which these don't!

have you ever altered jeans? has it been successful?

blame it on instagram

i've been lazy around here, and i blame it all on instagram..
it's just so easy: take a picture, write a caption, and you're done!
and since i've been skating along on easy street, i thought i'd just take the same route here, rather than letting the dust gather... so, i present a few of my favorite instagram pictures:

i love cozying up next to my heater in my studio downstairs in the cold basement.. but not as much as the boys do! i think i have finally trained them to ASK, first, though! one melted toy is enough..
(just decided to call it a studio, sounds pretty legit, right?!)

 i am a sucker for crocheted afghans. these colors!

finny loves this fox hat he got for christmas! he knows he looks adorable in it, and uses that to his advantage.

 a little something i got for the boys (only under supervision) to play with.. gotta love ebay!

they are always raiding my closet and bringing out the roller skates!

sweet sleeping finn. he is always getting in our bed at night, and getting away with it based on a combination of his learned sneakiness, and our weakness for him, as well as the rationalization that the middle child needs a little extra.

darling miles. this boy is something special. he has my heart!

i learned how to make friendship bracelets for a church activity.. the boys wanted some, and they've been wearing them for weeks now!

since i had bought the string, i went ahead and covered my earphones, too!

 finn discovered the gnome hat, and adopted it! makes me happy.

animal tails! finn begged me to make him a racoon, and this is what we ended up with.

masks as well. finn has been wearing his pretty much every day!

and here we have an example of why thrift store purchases are always risky. first time i bought a puzzle second-hand, and probably the last. they are there for a reason!
(but, it's so cute!!)

this car.. i love it so much! but it has been giving us lots of trouble lately. mr. o is about ready to push it off a cliff. if he does, i just might go after it! (with a parachute pack, of course)

so, are you on instagram? do you love it, too?
i have an extra device, just to get on there (an old droid with no phone service). now i just need to figure out how to upload pictures to blogger straight from the droid, instead of emailing them to myself, and the downloading, and then uploading.. turns out not quite easy street to re-post here!

vintage happy- finn & leo

with miles being in school all day this year, these two have had an opportunity to bond more. i love to see the two of them together, getting along. it is even cuter and more endearing when they are wearing their striped vintage polyester shirts!

leo was so much more cooperative, letting me take pictures of him on a recent shopping trip to ikea. finn, on the other hand, wouldn't stay put. i can't blame him, since we were right by smalland where they had a movie playing and trains to play with!

these little shirts are so BOY! i am so glad my boys let me dress them up, i know it won't last, so i am taking full advantage now!

vintage happy- finn

 i love when i find vintage clothing big enough to fit my older boys. these blue corduroy overalls were one of those really exciting finds, especially when i saw they would fit finn!
i think he looks so adorable in them, and i hope they can last to fit leo as well.

shop update

so, i've been listing lots of super cute vintage things in my etsy shop lately.

i've also been selling them! it's been a long time since i've been going to the post office so much. i am by no means a top seller, but i think selling vintage on etsy is a lot more marketable than handmade. at least for the time being, it doesn't seem so easy to get lost!
my philosophy is to find great stuff and sell it at a reasonably low price, so most of the stuff in my shop is under ten dollars.
and, it gives me a good excuse to snag the really-extra-cute stuff i find thrifting!

vintage happy- finn

 i found this awesome shirt when i was thrifting a couple of years ago, and snagged it for miles. i think it was the same trip that i also found a rockin' grandpa cardigan that pairs so well with it, but i couldn't make finn wear that in the summer, no matter how cool it looks!

 i love the big, pointy collar on this shirt, it's so seventies! (and i love finn's looooong eyelashes!)

funny thing- both miles and finn have wanted to grow their hair out at this age. we figure it's a pretty safe age for it, and i have to admit it looks awesome with funny old clothes!

 i love the print on this shirt! it reminds me of the wallpaper in my grandparent's living room- it had similar colors and little scenes with trees throughout.

even though it's long sleeved, it's super thin (almost see-through) so a great weight for summer. i'll have to post a picture of him with the sweater when the weather cools off!

although, we are not hurrying this summer-- first grade is already looming large for miles!
what was i worried about kindergarten for??

got one!

 we got a camper.
hooray!
it's not an airstream, but still...

 (love the retro awning!)

consider these "before" pictures- at least as far as the interior is concerned! i have grand plans of covering all of the boring (to put it nicely) upholstery, but until that happens, some new decorations are in order.
i've already had lots of fun thrifting new housewares!

 

 

 

i'll also admit to buying these cute orange dishes from etsy, before we even found a camp trailer! i told you i was excited.. furnishing it is my favorite part!
(i'm borrowing the photo from the shop i got them from)

i have grand plans of traveling to all sorts of national parks, relatives houses (watch out!), beaches, etc.
let's just hope that gas prices go down, and leo learns to sleep better!

lately

leo was my shopping buddy at the antique store. i had to get that little sweater (and horse) for him!

we got finn an awesome new sweatband to keep his shaggy hair out of his face- this one is so perfect for him! too bad he never wears it for long.

he wanted to show it to the tiger at the bean museum.

fun with clay

yeah- that's my awesome boy running around in pajamas with a cape and a box on his head!

miles made this masterpiece out of my old thrifting treasure (after i found another complete one). i love it! 


what have you been up to lately?