Consolidation

Consolidation has been on my mind for a couple of months now. I've been cleaning and organizing my room like a mad woman, often for hours at a time. As such, I've decided to combine the primary 2 blogs that I've been writing. In the immortal words of myself (that I wrote just a few minutes ago on my other blog):

"For a little over a year, now, I've been concurrently writing 2 blogs (besides the horrifying story blog that Dana and I write). I had initially thought that Bow Ties and Bandits would be my personal blog for friends and family, while Pastiche would be my blog focused on thrifty treasures and tips. But I've come to realize, that really, there's no separating the two. Thrift ("vintage", if you're feeling pretentious) shopping and creating unique pieces from previously unloved pieces is an integral part of my life and vice versa."

Therefore, things are about to get more personal. Not too personal of course. I'm still a cold-hearted shell of a person, after all.
Not too much will change. I did bring over my reading list from my other blog, but that's about it.

And here we go.

Vintage Sale Finds! Pt. 1--Concord

Well, all in all, I think the first Vintage Sale Weekend of the month was a rousing success. I've decided to split this experience into 2 parts. Today, Part 1--Clothing. I only wound up buying the last item(s) on here. But I documented a whole bunch of other clothes that were there. Just for you.
There were gaudy 70's clothes that I made my hands crawl just thinking about touching them.

One leather pair of shorts once belonging to Daisy Duke.

One white dress that was too stained to buy but I can absolutely duplicate the pattern of.

1940's jungle print dresses that I would have bought in a heartbeat if I hadn't already spent way too much money the day before.

And finally, ridiculously adorable gloves that I bought for $2.

And kudos to Jenn, Lauren, and Seth for hustling themselves out there to join me. A vintage sale without friends is nothing at all.

Vintage Sale

I would love to not post this and just keep everything for myself, but I'm feeling benevolent today.

Hospice Foundation of The East Bay

VINTAGE SALE!!!!

Vintage Clothing, Jewelry, Linens,
Accessories and Collectibles

We are having our annual Vintage Sale
at all of our Thrift Shoppe locations!

October 8th, 9th, 10th

Hospice Thrift Shoppe - Concord
5350 Clayton Road
Concord (925) 674-9072

Hospice Thrift Shoppe - Danville
444 Diablo Road
Danville (925) 838-7697

October 15th, 16th, 17th

Hospice Thrift Shoppe - Alamo
3162 Danville Boulevard, Suite A
(Stone Valley Plaza)
Alamo (925) 820-6525

Hospice Boutique Thrift Shoppe - Walnut Creek
1345 Newell Avenue - A
Walnut Creek (925) 947-1064

October 22nd, 23rd, 24th

Hospice Thrift Shoppe - Antioch
2742 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch (925) 777-0866

Hospice Boutique Thrift Shoppe - Dublin
7381 Amador Valley Boulevard
Dublin (925) 875-9976

Friday and Saturday, 10 - 5 pm
Sunday, 12 - 5 pm

Most items will be reduced by 50%
on the last sale day at each store.

Guest Blog #1 (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Bought: Umbrella
Price: I can't tell you because it was a gift
Place: Anna's Attic
Model: Dana
Photographer: Stephanie Horvilleur, whom I've never met but whose site is here
Question: I wonder how many of these one-liners I can include before it becomes obsolete and irritating.
Answer: 7

So I'm kind of cheating with this post. Technically, I still bought that umbrella for Dana as a present, but it's no longer mine so I'm going to include this as GUEST BLOG # 1!!!!!!!!!! This is so exciting. If you want to be guest blogged, send me your picture and all your info and I'll post it.

I feel like I need to say something (and no, it's not why I've wasted a month's time not posting. Leave me alone). Thrift stores make awesome places to gift shop.

A. People don't need to know things are used (*wink*).
B. You find quirky things there (e.g. pictures, statues, canes, etc...).
C. You find gross things there (this isn't so much for friend-gifting, as for enemy-gifting).
D. VINTAGE. That's where I got this bumbrella. Anna's Attic has the absolute best vintage sales. But if you start going there and buying up everything I want to buy, well...see point C.






Seriously. Email me your pictures/stories with where you got it and for how much @ kaymay88@gmail.com. Or write it yourself (and I'll just supplement)! Or if we're Facebook friendsies, there too!

Friendly Bit of Advice #2: Don't Get Pigeonholed

Bought: Four vintage suitcases
Price: $25 for the set
Store: Teen Challenge, Concord

There's more than just outdated clothes at thrift stores. Oh sorry. Let's be politically correct. "Vintage Shops."

Keep your eyes (and your mind) open for unique pieces with which to decorate. I've found incredible things in the home section (just walk straight past the used silverware without stopping to think about whose filthy lips were on those) that I wouldn't have been able to find anywhere else!

Being extremely narcissistic, I love buying one-of-a-kind pieces. And where else can you get those cheap than a thrift...mmm..."vintage" store?

Correct answer: Nowhere.

Here's What I'm Thinking...

I've been shopping at thrift stores as long as I can remember. Way before vintage became cool again. Plus, I've been getting complimented on things that I've found at thrift stores for just as long. But one of the things that I've also found is that a lot of people struggle with finding amazing things when they go thrifting for themselves(the term I will use henceforth for the act of thrift store shopping).

So I've decided the best way to address this is a blog detailing some of my own personal thrifting guidelines. I'm also going to be adding pictures of some of my favorite finds, mostly clothes, but maybe even some of the bizarre things that I just couldn't resist getting.

So...let's see how this goes!

Kelly