Most of you know of my love/hate relationship with Etsy.  I mean I really do enjoy finding good stuff on the site, but I just find the search so much less fulfilling than a good thrift shop dig.  So many stores and goods and no tactile experience–it always leaves me wanting for more.  Every couple of weeks though, I try to spend some time finding new shops to follow and if I’m lucky a new little something-something.

Last night was my Etsy night.  I choose to plunge in and keep my search terms very vague so I could cast a wide net. I went with the generic “mid century modern” and wow, that term sure delivered page upon page of loveliness.  One store, in particular, caught my eye and it’s called The Sunday Times Market.  The couple that host the shop sound just about as cute as can be and if they lived in Chicago, I would totally make them my friends (even though they don’t like kimchi!)

I picked a few of my favorites from their line-up; but with all the colors, quality vintage and amazing photography you will see that it was hard to choose just four items!!!  I also suggest that you check out their site for good measure.

p.s. My coffee press broke this morning (again?!?) I had to use a sieve to drain my stinkin’ coffee. Why does this keep happening to me?

Oh Hello again, Monday–It has been too long.

So next month is chocked full of big milestones for me; it is my 30th birthday and my 1st wedding anniversary and both fall on the same week as Thanksgiving!  (My favorite holiday.  I think because it always meant presents for me and not everyone else. ha!)  With all these big events coming up…the question is whatever will I wear to commemorate such events?  I mean the death of my 20’s does not happen everyday and celebrating the passing of one year of marriage (Matt and I are lucky to come out alive.)  It is time to get our party faces on!

In order to get inspiration I obviously decided to look into my Mad Men vault.  I mean fancy dinners and big celebrations call for a little retro decadence, right?  I really want something unique so my usual go-to’s of Forever, Target and the Maxx just won’t do.  I want something where a girdle is required and I need a team to strap me in.  I remembered some lovely patterns on @ampersandwich’s Etsy store.  Ahh, perfect!  Now if you have read my bio, you know this level of sewing, especially with a vintage pattern (they are not meant for doh doh’s like me), would not be an easy task, but hmmm…an occasion such as this could warrant sourcing fabric and taking it to a seamstress, no?  I think so.

I can’t decide if I want a little Betty style, all frilly and poufy and pretty or a little Joan (remember I will have a girdle on) all tight and sexy?  I think my favorite, Peggy, will need to stay home—even though she is upping her game now.  Below are a couple of initial picks.  I am thinking bright royal blue fabric and red lips. Thoughts?

Twitter really has been my saving grace when it comes to finding amazing stores on Etsy.  The site is a gold mine of loveliness, but there is so much fool’s gold that you need to dig through to find the real deal…I can’t say I always have the time or patience to do that.  Instead I do my weekly key searches and then I rely on my lovely twitter gals to help me out. Yesterday I clicked on a rare and delectable treasure….

And that treasure is Hindsvik! The store is run by a couple who appear to have my taste/style, only way better.  They like clocks, lamps and the color blue, so I like them!  They also are such a prime example of what I like in an Etsy shop; great lighting, clear photos, simple props and quality products.  So to you Hindsvik, I say HIGH FIVE!

Find  a couple of my top picks from their shop below:

Now you know that I just love a well-made dress, but do you know what I love more than that?  A well-made dress, sewn by hand with vintage reclaimed fabric at an affordable price.  Doesn’t that just get you so excited?  I love to think of who owned the fabric before and what it’s original intent was meant to be.  An apron, a tablecloth, curtains?

I found Call Me Captain on Etsy over the weekend and I just fell in love with her vintage inspired designs.  I also love that vintage fabric is being used to form the looks, it makes it feel more authentic.  Although the slight update of shorter hemlines and a more modern waistline can’t hurt either.  This gal also does custom orders, so you can skip that trip to the tailor altogether and have one of these gems made just for your beautiful curves.  I have a huge box full of old fabric that I basically call my wishful thinking box.  I know how to sew, I know what I like and what looks good on my body, but actually sewing an entire dress would take me years.  I currently have a lined wool skirt that I made for my friend Annie 2 years ago for her birthday and um…I never finished the hem.  Seriously?  Yup…that skirt has moved 4 times with me.  I am so ridiculous, which is why I need to stop pretending that I “could” make a dress like this an just pay a talented, professional person like Rachel of Call me Captain and call it a day!

Hello All,  It has been just a crazy month, don’t you agree?  The transitional month between seasons always throws me off schedule and to top it off I am doing a detox this week and next, which has completely confused my body.  Where are the carbs? The coffee? The cheese?  Not in my belly is where. *sigh* It’s good though, my body needed a little break from the gluttony and my skin is already starting to get a fresh glow!

So in honor of craziness, I give you my random retro selections, courtesy of Etsy!
I am STILL dreaming of my apartment being completely finished, which will probably never happen but this coffee table would be a good start.  I love the two-tone inlay on the top!

The sofa is still TBD, as the hubby and I really can’t agree on a style or color.  Let’s just visualize an aqua or pale blue one with these fun hot pink throw pillows!  I can’t wait to curl up and watch movies.  The one cushion allowance per person on the love seat is just not cutting the mustard—a gal needs space.

Now when you have a cute apartment, obviously it is your duty to entertain in said abode.  So here are a couple of additional accoutrement’s to include; this nifty little coffee pot and linens.  Hand towels to table cloths…I just love cotton in the kitchen and on the table.

Ahhh…beautiful Monday, here again.  I must admit that I am pretty excited for tights, sweaters and boots.  Fall is my favorite time of year and to tie my two favorite things together I am giving you some fall “Mad Men” style ideas.  As promised, I looked for some Betty-ish dresses.  Now these may be a little more season 1-2, but I think they are her nonetheless.

The shoes are the most amazing rich chocolate brown with a petite, kitten heel.  I presume these could be worn to walk to work, kept on all day and then they could carry you right into a little wine bar.  They would be adorable and appropriate at all avenues of a working gals’ day! (Sidebar: I actually was going to purchase these, but my insole is too high?  Have you ever heard of such a thing? My small block, flintstone feet stick again!?!)

Now, I could not decide between these two dresses so I chose to include them both.  The floral patterned fabrics, form fitted waists, sleeve lengths and amazing condition of both of these  numbers completed drew me in. The belted gal feels a little more work or Sunday entertaining, while the 3/4 sleeve could be dressed up for dinner or  a casual fall wedding.

I found all of these on the Etsy site for DearGolden Vintage.

Click the images to find the sale or follow her on twitter @deargolden.

The popularity of Etsy has started to make it very difficult to find the “real goods”.  I have spent hours trying different keyword combinations to find cute, tailored clothing only to realize that I found a handful of lovely designers that charge $200 per handmade dress.  oy!  Recently I have tried to change my search and destroy methods by using my peeps on twitter.  If you follow gals with similar style, chances are good they will post links that you will enjoy. With that said I must introduce you to Patricia Valery a.k.a. Evil Needles.

Patricia hand makes all of her clothing and still manages to be affordable, I love that!  Her clothing is tailored without being high maintenance or fussy (so I think the washing machine should be safe for most of these cotton blends) and the fall color combinations are right up my alley.  The teal, olive, red and leopard prints make me want to put on some tights and a three-quarter sleeve jacket and walk through a pile of leaves during sunset. (obviously in a very glamorous fashion shoot kind of way.)

Oh, did I mention that she also designs some of the ladies merch for Reverend Horton Heat?  *swoon*  You must check out her Etsy store, as this is one gal that does not blend in the DIY crowd.

Sadly it is Monday, (again?!) but happily it is also Mad Men Monday!  I will continue to post Mad Men inspired posts from both vintage and new shops for the rest of the season.  Last week I highlighted that cute little pink tweed number and this week I have an amazing vintage vendor to highlight.  When it comes to sourcing clothing for posts, I have found twitter to be such an amazing tool. For example I found the lovely @nodtomodvintage via another twitter peeps #Follow Friday and this brown dress won me over.

The blue dress might be pulling a little more mid-sixties, but it’s so stinkin’ cute I couldn’t not include it.  Please let me know if you have an inclusions for upcoming Mad Men Mondays.  I am really enjoying these.  Oh and last week I rocked a very Peggy dress to work to celebrate the first Budget Retro Mad Men Monday.  I will post it next week and take a vote on if you think it is work appropriate or if I look like a 10 year old. ha!

I love the shear top and the beautiful pleating and this is the perfect length to avoid weird looking calves.  My only thought is that this beautiful model is actually too thin to show the true lines of this wiggle dress, so if you have some curves show them off with this dress.

The collar and cuffs drew me in on this one and this color blue is my favorite color.  I love deep royal blue on brunette’s, it’s very complementary. Both dresses are from NodtoModvintage on Etsy.  Click the images to check out the store.

I thought I should show a little patriotism, through style, on this fine day.  I love the 4th of July and have fond memories of this holiday from my childhood, so here’s to Red, White and Blue!

Click the images for the direct Etsy links!