Friday, June 29, 2012

june's guest blogger!

this month's guest blogger is meghan! she is the founder and designer of swallow's heart - an amazing jewelry line that i am obsessed with. today she shares with us some great tips for thrifting :]

 
Hello! I’m Meghan from Swallow’s Heart. I’m a North Carolina girl at heart but currently live in southern Georgia with my sweet soldier husband and our two Siberian Husky puppies. I make whimsical vintage and nature inspired jewelry, and opened my own etsy shop last year. I love design, hiking, road trips, animals, and of course thrifting!
 
So, you know that feeling you get when you walk into a thrift shop (antique store, flea market, yard sale)? That feeling of potential, of never knowing what you’ll walk out with? These secondhand stores are my absolute favorite places to find unique and inexpensive items – items that nobody else will have. Anytime I travel to a new town, I love to check out the thrift shops. It instantly makes me feel more like a local. I’m definitely no expert when it comes to thrifting, but I’ve definitely learned a lot over the years... so I’m really excited to share a few simple tips that I’ve learned over the years that have changed the way I shop at thrift stores.
 
 
Get inspired. Before I hit up my favorite thrift shops, I take a quick look at my Pinterest boards – just as a refresher for projects on my to-do list. Let’s be honest, you’re probably not going to actually make all of those pinned DIY projects unless you can find the materials for cheap, right? If you’re like me, you’ve pinned lots and lots of project ideas, but easily forget about them when you’re shopping. So, get in that inspired-state-of-mind before you walk out the door.
 

Make a list. From those Pinterest boards (or wherever else you stockpile inspiration), write down a few of your favorite projects that you want to tackle. Fold it up and take it with you. After way too many overwhelming encounters at thrift shops, I began taking lists, and my trips became not only more focused but also more productive! Taking lists also helps me to stay on track and not buy excessively. ;) Remember, just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you actually need it (or will wear it).
 
 
...But don’t be too boxed in. Take your lists, but don’t be limited to just that. The beauty (or curse?) of thrift stores is never knowing what you’ll find, so be open to the inspiration that comes naturally while you’re shopping. If you have an idea for something and the price is right, go for it!
 

Know your style. Although I’m always on the hunt for new projects, I also have a “default setting” at thrift stores... no matter where I’m at, I always check for certain things – like milk glass, vintage linens, maps, mason jars, vintage plates, old tins, and vintage jewelry (both to wear and to use in my own designs). These are things that I collect – my “regulars” – so by now I know to always keep an eye out for them. The more you go thrifting, the more you will learn your favorite go-to items.
 

Take your time. Thrift stores are FULL of amazing finds but sometimes you have to really take your time and pursue the hunt! I know this may be an obvious tip, but really, when I’m in the thrifting mode, I take my sweet time. Rummage, rummage, rummage through that junk! We had been on the lookout for old hymnals forevvvver, and one day found a few stacked under other books. Thrift store items are usually not organized very well, which means you have to do the work (part of what makes it so cheap!).
 

Hit or miss. More times than not, I walk out of a thrift store empty-handed. Try not to be discouraged if you have a few bad luck shopping trips. Thrift stores are always being restocked and reorganized, so you have to keep checking back every week or two. Saving a few bucks and finding unique items is worth the hit-or-miss aspect of secondhand stores, so don’t give up!
 
There are lots more tips out there (like bringing cash and dressing comfortably), but these are just the top six tips that usually work for me. I must walk into a thrift store with the right mentality (those lists!) if I’m even going to have a chance at a successful trip. I hope these tips are helpful in your next thrifting adventure. If anyone else has any other thrifting tips, I’d love to hear!
 
Well, thanks so much for letting me share a few of my simple thrifting tips with y’all! And thank you, Tabitha, for inviting me to be a guest writer on your lovely creative and unique blog. I was excited and honored to write about one of my most favorite hobbies.
 
Here’s to a weekend of thrifting! ;)

want to know more about meghan? follow her blog & her pinterest page!

Monday, June 25, 2012

short hiatus.


if you follow my facebook, twitter or instagram, you more than likely already know that i am moving. 

for the past couple months, a. and i have been looking to move to the southeast area. charlotte [one of the most liberal cities in NC] was definitely our number one choice, but we were looking in the TN/GA/SC areas, too - anywhere with warm weather & nice folks.

well, luck has it that adam ended up getting a managerial position in our dream city of charlotte! and we have less than a week to pack up our apartment & move down there. eek! pressure's on.

so i just wanted to let my readers know that i will be posting a guest blog post & then the site will be on a short hiatus.

but don't worry, i'll be back sometime in july ;]

wish us luck! <3 

music monday.

hello, loves!

happy monday :]

i have an extremely busy/crazy/stressful week ahead of me, so today calls for lots of coffee & upbeat music. here we go!


fall out boy ~ xo

Friday, June 22, 2012

recap friday.

 



last night's event was such a success! everyone loved 'the great artsby' theme & they were all dressed perfectly :] 
the best part? we raised money for an amazing organization & had fun doing it! thanks again to everyone for all their hard work <3 

Thursday, June 21, 2012

current obsession.

the great gatsby!

gatsby-inspired

tonight is the night of open studio project's annual fundraiser, artopia - this year named 'the great artsby'. i chose a great gatsby theme for the event & am so excited to see how it turns out! i'm anticipating lots of pearls, sequins, fedoras & feathers :]

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

walk for a cause.



on sunday i participated in my first 5K walk :]

every year the community of evanston puts on a 'race against hate' to remember the basketball coach that was murdered by a white supremacist in 1999. there was an amazing turnout this year!


and despite the humidity & my nagging cold, i finished the walk in under an hour! 
i was pretty proud of myself :]


now i can cross 'walk for a cause' off my list

Monday, June 18, 2012

music monday.

happy monday!

i am spending this monday in bed, trying to recover from a nasty cold. i'll be napping, catching up on some lovely blogs, watching SMASH & listening to miss regina spektor's album on repeat. it's amazing.

this song is my one of my favorites off the album. and the video is so sweet. hope you enjoy it as much as i do <3 


regina spektor ~ call them brothers

Friday, June 15, 2012

recap friday.

happy friday!

here are some instagram shots of the past couple weeks :]




1. driving back from a weekend in michigan.

2. a latte & a new book.

3. causing a lil' raucous with my friend, jenny d :]

4. finn being such a cute napper.

5. photo booth at tommy & emma's wedding.

6. an outfit of the day picture.


have a great weekend <3 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

blogger's block.

i am having the worst case of blogger's block...

so i'm just going to post a bunch of pretty pictures.

k, guys?

thanks for understanding.

<3 


via piccsy


via my pinterest foto board


Monday, June 11, 2012

music monday.

happy monday, dears.

today has been a busy, crazy day thus far... i feel the need for a pick-me-up song to keep me going. so here's something upbeat from electric guest :]

enjoy!


electric guest ~ this head i hold

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

current obsession.

shoes!

summer sandals.

baby blue madison harding sandals via amazon / gray wedges via target / lady-like teal wedges via modcloth / orange mymu wedges / gold leather sandals via asos / white & tan thong sandals via lulu's / coral espadrilles via j.crew

well, shoes aren't really a current obsession - they're more like an ongoing obsession ;] but these summer sandals are inspiring me in all sorts of ways. i mean, all beautiful fashion inspires me. the feel of the materials, the blend of the colors, the feeling you have when you wear it... it's just wonderful.

isn't it great being a girl? <3 

Monday, June 4, 2012

just a quick note ...

... about the birthday present i got myself!


this peace ring was handmade by the amazing madison - who lives in chicago. she blogs about pretty things, and makes even prettier things. to see more of her jewelry, go here :)

i just adore my ring. it goes well with my dream/hope/wish/believe ring on my middle finger, don't you think? it's always nice to have some optimism on your hands <3 

music monday.

happy monday, lovelies :]

rufus wainwright has a new album that i am in love with. this is a single off of it.. and rumor is, it's about rashida jones treatin' him wrong. poor rufus!



rufus wainwright ~ rashida

Friday, June 1, 2012

vintage finds.

no recap friday today, folks!

instead, i want to show you some of the vintage finds i added to my etsy shop :]



the items that are added to my shop are fun things i've found while thrifting. hopefully you'll like them as much as i did when i found them!

have a great friday <3 

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