Vintage Collection Summer 2013

Here it is! Finally: my 2013 vintage summer collection is here! I'm really excited about these pretty pieces, and to share them with you! I'm just going to jump right into it:

My first piece is a 1980s yellow floral handmade sundress. It had a cut-out back and zipper along with a sash.

Next is a 1970s teal sundress. I'm unsure of the material. It zips up the back as well.

A BEAUTIFUL 1970s handmade pink gown, wonderful for a summer wedding!

Next is a 1970s handmade blue floral skirt, button down with pockets!

A 1990s button down floral skirt!

1990s Pleated skirt!

1960s Yellow Gingham apron with chicken cross stitch

And there we have it! I hope you enjoy these, they are all up in my shop right now!!

Please have a safe and wonderful memorial day weekend! Justin and I are going to a cookout down the road. I'm trying to decide what to wear. Pink Gingham sundress? Beige floral sundress? Any of my massive collection of sundresses? :)

Mondays

I swear, no amount of coffee or fresh blueberries will wake me up today. I barely got any sleep last night, and I work from 8 to 4:30. Is it bad that part of me is hoping this supposed thunderstorm knocks out the power at work so I can come home and sleep? I love my job but I'm just sooo tired....The average American workday is brutal. Did you know in Japan, falling asleep on the job is acceptable because it shows how hard you're working, and some Japanese people pretend to sleep so it seems like they're working harder than they really are? Why can't we have that rule?

Anyways, this week, beyond working my 8 hour days, is dedicated to photographing my Summer 2013 Vintage Collection! I'm really excited about it, and I'm hoping to have everything done by the weekend.

I'm also embarking on a "frugal living" sort of project. I don't know if my job is going to end up being seasonal or not, and I don't want to be up the creek without a paddle. I get paid weekly, so I'm experimenting with $100 dollars a week, minus when rent and bills are due. Honestly I don't think it's going to be that hard because I don't have TOO many expenses beyond rent and bills.

Well, I can't lollygag on my blog anymore. I gotta get ready and make myself look pretty. Hard to do when this humidity is making my hair look like a 1980s frizzed-out mullet-perm (I don't have a mullet, just lots of layers).

Summer 2013 Vintage Collection Sneak Peek!

Just a little tidbits of what's to come...

I hope you're as excited as I am!

Getting Things In Place

Okay, as it may have seemed from the last few posts, I'm not COMPLETELY crazy, just stuck in a rut.

So I did some meditating on the subject, and realized, I'm getting angry for all the wrong reasons! I keep blaming society's standard for how I'm living my life, but no one said I HAVE to live like that. Yeah, I have student loans to pay back, but there are so many ways to begin payments.

Justin and I are working together and making plans for our future. We think we have it figured out, but everyone says that. We have a shell of a plan and are saving up. I don't want to give away too much before anything happens, but I really think we've come up with a plan to make our lives better and to be happier.

I have been putting together my summer vintage collection for the past few weeks, and I am SO excited! I hope to have everything photographed and in the shop by next weekend. It's focused on a juxtaposition between hippy/girly and grungy. I'm stoked about it, for real, and I can't wait to share!

Today we had a homemade brunch! All I have is a blurry Iphone photo, and please excuse the messy table. We live in a VERY tiny place, and have been in the middle of cleaning/purging/rearranging so things are a bit cluttered. The window cleaner was not part of the brunch haha!

I made deviled eggs, bagels with cream cheese, ham, and onions, and prosciutto wrapped mozzarella. We also had blueberries, juice, and a spot of wine in place of mimosas. It was super yummy and a great start to Saturday. After we just laid around until it was time to run errands and clean.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Losing my mind, maybe?

I am the worst. No, not really, but I don't know why I'm so obsessed with change, starting fresh, blah blah blah. Maybe it stems from a lifetime of constantly moving from state to state and never really being able to keep a town for myself.

What am I getting at here? I feel like making a clean start with this blog, AGAIN!

in 2009 I opened Falling Fruits, my first Etsy shop, which featured my handmade stuff like scarves and hats and some vintage odds and ends. A year or two later I went into the vintage game full-swing and never really looked back. Last year I relaunched under InkFlower Vintage, and now I want to do it again. I want to keep my name but just...start.......over.......

What do I do? Delete old posts? Or should I just announce it? Maybe I'm going crazy (PMS will make a woman cray-cray) but a new phase of my life is beginning and this blog, though recently somewhat neglected, is really important to me, as is my shop. I'm staring at a folded stack of my newest products to put out soon, and wondering if I should just announce a clean start tomorrow when I hopefully have them photographed and ready to go.

Input? Advice? Words of wisdom? Ehrmahgerrd herrlp merrr!

Hi!

Whew! My third week at work has been crazy!
It's awesome to be working in my field though. I'm getting great experience and learning tons of new stuff!

The sale is still going on in my shop indefinitely. I really want to clear it out to make room for the new stuff I have, which is a lot!

I've been trying to organize my time lately and it's actually pretty difficult. I find myself regretting how lazy I'd become over my six months of unemployment. I feel like I'm stuck in the middle of a changing world - my changing world - and I don't know where to go from here. It's scary, but if I stay positive I think everything will work out just the way it's supposed to.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

New Job

Once again, it HAS been a while since I've blogged.

Mainly that's because I FINALLY scored a job. I am a graphic designer at VELUX America. It's been pretty great so far, but I've been constantly tired...trying to get into the swing of things.

Rest assured, InkFlower Vintage is not dead.

I'll be back soon!

Too Long!

I need to stop not blogging. Seriously.

Between scouring job listings, going on interviews, my new crush on Josh Gates (Destination Truth) and working with my internship at Asymmetrical Press, I've been pretty busy.

I wanted to check in and say that the sale is still going on in my shop. I want to clear everything out for a fresh start for Spring!

Pretty soon I hope to give a substantial update. Stay tuned!

Sale!

Hello everyone! I meant to have this up yesterday but the internet was being finicky and I am currently sick and did not have the energy to drive anywhere with WiFi.

So, I have some news...in an attempt to organize my shop even more (online AND here at my apartment) I am having a....SALE!!

So...enjoy the sale! Hopefully I'll be able to clear out enough stuff to make room for the new. I have so much stuff to add, and I just don't want it to seem cluttered.

Anyways, how is everyone's New Year going? Mine is going well, even though I'm sick at the moment and still unemployed...-sigh- I'm sure that will change soon enough. I hope all is well in your worlds!

Justin just made a wise crack at me for being lazy because I am a sick mess right now. Lets see how well he does in the mornings before he has to go to work if I DON'T get up an hour and a half before him to make coffee, do dishes, feed the cats and dog, and make him breakfast. Lets just see.

Love,

Stephanie

So This Is The New Year

And I don't feel any different...

Well, actually I do. I was just quoting Death Cab for Cutie. Anyways!

It's the third day of 2013 (though I will most likely be writing 2012 by accident for the next month) and I do feel a little different. Maybe it's because we all survived the December 21 apocalypse.

I stayed in for New Years, drank wine, and lit off sparklers from the back porch. Fireworks are illegal in North Carolina, but I'm so close to South Carolina I was able to see them in the distance from Lake Wylie. I felt so old because I was tired by nine and had to force myself to stay up to midnight.

Then it hit me, I'm going to be 24 this year.

...

It's just like...weird to me.

I'm currently trying to get my apartment organized. However, I did have a job interview yesterday and if I get it I'll be relocating anyway. It's still in Charlotte, but that's okay. I have a really good feeling about the job. I don't want to say too much yet, but I felt really welcome and comfortable in the office. The job itself seems really cool and interesting. The man I interviewed with was very kind and also had shared interests with me, such as playing guitar. It's always nice to talk about stuff that isn't the position at a job interview.

I haven't come up with resolutions yet. I know, I'm awful. And lazy. Well I do have one: Get healthier. I have a couple bad habits I need to break. I need to eat better and start working out. I think if I can come up with a plan, and stick to it, I'll be okay.

Does anyone else have resolutions they want to share?

I leave you with this photo of me from when I was seventeen and living in Illinois:

And this photo I took/manipulated in photoshop from that same day:

And this photo I didn't take and don't know the source:

Happy New Year!

I sincerely hope everyone had a fun and safe New Years!

Mine was great. Just stayed in, lit off sparklers, watched Archer, and drank wine. Low key and safe!

What did you do?

No one bought the skirt and slip combo, but they are both still up in my shop as separate items! Now, I don't know much yet, but I think I feel a sale coming on...

After a night of welcoming in the new year, today I clean the apartment and prepare for my job interview tomorrow. Wish me luck!