A plaid hobo...

Well, hello again!

Who knew that I could not only buy clothes at the thrift store to use as fabric, but that a lot of thrift stores actually have fabric for sale?!? SCORE!! The is from the first bunch of fabrics I got a few months ago. It is dark brown fabric with a subtle plaid pattern. The strap I upcycled from a striped leather belt that my roommate gave me to use. All in all, I think the combo works really well together. I like mixing patterns and seeing what happens! I used the end of the belt with the holes in it, and attached it asymmetrically on the bag so that the one side went all the way down the strap. Rivets are my new BFF! xoxo Rach

What Happens...

in the trailer park, stays in the trailer park!

This shoulder rakc is created from one tshirt with this hilarious phrase on it. I got this shirt from Red, White, and Blue a few years ago and didn't really know what to do with it, but of course I had to get it! After using the Chico's Bail Bonds shirt is an abstract way, I decided to do the same for this shirt. Putting the graphic on a diagonal allows it to become more like a pattern, versus just being a graphic on a tshirt. In the end, I think it works! xoxo Rach

Give me...

This is one of my favorite bags. The flap came from this awesome shirt that I loved, but I never wore because it just didn't fit me right. The graphic was printed up and down the sleeves. It is a tattoo inspired graphic, which of course I love because I love tattoos. The words are great too! "Give me fast living, hard driving, passion, and love." I paired it with a gold and black houndstooth fabric that I am obsessed with. I've been very careful with how I use it, because I have a limited amount left, but couldn't resist matching it with this amazing flap. Adding a silver aluminum chain strap ups the edge factor. Hope you love it!! xoxo Rach

ps: here's the etsy link

Chico's Bail Bonds

With my obsession for prison shows on TV, when I saw this shirt with the words "Chico's Bail Bonds" printed on it, I knew I had to get it! I found this gem at my most favorite thrift store: Red, White, & Blue in Hamilton, NJ. I've been shopping there since I was in high school, and that has been many many years! I had the shirt for a few years without using it, waiting for the right moment for it to pair with another fabric. I finally figured it out when I found the multi-colored striped curtain. For the life of me, I can't remember right now where I found that one, but I'm sure it will come to me eventually. I wanted to position the words in a way that they almost lost their meaning as words at a quick glance and became more like a pattern. But, I also wanted them to be readable when they were really looked at. I'm pretty happy with the way it came out and hope you love it too! xoxo Rach

ps: you can find the etsy listing here... http://www.etsy.com/listing/51459380/upcycled-chicos-bail-bonds-tshirt-and

I've Got a Brand New Pair of Rollerskates!

I've been pretty lame about keeping up with my blog posts. Mostly because I haven't really been doing much shopping. (Although I did pick up some sweet new dresses a few months ago, one of which is black long sleeve above the knee velvet covered in glitter!!) I've decided to focus my blog in another direction. On the Etsy descriptions of my bags, I don't really go into much detail about where I purchase items, and how I come to create the bags in the way I do. So, in every blog post I will pick one bag and really go into the details about what I was thinking when I was shopping, and how I came to putting the different fabrics together. Sound good? And, when I do score some amazing thrift clothes for my wardrobe, I'll be sure to talk about those too. But, hopefully this new theme of blogging will help me keep up with it a little better. xoxo Rach

ps: thanks to that HP printer commercial, that rollerskate song is going to be in my head forever!!!

$.25!!

I think I have found the bargain that will live in infamy! At one of my fave thrift stores near my parents house, I found two long jackets that I liked. One is a bright blue, and the other is a mauve with white piping. I couldn't decided which one I was going to get, and asked the woman at how the "bag" sale was working. She informed me that if I was only getting one or two items, that they would be 25 cents each! SCORE!!!!! I've gotten tons of compliments on the blue jacket, and always (embarrassingly) reply, "Thanks, it was only a quarter! xoxo

I know, I know, I know!

Ok, so here it is...I'm a major blog slacker! I promise new posts coming soon complete with pics of my newest acquisitions. Here's a hint, I got two new great pieces for a total of 50 cents! I haven't worn my leopard jumpsuit yet, but when I do pictures will follow! That's all for now, xoxo.

Up-Up-Cycled

This is a new bag I just finished and photographed today. I'm really productive sometimes, I think it's the A.D.D. The flap was a shirt that I got years ago at the best thrift store ever: Red, White & Blue in Hamilton, NJ. I had turned the shirt into a (terrible) bag when I first started sewing. I never ended up selling it (since it was terrible!) and recently went through my old bags and tore them apart to source for fabric. This is one of my favorites! Love the tattoo inspired image and of course the idea of rebel. I'm also working on photographing my bags a little differently. Outside, without the mannequin and the leopard print. A little simpler, to show off the bags. Hopefully I will see some increase in views/sales.

In other news, I decided that the work khakis could be easily fixed, so I didn't have to buy a (not) new pair. When I finally can make this my living and quit my job, I am going to burn them along with the hideous button down shirts I am forced to wear. I mean c'mon, button down shirts don't work for females!!

Happy Not New Year!

Ok, so here it goes, my first ever blog post. I've created this blog to document my journey of buying only second-hand clothes for the next year, with a couple of exceptions. Of course, I will be buying new undergarments! The jury is still out on shoes, I am kinda skeeved out by it, but might make an exception for an amazing pair! Also, I already have a million pairs of shoes, and don't really need anything new! The year-long project/blog seems slightly daunting, but I'm not committing myself to posting everyday. Otherwise, I might be committing myself! Will they let me craft in the institution?

Wow, there are a lot of exclamation points in that first paragraph. Perhaps I should not blog while drinking coffee.

I've been thrifting since high school (RED, WHITE, & BLUE!!!) but it's never been my only source of wardrobe. When I started making handbags a few years ago, I was using funny t-shirts as fabrics, and have continued that and expanded upon it. For many of my bags now, the only new fabrics I have purchased are the lining (for continuity) and the interfacing. Even though each and every one of my bags in unique, I use new purchased black satin for the linings for every bag.

My first amazing find is a one-piece leopard shorts jumpsuit. I am usually anti-shorts, but these are long and loose so I'm ok with it. Animal print is my absolute fave, but this is the first all leopard outfit I've owned. When I described it to my BFF she said it sounded a little scary. We'll see how it goes, if I don't end up wearing it, I can always source the fabric for bags!

ttyl, xoxo