November Update (hint: sale!!)

Hello All!

Hope your fall is going fabulously! As much as we hate to see the end of warmer weather it's kinda fun to start layering on textures and colors, and boots!! Gotta love fall boots. Well, as per usual, things are going, going, going on at Fidget Finds and November looks to be shaping up as one busy month! We've got lots of events, a change of hours, and a huge sale!

FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER, EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP IS 25% OFF!

That's right, everything is on sale, from suede pumps to sparkly clutches and gold pendant necklaces to printed knit dresses. Make sure you come by and scoop up some great stuff now because when its gone, its gone.

NEW SCHEDULE AND FUN EVENTS!
: Fidget Finds will now be open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12-6. Saturday from 12-5.
: Come see me at the Design Hive Independent Designer Market in Cambridge, Mass on Sunday, November 1 from 10-5. The Design Hive is a great event featuring very talented jewelry and clothing designers along with vintage sellers from all over New England. It's a great way for those of you in the Boston area to score some Fidget Finds without having to come all the way to Newport. designhivemarket.com
: Rock 'N Roll Yard Sale, I am so excited for this one! The Rock Yard Sale is an event at 232 Westminster St. in Providence put on by What Cheer Records. There's music, records, indie designers, and vintage! What more could you possibly want? It's Saturday (shop in Newport will be closed) and Sunday November 7 and 8. www.myspace.com/providencerockandrollyardsale
: The shop will be closed on Thursday, November 12 to Saturday, November 14 because I will be visiting my sister in Florida for some much needed rest and relaxation
I know this is confusing! You can always just call me 401-378-8374 before you want to come in to make sure I'm there.

We've got tons of clothing in stock (way more than usual) and I just added lots more big gaudy earrings to the shop last week, most are $12 and under. I've been putting new garments up for sale online for the past few days and have actually been blogging again (check it out!! fidgetfinds.blogspot.com) Don't forget that we still have loads of clearance items for under $10!!

Enjoy all the beautiful colors on the trees and the few mild days we have left. I hope to see you all soon!

Love and vintage,
Nicole
fidgetfinds.com
10B Marlborough Street, Newport RI 02840 401-378-8374

PS- Sale is not for internet orders, in store only!

Nine Things I've Done in the Past Nine Months Besides Blogging (Obviously)

Part Three: Brimfield Antique Market

Brimfield is a magical place, a place where all your antique and vintage dreams can come true. I had the pleasure of attending twice this year, once in May and once in September. For those of you who don't know, Brimfield is the largest outdoor antique market in the world housing thousands of vendors for as far as the eye can see in Brimfield, MA. They sell everything you can possibly imagine from records to textiles to furniture to buttons to sculptures and everything else in between (including some really good falafels). I love to go and look at vintage fabrics and old jewelry. I've had some pretty great finds there, like my favorite owl necklace. Oh Brimfield, you have a special place in my heart.

Nine Things I've Done in the Past Nine Months Besides Blogging (Obviously)

Part Two: Flo Rida

We flew to the Sunshine State at the end of March, right when winter is really starting to get old. My sister lives in Fort Lauderdale so we had the pleasure of visiting her as well as the many other wonderful things that southern Florida has to offer. We stayed at the marvelously quaint Sunshine Motel in North Hollywood where we practically had our own private beach. I highly recommend this place if you don't mind mismatched pillowcases and cheesy art on the walls. It was super cheap and a perfect place to spend a week when you just want to lounge around. We spent some time in the city but the most memorable days were snorkeling in Key Largo (huge!! barracudas and the most colorful fish in crystal clear waters) and taking an airboat ride through the everglades (crazy peacocks everywhere and we almost saw a croc fight!!) We dined with the grandparents in West Palm and had a whirlwind day at Disney with tickets that my mom had days left on from years ago. We put about 1000 miles on our little rental car in a week! I haven't had two days off in a row since.

Nine Things I've Done in the Past Nine Months Besides Blogging (Obviously)

Part One: East Coast Road Trip

At the end of January I had the pleasure of going on a super fun roadtrip down the east coast to Savannah, Georgia which happens to be one of the most picturesque places I have ever been. We left Rhode Island at seven in the morning when it was a freeeezing 3 degrees outside! Of course Connecticut and New Jersey were hellish to drive through but Delaware was surprisingly wonderful. It was a landscape that I hadn't expected. Hey, thanks for the memories. We spent the first night at the deserted summer town (one of many we passed) of Chincoteague, VA where the horses swim every summer. The next morning we drove over (and under) the Chesapeke Bay Bridge Tunnel. It was really gray and cloudy which led it to being a really spooky and ominous fifteen minutes. We spent a million hours driving through North and South Carolina because I insisted on taking the backroads. (Sorry B, I had no idea it was going to take that long.) When you live in the smallest state you forget how big all the other ones are. 

After we arrived in Georgia, we had some really fun days wandering and getting lost around the city and outer islands. The parks, architecture, plant life, and southern charm really do set Savannah apart. Being able to wear flip flops in January didn't hurt either. We toured old buildings, went to art museums, and ate some delicious food al fresco. Next we stayed at a friend's loft in Charleston, South Carolina, another smaller southern city ripe with palm trees, pink buildings, cheese grits, and history. 

Our ride back home was a bit sad as we were heading back to much colder weather and of course, ending out vacation. We spent a bit more time on the interstate which enabled us to have a brief stop at South of the Border, which is totally worth it due to its amazing kitsch and hilarity. After a quick sleep in Baltimore we were back home. I had checked off two more states on the map that I had never been to before, and even came home with a civil war fashions coloring book.

You and Me and the Eastern Seaboard Make Three

I'm going to stop apologizing for going weeks without blogging. I've come to grips withe the fact that I am so busy with the store and my two other jobs that blogging multiple times a week just isn't in the cards right now. That being said, there will definitely be no blogging next week due to a ROAD TRIP!!!! My absolute favorite kind of vacation. I will be staying with my aunt in Savannah, Georgia for a few nights and then heading to Charleston, South Carolina where my friend has a house. I am so excited to explore these two cities, and everywhere else we might stumble upon along the way. I have always been intrigued by small coastal southern cities, they seem to have such charm and beauty. I think I might fall in love and move down there when it starts getting cold next fall. It is by no means going to be tropical down there but I'll take 72 degrees over 26 any day. I'm sure I will take lots of pictures and hopefully will have lots of good stories upon my return to share with you.

Make it at Home!

Opening a small indi boutique is for the rich or the creative. I fall into the latter category. This means ikea shelving, hand me down tables, vintage curtains as tablecloths, thrift store suitcases as bag displays (a little trick I borrowed from Punky), acrylic paint on the windows as signs, and my favorite bit, a diy chandelier. I love how it came out and I want you to make your own, if you are so inclined.

First I bought three ikea lampshades and hung them upside down at different lengths with those cords with lightbulb sockets at the end (also from ikea). Then I found some hollow plastic balls at Target. I suppose you're meant to put them in a vase or something to decorate your home and spread holiday cheer. The balls are two colors, charcoal and olive, and three different sizes. I then hot glued them to fishing line and strung them about the lamp shades that were already hanging from the ceiling. Viola! A super hip and happening light piece for under $65. Make it your own with different shades or other bits hanging down. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Better Late Than Never Fall Sights

New England is so beautiful during the fall. I know that its pretty much over now, but I was still lucky enough to capture some great shots on my walks to and from the shop. I wanted to share them on this awfully gray and blustery day.

Be-Bop Shop

Well gosh, it's been quite a while. I know that I have been away for some time, but much has been accomplished. I opened a store! A real brick and mortar in downtown Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It's small, but it's a cozy little be bop shop with a boutique in the front and a small work area in the back. Hopefully I will finally start sewing and creating my own designs again. It was tons of work and energy but it will all be worth it.

I have a good selection of clothing, some jewelry, tons of shoes, and even more bags. If you live in the area please be sure to come and check it out! For the winter I will be open Wednesday through Saturday 12-6. The address is 10B Marlborough Street. If you live in a land far, far away I will continue to sell stuff online (even more than what's up now.) However, not everything that I have will be listed so let me know if you are looking for something particular. Who knows, I might just have it.

I'm actually really stoked at how everything came out and I am so thankful to have so much love and support from my friends and fam. I really couldn't have done it alone. Thanks to my mom and sis for painting, moving, lighting, and a million other things, Caitlin for endless layout and interior ideas, and of course Brian for staving off tears, assembling ikea shelving, and those hooks in the fitting room really tie the room together. Also to Mary Ellen for this amazing oppurtunity.

I will be having an Opening Reception this Thursday the 18th from 7 to 9 in the pm. Stop by and say hello!

Big Changes

Fidget Finds is undergoing some major changes, so blogging will be slow for the next few weeks. More details to come!

End of Summer Blues

Just looking through some photos and realizing how sad I am that summer is over. I swear I went to the beach until the end of October last year! Ah well, with fall comes so many new things to look forward to. I love the bright red and orange hues the leaves have become and of course I enjoy wearing boots and scarves. Just like good without the bad, summer wouldn't nearly be as much fun without the winter.

Baked Fresh Success!

Baked Fresh was such a great event! It was a lot of fun, I sold a bunch of stuff, and it was just so nice to talk to so many people about vintage fashion. I really enjoyed doing it. So much so that you can catch me on Saturday, November 8th in Cambridge at Design Hive. I will probably do a few more dates after that, TBD. Stay tuned to new awesome boots going up in the store this afternoon!