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!

Busy Weekend

Two big events this weekend, both of which I am super excited about. First on Saturday night is Fabulous!, a fashion show put on by the wonderfully innovative Elissa of Calico in New Bedford, Mass. The show will feature vintage fashions from her boutique, hair by Salon Lola, and performances by various local bands and performers. The event is sure to be lots of fun, great sounds, and tons of fashion eye candy. Go here to purchase discount tickets before the show.



Then, on Sunday, is Baked Fresh. This is an indie music, design, and art festival in Boston where I will be sharing a booth with the lovely Amy of Punky Style. I am nervous but excited. There is sure to be a big crowd and I have tons to do before the big event; make tags, finish mending and pressing everything, going through my own closet, and breaking my heart by putting things in the "sell at Baked Fresh" box that has started on my bedroom floor. I keep asking myself would I rather have these earrings/skirts/blazer/necklace/boots/etc. or a few extra bucks right now? A few extra bucks seems to be the most popular answer, unfortunately. But great news for all of you who want some awsome finds. Please come pay me a visit and introduce yourself. I love to meet my readers. See you there!!

Dressing Up?

I was just going to write a normal Style Collage post, but I decided to address the issue of dressing up/down as a short rant. Why doesn't anyone dress up anymore? I pass the courthouse on the way to work in the morning and there are people (not lawyers I presume) walking in wearing sweatpants. Sweatpants? Really? Pull yourself together. I guess that's a bad example but still, come on. No one puts any effort into dressing presentable, never mind stylish. I understand that we live in a society where comfort and casualness are put in top priority but what about dressing up to feel good about yourself? Maybe that's what it is, a societal lack of self esteem that puts everyone in sloppy clothes. I suppose that might stem from unattainable beauty and bodies in fashion magazines presenting the said styles that I wish people would put more effort into wearing. What the f, this is getting more complicated than I had initially intended, and coming full circle.

Anyhow, this is an outfit that I wore to dinner and the movies, overdressed as usual. Vintage skirt worn as a dress, belt, and earrings, sweater from TJ Maxx, and Guess shoes. I still stand by my feeling that it is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Jones'n For A Fix

Until last week I hadn't been to any thrift stores in quite a while. Yard saleing takes up most of my treasure hunting time in the summer, and I did find some pretty amazing pieces this year. It is well worth sacraficing a good Friday night out in order to get up early in the morning to plan your route. I don't think that people quite understand my addiction to all this. It's physical as well as emotional. I crave digging through boxes and racks of old stuff, and my heart literally starts beating fast and I get all hot when I find something amazing. Like when I started getting all panicky and I had to sit down when I found a bag of vintage designer scarves (YSL, DVF, Lanvin, Cardin, and Givency anyone?) at a yard sale for $.25. (there's no cents sign on computer keyboards?) I started saying "Oh my God" quietly to myself and sweating when the woman said they were a quarter a piece. I'm still not quite over it.

On Wednesday I spent over 2.5 hours and $170 at my favorite thrift store that I hadn't been to in months. I bought tons of earrings, blazers, skirts, dresses, fabric, and belts. I know that seems like a lot of money in thrift store terms but in real world terms that's what, a nice dinner with a few drinks?, maybe two pairs of pants and blouse on sale a Banana Republic?, not even a full month's student loan payment? My mom thinks it's gross that I wear clothes that other people wore, but I think it's grosser to wear clothing that was made in god know what conditions in China. It's also just good old fashioned recycling, which happens to be one of my favorite things to do.

Last night someone told me that I reminded him of Indiana Jones. I'm going to forget the part about how it was only because of the scar on my chin.

House Party

I don't really think that I need to say a lot about a dancepartyhouseparty, we've all been there. Thrifted skirt from many years ago hiked up to be the bottom of a pseudo dress, black top I've had forever (it might be a bra?), necklace from H&M, and it kills me but there's no good pics of my killer new Nine West ankle boots. Don't worry though, I'll be wearing them all winter long.