The up's and DOWN'S of being a vendor/seller!

     Wow!  What a difference a few days can make.  A few weeks ago I participated in a wonderful show called "The Gypsy Market" at the Klein Center in Spring, Tx.  It's a large event with hundred's of vendors.  I was selling my wonderful vintage clothing and accessories next to my booth buddy Trisha who sells many great items that she makes herself.

A sweet customer at the Gypsy Market

     It was pouring down rain almost the entire 3-days of the show and, even though this is an indoor show, rain is usually death to an event like this.  HOWEVER, this show not only flourished despite all the wetness going on but was full of great people who were buying, buying, BUYING!!  I did very well at that show. $$$$$$$

    On to the next weekend which was our usual monthly Winnie Trade Days show (see my previous post titled "Did you know I have a shop?")--it was horrible!  It rained for Friday and Saturday at this show and there was almost NO ONE shopping!  Sunday turned into a beautiful day with very cool temps and lots of sunshine---and the people came, HOWEVER they were just not buying!! We barely made rent.   $$$$$$

The very next weekend we had the Flea fest, a 2 day show in Lake Charles, Louisiana.   Talk about a BIG show!!  There had to be at least 10,000 people coming through and they were buying.  We didn't do as well as the Gypsy Market but it was good.  $$$  It's an outside show under a covered pavilion and only twice a year.  And look where we stayed:

L'auberge Casino, Lake Charles, Louisiana

Jonathan and I in front of their fabulous fountain

Jonathan learning how to gamble---NOT!

     Yes, we got to stay at a casino!  I've never been to one before and never gambled but I must say it was fun!!  My close friend and her husband took us to dinner and then the casino part of the hotel---I watched mostly while she played. 

     And so, the moral of this story is:  in this type of business it's usually 'feast or famine' and often nothing in between.  You leave some shows smiling and too many others wondering why you where there!  And why am I sharing all this with you?  Not to discourage you, but if you are thinking about breaking away from the 9 to 5 scene, be wise and be prepared!!  Plan, research and PRAY because you must have patience and tons of FAITH!!  Search your heart and again, PRAY--great things happen when you do!!

Ps 121:2 "My help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and earth."

Brayden at our shop--he works VERY hard there!





 

   And so, I leave you with a picture of my precious grandson Brayden resting in our shop (we sold that chair by the way!)

 

 

God Bless all and any who read this,

 

Pat, My Kitschy Closet

www.mykitschycloset.etsy.com



 

Too little time, too much to do!!

     When I first started this blog I made myself a promise NOT to let too much time go by between posts......well, that didn't happen!!

     It's been almost a month since my last post and I can't understand where the time has gone!  Of course, if I take a deep breath and really, really LOOK at my schedule I would definitely see almost minute by minute how I used that time.

     My last post was after my Winnie Trade Days show but before the Gypsy Market sale (which was a phenomenal sale for us!!).   We are going to Winnie again this weekend (it's monthly) and to the Fleafest in Lake Charles, Louisiana the weekend after this.  Then only a few shows after that till Christmas.  Combine this with a full-time job, trying to be creative, helping to raise my grandson Brayden who lives with me AND trying to sell online........well, you can see where all those minutes, hours, DAYS have gone!!

     BUT, this is not what this blog is about (ok, maybe just a little).  It's about priorities and placing the things that are important in our lives first.
   
    In our home and in my life we try to place God first, always looking to him for guidance, substance and pretty much everything!  He is a good Heavenly Father and watches over us with a loving and gracious hand.  And I used the word "try" because we are human after all and don't always succeed in these areas. There are soooooo many times when the stress of just breathing overcomes us and it's much easier to panic then to hold on for that answer from God.  But ultimately, my family and I believe His is the one true path that will eventually direct us to a more peaceful existence.  And I do so need a peaceful existence!!

     Don't mean to get on my soap box or preach... and if you are a non-believer in these matters I certainly don't mean to offend.  But this is who I am, what I am and how I live my life, no apologies for this, just explanation of actions.

     Family is of course highly important and my wonderful grandson Brayden has a very special place in my heart---he is the love of my life!!  We play together, work together and more importantly pray together.  He is very strong willed but has a kind heart......he will often share his candy with me!

 

Brayden at the book store--he LOVES books!!

Brayden in his Capt. American costume

Brayden loves his mommy and went in her room and fell asleep in the floor while waiting for her to come home!

Brayden with his mommy, my daughter Brittany

This is a wonderful young lady who bought this vintage dress from me--she was amazing and rocks that dress!!

Just thought I'd throw this one in the mix---my sisters and me a long time ago!!  Guess which one is me (hint: I'm the baby of the family)

     There are so many things that try to distract us from the important things in our lives.  My hope and prayer for all who read this is that you find the important things in your life, the things that will not only help you rise higher but will also bring positive changes to those around you.  God's intent was for us to enjoy our lives, to move ahead with all throttles open, focused and centered on our 'goal'!!
                                                   "We’ve only got one shot,
                                                       Gonna take it now,
                                                    Goin’ all in, gonna make it count,
                                                        Won’t look back, gonna set my eyes
                                                   ‘Cause there ain’t no practice runs in life
                                                
                                                          This is not a test, it is the real thing!"
                                                                                        Toby Mac - 'This is not a test"

Till next time, God Bless all and any who read this,

Pat
My Kitschy Closet

Did you know I have a shop?!?!

     You may not know, but I've got a brick-n-mortar shop in Winnie TX!!  There is a great monthly trade show in the sweet little town of Winnie Texas called Larry's Old Time Trade Days although the locals just call it "Winnie trade days".  It's been there for YEARS and most months pull a pretty good crowd of customers.   You can check them out here  www.larrysoldtimetradedays.com 

     We (my son and I) have sold everything from vintage toys to lawn décor to barber chairs!!  I always joke that if it stands still long enough, I'll sell it!  You may notice that I don't take my vintage clothing to the shop.  That's because Winnie is one of the windiest places I've ever seen and dirt is always an issue even in the enclosed shops like mine.  It's very hard to keep the shop clean and I just don't want to damage any of the fine clothing I have.  So, we sell a little bit of this and that.

    We've moved to different shops several times in the 8 yrs that we've been there but I think I like the little shop we're in now the best.  It's just the right size since I don't usually have much spare time to go looking for treasures.  AND, it's easier to move stuff around and change the look of the shop---I had a recurring customer tell me this past show that they almost thought they were in the wrong shop 'cause it looked so different!!  NO WAY, my shop is always the right place to be. 

     Here are a few pictures of how my shop looks now:

We've actually changed this corner a little since this picture was taken



I love my turquoise border!

The large bookcase is my son's stuff---he's a picker too!!

Most of those quilts are sold---I've got to go shopping soon for more



This section is 'under construction' as I plan on changing things around again!





     Well, that's it for now.  I've got another BIG show in less than 2-weeks and I'm hustling around getting my clothing ready for it....almost done but there always seems to be 'one more thing' to do!  I will post pictures of some of the wonderful vintage clothing I'll be taking to the show.

     Thanks again for reading my blog and PLEASE be sure to follow me here, on facebook and on pinterest-----and don't forget to leave a comment, I would LOVE to hear from you!!

God Bless all and any who read this

Pat, My Kitschy Closet
www.mykitschycloset.etsy.com
www.facebook.com/mykitschycloset
www.pinterest.com/mykitschycloset

Catching my breathe!

     Sorry I haven't written lately but my last show pretty much kicked my 'patootie'!!  We were at the Houston Vintage Festival which was at the 1940's Airport Terminal Museum and Hangar.  We were in the hangar with numerous other vendors and, although we had a good time, it was a fairly slow show for those of us who were not in the main building.
     The hangar was not air conditioned and trust me, it's still WAY hot here in Texas in mid-September!! The promoters were awesome, they did an excellent job advertising and bringing in the people---kudos to them!--but the layout was just not cohesive enough for a great show for the vendors in the hangar. 
     The main show was in the air terminal museum which is where the crowds flocked---our hangar was 2-blocks away from the museum and people just didn't much want to walk in the heat or even ride the pedi-cab's! 
     All-in-all, we did ok.  Made a little money, met some wonderful vendors and nice customers and had a pretty good time!

    Here's just a few pictures I managed to take: 


    

My new friend, Odette

Our booth!!

My crazy son



Contestants for the Miss Houston Vintage title

Me showing of my great vintage clothing!

She really looks like Marilyn!!

Another contestant

great DJ!!

fantastic live entertainment

And of course, my wonderful grandson, Brayden---doing his thing as Capt. America

God Bless all and any who read this,

Pat, My Kitschy Closet



 

Movin' on Up!!

     Fall is usually a VERY busy time for me.  This is the time when those hot temperatures start to cool down and folks begin to think of the holiday season, i.e. Thanksgiving turkey dinner (or Tofukey if you are a vegetarian like me--and yes, there really is a food called 'Tofurkey'!!) and lots of Christmas joy!

     As of September, I will be attending 2-shows/events each month until January....Whew!!....it makes me tired just typing it!  Here is a quick glimpse of my schedule for the next 4-months:
                   
                                         Sept 11th - 13th --Winnie Trade Days, Winnie TX
                                         Sept. 19th - Houston Vintage Festival, 1940 Airport Terminal Museum

                                         Oct. 9th - 11th - Winnie Trade Days, Winnie, TX
                                         Oct. 22nd - 24th - Gypsy Market, Spring TX- Klein Multipurpose Center

                                         Nov. 6th - 8th - Winnie Trade Days, Winnie TX
                                         Nov. 13th - 15th - Fleafest - Lake Charles, Louisana

                                        Dec. 4th - (tentative date) Insperity Holiday Market - Kingwood
                                        Dec. 11th - 13th - Winnie Trade Days, Winnie TX

     As you can see I've got quite a busy schedule this fall!  AND I work a full-time REAL job!!  But I really, really love resale, especially vintage clothing & accessories--it makes my heart go 'pitty-pat'.  I've got my Winnie show this weekend---I've got a permanent shop there---and then next weekend is the Houston Vintage Festival.  I'm very excited about this shop as it seems to be mainly vintage/retro clothing and such.  And it's in a 1940's air terminal as well as a 1928 hangar---now that is way cool!!!!  I'll be sure to let you know how that one goes. 

     In the meantime, here are just a few of the wonderful vintage items I will be taking to the Houston Vintage Festival:

Lovely double-knit tunic top from the 70's

This is only one of the over 30 vintage cowboy shirts I will take to the show!

The picture doesn't do justice to this lovely 1950's dress

This is a great dress from the 1980's

A fantastic groovy 60's dress--just needs some white go-go boots! 

another great vintage western shirt

This is a very sweet 70's summer dress



A little bit of this, a little bit of that!

Thanks for reading my blog and please leave a comment and let me know what you think!



God Bless all and any who read this,

Pat, My Kitschy Closet
www.mykitschycloset.etsy.com



                                
                                        

                                

Welcome to the 80's!!!

     I thought I would use my second post to enlighten us on a unusual and very cool fashion era the 1980's!!

Bubble hemlines were big!!

This is one of my items for sale in my etsy shop--  www.mykitschycloset.etsy.com 

 

     French designer Christian Dior created a lovely red bubble hemline dress in 1956:

     And the 1980's wasn't just about the bubble hemline, oh no!   Read this article I found on a wonderful website - www.vintagefashionguild.org  --for more information about an era of BIG!!


     "One word comes to mind when you think of the 1980s: BIG. Overconsumption, oversized and just plain over-the-top were cornerstone features in this decade of excess and materialism. It was a time of abundance, optimism and unabashed greed.
Shoulder pads returned to fashion in a super-sized version, and the “power suit” reflected women’s emerging status in the workplace. The term “Yuppie” was coined as an acronym for the Young Urban Professional who was a career driven, 20-30 something male or female, obsessed with upward mobility, money and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Casual wear for the Yuppie set was collegiate or preppy with khaki pants, traditional blue blazers, crisp white shirts, polos by Izod Lacoste and Ralph Lauren and cotton cardigans draped over one’s shoulders, loosely tied in front. Designers boldly emblazoned their logos on the exterior of their designs and their clothing became elite status symbols.
Glamour in the 1980s, as depicted in the popular TV shows Dallas and Dynasty, translated to bedazzled evening wear studded with sequins and beads. Hair was permed, teased and coiffed to ever larger proportions and extravagance. Makeup was bold and colorful, as was jewelry of the era which featured large statement necklaces and long, dangling earrings which grazed the shoulders.
In contrast to the more conservative and affluent set, youthful counterculture was defining their own style. Music continued to have a strong influence on fashion, particularly with the emergence of MTV which brought music fashion to the masses. Numerous pop music stars became style icons as well. Underwear as outer wear, popularized by Madonna, infused street fashion with women donning crinolines and lacy bustiers. New Wave music and the corresponding New Romantics style trend was further popularized by London designer Vivienne Westwood, who embraced historical fashion with the use of corsets and bustles and later created the mini-crini. Music legends like Annie Lenox, Boy George, David Bowie and Grace Jones blurred the lines of androgyny in fashion. Japanese fashion designers continued to push fashion barriers exploring gender-bending, sculptural, avant-garde silhouettes.
The fitness boom of the 1980s, as part of this self-conscious and self indulgent decade, spawned a fashion trend that took dance and exercise wear from the studio and gym to the runway and the street. Jane Fonda sported neon leotards and leg warmers in her exercise videos and women soon embraced them as functional fashion. The aerobics craze influenced designer fashion with Lycra and other body conscious fabrics and styles infusing the dress designs of Azzedine Alaia and bodysuits by Donna Karan. The movie Flashdance inspired women to wear tight leggings paired with oversized, baggy sweatshirts with the necklines cut to drape casually off one shoulder. Designer Norma Kamali created an entire collection fashioned of sweatshirt fabric. Jogging or track suits became socially acceptable as casual day wear.
1980s style with its juxtaposition of trends, variety and influences created a unique legacy of fashion and anti-fashion. It is emerging as an era of sought-after vintage for its unique characteristics and lasting impact.
Written by Vintage Devotion"

     Be sure to go to their website for more interesting stories/history on fashion.

     Here's a few more pic's of fashion from the 80's:

Could those shoulder pads get any bigger?!?!
 

Uhmmmmm.......ok?
 

Is this Adam Ant?!?
 

     As you can see, the 80's fashion scene was very.....unique!  Big hair, big shoulders and wear it with attitude!!


And as I leave you, here is a great reminder of the music of the 80's-----Cyndi Lauper!!

Please be sure to join my blog and follow us on facebook as well---and don't forget to leave a comment, tell me what your favorite era is!!!

God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, My Kitschy Closet

www.mykitschycloset.etsy.com

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hello to everyone out there in the blog-o-sphere!  My name is Pat and I am a textile artist---at least I consider myself to be one!!

I've worked with many different forms of art medium over the years and finally found my 'niche' with fabrics/textiles, trims and such.  I LOVE vintage fabrics and trims but have found that so many have not aged well---dry rot is a particular problem if the item wasn't stored properly! And yet, while the overall condition of the item is questionable, there are still many good sections that can be reclaimed to create something beautiful.  And that's what I try to do with my purses---use vintage fabrics, trims and more to create something useful from something no longer useable. 

And I'm in love with all periods of vintage clothing, although I do favor the 1930's - 1970's (and maybe some 80's too--those clothes are crazy cool!)

I will be blogging as much as possible and hope your will enjoy my posts and follow me here and elsewhere.  I will be posting tips on removing stains that seem permanent as well as things like conversion charts comparing vintage sizing to current day sizes.

There will be instructional posts on how to make purses from worn-out vintage clothing and so much more!

Please consider joining my blog as we take a walk down this adventure we call life!

God Bless all and any who read this,
Pat, My Kitschy Closet

Please enjoy a few pictures of the treasures I've found--I will post pictures of my purses soon:

1890's skating coat

Vintage square dance dress

1960's Go-Go dress-groovy!

Beautiful 60's day dress

One of many of the men's shirts we sell

A great looking double knit tunic top

And of course, my wonderful grandson, Brayden!!