The Amazing Liz Vaughn

Check this out! Then go to her website or Etsy shop to get a painting for your honey!

...or yourself ;)

Whoopie!

 

 I cannot help it. I simply love these small Keepsake Panels that I make at my other job! I am a stained glass artist and I love incorporating bottles and bobbles and little lovelies into my pieces. You can find me by searching etsy sellers for mollyphoenix  or using the link. There are many handmade gifts under $35 at Molly Phoenix Glassworks. I will also be adding my Painted Valentines in January...Meanwhile back at THE WISHING WARDROBE, we are having a permasale on about 1/3 of the inventory. In celebration of the newly rolled out coupon codes there is another 15% off if you enter MOLLYPHOENIX  as you are checking out. 

 

                                            Molly

I Heart Art Fire

I can't wait to take advantage of the $5.95 a month plan because the features look amazing! Like a dream version of an online shop.

I can put everything on sale...with one click.

I can import my Etsy shop.


Promo tags, RME, 100 shop sections and all for just $5.95 a month...


Not to mention telephone assistance...YES! They let you call them on the phone. Get this, THEY ARE NICE!

So get your booty to Artfire and sign up!

http://www.artfire.com/

Edie Bouvier Beale Accessories Part 1

Having just watched Grey Gardens a couple times this week I am a little obsessed with scarves and pins and in a way that is new and also familiar. I love a good scarf and sometimes give them names. I had one that I wore waiting tables over a decade ago that I called the Money Scarf. Whenever I needed to make rent I would wrap it around my head and sure enough, every time, rent! There are ankle scarves and wrist scarves, napkin scarves and @!*@^$#$$* scarves that never stay where you want make you sweat like a fiend or are the wrong size or fabric but you can't seem to part with it because it's too pretty.

 Find this one at The Wishing Wardrobe

I love to see how other people wear their scarves. A revelation occurred while I was staying at a hotel in France.  Our hostess, who was also the Dessert cart girl and the person who checked us in, wore a big square scarf around her neck and was unapologetic about wearing the same scarf the next day with nearly the same outfit. There is no need to switch it up day to day.

 

  Vintage Bohemian Wool Shawl

Super Mod Red White and Blue Vera Scarf

    My french teacher in HS obsessed over scarves and tying them in all different ways. She was an expert. She also had a great story about her attic being haunted and having to constantly sweep these oversize hair pins up. Weird.

 

Vintage Set of 3 Red Yellow Blue Small Silk Scarves

The best is a little silk scarf tied around your ankle. I like white or one with a small pattern. Kicks + ankle scarf  + sundress = Totally Cute!

Shoe Size Conversions

Last time we talked about clothes, this time it's shoes. Here is a very handy chart to help you establish if those rockin' Japanese kicks are going to fit...or if the wonderful Doc Martens UK Mens Size 8 oxfords are perfect for your feetsies. Short. Sweet. To the mondopoint. Knowledge is power!

Click on the image to be taken to the full International Shoe Size Conversion Charts website.

Meet Mandy

World, meet Mandy! Mandy meet the world. She's shy and smart and when it comes to her sense of style she's all over the place. This dame will wear anything we put on her and it usually looks great, too! From the 30s to the late 80's, that's 6 DECADES! of fashions, she has tried them all.

Her measurements are ridiculous, like Barbies, only different. ...

Most items are belted or clipped on her because she is so small. Please be sure to check the measurements of each item you purchase.

View an Etsy Front Page Treasury List - The Vault on Craft Cult

View an Etsy Front Page Treasury List - The Vault on Craft Cult

First Time Front Page...ahh What a Feeling!

What a lovely treasury this is that merritthyde composed! Thanks for including The Wishing Wardrobe!

The Wishing Wardrobe "European Vacation" Front Page Treasury ~ Oh Joy!

A quick post to highlight the European Vacation treasury that made it to the front page this afternoon. There have been 2 twists of fate in the past 24 hours that have blown my mind...the first was accidentally catching the amazing Patty Griffin live in concert with Robert Plant last night. As if Robert Plant were not enough on his own, he has put together a kind of super group, Band of Joy.  When I realized who the awesome dame on stage was I turned to my fella and laid a big thank you k-i-s-s on his cheek! 

The second was taking a break from a marathon dragonfly making session in my studio at the very moment this was featured on the front page of Etsy. A collection of  Vintage Etsy Society members who have vintage gear that is suitable for going on ~ or inspiring dreams of  ~ a Vintage European Vacation. I was able to catch it on the front page and do the dance of joy!

Thanks to all who wrote in with congrats! 

Click on the dragonfly to be transported to Molly Phoenix Glassworks on Etsy. 

On the Radio

Ahh, iPod, you think you can make me forget about the good 'ol stand in radio? I think not! AM. FM. I don't care. Gimmie songs I have heard way too much, never, or not often enough. Also, gimmie commercials, Paul Harvey (RIP), news and contests...as it turns out this post is inspired by a local station giving away concert tickets.

I failed to get them while they were affordable so I am now faced with a weekend of wading through a sea of  classic rock hits waiting for two songs to be played back to back with the Ultimate Rock God Robert Plant on vocals. I have been a Led Zeppelin fan since I was barely a teenager. I have seen Mr. Plant on stage exactly once and I was out of my mind blown away by that charismatic & amazing performance at the tender age of 16.


Sigh, here I am all these years later wishing I had ponied up the $30 for a ticket 3 months ago because they are $160 now 3 days before the show, unless I win them.  I have put together a collection of items to get my "please oh please let me win two tickets to the Robert Plant and the Band of Joy show this Wednesday, pleeeeeeeeease let me be caller 9. Please!" juju. Enjoy!

1970s LED ZEPPELIN Record Store 

Display 

Vintage 70's Led Zeppelin Belt

Vintage 1983 ROBERT PLANT The Principle of Moments Rock CONCERT TOUR T SHIRT

Original Vintage 1985 ROBERT PLANT Tee

Retro 80's Sharp Boombox

 Cassette Radio

 I wish I may I wish I might win super awesome fifth row tickets to Robert Plant tonight!! Wardrobe. GRANT MY WISH!

Fisher Price Record Player

Great Fisher Price Record Player from the 1970s...poor video footage f it playing!

Answering the Question: Is that gonna fit me?

Buying Vintage Clothing Online

 It is good to know what your measurements are and how to properly take them.

GOOD VINTAGE FIT TIP: We recommend printing this chart off and noting your measurements in the column on the right. Be sure to have your actual measurements noted AND the measurement you will want with "ease" added to that.

Ease is a little more space in the garment that lets you actually move in it. Ever been stuck in a dress that you got into in the dressing room but was unable to move in once you did? Maybe that's just me, but the point is there wasn't enough ease for me to put my arms up to get out of the dress. Good thing I am great at wiggling... I eventually got out of it, eventually.

On non-knit items here are the guidelines for adding ease:

1.5" to 4" bust ease

1" waist ease
2" hip ease

So, if you have a 36" bust then plan on purchasing items that measure 37.5" or more. If the item is a knit or has stretch to it than you can go smaller if you are looking for a tight fit.

GOOD VINTAGE FIT HINT : If you are purchasing a piece of clothing for a special event,  we recommend that your wear the under garments you will be wearing on the day of the event WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS! IF you do not wear a push up bra and Spanx on a daily basis but you are going to wear those items on your wedding day, have them on when you take measurements. It is impressive how many inches these things can shave off a belly and/ or a booty!

These guidelines are for garments that are fitted. A 40's retro wiggle dress will look better with a tighter fit. Like this one from Wear It Again.  As you can tell, this dress looks AWESOME on the model. The measurements  and description provided are clear so you know what to expect when it shows up at your door!

Whereas if an 80's style slouch or baggy fit is desired, a bust measures 48" and you are a 38" bust than this garment will work for you provided the more finite measurements are suitable. In the case of this dress from The Wishing Wardrobe the hem of the shirt tapers and ties just below the hips. You will want to make sure the length of the top and the size of the hem will work for you. You must use your best judgement. 

If I still lived in Maine I would love to have this lovely wool dress from MySweetiePiePie! It would be perfect for layering over what I call "Slidey Pants" . Most of all, I love that it would grow / give me a little extra room when I needed it to after a long winter of hibernation! A knit item like this definitely has a bit more give and the amount of ease needed will be substantially less than in the bombshell number above.

I hope this has been helpful! Happy hunting!

Vintage Dress Up Casual Clothing & Home by TheWishingWardrobe

Vintage Dress Up Casual Clothing & Home by TheWishingWardrobe: "TheWishingWardrobe.etsy.com"

The Buzz About Cloth Napkins

If you have never tried "real napkins" beefore we urge you to try them. You will find they are a wonderful amenity that will greatly reduce your paper napkin usage. They can be reused over the course of a day or a week depending on how messy the meals are. This set is available at The Wishing Wardrobe. They are hand printed and unused!

A set of unique napkin rings can identify which family member has been using a napkin from meal to meal. We prefer the bohemian approach and  hand out different patterns to each person this way no napkin rings are necessary throughout the week during casual meals.

We love Molly's Handmade Napkin tutorial on The Purl Bee. This is a great way to use up some of those fabric scraps you've got hanging around or brush up on your ability to sew a straight line...

We love these bright napkins found on Etsy in BellaBeeDesigns shop.


The Mother Nature Network has this to say:  Paper VS Cloth. However, our favorite chime in on this subject comes from Tammy Thiebaud  at Tchochkes .  Her approach is casual and practical and we love that!

Fabric napkins aren't just for fine dining anymore.

Good Morning!

Welcome to The Wishing Wardrobe. Make a wish, any wish, and the Wardrobe will provide. So this may be an over statement but you never ever know. Please visit The Wishing Wardrobe on Etsy for fresh vintage items!