It's That Time of Year Again!!! (Check for the coupon code :))

Happy Shopping Everyone, and have a GREAT Thanksgiving Holiday!!!

Cristina

The Treasure Chest

Making more of your Goodwill purchases...literally.

So I thought today we could use a change of pace.  Another one of my "dorky" qualities is that I am a quilter, and knitter.  I love the ability quilts have to teach someone patience, and comfort them through any situation.  I also love making something unique as a creative outlet.

Did you know that there is a large green movement happening in quilting?  There is.  Textiles are some of the most polluting substances to manufacture, and as such, the cost of quilting cotton has been steadily increasing.  Quilters are starting to take notice that something as beautiful as a quilt can be hurting the environment.

One of the ways quilters are "going green" are making quilts out of recycled clothing.  One of my favorite examples is Bonnie Hunter (http://www.quiltville.com/).  She makes some of the most beautiful quilts out of cast off fabrics and recycled clothing that I've ever seen!

Here is one tutorial on her website that actually refers to buying shirts from Goodwill!!!

http://quiltville.com/smokeymtstars.shtml

This is a great way to not only save money on fabric materials, but to help the environment by helping to keep textile pollutants out of our environment!

Another thing you can make from clothing found at Goodwill are mittens.  It is so easy to recycle sweaters, and these would be great handmade gifts going into the holiday season!!!

The tutorial to make these is here: http://fivegreenacres.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/sweater-mitten-tutorial/

As we near the holidays, remember not all gifts have to be purchased.  Sometimes the most meaningful gifts are handmade, and here at Goodwill, we can help you make the holiday extra special!

Cristina

The Treasure Chest

Jack O' Lantern

I always find it interesting to learn where certain holiday traditions come from.  Recently I stumbled upon the history of the Jack 'O Lantern on History.com.

From History.com:

 

The Legend of "Stingy Jack"

People have been making jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed "Stingy Jack." According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn't want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree's bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as "Jack of the Lantern," and then, simply "Jack O'Lantern."

In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack's lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o'lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o'-lanterns.

I think that's a pretty interesting story.  I thought jack o lanterns were just happy glowing beacons for the holiday, or maybe a representation of a skeleton.  Seems I was wrong.

Here are some cute vintage pictures of jack o lanterns.  Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!

High Fashion Halloween (and some vintage too!)

Here are some spectacular Halloween vintage and fashion images to inspire your costume creativity!  Much better than all the polyester nonsense being sold in stores don't you think?!



Steve Klein Christian Dior



What a glamourous witch!

Veronica Lake

Pepsi Ad 1950s.

Many of the vintage looks in particular are made with regular everyday clothing (from the time period) with masks and hats added in!  What a pretty way to dress up for Halloween!

Cristina

The Treasure Chest

hail to the working girl!

One of the major trends showing up on the runway for fall/winter 2011 are working girl dresses.  They are sophisticated and feminine (without being TOO girly), and they can be accessorized for work (duh) or for everyday!  I feel like this is such a versatile look, that it might become my go-to outfit!

Here are some examples from the Runway:



Luca Luca, Adam, and Jill Stuart Fall-Winter 2011

Here are some examples currently in the shop!





These are just a few examples of what we have right now.  To get more details on these, or to see more visit us at our Etsy shop!



Have a great week everyone!  Fall is only a few days away! :)

Cristina
The Treasure Chest

Labor Day Whites

So as we come upon the labor day holiday weekend, I am reminded of the old rule: don't wear white after Labor Day.  Unfortunately for me, I just bought a white jacket, and many many white t-shirts (I needed to restock the basics ahem).  Does this mean I can't wear these pieces until summer 2012?  Does this rule even apply anymore? 

After having a momentary panic attack that my recent purchases we a waste of money, I decided to investigate.

First I found this article:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1920684,00.html

It explains where this "fashion rule" came from, and it also gives some good insight as to why it is no longer quite so hard and fast.

Secondly I found these pictures from the recent fall 2011 collections:

Nanette Lepore

Yves Saint Laurent

Alexander McQueen

Elie Saab

Givenchy

Chloe

I'd say this is concrete proof that you most certainly CAN wear white after labor day.  In fact I'd say it's downright fashionable to do so. 

I'm going to go put on that white suit jacket now.  You can't stop me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day!!!!

Cristina
The Treasure Chest