Show > Tell

Arriving home last night, from the weekend cap to a two-week-long series of travel, has left me both tired and inspired.  There's something about the chaos that's left in the wake of leaving home, that when returned to, serves as a prompt for fresh starts-- for creating anew. 

That's the mental space that I find myself in today, and it is good.  For two weeks, I have had only my iPad and iPhone to work off of-- while that forced me to be creative, grow in patience and to do without, it has also made returning to my normal resources extremely sweet and gratitude-filled.  Funny how that works, isn't it? I am thankful for this laptop that I currently peck away on, in a way that I wasn't two weeks ago.  How amazing, the way that God uses scarcity to strip away our entitlement.  

Ha!  I may have just called having only iDevices, scarcity.  Clearly, I am not done growing yet.

Boy has it been awhile since I shared an outfit post!  As I gradually lean more towards writing about ethical style, I'm very excited to share that through what I'm actually wearing!

So often when I have conversations with people about dressing more consciously, they seem to see it as a daunting change to make-- this couldn't be further from the truth!  My experience with ethical consumerism has been so positive that I can't help but share it.  I have realized, though, that ethical style is much more effectively shown than simply told. Hence sharing examples like this one, of ethically sourced outfits that I wear in everyday life. I have been so excited to share this scarf specifically, because Jon's parents (so thoughtfully) gave it to me as a gift over Christmas-- and it's Fair Trade!  How they knew that this was important to me, I'll never know, but I was blown away by the sincerity and care reflected in such a gift! :)

Just a note that I want to stress: very much like the post I just wrote about how to start going ethical in the New Year, I totally still own garments that I've bought in the past, or that were given to me as gifts, that don't pass as ethically sourced!  The Cole Haan boots in this picture are a perfect example.  Ethical consumerism is, in my opinion, about the decisions we make now, not about creating more waste out of an item that you actually wear.  I talk more about this here, if you are interested!

D e t a i l s

{scarf} - gift, Grace & Lace

{thermal} - thrifted

{wool skirt} - vintage 40's, via Comet Vintage

{shoes} - Cole Haan, gift

{tights} - Target

Action > Escape

In many ways this winter has been a walk in the park, but I am still hankering for true, sunny-day-blooming-flowers-no-jacket Springtime.  Warm spurts have come and gone, settling mostly on a middle ground of gray drizzle, like today.

My head has been a little in a gray drizzle lately, as well.  

I suppose that glum feeling is really in reaction to a deep restlessness that I feel-- a desire to do something meaningful, but not hearing clear direction from God on what that might be.  Because of that, I've had moments of wanting to throw my hands up, and everything to the wind.  Moments where I kind of just want to raise my hand to every organization I know, and offer myself to be sent somewhere (anywhere) where I can use my hands and effort to do something of value in the grand scheme of things.

And as exciting and freeing as that sounds, I think I've also realized that (for me) it would be running away.

From what?  From the creative knot here in reality that I have to work through, from actually figuring out how best to use the gifts God has given me.  The idea seems like an experiential escape from specific opportunities that utilize my gifts, that I'm sick and tired of waiting on (though I think God might be asking me to).  Sometimes, it's easier and so much more fun to go off exploring instead.

Now, I'm not saying that if I chose to fly off the handle and go work for an organization in Costa Rica, or Afghanistan, that that would be a wrong choice.  It's not.  I'm a firm believer in the truth that God gave us free will for a reason, that he's overjoyed to use whatever we do within his will.  By that, I mean that it doesn't involve living in sin, and centers around our love for him and others.  Apart from that, I do believe the call on our lives is simply this: go do what you love, what lights you up and what builds other people up and points them to the love of God.

So we're left with a heck ton of options, overwhelming as that is.

Ha, so I guess I still might throw it all to the wind and board a plane soon.  So many variables change every day, even the awareness of the ability to choose literally anything right now, is weighty-- and also very light, for all it takes is a step, a yes, an ask. There many not be another season in my life like this one, and while I desperately want to choose wisely, that preoccupation often robs me of... (wait for it. Yep:) action.

My life always comes back to that, doesn't it?  Just DO something, even if it fails.  Unfortunately Escape and Action can look a lot alike, I suppose that's the distinction that matters.

Details

{top} - thrifted

{tights} - Target

{skirt} - vintage 70's, inherited

{sweater} - vintage 50's, thrifted

{necklace} - vintage 40's, inherited

{heels} - Chelsea Crew via ModCloth

Vintage Print Project

Lately I've been pretty excited about a project I've been working on, in which my loves for art and history collide in an epic way. Over my years as a vintage clothing dealer, I've come across so many adorable, crazy, interesting and funny textile prints-- peacocks, snowflakes+roosters+hearts (yes, together), houses, sailboats, blue oxen... So, so many. Novelty has been in for quite a long time, really, and some of the best examples I've comes across are truly one of a kind (I've not seen their like since).  

I quite like one of a kind, if I'm honest.  

If I'm even more honest, that's because it means only I have it. Pretty silly, right? I'm not sure I realized how silly, and potentially selfish that thought was, until I realized how many gorgeous, uniquely printed $200+ vintage dresses there are on Etsy that I will never ever own (being a dealer, I'm kind of cheap). That's when I realized that I really wanted to bring the adorable, curious prints that I have access to, back into circulation somehow, and make them more readily available.  

Enter Society6, Spoonflower and my doodle happy self. I began re-illustrating (for lack of a better term?) a couple of prints from my own vintage wardrobe, and am so excited to continue. My first offering, Automobiles is now available on Society6 (in several color ways) and will soon also be on Spoonflower. How cool is that!? Those who know me, will recognize this print from one of my favorite skirts-- a quilted, 1940's number covered in these dapper little cars. :)

While the vintage garment itself remains truly one of a kind (in aesthetics, and in the story it's lived), I'm so glad to be able to share these unique prints. Even more than sharing just the print, it's like sharing with others the wonder I feel when I discover unique vintage garments. Now anyone who wants to (without dropping $200+ on a dress) can add some vintage print to their life with an iPhone case, tote bag, mug, or a million other things. Heck, you could even order the fabric on Spoonflower and make a skirt!

So much more to come!  If you are a vintage print lover, and have photos of print you might like to contribute to this project, let me know! :)

Winter Blush

Details

{dress} - Vintage 40's, available in the shop!

{sweater} - ModCloth

{coat} - J.Crew

{belt} - vintage 70's, thrifted

{mittens} - handmade, Stoney Creek Knitters

{tights} - ModCloth

{boots} - Fiorentini & Baker

Abandon

Believe it or not, I actually found these adorable slacks at Goodwill!  I was pretty shocked to find such 40's style pants wedged in between skinny jeans and 90's flairs, but you just don't ask questions about a find like that!  The missing button has since been remedied. ;)

I ditched my fiery locks a few weeks ago, so looking at these pictures (which are from before then) is a little funny in hindsight-- I didn't realize it was that bright! Haha, I'll chalk it up to experience.

As this year comes to a close, I've been expressing a lot-- I mean more than usual.  I wrote a long overdue letter to tie up some loose ends and get some closure.  I shared a poem that I wrote over six months ago with the person I wrote it about.  Funny, but I'm realizing that sometimes the craziest, most uncomfortable instincts are the ones you really ought to follow-- even if other people don't get it, and think you are silly.

You know, maybe I am silly.  So be it.

The only thing I really ever regret is not expressing myself, and giving voice to things that lay heavy on my heart.  It seems the heaviest of those are the first to be neglected, because they are usually inconvenient.  I'm kind of tired of that, or at least the aftermath of it.  

I'm not really a New Year's resolution person, but I'll say that 2016 is going to be a year of abandon for me.  Abandoning the remnants of my self doubt/consciousness, abandoning fear and clinging to the truth of my heavenly Father's provision and faithfulness, abandoning how I think things should be.  

I've tasted the freedom that comes from that in 2015, and really just want more.

All of the Shoulda-Coulda-Wouldas lyin' in the sun, 

talkin' about the things that they shoulda-coulda-woulda done.  

Then all of the Shoulda-Coulda-Wouldas ran away and hid, from one little Did.

-Shel Silverstien

Details

{blouse} - thrifted

{sweater} - Urban Outfitters

{jacket} - Michael Kors

{pants} - thrifted

{shoes} - Chelsea Crew

Autumn Wool Tartan

There is something about that period of weather between seasons, that's a little bit magical. It can, of course, be frustrating as well-- all of that too warm, too cold, jacket-or-not, type of thing.  Despite those lovely spikes back up into the warmer temperatures, I'm pretty convinced that it is fully fall now.  It could be the fact that it's October, or the pictures of a first snow my Dad just texted me from Colorado.  Mostly, though, I'm convinced Fall has arrived because wool tartan skirts have woven themselves back into both my wardrobe and the shop, of late.

Even what I wore today qualifies!

I recently listed these other great examples of vintage wool tartan-- both hail from the 50's and had the same original owner as the skirt I'm wearing above! She is the sweetest lady, and spent so much time with me, telling stories about each garment.  I'll be listing a couple more of her wool skirts soon, so keep your eyes peeled! :) 

One of the awesome things about vintage wool skirts (besides keeping you toasty warm in chilly weather) is the huge variety of patterns and colors that they come in! I can't wait to post the two others I have yet to list, and other fall items coming soon!  I also have an exciting update I'll be making to Curio Vintage in the coming weeks, that I can't wait to share.  Stay tuned vintage lovers, and feel free to reach out in the comments or to ofDustandWonder@gmail.com via email.

D e t a i l s

{top} - brother's old Marine Corps boot camp tee

{skirt} - vintage 40's, thrifted

{shoes} - Julianne Hough via Sole Society

{locket} - handmade, gift

The Threshold

The Fall has been beautiful this year, full of sunshine, new beginnings and circles made full. The pursuit of Action has continued (to some extent, I'm sure it always will for me) and with it have come both beautiful moments of flight, and crash landings. But even the crashes I've walked away from, and surviving somehow makes you realize that risk is very very worth it.

I've shut doors on myself for years, so that others could not close them on me. Yet all this time, God has been waiting to send people and callings and ideas through those doors to me. The past couple of years I started to realize this, and stopped closing doors on myself. 

Still, it was all I could do to stand before an open door and wait-- I could never cross the threshold. Paralyzed by shame and fear of rejection, I'd stand there and half make awkward eye contact with those people, ideas and callings...until they couldn't wait on the other side any longer. Self sabotage at it's best.

I've walked through plenty of doorways in my adult life, some even at a full and decisive run. Certain kinds of doorways are harder than others though.

At the end of August, I made a very formal decision to step fully into Action-- the simplicity of which, I don't think I had ever realized before (Love Does was the key for me, in case you are curious). My first timid steps through one of my more difficult doorways (completely laying myself open to vocational, creative and intellectual rejection) was overwhelmingly blessed by the end of the same day. God is so like that though, once we can lean fully into him (caring not for our fears, or selves) he can usher us in to the amazing plans he has for us-- plans that will delight our hearts, and put our hands to joyful work. We just have to run through the door! Don't measure it, don't check the time, just engage.

My steps through the more challenging doorways have grown more excited, more peace filled, even if some still give me pause. I guess I've realized that trusting humans means first trusting God-- that whatever they do, for good or evil, he can use or redeem. 

Details

{thermal} - thrifted

{wool skirt} - vintage 40's, via Comet Vintage

{shoes} - vintage 70's, thrifted

{bracelet} - gift

On Her Sleeve

Details

{cardigan} - thrifted

{skirt} - vintage 40's, via Comet Vintage

{tights} - via ModCloth

{locket}- grandmother's

{oxfords} - gift, Julianne Hough for Sole Society

Fall, Fur and Feathers.

A couple of months ago, I got an email about a Chicago version of the Fur and Feathers Luncheon-- which I actually was aware of (pat on the back).  The original event takes place in Portland each year and is a lunch gathering of vintage enthusiasts, dressing in (yes) fur, feathers and vintage attire in general.

I was intrigued and decided to plan on attending, which is exactly what I did on Saturday! Though I do wear at least one vintage piece most days, I seldom dress in head to toe vintage (and all decade specific), so this was a fun excuse to do so-- minus my shoes and tights, that is!  I'm pretty used to feeling like a spectacle in public, but riding the train to the city like this was slightly more than usual!  It was a rainy day, so I even had one of my vintage umbrellas along (I'm sad now that I didn't include it in the pictures)!

The turnout for the Luncheon was kind of sad, but I'm still glad I went-- Six ladies RSVPed, and though only three of us showed.  I was thankful for these two though, I was the first there and wondered for a bit if I'd be all alone!

I honestly don't have very many friends who are vintage kindred spirits, and I personally know so little about the vintage scene in the city (I'm much more of a wide open spaces kind of girl) so it was fun talking some shop, finding about events and such in Chicago.  Caroline (on the left) shared some of her favorite vintage locales with us, and Christina (on the right in her Grandmother's beautiful fur coat!) and I talked about maybe checking out some shops, events and such in the city together soon!  I live close enough, and commute downtown twice a week for work, so I suppose it is about time. :)

All in all, I think the Chicago Fur and Feathers Luncheon is on its way! With perhaps a little more planning in advance, and getting the word out there, 2015 is bound to be a wonderful success!  Thanks to my vintage friends in the northwest who inspired the notion, Caroline for her boldness to put it on, and Christina for showing up with me! :)

Details

{dress} - vintage 40's, thrifted

{cashmere sweater} - vintage 50's, thrifted

{shoes} - Chelsea Crew

{watch} - vintage 30's, inherited