If you look hard, you can find some great new-old pieces and gorgeous vintage gifts for you and yours – LUXoutlet on Etsy is one of those places. They have some fabulous finds for the vintage lover, or that girl who sometimes secretly shops for herself during the holidays.

On My Wishlist:

Images courtesy of LUXoutlet

1. RESERVED for etsuneko Vtg Guilded Scarlet Letter Bag by LUXoutlet
2. VINTAGE 50s 60s RARE WHITE Mother of Pearl Sunnies by LUXoutlet
3. VINTAGE Frye Western women’s boots size 95 by LUXoutlet on Etsy
4. Vintage Metallic Cherry Box frame Bag by LUXoutlet on Etsy

Vintage sunnies never go out of style, and what girl doesn’t want a gorgeous, luxurious designer leather wallet?

LUXoutlet isn’t just another Etsy vintage seller – it is the result of a life-long reverance for fashion & it’s makers, a shopping addiction, and the joy that floods a room when someone finds their new favorite piece. They focus on vintage because they’ve found a quality and authenticity in each piece that you can’t often find these days. Their pieces come from an era when each piece was envisioned and constructed by the designers themselves along with a team of patternmakers and seamstresses – not like the machine-made designer apparel of today. At LUXoutlet, they have a tremendous respect for their work and take great pleasure in sharing their visions of the past with the fashionably concious of today.

Dana, from LUXoutlet treasure hunts night and day for the *special* pieces that clients and customers can’t live without. It’s a labor of love; just to bring you the best of past and present. She’s more concerned about the quality of the garments than their labels. LUXoutlet offers high-quality, stylish pieces from any era, that are functional and wearable today.

For Cyber Monday, Dana at LUXoutlet is offering 15% off to all clients ~ this sale runs through the week!

Also if you’re in Seattle, come down to the Closet Candy sale.

Some years I have it, and some years I don’t. Last year I certainly did not have it. I decided though, that that was somehow connected to the fact that I never put up a tree or any other sort of decoration. I also, (thankfully) work at a salon that does not play Christmas music. Ever. My parents didn’t put a tree up last year either, and we haven’t really done gifts since I put the kibosh on that, oh, about 6 years ago when I was working at Banana Republic. It was my 4th season working retail during the Christmas season, and that’s enough to make anyone view the whole season as a disgusting, gluttonous, stressed out, corporation-incited spending binge. Besides my disgust with the way customers behave that time of year, working at Banana didn’t actually pay very well at all, and I found I couldn’t afford to buy people gifts I thought were worth buying. If I’m going to buy something, for me or anyone else, I want it to be high quality, attractive, something that I will want to look at and/or use again and again… or a delicious food item that has nothing whatsoever to do with candied fruit.

At that time too, I was trying to buy for grandparents and cousins… which, after talking to friends and coworkers, I’m so lucky to have such a small family to buy for! I’d have ended gift giving a lot sooner if I had multiple siblings, particularly ones with significant others and even kids! So anyway, I’d had enough and I told my parents and everyone else that I didn’t want them to get anything for me, and that I wouldn’t get anything for them. I still wanted to get together and see everyone, but couldn’t we just kind of repeat Thanksgiving, and gorge ourselves on delicious food and enjoy each others company, without the stress of gifts? I feel like it’s been a resounding success.

Last winter was long, dreary, and bleak feeling to me. I felt that I’d cheated myself out of some grey-banishing joy by not putting any decorations or lights up, and promised myself to decorate this year. I realized what the original purpose of the celebration was. Solstice. I think that eons ago, people needed a reason to celebrate during the long, dark, cold, grey, and probably-hungry winter months. When you’re in the middle of winter, the next 2-3 months till the sun starts coming out regularly again seems like 2-3 years. So people put lights up, and decorations, and celebrated being halfway though it. People partied hard and looked forward to when the weather would start to get nice again, and daylight would last for more than 8 hours.

Image Via ActiveRain

So I put my trusty little fake tree up this year. I started it in the morning before work one day, and had to finish it when I got home, and I honestly looked forward to it all day at work. When I finished it and plugged the lights in, I just sat in it’s glow and gazed at it and smiled at it like a simpleton. It really does fill me with a sense of warmth, well-being, and appreciation… for all kinds of things. I sat there appreciating my (somewhat) annual work of art, since no tree is ever the same, even if it is the same tree with the same ornaments, I appreciated tradition, I appreciated my family, and friends, and everyone that has ever shown me kindness. And I was filled with love. And I was filled with joy. Just looking at this basic facsimile of a tree, made out of plastic and metal, and covered with shiny things made out of plastic, glass, and metal, and shimmering with lights, brought forth these powerful and very positive emotions.

I was lucky enough to get to decorate two trees this year, both my own and my parents’. I talked them into going to a tree farm to cut one down, and of course I accompanied. As usual we chose an enormous tree… though it really didn’t seem that way in the field! Perspective is a tricky thing. We had a major set back in that most of the light strands my parents had were only half working. With perseverance on all our parts, we got them all working! For the first time in years the 3 of us had a wonderful time getting a tree up and decorating it. No one got grumpy, no one got frustrated (even though it was frustrating), we all just enjoyed the experience. We were rewarded with a beautiful tree!

This year I’ve gotten in the gift-giving spirit again. Not for many, my parents and my boyfriend and my grandpa, whom I live with. The thing is, this year I feel the true spirit of gifts. It isn’t about the gifts themselves. They are merely a representation of feelings. To me they say, “Thank you for being in my life. I appreciate you, and I want give you a physical token of that appreciation.” Buying things for people I love very deeply, with that feeling behind the purchases gives me great satisfaction. I am glad that I am in a place financially that I can buy a few things for my loved ones, that I think they will appreciate every time they look at them. This year too, and probably forever in the future, I am avoiding shopping malls and corporations in general. All the gifts I’ve bought so far have been from small local companies. I’ve discovered it’s a much more rewarding way to shop, in general. I also feel like the gifts are much more unique, and therefore personal.

I hope you all have a safe, happy, warm holiday season, surrounded by people you love… even if you are a scrooge and hate the season, I hope you find lots of love and joy during these cold and dark winter months!

It’s such an amazing Grecian-esque dress with a modern-print panel over the shoulder and it’s made in a soft linen material.  I wore it with a pair of sweater tights from Sockdreams and my Birthday ‘Vogs.

Oh yeah, did I mention it was for a holiday party?  So I posed with the Christmas wreath we got just to make the house smell like Christmas.  That’s the BEST part of Christmas.

Also, pictured is some MathArt by Mister, and the Salt Girl painting, courtesy of Edstro.

What I’m wearing:
Dress: Jesica Milton
Tights: Sockdreams
Boots: Fluevog LA Silverlakes
Tatted Pendant: Totus Mel
Silver Cuff: vintage
Drop Earrings: Red Light

Can we talk about how I’ve been LIVING in these tights from Sockdreams?  When the temperatures dropped here, last week, I wore these and tall boots, sometimes with socks.   I’m glad I got a couple pair of these tights – my gams would be freezing without them!

ALSO, let’s discuss the obvious question everyone had:  How the hell do you walk in those shoes!?  The Silverlakes actually have about a 2″ platform in the toe, to offset the 6″ of heel you’re walking on.   For the heel height, they ARE pretty comfortable, though if you’re going to be hiking around downtown, you want to bring a pair of flats along, too.  For extended wear – if I was dancing all night, or out on the town – I’d want to put some foot petals in them.  All that considered, Fluevogs are STILL the most comfortable shoes I own, and these are no exception.

Let me introduce you to Genevieve’s project, Recycled Loot!

Art Glass Cluster Necklace in “Sky”

Genevieve’s been sculpting glass since 1997 and taught at the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle before making Loot! her full-time job.  She’s paired up with three local glass artists in the area to recycle the fruits of their labor into gorgeous glass-art jewelry in ultra-bright, candy-colored hues.  Through Loot!, Genevieve reclaims glass destined for landfills and hand sculpts the pieces over a torch (a process known as flameworking) to create unique pendants of all sizes, shapes and colors, based on the original glass pattern.

Eclipse Necklaces

Of her art, Genevieve says,

I was helping another glass artist at a festival and a piece broke. I looked at the fragments of glass on the ground and thought, ‘It’s still so beautiful.’ A light went on and I knew I could find a way to rework the glass into jewelry and keep it out of landfills, because it’s un-recyclable by traditional curbside methods.
Because I work in Seattle’s fine art glass movement and do my best to live a “green” lifestyle, it just seemed natural to find a way to recycle this richly beautiful glass into its next incarnation.

Everything Genevieve uses is recycled, including her findings and her packaging material.  The pendant chains are all made of recycled sterling silver, when possible, and no extra work is done to the findings – reducing Loot!’s impact on the planet.   Through her “creative recycling awareness”, Genevieve and Loot! (and Loot!’s customers) are actively supporting the planet and local glass artists.

Loot! offers a line of gorgeous Eclipse disks as clusters and solitaire pendants in a variety of color families.

Eclipse Solitaire Pendant in “El Mundo”<

Genevieve offers earrings as well – either as single solitaire discs, or as double discs and the earring posts are all recycled, hammered sterling silver for those with even the most sensitive ears.

Double Disk Earrings in “Sol”

Loot also offers creative jewelry storage solutions – and I, myself, have been wanting one of the gorgeous, and ethereal little trees:

Leafy Tree

There are three different kinds of trees made from recycled glass and sandblasted for luminescence.  If you’re not sure about storing your jewelry on a glass tree, they also make gorgeous art pieces for your home.

The beauty of this glass art is found not only in it’s color and clarity, but in it’s durability after it’s annealed.  Delicate and eerie, these trees are perfect for hanging YOUR Loot! on. 

Genevieve is also an active glassworker at Mercurial Arts, where she works alongside her husband Michael. Her artist statement at Mercurial Arts declares:

Figurative sculpture in borosilicate glass is my passion and my work. I am drawn to the fluid, transformative qualities of molten glass, and the luminous light-catching abilities of finished glass pieces. I am most inspired by the forms of nature; the patterns of growth mirror the strivings of the human spirit.

In my work inspired by sea life, I aspire to capture the beauty of harmony and diversity found under the waves, particularly in coral reefs. Reefs are teeming with life, a worthy model for human interaction in our own crowded and diverse communities.

The beauty of harmony continues in my Buddhist inspired work. Leaves, vines and flowers symbolize spiritual transformation and particular tenants of meditative practice. I use color to indicate the mood or intention of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas I create.

If you have a chance to check out Genevieve’s work, please do so!  (She lists all her street-fairs and craft expos on her website if you want to know more)   All of her Eclipse necklaces and earrings make great gifts and stocking stuffers for any budget.  If you’re into DIY, the word on the street is that you can sometimes find Genevieve’s discs at Fusion Beads in Wallingford (Seattle).  I’ve not had a chance to verify this, but I can say she did offer single pendants at the Totally Blown Glassworks Holiday sale.

And, if you’re still looking for that perfect little gift for your girl friend or your mom, you can shop Genevieve’s stock of delicious glass treats at RecycledLoot.com.

Deco Modiste will be participating in the Boutique Culture Warehouse sale this Sunday, December 6th.  Prices will be slashed on Spring/Summer 2009 and there will be great deals on our Fall/Winter 2009.  Come down and start your Christmas shopping.  A wrap skirt for your sister, Sailor skirt and Paris blouse for you…

We’ll have some goodies from Totally Blown Glassworks, which we offer at our showroom location, as well as a few handmade accessories!  Come down,  shop and say hi!

Date: Sunday December 6th

VIP Shopping: 9-11am

General Admission Shopping: 11-6pm

Clothing Swap: 11:00 am – 4 pm

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  We couldn’t leave you hanging this week, so we’re bringing you an abbreviated roundup full of fun Thanksgiving-y links.   Meanwhile, we’re going to go nap on our respective couches while we wait for this magical Turkey Goodness to happen…

Gobble gobble!

Food

• Lifehacker: Use Oats to Make Great Faux-Meat Veggie Burgers
• The Kitchn: Leftover Bits – What to do with Pie Dough Trimmings?
• Serious Eats: Grilling – Cider-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
• The Cooking Photographer: Crockpot Meatballs and Peppers in Cranberry Chili Sauce
• DIY Life: Unusual Uses – Cranberry Sauce Leftovers a Dozen Ways
• Cakespy: Gobble Gobble – A Turkey Cupcake Tutorial from Meringue Bake Shop
• The Awl: Stop Being a Wuss – How to Make Pie Crusts the Easy Way

Thankfulness

• Positively Present: The Benefits of Having a Grateful Day
• Psychology Today: Ten Things to be Thankful For

Activities

• Lifehacker: Make  a Lighted Christmas Ball
• Lemondrop: Not Your Grandma’s Thanksgiving – How to Host Turkey Day for Friends
• Manolo for the Big Girl: Thanksgiving Thoughts
• The Frisky: Outfits to Wear When You’re Playing Hostess

Black Friday

• Mashable: How to Use Social Media to Find Black Friday Deals
• Mental Floss: A Brief History of Black Friday

Good Reads

• Psychology Today: Willpower Tips for Thanksgiving

Now get out there, look cute.  Eat all the pie you can and have a fantastically thankful day.  Go!

(click the photos for a link to the item on Modcloth.com)

Let’s start with this:  I want more color in my wardrobe.  I realized that so much of what I own is dusty greens and blues, or gray and black.  I think THIS would give quite the pop to my wardrobe, and it’d be cute for the office holiday party:

One shoulder sheath dress, with gorgeous colored panels?  Sign me up!  It’s actually part of Modcloth’s North Poll Name It and Win It contest.   I didn’t find out about it until today, so I couldn’t enter, but maybe one of these will magically make its way under my tree?

Also from the Name It and Win It contest, is THIS cute little number:

I love the tulip-skirt detail – this would be a fantastic dress for any of your Holiday parties.  Can we start early on the holiday parties so I have an excuse to own this?

And in dresses, this:

I love the cut of the Temporary Secretary dress, and the pink detailing is too cute.   So it’s a little more afternoon office party than evening thing, but you know what, I sort of don’t care.

I added these because I know there were a bazillion girls fawning over them when they first came out.  Some ladies had luck with them, others did not.  Still, they’re funky-as-hell and sure to be the topic of discussion when it comes to your outfit.

I think I like them best in this pewter color.

Okay… the super cage-heel thing never truly grabbed me, but when I saw these beauties, I knew my love was true!

I love the color and the cutesy buttons and the fact that they are soooo tall.  I bet my tights would get wet when it rains though.

Let’s talk skirts!  My basic wear this winter (You say fall, I say we only have two seasons up here.  Nice, or winter) has been sweater tights, leggings, skirts and sweaters.  I’m definitely a skirt girl and when I saw this I almost keeled over – how perfect for your holiday party!

OUT OF STOCK, MODCLOTH!?   Get it together, people!  This skirt is cute, and direly needed.   I guess, I could go with one of these instead:

White Christmas, anyone?

I should stop here before my list is like 8 pages long, and Mister looks at me like I’ve gone bananas.  I can’t help it, Modcloth, you have cute stuff that I think I need.  Curses.  Or thanks.  You decide. 

I, personally, came home with a cute little drink cup and one of the Murini Vases:

I also got a few more shots of Dehanna’s glass.  It’s all gorgeous and luminescent:

Totally Blown Glass will be open December 8 and 9 for the Georgetown Artwalk.  Since we’ve carried votives and ornaments over at the Deco Modiste showroom, we will also have a few items at the upcoming Boutique Culture Warehouse sale!

The studio sale offers hundreds of blown glass ornaments for $15.00ea and glass gifts for under a $100.00.  Get there early for the best selection!

Totally Blown Glassworks is located on the corner of Airport Way So and Corson Ave So in Georgetown, South Seattle. 5607 Corson Ave S., Seattle, Wa. 98108. For info call 206-768-8944.

Totally Blown Glassworks is the hottest glass studio in Seattle.

Built by Dehanna Jones, Totally Blown Glassworks is located in the heart of Georgetown on the corner of Airport Way and Corson Ave S.  in Seattle, WA.

All the glass work is done in-house.  Anyone who wants to watch is welcome to come down Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8am to 4pm.  The gallery is open Monday – Friday 10:30-5:00, Sat 10:30-3:30 and after hours by appointment.

A native of Seattle, Washington and daughter of an Auctioneer, Dehanna was surrounded by the art glass of her father’s Tiffany collection and Antique store.  This early exposure to the Art Noveau movement has had a lasting influence on her work.  While studying for a BFA in ceramics and a BA in general art at the University of Washington, Native American artist Marvin Oliver asked her to research glass casting for an upcoming project of his.  She was immediately taken in by the medium and decided to branch out and study blown glass at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, Washington.

While at Pratt, she was the hot shop coordinator and studio technician while also teaching cast and blown glass.  Although blown glass is the focus of her own designs, she has kept her hands in casting by working with many architects, designers, and artists such a Frank Engelsby, Jill Davis, Ann Gardener, Theresa Batty, and Kevin Spitzer as a consultant and fabricator of glass elements for larger installations.  In the summer of 1996 she had the opportunity to assist artists Paul Marioni and Ann Troutner at the Pilchuck School of Glass in Standwood, WA and was subsequently nominated for the Saxe Scholarship.

From Dehanna:

“I’m a Glass Minimalist. This term is not descriptive of the work itself as many of my designs are quite ornate; rather, it defines the process.  Glassblowing is an ancient art form.  The tools and techniques available to the modern glass worker vary little from those used by previous generations.  I believe too many glassblowers rely on traditional, complicated techniques to define their work.  My belief is that the concepts should be of more importance than the techniques that created them.  The years involved in learning the skills to master blown glass is a life long commitment, finding the balance between design and perfecting the process is the constant challenge.

One of my first challenges I encountered in glass working was requiring that I work as part of a team.  The communication between the designer, blowers, and assistants is crucial for a piece to reach final form while retaining the integrity of its original concept.  Although, I do design my own lines of finely crafted vases and bowls, I am also excited to assist other artists and architects in the fabrication of glass elements for larger sculptures, installations, and homes.  Overcoming the challenges of translating designs outside my own work into glass has kept me thinking about glass as more than just a vase or bowl, but as a versatile building material that transmits and reflects light.

Glass can be disguised to look like other materials, but not many other materials can look like glass.  I think of glass as a lens to the subconscious.  I endeavor to create objects that stimulate the optic nerves of the brain and uses color as a mood-enhancer.  It’s a simple concept; minimalism.”

Dehanna’s pieces make fantastic gifts (or cute decor for your domicile).  Drop by and scoop up some of this affordable artwork, this weekend!

This weekend, Mister and I donned our respective 80′s childhood character costumes and set out on the town!  I bet you’ll never guess who we were….

Mister spent all week putting together a papier maché shell… and I set out to find something I could use to become TOTALLY OUTRAGEOUS!

The process:

I’m Aja from Jem and the Holograms!!

And my date:

Raphael from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (a child’s rendition… haha)

Cute, eh?  What were YOU for Halloween??

PS

For some reason, GIMP is blurring the images when they render from RAW to JPG.  If you know how to fix that (until I get CS4) please let me know.  It also mangled my colors so they look really orange/oddly exposed when uploaded.  Sorry about the quality, for now.