BourbonAndLace

Camping Trip: Copper Falls

2011-07-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went camping with our friends Nathan & Helene at Copper Falls State Park in Wisconsin. It rained for the better part of Friday, but Saturday was a picture perfect summer day. It was my first time in Northern Wisconsin, and now I totally understand why so many people buy summer cabins here - so gorgeous and peaceful.

Friday morning I made some portable bourbon peach pies and then we hit the road. That afternoon we met up with our camping buddies in Hayward, WI -- home of the Moccasin Bar, a great little dive that is filled floor to ceiling with bizarre taxidermied wildlife. One of the most cute AND disturbing being these baby fawns fetus'. We arrived at our campsite just in time to set up our tents and whip up some tacos that we ended up eating in the car while it poured rain. After it let up we snuck in a late night swim!

The weather was so amazing on Saturday... we made camp waffles, went on a gorgeous hike filled with waterfalls then spent the rest of the afternoon at the beach. It really was a perfect day.
We drove home exhausted on Sunday and enjoyed a pool party and some fireworks for the 4th. Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Treasure Rescue: 003

2011-06-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

1. A pretty-much-new Duluth Pack satchel. I almost squealed when I found this gem for $3 at a garage sale last weekend! I have been wanting one of these forever, but they're pretty pricey new. Best score of the day, for sure.

2. 2 Old school desk chairs, $2 each at a yard sale. I love the mission style, and the shelf underneath is super handy for magazines and books. These are now living happily on our front porch.

3. Folding step stool/chair, $5 at Saver's. We had one of these growing up, and I always loved it. This one has quite a few paint splatters, but that just adds to the character, in my opinion. Another perfect porch seat!

4. Stacking milk crates, $1 each at Saver's. These need a good hose-down, but the price was right! I see some good merchandising possibilities with these, so they'll probably end up at the shop after I clean 'em up.

I'm off to prep for our Mighty Swell sneak peek shoot tonight, then pack for a camping adventure in Wisconsin. Have a good weekend!

Pie Crust: CONQUERED!

2011-06-28T07:38:00.001-07:00

(Photo Source.)

I come from a long line of bakers. My grandpa was a baker by profession and I grew up in a house where we rarely got store bought junk food, but we were never deprived of sweet treats or home made bread. It has even become tradition for each child to get a shiny new kitchenaid mixer when they graduate from college! My mom is a wizard in the kitchen, and many of my favorite desserts of hers were whipped up sans recipe. I'm not that confident, but I'm pretty good. However, until recently, I had quite the baker's shame... I had never made my own pie crust.
Armed with 6 perfectly ripe peaches I had my sights set on pie. I knew that store bought crust would not do these beautiful stone fruits justice, and so my search for the perfect recipe began. Thankfully, the search was short. I found exactly what I needed over at one of my favorite food blogs, Smitten Kitchen; a step-by-step (with lots of photos) tutorial for an "all butter, really flaky pie dough". I may have par-baked it a little long, but it was otherwise perfect! If you have, like me, feared making your own crust - don't be scared! Just dive in, it's actually pretty easy.

*On a side note: A highly recommend clicking on the photo source link. I stumbled upon this adorable wedding a couple of weeks ago. I have had so many of these same ideas for my some-day wedding (ball jars for guests to drink from, pie instead of cake, herb centerpieces) - it was so inspiring to see them so beautifully executed!

A Collection of: DOGS

2011-06-23T10:37:00.001-07:00

So, I have a few collections. Okay, I have A LOT of collections. (Some, like my loving boyfriend, would say too many... but whatevs.) When you thrift/treasure hunt as much as I do, it's hard to avoid. I've decided to share a collection a week, starting with one of my favorites... an ever growing collection of dogs (who's surprised?).

1. Picked this hand carved dachshund up at a garage sale while I was visiting my sis in Colorado a couple of weeks back. The woman selling it had lost a dachshund in a break up, and the ex had given her this guy. She was glad to see it go, I was ecstatic to take it home. Perfect!

2. This little red fella was given to me for my birthday by my dear friend Rose of Valise Vintage. She knows me so well :)

3. These little gems were scored at a thrift store for 69 cents a piece. They were originally destined for a Mighty Swell grab bag... but I just couldn't let them go.

4. This one is a pretty common thrift / antique store find. I think it's a pipe holder... or a planter. Hard to say.

Well, there you have it. What collection will I share next week...Pyrex? Deer? Keys? White ceramic things? I guess you'll just have to come back and find out. The anticipation is killing you, isn't it?

Designing Mighty Swell

2011-06-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

Our summer sale has been announced! Mighty Swell has been such a fun venture in so many ways, and one of the best parts for me is designing our collateral for every sale. I'm particularly happy with the direction of our most recent stuff (website, postcard, window dressings, etc.)

Our goal was summery, bright, colorful and a bit whimsical. Meghan and I had been pouring through pics online and off and found so much inspiration. After a brief stock photo search, I realized that I was never going to find what I was looking for online. So off to the beach I went, vintage tote, sandals and purse in tow. Our theme is 'Summer in the City'... and what is more unique to a Minneapolis summer than our many wonderful beaches? So a very large iced tea and 60 photos later, I got the perfect shot.

The back gets a little trickier. I knew what I was going for; a retro "day at the beach" feel, but that's a lot of info to organize in a 7x5 space. After a lot of messing around with the color palette, funky shapes and our usual fonts, I got it! I've always loved those little diamond details on 5os era packaging and advertisements, so I jumped at the chance to throw them in there. The blue "lakes" were a good way to separate some important info, and the little birdie has been with us since the beginning so I kept him too :)

Now we start working on the windows! This was definitely the most exciting part of getting our own space (besides, ya know, not having to move EVERYTHING after each sale). Our beautiful bay storefront windows mean endless possibilities. And heck, who knows, maybe it will help me get that dream visual merchandising job someday!

A great group of gals

2011-05-04T07:05:00.001-07:00

From left to right: High Plains Thrifter, Audrey Rose Vintage, Ramble & Pluck, Valise Vintage, Retro Wanderlust, Top Drawer Vintage, Teacup Vintage

Well, it happened! The big weekend came and went. I'm talking about Mighty Swell's opening day, of course. It was our most successful sale to date in so many ways. Our lovely group of vendors brought their collections in and together we created a vintage shop full of love. Each piece hand picked, each tag hand-made. One of my favorite parts of doing this is seeing how each vendor's personalities come through in their selection of clothing and accessories as well as their merch tags. We had quite the group of stylish and creative gals, and none of this would be possible without them - thank you SO MUCH ladies!

Weekend in review

2011-04-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

It was a short, but fun-filled weekend. Worked late Friday night, woke up early Saturday morning. After prepping the set for our Mighty Swell sneak peeks all week, it was a blast styling the shoot. My beautiful friends Meggie & Lindsey make everything look good, so it all came together pretty easily. Photography was done by the crazy talented Kate Sommers. I recently created a new logo/identity for her, so she was happy to lend a hand. Swapping with creative friends is the best! We'll start releasing our sneak peeks tomorrow - so keep an eye on the facebook page!
After the fun/exhausting morning, we trekked down to Buster's where we enjoyed some well deserved food & drink. As much as I wanted to take a nap, I decided the weather was too nice to waste and Herman & I headed to the dog park with friends. All this excitement was followed up by a date night with Eric - Mexican food & Black Swan. (Which I think my mind/body are still recovering from).
Woke up early today and enjoyed the sunshine with our unbearably cute animals and a couple good reads. Now back to work...
Hope y'all had a lovely weekend too!

The Collage Wall

2011-04-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

My home office is a place where I spend a whole lot of time. Designing, sorting vintage, drawing, painting, crafting and lots of internetting. I have put a lot of work into making it an inspiring (albeit messy) work space. I painted it aqua when we moved in and it was the first room where we hung art. This is my favorite wall in the house. A place where some things that haven't been out of boxes in years finally get to shine.

I love collage walls. I probably own enough art work and other miscellaneous to do this to all of my walls, but that would be overkill. (Don't think I haven't considered it). While I've had others in previous homes, this one is particularly special. My little sister helped me put it together and it turned out exactly how I had pictured it in my head.
This is a great way to breathe new life into stuff that may not stand on it's own, and showcase smaller things that go together. It can be a bit intimidating to put that many nails into the wall, so make sure you lay it out before you starting hanging. You can do this on the floor, computer, or have someone helping that can hold stuff up for you to preview.
Well, back to work. Have a fabulous Monday! ❤

Tomorrow is moving day!

2011-04-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

isn't this a lovely photo?

U-haul is rented and boxes are packed. Tomorrow we move into Mighty Swell's new studio. SO EXCITED!!!!!

Yesterday, it was a great day.

2011-03-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

The morning started off with hitting the send button to the subscribers of the Mighty Swell mailing list announcing our exciting news: We have a permanent home! That's right, as of Sunday, Meghan and I are the proud key holders to our very own store front space. She announced it on her blog, so you can head over there for the whole story...
THEN, the postcards came! It's always fun to get new printed pieces in the mail.

Later on, Megs and I met up at the new Mighty Swell Headquarters where we found these beautiful flowers & a lovely card waiting for us, courtesy of Jess of umber studios (the former tenant of our new space & dear friend).

We had an awesome brain storming session about everything from window displays to merchandising ideas.

To top it all off, I had a much deserved drink with friends. And what would be more appropriate to crack open than my little jar of apple Jameson that Meghan gave me for xmas this year!?! It was friggin' delicious, and it took everything in me to not polish off the whole thing.

Somebody tweeted this quote yesterday (sorry - can't remember who). I couldn't have said it better myself. Here's to a very "lucky" and shiny future for Mighty Swell, Meghan and myself. Thank you to everyone out there who's shown us love and support - we couldn't have done it without you! XOXOXO

Tallest Man on Earth {The Wild Hunt}

2011-03-30T14:47:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite songs, from one of my favorite artists...

Happy Birthday Big Brother!

2011-03-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Well, it's a birthday week in my family. First the pup, and now my big bro!
My sister got in touch with me last week to let me know she was throwing Jesse a surprise party for his 40th. Since I was unable to attend (they live in Colorado), I wanted to contribute in the best way I know how. So I whipped this baby up on Saturday and she had it matted with one of those mega-huge mattes that everyone can sign. Word on the street is that the party was a huge success - she even had a live band in her living room! I'm sad that I couldn't be there, but thrilled I was able to participate from afar.

Happy Birthday Jesse - cheers to another 40 years!

2011-03-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

In honor of my little guys first birthday, a list of some of the things I love most about him:

❤ His big squeaky yawns. A friend told me they sounded like the squeakiest wooden gate in the elf garden. I couldn't have put it better myself. H-man knows this is his highest ranking cute card, and he plays it a lot.
❤ His velvet ears. They are so. friggin'. soft.
❤ Puppy belly. Need I say more?
❤ The "mickey mouse eyes", when he looks at you from the side and the whites of his eyes peek out. Melts my heart.
❤ He spins in circles when it's meal time. Seriously, like 3-6 full circles every time.
❤ When he curls up in a little bundle behind my knees while I am sleeping.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop... thanks for indulging me :)
Happy Birthday Herman -WE LOVE YOU!

Off the beaten path...

2011-03-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

A drive from my parents house in Iowa back to Minneapolis should take approximately 3.5 hours. Often times it takes me twice that because I decide to stop at every thrift I can find between point A & B. In the summer it's even worse... garage sales. So as I drove home from a midweek visit to my parents', coming down with an awful cold and anxious to get home and see my guys, I still couldn't resist the lure of a treasure hunt. Needless to say, it went well (with the exception of getting lost, twice). I even discovered a new thrift I didn't know about - and it was a gem!

I picked up a whole bunch of goodies, many of which will be up for grabs at the next Mighty Swell sale... did you hear that we announced a date???

Back in business!

2011-03-06T07:15:00.001-08:00

After a long vacation from Etsy, I'm back! You can check out the Bourbon & Lace etsy shop here. I have already sold 4 items since I started listing Friday night - I forgot how it exciting it is!

In love with {Dexter}

2011-03-02T11:10:00.000-08:00

I am a little behind the times getting on board with this show. This brutal Minnesota winter has lead to a lot more TV watching than usual. We started from the beginning, and just wrapped up season 2 last night. Note to self: no more Dexter before bed, it results in some weird dreams.

The inspiration for this post came from these posters by Ty Mattson. I've been a fan of his work for a while, and it made me curious to see what other Dexter inspired art was out there. As it turns out, a lot. Most of it is a little too bloody for my tastes... but I did have a few favorite finds as well as some related items I've had my eye on.

1) How cute is this tiny blood spatter cross stitch pendant by Heist Jewelry??? Yep, cute and blood splatter in the same sentence, I just did it. Looks like it's not available in the shop, but there's some other good stuff.
2) The cook (not the serial killer) in me loves these earrings by Treasured Charms.
3) The whole series of these AMAZING posters are available for sale on the Showtime website.
4) The opening title sequence for Dexter is genius, and always makes me crave blood oranges. Behold, the blood orange morgue-a-rita! Too clever.
5) There's a lot of great details in Dexter's apartment, we particularly love the bookshelf. Check out the whole set design by Brandy Alexander.
6) I've always wanted one of these vintage ring hands... and when I finally find the perfect one, it will have a whole new meaning to me.
7) And back to blood oranges, I've had my eye on this roasted beet & blood orange salad for awhile. From one of my favorite food sites, 101 Cookbooks by Heidi Swanson.

Okay, that's all for now. Have a lovely day!

Thrifting Alphabet {A}

2011-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I had this idea to illustrate a vintage/thrifted alphabet series. I had a short list of things for each letter, and with the help of Meghan, came up with a long list. The hard part was getting around to actually drawing them. I had a ton of sketches, but I wanted the first one to be jussst right because it will set the tone for the rest of the alphabet. I finally settled on this simple style in hopes that doing 26 of these illustrations won't be too daunting a task. Here we go!

Big changes!

2011-02-25T14:09:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed some changes going on around here... design-wise, content-wise (you know, like the fact that I've actually been posting). I've been doing a lot of tinkering lately. Like most things I do, Bourbon & Lace is a work in progress.

Recently I made the big decision to re-open my etsy shop so I can sell vintage in between our Mighty Swell sales. I figured that I should spruce up my blog to be more in line with my brand, and here you have it.

I'm looking forward to sharing new listings with you soon. In the meantime, don't forget to become a fan of Bourbon & Lace on facebook!

In love with...

2011-02-24T10:18:00.001-08:00

1) This dry shampoo has changed my life, and I love the whole line of Kevin Murphy products... all natural with 100% recyclable packaging!
2) In love with this necklace from Local Library on etsy.
3) Bike season is nearing, and I want this handle bar bag from Death and Texas. It converts into a stylish purse and will surely be one of my first big purchases this spring.
4) How cute are these vintage-inspired glass dishes with lids? Take your lunch to work in style.
5) My MacBook could use a little adornment, these skins from KARVT are perfect. And you can get them for your iphone & ipad too!
6) Obviously Herman NEEDS this bowtie collar from Silly Buddy. You know, for special occasions.
7) And I need this necklace from No Milk Today. Just because it's stunning.

Ephemera Love {Crazy Eights}

2011-02-21T13:16:00.001-08:00

This is what I do when I have a snow day... clean my office and scan, scan, scan away...

This is the kind of stuff I find and thrifts and garage sales that I know I shouldn't buy but I can't pass up. Just like old photos of people you don't know, greeting cards you may never use and vintage packaging - this kind of ephemera is worth having around just for the inspiration. I love these illustrations... particularly numbers 3, 7 & 10.

French Revolution Icons

2011-02-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

I recently got the opportunity to illustrate these icons for food blogger Kerry Saretsky of French Revolution. I love this style of illustration and the way they were incorporated into the website.

It was a pleasure to work with my dear friend Rose of Rose Daniels Design. She did a lovely job on the website. Check it out - there are some great recipes! And if you are curious to see more of my design work, I recently updated my online portfolio.

Have a lovely Thursday - I'm off to mop my floors!

Treasure Rescue: 002

2011-02-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

Since it's been forever and a year since I posted my thrifty finds, these are just a handful of the treasures I've scored over the past couple of months...

1) Dancing bunny planter. I'm obsessed with all things bunny.
2) State Patches. All 50 states are not represented, but I thought this was a pretty good score for under 3 bucks.
3) Deer scene on slice of tree. Doesn't get much more Minnesotan than this.
4) Black beauties. These ceramic horse heads are the perfect combo of pretty/creepy.
5) Peacock wall art. What's not to love?
6) Fuzzy red doe with gold glitter ears. I ran across this at an estate sale and got SO excited. She's the prettiest. And while I believe it's meant as holiday decor, you better believe I'm keeping this out year round. That little gem next to her is a carnival glass doe dish. Picked this up antiquing on a long weekend in Duluth.
7) Various tins/containers/planters. I've been snatching up every cute container I see since I stumbled across this tutorial on making candles out of vintage tins. Meghan and I are going to have a craft day soon and do just that.
8) Cross stitch. Since Eric gets to veto anything that's "too girly", I'm going to pass this one onto Meghan. It'll be a perfect fit for the Mighty Swell headquarters, which is now under renovation.
9) Vintage Books. My plan for these is to read them and then design jackets for them. Sooooo, I'll just add that one to my list of good intentions.
10) 3 Dimensional Horse Head. This doesn't need much explanation. It's amazing.
11) Set of Skeleton Keys. Originally I thought these would be used to make necklaces... but I kind of like them all bundled together. We'll see. Brass Bunny. Once again, bunny obsessed.

Now, I can't keep all of this stuff... so keep an eye out for us to announce the date of the next Mighty Swell Pop-up Shop where you can find some of these things and soooo much more.

❤ Br-r-r-r-ing me your heart ❤

2011-02-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

Yep, I admit it. I'm a sucker for Valentine's day. If for no other reason than I love hearts. I have exactly 10 of them tattooed on my left arm. I also love vintage cards, and I've been picking 'em up from estate sales and antique stores since I was in high school. These are just a few of my faves.

RECIPE {Creamy Squash Sauce}

2011-02-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

Today we're headed to a Valentine's Potluck. While my dish isn't necessarily "love themed", there isn't any food I can think of that I love more than home made mac n' cheese (specifically, my mom's). So I figured I'd get my favorite comfort food in one last time before the snow thaws and it's beach time again. This recipe is definitely a twist on a classic, but I've never had any complaints. Last night I whipped up a batch of sauce, and today I threw it together with some pasta and spicy Italian sausage and topped it with breadcrumbs. The potluck isn't until 4 o'clock, and I'm having a really hard time not digging in. So I thought I would share the recipe.

Warning, it's a time-consuming process, but most of it is waiting. Basically you do three things here; roast squash, caramelize onions and make a cream sauce. Then you throw it all into the food processor and voila! I like to get the squash in the oven, start the onions and then catch up on my google reader between stirs. This makes a HUGE batch of sauce, so you can cut it in half if you like... however, it freezes well and is so multi-purpose that I would highly suggest going for the whole shebang. Each time I've made it, I've modified it to suit my tastes. This is my take on the original recipe.

Creamy Cheesy Squash Sauce

1 Medium Butternut Squash
2 T + 4 T unsalted butter
2 tsp minced garlic
6 cups yellow onion, sliced into 1/4” ringlets
Rosemary, 2 sprigs
6 T good olive oil
4 T flour
2 cups milk
4 oz chѐvre (I use Silver Goat herbed chѐvre)
salt & pepper

SQUASH: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Halve squash, scoop out the guts and drop 1 T of butter and 1 tsp garlic into each. Salt & pepper to taste, throw it on a baking sheet and roast for about 45 minutes. Squash is ready when it is fork-tender. Let it cool a bit and spoon into a bowl.

ONIONS: Heat the olive oil over medium-low, add onions and coat with oil. Sprinkle with rosemary. Let the onions turn a bit golden, reduce heat to low. Stir onions every few minutes until they are a rich golden-brown (about an hour).

SAUCE: Melt 4 T butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk until mixture is golden. Reduce heat to low. Slowly stir in the milk, whisking constantly. Don't let the milk curdle! Whisk until super smooth. Now sprinkle in the cheese and stir until you have a nice thick, creamy sauce.

For a smooth sauce, pulse onions in food processor until blending into an onion paste of sorts, then blend in cream sauce followed by squash. For a chunkier version, throw it all in at once and pulse until you get it to the desired consistency. *Note, my food processor can't handle the whole batch, so I have to do it in two small batches.

There you have it! You can use it in lasagna, as a pizza sauce or for some crazy potatoes au gratin... Here is what I made with (part) of my sauce:

Squash & Sausage Mac n' Cheese:
Cook a pound of pasta until al dente, such as penne or elbow macaroni.
Cook up a ½ lb of spicy Italian Sausage (If you're in MPLS, I love the stuff from The Wedge).
Drain pasta and add sauce (ummmm... I don't measure, I just pour- about 2 cups)
Toss with sausage and put into a large baking dish.
For breadcrumbs, I threw a pita I made earlier this week into the food processor and pulsed until fine. Then I mixed with a couple Tablespoons of grated parmesan, drrizzled with olive oil and mixed it together with a fork.
Throw into a 375 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until it's bubbly and browning a bit on the top.
Now, enjoy - you deserve it.

Family Portrait

2011-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

I'm back! And I would like to introduce you to the illustrated version of my little family. From left to right: Herman, Rae, Eric & Enzo

Better late than never?

2010-10-01T07:32:00.001-07:00

I don't know that outfit posts are my "thing". I like other people's outfit posts, I like MY outfits...but getting a non-akward picture of little 'ol me is a challenge. (See below.) So I missed one day, but here are the last two pics of my final week at my internship (thanks to Dajana for pic 2 ;).

LEFT:
*Thrifted Scarf -b-day present from my little sis (Thanks Betsy!)
*Bling Bling silk blouse - thrifted.
*Perfect blue cardigan - thrifted.
*There's that Urban Outfitters skirt again.
*My Minnetonka moccasins...my most worn shoes.

RIGHT:
*Thrifted gold leaf necklaced
*H & M black cardigan - clothing swap
*Grey tee - garage sale on my lunch break the day before.
*Gold Rose belt - thrifted
*Floral skirt - old navy (lame, right? no. it was $12.00 and I wear it a lot.)
*Peacock tights - unsure of the origin, but I love them.
*Vintage mustard pumps - thrifted
*Vintage Coach bag - thrifted

I wish that I would have been more on top of this outfit post thing, but life caught up with me. In between designing website/posters/postcards, pricing clothes, setting up, planning, etc for Mighty Swell I was looking for a job...it consumed my life. After this weekend, which will be bonkers, I'll be back full force. New job, new free time and new blog posts! I've got some fun stuff in the works, i promise. xoxox

Tuesday {bunnies & forks}

2010-09-14T16:19:00.000-07:00

All right, I'm sticking to it. Day two.
I mentioned yesterday that below the knee skirts don't do many any favors. While that may be true, this skirt gets a descent amount of wear. It may be the most comfortable (and modest) skirt I own. And it was less than $3.00 at the thrift store - even better.

Top to bottom:
*Earrings made of fork tines: from 'I Like You', an adorable store in MPLS. They were actually a gift from Eric for my birthday. I didn't really think they were "me", but I'm starting to like them a lot.
*T-shirt bought at Urban on mega clearance.
*Fabric floral belt, thrifted.
*Black button down skirt, thrifted.
*Flats, Target circa 2008.
*My usual rings.

MONDAY. {the count down begins...}

2010-09-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

This week I count down the last 5 days of my internship. The first job I've ever had where I had a reason to get semi dressed-up. And fortunately, since I am a graphic designer, I can get away with some pretty "funky" outfits. In other words, I didn't have to buy dress slacks (have I ever told you how much I hate pants???), or wear below the knee skirts, which look terrible on me. Since I will soon be back to working from home (and by "working" i mean "looking for a new job") - I decided to do an outfit post everyday this week. Not going to put extra thought into my outfits, just gonna get gussied up every morning as usual and take a pic. So here we go....

From top to bottom...
*Necklace that I bought at a craft fair, made from
re-purposed vintage hardware and photos.
*Target V-neck.
*Urban Outfitters mini skirt.
*Thrifted braided leather belt.
*Guess wedges.
*Thrifted rings that I wear every. single. day.

Mighty Swell! {takin' it to the streets}

2010-09-10T19:33:00.001-07:00

As you all know, I love treasure hunting (thrifting, garage sales, estate sales, etc). It is one of my favorite things/greatest escapes. But it gets to a point where you just can’t justify owning SO MUCH STUFF. As a remedy, I’ve always had garage sales, clothing swaps and the like. Last year I decided that my eye for seeking out good stuff among a sea of “junk” was a true talent and I should start making a gig out of it. My Etsy shop, Bourbon and Lace, was born. While Etsy is a truly amazing resource, I have found myself yearning for the face-to-face transactions. I guess it’s the former-retail employee in me. I like making people happy in person. There is also the growing frustration with how much work Etsy is. Finding, cleaning, photographing, listing, describing, pricing – whew! All of this leads to a mark up in price to make it worth your time.

So, long story short, we devised a solution. Meghan (from the Minneapolis based blog High Plains Thrifter) and I are opening our very own vintage pop-up shop - Mighty Swell. The plan: We get a few other treasure hunters together, gather all of our goods and set up a real-life vintage store (one weekend only!) in a friend’s gallery space, promote the heck out of it and hopefully make it a quarterly event! Our Mission: A blink-and-you-miss it vintage shopping extravaganza, showcasing an edited collection of clothing, accessories and home decor. Why? Because affordable vintage is Mighty Swell.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks, vendor interviews and a look at the whole process start to finish. Don't forget to frequent Meg's blog - she'll be doing a lot of the updates! YAY!

In the mean time follow us on twitter @mightyswell and become a fan on facebook!

Autumn Joy

2010-09-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

My most sincere apologies for my lack of blogging. "Busy, busy, busy" doesn't even begin to describe the last month of my life. Exciting things (new projects!, puppy), stressful things (moving, puppy), everyday life things (family, boyfriend, puppy) have forced me to put the Bourbon and Lace blog on the back burner. Every time I get a moment and think "tonight, i WILL post something"...I get overwhelmed because I don't know where to start. So here we are. A hello to you in the form of a photo collage of things that make me smile.

This one's for mom. {a new drawing}

2010-08-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

Over the fourth of July weekend while we were visiting my parents, my mom tripped over tiny Herman and fell. Hard. It was super scary, and I was freaking out...but she's tough. She got up and acted like everything was just fine. Two days later, she goes to the hospital...broken foot. You can imagine how bad Eric, Herman and I felt. So the little monster and I collaborated to make this card for her. Love you mama!

Smitten with {Meredith Dittmar}

2010-08-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

Totally in love and inspired by this lady and her AMAZING work.

"Dittmar's human-animal-plant-energy amalgams contain threads of common elements and colors to express deep levels of union across themes of biology, technology, and consciousness"

Check her out - so much more beautiful stuff on her site!

FOUND: Art Deco Cross Stitch Kits

2010-07-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

I ran across these cross stitch kits while doing some research for an Art Deco inspired illustration I am working on. There is a part of me that has always wanted to learn to cross stitch. No geese with bows around their necks, or roosters, or pigs....but I wouldn't mind hanging these beauties in my house. I find the top-left one especially stunning, and the slight side-boob detail on the bottom left lady is kind of awesome.
I should really be packing my kitchen for our big move, but I had to share these.
Farewell for now, Have a wonderful Tuesday!

A Little Local Love {MPLS Bloggers}

2010-07-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

FORK KNIFE & SPOON

Besides being one of my dearest friends, Kate Newberry Gillin Sommers (yep, 3 last names) is a fabulous photographer. She shoots weddings, babies, food...and sometimes puppies (Herman). Then she writes about it on her blog. Check her out!

THE MINNEAPOLINE

Ellen Dahl is sort of the queen of Minneapolis street style. She's always at the places to be seen, and she brings her camera, seeking out the best clad ladies and gents in the room. The Minneapoline makes me proud to live here. It can be a challenge to stay cute when you have 4 extreme seasons to contend with, but we've got it down. To top it all off, Ellen is about the sweetest person you'll ever meet.

THINGS I FOUND (AT THE THRIFT STORE)

This guy beat me to it. One day last year I thought "I'll start a blog about stuff I find at the thrift store-what a unique idea!" But I did my research and stumbled upon Things I Found. Justin shares his finds, has cool guest bloggers and fun thrifting tips. He is also a pretty funny dude. There's a lot of great links to other thrifting blogs too - get in there!

HIGH PLAINS THRIFTER

Last, but not least, is this absolutely lovely blog. If you live in the twin cities and like to thrift, Meghan is the lady to follow. She's not one of those "I'm not telling you my secret spots" kind of thrifters - she shares it all, seeking out and reviewing treasure troves in and around the cities. Thank you, Meghan:)

Shop Update! {Floral, Gingham, Polka Dots & More}

2010-07-22T18:45:00.000-07:00

1}Lemon Yellow Beach Comber High Waist Shorts
2}Psychadelic Garden Gorgeous Floral Maxi Dress
3}Slouchy Tropical Hibiscus Blouse
4}Black and White Striped Yacht Romper
5}Day Glow Pink and Grape Polka Dot Swim Suit
6}Taupe and Lace Accordion Dress
7}Ruffled Ruby and White Gingham Blouse

Oh, how I would love to own.

2010-07-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

We are moving (as we speak, sort of) into a new apartment. There is a website if you want to check it out, the landlord dabbles in web design. The pictures don't quite do it justice - but look at that kitchen and pantry! It's pretty great: 3 bedrooms, big 'ol sun porch, beautiful fenced in back yard, which Eric, myself and our little creatures are all going to enjoy quite a bit. We are both really excited. However, nearing 28, I am at the age where a lot of my friends are buying houses. We want to stay mobile for a few more years, so we're putting it off. But, oh how I long for a home to make my own...here are some things I've seen lately that make me long so badly to buy a place.

This kitchen is so fabulous (as is the rest of this house). I've seen some pretty great vintage stoves, but I think that one takes the cake. Also I love the wood work, the tile and the overall color scheme. Sometimes I feel like any type of robin's egg blue/aqua color is hard to pull off, it seems to always turn out looking baby blue (yuck)...but I think with that green stove it all works out.

Don't even get me started on this Austin, TX apartment that was featured on designsponge last week. I have always wanted to live in a converted warehouse, but I can't bring myself to sacrifice having an outside space that is easily accessible. (Oh, and I can't afford one). This loading dock yard is the perfect solution! I love, love, love it. Think of all the great spots in this apartment for shooting clothes! GAH, i can barely stand it.

Shop Update! {Make a splash}

2010-07-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know what the weather is like where you are at, but here in Minneapolis we are enjoying (or suffering through) the dog days of summer. We are fortunate enough to have many lakes and many beaches here, though I don't get to them as often as I would like. So in honor of the 100 degree weather...a summer swim suit/swim cover update. Enjoy!

1} Flattering Tropical Pin Up Two Piece High Waist Swim Suit - Medium/Large
2}Neon Plaid Pink and Yellow Long Swim Tank
3} Hang Ten Pink and Aqua V Stripe Swim Suit
4}Betty Rubble Pink and Black One Piece
5}Navy and White Pin Up Polka Dot Ruffle Skirted One Piece Swim Suit
6}Lemon Creme Textured Summer Romper
7}Pretty Peach Pocketed Terry Romper - Medium

Jealous little puppy.

2010-07-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, Herman. He is quite the mama's boy, and I am to blame. Since the day that I picked him up, I have treated him like my baby. Talking to him sweet, letting him give me kisses and sometimes sneaking him into bed after Eric has fallen asleep. While his obsession with me is adorable, when I am trying to get work done, he can be a little pest. Today, while prepping for a photo shoot with the lovely Miss Therese Little, I wasn't paying enough attention to the little monster. He knows me being in my studio directly results in a lack of cooing and cuddling. So he came in, sat down in front of the blank wall and looked up at me with those puppy eyes and gave a little whine. I grabbed my camera. He is usually moving so much it's hard to get a single shot that isn't blurry...but today he was just posing up a storm.

So enjoy these adorable photos of Herman (though I know that this post is *mostly* for me ;) It's going to be a big week for new stuff at Bourbon & Lace Vintage. We photographed SO MUCH cute stuff today, I can't wait to get it all listed! Until then, I am off to FEASTmpls.
Happy Saturday!
xoxoxox,
Rae Alexis

Shop Update! {A little more summer}

2010-07-13T21:41:00.000-07:00

New Bourbon & Lace shop update!

1} Pristine Slate Grey Carry On Bag - with keys!
2} Black and Red Polka Dot Sexy Secretary Dress
3} Red n White Candy Striper Day Dress
4} Lavender and Seafoam Floral Deco Top
5} Vintage Crocheted Scallop Lace Top
6} Cyan Blue 60s Mod Wiggle Dress
7} Lemon Yellow Betty Draper Night Gown Dress
8} Black and Neon Stripes & Triangles V Neck
9} Vintage Pixel Flowers Tapestry Clutch

Treasure Rescue: 001

2010-07-11T12:15:00.000-07:00

"Treasure Rescue" posts are a way for me to share my garage sale/thrift store/dumpster dive finds with you, my wonderful readers. (*Note: I don't know if I actually have any wonderful readers, feel free to comment below and make yourself known!)

I have been "junking" since I was a wee tot. My family was big, and not rich, so my mom bought a lot of our stuff second hand. I learned to love it at a young age because she often let me buy toys that I would never get otherwise. Many hot, humid and lovely weekends were spent garage sale-ing. I still try and go treasure hunting every time I am back in Iowa. I find some of my best stuff there.

These are some of my better finds from the last few weeks.

1. This cool 70s faux wood type collage thing-y. I'm a typography nerd.

2. Misc. notepads. I love vintage ephemera of all kinds. I collect it and write thank you notes to include with my etsy orders.

3. "Champion Spelling Book" from 1909. Originally sold for 20 cents (it's penciled in the front cover). I mostly bought this one for the cover...I'm a sucker for old books.

4. This one is a gem. "The Cottage Physician" published in 1899. So cool to hold something over 100 years old in your hands. I may have to post more pictures of the illustrations inside. Cool stuff.

5. This is an old film illuminator, a light box that hangs in hospitals to view x-rays. It's from the Wolfe Clinic here in Minneapolis. Eric and I picked this baby up at a sale next door for $20...a bargain, i'm pretty sure. The guy did not give us the brain x-rays that were displayed with it, which was quite a disappointment. Can't wait to see what creative uses we find for this in our new place.

6. This vintage milk glass set of 4 mugs, 4 bowls and 4 finger bowls was an Iowa garage sale find. $3.00 for the set! I love the funky pattern and the colors. Actually thinking about painting our new kitchen something similar to that aqua.

7 & 8. I've been hording vintage wrapping paper for years now, and it comes in handy all the time. People love getting uniquely wrapped gifts, it adds a nice touch. I'm also a sucker for all things floral.

9 & 10. I have a really hard time not buying old photos whenever I come across them. But I have so many, and I'm not quite sure what to do with all of them. I had to bring this album home with me. They are mostly from the 1920's, taken in Iowa, and in great condition. And they have so much personality. I mean, how often to you come across such a goofy picture in an old photo album like this? So great. I plan on scanning them all for a separate post.

2010-07-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

That's right! It's my first big sale! The details: 20% off merchandise only, shipping costs remain the same. This includes everything in the shop, even sale stuff. I'm heading out to celebrate the long weekend, so orders will ship out Tuesday morning.

I loaded the shop with new goodies - So go check it out : www.bourbonandlace.etsy.com

What are you doing for the big weekend? We are going home to Iowa, where we were both born and raised, to spend time with Eric's parents...and then Sunday we get to go see Modest Mouse in Des Moines! They've been one of my favorite bands since I was 14. Easily the band I have listened to the longest (13 years...wow). They put on an excellent live show. Throw in fireworks, family and some good beers, and I am sure to have a very special 4th of July. Hope you do too...CHEERS!

SHOP UPDATE! ::: Summer Lovin'::::

2010-06-28T20:04:00.000-07:00

So, it's been awhile since I gave the shop a proper update. I spent the last few months graduating, finding a new job and raising a puppy...needless to say, Bourbon & Lace wasn't my highest priority. But, oh how I've missed it! So here are a few sweet items, and that's just the tip of the vintage iceberg that is living in my office right now. More to come soon, I promise! Plus an Independence Day **SALE** this weekend - stay tuned!

Check 'em out in the shop BourbonAndLace.etsy.com

Why, hello there.

2010-06-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling with my first post. There are so many things that I want to blog about...but I decided a simple introduction of my family was in order before I went any further.

So, here we go. I am a graphic designer, illustrator, lover and seller of vintage clothing and an amateur chef. You can check out my portfolio site by here : RaeAlexis AND my Etsy vintage shop: Bourbon and Lace. Eric is a landscape architect (very different from a landscaper, FYI). He also enjoys being outdoors anytime he can, animals, bicycles, good beer and making me laugh. We live in Minneapolis, and we are completely in love with it. We have two precious babies. Enzo, our cat, is almost 6. He was Eric's office cat when we lived in California. When the office moved Enzo came home with us. Enzo enjoys wandering around outside, dairy (especially icecream) and good, long belly rubs. Herman is just a baby, nearing 4 months now. His mom was a silver dapple miniature dachshund and his dad was a red mini dachs. He enjoys chewing on pretty much anything, wrestling with Enzo and burrowing under the blankets and pillows.

So that's that. Follow my blog and you'll be there first to know about fun giveaways, sales in my Etsy shop, guest bloggers of all sorts - designers, fashionistas, etc - and my occasional ramblings.

It's very nice to meet you :)