Vintage Gucci

1970s
Wood Manual Wind Watch
source

The thief in my stolen clothes

I was warned about her, I even picked up bad vibes from her myself. She had her believers, her pawns who volunteered at her shop. I could see right through her Liberace-cum-Rasputin facade. Unfortunately, as all artists know, financial duress can sometimes win out over intuition. Needless to say, I brought a collection of my designs to her store to sell.

On and on she went, trying to make me believe she was taking my designs out of pity, 'They really won't sell here'. But she took them anyway. Two weeks later I dropped in to see if she'd put them out. I hated walking into her Main St. shop with its stained carpet and the stench of cheap incense, mildew and pot - even worse was her cackling about color and texture to every dahhhhliinnngg single person that walked in. Luckily, she wasn't there, just one of her minions flagrantly gossiping to hang around - hence the whole shop. I approached the counter to ask about my account as my designs weren't on the floor - alas, I stood unnoticed. There was an open black binder on the counter top and coincidentally enough it lay open to my account - which was marked with a massive slash through it with the number 86 written at the top. If you've never had the joy of working in the food and beverage industry - 86 means sold out, finished, no more.

Panicked, I left the shop. Calling up the minion a few hours later, he told me that my things had sold out and that there would be a cheque for me the following week. Onwards to the following week. I went in to pick up my cheque first thing in the morning, wanting to make the whole ordeal as quick and painless as possible. Liberace-cum-Rasputin was cawing on the phone. It was just her and I in the shop. She gave me a snide, 'How are yooouuuuu...' thank god she didn't try to touch me. I told her I was there to pick up my cheque. She went to the black binder and looked up my account - not opening the book in its entirety. 'Oh, didn't we call you last week?' she miffed. No, I called you and spoke to a guy who said my cheque would be ready today. 'Oh dahhhlliinnng, I'm sooooo sorrrry, but your things were stolen.' WTF?

Onward two weeks.
I had been invited to one of Vancouver's most highly respected vintage clothing collector's home for a private sale. His private sales were noted as the end all be all, and to be personally invited meant he thought you were worthy to view and shop his private collection. I was nervous about going, and almost didn't,  but I grabbed hold of my gumption and my BFF and off we went. Once we arrived, my jitters passed, and I was in all my glory. Encompassing my thoughts was one thing, how I wanted to roll, naked like a dog in grass, amongst the mountains of vintage silk, velvet, and chiffon that lay strewn around his old Victorian home. And then there she was, carelessly planted like an invasive species on the pink velveteen sofa, cackling, as a not so stellar jay - decked head to toe in my 'stolen' 86'd personal designs.

A couple pics of my place and some of my vintage finds

I've been good lately, well sort of. Nothing can come into the apartment until something goes out. The top pic is the guest bedroom and it's pretty much complete (after a year). Everything I sourced via yard sales and thrift shops - minus the day bed and book shelf (IKEA). My bud Rachel found me an original David Lance Goines for $3 at a local thrift shop - thanks I'll take it. Remember I collect his art? The Indian block print bedspread is from Etsy and the driftwood wall hanging is from the beach at Ambleside. I'm thinking about doing another coat of white on the walls. Gross, here's a post from a year ago and the old color. I still have four more macrame plant hangers. Where should I put them?  I was thinking of putting one in the washroom. Do you think it would it be too dark for a plant?

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My Deck - A Preemptive

'Imagine if it was sunny now until November?' The Easter long weekend in Vancouver was gorgeous! The thing about Vancouver weather is, you can't trust it. As a kid growing up here it sucked. You'd leave your Barbies outside in their Barbie motor home on a hot summer night only to have them soaking wet in pissing rain the next morning. Camping - same thing. How many times have I woken up in a flooded tent?

We took advantage of our four days of nice weather and started our Spring planting on the deck. The plant collection has grown a lot since we moved in a year ago. This year we're trying a herb garden. My first one. I've had bountiful vegetable gardens before but I don't want to attempt one on my deck - I need room for lounging. My climbing rose bush survived its first winter. I cut all the leaves off it and it's come back nicely - and so have the aphids. I've planted peppermint around the bush but I don't think it's mature enough to keep them away yet. Any suggestions on how to get rid of these jerks?

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Thanks for your support! ~ Stacy

9 Tips to Survive The Flea Market of the Year

We wait all year for this and if you've been reading Bijou Living for awhile you may remember me writing about it before - The West Van Seniors' Flea Market. This Sunday at the West Van arena (behind the Community Centre) come on out! If you're looking for furniture this is the place - head right to the back.

Everything goes 50% off at 2pm so make it a day.

Heed my advice:

1. do not bring anyone with you who doesn't like crowds
2. bring a larger bag - like those blue Ikea ones, to put all the little bags you accumulate in
3. there are certain people who will try to shove you out of the way - do not let them! Turn to them and: a) give them the crazy lady eyes until they stop or b) firmly say, 'Excuse me but I'm standing here'. Seriously - be firm
4. there are lockers in the washrooms in the Community Centre if you want to stash your stuff until the 50% off sale at 2pm. Go and explore some West Van architecture, go to the Sally Ann on 16th and Marine, chill out at the beach in Dundarave - or perhaps find a new apartment to rent - there are tonnes in Ambleside and you'll be surprised by the price.
5. bring water, snacks and ibuprofen (sometimes I bring ear plugs). There's a Bean Around the World coffee shop in the Community Centre, (have the vegan gluten free cookie)
6. dress in layers or leave your coat in a locker
7. remember the people working the market are volunteers - seniors from the West Van Seniors' Centre - respect them. If you witness someone disrespecting a senior tell them so, (or hope I'm nearby and I will). Some of these seniors are frail and certain people try to intimidate them to get what they want. Trust me, you'll see it, don't let it happen.
8. do not let people shove you - stand firm. Politeness goes out the door with some people.
9. Imagine yourself in one of those rolling sound proof plastic bubbles gliding around the market - it helps.

UPDATE: I have The Jewel Newsletter up and running again - after a four year hiatus! Sign up at the top of the page or by filling out this subscription form. The newsletter will contain different content than my blog and Facebook page and will be delivered monthly. Oh - and the Bijou Living Online Shop creation is well underway and will be opening soon! Think I'm going through a manic phase ;-)

In the haze of last week

Last week's adventures began with a mild case of food poisoning, (obtained at a book club dinner with Fareed Zakaria), continued with a rash of meetings, (under food poisoning haze), which also included a Lululemon luncheon at the Board of Trade (yikes), and ended with me slumped over the computer Friday night browsing Etsy and Craigslist, (which also led to my email being hacked).
Here are some pieces from my search:

  
















from top:   Men's vintage Stacy Adams boots Church pews for $250 in Vancouver Vintage bikes in Abbotsford Men's gray vintage Stacy Adams boots Teak dresser for $60 in Armstrong Where was this when I was a kid? Stacy necklace Banker's desk for $25 in Chilliwack Block print fabric Vintage wooden boat for $1800 in the Fraser Valley
Follow my meanderings on Twitter or Foursquare.

Mid-Century Danish Designer Sven Ellekaer

available at The Elemental Garden

via Lauritz

via Lauritz

available at eLaB Vintage

available at Morentz

via Lauritz

6 Swanky Lighters

Mid Century Lighter Markers in Time

Vintage Glass Table Lighter Olsen Vintage Market

  Lucite Sea Scene Lighter Magical Stuff

 Japanese Glass Table Top Lighter Annie's

Hollywood Regency Table Top lighter Quaint Estate

table top lighter and cigarette holder

White Robin Vintage

Mid-Century Beach Home 1966

Beach house on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Built: 1966
Size: 2,775 square feet - on three levels
Materials: rough-sawn cypress siding, terrazzo floor, stainless steel conical fire hood, bookcases with metal connecting strips
source: H&G Building Guide Spring 1967