Second-handing

Sometimes when we are out scouring the globe for cool accessories for the shops and raw materials for production we get a little side tracked. When you're out second-handing thoughts get pulled in all directions - Why did velvet paintings go out of fashion? Who dreamed up toilet paper cozies? Are used hot rollers ever going to be purchased? How can I possibly justify another vintage suitcase (or insert your own personal addiction here) entering my home?

Rhonda (a friend, a brilliant pastry chef, and the woman who makes the ALure jewelry we carry - made from fishing lures and accessories!) and I recently went in search furniture for the Vancouver shop and men's shirts for the Maelle Tunic Erin is so in love with. Here's a little of what we got side tracked by.

Aah, the velvet paintings.

Rhonda thought his housecoat was something Laura Ingalls would have dreamt of owning. It was scarily satiny polyester.

I think this thing must have been a Mrs. Claus costume. It had boa trim on a gauzy red outlayer, but it was lined with the thickest flesh-toned fleece. Here it looks like some pumkin elf nightmare - spectacularly horrible. Guess you had to feel it.

Awesome leather chaps!

Fake Racoon hat - why?

Fortunately, I did find a pile of excellent men's shirts and furniture. So be prepared for an ongoing influx of superb Maelle Tunics and visual displays in the shops.

Own The Closet!

The Maelle Tunic, inspired by Canada's very own snowboarder extraordinaire, Maëlle Ricker, has hit the stores and it is awesome! A versatile piece, it looks great with all sorts of jeans, tights, boots, and flats. Being 5'2", I like to wear mine as a dress with a belt and a cardigan thrown over top (and yes, I can hear our Vancouver customers rolling their eyes and asking, 'What doesn't Erin wear a cardigan with?'--a question for the ages if ever there was one). I think I actually squealed when Glenda and I pulled these out of the box last week and we--and by "we" I mean my Maelle and I--have been inseparable ever since. Best of all, since they're made of upcycled men's shirts, no two are alike, leading one to ask, "Why have one if you can have half a dozen?!" (or at least it leads me to ask. Hmmm.....).