Victoria Stores Update: Accessories for Spring

Despite the rainy weather we have been having this past week in Victoria, our shops have been brightening things up for Spring. Along with some new and fabulous jewellery from Erica Weiner, we have been adding a wide range of colourful accessories to liven up your winter wardrobe. Our OBI belts are one of the most versatile accessories to have in your closet, as it can dress up or dress down any garment, adding movement or giving it structure depending on how you style it. All OBI belts are two-sided with a silk-screened side and the other with a repeating graphic on Japanese cotton. Here is a link to some OBI tutorial videos we put together last year to get you started. videos

Silk OBI $49, Cotton OBI $44

Erica Weiner "American West" $89 - 1902 Indian Head Penny and Bison cut from real American coins

Erica Weiner Bee Necklace $34 in brass and Dancing Leaf blossom earrings in lace $24

Johnson St. Store

It is a beautiful, sunny, warm, delicious day here in Victoria and I snapped some great, colourful pics of our tiny store on Johnson Street to share with everyone out in blogland!

Scarf Central: we have a variety of cotton and wool cut scarves, as well as some new bamboo/rayon pretties.

Our happy flower pots decorating the store exterior.

The top half of the wee store.

The Wonton Love in pink (and one of the one-of-a-kind Ivanhoe bags).

Some leather brooches and wool hand-warmers for those still-cool evenings.

A stack of the men's tees in our new colours: olive, light blue, grey and fuchsia! (This is the fuchsia Glenda was talking about in the last post.)

A fitted women's viscose tee with a Cicada.

And last but not least, a close-up of the viscose tee colours. Can you tell that we love pink this season? We're really subtle about it.

Vancouver Update: UPCYCLED Brooches

Back in March, Erin and I commented on a customer's cute fabric floral brooch. I asked her where she got it and she replied that she had made it - cool. Upon further inquiry, it turned out that she had just made a few for herself and friends. When I express interest in carrying them in Smoking Lily, she was surprised, but interested.

Turns out Stephanie is a really motivated gal. Within a week she brought in a nice array of brooches to choose from. They sold really well. I'm sure you can see why. She creates her lovely accessories using only second-hand leather, fabric and buttons. They have a lot of personality.

Now the story turns into a Thomas The Tank Engine feel good drama. When dropping off the latest shipment today (the fourth shipment since April), she told us that she quit her day job to pursue a home-based business. So exciting for her! And so inspiring for all of us who have thought "I wonder if I could work for myself selling what I make, rather than working for someone else?" Guess what? You can! There's some Smoking Lily spirit in there, for sure!

All UPCYCLED (her new business name) brooches are just $20 each. We have a nice variety available in the Main Street (Vancouver) and Johnson Street (Victoria) shops, including lovely red poppies. We're hoping she gets carried in shops across Canada. Go Stephanie!