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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Presenting... Charmion!


How insanely BADASS is this lady?! 

Her name is Laverie Vallee, but she performed as a trapeze artist under the name Charmion.  She was mostly known for a very risque striptease performance that she did in full Victorian garb.  It was captured on film by Edison himself in 1901... and while we're not fans of Edison around here (we're Tesla girls), something about seeing a film of something that was considered inappropriate for 1901 is just too good to pass up.  Even if it is incredibly blurry...


Apparently, that version of her act was pared down a bit and was made to focus more on the sexy side of things rather than her strength... the full length version apparently had a lot more feats of strength.  Color me SUPER impressed... I don't even think I could do one pull-up! this lady could DESTROY ME.  Yet she still wears ruffly underwear and a fashionable hairstyle.  Can we say "new hero"?


What do you think? Terrifying or amazing? Or just terrifying how amazed you are?


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Giveaway Day!

In the spirit of the season Jess and I decided it would be a perfect time to introduce our bi weekly giveaway.  Our first giveaway is dear to my heart. As some of you may know I may have a pattern "hoarding problem". I can smell out a vintage pattern in any thrift store, flea market, or basement. Getting a good vintage pattern sets my mind all a flutter. What fabric shall I use? What embellishments? Ohhh the possibilities.  

This lovely is a "four section dress, lightly fitted by French darts in front and vertical back darts, has zipper in back seam.  Dress has vent in front seam at neck and above elbow length bell sleeves cut in one with dress back and front." Circa 1966.  Extremely well preserved, includes directions. 
All you have to do is "Like" us on Facebook and enter the info in the little widget bellow.  Oh and don't forget to check out our etsy store shoplucilles and enter coupon code "holiday" for a discount. 

Giveaway ends 12/18/12 and a winner will be picked at random.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Help us with our first retail storefront!


As you may or may not know, we've been itchin' to open a store for quite some time now.  Shortly after we met, we started collaborating on plans to open a shop right off, but we took a few steps back and went the slower route (selling online, selling at markets..), but now we're revving up the engines again!


We've picked out a spot that we're pretty in love with!  It's got plenty of space for the shop, plus storage in the back, and a workroom off to the side where we can do all our various messy projects (our dudes will be thankful to have those out of our respective houses, I think).  It's not in a location we really expected, but we love the space, and it'll be a great fit for our first spot.  


So we've got the space, we've got the drive, and we've got all the nervous butterflies we can possibly stomach, but we could use some help with our initial costs.  So we started up a page on GoFundMe - which is a close relative of Kickstarter... We'd be very glad if you could take some time to check it out, and either donate, or pass the word on to friends.  

You can visit the page at: http://www.gofundme.com/shoplucilles

Any help in any way, shape, or form is exceptionally appreciated!

Thank you times forever & ever,
Jess & Caiti



Sunday, December 2, 2012

Fashion History Sunday!

They're scattered about your apartment. They hide at the bottom of your purse. Maybe you find them in the shower. Sometimes you find them snagged in your rug. Sometimes your magpie kitty steals them. You probably leave a trail of them and don't even know it.
                                                           We're talking BOBBY PINS!


 If you dig vintage fashion you probably are quite familiar with this amazing little hair accessory. But I bet you don't know it's history....

Anthropologically speaking it's safe to infer that early cave dwellers adorned their hair with crude pins made of thorns, sticks, bone and even stone.  Archaeologists have cited hairpins dating back to as early as 2000 BC when the Greeks produce gold single prong pins. During the 3rd and 4th century it's recorded that Romans made bronze decorative single prong hair pins. The two pronged pin, the basis for our beloved pin, originates in Asia as early as the year 300! These pins were made of bone, horn, wood, or metal and were often inlaid with jewels  ivory or silver. Ancient hairpins were not just about taming that pesky flyaway, they were symbols of ones social status  Whole rituals revolved around the hairpin. In ancient Chinese culture the use of hairpins played a very important role in a ritual called "Hairpin Initiation". This rite of passage happened when a girl turned fifteen. She would undo her braids or pigtail, wash her hair, and comb her hair into a bun securing it with hairpins. This signified that she could now enter into marriage



 The double pronged hair pin we know of today can be credited to Luis Marcus and began production in America in the early 19th century. By 1910 the term bobby pin entered the lexicon, named after the popular hairstyle the "Bob" that was sweeping the nation. These pins were all the rage with flappers as it held ones bob in place and also were the key tool in creating perfect pin curls. 

During the mid to late 40's bobby pins were an unfortunate victim of war. The U.S government stopped production of these lovely's to use the material and machines to produce airplane cotter pins.  But the Bobby Pin was not to be held down! It made it's come back during the 50's and 60's as high ponytails and soft curls became fashionable.

 Today bobby pins are used for hairstyling and plenty more. Bookmark? Lockpick? Impromptu screwdriver? But if you take anything from this ramble take this fact; many of you ladies are using these pins wrong. Luis Marcus designed the pin with one wavy side and one flat side for a purpose. The wavy part is meant to grip the hair while the flat part faced outwards and laid sleek against your coif. So turn that puppy around, trust me it will make a world of difference.  

Next week I talk BOWS!
 Until then you can fest your eyes on these to hold you over.

                                                                        Red red red




Until then....
Caiti & Jess

Thursday, October 25, 2012

a long overdue shop update! huzzah!


We've finally got some new items in the Etsy shop! hooray! Caiti has been laboring away at photographing and listing for the last few days in anticipation for the Etsy Maine Cash Mob (for details, check out the event on facebook) and I think it's looking lovely.  It should also be noted that she had to overcome many obstacles while shooting photos... namely cat interruptions.  So this update is super special, obviously.

Beaker has excellent taste in shoes, and mourns his lack of actual feet that would fit into these lovelies.

don't you love these? I hate to say it, but if either Caiti or I (or Beaks) could cram our feet into these they most assuredly wouldn't be in the shop...

perfect plaid skirt for fall/winter!

amazing little black dress


cute little bows!


I LOVE the bow detail on the back of this skirt!


and another bow! There seems to be a bit of a theme here...

All of these are currently available in the Etsy shop so check it out! You can take advantage of us participating in the Etsy Maine Cash Mob by using the promo code CASHMOB - we'll give ya 15% off!

Until next time...
-Jess & Caiti



Wednesday, August 1, 2012

shopping at flea markets

Not only do we sell at flea markets, but we also shop at them too.  And it can be quite the overwhelming ordeal.  Rows and rows of vendors, treasures everywhere.  It always feels like if you don't look in every nook and cranny that you're going to miss that one amazing deal that you didn't even know you were looking for.  It feels that way, because it's usually true... so needless to say, we spent a LOT of time at each place when we're shopping. Treasure hunting isn't an easy business, guys.

I was pleased to find these photos while sifting through the Google Life Archives (which is worth wasting a few hours on, trust me), because it showed me that yet again, some things never change, and we are definitely not the first generation who sees the appeal of spending all day perusing. These photos are from 1950 and picture a very stylish (seriously, check out that outfit!) Nancy Talbot, co-founder of Talbot's clothing, meandering the aisles of what appears to be an absolutely fabulous market.  Talbot seems to experience a lot of the same things that we do while shopping...



#1. She knows that it's clever to bring a partner in crime.  It's easier to have two sets of eyes than one... the person you're with will undoubtedly spot something fabulous that you've missed.  This only works if you're on the same team. Although, if she spots something amazing that you were destined to own and she intends to buy it for herself, you're allowed to hit her (gently).  

This illustrates why it's good that Caiti and I are on the same team.

#2.  You will undoubtedly get distracted by something that you didn't set out to shop for.  Maybe Nancy was actually looking for hats, but I doubt it - she looks off her game.  But that's okay.  Sometimes you find the coolest things in the places of the market you didn't plan to look (I don't know how many times I've found amazing things in completely misplaced sections - jewelry mixed in with baby clothing, amazing dresses mixed with what appears to be actual garbage - always be looking!)

#3. You will spend a ton of time interacting with vendors... so be nice to them! They're the ones who know what's up.  If they don't have what you're looking for, they can surely set you up with someone who does.  And if they DO have what you're looking for but you're looking for a better deal... be kind about it.  Nothing is more annoying to a vendor than someone trying to browbeat you over money.  And sidenote: that little trick about pointing out all the flaws with an item as a means to get a discount... tread lightly there. They know about the flaws, so you don't need to be a jerk about it.. it makes them ornery.   You catch more flies with honey, honey.

#4. Just as you think you've found the perfect treasure and the one thing you can't live without...
...you'll undoubtedly get distracted by something else.  Sometimes this is a nice way of prioritizing things.  It makes you realize that either, a.) the item you're already holding is so precious you either need to carry it with you (if the market allows for that) or pay for it immediately, OR b.) whatever you were looking at doesn't even matter in comparison to the shiny thing off in the distance.  If it's B, get to beatin' feet sister, you've got shiny things to buy!


#5.  Sometimes, the thing that catches your eye... is... well, you don't know what it is.  Is it a pin? Is it a brooch? Some sort of commemorative medal of honor or something?

Should you wear it on your right side... or... maybe your left?

Regardless - if you love it, you love it.  And you should buy it.  If you get that feeling when you find something like you've been punched in the gut, you'll regret leaving it.  You don't always need to know exactly what it is to love it.  My one tip is this: If you have the capability (if not, get thee a smart phone!), do a quick google search on the item to make sure you don't overpay because it's easy for that to happen if you know NOTHING about it.  You don't have to do any full-on research... just maybe check some completed listings on eBay or just see what their list price is on Etsy. Some of our most fun items have been things that we didn't have a clue about... we'd buy them at auctions, and do research online, or ask fellow pickers what they know.  Half the fun is letting the goods tell you their story! So even if Nancy didn't know where the crap to pin this thing, I sure hope she bought it.  And I hope she didn't overpay too much.


#6. You will always spend more time shopping than you think you will.  We usually just block out a whole day to wander around without time constraints.  But we think it might be the best way to waste a day.  Agree?

xoxo,
Jess 

PS. for Maine people who want to spend hours shopping but aren't into the whole "daytime" thing - check out the Night Market at the Flea For All this Friday! We're doing a shindig to coincide with First Friday in Portland... lots of shopping and food and drink! we hope to see you there :)

Friday, July 27, 2012

Newton

"Oh gravity, thou art a heartless bitch." ~ Sir Isaac Newton


It is no big secret that I, Catherine Enos, have a ginormous crush on Isaac Newton. I could pontificate for days on the reasons why he's simply fabulous. Some of you have been subjected to these ramblings but for those whom haven't...grab yourselves a (2 maybe 3) gin and tonic and sit back.




   (Isaac Newton was METAL)


Reason #6: Newton was a caped crusader. 
The year was 1696, currency in England was in disarray. The Brittish government knew there was a problem, all these handstruck coins where chipped, worn, easily forged... and worse some where melted down and sent abroad! "Oh," thought William Lowndes of the Treasury, "who could help?" Newton saw the apple signal in the night sky and swooped in. He estimated that at least 20% of the coins taken in during the Great Recoinage were counterfeit. So he became a warden of the Royal Mint and disguised as a habituĂ© of bars and taverns, gathered evidence.
Now English law still had ancient and ghastly customs of authority and was a bit slow on the prosecution. Newton punched right through that little barrier and became a justice of the peace in all the home counties. In his spare time Newton conducted more than 100 cross-examinations of witnesses, informers, and suspects. Newton successfully prosecuted 28 coiners, William Chaloner being the most noted. 

William Chaloner was part of one of the many coining gangs that existed and was a real class act. Between the schemes to entrap others as Jaobite conspirators and becoming a master forger he earned enough money to prance about as a "gentlemen".  Being the most accomplished counterfeiter in England went straight to his head. He started to issue pamphlets describing a "solution"' to currency problems such as restrict/licence access to tools needed for coining; the coinage should be struck with an impression far deeper than coiners' tools or presses would allow; use a deep groove along the edge; extend the treason law; and adjust the silver value. Newton saw straight through this masquerade and put Chaloner on trial for counterfeiting. He was sent to Newgate Prison. Chaloner, like any good villian, had powerful friends and implored them to secure his release. Much to the dismay of Parliament he was acquitted and released. Newton was having none of that so he put him on trial a second time with conclusive evidence. Chaloner was convicted of high treason and hung, drawn and quartered. Newton seeing his job was finished retreated to his bat cave to create his tomb guarding homunculi.


So if that wasn't reason enough to love the man then I insist you stay tuned for more riveting tales of Sir Isaac Newton. Until then show your love and buy some awesome Newton inspired wares.