Seattle Shopper Gift Roundup

This year I am trying to find gifts that only come from local stores, artisans, or vintage stores. This little gift roundup may be Seattle-focused, but finding good local gifts for your friends and family this year is as close as a Google search or a stroll around your own city.

Here are a few Seattle-based items I found for boys and girls alike!

Field House Bone Handle Knife from Blackbird - $48

Does your fella need something to occupy his time on long winter evenings? How about whittling! While I rarely advocate giving gifts that could also serve as weapons, this whittling knife is classy, and could potentially reap some hand-carved rewards.

As a companion, you could give him the Big Book of Whittling and Woodcarving, and hope that he carves you a pair of wooden clogs.

The Big Book of Whittling and Woodcarving - $10 on Amazon.com

Another great companion to the whittling knife are these fetcing cowboy bandages, avaiable at Archie McPhee

Cowboy Adhesive Bandages - $4.95 at Archie McPhee

Ah...what a nostalgic hobby!

Make your friend a custom T-shirt this year with B-Bam! Oh, sadly they no longer appear to have a brick and mortar location, but you can still order through their website. Got an inside joke with a friend? Print it on a shirt and tell your friend to wear it proud: http://www.b-bam.com/

The Great Chicken Escape by Nikki McClure - $10 at BuyOlympia.com

Check out artist Nikki McClure's amazing paper cut art children's books. The Great Chicken Escape is just one, but a large selection of her exquisite books for little people can be found on BuyOlympia.com

Ruffle Print Top by Nick & Mo - $41 at The Frock Shop

The Frock Shop on Phinney has cute, affordable clothing for women and children. I love this Ruffle Print Top by Nick & MO

Mackinaw Cruiser Jacket - $279.50 at Filson

Help your man stay warm and stylish this year in one of Filson's Mackinaw Cruiser Jackets. The price is a bit steep, but this jacket will last a lifetime due to Filson's extremely high quality materials and craftsmanship.

There are many local boutiques in various Seattle neighborhoods and on the Eastside that do not have online stores, so put on your coat, and hit the streets! 

 - PJ

Poor Jean is Getting Cozy!

New and vintage outerwear items are now available for purchase at Poor Jean.  Get cozy this winter with wool coats and capes in several sizes and colors. Check them out!

Vintage Pendleton Wool Overcoat

Vintage Cream Wool Overcoat

Vintage Wool Plaid Cape

The Camel and the Peacock Wool Cape

Vintage Striped Day Jacket

Mena Trott's Fantastic Idea..

I am absolutely in love with Mena Trott's blog, The Sew Weekly.  Mena set out to sew an outfit for herself every week for an entire year.  Not only are her vintage-inspired outfits absolutely charming, but they are often inexpensive to make.  Many of them feature vintage sewing patterns and fabrics, and she lists the cost and time to make each piece.  I feel so inspired...I wish I had 6 or 7 more hours each day to undertake such a project myself.  What a wardrobe I would have!

Check it out - and if you don't have time to read the posts, at least click on the thumbnails and view the fabulous outfits she has created for herself!
 

 - PJ

Happy Birthday to Us!

Today Poor Jean is a year old, and we're celebrating with an anniversary sale!  Everything in the shop is 10% off until October 26th.  There are some screaming deals in-store right now, so stop by www.etsy.com/shop/poorjean and check them out!

Retro Pineapples Cocktail Apron - $13.50

El Mariachi Skirt - $40.50

Hops Schoolgirl Dress - $40.50

Ahoy Anita Strapless Dress - $81

August Inventory Clearance Sale - August 28 - 31

Poor Jean is having an inventory clearance sale.  Ready to ship items will be marked down to half off for only a few days!  Here are just a few startlingly inexpensive vintage and handmade items for sale this month:

Anchors Away Boardwalk Skirt - $27.50

Vintage 1970s Long Sun Dress - $20

Vintage Hand-Stitched Gingham Apron - $5!

Stripey Upcycled Boardwalk Skirt - $20

There's more at Poor Jean - check it out!



- PJ

Find Select Poor Jean Items on Magpie Lovely!

Poor Jean has just partnered with the darling online boutique, Magpie Lovely, but dresses and skirts are not all that the site has.  Check out Magpie Lovely for fantastic home items, bath and body, jewelry, and the cutest kids clothing you've ever seen!  Also, if you have time, take a few minutes to read the Magpie Lovely blog. 

Enjoy!

 - PJ

Friday Pounce!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Friday pounce – take a look at some fresh, undiscovered shops on Etsy!

Even if you don’t have children, these fabric mobiles by Babyjives can add life and color to any room in the house.

It’s still a few months away, but Gertie and Co. is all ready for Halloween with these cute accessories for the home.

Feet need love too!  Show your toes how much you appreciate them with these sweet little shoes from Annalisehusfeld

I have a weakness for robots, which is why the little robots on this hand-painted butter dish from Julia Davey instantly caught my eye!

The rich color of this hand-knitted jacket from Karen’s Loom is sure to turn heads.


Selling online is difficult, but rewarding - so is buying. Don't forget to check out the Etsy pounce tool on occasion, and make a new seller's day.

 - PJ

Sew Down!

 A few pieces of upcycled material, waiting to be made into a-line skirts. 
Find them next week at Poor Jean!

Here in our 690 sq. foot home, my husband and I are drowning in fabric.  It has displaced the linens in the linen closet, pushed my clothes out of the clothes closet, overtaken  two bookshelves, a wicker trunk, and a leather armchair.  Therefore, as a sort of "fall cleaning", it is time to commence a Sew Down; that is, I'm going to try to sew every piece of new and upcycled material into a garment and post for sale on Poor Jean before the end of September.  All items will be ready to ship, in varying sizes.  Visit Poor Jean early next week for the first batch of Sew Down upcycled a-line skirts, sizes extra small, small, medium, and large!

 - PJ

Only a Few More Days of Christmas in July at Poor Jean!

The Christmas in July Sale is still happening at Poor Jean!  Vintage and pre-made items are moving fast, so don't wait until the last minute.  Here are a few sale items to check out:

 The Vintage Everything Dress - $45

 Dandelion Upcycled Dress - $70

 

 Bluebelle of the Ball Gown - $110

Vintage 1970s Long Sun Dress - $40

Happy shopping!

 - PJ

Adaptations by Anna - Bringing New Life to Old Pants

I had a few conversations with this awesome seller who is also upcycling old clothing into new clothing.  Take a look at some of her clever creations!

This button wrap shirt can also be worn as a skirt...

Gentleman's trousers are transformed into a darling pencil in the pants skirt

I'm always looking out for good upcycling examples.  Taking the time to find the potential value in something that is usually written off as useless is an activity that we rarely consider anymore, but it is those "old and worn out" things that have the most character and personality.  I look at the pencil skirt pictured above and think, what would the former owner of those pants think if he saw that skirt? Ooh la la!

Etsy-wide Christmas in July Sale!

Poor Jean is participating in an Etsy-wide Christmas in July sale!  Here's a little peek at a few of my sale items:

The Vintage Everything Dress

Dandelion Upcycled Dress

 Spring Fling Sleeveless Top

Not only do I have some great deals on all of my vintage and pre-made items, but other Etsy sellers have some fantastic bargains as well!  Check these out:

Blue tote from ADG Corner's Shop

Wedding Cake Toppers from The Enchanted Cupboard

 

Atomic Mod French Brocade Brooch, by The Broken Plate

Chunky Cloche, by Pixibell Elfinwear

Vibrant Sock Yarn, by Knitsinclass

Tea bowls, by Mike Paluska

Upcycled Miami Deco Earrings by Madeline and Francine

Take advantage before the sale ends!

 - PJ

There's Still Time to Visit the Urban Craft Uprising Indie Craft Show!

Seattleites - the Urban Craft Uprising 2010 Summer Indie Craft Show is still happening at the Exhibition Hall in the Seattle Center.  Admission is free.  This is a chance to get some great deals on handmade clothing, papercraft, jewelry, original art, and to talk with the amazing people who create all of this fantastic stuff.  Stop by before 5 p.m. this evening and check it out!

 - PJ

Poor Jean Apparel Now For Sale at Reconstructed Clothing Co.

Seattleites!  If you want to get your rain-soaked hands on some upcycled Poor Jean goods, skip the shipping charges, and support your local economy, then this post is for you.  Poor Jean is now being sold at Reconstructed Clothing Co. at 1922 1st Ave.  Kristen, the store owner, has curated a collection of handmade, upcycled items by local artisans, including some fantastic bags, menswear, jewelry, and buttery soft scarves (among other things).  Stop on by and check it out!

 - PJ 

Oh My!

Bicycle Club Rider, $30 at Oh My Cavalier

Alas, leaving the design world has meant that my art collection is suffering and stagnant.  I thought I would go back and check out what Julianna Swaney has been up to (an artist that I have been a fan of for some time now), and I think that very soon this distinguished and decorated cyclist shall be hanging on one of my walls.  Check out Oh My Cavalier for affordable, unique prints!

 - PJ