Itsy Bitsy Craft Craft Sale

Looky what I got!  Stunning pillow cover by Soraam

Hey, guess what?  I get all of my holiday shopping done in October.  Sometimes people say "wow!  you're really on top of things!"  Actually no, I am not at all on top of things. Three unfinished dresses are sitting on top of my sewing machine, the dishes are desperately trying to scrub yesterday's breakfast off of themselves in the sink, and I can't find the remote control because it's somewhere on the couch...underneath a wool blanket, annual taxes paperwork that I finished two weeks ago, a stack of Vogue magazines, two leather jackets, and a sleeping tabby cat.  I get my shopping done in October because I like to shop.  Buy.  Spend.  Using others as an excuse for me to fling handfuls of money away with a twinkle in my eye just makes me feel better about myself. 

"Why are you telling me all of this?" you ask.

Because, it's important to remember that shopping local is SUPER easy when you've got nothing else to do, and after all, hey! it's February!  Shop local during the holidays? It's hard to find the time.  Shop local when the sloppy Seattle rain is blowing at your house sideways and the heavy gloom makes you want to write and self publish your own poetry? Easy!  All of these reasons (and dish-washing avoidance) is why I attended the tiniest craft show I have ever seen today in South Lake Union.  My momma's birthday is coming up, and since I know she never reads my blog I can confidently announce that I bought her a pretty little necklace from Madeline and Francine, and a cute little salt shaker vase of button flowers thingy by Wanna B Rock Star so she will always have something to keep her chipper.  For my husband I got this gorgeous pillow cover by Soraam...because he loves home decorating... and as a little pressie for myself (a reward for shopping local), I picked up this large sachet filled with cloves, lavender, and cedar from Sunday Drive Designs to keep my unmeantionables smelling dreamy. 

And what did YOU do today?

 - PJ

Seattleites! Check out the Artisan Sale this Saturday in SLU

Clever cake stand, by Crafty Clementines.  Look for more at the Artisan Sale!

Guess what Seattle?  The rain is returning on Saturday.  SATURDAY!  This is the curse of the Northwest...the sun shines during the week but disappears behind the gloom just in time for the weekend.  You all know what I am talking about. As Isabella Roselenni is fond of saying. "What to do?!"

Jewelry by Madeline and Francine

An artisan sale, of course!

There will be cookies.  Good golly!

This Saturday (February 12), from noon to 4 p.m. local artists will have their fine wares on displays and for sale at the Cascade Neighborhood Center on 309 Pontius Ave. N.  So hop onto a certain trolley that we all know and support your little local economy!  Here is a full list of all the vendors who will display at the sale:


Caitlin Scott Jewelry
Madeline and Francine
Sentiment Redesigned
Merlita
Crafty Clementines
Sunday Drive Designs
Soraam
Rhetoric Tees
Wanna B Rock Star
Laura Etoile
Elles Beads
Allison Creates
Kat Miller Photography

 - PJ

Be the 100th Customer - Win This Vintage Handbag!

Wow!  Just a little more than a year after Poor Jean opened and I am hovering on 99 sales!  My next lovely customer will receive this cute, vintage, pleather handbag with the purchase of any item in my shop. No additional shipping will be charged.

Ooooh!  Ahhhh!  Free giveaway!

Snotty Yachty

Spring is coming, and you know what that means?  Time to don your white loafers and take the yacht out for a spin.  No yacht?  Me neither.  Non-yacht-owners take heart, though, because even if you can't tootle around the bay drinking white wine spritzers and listening to smooth jazz, you can still look the part with some fantastic nautical vintage!

To get in a nautical mood I took a trip with my best buddy down to Westport, Washington, which looks something like this:

Ahhh...Washington beaches.  Imagine away the gray, stinging sand, gray sky, and gray water and you'll see how easy it is to get in a festive, yachty mood!  Back at home, near Seattle, the gray is just as intense - which  is why I decided to list all of my nautical items a little early this year.  Check out Poor Jean's vintage snotty yachty collection so far.

Vintage Red Sailor Shirt - medium

Vintage Denim Sailor Tunic - Large

Vintage Yachting Jacket - small/medium

Bon voyage!

 - PJ

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