Bringing my Bag Back to Life!

The one (and ONLY) downside to bargain shopping is that sometimes, the items are not in the best condition. Things may need minor alterations, an added button or a stitched hem here and there. So you have to invest the time for that $2 score.

I purchased a beautiful giraffe print burlap/leather Diane Von Furstenberg purse at Jeremy’s in December. It was during one of the crazy 70% off sales and I scored it for like $15. As soon as I got home, I transferred all of my items from my old purse into my new one and rocked it RIGHT away.

Well, a few weeks passed… and the poor thing started falling apart. 😦

The burlap part started tearing and people would say ‘Do you know your bags torn?’ I decided I needed to either part ways or think of something extra crafty to save it.

Seeing how I recently started a new business (more on that later!!) I can’t just throw away a purse since I don’t have super funds to just go out and get a new one!!

So – I was extra crafty and here’s how I brought my bag back to LIFE!!

Here’s the bag before – super cute; but very worn!!!

I decided I wanted to cover the worn part with a scarf! I found this PERFECT one at Thrift Town for .99!

I took the scarf, wrapped it around the majority of the bag, pinned it in place, and hand stitched it on.

And…. Voila!! I think I did this bag justice by giving it another go! It’s just too cute (scarf or not) to pass up!!

What do you think? yay or neh?

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White Elephant Sale Madness!!

Endless shelves of baskets, lines of dressers, bins of scarves and massive tables overfilled with shoes. Sounds like heaven, right? Well, I found heaven on earth and that is the White Elephant Sale in Oakland, CA.

For years, my family and I make the ‘preview’ sale benefiting the Oakland Museum OUR event of the year. We count down the days from the 1st of the year to the sale weekend. We strategize on who’s going to which department first and study the map of the 96,000 square foot warehouse to be sure we know where each department is. Do I go to the shoe department first? Accessories? Kitchen? Books? Art? Brick-a-Brack?? Agh!! So many options!!

I was told not to share the sale on my blog so I wouldn’t ‘giveaway the secret’. Well, seeing how the line to get in is well over 1,000 ppl deep, I don’t think it’s too much of a secret anymore… so I wanted to share the amazingness with all of you!

Here’s a look at the experience:

My family; all smiles eagerly waiting for the doors to OPEN!

The line behind us wrapping through the Oakland neighborhood.

Kitchen Dept!

Accessories!

Emma shopping in Children’s dept!

Lighting!

Trunks!

Baskets in Brick-a-Brack!

See my next post for what I actually BOUGHT!!! Fabulousness!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Festive Shoes!

Ok; so I have to admit that I did go shopping for myself over the holidays. I mean, with all of those crazy sales, how could I resist??? Especially when I kept getting those Jeremy’s additional sale emails; went from 40% off to 50% off to 60% off to 70% off to 80% off to 90% off. I’m serious… yes.. 90% off the lowest ticketed sale price. INSANE.

I happily made it to a few of the sales including the 70% weekend! I was accompanied by the lovely Loressa Hutchinson of L on Sac for that sale and we had a blast!! I had to prepare her for the madness at hand, but only after experiencing it did she realize the high of walking out the door with a bag of bargains. I hope she has as much fun as I did!

Here’s a look at two of my favorite purchases from that trip – festive shoes!!

Alejandro Ingelmo half-bootie nude pump: Jeremy’s price $395. Sale Price $8. My Price after 70% off: $2

Beverly Feldman gold and black platforms (I added the festive poinsettia but have to find a new charms to add so I can wear them the rest of the year!) Jeremy’s price $59 Sale Price $15 My price after 70% off: $5

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