Turbo Claw

One of Dan’s favorites, this shirt is in the “archive” (i.e. sealed up in storage in the basement). As a big Sonic Youth fan, Dan was really excited when I found this shirt at a garage sale for him years ago. Confusion is Sex was Sonic Youth’s first album and came out in 1983, but this shirt is a reprint from the mid-90’s, when the album was re-released. I believe that the original shirt was the same, but without the back screenprint. The reprint being sold new today also doesn’t have the back screenprint, setting this one apart! While it won’t be considered vintage for 5 more years, it’s still damn cool.

The Shirt: Sonic Youth “Confusion is Sex” 1995 reprint

The Tag: Brockum Worldwide 100% cotton

Estimated Value: $50

You can buy the new reprint version of this T shirt at Corpse Clothing here.

I was so excited this weekend to go to an estate sale of a former Herman Miller executive! The house and furniture throughout were AMAZING (and completely out of my budget). I managed to grab some quick pictures, though!

Sales awards he had won in 1979 and 1980.

I did however, get some stuff that was in my budget. A couple of Herman Miller watches (newer), an old 80’s Herman Miller binder from their office with a great design on the front, a Herman Miller T shirt from the early 80’s, and this:

A box full of these big industrial size thread spools from the Herman Miller factory. The spools are from the 60’s, and the man had taken a ton of them home to use to build his own furniture (he used a bunch in a shelving unit he’d made). I’m so glad he never used them all, as I have a craft project in mind for these! Can’t wait to post pictures when I make what I plan to make out of them, I think it’ll turn out awesome!!!

I also went to a housecall to look at a woman’s collection of her mother’s clothing, and fell in love with a number of dresses that I bought, which will be posted on the website sometime next month. Betty Drew had a great eye for fashion, and a fantastic wedding dress (and handsome husband) as well!

I will make sure to let you all know when her items go up for sale on the site, and her daughter will also be Ebay-ing a number of even more fantastic 50’s and 60’s dresses soon – I’ll give you the links when they go up! I did keep one thing for myself, this bag.

60’s tweed and leather, and I love it! It is by John Romain, who I’d never heard of, but I now have looked at a lot of pictures and items of his since! Very classic and timeless design, and very durable too.

I also bought the trees piece at the thrift store I’d written about last week, and we are hanging it in our bedroom today. It is sewn together so well, and someone hand stretched it out and stapled it onto the frame. I’m so glad to have gotten it, and to see it every day when I wake up.

Over the weekend I bought dozens of new items to sell, reconstruct and craft – so excited to show you all soon!!!

*Fair Warning* Last year, my costs for making Record Notebooks went up quite a bit. I held out raising the price to all of you rad-tastic customers, but I just can’t help it anymore. Next Friday, the price of the Record Notebooks will be going up $2 more each book, possibly more later in the year. I wish I didn’t have to do this, but I at least wanted to give you all a chance to buy before the price change. And there’s loads of new ones to choose from this week!

I went on a bit of a making/sewing/crafting binge this week! Result: Loads of new record notebooks on the website, and even more + new reware wallets and other goodies next week!

There was one new T shirt, too – this super cool Bob Seger Tour shirt from Pine Knob!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Pendleton began in 1909 when three brothers re-engineered a factory in Pendleton, Oregon to produce blankets, then robes and coats in 1924. The Men’s coats came in bold, bright colors and were quite popular, so they expanded the line to cover all men’s sportswear.

In 1949, the family expanded it’s offerings and began manufacturing women’s sportswear, then non-wool apparel. Though their coats are still their biggest sellers, Pendleton produces year-round apparel for men, women and children all with the same high quality that they have been known for the past 100 years.

While Pendleton’s tags have not changed much over the decades, there are some subtle differences to help you date your Pendleton items. One rule has always stayed the same – blue tags are men’s items, and white tags are women’s.

Some of our favorite Pendleton items we’ve had over the years:

70’s Navy Pea Coat (sorry, can’t find the tag pic!)

70’s Juniors Suit

80’s Cropped Jacket

Right now, we have in stock:

80’s Dress

70’s Cropped Jacket

For more examples of Pendleton Tags, I recommend this Vintage Fashion Guild page!

I would so buy these lil’ kids chairs!

And this dining table (alas, no dining room!) Love the legs on this!

This would look perfect above our bed…Dan, may I?

All from thrift shopping today.

I was very surprised and excited to see this article on the Time Detroit Blog this morning!

I love that last line!!

Bought from my friend Paul a few years back, this Velvet Underground T shirt is from the mid-80’s, and is tissue thin. Just like the original pressing of the album, the T shirt only has Andy Warhol’s artwork on the front, and the Velvet Underground and Nico written only on the back.

I believe that Paul said he bought it at Noir Leather back in high school, and I’m guessing that it was probably printed around the time that the “banana album” was re-released and first printed on CD in 1986. Paul’s ridiculously cool T shirt collection also contained the Andy Warhol shirt shown on our T shirt header, which was printed by Noir Leather in the 80’s. Not sure if Paul reads this blog – if so, would you be so kind to tell us some more about the VU shirt?

This shirt only comes out of the archives a few times a year, while I listen to the album much much more often. Beck’s cover of the entire album was amazing too, what a combo!

The Shirt: The Velvet Underground and Nico 80’s reprint

The Tag: Screen Stars 50/50

Estimated Value: $250. Wyco Vintage is currently selling the same shirt on Ebay at a $400 “Buy it Now” price here, but in a bit better condition.

This weekend was all about shopping and cooking (and trying compensate at the gym).

I bought:

Super cheap display stuff at the Macy’s closing up shop sale at Summit Place Mall.

This handmade romper at the thrift store! Hurry up, summer!!!

and a great necklace at a jewelry party my awesome MIL hosted. It’s fancy (and in the mail, so no pic yet!)

Unfortunately, we also bought a brand new grill which Dan discovered was missing a TON of parts when we got home. Dan grills year-round, and is pretty dang mad at Sears right now while he waits over a week for the parts to arrive in the mail now.

In the meantime, I’m cooking!

Usually, I use recipes – but my favorite way to cook is to just throw things together and see what happens. So this is what I came up with last night.

Chicken and Spinach pasta in a butter and white wine sauce.

Banana and brown sugar stuffed pastries. Chocolate sauce on top.

Incredibly delicious. Gotta spend a lot more time at the gym for that dessert…it’s a vicious cycle isn’t it? And yet, so worth it!

I’m in denial that it is snowing like mad here in Michigan, and in hopes of inspiring Mother Nature to bring me some warm weather, I listed all new spring wear this week! C’mon, even 40 degrees and rain would be acceptable…pretty please?

Rock over London, Rock on Chicago!

I’m so excited to have been featured in MetroMode’s article “Metro Detroit’s Homeprenuers” today! Reporter Amy Kuras was so great to talk with – it was one of the easiest, most fun interviews I’ve ever had, more like a conversation with an old friend than an interview, really and photographer Marvin Shaouni was fantastic (and so are his photos!). Kona and I had a great time, and I’ve never seen my home look so great in pictures before. Kona adored him to no end, and was a perfect model that afternoon.

Thanks so much Amy and Marvin! And welcome to my labor of love to all our new visitors from the MetroMode website!

Although IOU is often thought of as “80’s clothing”, IOU sales were really at it’s peak from 1989-1992. Produced by Merry-Go-Round Enterprises, which owned many different chains of stores – mostly found in shopping malls – such as DeJaiz (or DJ’s), Ship N Shore, Chess King, and many others, IOU was Merry-Go-Round’s first private label.

Coveted by the high school crowd, the IOU brand made all types of mens and womens apparel – jeans, jackets, T shirts, but it’s most famous and lucrative was the IOU Sweatshirt. Sold often for 2 for $48 (then less and less as the brand lost it’s cool factor) the sweatshirt style was fairly similar in style over the years and a staple in teenager’s closets. At one time the IOU brand accounted for 30% of all sales in the company, which grew to over 1000 stores before declaring bankruptcy in 1994 and closing the majority of it’s stores in 1996, ending it’s 20+ history of being the cool place to shop in the mall.

Of all the trends that were big in IOU’s heyday (Z Cavaricci, BUM Equipment, Hypercolor, Cross Colors, LA Gear) the IOU sweatshirt is what I get customer requests for the most. What is it about IOU?

Some of our favorites over the years:

Luckily, it’s never difficult to date an IOU sweatshirt – I’ve never seen one that didn’t have the year screenprinted somewhere on it…therefore, I won’t bother showing you the tags.

Right now, we have only one IOU sweatshirt in stock

but don’t worry, we’re always on the hunt for you!

If you wanna have some flashback fun, I highly recommend checking out the Merry-Go-Round Enterprises Alumni Facebook page and looking at the pictures!

Did you have a favorite IOU sweatshirt? Tell me about it!