With the holiday season (which for me includes Halloween) arriving soon, Patrick and I have been hitting up more flea markets in search of fresh vintage Halloween decor to add to our home, and after witnessing and overhearing certain things at the flea market I decided to go ahead with a dos and don’ts for flea markets. The same of course can be said for antique shows!
You asked for it! Here it is! Finally! My tips and inside info on visiting Disneyland!
First, I should say my tips are, for the most part, for groups or couples without children. (This isn’t to say I’m anti-children. I just haven’t visited with kids, since, well, I don’t have any) These tips are best for like a gal pal group trip or one with your significant other. Second, this is going to be a massively detailed and lengthy post. It should also be mentioned that I am writing this in the now.* So, what I say today could be different in just a few months. This is mostly due to the fact that Disneyland is not just in the midst of celebrating its 60th anniversary, but also massive changes, with the upcoming addition of the new Star Wars themed land. You will see this continually affecting things I mention.
So…planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth soon? Read on!
*Slight updates were made in June, 2017.
Recently Patrick and I were at one of the antique malls in town and I saw a cute Halloween die-cut of a cat sitting in a moon, excited, I looked closer only to realize it was new. After vocalizing that it was new to Patrick, a woman came up to me and said “Excuse me, but how did you know that was new?” After explaining this, Patrick said it would be a good idea to do a blog post on this! So, here we are. First off, I should mention I am by no means a vintage Halloween decor expert, and not all die-cut Halloween decorations are created equal. Today I just want to highlight the differences between most new and old flat die-cut pieces. I chose two pieces for which I have both old and new versions of, and showcase the differences between them, so you can tell the difference next time you’re out.
First let’s look at this rather dapper black cat. Can you tell which one is new?
If you guessed the one on the right, you’re good! So, how do you tell? Flip over any die cut, and you’ll automatically find out.
You’ll notice the one on the right is double sided, while the one on the left is not. You’ll also spy a price sticker on the back of the vintage one, and it reads 8 cents. Pretty sure you can’t buy anything new for 8 cents anymore. Double sided printing for paper/card stock decorations really didn’t start happening until the 80s or so (I say this based on personal observations. All paper decor that was purchased prior to my birth, including into the 70s when my brother and sister were young, was single sided, and everything purchased after my birth, in 1988, was double sided). Additionally, you can see that the one on the left is embossed, while the new one is not. Take a look at an angle for a better look at the embossing.
Embossing was fairly popular and almost standard on holiday decor until around the 1960s. I have several pieces from 1960s and 70s that are single sided, but not embossed.
So, now that you know those tips, let’s take a look at another pair, shall we? Which one is new?
If you guessed right again, you’re correct!
Once again, you’ll notice the new one is doubled sided and flat, while the older one is single sided, and embossed.
I hope this was helpful, so the next time you’re out at an antique mall and spy a vintage looking piece of Halloween decor, you can tell if it is old or not. Of course there is nothing wrong with new or repro Halloween decor, as you can see, I own a few, which was because vintage Halloween decor tends to be very expensive! My collection has been built up over years of thrift store shopping, many visits to antique malls, and frequenting antique shows and flea markets. But if you don’t have the time or money for vintage decor, know the best in the paper Halloween decoration business, Beistle, is still in business and making the classics, which you can buy on their website! Happy hunting and happy haunting this October!
Spring is right around the corner and with that comes spring cleaning, and maybe that means you will be going through your wardrobe and deciding to part with a few things. And there are many venues to take your now unwanted vintage garments.
The Portland Antique and Collectable Expo is about the vintage lover’s equivalent of a marathon. Or remember those Black Friday ads that Target had awhile back of a woman training for it? Yeah, it’s a bit like that. But instead of once a year, it happens three times a year. With over 1,000 booths to visit, there’s certainly a lot to see and buy, but, depending upon your interest, very little time.
To make my Expo (or any antique show, for that matter) experience a little bit better, I plan ahead. And thought I’d share with you some of my tips to make shopping at antique shows easier.
First I want to say thank you for all of the kind words on my last post! I won’t lie, I was a little nervous about putting that out there. So, thank you again for all of the wonderful words of support.
Recently I asked readers via my Facebook page to post what they’d like to see on the blog. One person suggested vintage make-up tips, especially regarding lipstick and keeping it on.
I don’t consider myself a make-up expert by any means, and often still seek help from friends and the internet. But lipstick is something I feel I can discuss! I use CoverGirl Outlast and that’s it (introduced to me by AlexSandra of AlexSandra’s Vintage Emporium). I’m one of those people that when I find something I like and works, I don’t ever move away from it. And let me put this out there, CoverGirl did not approach me to write a review. I’m writing this of my own accord because I was asked by one of you fine readers about my make-up tips!
Outlast is a two step process that keeps your lips bright and colorful pretty much all day, through getting dressed, trying on clothes while out shopping, most foods, and kissing.
For the most part, I wear Ever Red-dy. But for some more 60s mod looks, I use various nudes and pinks. And when I dip into the 20s and earlier, I opt for a more berry color. You can also mix it up, and layer colors, creating unique shades.
How do you use Outlast? Apply the color portion to your lips. The color is very lip gloss like in consistency and in application. I like this type of applicator since it gives me more control. I was never that great with the classic lipstick. Let this portion dry, maybe put on your jewelry that you’re going to be wearing for the day.
Once your color is dry, apply the top coat. This is a clear layer, akin to chapstick, that adds shine to your lips and can be reapplied as desired throughout the day.
And you’re done! Feel free to pull on clothing without fear of lipstick stains or make-out to your heart’s content without getting a mark on your partner. It also won’t smear or bleed.
While I swear by Outlast, it isn’t without its problems. The biggest problem is eating, or rather the aftermath of eating. But it also depends upon what you eat. If you to eat something that is oily (such as a salad with oily dressing or a burger), chances are your lipstick will come off and you will need to reapply. But if you eat something lacking any oil, then your lipstick will typically come out unscathed. When reapplying, the new layer often won’t seem as clean as the first, and later in the day, it may feel like your lips are beginning to peel and eventually the lipstick does become rather gummy. Sometimes it is best to attempt to rub as much of the lipstick off as possible and start again. Drinking won’t faze it though, and no more lipstick prints on your mug or glass!
Another “downside” is removing the stuff at the end of the day. Since it is designed to stick on through nearly anything, it’s pretty stubborn. A washcloth and water won’t do the trick, so I use Neutrogena’s Oil Free Eye Make-Up Remover, which I apply to a cotton ball, and rub over my lips, followed by a warm washcloth.
Outlast and the Neutrogena make-up remover are available at most drug stores such as Rite Aid and big box stores such as Target, with Outlast typically running $8.00 to $10.00 and the make-up remover $6.00 to $7.00.
Over the time that I’ve had this blog, I’ve received multiple e-mails from readers who are making plans to visit Portland, asking where where they should go to find the best vintage. And often I find myself having to actually take the time to create a list instead of just being able to pull one out of my pocket. I’ve decided to change that routine…So here is the Atomic Redhead’s Guide to Portland!
Please note that I have not included every vintage shop or antique mall in Portland. I have selected ones I and many friends enjoy shopping at. However, I have also included a handful of other shops that I don’t often visit, but those seeking very high-end vintage garments or furniture may wish to visit. Additionally, I have listed some other Portland places you may want to visit, as well as places to grab a bite to eat or a drink.
