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I know the end of summer comes at different times for everyone, but the end of my summer is just around the corner. I start my last year of college August 27th and by May 2013 I will have graduated with a bachelors in art education. It seems like it has been a long time coming, but I think I'm ready!

So what have I been up to? I recently gave the website a new mod background I found as an open source graphic. I also revamped the links & fonts as they were getting hard to read-- my apologies!

I have also been fall shopping for myself (a rare occasion actually) and also picking out my fall/winter inventory. Expect more sweaters, coats and cold weather accessories.

With school, a full work schedule & preparing myself for a little thing called student teaching, I know I've been slacking in the listing department. I've actually considered hiring someone to take photos and/or take the time to list items while I'm busy or off gallivanting the thrift stores. Honestly, probably my favorite part of this job is just shopping for inventory. I have an inventory list of approximately 60 items to be listed (consisting of many vintage pieces I would like to keep for myself). BUT you can't have your cake and eat it too, so I have to work on my listing motivation in the next couple of weeks.

While neon colors might be taking over part of the fashion world, florals & frilly lace still dominate the chic & feminine world. Grab your cup of tea and check out the vintage alternative below. Also find matching vintage and handmade accessories from other sellers!

The Bonfire Vintage online store has officially been open for three months on the dot today! May 10, 2012 we created the shop on Etsy and purchased the domain name here. So far, there have been 23 sales, 38 admirers, 16 likes on facebook and 8 followers on Twitter. Not too bad for a Fresh Etsy shop I should say!

I'm in a very organized mood lately (probably because my apartment is so cluttered!), and since it's the DIY friday blog post, I've decided to incorporate the spirit of doing it yourself with an organizational need.

I love the simple and oh-so-cute look to this DIY jar shelf. The shelf above is shown to hold spices, but you could hold beads, buttons, feathers, charms, do-dads, fabric scraps and more...the perfect craft or studio room organization for all your teeny tiny treasures.

MATERIALS:

• One shelf with hanging hardware $10
• Screws $3
• Six mason jars with lids $6
• Awl $3
• Hammer $5
• Epoxy glue $4
• Pencil

TOTAL project cost=$31


DIRECTIONS:

1. You can easily build your own shelf with a simple handsaw, some scrap wood, a level and some paint. Screw the shelf together and don't forget to add hanging hardware! Otherwise you can always use a regular old shelf from around the house or find one at a local thrift store for cheap.
2. Turn the shelf upside down and set up your lids along the underside of the shelf. Mark with pencil or an awl where each center of the lid should be placed on the shelf.
3. Using an awl, punch a small hole in the center of each lid. Add a second screw or epoxy glue to the lid and secure to the underside of the shelf.
4. Once the glue is dry or the lids are secure, fill your jars with the supplies and screw the jar onto the lid!

TIPS:

• Instead of mason jars, you can save baby food jars or regular glass food jars. Make sure to clean them well and remove the labels. This is a fun idea if you want an eclectic mix of jars.
• If you use a lot of jars or put heavy items into them, make sure to use drywall screws to secure the shelf onto a stud. Nothing would be more horrible if your lovely creation & supplies crashed to the ground!

I was recently going through some of my old sketchbooks-- admiring and wincing at some of my earlier stuff. Then it hit me...I have barely done any drawings (and no paintings) this entire summer! What's wrong with me!? I am a soon-to-graduate art ed teacher who hasn't been artsy fartsy for the last two months?

I have decided I had become burnt out. You see, taking college art courses is fun, but challenging. You have to meet major deadlines (on occasion 6-8 hours a day) and really work your creativity muscles. By the time I finished last semester's senior show, I really needed a break. Really really. But I think it's time to jump back into the swing of things. And what better motivation than to spruce up the studio/workspace? I give you vintage and handmade sellers who can help do just that. This seller showcase is all about sparking inspiration, getting organized and reinvigorating creativity!

Summer is drawing ever nearer to a close-- I'm back to college classes August 27th. One more year left until I graduate with my Art Education degree! It seems like forever (like when I had braces...) My student teaching begins next semester. I am so excited, and yet quite nervous! The student teaching program is extremely rigorous (as it should be) and takes up a vast amount of time. They even tell you to not have a job during this time...though to avoid living in a box, I will be keeping mine and my Bonfire Vintage store open. :)

On happier notes, my best friend Kim and her husband Eric are having a baby in like...days! Can't wait to meet their new little Noah. I know I'm biased, but that baby is going to be the cutest baby in the world. Just sayin'.

My mom has asked me to help her with a garage sale she's planned for next Saturday. I remember when every summer in my early teens I hosted a garage sale (one time a craft sale!) and was so stoked to make $20 over the three days I sat in the boiling sun. We're looking to make enough money for my younger brothers' back-to-school clothes and supplies (maybe $200 or $300?). Money has been tight for all of us and it is one more step to make some extra spending money.

I feel like I need a vacation. I'm the kind of person that would just love to jump up one morning, toss the cat some food and scurry off to an uncharted destination. My boyfriend is not so spontaneous, but I am hoping we can make a weekend trip somewhere in the next couple of months. We need it!

Now that you have been convinced you need a vintage costume, I'm here to tell you that you're in luck. I am showcasing four different vintage pieces from my own shop and showing you how to create your own unique vintage Halloween costume. See more vintage costume pieces in my shop.

If you are a fan of Mad Men like me, you probably like at least one of three female characters on the show: Joan, Betty or Peggy! Peggy as a character develops dramatically in the later seasons. Dress as her in a classy long-sleeve blouse, pleated skirt and snazzy silk scarf. Add a belt or bracelet as a few finishing touches. How do you create Peggy's simple and classic hair-do?

• Do not wash your hair for up to 24 hours before styling. You want your hair to have some oil in it to withstand this style. Begin by putting a mousse or thickening spray through your hair. Don't use too much!
• Flip your head upside down and add a bit of the mousse and thickening spray from your roots to the end of your hair.
• If you have bangs, separate them at your forehead where you want them.
• Everything behind the bangs, begin to tease! Not sure how? Take a comb or bristle brush and lift up a section of your hair approx. 3" in width. Now brush backwards. Do this a few times to create a "rats nest". It's okay-- it will look horrible at first! Do this to every section of your hair around your crown.
• Now brush the hair back, smoothing the hair over the rats nest. This nest is what creates the "bouffant" look and illusion of volume. Finish this with a little hairspray.
• Curl your bangs just slightly (don't over-do it!) and then spray the ends of your hair with hairspray. Curl the ends of your hair up. You will most likely have to hold the curling iron at the ends of your hair for a bit longer than usual. The hairspray sprayed before curling should help keep the hair-do longer. 
  
• You can add a headband if you like for a more finished look!

Does your guy still need a costume? I think most men would love the idea as dressing up as a WWII army soldier. Your basic army soldier costume consists of a green army jacket (pictured right above), a helmet, fake gun (if desired), khaki or green pants and brown combat boots.

Want an even more authentic look? Add some shoe polish or grown charcoal to any places with exposed skin. Add some purple eyes hadow in places to create bruises. Even use red liquid makeup or lipl iner for small "cuts" and "scrapes".

Ever wanted to be Scarlett O' Hara from Gone with the Wind? A southern belle costume is always a fun standby. The basis of this costume is a fabulous satin or taffeta ball gown style dress. Be sure to use a crinoline or hoop skirt beneath the skirt of the dress to create that bell-shaped look. Use a wide-brimmed hat to tie in the look. Add red lip-stick and dark shadowed eyes for an even sultrier look.

What other accessories?

• Consider a parasol (for protecting a southern belle's fair skin).
  
• Bows to place in the hair
• A tight waist belt or sash that ties in the back.
• A hair snood for an easy hair-do.

If you like to run on the brink of the final frontier, maybe give Star Trek a try! I always admired the character of Uhura from the original Star Trek series. Short red gogo-style dresses, black tights and tall black boots. Sexy in a treky way!

All you need is a Star Trek communicator pin and you're set!