Has it been almost a year?

I just looked at my dashboard and noticed my last post was August of 2013. Almost a full year ago, crazy!

Its been a really steady yet unpredictable year. New job responsibilities, new school responsibilities, new challenges with my personal life. Job and school are no problem, I have a great team at work that I click well with both at and away from work, and school is going well. My health though, not so much.

A quick background. At 16, I was diagnosed with a condition called Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome, which in layman's terms means cysts on the ovaries. It comes with a host of hilarious (/sarcasm) side effects to ones health including missed or non existent periods, weight gain, hormone imbalances, fun growths of hair in awkward places, and a lot more. The worst side effect is the possibility of infertility. I was told, at age 16 when I was diagnosed, that my chances of having children were slim to none. I've lived my life ever since that diagnosis planning around that information, knowing my options were to be childless or adopt.

Fast forward to age 21 when I lost my health insurance. Once that stopped so did my management of symptoms; namely access to birth control which regulated cycles and kept everything pretty much in check. Since the age of 21, I havent seen a doctor other than a pre employment physical and a back specialist, both paid for by the company I was working for. No access to OBGYN care, no access to birth control,  no management of symptoms. The perk was not dealing with a period for 12 years, the pitfall was the utter ravaging of my reproductive system as the condition went untreated and unchecked.

Now that I have insurance again, I've been to a specialist in PCOS, hormone imbalances, and high risk obstetrics for the first time in a long time. Some of my preliminary blood tests have returned some not so good results. On top of the clear cut case of PCOS, I possibly have a form of Thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease where my own body is working against me. Until a clear diagnosis is made, I am on medications for the PCOS only, which is birth control and metformin. Metformin is a glucophage which regulates the insulin levels in the body. It does wonderful things, but also leaves me exhausted and nauseous. To the point that I sleep 9 hrs and then took a 3 hr nap mid day on Saturday.

So I have 2 options. I can sit here and throw a prolonged pity party. Or I can fight. And anyone that knows me knows I'm kind of a stubborn pain in the ass. So I think I'll choose fight. I might need a nap in the middle, but game on.

Introducing VooDude Atomics Pinstriped purses

Hi! Been awhile hasnt it? Well I'm back, and so glad because I have an amazing company to share with you.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated in any way for my review, I purchased both purses fair and square and have not received any favors in return for a review. In fact, this is an independent review of the process and products.

I'm a member of a vintage swap and sell community on Facebook, Ooh La La Vintage Swap and Sell and there is a wonderful member there, Cheryl Morris. Her main squeeze, Duke, is the man behind Voodude Atomics.

The concept is simple. Painting well known vintage china patterns on vintage purses and making them even more beautiful than before. Thats it. A simple business plan that works perfectly. I received the above purses from Voodude and I am beyond thrilled. 

The white box purse has a diamond pattern that was originally red, yellow, and blue on the china piece. They were kind enough to take a custom request and paint them in my favorite colors, pink, aqua, and black. Total cost: $35.

You read that right. A hand painted, signed vintage bag for $35. 

The black purse with the cherries went on an adventure before it came to me. I purchased it from another OLL user, and had it shipped to Cheryl. They will paint your design of choice on one of your own purses for a nominal fee. (About $30) 

I know I'm not very good at writing reviews, but this is a business I will return to again and again because not only is the work beautiful, Cheryl and Duke are a dream to work with.

Pieces are usually available in Cheryl's etsy shop (please note at the time of this writing, she is offline for a brief period but will be back) and range from $30 for a purse to $65 for a painted samsonite train case plus shipping.

Its a little weird

That I spent a portion of my commute this morning thinking about how awesome it would be to turn the Sinister Sweethearts name into a girls social club a la the Pink Ladies. We could have jackets and everything! With the heart logo, and slink around weekenders all slinky and cool.

 I think I need to belong to a girls social club. yes? c'mon matching jackets!

PS: I'm totally Rizzo in this day dream minus the sleeping around part.

Its not hoarding if you know where everything is

First though, have you entered the giveaway yet? Make sure youre posting a seperate entry for everything you do:

Follow my blog
Follow Debs blog, www.hellcat-vintage.com
Like us on facebook:
www.facebook.com/therockabillybowtique
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favorite my etsy shop: sinistersweethearts.etsy.com
Share on your blog or facebook or wherever.

(Mari, go comment one more time that you follow my blog!)

Each entry must be a seperate comment!

http://hellcat-vintage.com/sinister-sweethearts-giveaway/

Now on to the next part of my post. I wanted to show off how I display some of my vintage purses in my bedroom.

I get to enjoy looking at them while keeping them corralled. 

Tippy top shelf holds an embroidered straw bucket bag, from ebay

The next shelf holds a laquer jewelry box that I brought home from Vietnam. Its actually broken, but too beautiful to throw away. Next is a repro straw purse with cherries from ebay, a leopard print frame purse from Bettie Page, and a Red vinyl frame purse that was thrifted

Next shelf holds my perfumes and sprays in a vintage vanity tray that was thrifted and then restored by be, tucked in the back is a vintage coconut purse from hawaii, in front of it is a pink atomic ashtray that used to hold earrings, but now just hangs out. A vintage tooled leather purse from mexico that needs some TLC when I have the time, and behind that, a vintage beaded and sequined tote, the designers name is escaping me at the moment.

Then we have a straw basket purse with strawberries on top that was sold to me as vintage but is actually repro. The berries may be vintage but the purse part is from nordstrom. I dont care too much because its so cute. Next to that is a stack of vintage beaded evening bags. I dont know how I want to store them just yet, so theyre just there. And of course my precious Lux de Ville.With a nick in the front from my dog. Thanks dog :(

This shot came out awfully dark, and it housing mostly black purses doesnt help. In the back is the restoration in progress black picker basket purse, in front of it is a navy blue structured evening purse with an embossed design, My tutti fruity carmen miranda inspired creation, and a black patent leather jackie o purse.

Down here on the bottom, these train cases pull triple duty. The cream one is vintage skyway that I actually paid too much for considering its condition, but I like the size and shape so I dont really care. It currently holds things like laundry bags, hanger clips, and hanging hooks, The pink Samsonite next to it is my baby. It travels with me holding makeup and jewelry. When its not traveling, it holds travel stuff. My mini blow dryer, my toiletry bag, etc. They look great, provide storage, and weight the shelf down for extra safety.

As a final aside, I wanted to share a display tip for you. I personally dont wear necklaces very often. I dont like things feeling like theyre choking me. Instead I wear a lot of brooches and bracelets. Well, my little jewelry box is a little crowded with brooches, earrings, and charm bracelets, so after a lot of hunting, I finally found some old mug stands at the thrift shop. They still need a paint job, but they are perfect for keeping everything corraled and visible. I'm more likely to wear things I see a lot. So there you go! smart display tips!

Giveaway time is here! Extra extra read all about it! Giveaway time is here!

Thats right! My teamed up giveaway with Hellcat Vintage has officially begun! so what do you get if you win?

Bam!

Fifteen free dollars to spend in my etsy shop! 

Thats like 3 things or two things. My prices are hella reasonable.

So how do you enter? Like so! *snaps fingers and makes poof noise*

Like Sinister Sweethearts on Facebook

Like Hellcat Vintage on Facebook

Subscribe to Hellcat Vintage's blog (on the right side at the stop, subscribe via email)

Subscribe to my blog (or add me on google +)

Share on your blog,facebook,twitter, tumbler, whatever

Follow my shop on etsy

Contest runs through midnight on July 29 (PST), and the winner will be notified via email and announced on our blogs.

For each way you enter, be sure to make a separate post in the comments at http://hellcat-vintage.com/sinister-sweethearts-giveaway/

The fine print:

Blog is open worldwide, but if the winner does not live in the USA, they are responsible for shipping. If winner lives overseas and forfeits, we will redraw. 

Any amount over $15 is the responsibility of the winner

So get crackin! Like and share and enter enter enter!!!

Moving stuff around and making a mess

Hello hello hello hello!

I've been here and there and everywhere, mostly on facebook trying to drum up interest in my giveaway with Hellcat Vintage .

And working. A lot. I'm dead tired!

I thought I would show off two pics though, as I decided I wanted the shadow boxes in the bathroom and the bathroom cabinet in the bedroom.

Shadow boxes in their new home. I need to keep an eye out in the antique shops for some smalls for these shelves:

The embroidered bathroom pictures came from a thrift shop in Nevada City, which is next to Grass Valley on the way to Sac. I think I paid a buck a piece for them.

And the coup de grace:

What??? How did my collection get to three?? Well the gold basket weave is a new acquisition thanks to Facebook. There you can see my Joseph girl, and the pin money coin purse was my grandmothers and she gifted it to me! This shelf hangs out in my bedroom now. What you cant see in the photos are my poodle plaques . Once I get my room clean and put together, I'm going to do a video tour of all of my vintage!

I went thrifting today!

Just to savers, as I am wont to do when we go to Joann Fabrics on Kietzkie Lane. I found a few pretty sweaters and a cute top, and also this:

A Josef original with the sticker still intact! She will look so sweet on my curio shelf. 

A bit about Josef, from Josefdolls.com

Josef Originals Birthday Dolls first originated in the mid to late-1940's as Muriel Joseph George designed these creative dolls during the end of World War II. Muriel began designing these dolls to express her love for children, families, animals, and more. Her first designs were produced between 1945 and 1962 in California before moving the manufacture of the dolls to Japan for economic reasons.

In 1982, Muriel entered retirement and sold the company to then partner, George Good. Production of Joseph Dolls continued between 1982 and 1985 before the sale of the company to Southland Corporation (more recently known as Applause). In 2004, the company again changed ownership from Applause to Dakin who began to manufacture the dolls in Hong Kong. Today, these dolls continue to be produced out of this same overseas facility.

Although the original Josef line was hundreds of items, most recent production has centered on birthday dolls, birthstone dolls and some special occasion dolls such as first communion, confirmation, sweet 16, bride and groom, and a few musical pieces.