I love a good striptease.

Check this out! My amazing new bosses, Steve and Junko (@ BAV) gave me this sweet treat as a welcome into their vintage family. Nothing like a bar of 30 year old soap to get me in the mood to collect and learn about all things old AND collectible. Naturally.

Plastic packaging!

So professional for a stripper.

Ooo La la.

Scandal.

Transformation.

SKELETON.

I love striptease soap. I just wish it didn't smell like an old church rummage sale.

The end of popsicle season.

The weather has been very cool these past few weeks, give or take a few unexpected scorching hot days. Fall is my favorite season, don't get me wrong. BUT it is sad to see all my summer favorites go...the "cherrio onesy" I bought from clothes optional at the start of summer...the two red Liz Clairborne dresses I bought thrifting in July. Although, who am I trying to kid? Chances are these items will be around all year. I can just picture myself wearing my lavender onesy with tights in the thick of February and looking crazy. Oh well. I'm used to getting the whole "what is she wearing?" look from countless strangers on the street every day. What's a few more months? :)

Lots of transitions are happening right now...the weather, Merryweather, and my own life as well. Nate started school at Loyola last week so he's busy busy busy! Its hard not being able to see my best friend whenever I want, but I'm happy that he's engaging in something he deems meaningful. Its important. And granted, even though we don't see each other every day we are always checking in via text or phone conversation...and we always have our one or two days a week of solid Nate & Crystal time. yays.

Whenever the weather changes, I find myself in a period of reflection. I reevaluate my own life and look at what I'm doing, where I'm going, where I want to go, and if I'm happy with the choices I have made up to this point. The summer felt like it lasted so long this year. I moved back from Texas in February but I don't remember the cold weather. When I look back, it just feels like one long summer. Its weird. Anyway, I'm starting to think I really want to do something with this vintage obsession I have immersed myself in over the past months. I don't quite know how, but it truly is a passion of mine and one of the only things I get stupid excited about lately. Its also been inspiring me to start random art projects in my apartment when I have down time. Right now, I'm making a collage of hearts made from paper bags and pasting them in a pattern all over my wall above my desk. Photography means more to me now as well. When I look at a picture now, I think more about it rather than seeing it simply for its literal meaning. I'm constantly inspired all the time now. I need to figure out what to do with it. I need a solid outlet apart from Merryweather and weird crafts in my apartment. We'll see what takes shape as the seasons change.

Until then, goodbye summer. I'll see you next year.

xxx, Crystal

Apple Picking

Labor Day was spent in the burbs apple picking and hanging with friends. Frankly we had some trouble finding good apples. It was very picked over. This seems to be a theme in our hunt for great vintage items as well as in life sometimes. We finally came across a group of apples that were totally worthwhile and left with a bushel. Or was it a peck? I have no idea really. The idea is just that sometimes it takes time. and work. and work. And in that work we can be surprised by moments of discovery. of joy.

Also a good bow tie and jean vest can't hurt. :)

Photoshoot # 1

Here are some pictures from our first photo session!

One of my favorite pieces (lace pom pom dress).

Sold!

Our friend Rena, who just moved to Chicago with her husband, Jon from Texas. We're happy they're here!

Kelly, looking beautiful as always :)

I'm trying very hard to apply liquid eyeliner on Kelly! I'm really great at applying my own makeup. On others? Not so much :)

We couldn't have done this first photo shoot without all of the beauty and hard work of our dear friends. We spent a whole afternoon photographing and celebrated afterwards with burgers at Moody's in Edgewater! It was a solid day of work and fun.

**Stay tuned this weekend! Nate and I are doing another photo session on Saturday, with a twist! Most of the items being shot this weekend are being modeled by Nate and myself. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this yet (the whole "me being in our Etsy shop as a model idea") but we'll see how it goes :) We have so many beautiful items to add. I'm excited.

Until then...

xxxx,

Crystal

And so it BEGINS.

We're here! We're here! Granted this is just a blog, but it represents so much more for us! Nate and I have been talking about starting an Etsy business for such a long time (since I moved back to Chicago from Texas which was roughly 6 months ago...this entails a long back story which I will bore you with another time). And now here I am: excitedly writing my first post on our new blog. eeeeeee. I'm a dork I know, but the whole idea of this just makes me so so happy. Its been a long time coming!

To get right to it, Nate and I decided to start this blog as a way for people to get to know us as individuals, rather than simple Etsy shop owners. After all, there really are people behind those wonderful shops you browse online. This serves as a daily glimpse into our lives--where we find inspiration, what feeds our creativity, and who we are as dorky, fashion-loving fools. We're just gonna run with it, and see where it takes us! We are serious about our business but the great part is, we don't take ourselves too seriously. We love irony in fashion and we're happy people. Yay for MerryweatherVintage!

Thanks for all of the love and support! More to come!

xxx

Crystal