Welcome back, my friends! I've had a lovely, relaxing weekend full of good times and I hope you have too. Sending you all the best vibes!
We have a few outfits to cover from the weekend, starting with my Friday office outfit.
I have double denim on the top half, as my original plan (no jacket) didn't quite work as well in reality as it did in my head.
- Denim jacket - G-Star Raw, consignment, Powell River; last worn here in September 2025 with my Picador skirt
- Mesh top - Noisy May, consignment; last (not really) seen here in October 2025 under my jacket and cape
- Denim bustier - Poster Girl, thrifted; first worn here (2nd outfit) in November 2025 with more denim
- Velvet skirt - Linda Lundstrom, vintage 90s, thrifted; last worn here
- Creeper shoes - Call It Spring, consignment; last seen here in a Groutfit (grey outfit) in December 2025
- Mohair coat (below) - Auckie Sanft, vintage 60s, consignment; last worn here in October 2025
After some deliberation, I am letting go of the skirt. It just didn't feel like me anymore.
"This picture needs more of me."
I wore it 11 times since I bought it for $9.95
here in April 2021 on a big pandemic Mental Health shop. I know I'll be able to get my money back in my next Limbo sale!
You can see a peek of my long slip and socks there.
I'd originally planned to wear just the bustier, sheer top and long skirt, but it felt a little too weekend. From now on the bustier is a "me time" garment.
The jacket gave me much-needed pockets, and it's one of my favourites.
As is the Fuzzy Flamingo!
It was cold in the morning and way too warm on the way home.
The stuff:
I walked to and from work in these lovely purple shoes.
- Scarf - Zadig & Voltaire, consignment
- Leather gloves - Roeckl, consignment
- Brooch - Sarah Coventry, vintage fair
Silver and purple bling:
All firm favourites.
- Necklace - Stella & Dot, thrifted
- Silver bracelet - Mexican, consignment, Sidney
- Carved jadeite bangle - consignment
- Silver chain ring - Mexican, consignment
- Silver/amethyst ring - vintage mall
- Silver earrings - consignment
After a fun evening of board games and music, L and I slept in a bit - Nick hopped down to Seattle to see the Seahawks playoff game - and then headed to town for brunch at John's Place.
I had this new-to-me Adidas jacket waiting in the wings with my jellyfish tulle skirt, ready to be styled up for the occasion.
- Nylon jacket - Adidas, thrifted; purchased here for $14.96
- Cotton Andy Warhol soup can tee - SPRZNY, consignment, Sidney; last seen here in April 2025 on Yvonne for Urbanite, and last seen here on me in December 2024 for a trip to the Art Gallery with Rosanna
- Tulle skirt - Soho Apparel, consignment; last worn here (2nd outfit) in June 2025 for L's birthday party (outfit #1)
- Boots - Original Samedi, Fluevog; last seen here (2nd outfit) in December 2025 for a Boxing Day stroll to town
I had a graphic tee or band tee in mind - something with pink and/or blue - and spotted this striped Andy Warhol soup can tee.
Perfect!
I never took the jacket off, but I also didn't have to wear a coat.
It's supposed to get colder next week, but I'm quite happy with all this beautiful sunshine!
I enjoyed the jacket - it's a keeper.
The skirt is all kinds of awesome - it does drag on the ground, so has to be worn when it's not rainy.
All done up and incognito.
I realized my new-to-me knight scarf went with this.
The stuff:
Although the boots are more purple than anything, they worked well with the outfit.
- Leather purse - Zara, consignment
- Silk knight scarf - Bonspiel, Christmas gift from L (bought by me - it was $25.00).
- Star pin - consignment
Blue bling:
I was thrilled at how well the belt went with everything.
- Belt - Fluevog
- Silver/Lucite bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
- Fulvia Ring - Wendy Brandes
- Silver "wings" ring - consignment
- Glass bead earrings - local
- Crystal bracelet - Swarovski, consignment, gift from L
A couple of detail pictures of the scarf.
That's a really good detailed screenprint of the knight - that would have been hard to do. I like the white butterflies.
I thought for sure it would be Smoking Lily when I first saw it. Bonspiel (or Bonspiel Creations) was a local person (Ellen Fox) who started her own company after working for Smoking Lily (
here's an interview with her from 2016).
I have had a few pieces of Bonspiel (she made leather goods as well as clothes) over the years:
The "Leia" Jacket, last seen
here in 2014:
I still have those boots! They were new then.
I also have this leather business card holder, bought new at Smoking Lily which I still use (it's quite thrashed now).
I should really add
my Substack link to my cards on my next order!
While L waited for a table at John's, I popped next door to the Beacon Ave Thrift Shop for a Five-Minute Shop. I lucked out!
This, my friends, is a long velvet bomber jacket with pockets!
I was blown away by the colours - as I photographed the back, I realized it has leopards all over it!
The red one is very clear here, but there is also a purple one (upper right), a blue one (just below the red one's head) and a green one at the very bottom.
Amazing colours!
The sleeves are a mix of leopard and tiger stripes. They have lightly elasticated cuffs.
As I suspected, someone did Shoulder Pad Removal Surgery on it.
It would have had ginormous rounded shoulder pads.
Tags - the velvet portion is 100% cotton and the lining is viscose.
DO NOT WASH. I do believe I shall ignore that...
I gasped when I saw it was Escada by Margaretha Ley, for only $28.00! It's also made in West Germany, so it's pre-1989 when the Berlin Wall came down.
I saw similar ones on 1stDibs and Etsy for between $499 and $816!! Wow!
Our sweet boys are full of energy and are enjoying the sunshine.
"The sun is warm!"
Whateley set himself up in the bedroom, on the big post.
"I'm watching for deer."
L and I spent a quiet Saturday night at home playing boardgames after watching NFL football for most of the day post-brunch.
On Sunday, I met up with Rosanna at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria to tour the current exhibits (link
here, 'cause I love, same for all links below). Of course, I have to dress up for the AG and Rosanna!
It was a crisp, sunny day, the perfect time to wear a long draggy skirt and a hat with feathers!
- Suede jacket - Zara, consignment; last seen here (2nd outfit) in October 2025 for a Mom-Day at the HCP
- Shirt - Tuomi Tuote Oy, vintage 80s, thrifted; purchased here for $8.96
- Wool sweater - no label, not tracked
- Wool-blend mermaid skirt - Italian, vintage 70s, thrifted; last worn here (4th outfit) for brunch in December 2024 with thermoplastic
- Booties - MJUS, thrifted, Sidney; first worn here in December 2025
I pulled out this stretchy wool-blend skirt for its annual wear, and I realized I now have the perfect "lumberjack" plaid to wear with it, in this new-to-me shirt, which I layered over a wool sweater (I also had a full vintage slip under it all).
I tied the shirt at the waist but neglected to look in a mirror and futz the shirt into place properly - it's clinging all over!
Oh, well, I was in my jacket the whole time, and I felt pretty darned fabulous.
Whateley has fished a paper bag out of the recycle can (he's a paper fiend), while Barnabas watches.
The stuff:
I fished these boots out of the Limbo bags. I thought they looked too "elf" but when I wanted red boots I could walk in...and so they are back.
- Purse - Ted Lapidus, vintage fair
- Silk fly scarf - Smoking Lily, thrifted
- Wool gloves - Parkhurst
- Wool hat - Andre, thrifted; purchased here for $12.71
A better look at the hat and my swooping feathers.
Oh, and the fringed jacket! Isn't it amazing? I still can't believe this is suede (it's goat leather) and by Zara!
Brass bling:
All firm favourites.
- Belt - Suzi Roher, thrifted
- Brass/leather cuff - vintage 70s, Mom's
- Brass "nest" cuff - Midzo, vintage expo
- Brass earrings - LA Express, homegrown vintage c. 1994
- Brass rings - both vintage mall
- Bronze ring - P. Sarpaneva, vintage 70s, vintage expo
- Stone ring - thrifted
- Brass horoscope necklace - Mexican, Mom's
And now, some pictures of our Arting!
Snow has arrived in Victoria!
Snow-DROPS, I mean, har har!
It was a gorgeous day - sunny but a bit chilly.
In the next few years, the AG will be relocating from this sleeping residential neighbourhood to the downtown core, near where we go to Rifflandia. It'll be a big change, and I'll miss being able to just walk a few blocks.
Rosanna never fails to look amazing! She got the velvet blazer in Sidney on our monster shop in the fall.
The trousers have a fantastic print but are unfortunately a fast fashion brand (but were thrifted!).
We started with "A View From Here" (link
here).
It showcased some of the AG's existing collection. I've been coming to the AG since I was a kid, so much of this was familiar.
I admired these beautiful hair combs.
I had an Avon version in the 80s!
We both drooled over the amber case.
The blob in front has a cat carved into it.
This is called "Monkey Catching the Moon" and is from the "Fifty Shades of Ink" exhibit (
here).
We both enjoyed the artistry of the ink paintings, most of which were on scrolls.
We imagined this image as a print on a giant cape, and wearing a big black hat with a model of the bird on it.
"We should totally be fashion designers!" we agreed.
I loved this little short-eared cat.
So cute!
We had a tour through both of our favourites, "Dangerous Beauty: The Prints of Albrecht Durer" but I took no pictures. Link
here.
We finished with "a crack in the mirror," (link
here) which we both found disappointing.
We liked these woven textiles but there wasn't really much else to look at.
Just my own taste, of course!
I had seen these images and was expecting more beautiful textiles.
These were all synthetic (which was part of the artist's point, so, well done) but the maximalist in me wanted more.
However, the best part of Arting is the company.
A glimpse out the window at the back yard. A Shinto temple, the old Victorian house that is the administration part of the gallery, and condos downtown.
Thank you so much for such a fun morning, Rosanna!
Rock on, my Artner! Much love to you.
I came home to two snoozy kitties.
"Do you mind?"
Sorry! I was just so excited that you're using the house! This is only the second time!
Barnabas is king of the silly sitting poses.
And there we are, my friends! I hope you enjoyed our fun times, and I'm so grateful to see you here. Thanks for stopping by!
It's something I have to factor in when I wear it. 
These boots are so sweet. I still love them, even though I don't wear them as much as I used to. 
Oh, that is the sweetest thing! Sending you all warm naps and furry hugs. 
