Second-Hand-Roses...

I always loved that song.... it  made me feel a kinship to Rose, who the song described as 'second-hand'. We grew up with made over clothes given by wealthy friends.  My friends alway wondered how we could afford to look so good.... (my Mother sewed them or altered hand-me-downs). But now with the onset and onslaught of second-hand shops, it is even more appropriate.

Cashmere Cowgirls know how to find treasures in nearly-new shops... It takes a bit of time, and more than a little savvy, but the bargains, and the labels are there for a pittance.

As a passionate (Master) Gardener, my summer wardrobe consists of dungarees and t-shirts.  I don't really wear dungarees, but I love the word - they are mostly tough capris and soft, well-broken in t-shirts.  But this year, I wanted to look more, well, put-together out of the garden, and why not.

I  do go out to places other than gardens, like lunch on patios or coffee in shi-shi cafes.... my latest find was a "Hilary Radley" spring coat in black - for the huge sum of just under $15. Wow !... with a pair of jeans, ballet flats (never-been-worn for $2.99) and a silk scarf (oh, that was 99 cents !!) I feel quite French...Paree, French. Oh, I forgot about the new (expensive label) classic white shirt for $2.50.

See what I mean?  I am still that second-hand-rose and I love that.

I remember when I was teaching a group of single moms on budgets (aren't we all on budgets?) and we were talking about buying food and clothes.  They scoffed at me suggesting second-hand shops when I pointed out that the only piece of clothing I was wearing that was NOT second-hand, was my lingerie!  Instant converts.

Find a shop near you and before you go looking for bargains, find out if they support a local  charity and take all the items in your closet you have not worn in a year, and donate them... think how good you will feel when you take in clothes that help others and when you take home clothes that help you.

Be careful though... there are some shops who say they give money to local charity, but when you find out the portion, it is quite a small percentage.  I like shops run by either churches, volunteers or organizations where the money gets to the people who need it... not the administrators.  Just make sure you support a charity that you believe it....

I love that!

Old Cashmere, New Coats for the Puppies

It almost broke my heart to cut up so many old cashmere sweaters... after all, old or not, cashmere is cashmere.

But they were getting downright religious, so hol-ey were they.... and the puppies needed new warmer coats.

I pieced them together, saved the label (after all, cashmere is cashmere no matter who wears it) and  used the old sweaters to line their new aqua fleece coats.

This is Lucy in hers. (See her blog : a Puppy's blog)  She loves cashmere and thinks nothing of dragging  my sweater off the chair and curling up on it.... hmm, I wonder if some of those holes are...? naw... she wouldn't?
Lucy's coat is lined with an old grey and black striped cashmere sweater.... so has a collar and 'grinchy' pocket on hers.

Here is Tessa, her big sister in her coat.  They are warm as toast and I am thrilled not to have to discard those favourite sweaters. Tessa's is lined with dark grey cashmere and so she has a grey heart on the back.

This is the first one I made for Lucy.... and it is lined with a piece from an old plaid fleece blanket.  The coats they can wear outdoors but this one is more like a fall sweater or an indoor one for colder days by the fire.
                Lucy is glad to leave this one on when the thermometer drops below all that is sane.