Insta Life//January

This January will go down in history as the longest-shortest month of my life. In some ways I feel like January has lasted a full year, and in others weeks went by in a blur. Where did the New Year go already? I think I say something along these lines every month, but I mean it this time! January started off awesome, and is ending up a different kind of awesome. So here's what January looked like for us Brownings-

Follow me on instagram! @bekuhdoo

Row One (left to right):

+ My youngest brother, and older sister came to visit after Christmas. That meant 3/4 of us siblings were in one place! That never happens

+ Waffles are the best thing ever, and they're very photogenic

+ Me at work, bringing my own sunshine

Row Two (left to right):

+ McDonald's dates are one of our favorite guilty pleasures

+ Freakish warm weather in January, 70 degrees anyone?

+ The following weekend...snow storm. Oh, Virginia

Row Three (left to right):

+ I suddenly like mirror shots for some reason

+ One of the less depressing parts of dismantling the Button Factory; picking out the best pieces for yourself

+ I took myself out on a hot date in Philadelphia, and I was still in bed by 10pm

Row Four (left to right):

+ Another mirror shot, ready to take on the world

+ Top secret business stuff, you'll know more tomorrow

+ The Philadelphia train station in all its glory

I've also joined Vine, so now videos of my silly life can be found online too; just search Bekuh Browning. As exciting as January was, I'm thinking February is going to be even more exciting! big kiss, bekuh

6 Simple Vintage Alterations

Despite our recent announcement to close the Button Factory in March, I'm still an avid vintage lover, and wearer. I get a lot of enjoyment out of finding truly special, one of a kind pieces for my wardrobe, and I will continue to shop for vintage the rest of my life. When it comes to purchasing vintage clothing I typically try to avoid the pieces that require a lot of alterations to make them wearable, but occasionally there's a piece that I just can't pass up, even if it is a little flawed. If you've ever found yourself yearning for a piece of vintage clothing that is torn, stained, ugly, or outdated; this post is for you.

1. Change out the buttons

This often overlooked alteration can completely change the feel and age of a piece. I all too often find a skirt or shirt with broken, missing, or ugly buttons and this trick is a cheap and easy to way make an old piece look brand new again. You can learn how to sew a button here.

2. Add trim

Whether it's to add a little flair, or cover up an imperfection the right trim can completely transform a vintage piece. I love this trick for covering up small stains, or thread bare seams on skirts and dresses. It also comes in handy if you find a plain dress with great lines, but lacking in details. The best part is you can use liquid stitch, or iron on fabric tape, no sewing required.

3. Remove the sleeves

A lot of 1980s dresses have fantastic shapes and patterns to them, but those puff sleeves can really be a turn off when perusing the dresses at your local thrift store. Why not salvage these dresses by simply removing the sleeves? You might be surprised how easy it is to remove the sleeves with a seam ripper. Just seam rip the sleeve off the bodice, then all you have to do is sew (by hand or machine) the inside seam back down. Easy as pie.

4. Dye the fabric a new color

I get really sad when I see pretty white dresses wasting away on clothes racks because of a few stains, or yellowing fabric. Breathe new life into these pieces by simply dying the fabric a new color. Make sure that you pick the appropriate dye for the fabric, and wash the garment first. Fabric dye has easy to follow instructions and you could have a "new" dress in just one afternoon.

5. Add pockets

Pockets can be some of the most useful things in the world. I will shout from the rooftops my love of pockets in skirts and dresses, so this tip is a no brainer for me. The easiest pockets to add are simple square or rounded ones straight to the front of a skirt (instructions found here), but if you're up for a challenge check out this tutorial on adding them into the seams of a dress or skirt.

6. Add patches

This may sound like an elementary school technique, but patches really can save a stained, or torn piece from ruin. I've put both pre-embroidered patches, and fabric square patches on items. If the patch is appropriate for the piece it will turn out looking as if the patch had always belonged and no one will question your taste. My tip when picking out a patch is to find something that either has the same color story as the original piece or a complimentary one. I just used a heart patch and embroidery floss to cover up a bleach stain on the crop top seen above.

Well there you have it; 6 easy alterations to update or repair vintage pieces. I hope you found these tips useful and that you'll think twice about putting back that 1980s puff sleeve dress the next time you're in the thrift store. These tips can also apply to your well loved modern pieces if you're looking to update your wardrobe a little. I'd love to hear your tips for repairing and updating vintage pieces! big kiss, bekuh

[Note: This post was originally shared as a guest post on Rhianna's blog the Wildest of Dreams in August.]

Beauty & The Feast

This month's feature sponsor is seriously one of the most generous, sweet, and loving bloggers I've ever had the honor of chatting with. Allie blogs over at Beauty & the Feast, and when you visit her blog after reading this post, you'll know just what I mean. Allie and I go way back in the blogosphere and it means the world to me that she decided to sponsor SHS in January. Because she's such a fun loving girl, and I know you'll love her too, I thought it would be a good idea for her to share 10 fun facts with you today. Get ready to girl crush hard.

She's a peach. Thanks Allie for visiting Secondhand Sundays today! big kiss, bekuh

So, Yeah I Went To Philly

Last week I took the train up to Philadelphia on some top secret business (I hope to share more on that soon). I had every intention of taking lots of pictures while I explored the city, but it was just too cold! I ended up with about 10 photos total, and only two I liked enough to share here with you. The first photo is the Philly skyline near Rittenhouse, as seen from my hotel room. The second, is me in my super nice hotel bathroom taking the obligatory mirror shots. Don't worry I did actually leave my room; I just ran from one warm place to the next when I did. No time to take out the camera, my hands may have fallen off. big kiss, bekuh

Weekly Obsessions: DIYs for Home

Image Sources: 1//2//3//4//5-none//6//7//8//9

I've been spending a lot of time at home lately. I wouldn't say I've hit true hermit status, but I'm getting close. I have this tendency that when I start a project I can't stop until it's 100% finished. So with downsizing on my brain, pretty much all of my focus is on our stuff. As we clear areas around the home, it becomes painfully clear that we're lacking in some things I would deem necessary. For example: useful side tables, pillow covers, candlestick holders, attractive storage, pretty lighting. The list goes on and on.

I'm such a DIY-er at heart, that I'd rather spend countless hours and resources on a handmade project than bite the bullet on the more expensive store bought versions. Even little things like cutting boards, Nellie's bed, and tin candles can't escape my notice. Overhauling your belongings is a great time to evaluate what you'd like to see changed moving forward. I'm seeing a lot more handmade furnishings in our home. big kiss, bekuh

SHS January Sweethearts

Happy Saturday everybody! Where in the world did this week go? I'm just popping in today to share some really amazing bloggers & stores with you. All of the lovely ladies you see below are large sponsors on SHS this month and I've been honored to have them as part of my blog team. I hope you will take a minute to read about each of them and visit their sites. You're sure to find something you love!

My name's Leigh and I own Barberry & Lace! I make vintage inspired jewelry and am always on the hunt for new and unique charms!

//2013 Goal To Be Excited About//
Expanding our jewelry line... keep an eye out for lots of new designs this year!

BLOG//TWITTER//PINTEREST

Hi my name is Katie and I'm a 20 year old small town dreamer. I love lists, vintage, dresses, mysteries, red lipstick and all the simple things. I blog at Lovely Lady about my daily life, the pretty things I see, what is on my heart and all the little bits of happiness that fill me with joy. Stop in & say hello!

//2013 Goal To Be Excited About//

I'm most excited about my goal to be brave. I struggle deeply with anxiety and so my goal is to constantly push myself out of my comfort zone, striving to be a brand new me. And so far, I've already done a lot. Brave 2013, indeed.

BLOG//SHOP//FACEBOOK//INSTAGRAM (@jennyigloo)

Hi, I'm Jennifer! I run a blog and shop called Earl Grey. My shop includes handmade and vintage items, while my blog focuses on photography, crafts, and thrifted finds. I am continually inspired by nature, color schemes, and vintage.

//2013 Goal To Be Excited About// 

This year, I am most excited to take a beekeeping class! I would love to have my own hive in the future, so it will be wonderful to learn more about the process.

BLOG//FACEBOOK//TWITTER//INSTAGRAM (@thriftary)

Hi Frands! I am Maddie and I run a lifestyle blog over at Thriftary.com. Every day is a new day on Thriftary where I talk about anything from my 6 chickens, my no pants dancing, blog designing, clothes wearing, cocktail drinking, recipe making, traveling and sooo much more. My passion is to keep things simple, and focus on creating and inspiring, however I am able to do so. Thriftary is a product of that. Please hop on over some time and join in on the fun!

//2013 Goal To Be Excited About//
My goal for 2013 is complete domination. I am focusing on my creative career goals, and pursuing them wholeheartedly. I am already so inspired and encouraged by the possibilites of this new year.

Thanks to each of you for sponsoring SHS this month! You've been an amazing support. big kiss, bekuh

Advertise on SHS in February!

February is always a month of change in my life. I'm passed the initial shock of a new year, and I'm left with drive, and ambition to succeed in areas of my life left untouched for awhile. This February will be no exception. If you'd like to join me on this wild ride, advertising on Secondhand Sundays is a great way to promote your blog or business. My advertising rates are very reasonable, and right now I have several ads available. 

I'm looking for a feature sponsor for February, and it only costs $22. Only 1 feature ad appears each month and you get your own solo post, and optional giveaway! I also have several large ad spaces open for $17 each. See my advertising page for all the details, and to purchase your ad today. I look forward to working with you. big kiss, bekuh

48 Hours of Sweet Dreams

I'm missing that handsome mug of my husband's right now. I'm on a quick trip out of town, and I can't stop thinking about him. I'll be home late tonight, and you better believe I'll be kissing that face. It's Friday which means two days of relaxing with him, and 48 hours of sweet dreams. I can't wait. big kiss, bekuh

Make It: A Tray Styled 2 Ways

I've been thinking a lot about different ways to repurpose objects around the house. It is as important to me to find ways to reuse objects in our home, as it is to downsize the number of them. Trays are one of those amazing objects that can be used in a million different ways, and you can easily change the look of them with just a can of paint. To illustrate this with you I decided to restyle one tray two ways.

Style One: Lazy Weekend Breakfast Tray

The first style of tray I made was a breakfast tray, for those lazy weekends in bed. The steps are quite simple and the result is as adorable as it is functional.

For both projects the first couple of steps are the same. You'll need white paint for priming, a wooden tray (I bought mine at JoAnn's), and a paint brush. Start by painting a base coat of white on the tray. It may take several layers to cover up the wood grain, so be patient. Once your tray is an opaque white you'll have to choose which style of tray you'd like to style.

Step 2- Let the primer dry completely before starting the next step. I let it dry a full 24 hours before moving on.

Step 3- Place your breakfast in bed dishes on the tray. I used a cup, plate, napkin, fork, and vase on mine.

Step 4- Using a pencil trace around the objects. For the fork you may need to free hand it a little bit.

Step 5- Using a paint marker, outline your tracing. 

Step 6- Using an alphabet stamp set, and ink pad; spell out what each item on the tray is. For example: plate. 

Step 7- You may need to use a permanent marker/paint marker to fill in light spots if your ink isn't very opaque.

Step 8- Let your tray dry completely. 

Step 9- Dish your plate, and dress you tray. Breakfast never looked so sweet.

Style Two: Sophisticated Copper Catch-all

The second style of tray I made was for our coffee table. Nothing makes me as crazy as a messy seating area! I wanted something that could hold a pretty potted plant, and our remotes with ease. This is a more sophisticated look, with a copper finish.

Step 2- Let the primer dry completely before starting the next step. I let it dry a full 24 hours before moving on.

Step 3- Grab a small container of liquid gold (again I bought mine at JoAnn's). I used the copper color, but it comes in a wide array of metallics. I like this brand because the metallics seem a little more shiny than other options.

Step 4- Paint your tray with the liquid gold. Make sure to use long brush strokes, all in the same direction, and go slowly. If you switch directions the paint will look sloppy.

Step 5- Let the paint dry completely. Because this paint is oil based, I suggest using a brush you don't mind trowing away afterward, or pick-up some paint thinner to soak it in.

Step 6- After your tray is completely dry, grab a paint marker in a complimentary color to your decor and paint the inside of the handles for a little pop of color. I chose a minty green, just for fun!

Step 7- Let the paint marker dry completely before moving.

Step 8- Style your tray however you like. Step back to admire your tidier space.

I'd like to thank Cara-Mia who inspired this DIY after seeing her sweet coffee station post! Happy crafting friends. big kiss, bekuh

A Sad Goodbye

With heavy hearts Katie and I have made the grown up decision to close the Button Factory. After several months of idling by we finally realized that both of our focuses had shifted, and our once fiery passion for selling vintage was burnt up. I think we both felt disconnected from the brand, and didn't find the community we'd hoped for online. Our real dream was to open a brick-and-mortar shop, but we quickly realized that neither of us was in a financial position to make it happen right now.

We are so appreciative of everyone who bought items in the store, and hope you love your pieces for years to come. We learned a lot about ourselves through this journey, and each other. Running an online store is no easy task; I have upmost respect for those of you who do this for a living. I know I still have dreams of owning a vintage store one day (maybe when I retire), and I betcha Katie does too.

We will be officially closing the store on March first, but in the meantime we hope you'll buy up some of our stock online! EVERYTHING is 50% off!! No coupon required, we already marked it down. This is a great chance to snatch up your favorited pieces for an extra low price. We won't be discounting them any further so make sure to buy it now. You can visit the store here.

It was fun while it lasted. We hope you enjoyed it too. big kiss, bekuh

Butter! Oh isn't butter divinity?

Ryan made us a couple of loaves of homemade bread this weekend, and they taste amazing. He tried a new recipe from a Julia Child cookbook I got for Christmas (thanks aunt Dana!), and I'm not the least bit upset he's the first one to use it. I'm a huge fan of homemade bread for lots of reasons, but one of the top reasons is butter. I love butter ladies and gentlemen, a lot. I was totally one of those kids who would eat butter all by itself, and to this day I'm tempted but the yellow deliciousness. This is probably why French cooking appeals to me so much, and why Paula Deen holds a special place in my heart.

Butter has magical qualities; it transforms bland dishes, tenderizes, sweetens, enriches. Butter transcends sweet, and savory. Butter brings up memories from childhood, and warms the soul. Butter is good no matter how you fix it. Except for maybe fried butter...still not sure about that one. One of my favorite quotes from the Little Women movie comes from a young Amy when she exclaims: "Butter! Oh isn’t butter divinity? Oh God thank you for this breakfast!" I feel like that every morning when I make my toast. Butter = Divinity. big kiss, bekuh

A Sorta Snowday

We had a sort of snow day last Thursday. Work was let out early, and for once Ryan and I got to enjoy a whole evening together. We decided to take full advantage of the massive snowflakes, and trudge our way through barren streets to a park with Nellie in tow. We had the most pitiful winter last year so this was Nellie's first "real" snow. The ground even remained covered on Friday! 

I know some of you probably think it's a little silly to get this excited about snow, but I love it! My favorite part was watching Nellie try to pounce through the drifts and run through the snow as we chased her. My heart is happy with remembering, and I'm crossing my fingers for another wintery day like this soon. big kiss, bekuh

Flowers at Home

Our home is a hot house of florals right now. Every room is bursting with blooms, and the happy little buds make me feel more alive despite the cold. They're calling for snow today, the first snow of the year for SW Virginia, and I'm crossing my fingers it actually sticks. I love the idea of looking outward and seeing a blanket of white, and inward at my own personal paradise. Today, I want to share the beauty in my home with you in yours.

I'd be lying if I said that I bought these flowers unprovoked, they were actually an assignment I was reluctant to complete. As part of the January Cure, we are told each week to buy our home some flowers. I used to think buying flowers without reason was wasteful, and a silly expense, but now I'm starting to see them a little differently. These flowers are a symbol of fresh ideas, happiness, and life. I quite like them. I hope you have the most beautiful day, mine is starting off wonderfully. big kiss, bekuh

Make It: Easy Instagram Art

I made a promise to myself years, and years ago that when I grew up I'd only have original art, and artist prints in my home. Though I've been pretty good at keeping to this, there have definitely been times that I look at an empty wall and think to myself, "Maybe I should just buy that box store art this one time." My inner decorator gets sad at half dressed rooms. To combat this urge to buy cheap reproductions, or mass produced art I've made the decision to incorporate creative photo displays using our own photographs. Enter this easy instagram project...

The supplies you'll need for this project is are pretty minimal. I used a 16"x20" frame, a white matte of the same size with a cut out of 9"x12", a large piece of thick paper (like bristol paper), photo corners, acid-free masking tape, 4"x4" instagram photos, and a black marker. I use PostalPix to print all of instagram photos, but everything else can be found at your local craft store.

The first step is to tape the bristol paper to the back of your matte, using the masking tape. Flip the matte back over, and arrange your instagram photos down the center of the bristol paper. I was only able to fit three down, but could have easily put two across if I wanted it to look a little fuller. I wanted to add a couple of fun captions next to my photos, so I offset them slightly to make room for the text.

Once you've arranged your instagram photos the way you like, peel off a couple of photo corers and start placing them on each point of your photo. Press the photo back into the paper, and continue until all of them are pressed down completely. Next, pick up your pen and write the captions next to your photos if you like. I didn't do anything fancy, just a brief description of the photo. I think it kind of makes them look like artifacts, or scientific specimen.


All you have left to do once you've gotten your captions written, is to put the matte in your frame and hang. The entire project took me less than 20 minutes, and it will hang in our home for a long time. Have you been refreshing your decor lately, what kind of projects have you been doing?  big kiss, bekuh