First few days...

I cannot tell you all how much fun I am having! So I arrived in Durban yesterday morning and Amanda picked me up from the airport. We went to grab some coffee and then went to visit one of her stores.

The stores are called The Space and have a very Urban Outfitter/Anthropologie feel to them.  They have clothing, accessories, and home goods/knick knack items. It was very cool the see the way the shop was set up and to look around!

Then we went to have lunch with a friend of Amanda's and afterwards Amanda helped her little girl learn how to sew.  It was fun to see Amanda asking what this 8yr old girl wanted in a dress and then interpret it into something she could learn to hand stitch without too much trouble.  The little girl was just loving the whole thing! It was precious!

Then later we went and visited her other store that is in Durban which is a good bit bigger than the first store we visited.

The picture were just taken with my iPad so they are not the best. But anyhow, every one of the stores are decorated differently to fit the space and feel of each one. 

Today was also a lot of fun because I went to the studio and met everyone Amanda works with there. I was also able to help sew one of the garments! There was quite a bit going on so even if I didn't have anything to do I feel like even just watching the fittings I was learning things.  I did take quite a few pictures today but they are on my real camera so those will have to wait until I get home.

Well I am getting a bit tired so I think I will go the bed.  Tomorrow and Wednesday we are in the studio again and then we will be flying into Jo-burg (as they say here) on Thursday, the show is Friday, then flying back to Durban on Saturday, and then flying back home on Sunday! So a very busy week and I'm looking forward to everything! :)

Almost there!

So this posting is a bit delayed but there is not a lot of time nor wifi access.
---------------------------------------------------------

Okay, so it is currently 8:40am on Sunday 9/23 and I am sitting on my final flight to get to Durban.  It has been a crazy trip so far but everything has worked out okay.

I sat in the JFK airport until nearly 11pm on Friday since the plane was delayed for several different reasons. As soon as I got on the plane I took some ibuprofen pm and fell right asleep. I think it really helped because it is really awkward to fall asleep in an airplane. The flight was 14hrs but because of the time change I got to JNB at 7:45pm on Saturday. The last flight out to Durban was boarding at 8pm. The next flight was not until this morning so South African Air put everyone up in a hotel for the night since it was their fault for the delay. I thought it was so nice and the customer service was excellent but some of the other passengers were not so pleased. I know we were all tired from the long flight but SAA was doing the best they could and I thought they did fantastic! They even provided a shuttle to and from the hotel and dinner and breakfast. I like free food so I was a happy camper. :)

One thing that I am going to have to get used to is the time.  I don't mean the jet lag, I feel pretty well rested today. But they tell time in military time or whatever you call it. Like for example if it is 3:30pm they say it is 15:30. I have never been good at telling time that quickly when I look at the larger numbers like that but oh well. 

Anyways, I will update more when I can!

Killing Time

So this morning I flew out to JFK. Whoohooo! I got here at about 10am and will not board my flight to JNB until 9:50pm. So in the mean time I am hanging out at the airport watching Better off Ted (the scientist are copies of my brothers I swear), eating gummi bears, and I think I will soon paint my nails.  Exciting stuff people. ;)

So I will definitely be in JNB by tomorrow night. The question is whether or not I will be able to get on the flight to Durban. Only time will tell!

SAFW! It's Almost Here!

Okay! So for those that do not know I am traveling to South Africa for ten days to assist Amanda Laird Cherry with her Fall/Winter 2013 collection at South African Fashion Week.  I could not be more excited for this opportunity! I have no clue as to what I will be doing or if I will even have time to update this blog but I am going to try and do my best so you all can follow along with me on my trip!

Long Time, No See!

I know it have been way too long since I posted last.  My bad!  Between working two jobs (40+ hours a week) and getting ready to move I have barely had time to rest!

I made several vintage finds since last posting though that I thought I would share....

The first is this nautical striped dress.  I really loved it (as everything I sell) but decided to list it to give the joy to someone elses closet.  And as of yesterday it is sold!  And on top of that I am now an international seller. :)  Yes, someone in Australia will be very fabulous wearing this dress.

My next find is this little black velvet dress.  Thankfully this dress is too small for me to fit in so I will not be tempted to keep it for my own closet!  The beaded collar is really what drew me to this item.  It's so classic and yet the dress is fitted so it is still sexy.  Love it!

I just love all of the zippers on this bag!  I am the kind of person that needs lots of compartments to keep everything organized and this definitely has that feature!

Vintage Coach purse???  Yes please!  The quality of this bag is amazing and the fact that it has the coach information stamped into the leather is just beautiful. It is listed for sale here.

This dress is made by Jay Anderson which I had no clue who he was until I looked him up.  I learned that he started a couture business 1956 which was later renamed Posh, Inc.  He retired  in 1980 and his factory was sold then. I thought that was pretty neat.

While I'm trying to take all of these photos of course Trey had to steal the camera and be silly.  :p

I tried to get a good photo of him and this was the best I could do.  Silly kid!

So then I also made this necklace a couple weeks ago.  I had seen some thing similar to this somewhere and decided to recreate my own version.  I just love how it is a peter pan collar but in a necklace!  And I took apart a necklace I didn't like to make this so it is up cycled as a bonus!

So there you, go you are now up to date with everything that has been happening at Strawberry Freckles!

Red Hot Vintage Jacket

So I had found this red wool coat a while ago and kind of forgot to list it for sale until recently.

I just love the color with the gold buttons!  Also, it still has the tags attached!!!  Can you believe it!  I'm guessing it's late 80's early 90's.  Anyways it can be found for sale here.

On another note I made this dress a while back as well for a wedding I was going to and just haven't had a chance to post it.

The dress is actually made from things of my moms.  The bodice of the dress is old fabric from her stash that used to be yellow but I dyed it.  The skirt is from and old dress of hers that I deconstructed.

I just love the pleated skirt and the color!  :)  I was planning on selling it too but after I made it I just loved it too much.  Plus it is sentimental because of all the fabric from my mom.  But I think I will be making a variation of this dress to sell...  We will just have to see!

Oh and thanks to my brother for taking the pictures!  

Giveaway Winner!

So the winner of the giveaway as picked by random.org.....  (drum roll please...)

JOSH DAVIS!

You have won this fabulous set of hair clips!  :)

Just email me at amanda.strawberryfreckles@gmail.com with your mailing address and I will send them right out to you!  Thanks to everyone that entered!