Stocking Stuffers!

We have some fun new items at Vitae that would be great to put in your Christmas stockings!

Introducing Shu Shu Maus : a collaborative effort from April Johnson and Sarah Jae.

20's inspired accessories for the outragously reckless scamp in all of us. You'll find hand peiced necklaces, seamed stockings and luxurious and flirty leg garters to hold it all together -also great with your over the knee socks!

The ever-popular (Heart) Iowa pouches from Monster Fashion are here and ready to stuff your stockings!

Flaunt your flair with a feather in your hair...don't quote me on that EVER, but DO check out these Little Pretties feather combs and more from Cara Veeder.

1st Friday Fun! December 3rd

First Friday is tomorrow night from 6-8pm in the East Village. December's much anticipated project: Paper Garlands! Learn to make these colorful keepsakes for the holidays and beyond...bring your own scrapbook paper & Stephanie Bracelin will show you the ropes...or the string or whatever...I'm just in charge of treats (can you say chocolate Kahlua cake??).

Thankful for Fashion

Fashion and the people in Des Moines who support it!

To all of you who have shopped or even browsed our lil boutique in the East Village or back in the day on 17th.....Thank You so very much. And then to all our consignors who without you believing in us we wouldn't even have this lil shop. Thank you for all your wonderful talents and just for being who you all are..who we have luckily gotten to know through our lil journey together.
Now this is sounding like a good bye letter or something...I promise it's not....I am just feeling alittle more great full today then maybe yesterday and I wanna share it. And I really want everyone that has come in our path and helped in any and all ways to know how wonderful they all are...and you know who you are.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!!

Happy Holidays ya'll

Acanthus Apparel Cyber Monday Sale!

It's official... Holiday shopping has begun! To kick off the season Acanthus Apparel is offering 20% off plus free shipping in the United States on all of the apparel in their Acanthus Etsy store. The sale will begin this Sunday the 28th at 5pm and end Monday at midnight. To receive this special deal just enter the coupon code CYBERMONDAY at check out. Happy Shopping!

www.acanthusapparel.etsy.com

Acanthus Apparel Winter 2010

Photography by Karla Conrad of La Bella Photo.

Ode to a Tapestry Bag

I do love me a tapestry bag. Tells a story. Has a history of it's own, that is, when made of vintage textiles. I used to make them...probably will soon & I must say that I'm inspired. They don't make ships like they used to (and that's okay). Sure, there must be artisans making replicas, and that's thrilling in a way, but it's not the same. We're talking about time here. I know, you thought we were talking about a bag.

Tapestries weave a tale. This one is an old linen tea towel. May have been a nice gift - thankfully apparently not used to wipe a lot of dishes. No wear, no fade - a good specimen. Probably from the 1960's and most likely good Irish linen, as gifty towels tended to be. But to me, it's an iconic image of an iconic image - and from this thrice removed perspective, it's quite refreshing. We're so jaded. So busy. To contemplate the journey is the gift here (we're talking about time again). To travel by ship - the danger, the adventure and commitment involved - I can only imagine...for a moment...while I look at this bag. Even the era of the textile itself. Wow, an actual depiction. We not only get the full sail ship, but a sunset. At the moment, you're far more likely to get stylized almost symbol like images. I enjoy the almost cartoony nostalgia we're experiencing in textile design now, but it's good to mix in some authentic stuff, or we are at risk of stylizing our very history. So pause, take the journey - appreciate the sunset and the fact that a real person in America no less, put it on a bag for you. There's only one & it's not even expensive. Go local, go vintage textiles! Shown: Sailor tote by Pink Revolver $32.

Dress for the Weather - or not

Iowa, I'm convinced, is Native American for "land of confusing weather"...that's okay, today it's a very good thing. We're actually 2 weeks into an amazing "not sucky" weather trend - just when we were all practically contemplating a mass exit. It's kind of an abusive relationship we have going here with Mother Nature - whom we'll call "Rick" for the sake of the metaphor...here we go, it's playing all nice with sunshine kisses and on the weekend even & how did I ever doubt you weather...and the recent blustery brutality is barely behind us & you know another nasty binge of drizzle & gray is in our future....oh, we know, and yet we stay.

There's an event outside our shop today. It's Huge. We're talking thousands of people. It's World Food Prize big - the World Food Festival is an annual celebration of - food . I'm in. Last year it snowed for heaven's sake & right now we're pushing 80 degrees. Great. Iowa, you know I love you,
you twisted freak.

So anyway, today we adapted by throwing on the air conditioning, grabbing all sweaters & coats from the window and put the main mannequin in a one sleeve tropical print frock - symbolic of the confusion of this seasonal mayhem. One sleeve = ready for anything, you'll at least be half comfortable :) I'm actually pretending our little boutique is in a cute little shopping niche in Lahaina or anywhere in Maui...out come the shell necklaces and sunglasses & we're ready for the sunbirds. Everything's beautiful. Sorry, due to technical difficulties I am unable to post my awesome pictures...I'll send you a postcard.