The Great Unknown

 It has been AGES since i've posted a blog! it is no secret that i'm just not very good at this sort of thing. my biggest obstacle is time management. being a mother of two young children is a lot of work, and although i still manage to make stuff, have a social life, and spend time with my husband, i have spread myself rather thin. i have decided to take my online store off of my plate for a little while. i've been doing it for so long, i forgot what my life looked like without it. i have often thought that i might be a better mother/partner if i didn't juggle so many things. so now i'm gonna take a much needed break to examine my next move. i am thinking about going to school, i'm thinking about finishing all of my open ended projects, and maybe even just enjoying my life while my kids are so little. i can't say how long my break will be, but i plan on continuing to make clothes and push myself as a designer. i just don't want to run an online store for a little while.
 i will still be available on facebook, and through email. i'm on instagram, (user ID mermaidsoup), and Tumblr.
 you haven't seen the last of me, yet. i am working on a new logo and hope to come back better than ever. for now i'll leave you with some of my recent projects and will keep you posted on my return. thanks for all the love and support. here's to my reinvention in 2013!

cut out bodysuits

jewelry catchers

jewelry catchers

hooded velvet dresses

recycled t shirt mini dresses

Shifting Gears

       So it is pretty clear that i suck at blogging. I'm not deeply upset about this, as i have been working hard to take care of what's in front of me. My home and family come first, then I spend free time making new clothes or shopping for new vintage for the shop. Then maybe I can squeeze in some much needed time to hang with my amazing group of girlfriends. It is a good life, this I know, and I am forever grateful. 

        I am switching things up, and streamlining my networks. From now on, "mermaidsoup.com" will land on my etsy store. This blog will still be around, for the occasional dialogue and updates. You can now bookmark this blog at mermaid-soup.blogspot.com. 

       I also have a Tumblr, (which is just a visual blog, full of inspiration and projects),and you can find me here. 

      If you are an iphone user,  you can follow me on Instagram. search "Amber Bass".

     I won't overwhelm you with my new "twitter" account, as I rarely use it. That may change, and I will let you know if it ends up being worth your time. (but just in case you want to throw me in your mix, for good measure, I am @mermaid_soup)

   For now, I will leave you with a few pics of things I've been working on. And I hope to stay connected to you through my various networks!

                              

       my new hang tags (handmade, of course!)

           a new "Heirloom Dress", that I have dyed the most beautiful dark wine color! more pics to come!

            
                  another new "Heirloom Dress" that I have dyed a smokey black, and yes, pics soon!

  I have some more stuff "on the pins" at the moment, and I find that I am in a motivated and creative space. Now, if i could just find some more time....

Etsy Update

 I have been incredibly busy the last couple months, but have really put effort into managing my time. With the help of my hubby, I was able to take a whole Saturday to catch up on my shop. I took a TON of pictures and have been listing new stuff all week. The recent name change has been fun, and I am confident it will hold new opportunities for me. I have also been working on some new designs and got to shoot them as well. Take a moment to poke around my etsy shop, and don't hesitate to leave me feedback.
  My favorite look for this holiday season is a simple maxi dress with tousled locks and chunky jewelry. I am not a fan of too much fancy, so I opt to pair a pretty dress with lace up boots or cowboy boots. Being that I am 5'10", heels have never been my thing. I  will also break  into dance at any given moment, so I gotta be prepared at all times.  Here are a few maxi dresses already in my shop or waiting in line to be posted with plenty more.

And here are the pics of my Bustier/T Shirt line:

 I am also trying to take advantage of my facebook community, so if you haven't already "liked" Mermaid Soup, you an join the fun here.

 Wishing all of you a wonderful season! xoxox Amber

How Embarrasing?!

  This whole summer, there was a nagging voice in the back of my brain urging me to get back to mermaid soup. With a wave of my hand, i told myself, "tomorrow". But tomorrow came and went. The next thing you know, it is fall and I have neglected to even bother updating a single post. I guess I will just claim to have taken the summer off.
  There are a lot of new and exciting things happening for Renouveau Clothing, and I am waiting to get things lined up to share them with you. For now, I finally got a paper backdrop for my photos, and finally got to be the photographer for an outdoor photoshoot,. I got some of my own designs modeled by a couple of gorgeous friends. Here are some pics to keep you in the loop, and a promise to stay in better touch.

 

Tons of new stuff in my shop! 

A Thousand Thank Yous

 This weekend I hit a big etsy milestone: my 1000th sale! I was so excited when it happened and it naturally lead me to think about my almost 3 years of selling on etsy. I love what I do. I am so grateful to have a place I can share my creations and re-sale my love of vintage.
 I took a little trip down memory lane and looked at some of my first sales. Not only have I come a long way in what I design, but my pictures and staging has improved ten folds! It has been a learning experience. I did not set out to do this, it was never my plan. It happened fast and kind of on its own. I have always thrifted, (it's what you do when you're poor),  and I have always made my own clothes, (usually re-fashioning, at least in the beginning).  It has evolved over the years.
 Like many of us etsy sellers, if you have an eye for the goods, a passion for the hunt and some time to run an online shop, etsy is a dream come true. I am so overwhelmed with love and gratitude. So, a thousand "thank yous" to my clients, family, friends and supporters. I could not have done it without you.


                   Here are a few pics of my first sales. A lot has changed since then.

                                   Here are some pics of my favorite things I have sold on etsy

                                                        Here's to a thousand more! xoxoxo

Outfit Post

With the weather warming up, it has brought new inspiration. I just thought I'd share my two most favorite things to wear these days. My good friend Sadie makes these harnesses out of old belts. I haven't found an outfit yet that doesn't like  to be paired with my chestnut brown one. There are some available locally at the 360 Ecotique, and in her online shop.
 I have also decided to make my own stretch bell bottoms for the spring/summer. It'll get me out of jeans and I can work and play in comfort and style. I made these out of stretchy black crushed velvet. Ridiculously comfy. I lurve them.

                           As always, they are paired with a vintage t shirt and my worn out Frye's. Thrifted or handmade. It is funny, but that is pretty much all I wear, and I like it that way.

Swallowed by a Seamonster

About a month ago, I was a part of an event called "The Delta of Venus". On the same night, only one block away, was an art showing at the Ray Ray Gallery. The show was called "The Secret Adventures of Miss Muffin" by the lovely Seamonster. She has been one of my favorite artists since I first laid eyes on her work about a year ago. I hopped over to the exhibit during my event, to give her a squeeze and to stare in amazement at her new paintings. Not only is she gorgeous, smart, sweet and extremely funny, she is crazy talented. Crazy. I am in awe of her work and hope to hang one of her paintings on my wall in the very near future.

Seamonster

Art lovin' hipsters

Claire Fong

Dragonboy

Girls Gone Wild

 Last night, a bunch of my girlfriends and I went out for some fun. I have the best group of friends who manage to have fun wherever we are. We went to our local bar for "dance night" which is anything from 80s to reggae to hip hop to bass-thumping techno. We stayed out WAY too late and I am suffering for it today. I am a square (no drink no drugs), but my friends aren't. I am happily the designated driver for these nights, but it does suck to be the last one home.
 Unfortunately, I only brought my iphone and the pictures I got were pretty blurry and ill lit.  Being that I am the one with the camera, I didn't get a good "outfit pic". Too bad, it was cute. I managed to snap one, in my mirror at the end of the night. It is still crappy, but you can get the idea.

                                                                      Floral thermal (thrifted)
                                                  Polyester plaid hip-hugger bell bottoms (I made)
                                                                     Cowboy boots (thrifted)
                                                                        Fringe bag (I made)
                                                              Vintage rabbit fur jacket (thrifted)

    Trust me, it was much cuter in person and I was stopped all night about my pants. I felt good and it was the perfect cold night dance outfit.
     I picked up my best friend before we went out, and she showed me a jewelry box she acquired from her grandmother after her recent passing. I pretty much let out a scream of delight because it was a treasure trove of vintage costume jewelry. I couldn't help piling on the fun and ended up with two bracelets on each wrist and two rings on each finger.

                                                                                                         

                                       Here are some more random blurry pictures from last night.

                                                                         
                                                           Til next girl's night out!