West Town Artwalk - Meet Chicago Artist Layne Jackson

Le Thrift Consignment is excited to be a part of West Town Art Walk and Food Truck Social this weekend. The Artwalk will take place this Friday, November 30th from 5 to 10 pm and Saturday, October 1st  from 12 to 6 pm in the West Town Neighborhood. We will be hosting the amazingly talented, Layne Jackson with her latest works of art at the boutique.

Having been a long fascinated with Layne's work, I wanted to share with you more about the artist that is living and working in the Ukranian Village neighborhood of Chicago.

For the West Town Art Walk 2016, the artist is exhibiting large scale paintings.

What childhood influences do you think shaped the way to you becoming an artist? How did you find your calling as an artist?

One of my childhood friends' father was a well known race car painter. He seemed to have a good life and got to sit in his studio with all of that color around.  I would venture in and always loved the smell of the turpentine and oil paint

What type of style would best describe your work?

Narrative

What type of work are you currently working on?

After twenty years of large images focused on figures in interiors and exterior
environments, and working and teaching in public studios, a move last year back to my 

 New Botanical Nature Drawings + Paintings - http://www.laynejackson.com/walking-libraries

private studio is yielding new work that is small and exploratory, painting the natural world around me, called Walking Libraries. 

Who are your favorite creative people? 

Paula Rego (painter), Martuis (botanical painter), Mary Lou Williams (pianist/composer), Werner Herzog (director)

What is your favorite Chicago place to go? 

I love Millennium Park and go every chance I have. Love to hear music in the Pavilion and the new Maggie Daley park is terrific. The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is a rare and amazing museum, and their very strong support base makes thei shows powerful and diverse. A treasure! And I will take a cocktail at Mott Street any day

What is your favorite part of being an artist in Chicago?

Chicago is an great place to work in the arts--an abundance of research and opportunities and a strong coalition of talented and professional people. There is strong support and a wealth of ideas for collaboration.

Prints at Special Art Walk Prices - http://www.laynejackson.com/buy-prints/

What are your plans with your artwork for the future?

The new direction is exciting and am pursuing ideas that have been in sketchbooks and my head for many years. Currently am planning a series of Walking Libraries that identify different areas, printable as books, and enlarged in scale for public art work.

What piece of advice can you offer to budding artists that would help them grow?

 Only you have your voice and there should be nothing that stops you. Work on something everyday. It's not original to me, but I will say 'Be Yourself, Everything else is Taken'.

Where can people find your work online? (Ex: Instagram handle, blog, web site)

INSTAGRAM

https://www.instagram.com/laynejacksondesigns/

WEBSITE

www.laynejackson.com

Free Sunnies this Weekend!

Come visit our store and see our fall new arrivals. Spend $100 and receive a free pair of Mercury Fashion Sunglasses. 

These stylish sunnies were a huge hit for us this summer and we have new styles for fall. Accessorize and find ah-mazing, one-of-a kind designer and vintage to complete your fall look!

Le Thrift Consignment is Now Offering White Glove Service to Detroit

Le Thrift Consignment is coming to the Detroit area and Southwest Michigan! 

Calling all Michigan Fashionistas! Looking for a place to sell your designer items? For the remaining of September and October, Le Thrift Consignment will be offering White Glove Services to Southwest Michigan, Detroit and the Detroit Metro area. 

What is White Glove Service?

Consignment has never been easier. Book an appointment with us and we will conveniently pick up your items, inventory and price them on site. Le Thrift Consignment will then invite you to your own personal portal where you can watch your items sell.

How does the process work?

Consignors now receive 60% for their fall items and 70% for items valued over $2000. This offer is valid until October 31st. 

Your items will be brought to our boutique in Chicago and sold on the sales floor and online. Le Thrift Consignment sells on a variety of online platforms that guarantee the best sales outcome for your items.

Payments are made quarterly by either an electronic check, Paypal or a traditional check.

To qualify for White Glove Service, please make sure that the items you want to consign are found on our brand list here -
https://www.lethriftconsignment.com/pages/consignyourchanel. 


Do you have finer vintage clothing and accessories? Le Thrift Consignment accepts those as well. Please contact us to see if the items will qualify for consignment first at christines@lethrift.com.

Have an estate full of clothing?

Le Thrift Consignment offers an hourly service that can help you process which items are worth selling and which should be donated. We can access value, organize and inventory these items on site. Le Thrift Consignment will also assist with removal of unwanted and donation items to the charities that we partner with. You will receive a tax receipt for the items that are donated. 

Ready to get started? 

Contact Christine at christines@lethrift.com to answer any questions and to book an appointment.

50% Off Sale Shoes & Bags - Mention #Riotfest and get 10% Off Your Entire Purchase

50% OFF HANDBAGS AND SHOES SALE!

Receive an additional 10% off sale if you mention #riotfest.

Receive 10% off regular merchandise if you mention #riotfest.

We have a gorgeous selection of designer and vintage handbags and shoes for sale at the boutique. Stop by and check out what we have new for fall!

Friday 9/16 – 12 PM through 8 PM

Saturday 9/17 – 12 PM through 8 PM

Sunday 9/18 – 12 PM through 5 PM

Le Thrift Consignment

1821 W. Chicago Ave

Chicago, IL 60622

Calling all Creative, Kick-Ass Vendors to Sell at Our Boutique

Le Thrift Consignment is looking for lovely ladies or gents who have kick-ass gift products that they would like to consign with us during the holiday season.

We have noticed a spike in sales of gift items at our retail location, hence wanting to give our clients more options. We would also like to feature these products online at our e-commerce site.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for items fashion, beauty, home decor related. Items that are handmade or original. They cannot conflict with the vendors that already sell with us.

Chicago Candle Factory's amazing candles

What have we sold in the past that has done well?

We have had success stories with Chicago Candle Factory, Mashallah Jewelry, Mercury Sunglasses and Balmies Lip Balm.

How does consignment work? 
You bring us the goods, we sell them for you. You will receive a handy portal that tracks your product and sales so you know your balance. We pay you out monthly.

Mashallah Chicago bracelets

What do we expect from our vendors? 
If you are a cosmetic or beauty line, we need samples for our customers to try the product. We also need branded displays that tell our customers who you are. If product gets low or stale, we expect you to refresh the inventory monthly.

Be realistic with your pricing. If the product is priced to high, it's not going to move. Also, remember that consignment means that we take a cut of the sales. We are offering our vendors 60% of sale with this promotion.

Mercury Sunglasses vintage style

Along with selling at our boutique and online, you will have a feature on our blog about your product.

How do I submit my product?
Email Christine at christines@lethrift.com with links or photos of your product, price point and information about you and your brand. 


Don't take it personally
If you submit, and we decide that your product is not a good fit, there may be a million reasons why. You might have the best product ever... but it may not be a good fit for our customer or niche. 

That's it for now!
XXOO

Christine
-Owner of Le Thrift Consignment

This Winter Might be the Best Thing for Your Vintage Clothes

I keep reading predictions in the media that this winter will bring the  strongly anticipated La Nina, the absolute opposite of an El Nino winter in Chicago. What does this mean to us? Icy storms, lots of snow and a heavy helping of frigid air. 

Although, this prediction of a 2016 winter deep freeze might be the best thing for our vintage clothes.

The famous fur that Carrie Bradshaw wore.

I had first acquired this knowledge when I went to go visit my client for a White Glove Pickup in a gorgeous Ukrainian Village apartment in Chicago. The type of building with the huge front porches and colorful flowers tumbling down the side. My client was consigning her mother's items and immediately when I walked into her apartment, I could see that this woman had exquisite taste. I was excited to see and learn about her mother and the stories of how she collected these clothes.

It was then, as we were rifling through her furs, fine wools and leathers that my client mentioned to me that her Mother used to "freeze" her furs. I chuckled and then listened intensely as it sounded non conventional do to this, however I am always excited to learn new things, especially about properly caring for finer clothing.

She told me stories about how her mother would in the dead of winter hang her finest items out in the open cold air and freeze them. Although, her neighbors might of wondered what she was up to, she was rather smart as it was an effective way to rid of dust mites and moth larvae.

See no matter how meticulous you are with your items, especially vintage, you are always running the risk of these little buggers ruining your clothing. Freezing kills the mites and larvae in an effective, inexpensive and green way. 

You might not even know you have them, but if you have inherited Grandmas clothing, shopped at an estate sale, thrift store or even are just known as a clothes hoarder (admit it, you can't let go of your favorite sweater from college)... chances are good that you have them. Well stuffed closets of even contemporary clothes offer a perfect, dark habitat for dust mites and moths.

The most effective way to freeze these pests is to hang your clothing outside, for at least eight hours and have the humidity in the air be under 60%. Or you can choose to fold your items into the freezer and keep them there overnight, just be sure not to pack the freezer too tightly. Let the clothes have a chance to breathe and get the cold air in.

See this on your clothes? Chances are you have a moth problem.

Other effective ways for combating these pests is to make sure your items are clean
before storing them, as moth larvae LOVE soiled garments. Store your clean clothing in plastic bags in a cool room. Central heat and a warm rooms makes for a welcoming habitat for these pests.

Also, a thorough spring cleaning at least once a year will help maintain a pest free environment. Our Grandparents generation had the right idea by literally cleaning out, scrubbing and dusting every part of the house. Make sure to take out all clothing, shake it out, open windows, dust and clean out drawers and closets. 

I can't tell you how many times I have been on a White Glove Estate pull where I find the likes of vintage Christian Dior, Emanuel Ungaro and similar destroyed by moths and mites and wanted to cry. I hope that sharing this knowledge keeps your valuables damage free to enjoy for many more years.

Ciao for now!
XXOO
Christine Sanderson
-Le Thrift Consignment

This Winter Might be the Best Thing for Your Vintage Clothes

I keep reading predictions in the media that this winter will bring the  strongly anticipated La Nina, the absolute opposite of an El Nino winter in Chicago. What does this mean to us? Icy storms, lots of snow and a heavy helping of frigid air. 

Although, this prediction of a 2016 winter deep freeze might be the best thing for our vintage clothes.

The famous fur that Carrie Bradshaw wore.

I had first acquired this knowledge when I went to go visit my client for a White Glove Pickup in a gorgeous Ukrainian Village apartment in Chicago. The type of building with the huge front porches and colorful flowers tumbling down the side. My client was consigning her mother's items and immediately when I walked into her apartment, I could see that this woman had exquisite taste. I was excited to see and learn about her mother and the stories of how she collected these clothes.

It was then, as we were rifling through her furs, fine wools and leathers that my client mentioned to me that her Mother used to "freeze" her furs. I chuckled and then listened intensely as it sounded non conventional do to this, however I am always excited to learn new things, especially about properly caring for finer clothing.

She told me stories about how her mother would in the dead of winter hang her finest items out in the open cold air and freeze them. Although, her neighbors might of wondered what she was up to, she was rather smart as it was an effective way to rid of dust mites and moth larvae.

See no matter how meticulous you are with your items, especially vintage, you are always running the risk of these little buggers ruining your clothing. Freezing kills the mites and larvae in an effective, inexpensive and green way. 

You might not even know you have them, but if you have inherited Grandmas clothing, shopped at an estate sale, thrift store or even are just known as a clothes hoarder (admit it, you can't let go of your favorite sweater from college)... chances are good that you have them. Well stuffed closets of even contemporary clothes offer a perfect, dark habitat for dust mites and moths.

The most effective way to freeze these pests is to hang your clothing outside, for at least eight hours (sun helps) and have the humidity in the air be under 60%. Or you can choose to fold your items into the freezer and keep them in there overnight,just be sure not to pack it too tightly.

See this on your clothes? Chances are you have a moth problem.

Other effective ways for combating these pests is to make sure your items are clean
before storing them, as moth larvae LOVE soiled garments. Store your clean clothing in plastic bags in a cool room. Central heat and a warm rooms makes for a welcoming habitat for these pests.

Also, a thorough spring cleaning at least once a year will help maintain a pest free environment. Our Grandparents generation had the right idea by literally cleaning out, scrubbing and dusting every part of the house. Make sure to take out all clothing, shake it out, open windows, dust and clean out drawers and closets. 

I can't tell you how many times I have been on a White Glove Estate pull where I find the likes of vintage Christian Dior, Emanuel Ungaro and similar destroyed by moths and mites and wanted to cry. I hope that sharing this knowledge keeps your valuables damage free to enjoy for many more years.

Ciao for now!
XXOO
Christine Sanderson
-Le Thrift Consignment

A Foxy New Adventure

This summer we received news that Zoe was not getting into the desired highs school she was hoping for. This for many Chicago Mothers is a huge dilemma, when their child is not accepted into the right school and they have the choice of moving to the suburbs or paying for private school. My husband and I searched all over the suburbs, but the property taxes were not attractive to us in a state that runs their budget beyond poorly. The other alternative, private school, we were not excited at the fact of paying for tuition when we are self-employed and responsible for others.

It was then we began searching for alternatives. My husband and I had lived in the city for most of our lives (myself 20 years and my husband longer) and our daughter was born and raised there. We deliberately wanted her to be surrounded with cultural diversity and have a great understanding of the complexity of our world.

We loved our city and her school, and with that we built our businesses. All to feel rejected when it came time to choose a high school.

Chicago has definitely changed, the crime has run rampant, and considering myself a true Chicagoan have lived in a variety of diverse neighborhoods from fringe to upscale. I no longer felt safe. It did not help that recently my daughter and I were shouted at and tailed home by a man who had shown that his intentions were up to no good after simply renting a Red Box movie down the street. It took my husband running outside and threatening him to ward him off. He was not expecting my husband to be there.

There were several other incidents in our neighborhood that helped usher our decision to look for alternatives. After all, if it was just my husband and I, we would not care as much. Big cities have crime and problems that ebb and flow. But, our daughter who is now a independent teen, was the one I worried about.

Although, I won't give up on Chicago. I am keeping my business there, and LOVE my city, even though it is going through a rough patch. It was then I was searching for alternatives. After all, I was an entrepreneur that can push for creativity and work from anywhere?

It was then we decided to move to our lake house that we had been renting out to people on AirBnB. A beautiful 100 year old Craftsman farmhouse. Nearby, the public high school was excellent with a great education that we could offer our daughter. Needless to say, I am lucky enough to have a staff that I can rely on while working remotely.

Our abode where we will be staying the next 9 months. Our hobby to restore & a work in progress.

Besides, I was myself in a rut. My business is humming along, but not growing. As many entrepreneurs can relate, I was working more IN the business rather than ON the business. I needed a chance to step away, regroup and refocus. My husband being self-employed had projects that he could work on remotely. Why not give it a try? After all we were two hours from Chicago? I could come in weekly to check on the store, while really focusing my efforts on GROWING the business.

I can't say much about what is to come with Le Thrift Consignment, although it is all positive as I harness creativity to make it a more successful company for my customers, consignors and employees (I don't want my competitors to know the next move). Besides, thinking outside the box had always been what has made Le Thrift successful to go up against others that are richly funded by venture capitalists.

Then reality hit me as my friend was visiting a few weeks ago. I was really moving to the country. The real country. Late at night as we were sitting by the lake, we saw in the shadows something that resembled our dog. Although, it was long and lanky. It trotted directly towards us in the shadows of the trees, away from the light. As it came closer, my friend and I realized it was a large, adult female fox who was just as startled as us when we came into contact. It was then the reality of this city girl was really making a change in life.

Our new female fox neighbor who has a den of cubs nearby.

Although, this is just a launching pad for where we are going next. We decided as a family that we were up for an adventure and trying out new things. As long as our daughter has a good education, we are going to move again.  This experience now is a test to make sure that my staff and I smooth out the details before jumping again to another city. 

While most children would fear this type of life, our daughter who is aspiring to be a travel writer, is jumping into it. She is excited about meeting new people, experiencing new cultures and lifestyles.

Moving forward Chicago will always be considered our home base. It is truly one of the most magnificent cities in the world. It is my really my hope that the politicians that run the city and the state can put us back on track. The people of Chicago deserve better.