I live in Orlando and I am headed to DC On Saturday so, I needed a winter coat.
We are going to visit Baby Boy who moved to DC in August, I miss him soooo much! His girlfriend transferred there and works for the Senate. He's finishing his degree in intelligence. It is not a degree in how to be smart, I wish there was such a thing!
My Mom and I are taking the Amtrak from Orlando to DC. So, I needed a coat. I just could not pay big bucks for one as I seldom need one here in Orlando. I got this little plain Jane at the thrift store for $5.00.
The coat is probably from the 50's, it had great vintage buttons, but it was definitely lacking something.
I found this great trim at Hobby Lobby
I hand stitched it round collar
Then rolled some into a circle and put a vintage pin in the middle
Now it looks like a real 50's coat!
Neither my Mom or I have ever taken a train and thought it would be a fun adventure. It is a 17 hour overnight trip, so we got a "Roomette", as they call it. I imagine most walk in closets are much bigger, but it does have a TOILET...Ya Hoo!
I'll take pictures of the "Roomette" and report back. See you in a week!
Have any of you taken a long train ride? I would love any tips or advise.
Carol
You will be stylin! I love the embellishment! Every Thanksgiving my Grandfather and I would take the train from Buffalo to Amsterdam, NY....I loved it. Perhaps it was because I was with my Grandfather whom I was very close with (hence the name Debbiedoos) I think it will be something special for you and your Mom to remember. It really is relaxing.
ReplyDeleteMy dad worked on the Erie Lakawana Railroad which became Conrail. We traveled by train from time-to-time when I was a kid. Have fun and don't talk to strangers. (I think I've seen Murder on the Orient Express too many times.)
ReplyDeleteGreat - GREAT coat by the way! La
ReplyDeleteGreat coat makeover Carol, have fun! Hugs, Marilou
ReplyDeleteSorry I rambled, I sent you an email esplainin what I meant LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe longest amtrak ride I have taken is six hours- from Michigan to Chicago and I really enjoyed it. One suggestion is to take lots of snacks and drinks. I would take a cooler full! Maybe a soft one you can fold up and put in your luggage when done. You are allowed to take anything you want. From my experience the food is expensive and limited. The fact that you have your own room is wonderful! I am anxious to hear how your experience is! That coat is darling! And what a deal!
ReplyDeleteHave a pretty day!
Kristin
Have a safe trip it sounds like fun!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Suzann
Hello Carol... you transform a simple coat in a formal one. I love the roses lace around the colour and your idea to stitch it there is very fashionable... It looks great...
ReplyDeleteAnd so much thanks for your loving and concerning words on my post about Pakistan... I am pasted here a a link of my another post where I showed our outfits from normal daily life to bridal wear, its totally different from your side of the world... Hope you will enjoy it...
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/2010/09/fashion.html
Love
Farah
Carol, I LOVE what you did with this coat! You took something simple and made it special! I'm inspired! Looking forward to hearing about your trip!
ReplyDeleteYou've gotta be kiddin' me? This fabulous! I'd buy one for sure! Fabulous girly. LOVE IT!
ReplyDeletexoRebecca
Great coat! I would have bought that one and I love what you did to it.
ReplyDeleteLove the train, took it from Orlando to Savannah with the girl scout troop.
Your booth looks great! We are having our Christmas open house today at Art Angels on S Orange ave. We opened our booth in August and love it. Hope you can come.
Enjoy your trip!
You did a fantastic job on the coat! Love it! I have never taken Amtrak, but would love to hear your adventure. I live in Virginia Beach, VA but spend part of the year in central Florida. Have often thought about taking the train home if I wanted to go back and hubby did not. By the way, when I go back in Jan. I am going to look you up! Want to see your shop!
ReplyDeleteOh Carol I love what you did with the coat! Clever lady! Yes I have taken the train but the longest trip was 5 hours, and I LOVED IT! I guess I have always been a train girl, the restaurant car...I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it! lol!
ReplyDeleteHave a super trip I am sure you will love it, just think Agatha Christie...
Oh and as for the degree in Intelligence, I wish I had known there was such a thing when I was in college...sigh* :)
P.S. Take LOTS of pictures please!
Tina xo
I'm amazed. The polka dot woman can EVEN jazz up a thrift store coat and make it look like a million bucks. What next?
ReplyDeleteAs to trains, I have taken the Amtrak to Orlando many years ago. My father LOVED them and part of his planned Disney World adventure for his grandchildren was a train ride.
I'm not a huge train lover, but he made it so fun that it is a happy memory for me. My grandmother used to take it from VA to GA regularly and enjoyed it.
It looks beeyouteeful ! Hope you have a great trip...it's been a very long time since I took a train, but I loved it.
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Tep! You are going to need a bigger cooler! hahahahahhahahahahahaha! Throw momma! hahahahah!
ReplyDeleteHave a pretty day!
Kristin
Love your "new" coat. It looks simply fabulous with the trim and flower pin you added. Enjoy your train ride and visit with your son. Happy and safe travels...
ReplyDeleteSounds like so much fun.I hope you both have a great time.I would love to hear about the train ride when you get back home.I pray God protects you both. Denise, Oh yes and ps. Your coat's trim!Wow what talent you have.
ReplyDeleteLove the new coat! Very classy! The train ride sounds like a wonderful adventure! My husband and I have been talking about doing that since we got married...haven't had a chance to yet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and for your words of encouragement. Have fun on your trip! :)
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful trip! A train ride sounds like so much fun. I've always wanted to take one of those mystery trains or even the Orient Express! LOL, dream on.
I love what you did with the coat. It is so pretty with the trim.
Be sure and tell us all about it.
hugs
Sissie
Carol you are so darn talented! What you did for that coat is amazing!!!!! I have never taken a train ride but I have always wanted to. Have a wonderful trip and enjoy your visit!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jacalyn
My husband and I took a trip to Chicago by train. So delightful. I had a coat, but it certainly wasn't embellished like yours. I think I'll get one before my next trip. Loved the trim.
ReplyDeleteLove it! What a very clever idea and brilliant result. This looks very chic and retro at the same time. I'd never have recognised this as the same coat without your photos.
ReplyDeleteWow! What talent and taste! I am sooooo impressed! You are also very daring for taking a train. Have fun and Happy Pink Saturday!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Olivia
Sounds like fun!!! Great coat :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you both have a wonderful trip...I have done quite a bit of train travel. I used to take the Sunset Limited from San Antonio, TX to LA and then the commuter on down to San Diego to visit my family. We had a roomette, as I traveled with four small ones....it was very comfortable and there is nothing like going to sleep to the clickety-clack of the railroad tracks...it was an adventure getting all four very small children from car to car....they have improved that now!
ReplyDeleteLove your jacket make-over....it is cery chic and classy!
HPS!
Jil
It looks great! I bought the brown rose ribbon when I was in the States. Now if only my plain coat were brown..lol! Have fun on your trip!
ReplyDeleteLove this coat, Carol!! You will need it as it is pretty cold up here in the North!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Debbie
Hey Carol,
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is the name of that movie "Throw Mama... Hope you and your Mom are having a good time and when I think of the roomette I keep thinking of Cary Grant when he gets closed up in the top bunk.. to funny. Love the coat and what you did with it, you are so talented. I plan to keep reading the blog for the next episode. See you soon.
Phyllis
I've never been on a train though I have always wanted to. Sounds so exciting, and I hope you and your mom have a safe but fun trip!
ReplyDeleteI liked the coat before, but the trim you added really made it pretty! I don't know where people shop to get such nice things at the thrift store. Where I live the clothes are usually terribly faded and look shabby.....and I'm not talking the good kind of shabby either.
Hi Carol,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for coming by my blog and for leaving your christmas memory for my giveaway.. I loved it!
This coat is gorgeous!
Warm Wishes,
Noel from Fanciful Designs
G'morn, Debbie ~ What a wonderful coat ... you will be warm, which you will need here right now, & so chic. We don't live far from DC, wish I'd known you were going to be here.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! you have won lst GIVEAWAY crocheted embroidered tablecloth.
Please forward your mailing address ~
blushing_rose_boutique@yahoo.com
Have a beautiful winter's day & lovely trip ~
TTFN ~ Marydon
Carol, I was just talking to my husband about taking a train trip somewhere. I don't know anything about it and it would be our first time. I come over here and I couldn't believe it.. I really appreciate the pictures you took to give me some idea what to expect somewhat. Thanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteWhat you did to the collar is gorgeous... you really did a wonderful job making it special. I'm always adding embellishments to my wardrobe... it just makes it extra pretty.
Hugs*
Oh my gosh... I have that trim in ivory and now I'm frantic to decide what coat or sweater I am adding it to! That is fabulous!! Theresa xoxo
ReplyDeleteCarol, I love the trim you added to the coat. Now it looks like a high-end designer piece! We will be visiting our son in Orlando in February and I will definitely take you up on the offer to go antiquing. I look forward to meeting you.
ReplyDeletexo,
Sherry
I bet everyone in Washington that saw your coat was jealous as heck! I love what you did to it Carol! I wore my long wool coat that is over 30 years old when we were in Chicago and thank goodness my better half convinced me I needed the long coat. It was sooooooooo cold and snowing and blustery while we were there.
ReplyDeleteP.s. I just saw that you and Sherry will maybe meet up in February. I am so jealous! I am having lunch with Sherry on Tuesday. Hmmmm....wonder if she will maybe take me with her to Orlando?
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! Long train ride sounds so romantic and cinematic. Great occasion to pull out a great coat!
ReplyDeleteI love this coat! It's so cute.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays,
Candylei
I love what you did with the coat! You came within 5 to 10 miles of my house on your train ride. (Richmond VA) Did you stop in Ashland?
ReplyDelete