Chelle Summer

Michelle finds inspiration in daily life, whether it be around her house and pool in Albuquerque, traveling, creating, or when perusing an estate sale. On Instagram she shares the items, patterns, and scenes that inspire her. Follow Chelle Summer there to see more.

Greg’s mom recently sent Greg this photo of him- one small Greg going off the high dive at the Sunport Pool in the early 1970s. About five minutes after looking at it, I realized that in my new book Ida Lee there’s a scene that takes plac
Vintage purples and retro graphics. Shop the look– both the cover up and Take Everywhere Bag– at www.chellesummer.com. #handmade #loomskillfabric #chellesummer #chellesummerstyle #boutique #boutiquestyle #boutiqueshopping #towelterry #pu
At the blog this week- I believe fear to be the biggest challenge most of us face in our lives because it crosses so many aspects of our existence. The photo, taken in Stockport, Maine, last summer is what fear looks like to me- you can’t see v
There is such a dichotomy of color this week– life is still full of the oranges and browns of fall...and yet the reds and greens of the holidays are waiting stage right for their entrance. I’ll have a bunch of these at @psvintagemarket in
Prickly pear processing is in full swing! #desertgardening #cactuslife #pricklypear #cactus #albuquerque #newmexico
A vintage sprinkle for Saturday. Two handbags made from a vinyl estate sale (@estatesnowman) tablecloth. Find them in the boutique at www.chellesummer.com. #vintageinspired #chellesummer #chellesummerstyle #mystyle #boutique #boutiquestyle #boutique
The bits and pieces that make up Chelle Summer- from @americanfamiliesestatesales yesterday. #vintageinspiration #chellesummer #chellesummerstyle #boutique #boutiqueshopping #boutiquestyle #vintagetextiles #vintagefinds #mystyle #retrostyle #handmad
#tbt to Santa Monica, June 2018, and the first oval-shaped bag that I made. I created it specifically to test run on our trip to LA and a few modifications (and years) later, it’s the iconic Chelle Summer handbag. The dress is one of the first
Something new! Inspired by a series of placemats I made in canvas, I used vinyl remnants to create this color-blocked handbag. Find it in the boutique at www.chellesummer.com. #chellesummer #chellesummerstyle #boutique #boutiqueshopping #boutiquesty
At the blog this week- while most of my time is spent on Chelle Summer (and I love what I do!), it’s my writing that’s still most important to who I am. Read more at www.chellesummer.com. #inspire #inspiration #whoiam #vintagestyle #chel
Sometimes I buy things at estate sales and they resonate with me although I’m not quite sure what I’ll do with them. I found the gold robe probably six years ago and then in the past year found both the pink robe and the olive green blank
Happy Saturday! #vintageinspiration #chellesummerstyle #1950s #estatesale #vintagepatterns #mystyle #vintagestyle
For my Albuquerque friends, if your life has been touched by suicide, please join us for prayer service at my church @immaculateconceptionabq this evening (6:00 pm). I will offer some words of hope and Archbishop John Wester also will speak. At the e
Thanks to the snow, it was the perfect morning to showcase one of the first vintage dresses I bought at an estate sale when I started Chelle Summer in 2015. #vintagecaftan #chellesummer #chellesummerstyle #vintageclothing #palmspringstyle #snow #sno
The cacti are naked again. #pricklypearharvest #cactus #pricklypear #albuquerque #nmtrue #newmexico #desertlife #desertgardening
I had an idea in Connecticut and this was the first one I had time to create last week (and was the first bag to sell at @psvintagemarket on Sunday). I have a number of vintage textile scraps that aren’t big enough for bags, however, I realize
This month’s episode of the @psvintagemarket - my new dress (made from an altered vintage pattern) and the handbags I made - including coordinating outfits for Barbie and Ken at their pool- from the fall sheet set I found last month. The first
Heading to Palm Springs for the @psvintagemarket and where it’s also Pride weekend. I made these fun rainbow handbags from a vintage Vera Neumann tablecloth I found last week at @thunderbirdestatesales. I’m looking forward to sharing Chel
Tucked away in boxes crammed into a Spartanette, these vintage fabrics were just waiting for me to find them. I can’t wait to transform them into fun, new handbags and dresses and help them tell new stories to the world. @americanfamiliesestate
Happy Halloween and Day of the Dead all rolled into one! This is an early Chelle Summer dress- I didn’t buy the fabric because it “coordinates” with either holiday, but because I loved the colors. Thanks to @tinygrocerabq for the