Today we’d like to introduce you to Michèle Jubilee.
Hi Michèle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello there! My name is Michèle Jubilee and I’m fairly new to San Diego, having moved here just two years ago with my husband. I grew up in San Francisco, surrounded by the arts and colorful houses that made even a walk down the street feel like a dream. Creativity has always been part of my life, and now I’m learning all about it through working as a freelance artist and owning a small vintage business @citygorlvintage.
I fell in love with vintage and thrifting as a teenager when I started playing around with fashion and personal style. At the same time, I’ve always been making art. I studied art and art history in University, and went on to work in museums in both Canada and the US. Since moving to San Diego, I’ve been leaning more fully into both: launching my vintage shop, @CityGorlVintage, and growing my art practice little by little, @artbymichelejubilee.
I’ve always been fascinated by spaces, memory, and the way we each collect and arrange things in our homes. To me, belongings carry stories, whether it’s the gifts we exchange, the cozy corners we create, or the heirlooms passed down through families. My background in museum work deepened this fascination with history, memory, objects, and how we find and curate beauty in our lives.
The name “City Gorl Vintage” is a reflection of who I am. I’ve always been a city gorl at heart. I love wandering through neighborhoods, discovering little secrets, and getting to know the personality of a city, because each city has a voice. Cities are like friends, layered, and full of stories. Walking through one, you’re never really alone; the history and the people are always there with you. Thrift stores are often a reflection of a city, and you can learn lots of little secrets and find lots of treasures!
And the “gorl” part? That’s just me. Being playful, silly, loving cute things, gallivanting, and celebrating beauty wherever I can find it. I’m just a gorl out here doing my best to make life brighter in little ways, chasing whimsy.
What excites me most, whether it’s through art or vintage, is the idea that beauty isn’t something far away or reserved for special occasions or certain people. It belongs to everyone. We can create beauty in our everyday spaces; the way we arrange a shelf, sipping tea from quirky mugs that make us smile, or wearing a fun colorful scarf, these little choices can shape the spirit of our homes and, I think, also our hearts.
To me, thrifting and vintage treasure-hunting is like walking through a mini museum of people’s lives. Every object carries memory and character. Estate sales, in particular, feel sacred, you’re stepping into someone’s story, and I love the thought that by giving their belongings a new home and new life, you’re honoring their life and love of beauty. The beauty lives on! I also find so much inspiration as an artist in the patterns, colors and designs on vintage items.
At the end of the day, I just hope people can feel joy, delight, and playfulness in what I curate through my vintage shop and in my art. I want others to see that they can create beauty and whimsy in their own homes, it’s not that serious, and life feels more vibrant when we let ourselves be a little whimsical.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting City Gorl Vintage felt natural because it came from something I already loved. I had been collecting vintage for years, and one day it hit me while I was walking through an antique shop that I could probably sell items because I have a knack for finding fun things and an eye for color, and thrifting was my favorite pastime. Selling vintage has actually taught me to be more detached from objects. I feel like a foster mom of quirky things. I get to enjoy them for a time, and then they move on to bring someone else joy.
Since starting my business I’ve sold in some local shops, but I mostly sell at markets around town. I’m blown away by how many markets there are in San Diego! Living here has been so naturally inspiring and encouraging because there’s so many small business owners learning, and not taking themselves so seriously. Meeting other vendors at markets and building community has been such a highlight of this process, many of whom are incredible boss entrepreneurial women who share their knowledge and tips freely. There’s so much camaraderie, encouragement, and inspiration. It feels like we’re all cheering each other on and rooting for each other to succeed.
It’s a lot of work! Running a small business means you’re doing everything yourself, curating, hauling, photographing, making videos, posting online, and keeping up with the behind-the-scenes business tasks. Many of the pieces I find are fragile, so it takes a lot of love and care to handle them, aka lots of bubble wrap.
There are a lot of hidden costs in curating vintage; gas from driving around, buying items, vendor fees at markets etc. To be totally transparent, I’m still at the stage where I’m just happy to break even in my sales so that the work is self sustained, but I hope to grow! I aim to keep my prices super affordable and accessible, that’s really important to me.
The biggest challenge, honestly, has been quieting my own self-doubt. Learning to approach this process with curiosity and fun has been so important. I’m trying to let things grow naturally, and to enjoy the process of learning along the way.
Looking ahead, I plan to continue blending both my art and vintage work, curating, and inviting people into my little world of color, pattern, and whimsy at markets, and hopefully in more local shops. My hope is to keep making life feel a bit more joyful and sparkly, one quirky vintage find or artwork at a time, and to share that with you!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make art about the body and the soul, and our unique journeys of growth as human beings, and I often express that growth through symbols of nature. My artwork is very illustrative, and I hope that my drawings and designs prompt people to reflect, pause and feel energized.
My vintage items are fun and colorful, ranging from baskets, to vases, kitchen wares, scarves, bags, blankets, to baby clothes and trinket dishes. I curate items based on what I’d personally love, and what catches my eye. So my shop really gives you a window into the things that spark joy for me. I sell mainly vintage home goods. I try to find hand made vintage when I can, like crocheted blankets or ceramic pieces. I love the cross over of giving life to vintage pieces while honoring the artistry behind hand made items.
I am beginning to explore the cross over between my own art and vintage, repurposing vintage items, and adding my own art onto home wares, like painting little wooden boxes. I have exciting plans to keep expanding what I make and sell, and continue having fun exploring and creating!
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
At markets I try to introduce myself to as many vendors as possible, whether I’m just there for fun, or as a vendor myself. I ask them questions about how long they’ve been creating or selling, and which markets are their favorite to do. I love learning from other people’s experiences. I’ve made so many new friends this way, and that’s been the best part of networking in the small business vintage/art scene of San Diego.
Make friends! Show up to your friends’ markets, offer to share booth spaces, offer to help each other pack up, buy each other coffee. Truly, my fellow vendors have become mentors for me because they are so inspiring and I’ve learned so much from them!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.michelejubilee.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citygorlvintage/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/artbymichelejubilee/
