Thursday, April 11, 2013
Anniversary....
On Tuesday I reached my 4 year anniversary of selling on Etsy!It doesn't seem like its been that long but time flies when you're having fun they say.And you know what?It has been fun.I love what I do.To celebrate I've put my shop on 25% off for the week.The sale ends tomorrow night.Here are a few favorites from my shop right now.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Fashion Designer Lilly Pulitzer Passes Away....
Sad news this Sunday to find iconic fashion designer Lilly Pulitizer has passed away.When I first started getting into vintage clothing around the time I was in Jr. High I was originally into very retro fashions of the 60's and 70's so "Lilly's" were right up my alley.The fact that Jackie O wore them also helped as I admired her style from an early age.
Lilly was 81 when she passed.She left a beautiful,cheerful,colorful mark on the world and I'm sure won't be forgotten.For those of you that have a vintage piece of clothing from her cherish it a little more now.
Lilly was 81 when she passed.She left a beautiful,cheerful,colorful mark on the world and I'm sure won't be forgotten.For those of you that have a vintage piece of clothing from her cherish it a little more now.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Ostara Inspiration....
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Wishing you all a Happy Easter,Passover,Ostara,or excuse to eat candy day!Whatever is appropriate for you and yours.




And no Easter is complete without your Easter bonnet!
Wishing you all a Happy Easter,Passover,Ostara,or excuse to eat candy day!Whatever is appropriate for you and yours.




And no Easter is complete without your Easter bonnet!
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Wistfully Waiting For Spring...
Yes,technically it is spring but you wouldn't know it in my neck of the woods.The ground is still very covered in snow.I did get tossed a bone yesterday and there was a high of 46!Even though it was too cold to wear my spring dresses it didn't stop me from putting one on for around the house and spend a bit of time longingly gazing into my closet.This dress I'm wearing I got from Modcloth on sale for $13!I was worried about the length.I'm very funny about length.I prefer things just over my knee and this is right above so it feels a little juvenile but not terribly.Luckily I'm short so its not going mid thigh or something!

The browns in the dress gave my an excuse to wear my new pieces of Bakelite that I'd found at the thrift store not too long ago.The brown faceted one I found in a bag with another bracelet for 75 cents at an antique mall junk jewelry table.The other brown bangle I got with 2 orange ones not photoed for 85 cents for all of them!The green on I've had for a few years now and can't recall where I got it,I think it was an eBay score.

I bought this 70's chief ring for $4 on sale from Bright Baubles and More's shop earlier this week and was happy to have it arrive yesterday so I could wear it.

This time last year the snow was all gone and it definitely felt like spring,this year I think we're getting the typical UP spring and it won't look like spring for another month.One being that doesn't seem the least bit upset about the snow is my lab Sam.


The browns in the dress gave my an excuse to wear my new pieces of Bakelite that I'd found at the thrift store not too long ago.The brown faceted one I found in a bag with another bracelet for 75 cents at an antique mall junk jewelry table.The other brown bangle I got with 2 orange ones not photoed for 85 cents for all of them!The green on I've had for a few years now and can't recall where I got it,I think it was an eBay score.

I bought this 70's chief ring for $4 on sale from Bright Baubles and More's shop earlier this week and was happy to have it arrive yesterday so I could wear it.

This time last year the snow was all gone and it definitely felt like spring,this year I think we're getting the typical UP spring and it won't look like spring for another month.One being that doesn't seem the least bit upset about the snow is my lab Sam.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
My Bedroom...
After almost a year and a half of living here my bedroom is finally properly furnished.It has been years,yes,YEARS since I've had bedroom set.Finding a vintage bedroom set in your price range can be tricky sometimes,especially if your price range is more on the "can I get that for free?" side.My husband pleaded a few times to just get over my need for vintage dressers and let him get something at Wal-mart till I found something but first off gross (no offense if that's your thing but its definitely not mine) and secondly I know my husband well enough to know that if I said yes he'd say "we already have dressers" when the time came that I found them.Sometimes its better to just do without till you get it just right.
Originally I had my heart set on an art deco waterfall bedroom set but nothing was in my price range and the pieces that were on Craigslist ended up being 3 hours away making it not quite a deal once you factor in gas and having to rent a small moving van.Eventually it just came down to "something vintage will do!" and when you open your net wider fate will work with you a little more.I spotted a bedroom set in a consignment shop months ago and told myself not to get too excited about them but if they were still there after I saved the $200 needed I'd snag them.Thankfully there were.I didn't inspect them for labels but once they were delivered and I opened a drawer I was pleasantly surprised to learn they were Kent-Coffey pieces!

Since I finally had dressers in place I could put things on the wall!

These paintings are from 1941 and I got them in a flea market in Indiana.I got that aluminum dish with Bakelite handle also in Indiana.The clock is a reproduction of Westclox Big Bean Moon Beam.

I can't even begin to express my happiness at being able to display my vintage jewelry again.Having it on the floor definitely isn't the same.That lamp is a nice $10 score at the thrift store.

Close up of my jewelry,I love this vintage Lucite display I got off ebay over a decade ago now.Always wanted to find another but haven't had any luck.


Some of my Bakelite bangles.

Here is the side table.Unfortunately it doesn't work as a side table in our room since its a bit small for a "master bedroom" but works out well in this little nook.I found out from the neighbor that our 1937 home use to originally be a 2 bedroom with a garage that is now a 4 bedroom with NO garage.There are 3 rooms upstairs and they took the master bedroom and split it which totally makes sense!What was once the garage is now the 4th bedroom my husband uses as an office and the other half is now my office.The fact that we have a king bed doesn't help with the bit of cramped-ness but the thought of downgrading to a queen is something my husband and I both agree is a terrible idea.And I will never complain about it being small as the neighbor told me the original owners had 6 kids in this place!I can't even imagine.

These curtains inspired the color palette in my room,they're called "Happily Married" which I thought was good juju for the bedroom.If you look on ebay you can usually find a lovely little variety of Saison happily married fabrics.I'm not sure how many prints they had but that company definitely had some beautiful ones.

The moon I've had for years and I thought it'd go great with art deco waterfall furniture but I still like it even if I don't have the dark wood.I'm a little weird about mixing woods,I'm definitely too matchy matchy at times but I'm learning to loosen up a bit in this department.Moon and figurine were Indiana flea market finds...man,I found some good things when I lived in Indy.

And where dirty clothes go till they get washed,the hamper!There are little tweaks here and there I'm sure will be made as time goes by.Eventually hardwood floors will be put back upstairs too but for now I'm happy that all the rooms upstairs are now properly furnished!

Originally I had my heart set on an art deco waterfall bedroom set but nothing was in my price range and the pieces that were on Craigslist ended up being 3 hours away making it not quite a deal once you factor in gas and having to rent a small moving van.Eventually it just came down to "something vintage will do!" and when you open your net wider fate will work with you a little more.I spotted a bedroom set in a consignment shop months ago and told myself not to get too excited about them but if they were still there after I saved the $200 needed I'd snag them.Thankfully there were.I didn't inspect them for labels but once they were delivered and I opened a drawer I was pleasantly surprised to learn they were Kent-Coffey pieces!

Since I finally had dressers in place I could put things on the wall!

These paintings are from 1941 and I got them in a flea market in Indiana.I got that aluminum dish with Bakelite handle also in Indiana.The clock is a reproduction of Westclox Big Bean Moon Beam.

I can't even begin to express my happiness at being able to display my vintage jewelry again.Having it on the floor definitely isn't the same.That lamp is a nice $10 score at the thrift store.

Close up of my jewelry,I love this vintage Lucite display I got off ebay over a decade ago now.Always wanted to find another but haven't had any luck.


Some of my Bakelite bangles.

Here is the side table.Unfortunately it doesn't work as a side table in our room since its a bit small for a "master bedroom" but works out well in this little nook.I found out from the neighbor that our 1937 home use to originally be a 2 bedroom with a garage that is now a 4 bedroom with NO garage.There are 3 rooms upstairs and they took the master bedroom and split it which totally makes sense!What was once the garage is now the 4th bedroom my husband uses as an office and the other half is now my office.The fact that we have a king bed doesn't help with the bit of cramped-ness but the thought of downgrading to a queen is something my husband and I both agree is a terrible idea.And I will never complain about it being small as the neighbor told me the original owners had 6 kids in this place!I can't even imagine.

These curtains inspired the color palette in my room,they're called "Happily Married" which I thought was good juju for the bedroom.If you look on ebay you can usually find a lovely little variety of Saison happily married fabrics.I'm not sure how many prints they had but that company definitely had some beautiful ones.

The moon I've had for years and I thought it'd go great with art deco waterfall furniture but I still like it even if I don't have the dark wood.I'm a little weird about mixing woods,I'm definitely too matchy matchy at times but I'm learning to loosen up a bit in this department.Moon and figurine were Indiana flea market finds...man,I found some good things when I lived in Indy.

And where dirty clothes go till they get washed,the hamper!There are little tweaks here and there I'm sure will be made as time goes by.Eventually hardwood floors will be put back upstairs too but for now I'm happy that all the rooms upstairs are now properly furnished!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Apple Juice Bakelite
If you love vintage fashion there is a good chance you love vintage jewelry and if you love vintage jewelry how can you not love Bakelite?I thought in an attempt to start blogging more I'd make a theme post of showing off various Bakelite pieces for sale on the wonderful world wide web that catch my eye,because I admit it,I window shop.A lot.
One of my favorite colors of Bakelite is apple juice.It also usually tends to me the most expensive,which is why I don't have any pieces with the exception of a large decorative button I keep in my sewing box thinking one day I'll put it to good use.These beauties I've all found for under $100.00!
This brooch from mikat82 features a wire fox terrier in it.Wire Fox Terriers became popular family dogs inthe 1930's because of The Thin Man feature films.

This prairie wagon brooch from atomicwarehouse incorporates wood and Bakelite together.

Love this funky little fish brooch from craftingfool2003

This brooch with the mother of pearl fleck in t is beautiful from
Violasvintages
Hopefully you're not bored of brooches so lets finish this off with some dress clips!Dress clips I feel are one of the most underrated but most valuable pieces to have to your vintage wardrobe.We all have that dress we like that's plain but add a dress clip to it and you can really give it a glamorous feel!
This dress clip also from Violasvintages has combined my love of Bakelite AND rhinestones!

Lastly this reverse carving apple juice Bakelite dress clip from
OurBoudoir

Hope you all enjoyed drooling over these pretties as much as I have!Till next time.
One of my favorite colors of Bakelite is apple juice.It also usually tends to me the most expensive,which is why I don't have any pieces with the exception of a large decorative button I keep in my sewing box thinking one day I'll put it to good use.These beauties I've all found for under $100.00!
This brooch from mikat82 features a wire fox terrier in it.Wire Fox Terriers became popular family dogs inthe 1930's because of The Thin Man feature films.

This prairie wagon brooch from atomicwarehouse incorporates wood and Bakelite together.

Love this funky little fish brooch from craftingfool2003

This brooch with the mother of pearl fleck in t is beautiful from
Violasvintages

Hopefully you're not bored of brooches so lets finish this off with some dress clips!Dress clips I feel are one of the most underrated but most valuable pieces to have to your vintage wardrobe.We all have that dress we like that's plain but add a dress clip to it and you can really give it a glamorous feel!
This dress clip also from Violasvintages has combined my love of Bakelite AND rhinestones!

Lastly this reverse carving apple juice Bakelite dress clip from
OurBoudoir

Hope you all enjoyed drooling over these pretties as much as I have!Till next time.
Friday, January 25, 2013
My Dining Room,Before and Work in Progress....
I'd love to say this was a "before and after" but we're not 100% there just yet.The ugly carpet needs to be ripped up and hardwood floors put down and then new border and trim need to go up.The trim is obviously the cheaper thing to do but its pointless to do until the new floors go down.One of many of those home remodel conundrums.And artwork!I've yet to find any vintage art for the dining room so the walls are still bare.
Now I feel bad saying "Before" even as the true before is cheap paneling(Yes,my poor sweet little 1937 home was the victim of a 70's remodel!).But my husband had that ripped down before I showed up with the kids.And for almost 6 months it stayed like this.

Torn up water stained wallpaper ,not a great look.

Now growing up I lived in a house that was constantly under construction and I hated it.It was depressing because it was ugly and embarrassing to have friends over.Luckily my remodeling though slower than I want isn't going to take my kids whole childhood.The reality is these things cost money(which I don't have)and curses to you HGTV for making me think magic could happen in 30 minutes with a team of hot carpenters!Where are my hot carpenters?!But I'm not doing too bad for it only being me and the help of my husband here and there.The big projects are the kitchen and bathroom but we'll have to hire professionals for those areas.
So here is the "work in progress" after.And before anyone yells at me compared to the first picture the door looks like dark wood that I painted white,no that's not the case.I love real wood and I wouldn't have painted over it but...but....the person that lived here before had painted it a glossy dark brown!Oh my god why??It was bad.I'll have more glossy brown horror stories to share with you as I am able to show off more progress with the house.Oh and I'm sorry for the dark photos,I chose to do this post on a gray winter day.Hopefully when the time has come for the 100% after photos I'll have a nice sunny day to take photos.

The walls were in no shape to paint over and the funds weren't there to put up all new drywall so we went with paintable wallpaper.I chose this textured swirl pattern and then painted it Bermuda Blue.Now,if you don't have a good marriage don't even both trying to put up wallpaper together,I'm not even kidding.Hire a professional.If you and your spouse love each-other as much as my husband do you MAY get out alive with only minor tears,obscenities,and objects thrown involved.

And now for some more detail shots....Oh hey there is my sweet hi-fi!Yes,records at dinner time is the thing to do at my house.

My aqua and gray dinette has been retired down to the basement for now so that my Heywood Wakefield stuff could be brought into the dining room.I'm hoping with the kitchen remodel I MIGHT be able to put it in there if there is room.Sorry little Formica table,I just really,really love my Heywood.

As I've made mentioned before I lost most of my Vernonware Heavenly Days china when we moved.I decided to stop being so "matchy matchy" and go with "if you like it just buy it!" so in the little over a year that I've lived here I've nickle and dimed my china hutch full of lovely aqua colored vintage china!


This is the was the before light fixture in the dining room.Nice leaf pattern and I am hanging onto it for now for another room to maybe use in.

But then I saw this guy for $1.00 at the thrift and had to pick him up.

So there you have it folks.Now exactly where I want it just yet but a heck of a lot better than before!
Now I feel bad saying "Before" even as the true before is cheap paneling(Yes,my poor sweet little 1937 home was the victim of a 70's remodel!).But my husband had that ripped down before I showed up with the kids.And for almost 6 months it stayed like this.

Torn up water stained wallpaper ,not a great look.

Now growing up I lived in a house that was constantly under construction and I hated it.It was depressing because it was ugly and embarrassing to have friends over.Luckily my remodeling though slower than I want isn't going to take my kids whole childhood.The reality is these things cost money(which I don't have)and curses to you HGTV for making me think magic could happen in 30 minutes with a team of hot carpenters!Where are my hot carpenters?!But I'm not doing too bad for it only being me and the help of my husband here and there.The big projects are the kitchen and bathroom but we'll have to hire professionals for those areas.
So here is the "work in progress" after.And before anyone yells at me compared to the first picture the door looks like dark wood that I painted white,no that's not the case.I love real wood and I wouldn't have painted over it but...but....the person that lived here before had painted it a glossy dark brown!Oh my god why??It was bad.I'll have more glossy brown horror stories to share with you as I am able to show off more progress with the house.Oh and I'm sorry for the dark photos,I chose to do this post on a gray winter day.Hopefully when the time has come for the 100% after photos I'll have a nice sunny day to take photos.

The walls were in no shape to paint over and the funds weren't there to put up all new drywall so we went with paintable wallpaper.I chose this textured swirl pattern and then painted it Bermuda Blue.Now,if you don't have a good marriage don't even both trying to put up wallpaper together,I'm not even kidding.Hire a professional.If you and your spouse love each-other as much as my husband do you MAY get out alive with only minor tears,obscenities,and objects thrown involved.

And now for some more detail shots....Oh hey there is my sweet hi-fi!Yes,records at dinner time is the thing to do at my house.

My aqua and gray dinette has been retired down to the basement for now so that my Heywood Wakefield stuff could be brought into the dining room.I'm hoping with the kitchen remodel I MIGHT be able to put it in there if there is room.Sorry little Formica table,I just really,really love my Heywood.

As I've made mentioned before I lost most of my Vernonware Heavenly Days china when we moved.I decided to stop being so "matchy matchy" and go with "if you like it just buy it!" so in the little over a year that I've lived here I've nickle and dimed my china hutch full of lovely aqua colored vintage china!


This is the was the before light fixture in the dining room.Nice leaf pattern and I am hanging onto it for now for another room to maybe use in.

But then I saw this guy for $1.00 at the thrift and had to pick him up.

So there you have it folks.Now exactly where I want it just yet but a heck of a lot better than before!
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