Shop Update: Marcasite and Whimsy

I recently acquired two very different lots of jewelry:

one full of marcasite and the other full of whimsy!

Classy VS Cute

  

 These marcasite pieces are stunning, circa 1920s - 1930s. 

Onxy Ring

Ruby Ring

Marcasite Necklace

These whimsical pieces are adorable! Circa 1940s - 1970s.

Watch Ring

Whistle Bracelet

Pocketwatch Necklace

All are listed in the shop. Hope you enjoy!

Polka Dotted Kicks

You know when you're so excited about finds that you get to look over condition? Yeah, that happened to me yesterday at an estate sale. I saw polka dots and I purchased them. No looking them over, no examining the sole: primary colors + white swiss dots = add to cart immediately.

So, who wears a 6.5 - 7 and likes ridiculously cute shoes? I'm giving away the green polka dotted pair & the yellow polka dotted pair. Their problem is the edges of the soles are pulling away from the canvas. There are also some discolorations along the sides. I'd recommend reinforcing them with a little glue for now, wearing them a season, and then deciding if they are worth resoling ($15-$25 depending on your cobbler). Either way, they have a season of wear left in them -- and they are really freaking cute!

OR

Insole: 9.5 inches

US Size: 6.5 - 7

Euro Size: 37 - 37.5

Width: Narrow - Average

Cost: Shipping only ($4.90 US / $7 elsewhere)

Brand: Daniel Green

Circa: early 1980s

First two comments to claim them, gets them. I'll have you paypal me the shipping and email me your street address. Please only claim one pair. Specify if you want the green or yellow. The others will be listed in my vintage shop, since they're in great condition! Here's a sneak peek (with Jakey refusing to move):

xo, jess

Enviable Collections: Mobiles

So, I don't collect that many things. I collect bobby pins and barrettes pre-1960s, vintage Coach bags pre-1990s, and hanging mobiles. There are definitely other collections emerging . . . like 1950s dachshund accessories (scarves, brooches, handkerchiefs), but not in a quantity that I consider them collections (yet).

Today I'm sharing my mobile collection! If you saw the Etsy feature on my home, then you've already been introduced to my seagull mobile and perhaps the bottom 6" of James's handmade mobile, but here are the others:

Bi-Planes, purchased from TheOrangeCollective on Etsy

Whale Mobile, purchased from Projecteur on Etsy

 

Scandinavian Seal and Southwestern Mobile,

both purchased from OldVintageGoodies on Etsy

Fish Mobile, purchased from alittlemodern on Etsy

Sailboat Mobile, purchased from TheCottageCheese

Geometric Mobile (vintage-inspired), handmade by James (hubs)

 Seagull Mobile (my first mobile ever)

purchased at a local estate sale

Lucky for you, I found 2 duplicates (sailboat and seagull) and have no need for the same mobile, twice! So, I'm listing them in the shop today. They are both stunning, and I'm only parting with them because I already own them.

The Aristocrat of Knitted Wear

I found this amazing late 30s - 40s sweater dress and was charmed by

its tag: Marinette . . .  The Aristocrat of Knitted Wear:

It's stunning! Perfectly muted taupe, with intricate stitching and

a matching skinny belt.

When I looked up the maker, I found two newspapers  

featuring ads from Marinette: one from 1936 (above) 

and another from 1935 (below).

Not surprisingly, all their fashions (blouses, dresses, and skirts) 

are hand-knit. They also specialize in larger sizes. 

The first ad states Sizes: 14 to 20; and 

the following year's ad says Sizes 12 to 44.

This beauty is best suited for a modern day Medium - Large,

and the material has plenty of give to cling to your curves.

Lady Mary Slip Dress

This dress wanted her own blog post. I think Lady Mary should wear it! 

Early 1900s under dress with white lace, cotton construction, snap and button back, and eyelet florals. It's pretty perfect.

I found it in Cambridge, NY at an estate sale hosted by a 80-something year old woman. She was very sweet, and happily parting with much of her mother's estate, as well as downsizing her own belongings. She said this had belonged to her grandmother and was passed down to her mom, and eventually to her. She had never worn it, but kept it pristine all these years. She told me it was from 1910-1919.

I remember walking in her house and she was playing the Mountain Goats, which was kind of amazing. Turns out, she listens to 91.5 WRPI.

Vintage Pin Board

Ok, I thought this up, and it turned out pretty cute, so I thought I'd share! Hope you enjoy:

My husband is a writer, and still actually puts pen to pad (as well as fingers to keyboard). He writes on this huge writing pad, tears the sheets out, and hangs them on the walls to move them around and visualize it better. I'm totally down with his method, but the result looks a bit like the walls from A Beautiful Mind, and since my in-laws are visiting (and his office doubles as our guest room) I needed an idea that would keep his pages unfolded and easy to access, without scaring the guests. A cork board, right? Except James has a great desk and his office is pretty freaking stellar, so a cork board doesn't quite fit aesthetically. A couple of days ago, I'm thrifting with James and find this enormous cutting mat (vintage, industrial looking) . . . what can we do with this thing . . . ack! idea: Pinboard; his office! We have some old and awesome tacks (1940s brass window tacks) and stoppers for midcentury furniture that will make amazing "thumb tacks."

Here's our end result (full office shots to follow soon, currently it has a Aerobed and other guest stuff in it that's unappealing).

So, he has his pages stacked about 5 sheets deep, a little picture of me, and he's going to put up some prints we have yet to frame, as well as couple post cards from friends. I was just experimenting on the side with the copper apple necklace, but actually think I may shoot some of my jewelry that way because it has the inches right across the side and would give a great ruler shot without actually having a silly ruler next to my jewelry!

These are the brass tacks I was talking about! Much more attractive than thumb tacks and industrial enough to work in a midcentury-inspired office.

Anyway, that's it! Super easy and I didn't even have to back it in cork because this type of board is made for sewing, so there are pinholes everywhere and it is quite sturdy!

I found duplicates of the tacks for sale on Etsy, both are under $25:

Orange 

Purple

Isn't she a beaut?

Vintage 1960s cocktail party dress, with a self fabric belt, 

ruffled hem, nipped waist, back zipper and matching ruffled shawl. 

From Miss Elliette California.

I love the three tone greens: moss, celery and sage.

The ruffles are outrageous. I love this dress, so I decided to give her

a little special feature!

Also, I'm having a sale!

SALE: 20% off the entire shop w/ coupon code BIRTHDAY 

Fabrics and Flowers

Recently, I persuaded the lovely Kater to do a jewelry and handbag shoot with me just outside of Albany. We found a pretty little park out in Voorheesville, NY with a little bridge and lots of lush greenery! The weather was not entirely cooperative, but I was able to snag some pretty shots in between drizzles.

 

Red plaid fabric bag, $32.

Green Knitting Bag, sold.

Taupe cotton bag, coming soon!

Red and Mustard striped bag, coming soon!