we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet

As a thank you to all our wonderful customers of 2010, and to welcome in 2011, the Small Earth Vintage Etsy shop is having a wee sale: 20% off everything (items already marked down) from 12/31/10 through 1/3/11!

And speaking of welcoming in 2011, here's a preview of what is coming to the shop shortly.

Ice blue lace party dress with long chiffon scarf.

Olive tapestry jacquard cardigan, by Catalina.

Mod yellow and gray paisley swirl dress, by Bleeker Street.

1980s camel wool pencil skirt, by Calvin Klein.

Deep green velvet party dress with lace at the waist.

Heather gray fleur de lis chain sweater.

Sweater dress embroidered with flowers.

1970s rust suede jacket.

Gray tweed skirt suit with fur-covered button, by Dalemoor.

Tree farm sweater.

Sailor dress!

1950s moire taffeta full skirt with cummerbund waist.

1950s barbed wire stripe shirtwaist dress with net crinoline and rhinestone buttons, by Nob Hill Fashions.

1970s Christian Dior knit geometry pattern shirt.

1960s gray wool houndstooth dress with belt, by The Art Shirt.

1950s snow white beaded cardigan, by Blairmoor.

Gorgeous 1940s cocoa-mauve knit outfit with bead and satin flower appliques, by Koldin Original.

xo

K

true grit

Andy and I went to see the Coen brothers' True Grit remake the other day, and it was, as expected, wonderful. I have to admit, I can't recall seeing the original ever, so I can't compare the two films. But the cast, scenery, dialogue--everything about it is excellent! (And don't you love the artwork from the 1969 hardcover book?)

Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old and exceptionally determined heroine, is dressed mostly in men's clothing that is too big for her--clothing that is practical for the journey she is undertaking. She wears pants and a man's overcoat, belted tight, and a fantastic wide-brimmed hat.

I tried to find a similar hat on Etsy, and this one from LonesomeBrown (what a great name!) was close enough.

I didn't find much more clothing of that era on Etsy that reminded me of Mattie, but this amazing outfit from VeraVague does look like something the adult Mattie would have worn.

Speaking of which, I got all excited when I saw Mattie, near the end of the film, wearing a suit kind of similar to--and made from what looks like nearly the same fabric--as this cute 1940s suit in my Etsy shop.

I also have in the shop prairie boots of the same era--surely the same kind of boots Mattie would have worn--as well as a 1950s petticoat skirt that looks like it could hail from the Old West.

And please let me share with you a few more Etsy items that have that True Grit feel. Tooled leather belt from belovedvintage.

Pyrography carved wood frame, from MouseTrapVintage.

Antique photo of a most determined-looking girl, from PaperMoChez.

Old money receipts book, from nesstiques.

Vintage spurs, from pearlsvintage.

Neat old aluminum coffee pot, from AntoinettesWhims.

xo

K

have yourself a merry little

Here are a few festive photos from around the Small Earth Vintage homestead, where, of course, it isn't Christmas until you've decorated the dog in garland.

One of my favorite acquisitions this year: stackable cookie racks! Very convenient while doing my holiday baking (one of the few domestic arts I enjoy).

And today I made this delicious apple spice cake with cream cheese frosting and apples from our friend Terry's orchard.

Look at this gorgeous handpainted ornament on our tree from Sarah John Afana's schemata shop on Etsy! My photo does not do this beauty justice. Thank you, dear Sarah! xo

We scattered the branches trimmed off the bottom of the tree around the house. The rest will make nice fuel for our New Year's Eve bonfire. That wonderful white vase below is made by my talented friend Jason O'Malley, a.k.a. The Rural Modernist. I need more of his pottery! And the wacky little duck-boy came from Grand Rapid's UICA.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

xo

K

office party

Every holiday season Andy and I jokingly have a Small Earth Vintage office party. We dress up a bit and visit a museum or something and go out for a nice dinner.

On last weekend's thrift trip I found myself a lovely Christmas gift--yet another coat! I love the closures, the fur collar, and the gray color on this worsted wool beauty. I was so happy it fit.

I also wore my new festive holiday skirt, an airy little chiffon full skirt with flocked feathers, glitter, and a velvet waistband. Chilly temperatures and the promise of much walking around the museum meant I wore my good old boots, rather than prettier but less sensible shoes. (Oh, hello there, Lucy!)

Andy was dapper, as usual, in a vintage plaid print sweater and Harris Tweed jacket. I think the vintage Stetson cap will end up for sale in the Etsy shop.

Before the museum, we visited Grand Rapids' newest brew pub, a Belgian farmhouse-esque place called Brewery Vivant, that is housed in a former funeral chapel. The beer was tasty, and though it wasn't served yet, the menu sounds like it will be really good. The place looks very cool, inside and out.

So our museum visit was the Bodies Revealed exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. I think the 12-year-old me who had a rather gruesome fascination with the Time Life book series about disease and disfigurement would have probably been really into it. But the 41-year-old me--not so much. It was interesting, and Andy enjoyed it. (Bodies Revealed gives a tour of the human body via preserved human remains that have been sliced open and whatnot to show how the body works. They don't allow photos, but you can see examples at the website.)

Here's a nice view of the Grand River from the upper floor of the museum.

WARNING: Possibly disturbing images of cute animals eating other cute animals ahead!

So, the exhibit had a warning (a la the above) previous to the section on fetal development, which was roped off from the rest of the exhibit. I did not personally find the fetuses disturbing. Well, except for the fact that they had been injected with a red dye, and so looked like tiny, horrifying Alien-style monsters.

I did find it kind of funny that the main part of the museum doesn't have similar signs for the many examples on display of cute taxidermied furry animals eating other cute taxidermied furry animals (like this wolverine devouring poor Rikki Tikki Tavi).

Or this badger that's about to eat a cute, limp little chipmunk for dinner! Let's face it, nature is disturbing in all its forms--human, animal, fetus in a jar, taxidermied, and sliced open. Yikes.

So as to not end this on a completely horrifying note, here are some cute little fellows. I love how the guy on the left has his paw lifted as though he's telling someone off.

xo

K