12 from 2012

Hello and happy new year!  Here, in no particular order, are my 12 favorite items that sold out of the Etsy shop in 2012.  They're not necessarily the most expensive or fanciest, though you'll see one or two big name labels here.  I just went through and picked favorites (lots of them) and then painfully narrowed it down to 12.  (There do seem to be quite a few sparkly numbers here!  Fitting for New Year's Eve, don't you think?)

This 1950s cornflower blue dress has an embroidered leaf motif, embellished with silver Lurex thread.  By Henry-lee.

Gorgeous and dainty sheer peach nylon 1940s blouse, covered in passementerie trim, and with a Peter Pan collar trimmed in rhinestones and faux pearls.

I love the bold primary colors of this ikat weave purse.  I also love the label in it from Christine Custom Bags in Detroit, a shop that specialized in do-it-yourself needlepoint bags (you'd do the needlepoint work at home, then bring it into the shop to be turned into a purse!).

A lovely peachy-pink cherry blossom print dress from the 1920s.

We sold a lot of great menswear this year, but I think this reversible atomic fleck jacket by Gean Edwards is my favorite!

This fitted black 1940s jacket with its ruched sleeves and black sequin-covered bodice is just perfection in my book!

It's always exciting to find deadstock vintage with the tags still attached...like this 1950s bombshell "Pearl Princess" swimsuit by Rose Marie Reid.

This is one of those items that SO would not have gone in the shop if it had been my size!  A mod 1960s navy trench by White Stag with fabulous white contrast stitching and lots of zippers.

Gorgeous 1930s gold-studded pumpkin crepe dress, that went to a very good home!

I sold a few dress-and-cape sets this year.  This 1950s gray and chartreuse fern print dress with its matching chartreuse linen capelet is my favorite.  This was one of those happy sales where the buyer longed for it a long time and then was finally able to make the purchase.

More ferns!  I love them.  This 1950s fern print skirt went to a wonderful longtime customer, who has particularly excellent taste in prints!

And last, but certainly not least, this 1960s purple print India silk dress by Tina Leser was one of those dresses that I couldn't quite believe was in the shop for as long as it was.  But it found its home at last!

Wishing you all a beautiful new year filled with fabulous vintage!

xo

K

a pomander cocktail

So, I've been taking a bit of a break from work, and the constant pressure of trying to sell you things.  Can I afford to take this break?  Probably not.  But I'm really enjoying it.  And it's apparently kick started my creativity, because:  I.  Invented.  A.  Cocktail!  Yay!  Just for you.  Well, really--for me.  Remember the big pomander kick I was on back in November?  I had a pomander-ish cocktail when I was in NYC, and since then I've tried a couple other cocktail recipes at home that were lovely, but not quite perfect (i.e., not clove-y enough for me). 

So I spent some time in the kitchen on Christmas day tinkering and I present you with:  the Pomander Cocktail!

(serves 2)

*make some clove simple syrup (I used this recipe from Food & Wine; it is quick and easy to make)

*chill two cocktail glasses

*fill a cocktail shaker with ice

*pour the juice of four clementines over ice

*add 3 oz gin

*add 2 oz clove simple syrup

*add 4 dashes orange bitters

*shake until chilled and serve in chilled glasses.  Add slice of clementine for garnish, if desired.

It's delish--and so nice and clove-y!  This is also very good with bourbon, although I think the clove taste diminishes a bit with the bourbon.

Andy got me this amazing vintage dogs in a cocktail bar painting for Christmas.

Isn't it the best?

xo

K

merry!

It's Christmas Eve in Michigan.  We don't have much snow, but we're ready for a few days of relaxing: playing backgammon, cooking, watching old movies, experimenting with cocktails, and gathering with friends.  Sounds perfect, doesn't it?

But first, we had the Small Earth Vintage Holiday Party on Saturday evening.  This consists of Andy and me getting dressed up and going out for drinks and a steak dinner.

I'm wearing a 1950s chiffon skirt with flocked feathers and rainbow glitter on it (see detail shot below), which I'm pretty sure has seen time on the blog before.  The bag is 1940s vintage, and my velvet cropped jacket is 1950s; the rest is not vintage.  This is really dressed up for Grand Rapids, by the way.

Andy looking dapper as heck.  I love that jacket--vintage Brooks Brothers herringbone!

The moon over our house.  It was such a pretty evening.

Happy holidays, everyone!

xo

K

fast away the old year passes

It's finally snowing here in Michigan, and the halls are fully decked.

Because I am a Good Blogger, I went outside in my pjs and winter coat to take this photo of some of my favorite decorations--these cool Noel sleds made by my dad in the late 1970s/early 1980s.

Indoors, as you can see, it's all about the silver garland.

And here's a touch of green so we don't get all over-blinged.  I really wanted to make this cool pine cone garland from Duff's Jean Jean Vintage blog, but never got around to collecting the right kind of pine cones.  Instead, I took this idea from Poppytalk, and strung up some stray branches from our tree.

Happiest of holidays to everyone everywhere, and here's to a peaceful and beautiful new year.

xo

K

shop preview

Christmas is almost here, and we are still shipping every day that the post office is open, so go ahead and place those last minute orders you late (like me) shoppers!  Here's a look at the items coming to the shop over the next week.  (That first coat is probably my favorite coat I've listed, ever!)

1930s camel wool and leopard print fur trim coat, by Monarch.

1960s chocolate brown ruffled Peter Pan collar blouse.

1960s patchwork animal print dress, a Gloria Swanson Fashion by Puritan Forever Young.

1970s striped bell sleeve sweater, Sweater Bee by Banff.

1950s raspberry plaid cotton dress, by Mary Mac.

1940s gray tweed skirt, by McMorran's.

1961 Lanz black knit dress with bow at the waist.

1970s gray cable knit wool button-up vest, by Pendleton.

1970s gray plaid pants suit, by Pendleton.

1960s ivory mohair cardigan, made in Italy by Blairmoor Original.

xo

K

your 1955 wish list

Christmas is just a week away!  Here are some items that might have been on your wishlist if you were an adult in 1955, based on ads in the December 5, 1955 issue of Life magazine. 

Sexy Seamprule lingerie for her (?) for Christmas.  I'd just like to point out that these two sassy gals are clearly not kissing Santa Claus.

That black anniversary bottle of Jim Beam goes awesomely with your modern furniture!  I only included one here, but there were tons of booze ads in this issue of Life.

A candy case collection of Swank cuff links for him.  I like the "Wild Horn" style in the upper right corner, though your current day hipster might also dig the "Unicorn" style in the second row!

*Sigh.*  Yes, we ladies just love useful homemaker gifts.  I have to say, though--I actually really dig the packaging on these Cannon towels.  

Soft blues, pinks, yellows, and greens were obviously hot colors in 1955.  I'll have a Royal in each color, one for every room of the house.

I don't know that I would be so thrilled in 1955 to receive a set of Pyrex refrigerator dishes for Christmas...but I wouldn't mind an extra set under the tree this year!  (They really do kick Tupperware butt, in my opinion.)

Pretty little Houbigant perfume sets...too bad every last one is so pink.

Just like 2012--electronics are the big bucks gift!  I'll take that hifi, thanks.

xo

K

i spy: november

With my trip to NYC at the beginning of the month, I've managed to be more than a little late with my montly collection of favorite inspirations...but I finally got to it!  By the way, I didn't notice until after I'd chosen the images that the Zefran ad and the photo of the 1930s Parisian gals in pants echoed each other.  I love these images of women raising their arms (and umbrellas!) in joyous...victory?  Celebration?  Whatever the case, I'd be doing the same if I was wearing one of those great plaid dresses or smart pairs of pants. 

Follow me on Tumblr or Pinterest to see more of this kind of thing on a daily basis.

1 / Edinburgh, 1942 by Bill Brandt / onlyoldphotography

2 / Cottage on an island near Nora, Sweden / cabinporn

3 / fabulous 1960 Zefran/Milliken Woolens ad / My Vintage Vogue

4 / "the first Parisian trousers," Place de la Concorde, Paris, 1935 / fantomas en cavale

5 / a Catskills log cabin / DesignTripper

xo

k

shop preview

Here's a preview of what's coming to the shop over the next few days!  Enjoy.

1950s black taffeta and velvet burlesque dress set, by Nathalie of California (in the shop now!).

1970s brown fair isle sweater, by Garland.

1960s Pendleton blue wool shift dress with pockets.

1950s brown wool Pendleton skirt.

1950s blue bubbles voile dress with bows on the bodice.

Eddie Bauer fleece-lined twill vest.

Mod 1960s single stripe brown dress, by Butte Knit.

1970s tribal pattern bell sleeve cardigan.

1960s black teardrop lace wiggle dress.

xo

K