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

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

satin & sparkle shop preview

This week's shop update has a nice smattering of holiday sparkle and glam tossed in--just in case you're looking for something special to wear to a holiday gathering.  All items will be in the shop shortly!

1940s beaded peach satin dress and jacket set, by Original Symphony Fashions.

1970s striped Nordic boatneck sweater, by Kitty Hawk.

1970s red plaid holiday maxi dress with eyelet lace bodice and green velvet bow at waist, by Peter Thousand.

1940s gray fitted jacket, by Lilli Ann.

1920s flower embroidered bohemian artist dress.

1950s jade green and tan plaid pleated full skirt, with faux pocket flap detail.

1980s velvet and taffeta party dress with iridescent sequin flower on bodice, by Gunne Sax.

1960s red and gold brocade medieval birds top.

1960s holly berry print dress, by Emilio Borghese.

1980s fair isle stripe sweater, by Haymaker Lacoste.

Black and white checked wool knickers / ski pants.

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

the frost is on the punkin

Actually, it looks like it's skipped straight to snow! Time to start thinking holidays, I guess. Here's a link to my new favorite seasonal tune, "Time of the Season" by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan.

The song inspired me to make this pretty little Etsy treasury:

xo

K

merry and bright!

I hope your holiday was merry, bright, cozy and fun! Mine was. I received some fabulous gifts--including the amazing 1950s Franch Poodle Lamp you see above. Every girl ought to have one of these, don't you think? I love his little cap and the rose in his teeth.

And how awesome is my cool new mobile from Mobilosity on Etsy?




I also love this sweet little birdie my parents sent us. It looks very happy perched in our tree.




We spent the day making our traditional timballo and playing the new Monopoly card game my parents sent. Oh, and we watched Inglourious Basterds, which was a hoot (only Tarantino can make the killing of Nazis so dang much fun), and has me wanting a pair of pants just like the ones Shoshanna wears (and which Clever Nettle blogged about, back in August).




Much of the day was also spent cuddling with this spoiled little creature.




It's been hard to get out of the lazy holiday pace and back into the swing of business. I took a lot of photos today, so I'm getting there--slowly!

xo
K

holiday bonus!

We took a little thrifting trip yesterday, destination Holland, Michigan. Not that the thrifts there are particularly good, but so that we could enjoy a holiday lunch at New Holland Brewery. It was--as always--delicious, both beer and food, but the real highlight was this brazen little squirrel, who had parked himself outside the Fabiano's candy store nearby.





He was dining on what appeared to be bits of candy and nuts probably tossed to him by Fabiano's customers. One little girl went right up to him, probably expecting him to run away, but he just sat there and stared at her. I think it freaked her out. She ran away. The squirrel remained. (Andy had to distract Lucy with lots and lots of treats so she wouldn't see the squirrel and start a ruckus. Not that it would have bothered this crazy, Clint Eastwood-staid squirrel.)




The other treat of the day was finding some great vintage items at the thrifts. I found a 1940s gabardine suit, and a gorgeous navy rayon 40s dress. At thrift stores! Not the kind of fare I often discover in thrifts. I also found the above R&K Originals black velvet wiggle dress with a beaded neckline, so perfect for New Year's Eve that I'm listing it in the shop today, just in case someone needs it!

Happy holidays, everybody! Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.

xo
K