martinis & whipped cream

There are few things I enjoy more than road trips in search of vintage, and eating good food. I am incredibly lucky that the former is a job requirement. So it was easy to know what I wanted for my birthday this year: a road trip up north to search for vintage and eat at some of our favorite restaurants.

Here are some scenes from the trip and peeks at a few finds.


In front of a sadly-not-open antique store with great window displays.

I loved the yellow and orange color scheme.

Andy holding up one of the many pretty dresses I dug up on this trip--a beautiful late 1940s/early 1950s navy rayon crepe and lace dress with a rhinestone embellishment at the neck.

A cute spring hat, which actually doesn't look ridiculous on my giant head, and which I might just keep for myself!

Our new TV table--the top rotates!

Andy at Patisserie Amie, one of our favorite places to eat in Traverse City. He is working on a banana Nutella crêpe we split. Yes, it is just as delicious as it sounds.

And directly after eating said crêpe, I found this.

Adorable rhinestone-bedecked penguin pin that I'm likely keeping.

Not a great photo--it was getting dark--but I loved these winged French bulldogs painted above a shop.

Adhering to the Martinis & Whipped Cream diet meant going back to Patisserie Amie for breakfast again. This was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten: a cheese omelette with garlic/shallot butter. (Speaking of the most delicious food, we also had one of the best dinners of my life at La Bécasse, a cozy little French place in the middle of northern Michigan's twisty-turny lakes. The food and service were incredible, and I think that only in Michigan does the French chef wear a Spartans hat and come out to chat with all the guests to recommend desserts and discuss college basketball brackets!)

Crazy little red Quasar TV. And that little box-shaped thing on top? It's the remote, shaped like the TV itself! (And you can see the heels of some really cute patent pumps I found, hiding behind the TV.)

Little dog on a cold, cold dock.

Hello from the forest!

I wore these vintage oxfords all weekend. They are the best--so comfortable! I think we have more pairs somewhere. I should put them in the shop.

Lucy is always waiting for us to catch up with her.

She is a very good road tripper.

Indeed.

A handsome man and a pitcher of beer. The photo of Tracy and Hepburn hanging on the wall behind Andy makes me very happy.

I love old advertisements painted on the sides of buildings.

Hope you enjoyed the virtual road trip. I found a lot of great stuff, which you'll be seeing posted here in the blog and on Etsy shortly.

xo
K

mid-march madness

It's time for that crazy sunny but then rainy, warm then cool, springtime weather! We have the longer days now, but the nights will still be cold (so will the days in many places!). Thus, with your pretty spring dresses and skirts, you might still need a warm layer in the form of a cardigan or jacket, no? Hopefully this week's shop preview will offer a good variety of things to make you feel both springtime lighthearted, and end-of-winter cozy!

Just a quick note to folks who are considering a purchase from the shop this week: we are taking off on Thursday for a long birthday fun/thrifting weekend, and so my last day for shipping before next Monday will be on Wednesday.



1950s rose lace dress with sash.

Pale cocoa deco weave wool cardigan, Italian made by Kronprinz. Has a wonderful 1930s or 1940s look, but I don't believe it's that old.

Sporty striped bouclé knit dress by Robbie Rivers Pert Petites.

1960s striped jacket by Patty Woodard.

1950s bubble print shirtwaist dress.

Bubblegum pink Orlon cardigan.

Folklore floral print shift dress by R&K Originals.

Cozy home applique chambray wrap skirt.

Celadon shirtwaist dress with interesting pockets.

Raindrops cardigan by Talbott.

Psychedelic floral dress (a la Lilly Pulitzer).

1950s pink cotton blouse by Bobbie Brooks.

Chartreuse and slate blue floral print dress by The Villager.

Mossy green cardigan with grosgrain ribbon button placket.

Baby blue tuxedo ruffle dress.

Blue rose Ikat print blouse.

I love this print! Whimsy sundress by Gallant California.

xo
K

bright star

I watched Jane Campion's Bright Star last night and thought it was lovely. (Bright Star--for those who don't know, though from what I've read in Blog World, everyone has already seen this film--is the story of the love affair between the poet John Keats and seamstress Fanny Brawne.) The film is visually stunning, but also beautifully tells Keats' and Brawne's story.

Since Fanny is a seamstress, Bright Star is full of Regency era fashion eye candy, not to mention gorgeous scenes in the English countryside (in all seasons) and wonderful interiors. Which brings me to one of my favorite scenes in the movie, this one, in Fanny's bedroom.

We are planning to finally tear up all the nasty old carpeting in our 1960s home this summer. Because we can't afford wood flooring, the plan is to rent a sander, smooth down the floors, and paint them. While we're at it, I'm tempted to paint the walls and floors of our bedroom white and eggshell blue, like those of Fanny's bedroom. Isn't it dreamy?

xo
K

rainy day woman

We decided to go see the baby capybaras (I love them) at the zoo yesterday. I am not really a big zoo fan--they make me a little sad--but I had to see those capybara babies!

I was excited to see temperatures were supposed to get into the 60s, so I decided to forego tights.

Dress: vintage (and I've had it for at least 15 or 20 years)
Shrug and purse: vintage
Boots: J. Crew



Luckily, I still wore my boots, as it started to rain while were at the zoo. Just a little sprinkle at first, but it then commenced to pour for the rest of the day and until early this morning. (I also switched out the vintage black shrug in this photo for a black cardigan, which was a good move. I'm sorry the photo is blurry. I think it's a combination of using the self-timer and poor lighting.)


I was excited to see the Nessie sculpture from last year's ArtPrize looking so happy in her new home at John Ball Park!

And the ducks, of course.

Once we got inside the zoo we rushed to where they keep the capybaras, only to be told by a zookeeper that the babies were too little yet to be let outside. The local paper got it wrong. (No further comment from me on that.)

I was sad. But we did get to see these fabulous and sort of shy wild boars. (The photo is blurry, but I like it.)

The lack of capybaras meant I hadn't sated my desire for cute, furry mammals, so Andy and I rushed through the rain to the Petting Zoo. Foiled again! It was not yet open for petting, BUT...the goats (which I love!) and sheep were all hanging around. This intrepid guy came out in the drizzle in order to get a back-scratching from Andy.

His friend here seemed a bit bashful and just stood there watching us the whole time.

We gave up on the zoo then, and headed out to do some treasure-hunting, which is really the best thing to do in rainy weather. I loved this old Guerlain lipstick ad.

And I did find a few treasures, which you'll be seeing pretty soon!

xo
K

the shipping news

Big news in the Etsy shop for international buyers! I will now be using USPS First Class International shipping, which means greatly reduced shipping rates for nearly every item in the shop. I mean, it is Small Earth Vintage--lower shipping costs do bring us all closer together, right?

The details: Nearly everything under $100.00 will ship via First Class International. Items (and combined shipments) valued between $100.00 and $200.00 will be sent USPS Priority Mail International; anything over $200.00 will be sent USPS Express Mail International. (Of course, I'm glad to send anything via Priority if you prefer--just ask for costs.) Also note that First Class International mail has weight (up to 4 pounds) and size restrictions that may require some packages being sent via USPS Priority.

xo
K

no cherry blossoms here

I am becoming increasingly jealous of the cherry blossom photos I keep seeing posted by bloggers out west. But even though we still have snow on the ground in western Michigan, the birds are chirping and making it sound like spring. Thank you, birds!

Here is this week's shop preview.


Atomic starburst necklace by Sarah Coventry.

1940s or early 1950s blue plaid dress.

Olive green cardigan with the most fantastic buttons--square amber moonglow plastic!

1960s snakeskin print dress by R&K Originals.

1940s dot print blouse by Hill-Day.

Bluebells and butterflies print dress by Cos Cob.

Schlitz ringer t-shirt.

Russet brown feather fedora.

Bronze straw fedora with a great striped ribbon around the crown.

1960s emerald squiggle-print blouse.

1960s cotton piqué chainlink print shift by McMullen.

1950s gray striped seersucker full skirt.

White lace wiggle dress.

Maroon stripe cardigan by Koret of California with cool buttons!

Alfred Shaheen Japanese Kokeshi doll print maxi dress.

Detail of wonderful Shaheen print.

White bow neck blouse.

1950s olive green plaid schoolgirl dress.

Batik fish print shirt.

1960s kelly green nouveau floral print dress by Lady Bayard.

1950s architecture/spatter print oxford shirt by Lady Monticello.

Cocoa plaid dress with pockets.

Color stripe top with kerchief neck!

1980s polka-dot romper dress.

1960s triple ruffle tuxedo blouse.

1950s circus stripe dress.

1950s medallion and ivy print blouse by Donnkenny.

1960s pink and navy blue striped dress.

Botanical print dress by Cos Cob with poppies, camellias and peonies.

1960s parrot print dress by Parade New York.

1950s yellow rose and daisy print dress.

xo
K