blue skies and green grass

Yes, it's still icy and cold out there, and I'm still (always!) in the mood for wool, sweaters, and plaid (I think I listed three plaid things in a row on Etsy today). However, in looking over this shop preview, it appears a few spring things have crept in, completely by accident! Shades of blue sky and grass green, a garden veggie sweater, a burst of flowers, and more than one lightweight dress. Well, why not? There's always layering, and besides--it's summer in the southern hemisphere.


1960s Miró print dress.

Salmon and olive plaid pleated skirt by Bill Atkinson Glen of Michigan.

1950s Nothing But Blue Skies shirtwaist dress.

1960s Vera Neumann chrysanthemum print blouse.

Mod dots shift by Serbin of Florida.

Dusty pink tweed jacket.

Adorable radish love sweater!

1950s brick red and khaki plaid dress from Country Set by Margit.

Cozy curlicues sweater.

1940s cranberry gabardine suit.

Grass green Lacoste dress.

1950s sepia plaid double-breasted shirtwaist dress by Mister G of Dallas.

Mod 1960s dress--very Uhura of Star Trek!

1950s blue chambray picnic dress.

1960s abstract Sue Gail dress with open bell sleeves.

1950s bombshell halter dress by A Jerry Gilden Spectator.

xo
K

successories?

I do not know where the above term came from, but it leapt unbidden to my mind when I was thinking of a title for this post. Which is, of course, a preview of accessories coming to the shop soon. Lots of bags, some hats and shoes, all with an aim to improving your outfit and... (oh, I hate myself) making it a Success!

I sure hope this term is something I heard on a stupid SNL skit and not an actual invention of my own brain. That would be so sad.


Black velvet and satin hat.

Miss Cherry Blossom 1955 hat.

Black velvet pillbox hat with ribbon and veil.

Andrew Geller kiltie pumps with top stitching.

Justin red kiltie lace-up boots.

Mod 1960s two-tone purple suede pumps.

Wine suede mary janes.

Mexican tooled leather purse.

Gold brocade clutch purse.

Black leather chain handle bag.

Gold floral brocade clutch or cosmetic bag.

Tweed purse by Markay.

Round gold grosgrain purse.

Enid Collins Jewel Garden bag.

Mod eggshell blue and aqua Gladstone bag.

White, pistachio, and gold purse.

Distressed leather briefcase.

Collapsible, portable mod floral knitting/sewing/crafting bag.

Gentleman's travel shaving/grooming kit.

And a sneak peek at the clothing also coming up this week!


Mod orange and purple paisley drop waist dress.

Soft charcoal gray polo neck sweater.

1950s blue and violet dress by Joan Miller Juniors.

Red cardigan with gold buttons.

xo
K

2009--the year in review

2009? I truly can't complain. It was a good year, both for Small Earth Vintage and for us personally. We took some great road trips and got to spend time with friends and family.


In January we celebrated the inauguration of a new president.

I got to visit my best friend, and we viewed the sparklies dangling from the ceiling at the Detroit Institute of Art.

Andy and I visited my parents in Colorado and we saw the wonderful Designing Women of Postwar Britain exhibit at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Museum, which included this dress fashioned from fabric designed by Marian Mahler. I am still dreaming of these textiles.

In February we took one of many thrift trips up north, where we discovered the delicious beer at Traverse City's Right Brain Brewery.

In March, Andy cut my hair!

And I celebrated my 40th birthday in NYC with the best friends a girl could ever hope to have.

In May, we rolled on over to the Motor City, where we ate Polish food at Polonia and visited the amazing Heidelberg Project.

And in May and June, we made a major change to the business when we started listing more items on Etsy. We'd signed up with Etsy in October 2008 and sold a few items, but didn't start really taking it seriously until now.




Which was timely, because in July, we had one of our biggest vintage finds in 10 years--certainly our biggest ever find for vintage women's clothing--when we purchased a house full of 1940s-1970s women's clothing and accessories!

And--I started the blog.

In September we celebrated Oktoberfest.

In October, we had a visit from Stephani and took her to a corn maze to celebrate her birthday.

We also had a visit from my dad, and celebrated his birthday with walks around downtown Grand Rapids to view some of the ArtPrize offerings.

November brought another fun-filled trip to Detroit, including a visit to the Avedon exhibit at the DIA and German food at the Dakota Inn.

And December was all about decorating the house, baking cookies, and shopping on Etsy for Christmas presents! And, of course, dressing Lucy up as Little Edie Beale.

We wound the year up last night with a quiet little party with a few friends over, eating fondue, drinking martinis, local beer, and prosecco, and in a Casa de la Freska party tradition, reading aloud from Suzanne Somers' book of poetry. (Seriously. We really did. That is probably deserving of a post of its own.) I ended the night with post midnight catch-ups via cellphone with my most beloved loved ones in Denver, Detroit, and NYC.

I hope your year was a happy one, and that 2010 brings you health, prosperity and very good times!

xo
K