the magic

I Mad Men-ized myself since it's the last episode of the season. Boy is Joan mad that I'm walking through the office with a martini! This is a fairly realistic representation of daily life in the Small Earth Vintage offices.

Tonight's shop preview is made possible by Mr. Small Earth, Handy Andy, who did all the hard work to set up our brand spankin' new indoor photo studio. He found the fabric for the backdrop and hung it up, reconfigured the basement, and most impressive of all, built filters for the two very strong and warm lights we purchased to light the thing, lights I'm sure I will appreciate when it's freezing in the basement this winter. Here is Andy, making the magic happen:






And here is the first part of this week's sneak preview, which was photographed in the new studio. First up--lots of shoes and accessories. Then some dresses and things. You'll see a couple sparkly holiday and cocktail party-appropriate items in here. More of that in earnest next week!


Vintage Frye cowgirl boots.




Purple suede oxfords.




Flower-bedecked pumps.




Suede and snakeskin pumps.




Red and white suede oxfords.




Black pin up pumps with ribbons on the vamps.




Silver glitter clutch. (Hm. Maybe that's what I'll name my Vegas covers band: Silver Glitter Clutch. Yep.)




Velvet Tapestry Bag. (That's my Stevie Nicks cover band.)




Deadstock brown oxford booties...




...which are the same model as these black ones, from our old shoe store find earlier this past summer.




Deadstock mahogany riding boots from the same find.




Suzy Perette bouclé floral dress, designed by Dreama Peery.




Oversize paisley print wiggle dress.




Midnight blue velvet equestrian jacket.




Blue floral knit wiggle dress.




Party time! Gold brocade cocktail dress with sheer, full skirt and bow at waist.




Gold fleur de lis print dress with bows at neck and cuffs.




Dark blue 1950s sailor style dress.

xo
K

i don't wanna grow up

Seems like folks turn into things
That they'd never want
The only thing to live for
Is today...
How the hell did I get here so soon
I don't wanna grow up.

--Tom Waits/K. Brennan


Hm, how old is too old for stuffed toys? As someone who still has the (disintegrating) panda bear given to me at my birth by my grandparents, an oversize Paddington Bear (that accompanied me to college), plus assorted hand-sewn and crocheted little animals made for me by my mother when I was a child, I may be the wrong person to answer that question.

And now I have fallen for the adorable stuffed toys in sleepyking's Etsy shop. Like Norway Spruce, The Little Fox, above.

How can you not love a shop whose tagline is "cute things to make you happy when you are sad"? Look at Vincent, the Creepy Cute Albino Bunny. I love his pink-red eyes!

Bon-Bon the Blushing Squirrel! These sweet little animals--especially those with the slightly forlorn expressions--all seem to be crying out for me to take them home.

But instead of becoming the Crazy Cat Lady of the stuffed toy world, I just bought Savannah's very last Rupert the Little Raccoon wall art...since it was the first sleepyking piece I fell for, and the last one in her shop!

He's cute, isn't he?

xo
k

400th sale!

We had our 400th sale in the Etsy shop tonight! Which is terrific in itself, but the best part is that, by chance, the 400th buyer was my very good friend, and old college roommate, Jessica, who happens to be one of the most stylish people I know. (She's also one of the smartest: she's a Doctor and an art historian, and writes about perfume on the Now Smell This blog, which anyone who has any interest at all in perfume or scented body products and candles should be reading.)

How cool is that? Thank you, Jessica--and everyone else who has bought from us! I have absolutely loved my first year on Etsy. Andy and I are full-time vintage sellers; it's not a hobby for either of us. It's a lot of hard work and it's often frustrating. We know we'll never get rich from it. But we are lucky to be able to do something we love and believe in. And the Etsy shop has totally rekindled my love for what I do.

In other cool news, my wacky vintage mod harlequin boots were on an Etsy admin-curated front page last night with a Holiday Gift Ideas theme. They do totally look like elf shoes don't they? Hmmm... *off to change some tags*

I hope everyone is having a good week. Andy and I are busy (um, well, in all honesty, Andy is doing all the work. Thank you Andy--you rock!) trying to get an indoor photo studio set up in the basement. Finding good light for photo-taking is a challenge in the gray Michigan winters. Wish us luck!

xo
K

falling forward shop preview, part two

Autumn foliage colors, wool flannel and bouclé, birds on blouses, a fantastic suede cape, and MORE PLAID! This shop preview has a little something for everybody.

These items all coming to the SmallEarthVintage Etsy shop shortly.


Olive green, cornflower blue and...fluorescent orange? Hey, I think it works!

Peacocks and pigeons blouse.

Nubby, speckled sage green 1950s dress.

More crazy colors that work! Olive green, gold and that crazy glowing orange shade that my favorite trees turn every fall on this textured sweater.

An olive green and tan plaid pencil skirt.

Crazy go-go dress in yellow wool flannel with black yarn fringe.

A little less crazy, a little more Jackie O, black bouclé jacket.

Wool sheep sweater, by Pringle.

Abstract autumn leaves (and autumn colors) 1950s dress.

Red rose print blouse with a big Peter Pan collar.

1970s suede chevron cape.

1960s kelly green knit dress.

1950s turquoise gauze and gold and silver rickrack rodeo queen blouse.

And finally, a 1960s blouse with a William Morris-esque print.

xo
k

fall forward

Help! I've fallen forward and I can't get up. Seriously. I'm exhausted and I'm not sure if it's from the time change and early darkness, the 12 hour thrift marathon yesterday, or, as Andy says, because "I'm old." (Thanks, Andy!)

But I love you, so I still have a shop preview for you.


A reversible mustard wool cape!




A black lace bodice cocktail dress with a chiffon sash in the back.




1960s coral mesh sweater.




Buffalo plaid wool pleated skirt.




1980s Jordache eggplant tweed and velvet equestrian style jacket.




Grid print shift with pockets.




1970s pink wool plaid Bobbie Brooks jacket.




Purple clover blouse.




And finally, a tweed pencil skirt with the coolest belt loops/waistband.




I may post more later...if I can keep my eyes open!

xo
K