When I wrote my review of Red Apple Lipstick, I got a comment or two on how some were distracted (I assume in a good way!) by what was going on in the background, so I figured it may be a good time to share a few pictures of my beloved vanity.
Hope you enjoyed!
A few weeks ago I walked into Antique Alley and Sarah (not only does she sell vintage wares, but she also is a stellar photographer) was wearing quite possibly one of the most amazing brooch sets I’d ever seen… Sitting on her shoulders were a devil and an angel. I pretty much flipped out and immediately whipped out my phone to find a pair for myself. I adore novelty prints and brooches and thought these conscience and temptation brooches were the epitome of novelty. Sadly, my ownership of them seemed thwarted. Sets were upwards of $100 and I just couldn’t bring myself to part with that kind of money. Oh well. Until Expo.
Yeah…I left out a find from the last Expo… I looked into a case and found what I initially thought was the set! But upon closer inspection I noticed the angel was a knock-off. The original set was done by well known jewelry company Tortolani, and the pieces are signed on the bottom and have a black wash to them. This angel was unsigned, had a different fastener and was very bright. But I didn’t care. The set was $25. When I got home I went on Etsy to see if I could find the devil’s true mate, and I did, thanks to My Vintage Jewels, a swank shop offering up a wide array of vintage jewelry at really reasonable prices!
Seriously…how fantastic are these guys? I love that the devil has little red rhinestone eyes and they angel has blue ones as well as rhinestones in the halo. I could wear these babies every day.
Need your own set? Here are three currently on Etsy: $120 from Carousel Vintage Jewel. $125 from JCR Historic. And unused, still with original tags, $250 from Mimi’s Closet.
Outfit
Devil Brooch: Expo
Angel Brooch: Etsy, My Vintage Jewels
Sweater: Antique Alley
Jumper: Bettie Page Clothing
Stockings: What Katie Did
Shoes: TJ Maxx
Not sure how you spent your weekend, but I spent mine shopping with my pop. There were two antique shows back to back down south, combined with visits to various thrift stores. Plus, putting the finished touches on the 1960s rickshaw we purchased awhile back and seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark on the really big IMAX screen!
While neither show had much with regards to clothes, I still scored quite a few items. Saturday brought Antiques in the Streets in downtown Albany, and later that day my dad and I brought some fresh items (including the rickshaw! So if you’re interested, you must visit Retro Rejuvenation) into our space at my friend Lyndsie’s shop, Retro Rejuvenation, in the tiny town of Coburg in preparation for the Coburg Antique Fair on Sunday.
Retro Rejuvenation was hoppin’ all throughout Sunday, and Lyndsie had recently got a huge consignment of Bauer ware that drew many people into the shop. Now I rarely talk about items I didn’t buy…but this is too cool not to talk about… I found a perfume spray vending machine…yes, you read right, a perfume spray vending machine. You put in your dime under the cologne of your choice, then, holding your wrist or neck close to the spray nozzle push in upon the plunger to receive the spritz. It was a little rough, but tempting at $65. I ultimately passed, and instead dished out big bucks on a sweetheart bracelet.
In terms of purchases, I picked up this fabulous south of the border themed table runner, along with two Disney magazines featuring Zorro on the cover, and the Zorro plate and bowl that go with the Zorro cup I purchased awhile back at Antique Alley! So now I have the complete set! I also bought this great salmon colored bangle from Lyndsie.
More scores included two Starburst bowls – one berry and one cereal, the previously mentioned sweetheart bracelet and an Egyptian revival brooch.
I also picked up two fabulous 1940s hats! I’ve been craving one of these ladies fedoras for sometime, but never came across one that worked out, until I found this beauty. Then I also got this glorious black velvet number.
And last, but certainly not least, I bought this amazing 1950s desk! The Ikea creation we had when we first moved was planned to be temporary until we found something more suited to our mid-century needs. But finding old desks is quite difficult if you are in the market for something that isn’t a roll-top.
I also picked up the final pieces for my Halloween costume…which I am planning on getting done before the end of the month. I still have so much embroidery to do! I hope you had a lovely weekend!
Yesterday was my birthday, and how did I spend my birthday this year? Patrick took me out for a day of shopping, all on his dollar! For the first time in years, the weather was sunny and warm for my birthday, and I was able to wear a few things I’ve been dying to wear, including this stunning shawl…
In the late afternoon we went to the Twilight Rummage Sale, where I picked up a late 40s/early 50s cocktail dress, a 40s blazer, a ’49′er knock-off, and a fantastic lucite deco picture frame. Once the sale was over, myself and several friends who worked the sale met at Por Que No for margaritas. It was an evening that almost felt like summer…Mexican music, margaritas, a pleasant evening breeze, and good chatter that made the evening fly by.
As for gifts, I just have to share a few highlights…
The beginnings of a WWII sweetheart charm bracelet…
A pink tinted lucite sweetheart necklace…
And, the best for last, a necklace comprised of Bakelite ORANGES!! Oranges are my favorite fruit, and my passion for California adds to my desire to have orange themed bits of jewelry.
Outfit
Hat: Thrifted
Earrings (sterling silver bells that really ring!): Private sale
Necklace & Shoes: The Clothes Horse, Eugene
Shawl: Gift
Blouse: Err…don’t remember. Most likely thrifted or from Buffalo Exchange.
Belt, Thrifted
Skirt: Red Light, Portland
Purse: Bohemian Vintage, Portland
Bangle: Oh, who knows?
Yesterday brought the spring antique expo here in Portland, and I was delighted to attend. For those of you who follow my Twitter and Facebook pages, you may have noticed that I posted that father-in-law passed away. We have been very busy with all of the necessary arrangements, and needless to say, it has been difficult, so going for a full day of shopping with my father was a nice escape.
For the most part, it was a kind of flimsy show. I have such a wide array of interests and I collect a broad range of things, so often I come home with loads of random treasures. This year I saw many things I wanted to take home that my pocket book wouldn’t allow, and instead came home with just jewelry. And purely western/Mexican and WWII sweetheart jewelry at that…
My favorite piece has to be this eagle with photo slip dangle. I immediately came home and printed off a picture of my grandfather (my dad’s dad) to slip inside it.
I also picked up not one, but two of these fabulous plastic little military buddies…I know the sailor boy is missing an arm, I just think of him as a receiver of the Purple Heart. I also picked up this clear Lucite eagle and a small silver “V” pin.
With respects to the western/Mexican jewelry, I purchased two more charms for the western-themed charm bracelet that my dad created me for Christmas, a saddle and a pair of chaps. I also picked up two plastic pins, a man riding a donkey and carrying a jug, and a palm tree, which while two separate pieces, I thought they would make a nice, almost scatter pin-like scene.
I also had the pleasure of bumping into Solanah of Vintage Vixen, and her friend Marjorie Mink who recently started blogged with Reviving Vintage. We chit-chatted for awhile, sharing our treasures, and discussing the upcoming Titanic Tea that Solanah is hosting next month.
I hope the weekend is treating you all lovely!
Yesterday my dad came to visit and we once again set out to go shopping. And all I bought was jewelry…not that I’m complaining.
The first pieces I stumbled upon were some glorious additions to my WWII Sweetheart collection, which I wrote about in my last post.
The gold tone V brooch has red, clear and blue rhinestone accents that make up the Morse Code for the letter V. The wood, hand painted, screw-back sailor boy earrings were just too darling to pass up, and I was shocked to find that the screw pieces were made of plastic! Talk about really saving the metal for the war effort!
My third piece was this wonderful little plastic cowboy hat…Along with Sweetheart jewelry, I am helpless against western themed jewelry – it makes up a fair amount of my brooch collection.
And then, I saw it – the western piece of jewelry to end ALL western jewelry…
I have wanted this piece since my friend Angelina first shared the ad for it with me on Facebook a few years ago, and we made it our goal to find our very own. Well, I found mine, and with matching earrings to boot. The price was out of comfort zone, but not unreasonable, and my dad knew it – so he purchased it for me, quickly followed by “Happy Birthday” – even though my birthday isn’t until April. I know the piece is worth it though since I’ve only run across a handful on-line, and up until now had never one in person. I love how versatile the piece is – since it’s a double brooch, the gun and holster can act either as one, with the gun sitting in the holster, or separately as seen in the center picture, and I guess it could be even worn as sweater clip.
Yesterday my latest Etsy purchase arrived in the post, a World War II sweetheart V for Victory pin…
I bought this fab plastic pin from bellsgirl on Etsy, and at $2.75, I couldn’t pass it up!
Sweetheart jewelry is something I simply can’t have enough of. Personally I think my collection is rather small at the moment…but I plan for it to grow.
Sweetheart jewelry reflects a very specific time in our history – a time when our sons, brothers and loved ones were fighting “the good fight” and women at home faced change in every sense of the word, from clothing and food rationing to working outside of the home, this jewelry reflects the patriotism and dedication of the women on the home-front.
Anchors are very common, as are V shaped brooches – as in V for Victory. I love this little odd V one that I have which has little Mexican men leaning against it.
My favorite piece may be this bracelet that I got for Christmas last year from my dad…
Sweetheart jewelry is found here and there at antique shops and shows, as well as military collectable shows, and of course the internet!
There are lots of other sweetheart types of items, which I think I’ll highlight at another time.
