vintage

Hot Rod Flame Pillowcase Set

mandy — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Shopping for bed linens is a mundane and utilitarian task for me. The usual fare of floral, paisley, and striped designs do not interest me at all, so I usually opt to buy a set of plain sheets and leave the store as quickly as possible. Taking a look at the designs from Sin in Linen has caused me to change my mind.

Sin in Linen is an online shop featuring bed linens, kitchen and bathroom accessories, and apparel. There are also designs for baby and dorm bedding. The designs range from animal print to retro pin up girls to pirate-inspired skull and crossbones. There are designs for every taste – from the conservative damask prints to more adventurous tattoos. The items featured on the website are reasonably priced and of a high quality.

Sin in Linen is the creation of entrepreneur Sandy Glaze. Sandy began the company after not finding home products that suited her taste and style. So she launched the company with her mother, Iris, in 2004. Furthermore, Sandy has been an active participant in the Seattle arts and alternative scene since the late 1990's.

The Hot Rod Flame Pillowcase Set I received for this review were great. The design matches my plain bright orange bed linens and don't clash with the traditional décor of my bedroom. The pillowcases fit easily over the standard sized pillows I am currently using, have a thread count of 300, and are 100% sateen. They were very comfortable to sleep on and did not scratch my face or hold heat during the night. Due to the quality of the pillowcases, I am thinking of purchasing the matching Hot Rod Flame sheet set.

Written by: Rekesha Spellman, November 7th 2010

Marolsha Jewelry

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:00:00 +0000

By Marolsha Jewelry

When you live in a city like New York or Chicago, it's fairly easy to find your way around. For the most part, urban planners patterned these cities on a grid with numbered streets indicating one direction (East/West) and avenues or named streets indicating the perpendicular other (North/South). So if you're at my favorite Mexican restaurant in the East Village and want to get to my favorite all-veg diner in the Lower East Side, you can do so with ease simply by knowing the cross streets. Easy peasey.

Like most things in India, however, navigating the chaotic streets of Kolkata isn't so simple. There is no helpful grid to indicate the desired direction, and good luck finding anything in its proper place on Google Maps. In order to get where you're going, one must rely on the kindness of strangers who live or work locally to point you in the right direction. But sometimes that direction isn't clear. I mean, how do I know I'm still walking south when the street I'm following seems to have veered to the left?

Instead of going the route of a Boy Scout and carrying around some clunky chunk of magnetized metal, Marolsha has come up with a solution to help you find your way in style: the Vintage Compass Silver Ring. Lightweight with an adjustable band, the silver compass ring is a utilitarian's dream. I tested it out in a place where I am direction literate to be sure it works, and sure enough, it pointed north. Although the aesthetic is a little reminiscent of something you'd get out of a machine for a quarter, the construction is vastly superior and ensures a significant cost per wear lifetime of getting you where you're going.

The compass ring isn't the only offering from Marolsha that piqued my curiosity. I was also interested in two seemingly opposite feathered finds: Twin Owls Earrings and Mod White Love Birds Earrings. Owls are birds of prey, which means they are solitary by nature to facilitate their livelihood, and, based on their appearance in Hieroglyphics, that rugged individualism has kept them around a long time. Love birds, on the other hand, form long-term, monogamous bonds marked by a social demeanor and affectionate nuzzling. But you won't find their likeness in Egyptian caves. Despite their differences, both birds make regular appearances on adornments, as they captivate the human imagination.

Twin Owls Earrings are made of a sturdy antique brass and fall two inches below the earlobe on a thin kidney earwire that is easy to attach and detach. Their color is so bright it could be mistaken for a matte gold. The Mod White Love Birds Earrings are about a half-inch in length and dangle from silver plated leverback earwires. The color is painted onto the pair with a white enameled finish. Like the compass ring, both set of earrings are well-constructed.

Based in Singapore and created by Canadian fashion lover and jewelry designer Maddy, Marolsha peddles unique, vintage-style jewelry that is inspired by the natural world. Whenever possible, Maddy repurposes and recycles her findings in the process of creation. This eco-friendly sentiment is also found in the paper box in which the pieces arrive along with a handmade gift card that resembles a postcard. All of which is to say that Marolsha's jewelry reminds me of both the abundant joy of travel and the warmth of returning home.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, April 20th 2010

Vintage glass earrings and vintage hairpins

admin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:41:00 +0000

By Karuski

It’s funny how a big jewelry gal like me can be so easily persuaded to scale down. Despite my love of large, obnoxious rings and bulky earrings, I recently found myself browsing the classic designs in Karuski’s Etsy shop. Filled with vintage-inspired clutch purses, brooches, rings, earrings, and hairpins, the shop owner Minna keeps things simple and chic, and most of the wearables are on the smaller side. When my tiny package arrived in the mail, I found myself delighted by the intricate hairpins and dainty earrings affixed to butterfly-shaped cardboard.

Minna, who lives and works in Finland, is one of those brave women who left her corporate job to pursue her jewelry-making fulltime. Unprompted, she wrote to me about her decision and how she feels the worst jobs are reserved for women:

"I thought I could switch to something I really enjoy, no matter if it means even poorer income. I do hope that people would have courage to make their own happiness and bring happiness to other people's lives along the way. The sad thing is that the money rules the world."

Outside of traditional employment myself these days (though really, I was never behind an office desk for long), it’s like Minna is my crafter soul mate.

While I love the delicate white glass earrings, it was the hairpins that really did it for me. One affixed with some sort of vintage glass flower, the other with a simple black button, I stick them in my messy summer hair with pride and wait for the compliments to pour in.

Written by: Brittany Shoot, June 7th 2009

Vintage Fabric Squares

admin — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:38:00 +0000

By Repro Depot

Repro Depot has been bookmarked on my computer for over a year. Whenever I’m in a creative lurch, searching for some vintage, retro-theme inspiration, it’s the click I clack. Repro Depot is a fantastic source for vintage and new fabrics for anyone who appreciates a good Hula Girl print, or a wacky cowpoke scene on a yard of cotton.

The variety pack of fifteen fabric sample squares I received was inspiring. It was like going to a fabric store, with the happy bonus of avoiding the grainy bolts of polyester. My pile of squares came with a purple, polka dot, shiny sample; a repeated sour apple print; some new stripes; and a big, fat paisley. I laid the squares on my desk and started fooling around with the colors and patterns, giving me idea upon idea for collages, quilts, paintings, home décor projects and some great bags I could stitch.

For inspiration, or full-out crafty maniacal projects, check out the Repro Depot site. It has the fabric, the buttons, the ribbons and some wicked tape measures.

Written by: Sarah Papple, June 13th 2007

Vintage Ornament Charm Bracelet

admin — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:31:00 +0000

By Angel Court Jewels

Angel Court Jewels, the self-proclaimed “craftsmen of little saints” creates beautiful products with old age appeal. Their Vintage Ornament Charm Bracelet is truly a capsule piece; it is beautiful today, and it will remain so twenty years from now. The bracelet consists of three deep green beads and three large gold charms, fastened to a sturdy gold-plated chain. This is a piece with substance. It is well-built; I have worn it almost daily for two weeks and did not once worry about the charms falling off or the bracelet becoming unclasped. With the exception of the beads, the entire bracelet is plated in gold and, despite the size of the charms and thickness of the chain, it looks delicate when worn. It is surprisingly versatile; I have paired it with successfully with jeans and with dresses. I would not, however, recommend wearing it to work; the size of the breads and charms make it difficult to write and type. It is a piece that is meant to be on display, and is a perfect companion for a night out on the town. If you like larger than life jewelry, this bracelet is for you. It is fresh, funky, versatile, and guaranteed to grab attention and garner compliments.

Written by: Cheryl Santa Maria, February 2nd 2007

Vintage Cameo Earrings

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:04:00 +0000

By Angel Court Jewels

If you’ve ever read a Bronte novel that wasn’t on the syllabus or if you just have a taste for the intellectually exquisite, these little jewels might just fit your style. Angel Court Jewels has made the old new again and put a fresh spin on the cameo with these revamped gems. Not exactly a jewelry connoisseur, I can’t tell if they’re trimmed in real gold, but their warm glow and weightiness leads me to believe they are. The pair tips the scale at .3oz (which is about ten times heavier than my next heaviest pair). They tend to tug at the earlobes a little after prolonged wear, but the minor discomfort is far out weighted by their stunning elegance. Forget about trendy bling, these are unique, smart and timeless.

Written by: Patricia Valery, January 11th 2007