It all makes sense!

A few weekends ago my mum and sister and I went to a stall antique store in Connecticut. The place is huge and I always, always find some little ol thing to take home. There was this sweet man with old crank up record players and he was selling records from the 20's/30's/40's ... I was pestering him about Paul Whiteman records as my mom and sister were wandering about. We joined up and looked around on the next floor and on our way out I made sure to stop by the woman's booth who has little Beatrix Potter books. I keep meaning to buy The Story of Two Bad Mice, but I totally got distracted when I saw this beautiful little black lambie, who has a little key at the bottom that when you turn it plays "hush little baby" so slowly

... I let out a little yelp and my sister laughed at me and said my mom did the same thing when she was looking at it. Needless to say, after only one "mommm can we get itttt?!?" she said yes and that little bebe was tucked under my arm for the rest of our time there!

....MUST be something in the blood!

PS Mom, if you're looking at this - don't fret, I'll bring her home soon!

Read More...

My Collections: pt. 2 - Gladstone Bags

This love affair started almost two years ago. I asked my mum for a weekend bag for my 21st birthday and I was on the prowl for a good month and a half (might I just say, I still haven't found one...) I traveled everywhere to find something. I walked into just about every shop I could think of. The folks who work on Newbury Street were probably sick of looking at me. I gave up on finding it in Boston and headed to New York City. I probably blew a pair of shoes out with the amount of walking I did but finally I found something so pretty and perfect that even though it wasn't the right size it was coming home with me!

Merci beaucoup, Cherry Vintage for bringing me the most beautiful bag I think I've ever seen! I looove this thing so much - the only downfall is that you can't fit as much in it as you think... But still though - the most perfect floral pattern in the most beautiful colors and there's even a long strap to clip on to wear it on your shoulder!

. . .

My next bag came to me in the sweetest of ways. I put myself on another hunt for a weekend bag and kept finding all the gems on ebay uk - (ebay uk is like the bane of my ebay existence) this bag was on there, and the shipping was $80? pft. no way! so... I let it go, and a few weeks later it appeared in my room! My sweet little dear of a boyfriend had sneakily won it for me! I took this thing everywhere and now it's in need of a fixin' - the straps need some new stitches and the front pocket flap needs to be conditioned somehow so it stays down... I took the bag to NY for the day last summer and the flap got wet from terrential downpours and it dried all funny.



the lining. the little key. my heart!



. . .

I picked this little gem up last summer at Bobby From Boston! It's made of the funniest material, but the hardware is so beautiful and there's a little engraving at the clasp. He always has the most beautiful bags...



. . .

It's true, I bought this one from him too! This past fall! I was looking for a black gladstone and had one picked out and everything, but I saw this laying on the pool table and I quickly changed my mind!



. . .

I ended up finding a black one - $15 at a flea market this past winter! The leather is a bit crackley, it needs a cleaning and a leather conditioner - but, I was happy to find it so I don't even mind!



. . .

The black bag is the last one I've found and I think with my birthday approaching (monday, eek!) it's time to celebrate my 2 year anniversary and find another one!!

I'm officially back on the prowl!

Read More...

20th Century ephemera

Yesterday I spent part of my rainy afternoon looking around my grandmother's house. I didn't venture up into the attic or down into the cellar, but I snooped around her office and rustled around the beauty shop a bit. I found some really wonderful little bits and pieces that I was going to share with folks in 1 3 8 5 packages (what a perfect place to find little gifts for packages too!) but, now I'm just not sure I can part with it!

For starters, I found a stack of blank notebooks. Wide ruled, grid - my heart was palpitating at the sight!!

I also found one of my great grandfather's old ledgers from the 20s... There's some writing at the beginning of the book - but there's so much blank paper with the stamped numbers at each corner!! I pay an arm and a leg for new grid paper with the numbers at the stationary store, so finding a whole bunch of it was like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!!!



And can I just say - short hand math is so dreamy! My favorite is division - but addition is beautiful too!



. . .

One of my favorite things to do in Boston is to visit Bob Slate. I would love it even more if they still carried their old stock so I could pick up more of these labels...









... well, at least my grandmother held onto hers!!

. . .

I also came across this funny little box. I'm not entirely sure what's inside - or what it's used for - but this package is a marvel (or maybe a failure?) of industrial design. It basically has printed directions on every flap, edge, and side - Pull - Push - Stop!





I could bore you with photographing each step (be it correct or incorrect) of opening the package, but I guess it's nice to have such support!!

. . .

Awh, and a little book of airmail stamps ... it's a pity it doesn't exist in the US anymore - such nice supplies!





. . .

I now have a lovely little collection of Little Blue Books - my favorite being the "How to Write a Telegram"



The metal index card holder makes a perfect new home for it and a few family photographs I found laying around in a pile.



. . .

I did manage to gather up a bunch of bobby pin cards and a stack of maps for my packages ... I usually forget to tuck the hair pin cards in when I'm bundling dresses, but I now have two boxes of the cards so from here on out they'll be mailing staples!

Read More...

Today's Inspiration: The Rabbit Box

Well, I'm a week late... But, here were are -The Spring installment of the The Rainbow Box Series... The Rabbit Box.

I don't spend enough time with this book as I should, it just makes me too sad to read it. There's something painfully truthful about Joseph Pintauro's words... almost like, things we know, but don't want to think about... Oh, heck- I don't know. It's a beautiful book, here are some of my favorite pages.

. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



. . .



PS Can I just say, Norman Laliberté's handwriting samples make me want to pull out that Pilot Varsity Pen from my Black Ink days that I know I must have kicking around somewhere and practice my cursive.

Read More...

Weary Blues

Since workin' for myself I'm feeling slightly more and more crazy each day. It's a big deal to leave the house and go to the post office... today was quite a day though! the post office AND a trip to harvard square! I even splurged and bought new shoes! yes indeed - cool life!!! (sike!)

Enough of my workin' at home woes though!!So, this 'lil outfit of mine was inspired by two things. Paul Whiteman (you stole my heart sir) and Jessica's post about Footlight Parade. I'm terrible at watching movies. I usually fall asleep and I think I'd rather listen to records - but the little stills look adorable and those gals are sweet as pie! If only I could turn cartwheels like Paulie ... life would be perfect!

(also, I have NOT forgotten about the second Rainbow Box installment, I'm just having a hard time choosing images... you'll find out more tomorrow though!)

Read More...

Free Shipping on Sundays!

I'm happy to announce two things today! From here on out I'll be listing things on etsy full time! This is exciting and something I've always dreamed about being able to do! I'm not gunna lie though, I'm also totally nervous as the summer is winding down and that means packing is getting more realistic.

So, to make sure that things find homes and don't just end up kicking around my house, I'll be offering free shipping to any US orders placed on Sundays! (International orders, I'll be giving you a lil discount and doing $8 for shipping instead of the normal $13!) ... Orders must be placed between 12:00 AM EDT and 11:59 PM EDT. And I'll refund your pennies through paypal after the order/payment has been sent!

Yay! Hope you all have a happy Sunday!

Read More...

New Additions

New Hampshire: you're a magical little land when it comes to antique stores. A magical land indeed. I found some good luck over the past few days in New Hampshire... granted I don't need another thing, but - I certainly can't say no to old botany drawings!

. . .

$2 for each of these little dishes, sure - I'll take 'em both!





. . .

Polish yourself flatware at $1 a piece, okay - lemme have 23!



. . .

I'm totally in looooove with the way this old square of French tobacco smells. Uh-mayzing!



. . .

One of my favorite purchases of the week, this bark cloth catch all! My shipping supplies quickly went right into it and I'll be so happy to never have to wonder where I left the tape again!



. . .

I splurged a bit on this one .... (my birthday is coming up, I had to justify it somehow) But I need to stash those odds and ends somewhere!



. . .

I also bought a little foot rest that matches those $2 dishes just perfectly (pictures when it finds a home!) AND another one of these boxes (the floral tea box in the middle there!) I thought I was lucky to find one, now I have two!

And there's one other special new addition to my dress collection. A dreamy 20's drop waist dress in my all time favorite color combinations. Thank you Miss Amy Merrick, you're a saint for ever parting with this one!!!

Read More...