Vintage Photo Shoot, Marilyn Style

Styling a vintage photo shoot is so much fun! Take fabulous vintage clothes & vintage accessories from Vintage Life & Design, an accomplished hair & make-up artist and a terrifically talented photographer and it's Vintage Glamor Extraordinaire! I've finally forced myself to sit down and get another post done, LONG overdue, I know, but I've been busy.

 If you are in the market for photos but want to do something original, individual and fun, think about a Vintage themed photo shoot styled by Vintage Life & Design. Engagement pictures, Senior Pictures, Family Photos or any group or individual shots - it's all about having fun and being creative.

Krystin, from the "Marilyn" styled shoot. This one is a Shi Lessner Original pose.

My daughter decided she wanted to recreate famous photos of Marilyn Monroe for her senior pictures - so much fun! The talented photographer I work with most often, Shirley Lessner  of  Shi Lessner Photography - www.shilessnerphotography.com/ - did Krystins' Senior Pictures at her studio. For anyone who wants wonderful, unique and memorable photos for any occasion, Shi does an incredible job, her photos are works of art.

Following is a small peek at one of our collaborative photo shoots, the Marilyn themed shoot for Krystin. I've also included some of the original Marilyn shots, so you can see where we got our inspiration! All the Marilyn photos came from Google Images, I don't know who took the originals but they are easily and widely available online.

I recreated the iconic pink dress made by phenomenal costumer Travilla  for Marilyn in  "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," and gathered accessories to recreate the look as well. Unfortunately I don't have any digital images form our shoot with this dress yet. Have to be part of another post!

For this shoot, we recreated famously iconic photos as well as improvising period appropriate shots, all of which turned out beautifully! It was a long shoot and done almost entirely in the studio, with one exception. In our version (reality, winter in Michigan!), it was snowing and about 20 degrees, so not exactly a beach day. We made do with a snowy field.

We used this photo as inspiration, however,
it was snowing in Michigan, so we did it in the snow!
I don't have a digital image of ours yet. 

Step one: Identify the theme, consult with your stylist and photographer and set up a date. Plan to book a minimum of three weeks out, schedules vary.

For this shoot, there wasn't a lot of research involved. There are so many iconic Marilyn photos that it took longer to choose the ones to recreate than to find material to choose from.

Krystin is curvy with naturally almost platinum blonde hair so she already has the looks to make the Marilyn look work. She did her own hair and make-up, which she does frequently for commercial shoots for me and others.

So have you started thinking about the era you would like us to recreate for your own vintage photo session? If you need some ideas, we can help figure out what will be fun and flattering for you.

Step two:  I spent about three weeks gathering, altering and sewing the clothes for the shoot. This varies a lot, depending on the subject matter. As it happens, I didn't have any Marilyn outfits in stock. Once everything has been acquired, created or made, it's time for it all to be ironed/steamed, spot treated or whatever is necessary to make sure each item is photo ready.

Gathering and pairing accessories, organizing it all is another full days work. Then, there is transporting it to the studio and it doesn't stop there. For a large shoot, prepping the models or photo subjects, making sure all the details are right and the right accessories are on at the right time, no runs in tights, etc. Styling a photo shoot is a hands on job, and it is work.

Often people don't realize the prep time involved in a professionally styled and photographed shoot. It doesn't happen overnight, folks! It takes time and work and lots of it.
 

Marilyn, duh.

So here's where you get the sneak peek. This is the original  "Marilyn" photo on the left, below is our version.  Shi used her lens baby to give the photo a softer look. We also have one that isn't soft focus, but I don't have that one digitally yet.

For the photo below Krystin wore a corset and a tulle petticoat  made by Vintage Life & Design (me!).

Krystin

Marilyn

Another things people often don't realize. After the shoot is over, the stylist (me, in this case) goes through all the items used, notes any repairs or cleaning that needs to be done and does it. Everything has to be put away and, when it's not personally owned, cataloged. Depending on the size of the shoot, that can take anywhere from one to three days. When shooting for my site, I also have to measure each piece before storing it.









                                   

Krystin. Dress by Vintage Life & Design.

Photographers often take several hundred photos at a shoot in order to get the right shot. That's a lot of memory space. Shi took over 900 shots for the Krystin/Marilyn shoot.

After the shoot, the photographers work is just beginning. The photographer goes through every image, choosing the best. Then the retouching starts, an incredibly detailed and time consuming process. 

So next time you have photos taken by a really awesome photographer, be patient! A great photographer might require a little more time to get the photos ready, but it will be worth it when your photos are beautiful, artistic keepsakes that you and your family will treasure.

Krystin, dress by Vintage Life & Design (me!).

Marilyn

 

 

Marilyn.

Krystin, in the tulle again.

Marilyn

Finally, the iconic "blowing dress" shot. On the left, obviously, part of the original shoot with Marilyn.

Below, our version, dress by Vintage Life & Design (me!).

Krystin

The mirror shot, Krystin. Vintage slip.

 

Marilyn Mirror Shot

So if you find yourself dreaming about having your own Vintage photo shoot, contact me, Shelley, at Vintage Life & Design. I would love to help you make your dream a reality! Shi would love to shoot it, too. We both adore working with fun, creative people who think outside the box, so if that's you, get in touch!

As always, thanks so much for reading this blog!

If you haven't, please check out my Etsy store for vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories - yet another way to re-use, recycle and re-purpose while looking fab. At my store you will also find some fashion originals (always made with vintage fabric!) and the odd costume item. I hope to see you there soon!

www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

For Vintage home and decor items as well as vintage inspired home and decor made from reclaimed and up-cycled materials, please visit my other Etsy shop too!

www.VLDDecorandHome.etsy.com

Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments and/or vintage dreams. Also, if there is anything you would like me to explain or write about, please let me know.

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife

Keeping Christmas Green, Recycle for Gorgeous Gifts - not Procrastinating, Preserving the Planet!!

Have you procrastinated taking down the Christmas decorations? Ignored the piles of stuff in the living room, accidentally missed trash day because the holiday schedule was weird? Yeah, me too. I love Christmas, but taking everything down and putting it away afterwards, well, kind of a downer, isn't it? So, now that the craziness of the Holidays is over, are you looking at all the decorations you have to take down, sighing and wishing you had a magic decorating/clean up elf? I do it every year.

When I picture my magic decorating/clean-up elf it always looks suspiciously like Hermie the Misfit Elf from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Yes, I watched many, many animated Christmas specials a lot as a small child, which may or may not have anything to do with my elf fixation. They are real, ok? We just can't see them! I believe!

So wait! Stop! Before you clean up your Christmas detritus, take a good look at your trash! Yes, I'm serious. Instead of lugging bags of garbage to the curb or the dump, see what's in that bag that you can re-use and keep out of the landfill. It will decrease your trash haul for years to come. Really, there's more than you think that you can do to have a beautiful Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa (insert holiday of choice here) and take easy steps to lower your carbon footprint at the same time! Do not, under any circumstances, throw out those old Christmas cards!

Take a moment and pat yourself on the back for waiting until you read this before you clean it all up. It's not procrastinating if it's good for the environment, right? That's my take on it and I'm not budging, so congratulations and welcome to creating beautiful gifts while being environmentally responsible!

By the way, if you do actually have a magic decorating elf (which I continue to believe exist somewhere in spite of all logic and previous experience to the contrary) or you are one of those amazingly organized folks who had all decorations down, put away and everything else in the house perfect by the end of the day January 1, read no further. I have nothing for you, so just go away. Seriously. If you have a magic elf I'm jealous 'cuz I really want one. If you're the horribly organized type you're making me feel inadequate and I don't like it, so go organize your sock drawer or something. 

Presents! Yeah!

Presents! Who doesn't love to get presents, right? Whether it's for ___ (again, insert holiday of choice!) or no reason at all, we all love 'em and the prettier the better. Think back to when you were a little kid if you don't believe me. No matter what the occasion, it was so much more exciting to unwrap a beautiful package than for someone to just hand something to you, right? It's part of the magic. A part, unfortunately, that can be really bad for the environment (anyone ever cleaned up after Christmas without at least one great big bag stuffed with paper, tape and packaging? Didn't think so.). Not only is there the trash leftover after the event, but every time we buy new wrapping paper, boxes, bows or whatever, we are increasing the chemicals and energy required to produce and ship these items. No, I will probably not be getting Christmas cards from the manufacturers of these items.

Obviously, one of the easiest things to do is recycle the paper - if it's the right kind that is. My Depression Era relatives used to save used wrapping paper as well. I've done it on occasion, but it's hard to keep previously used wrapping paper looking good unless it's a big enough piece to roll around another paper roll. I don't do it often.

You can also make your own wrapping paper from recycled and recyclable paper - you can buy rolls of brown paper for under $10 that last forever, are totally recyclable and can be decorated any way the inclination takes you. I have also wrapped gifts in fabric that gets re-used over and over again. The gifts look beautiful and it can be used for anything you want afterwards and re-used year after year. Wrapping in fabric is traditional in Japan (rarely for Christmas gifts, obviously!), which is just kind of a cool piece of gifting trivia!

Fabric Wrapped Gifts

I am admittedly somewhat obsessed with recycling, re-using and keeping things out of landfills (at least my family thinks so), but a saint or an expert, not hardly. Still, I thought I'd share some of the little (and EASY) things we do in our house to keep the trash load lower in case anyone is interested. If you have other suggestions or things you do, please share - I'm always looking for new ways to recycle and re-use!

The main thing we do in our home which is super simple is to re-use stuff. We re-use the same boxes from year to year. Now, obviously this requires some storage space. If you're living in a tiny studio apartment this is more of a challenge and you might be limited to the kind of box that folds flat so you can keep them under the bed, or under a couch or behind a dresser.

I invested some years ago in quite a few beautiful, sparkly boxes which make wrapping a snap! There are others that over the years I have permanently covered with pictures from magazines, newspapers or fabric. It's a small time investment but then the boxes last for years. Our family has been re-using the same boxes for Christmas and birthdays for about fifteen years now and it's great. We pull the empties out and put them under the tree when we start to decorate for Christmas, then as needed people grab the empties, fill, decorate and tag them and they go back under the tree. It always looks festive, which I love.

Just a few of the boxes we re-use in the Walker house every year. I took this photo after Christmas, so they aren't as pretty as they were! After Christmas is over, I throw them all in a giant garbage bag (which has also been re-used for years) and they live on top of the Christmas Decoration bins the rest of the year, except when the odd box gets pulled out for birthday presents or whatnot. These boxes are a tried and true part of our Christmas ritual!

Don't have room to save boxes year to year? Be creative and re-use/recycle in another way. Start to save boxes you get from everyday household activities for a few weeks before the holidays or whatever event you need a gift box for - you would be amazed at how quickly cereal boxes, tea boxes, toothpaste boxes and the like add up. Unconventional, yes, but they work! Cover them with recyclable paper or turn them into permanent gift boxes by gluing on fabric or paper and who will know?

The next "re-use" item in our house also requires some storage space. Behold, the bow bins. Yep, we save every single bow, even the short useless pieces (Why? Hang on, I'll get there in a minute!). Occasionally we get new bows added to the stash when gifts come from outside the family, but mostly we just re-use, re-use, re-use.If you don't save actual bows and just use ribbon you can fold up, it will easily fit in baggies that are easier to store.

Some of these bows date back to our wedding - more years ago than I care to share! They come from our kids birthday parties, gifts from other family members, wherever. Sniff, sniff, family traditions! It is kind of fun and creative to piece together new bows using the remnants of old ones. For us it's a trip down memory lane, kind of like when we pull out the ornaments to decorate the tree. "Oh yeah, I remember when I made that bow for the ??? I got for ??? the year we (got ipods, the pool table, went to SC, went to Phoenix, Nevada, CA, you get the idea)!"

Now, to my favorite recycling for Christmas project, gift tags! All right, making your own gift tags might not actually save the planet, but every little step we take helps. This is where all those Christmas cards you never know what to do with come into play. Some of them are so beautiful I used to hate to throw them away or throw them in the recycling bin. So about eight or nine years ago I had an epiphany (yes, some people see angels, I have epiphanies about recycling).  So we don't throw them out, we do recycle them into beautiful and unique gift tags and now the Christmas cards live forever! Super simple, super easy.

After Christmas I gather up all the cards and make sure I have the addresses I need (not that I ever use them, although I mean to, I promise. Yes, good intentions and all that.), I take them apart, putting the "writing on" part into the recycling bin. The pictures, I throw into a plastic ziploc baggie. I don't do anything with them until next year at that point, but I'm going to skip ahead (or back as may be). Here's what I do:

Ziploc baggies full of cards & gift tags in waiting. The bag on the left has whole card fronts and blank cut-outs, the bag on the right has previously used tags. Yes, we save the tags too and re-use them when appropriate. Also, the fronts of Christmas cards and any cards actually, make great post-cards.

Step 1, a cool card, back removed & in the recycling bin.

Step 2: Scissors, hole punch, ribbon.

Step 3: Cut the card into desired shapes, pictures.

Step 4: Use a hole punch in a corner or along the edge.

Step 5: Using ribbon scraps, thread your ribbon through.

 Gift tags from Christmas or (insert Holiday of Choice) make far cuter gift tags than anything you can buy en mass. No, they aren't quite as easy as the ones already cut out and printed, but it really doesn't take that much more effort to convert your old cards to gift tags and they are so much better!

 So you end up with a really cute gift tag, you can write whatever you want on the blank side. Attach it to your package and, ta-da!

This is why I keep all the ribbon scraps - they are perfect for attaching the gift tags to the packages and bows.

This is the ziploc baggie full of ribbon odds & ends!

So there you have it, the low down on beautiful gift wrapping that is totally environmentally responsible!  Unless you choose to store un-collapsible boxes and whole bows in bins like we do, none of this really takes up a lot of space. So go nuts, be creative, save the earth while wrapping incredibly gorgeous packages!

One of the old sparkly boxes, recycled ribbon and a tag made from an old Christmas card!

Thanks so much for reading! If you haven't, please check out my Etsy store for vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories - yet another way to re-use, recycle and re-purpose while looking fab. At my store you will also find some fashion originals and the odd costume item! I hope to see you there soon!


www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

For Vintage home and decor items as well as vintage inspired home and decor made from reclaimed and up-cycled materials, please visit my other Etsy shop too!

www.VLDDecorandHome.etsy.com


Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments and if there is anything you would like me to explain or write about, please let me know! Thanks so much for reading my blog!

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife

Almost Christmas!

All right, so I'm crazy busy with no time. What else is new, right? Since I am really trying to at least post periodically, here's a quickie about what's up lately.

I am still waiting on the web sized photos from the last shoot, unfortunately. The initial photos I got back are fantastic so I'm hoping to get them all soon!

For me, business as usual, plus trying to get ready for Christmas (not doing very well at it, either, I'm afraid).

So, here are a couple of new items from the store that I absolutely love, plus a mystery that I'm still trying to solve. : )

I love this adorable brooch! There is something about vintage flower pins that just radiates happy optimism to me, which I always need more of!  https://www.etsy.com/listing/118395796/vintage-jewelry-darling-vintage-brooch

When I find fabulous pieces of  vintage jewelry it's always a struggle for me to let them go! However, since my personal collection of vintage jewelry is already far larger than reason dictates, I comfort myself by thinking about the good home my treasures will go to.

The beading on this vintage purse is exquisite! Again, my own personal collection is already quite large, but I'm tempted every time! https://www.etsy.com/listing/118394343/vintage-accessories-gorgeous-vintage?ref=v1_other_2

Finally, a great belt buckle! Pewter and turquoise, quite unusual! https://www.etsy.com/listing/117277009/vintage-accessories-vintage-belt-buckle

So there you have it, the latest additions to the shop, oh, I did promise a mystery, didn't I? Well, here it is.

I came across this antique ornament/clip quite some time ago and have been working sporadically to identify it for about a year so I can list it. It is some type of clip - hook, I am really not sure if it's for clothing or home decor purposes, I haven't come across one like it before. It is quite large, with an elaborate sterling design and an exquisitely detailed Father Christmas in brass attached to the front. The attached hook is also brass and is signed "Cappy," a signature I am unfamiliar with and have not been able to find any information on. So if you have the answers, please let me know!

My mystery ornament!

A look at the back.

If you haven't, please check out my Etsy store for vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories. There are also some fashion originals and the odd costume item! I hope to see you there soon!


www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

 For Vintage home and decor items as well as vintage inspired home and decor made from reclaimed and up-cycled materials, please visit my other Etsy shop too!

www.VLDDecorandHome.etsy.com

To find out more about Shi Lessner Photography, check out her website!

http://shilessnerphotography.com/

Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments and if there is anything you would like me to explain or write about, please let me know! Thanks so much for reading my blog!

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife

Finally, Back Again!

I know, I'm a terrible, horrible, no-good blogger. Good intentions and all that, right? Between working on my shop, being a Mom and trying to keep my house from spontaneously combusting, my time just flies away from me every day. I really, really want one of those time turners Hermione has in the last few Harry Potter books. Yep, I'm a HP geek. Deal with it. I so wish I had magical powers. Really.

I am re-organizing my work room because I got a new computer hutch, which I love. Although I need to refinish it, which isn't going to happen until next summer. I still love it. Getting it into my workroom though, required major rearranging of furniture. Right now I'm at the "pull everything out into a horrendous mess before organizing and putting it back" stage. This is being prolonged because I keep having to actually do other stuff, like work. I really need an assistant. Or a magic wand. Sigh.

This is my work room right now. It doesn't usually look like this, I promise. However, I pulled everything out of every single cabinet so that I could get rid of my old sewing table and rearrange with the new  computer hutch. My old desk is now my sewing table. I moved the furniture around, but haven't gotten to the put everything back stage yet. Has to be done by this weekend though, time to get a Christmas tree and get Christmas decorations up! Yikes - it's almost Christmas! How did that happen, seriously?!!

I always think that "once fill in the blank gets done, I'm going to have more time." It has yet to happen, so why do I continue to believe it will? Seriously - I'm either a ridiculous optimist or I have major delusions when it comes to reality! I have also been refinishing some furniture on the days we get decent weather (always a surprise!) and going through my own closet to clear out the chaff. I have a couple of HUGE bags  waiting to go to Salvation Army. Waiting until I finish sorting through my workroom, because I know I have stuff in here that I can and need to get rid of! So what am I doing? Writing my blog, of course, finally. Honestly, I've been working all day and my brain is fried, so writing for a while is like a break.

I found this old media storage cabinet and saw some possibilities. No, I didn't take photos during the refinishing process, I forgot - surprise, surprise. It was a really nasty, beat up looking cabinet, but it's solid wood. I am tired of the pile of shoes that collects inside the front door, so thought this would make a much nicer place to store them! I took it apart, sanded it down and refinished it in a soft aqua with a burnt sienna wash. Then I, after much searching, I found some antique china knobs that coordinate and I love the way it turned out!

On top of everything else, despite my better judgement, I once again have agreed to do costumes for my daughters' high school musical production. Yes, I'm insane. So stay posted, no doubt I'll have lots of great pics of the Brighton High School production of Beauty and the Beast once the show is up and running. I will try to remember to take pics as we go through the process as well. Fun stuff, but also a ton of work, as anyone who has ever done costuming can attest - the show doesn't even go up 'til the end of April and I'm already spending 10 - 20 hours a week on it, planning and research right now. Yeesh.

BHS Beauty and the Beast, April 2013!

Another thing that has kept me busy lately was another photo shoot the Saturday before Thanksgiving, it went FABULOUSLY! I am getting better at this every time I do it. Good thing, huh? It would be pretty sad if I hadn't managed to learn anything along the way!

I am working with Shirley Lessner, of Shi Lessner Photography here in Brighton, MI - her website link is below, check it out. She is amazing, seriously and the preview photos I've seen so far are incredible!! My daughter Krystin once again did hair and make-up, she is really good at it too! I know they aren't "web ready" yet, but I have to add a few just as a preview because they look so good! I know some of the girls took pics during the shoot, but I don't have any copies of them yet. I once again forgot to take any during the process. I really am a terrible and forgetful photographer. Just ask my poor children who have very, very few records of their existence past the first year. Once I get the photos from the girls I'll post some - it was so much fun!

Model Kirsten looks adorable in a 1960's crochet hat and an 80's sweater.

Shi is doing some fine-tuning on the photos (honestly, I couldn't find anything wrong with them at all, but she wants to fix some stuff she didn't like. This is why she is the photographer and I am not!). I should have them in a few days, so stay tuned! It will take a while to get everything listed, but I'll get going on it asap!

Kathleen is stunning in a 1980's Beaded Gown.

Tegan in an 80's Power Dress!

Once again, I am so fortunate to have so many great girls who are willing to model for me - they are all not only gorgeous, but smart, funny and nice as well!

Tessie in a 1980's LBD - perfect for cocktails or a Holiday Party!

One fun fact I should have blogged about when it happened, but didn't! One of my 80's outfits was bought by the costumer for The Carrie Diaries, the WB show in production right now about the early days of Carrie Bradshaw (Sex in the City, Main Character, in case there is anyone out there who doesn't recognize the name!). I have no idea which character will wear it or even if it will actually end up on camera, but keep an eye out for it - I know I will!

Tegan in the outfit bought by The Carrie Diaries.

Well, there you have it, the latest and greatest of what my days are filled with! Thanks for reading and once again, I will state my intentions to do a better job of updating regularly. Thanks for your patience and feel free to comment! Have a vintage day!

If you haven't, please check out my Etsy store for vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories. There are also some fashion originals and the odd costume item! I hope to see you there soon!


www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

 For Vintage home and decor items as well as vintage inspired home and decor made from reclaimed and up-cycled materials, please visit my other Etsy shop too!

www.VLDDecorandHome.etsy.com

To find out more about Shi Lessner Photography, check out her website!

http://shilessnerphotography.com/

Please feel free to contact me with questions, comments and if there is anything you would like me to explain or write about, please let me know! Thanks so much for reading my blog!

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife

What Have I Been Up To? A New Store!

All right, let's be honest here, I have not done well at keeping this blog updated regularly. Just too many things to do and too little time, I'm afraid.  Hopefully within the next year I'll have some help, until then, your patience is appreciated!

What have I been up to lately? Well, besides all the day to day work of running a business and a family (each one more than enough to keep me busy 24-7!), the biggest thing I've done recently is start a new Etsy store, VLD Decor and Home. Oh, I've also been making my daughters' Homecoming dress and getting started on costumes for a couple of upcoming productions, but those are topics for another day.

Why have I started a new store? Well, as business has picked up at Vintage Life & Design, I found that mixing the Decor and Home items in with the vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories was just getting a little confusing. I found the Decor and Home items were getting lost in everything else. So, after some thought and investigating, I decided to separate the two. Hence the new store, check it out!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/VLDDecorandHome


Yes, it's more work, especially initially while I am still transferring the listings, but overall, I think it will make it easier, both for me and for people searching for merchandise. What will you find at the new store?Basically it will be anything related to home and decor, both vintage and items I've created or up-cycled from reclaimed materials. What precisely, will depend on what treasures I find and what I get inspired to create!

Coasters, made using reclaimed tile, reclaimed rubber backing and photos from a 1950's American Home Magazine.

In order to do this, I use parts of different things to create a whole. I will take apart pieces of furniture and combine them into something new. I use only reclaimed paint, stains and finishes. Some things have to be new, I'm afraid. Old sandpaper just doesn't work well, I'm afraid, but wherever possible, I use reclaimed materials. When I refinish furniture, I paint it. I like the cottage style look so that's what I do. Why? Because it's fun. I like painting furniture, so that's what I do.

This is a beautiful Mersman table from the 1940's. The finish was a disaster and the surface was damaged, so I sanded it down and refinished it in the shabby chic style, using reclaimed paint and stain.

My philosophy of up-cycling and recycling hasn't changed. Everything I refinish, up-cycle or create is from reclaimed materials. We have so much stuff already here on the earth and so many wonderful materials that just get thrown away. I am trying to do my part by creating fresh new art pieces and home and decor items; making the old new, useable and keeping things out of landfills.

A set of vintage glass spice jars.

This small mission style storage cabinet is another that I up-cycled and refinished using reclaimed materials. I stripped it replaced the mesh and cleaned up the original hardware for use. The cabinet knobs are reclaimed replacements.

A small birdhouse I embellished and refinished.

This vintage ad from a 1963 magazine has been mounted on reclaimed Mat Board. The reclaimed frame was stripped and  refinished in the shabby chic style.

In my travels I act as a vintage and antique detective frequently, so if you're searching for something in particular, whether it's for your home, office or wardrobe, I can help!





 All of the items shown here are available at my new Etsy store, VLD Decor and Home;

www.VLDDecorandHome.etsy.com


Of course, my original store is the place to go for vintage clothing, vintage jewelry and vintage accessories!


www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife

Shoes, They Always Fit! Vintage - Shoes!

We all love shoes, right? Personally, my shoe collection borders on the ridiculous and I know I'm not alone!

http://www.gfxtra.com/photoshop/psd-sources/73670-clipart-vintage-shoes.html

What's not to love? After all, it doesn't matter if you gained or lost five pounds, or if you're having a bad hair day or if you're bloated. Shoes still fit, they are easy to change and can add the perfect finishing touch to an outfit.

Now I love new shoes as much as the next girl, but I also love vintage shoes, for all of the reasons listed above, plus, they're vintage! Original, unique, well made and part of history, all the reasons vintage rocks.

With no further ado, here are some super cute vintage shoes and some ideas on how to wear them!

Super cute Vintage Mary Jane style Kenneth Cole - 1980's

http://051289.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html

Vintage Gold Brocade Pumps

Vintage 50s Turquoise Satin Pump

chictopia.com

A funky way to wear a pair of vintage oxford inspired heels!

Vintage 80's Riding Boots

chictopia.com

Vintage booties with pointy toes add a fun touch to this long baby-doll dress and baggy cardigan.

Vintage Rockabilly Style Oxfords

chictopia.com

Vintage shoes, add some to your wardrobe and see where it leads!




For the vintage shoes shown here (where the photos aren't credited to others) and many more are or will be available soon from my Etsy Store! Feel free to contact me if you want to know about a featured item that isn't listed yet.


In my travels I act as a vintage and antique detective frequently, so if you're searching for something in particular, I can help!

www.VintageLifeandDesign.etsy.com

Email:  shelleysvintagelife@yahoo.com

Like us on Facebook: Vintage Life & Design
Follow us on Pinterest: shelleysvintage
Follow us on Twitter: shelleysvintagelife