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
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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

Fall is in the Air, On Campus, it's a Vintage Outfit of the Day

It's cooling down a bit and I love it! Nights are crisp, the sky is even more blue (ok, today it is gray, but. . . ), it's not muggy and gross outside - huge plus! Gorgeous fall colors,

So, moving into fall, especially if you are off to College/University, here's a great look incorporating vintage, into your wardrobe, inspiring aVintage Outfit of the Day, today!

The paisley pattern red silk vintage maxi skirt has a rich, gorgeous pattern in fall colors and contributes to a simple and classic look. This vintage late 1970's vintage skirt is fully lined and made of 100% silk.





This vintage silk skirt is one that can be worn as shown, or with a camisole in warmer weather, or even with a blazer for a classic, more professional look.

Here this vintage skirt is shown with a simple Ivory Camisole and a Victorian Choker.




This vintage early 80's sweater is a great neutral. Made of cotton with a mock turtleneck, this cream and oatmeal colored long sleeve sweater looks great with the vintage red silk paisley pattern maxi skirt.









Add a paisley scarf in complimentary colors and a pair of 80's cordovan colored vintage riding boots and you are well on your way to memorable vintage style!

Chunky Gold Tone late 70's Earrings are the finishing touch. This particular pair has been converted from clip to pierced. The chunky heavy gold style helps balance the sweater, which works beautifully with the femininity of the silk skirt and the classic style of the riding boots.



All in all, this is an outfit using vintage that can go just about anywhere. Feel free to mix and match as you choose, vintage is all about individual style!



All vintage clothing items in this outfit (except the scarf) is 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

Photo Shoot

So sorry it's been longer than I intended without updating, but these shots from the photo shoot are totally worth the wait!

Models

 Today is all about the photo shoot last Sunday, I'm going to share a few sneak peek photos. I'm shifting how I post stuff a bit on my website. Instead of trying to get models for all the clothes, I'm going to get a few cool shots, post them here, on Tumblr, Stumbleupon and Pinterest and just put up photos of the clothes I take myself.

The good part is, we get to have some totally awesome shots that I could never do myself. The downside, well, I am not a great photographer so the shots I take aren't nearly as good. Building my business is a constant evolution, so we'll see how it goes!

Without further ado, here are some of the awesome photos taken by James Bradbury. I am so lucky to know so many gorgeous girls who are willing to model for me! They're all really smart and talented too and great to work with! What you can't see in any of these shots because the girls are fantastic is that they were getting munched by mosquitoes the entire time!

Tessie in an early 1960's party dress

Tegan & Natalie, both wearing 1950's Prom Dresses

Brynn in a 1940's Dress & Hat

All five girls during the shoot.

Tegan, 50's Formal

Natalie, 50's Formal

Amy, in a gorgeous late 70's - early 80's Formal Dress

Thanks for stopping by! All dresses are or will be available at my store, along with all sorts of other fabulous vintage clothing, vintage jewelry, vintage accessories and more!


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


Anytime you're searching for the perfect vintage or antique item, I can help! My vintage and antique detecting skills are top-notch, so if you're looking for something special, let me know!


Anytime you're inspired, send in a photo of how you wear vintage to the email below, you might just find your look featured in an upcoming blog post!

Vintage Limbo, Just a Few Days!

Sorry folks, but due to all the work I have to get done before Sundays' photo shoot, taking a couple days off blogging!

Meantime, here's hoping all of you have a fantabulous weekend!

Here's the latest & greatest on my website, enjoy!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108823489/stunning-vintage-fur-collar-rabbit-fur

https://www.etsy.com/listing/108049478/elegant-vintage-black-dress-trimmed-with



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


Anytime you're searching for the perfect vintage or antique item, I can help! My vintage and antique detecting skills are top-notch, so if you're looking for something special, let me know!


Anytime you're inspired, send in a photo of how you wear vintage to the email below, you might just find your look featured in an upcoming blog post!

Vintage 50's Formal, Vintage Item of the Day

It's Autumn! Football is in full gear and we all know what that means, Homecoming! Homecoming dances and games. Of course, the best part of a Homecoming dance, as any fashionista knows, is getting all dressed up! Today's item of the day is this stunning 50's formal.


That's it for today, a super simple & quick blog post! Just pics of this fabulous vintage Prom dress. It's made of heavy rose pink satin and pink tulle. the front is detailed with satin rosettes and it's absolutely gorgeous!

This gorgeous vintage formal dress is available at my Etsy store, along with lots of other great vintage clothing items, vintage jewelry, vintage accessories and more. We add items daily, so make it a regular stop when you're online!


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


Anytime you're searching for the perfect vintage or antique item, I can help! My vintage and antique detecting skills are top-notch, so if you're looking for something special, let me know!


Anytime you're inspired, send in a photo of how you wear vintage to the email below, you might just find your look featured in an upcoming blog post!

Vintage Blazer - Put Together Vintage Charm!

Nothing pulls an outfit together like a blazer, and vintage blazers are even better. A vintage blazer can take an outfit from "eh" to fabulous in one easy step. Adding a few vintage blazers to your closet will ensure you can put a pulled together outfit together at the drop of a hat!



Today's Vintage Item of the Day, this fabulous black velvet blazer from the 1960's:

Here my model Carlin is wearing a vintage black blazer with a vintage 80's skirt and 70's boots. Vintage Brooch and earrings too, the patterned tights and tank top are modern. Of course this vintage blazer would look fantastic with jeans too.




This fabulous black blazer was made by high end designer Austin Hill in the late 1960's. It is a cotton velvet, fully lined and in fabulous shape. We all know that a black blazer is a wardrobe staple!




One of the great things about vintage clothing is the quality of the workmanship. This vintage black blazer is no different, it's beautifully put together and tailored.




 There is nothing like a vintage blazer to give you that extra shot of style! I am not alone in believing that a vintage blazer adds oomph to an outfit better than just about anything. Following are some photos of others to get you inspired!


All photos are credited, of course, and I would love to see what you've put together yourself!



Below right, actress Chloe Sevigny shows her vintage style off yet again in a fabulous off white vintage blazer which she has paired with super short denim shorts. Obviously, the super short denim is not a look everyone can carry off, but add a couple of inches and it's universal!



The girl on the left has gone for a much more casual, wandering around downtown look. Although it's a very casual look, adding the vintage blazer takes an outfit that could be a sloppy mess into purposely tousled casual.

http://vintagezineonline.blogspot.com/

http://vintagezineonline.blogspot.com/

Teen Vogue has tons of photos and ideas on how to wear vintage blazers, below are a few from their website!

//fashion.teenvogue.com/post/8-am&imgurl

http://fashion.teenvogue.com/post/lets-focus

This one is a reader photo that was sent in to Teen Vogue. They voted her best dressed reader and I agree! I love the way she put together a vintage blazer with a classic pleated skirt and white blouse. The hat, patterned tights and totally modern booties, earrings and bag look fantastic, fun and funky. This is a girl who knows her own style!

http://www.teenvogue.com/blog/teen-vogue-daily/2012/04/best-dressed-reader-of-the-day-bernadetta-pasternak-2.html

http://www.lovemaegan.com/2009/02/completely-gratuitous-outfit-post_20.html

Here's a look you can never go wrong with. A bright colored vintage blazer over a black sheath dress is a go to outfit for anything.

http://www.kiuuapparel.com/page/2

Up and coming actress Ashley Green was on the August cover of Nylon magazine wearing a vintage nautical inspired blazer, with a t-shirt and cut off shorts.













So get your vintage blazer on, right now! A vintage blazer is the perfect transition piece to move you from one season to the next. Moving into Fall you can pair your vintage blazer with shorts, skirts, jeans, whatever you want, be creative and stamp your signature on your style with an array of vintage blazers!



Anytime you're inspired, send in a photo of how you wear vintage to the email below, you might just find your look featured in an upcoming blog post!



The black velvet blazer, color block mini skirt and 70's black boots are available at my Etsy store, along with lots of other great vintage clothing items. We add items daily, so make it a regular stop when you're online!

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


Anytime you're searching for the perfect vintage or antique item, I can help! My vintage and antique detecting skills are top-notch, so if you're looking for something special, let me know!