To Sell or Not to Sell?

As a vintage seller, I find that I actually don't save that many things for myself.  I remember working retail for years and for some reason I would never want to buy the things I saw all day.  Maybe it's that or maybe it's just because I enjoy selling things even more than I enjoy vintage.  Whatever the reason, there are a few things I have held onto over the years and beaded purses are one of them.  They are just so pretty!  I don't think I have used one of these, they just sit in my closet.  So, I am thinking that I might put them in the shop to give them a chance to be used. What do you think?

Buying Vintage Gifts: Purses

Buying vintage for your loved one for the holidays can be a great way to show you how unique and special they are to you.  Since buying clothing for another person can be difficult, you might opt for a necklace or other vintage fashion accessory.  I've just added this batch of purses to the Salvage Life Shop and there are more to come.

The road I travel...

is sometimes a bumpy one (especially in Long Beach where there are about a million pot holes). This week hasn't exactly been the smoothest. I haven't been feeling well, my daughter's getting her two front teeth in, I had car trouble and just can't seem to clear the clutter from my coffee table despite numerous attempts. So, I haven't blogged and I haven't added to the shop, but I did deliver my jewelry to The Road Less Traveled Store in Santa Ana. Yay!!! The owner, Delilah is fantastic! Stop in sometime and see Salvage Life in person along with lots of other environmentally kind merchandise.



BTW, the last winner for the $25 Salvage Life Gift Certificate is Emma! Congrats, you will receive an email soon.

DIY Lulu Frost Style Necklace

I saw this beautiful necklace (and several others) from Lulu Frost and fell in love, until I noticed the hefty price tag. Seeing as I have a lot of spare vintage jewelry parts lying around I thought I would whip up my own version. I love how it turned out. Now my head is swirling with jewelry ideas, which is good because I will be selling some at a local boutique in the next month or so! More info to follow.

To Share or Not to Share

I'm not talking about teaching your kiddos the value of letting others play with their toys (though that's great), this concept applies to adults as well. I came across this Etsy shop awhile back and quickly added it to my favorites. I wanted to share it with all of you, but at the same time I was afraid you would buy up all the bags and there wouldn't be any left for me! Since I am trying to hold off on buying anything until I de-clutter my life and out of kindness to you I thought I would SHARE!


Andi from Hoakon/Helga not only makes these fabulous bags, but also has a fantastic online indie magazine called Antler. You can view past issues for free and the current one is only $1.99! Score!

New Embellished Clutch Purses

I recently decorated these vintage clutch purses for the Handmade Brigade show and now more are available in the shop! Adorned with vintage crocheted doily cut outs, salvaged jewelry pieces, feathers and vintage appliques, these purses are completely unique.

For the Love of BOWS!

I just picked up a pair of shoes on sale at the Gap for $14.99! and as I was putting them in my closet I noticed a trend in my shoe wardrobe: BOWS! This liking to bows extends to bags and clothing as well.

Clockwise from top:
Canvas ballerina flats: The Gap
Black leather with slight wedge: Bronx from Oh My Sole
Brown leather flats: SM New York from Marshall's
Gray faux leather peep toe flats: Mossimo from Target.


My two favorite bags! The first is a recent purchase, cross-body bag by Rebecca Taylor. Second is an old favorite, the straps are really wearing on this one. My in-laws gave this to me for Christmas a few years ago (actually I picked it out and they paid me back and wrapped it up for me, it doesn't get much better than that!)


Pinstripe and floral slip dress: thrifted and altered
Tri-color Swiss dot dress: Eloise from Anthropologie

I'm loving these simple leather cross-body bags. I have always appreciated the safety and convenience of fanny packs, but these fill the bill and are stylish at the same time. I can't remember where the second one is from, I think it was an ebay listing a few weeks back, so it's probably gone, but the rest are on Etsy: here, here and here.

Shoe Fly Don't Bother Me

Found these beauties on a recent vintage shoe search on Etsy.



marionkc, yesterdaysnew, RevampVintage, nstylevintage, DejaVous

BUY THESE SHOES!!!

Someone needs to buy these shoes! They have been saved in my favorites for a couple months now and they are way too small for me, but so cute! and only $20! I hope someone out there is a 5.5 or 6 and can give them a good home.

VINTAGE BARRETTES!!!!

My beautiful daughter Ruby was born with a full head of hair which has me dreaming of all the ways I will decorate it. I found these fantastic barrettes made from the most adorable vintage cabochons at Kitchen Table Studios. The only problem is, I would probably end up keeping them all for myself!

Last weekend I went to a girl's night hosted by my dear friend Rachel. I think that I was supposed to bring an hors d'oeuvre, but I didn't have any food in the house, so I brought a necklace instead. I figure that jewelry is a good substitute for anything!

My New Feathered Friends

I have noticed quite a showing lately of feathered accessories and I love them! Here are the most amazing earrings I have found thus far, from Wild Spirits on Etsy. Wild Spirits is a "small family business in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. (They) have been working with feathers for 30 years and have developed many techniques to make (their) artwork beautiful and durable." It sure is beautiful! Prices range from $20 to $34 for the styles shown. Hair accessories are also available.

Amazing SALVAGE Find: Mo & Mo Jewelry

Today, while browsing Etsy I came across a new shop, Mo & Mo Jewelry. Named after the nickname that co-owners Kathy and Anne have called each other for over ten years, Mo & Mo Jewelry is a find! One-of-a-kind jewelry reconstructed from the most unique vintage pieces I've seen, such as a tin sheep or a tiny compass. What I love most is the variety of beads and findings in the chains of these necklaces. Expect to pay a fair price for these heirloom treasures and buy with confidence knowing that you have made a wise investment for three reasons:

1. You are not adding to the waste in the world caused by new purchases.
2. You will be the only one to own this unique piece of history reinvented.
3. It will never go out of style, which makes it a much wiser purchase than the $12
necklace from H&M you just passed up.

Thank you "Mo" and "Mo" for living the Salvage Life!

RUSSEL CROWE WOULD BE PROUD!

So, I have a pair of brown leather gladiator sandals, but I still find myself scouring the internet for hours looking for another pair. I just love the contrast of a rough masculine sandal with a flowing floral dress! On my unnecessary search, I found these four pairs that unfortunately, are not my size. So, I am hoping that one of you, my readers, may be able to provide a loving home for these beauties.


Can you believe these fabulous shoes are only $20?!!!! If you are a size 6, you should snag them before they are gone. The are available from Etsy seller mariemars.



These deadstock 80's sandals with tags still attached are available from Ebay seller Mademoiselle*Vintage. Size 8. Auction closes on May 28, 2008.



Size 7, black closed toe gladiator sandals from my favorite seller IndieCultVintage.



These might be the BEST GLADIATOR STYLE SANDALS I HAVE SEEN ALL SEASON! Size 7 from Ebay seller thevintagedistrict. Available until May 25th, 2008.

UNDER LOCK AND KEY

My good friend and lovely Salvage Life model, Katie, just had a birthday and I wanted to make her something really special. I know she likes big necklaces, so I began digging through my jewelry supplies. I have had a huge collection of keys and I always love how they look around the neck, so a large skeleton key was my first piece. Secondly, I have a collection of hardware and within that was a keyhole plate. The key fit right in the keyhole...I knew it was a match! At first, I put the two on the same chain, but then I thought how great it would be to have the option of wearing them separately, if desired. The final product was a pair of necklaces that I call "Under Lock and Key." Happy Birthday Katie!