Vintage Asian Hurricane Lantern

I came across this thing at an estate sale the other day and had to have it. Yeah, I know it's all rusty and needs a new wick, but I love rusty and wicks can be replaced.

 

Here's the bottom. You can see it's stamped, 'Hong Kong,' and my research shows these were fairly common at some point.

 

But at last it has made its way into my possession. Right now, this lantern is resting on top of my printer, staring at me as I type. I'm totally cool with letting it stay right there for the next few years.

 



Silver Vintage Jewelry

I don't know what it is, but there's something about aged silver that sets my little heart on fire.  Here are some goodies to look forward to: an antique watch chain with knife, a metal cloak clasp with glass faux turquoise, that kick butt art nouveau pin (champleve and basse-taille work) and nearly blackened silver Nye pin. So hot!

www.vintagecharmsandbracelets.com

Vintage Dress and Fur Clips Meet The Modern Woman

Some of the best things about vintage jewelry are the seemingly unending ways they can be repurposed.  Dress clips, once used to decoratively cinch fabric together, are a quick way to add flair to jeans and a tee shirt.  Take these dress clips, for instance.

Now I could just pop them on a scarf in the winter, but with spring on the way, I need other ways to rock 'em.

On a pair of dress pants, they allow me to make it though the work day with a bit of bling.

Or, if I'm wearing short shorts and a t-shirt (and really is there anything better), a clip to a long silver chain means I'll always be both flashy and coordinated.

If you're looking for more dress clips or fur clips, click here.  The big question, though, is how are YOU wearing these vintage goodies today?

Stuff I found this week: Art Deco Bakelite Clock

When I found this, I flipped out. Had to have it. I overpaid to be sure, but it's cute and compact and businesslike and frivolous all at once.  I've had it going for a couple of days now and it looks like the timing is running just fine.  Total score!

Cleaning Costume Jewelry Should Not Involve Vinegar

Huge thank you to everyone out at the show this weekend! I had blast meeting all of you.

*dusts off the dust*

Since our last post, so many wonderful things have happened with the shop. It's been greatly expanded to include other vintage jewelry. We'd been selling brooches and mourning jewelry at shows, but only recently added them online (www.vintagecharmsandbracelets.com ) per request. Well have at it. I'm uploading as fast as I can. Right now I'm shooting for about 5 per day. If you're looking for something in particular, shoot me an email.

Okay, the cleaning jewelry bit

In other news, a friend who shall not be named just ruined a  beautiful piece of costume jewelry. Ruined, guys. So here's my little lesson on taking cleaning tips from people who don't handle costume jewelry:

Don't take tips from people who don't handle costume jewelry. Soaking in vinegar might work great on coins (I don't know), but should only be used on jewelry for less than five minutes. When you leave an old Trifari that is already busted by heavy verdigris in a cup of vinegar for hours and hours, it might crumble before your weeping eyes.

It crumbled before her weeping eyes. Don't be her. I'm already judging and publicly shunning her. I'm privately giving her wine on my sofa as I type this. That's good, I think. She's in that state of laughing through the tears at least. Not quite sure which stage of grief that is.

First use a brush or a toothpick. If that won't do, move up to ketchup. It's the same vinegar acid base, but you can control its movement. Just place it where it on the area of damage. You'll need to check on it by wiping off the ketchup and starting over each time, but that's the only way to make sure the acid isn't wrecking an already delicate piece.

Cliffsnotes version:
No vinegar on costume jewelry unless you check it every 0.53 seconds. Only use a vinegar dip if the other option is throwing the piece away. Victory, if granted, won't be sweet.

If you want to leave a comment laughing at her, that's fine. She's moved on from giggles to hysterics. Stage 6?

Running a Small Business and Time Management

About that title - it's hard!  Recently, I was asked to give a short bit of advice to small business owners, opening up for the first time.  We'll, running a small business means that the successes, or failures, fall on your shoulders alone.  When I first started my vintage jewelry shop, I was centrally focused on having a great stock from which customers could pull…whatever…from.  That’s good.  That's great, really. It is something every business owner should do.  But it’s certainly not enough.  If I could only offer two bits advice,  here they are:

-Know your stock.  Specialize in a certain niche market and learn everything you can about it. You must be a master of your area. You should be the reference point, and no question should stump you.  If you find that one does, stop.  Don’t talk yourself into a corner and please, don’t make up anything you can’t verify.  Instead, a simple “Let me get back to you,” will suffice.  THEN GET BACK TO THEM.  Follow up!

-Be organized. Your entire day should be mapped out.  Sorry. Owning your own business is not a free pass to do what you want all day, especially if you’re owner, manager, clerk, expediter, press manager, etc.  Have planner - I like to go old school with the Moleskines (expensive, but good!)

 Break up the early part of your day into a few sections: marketing, responding to client calls/emails, inventory, etc.  Set aside at least 15 solid minutes each, without interruption, to do all of these things.  If you work from home, that means going to a room, locking the door and hoping the kids/dogs/cats/pirates don't kill each other in the meantime.  If you don't have a shop, or office, or an extra room in your house, go to Lowes or Home Depot and buy a readymade garage.  You can insulate it for next to nothing and have a space that belongs only to you and your business.  A shed like this, already built and primed costs less than $2500

There's a finished one on the right.  Don't you love with they've done with it? The point is to have a space and a time to get done, what needs to be done in order for your business to succeed.  Hope this helps and feel free to email me with any questions!



Mad at the auction house

Guys, I have a deep and powerful sadness today and I'm not even sure it's justified. When I went to the auction, I picked up a couple of these:

Challenge coins. Now, here's the thing about them. You don't just get them for sitting on your butt all day. Somewhere along the line, someone did something pretty awesome to have been given one. Challenge coins are given by commanding officers for a job well done. So I, as always, started wondering about them. Who had them first? Who was the man who received this and why? How did it end up here? Did something happen to him and if so, why in world did his family let it go?

Made me mad.

Should it?  Probably not.

Anyway, I see myself as a savior of these things. Every time I see one at an auction or carelessly tossed aside at a yard sale, I pick up and bring it home. Someone worked hard to get it and if only for that, it's worth keeping safe.