thomas keller, thumbelina necklace

Trading handmade can be wonderful, but sometimes you can just trade away stuff you don't want for stuff you do. Paperfarm and I set up a swap recently in which I sent her a couple of things I already had in exchange for a couple of items I was interested in. 

I'd been salivating after Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc at Home so she sent me a copy from my Amazon wish list. I'm so excited over this book, and I can't wait to try his recipe for lemon-brined chicken. It sounds amazing!

My partner also makes jewelry, so she made me a Thumbelina necklace for me using a tiny fairy charm, a thimble, and some little silver spoons. Isn't it cunning? I also like the silvery moon shining above. 

All in all a most satisfactory exchange!

mockingjay pin

I finally read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games last year and was blown away by how spectacular it is. It's the story of a post-apocalyptic world in which teens are chosen to outwit each other in a vicious survival game, and where winning the televised competition literally means the difference between life and death.

Each contestant is allowed to bring one memento from home, and 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen chooses to wear a mockingjay pin. The bird is evolved from a crossbreed between a mockingbird and a jabberjay, a bird created by the pitiless Capitol to spy upon its citizens. As such, it is something that should not exist--and it eventually becomes a powerful symbol for the revolution.

I loved the first book in the trilogy, which is incredibly bleak and violent and sad. As soon as I finished it I had to look for a mockingjay pin, and sure enough, there are licensed pins, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. (There should be more merchandise to come, since the book is also in the development stage for a film.) I ended up buying a pin from an Etsy seller, though, because I liked how the metal looked and the idea of supporting an independent artisan. I usually link the sellers I buy from, but in this particular case I won't, since the pin actually arrived separated from its pinback and it was a bit of a hassle to get a partial refund. After consulting a lot of different people on the best adhesive for this sort of thing, I was able to mend it (I think) with E-6000 glue.

I love it though, so in spite of the annoying buying experience I'm glad I got one. If you're interested in seeking a similar pin for yourself, there are a number of other mockingjay interpretations on Etsy as well. And if you haven't read The Hunger Games, do. It's unforgettable.

urban barn holiday faire

Yesterday we took a trip out to Escondido, California, which is about 90 minutes away from Los Angeles near San Diego. We went to the Holiday Vendor Faire at Urban Barn, which is a shabby chic-ish home goods store I'd read about on a blog somewhere.  There were pretty filmy dresses and jewelry and holiday decorations and paper ephemera everywhere, with additional vendors set up outside.

We came away with a replacement present for those matryoshka dolls (!), a tinkly vintage holiday pin for me ($2), and a carded set of buttons ($1) for a special project I have in mind. I wish there had been more vendors (both the place and the fair were on the smaller side), especially since we went a little out of our way to attend, but I think Urban Barn is relatively new so perhaps they'll grow in time.

I do so like shopping at flea and antique markets. If I could, I'd always buy gifts that had previously belonged to someone else!

vintage gloves

Some of the nicest afternoons we've had involve our spotting signs by the side of the road and suddenly pulling over. During today's jaunt around the city, we happened upon a sign for a yard sale in a very promising part of town. Hancock Park is full of beautiful old houses and meticulously manicured lawns, so we had to at least have a look. 

As it turned out, the sale was fantastic. Several sellers appeared to have banded together and set up racks and tables full of vintage clothing, housewares, jewelry, and furniture. Most everything was in great condition, and it was fun to poke through old craft supplies and books, as well as to try out fancy hats that were much too small for my head.

I did find two things which made me very happy, though--these lovely pink vintage gloves in absolutely mint condition, still in the original packaging. I'm not sure that they've ever even been tried on, the creasing is so perfect. I have a number of vintage gloves already, so I was also excited to find a long, lovely painted tin glove box to put them in. Vintage gloves vary quite a bit in price, but these certainly should have cost much more than the $5 I paid for them. But I think the lady who sold them to me was happy to give them up to someone who was clearly so giddy over them.

I haven't been able to find too much information about Crescendoe, which boasts of its "beautiful quality gloves...made of unusually fine cotton doeskin-like fabric." I think they might have been based in New York, and I've seen Vogue and Life ads from the 30s through the 50s and 60s. Such lovely lady-like things...it makes me hanker for days gone by.

I  do have to confess that although I've been collecting vintage gloves and handkerchiefs for many years, I've yet to actually wear them anywhere. What occasion would be appropriate in modern everyday life? I haven't been invited to it yet. One of these days I'm going to throw a fancy ladies' tea party and everyone can come all gussied up with her pretty gloves and flouncy skirts and floppy hats. 

accessories

I have to confess, on most days I just push my hair back in a headband or with sunglasses. I can't resist pretty hair bobbies and clips, though, especially if they're on sale. It's a little frivolous, but there are so many lovely hair accessories around these days, and beaded or sequined ones are usually actually very well priced for the amount of craftsmanship involved.

Some recent items that have found their way onto my dresser include a blue gossamer gardenia clip, golden twig branch bobbies from Urban Outfitters, a dusty pink feathered-jeweled-feather from Anthropologie, and a fancy feathered comb from teeny house bunny which has a secret charm on the underside.

Most of these can be worn either in your hair or on your hat or bag. It's especially nice when the clips come with both pin backs and with alligator clips for versatility. I think I'll add a pin back to the flowered hair pin I made last year for a wedding, which is pictured below. It's layers of silky salmon fabric burnt around the edges with a candle and fastened with sequins sewn in the middle.

I thought you might enjoy also seeing this cunning owl ring from Urban Outfitters, too. He has mesmerizing amber rhinestone eyes accenting his pale blue enamel and metal face. Of all the accessories women have, rings and bracelets might be the most fun for the wearer...since you can admire them as you're wearing them, too!

fancy cat hair bow

There are days when you're just in the mood to wear a fancy cat hair bow. On those occasions, consider turning to Christine at dailee dose, whose Etsy shop features whimsical, vintage-inspired jewelry and accessories. I snapped up this sweet little blue and white striped bow with its vintage cat cameo after seeing a tweet from Paper*Cakes. The bow is very well made, with a nice grippy clasp and the unparalleled charm of its green-eyed cat. It makes this girly girl super happy.