For the Love of Mary & Jesus Pieces

May 1st. The month of Mary. I have always loved religious relics, icons and art, so I was delighted when I saw the early 20th Century fleur de lis (French symbol for Mary) tins on the ceiling of my newly acquired shop. These two Italian prints have graced my walls since moving into the space. I sold the Sacred Heart of Mary last week. A tattoo artist had wanted it for ever so long, but couldn't afford it. His beautiful wife came in and purchased it for him as a Father's Day gift. There's a sold sticker on it and if he returns, I'm not going to tell him it's his. Her surprise is safe with me. Young love is wonderful. And, of course, Jesus pieces. I've had several in this shop and they continue to be a good seller. More inspiration. More reasons to believe, have faith and hope.

1960s Basketball Player Sculpture -- Made in Spain

I've had this quirky little sculpture for a number of years now and it's one of my first views when I get on the computer each day. From what I gather, these miniature works were imports from Spain in the 1960s. They consist primarily of horseshoe nails. These types of sculptures don't go for very much on-line, but I think they are wonderful and at this point they are sleepers. I'll bet within the next ten years they will become a desirable collectible or piece of art. In the meantime, I'll enjoy this little fellow as he slam dunks that basketball for me every morning.

How to Get that Chic Summertime "Mad Men" Look Part II

In a previous blog (see March 25) I discussed two major jewelry importers that flooded the market from the end of WWII until the early 80s. Japan was clearly a master of glass making as was W. Germany, but in my opinion, W. Germany far exceeded any market (including the USA) regarding plastic jewelry. Whether for fun or a sophisticated occasion, the variations and colors were endless. The first picture featured is a W. Germany four strand glass necklace from the 1960s. The rest are plastic pieces from a life like Dahlia pin made of celluloid to late 60s/early 70s faceted plastic necklaces and earrings. If the teasers are correct, the setting for Mad Men this seventh season slides into the 70s. If you want to look the part, check out your local vintage joints and you'll be sure to come across the perfect piece to accessorize that "Mad Men" look, be it from Japan, W. Germany or the USA.

1969 Female Fashions from Simplicity Sewing Magazine

I can't remember where I got this, but I have loved going through the pages and time and again have revisited this Simplicity Sewing magazine, which covers everything from how to resize a pattern to how to work with polyester fabric. The last picture posted here is a sewing room. Love, simply love it.

How to Get That Chic Summertime "Mad Men" Look

After WWII, Japan and W. Germany products flooded the American market, and where Czechoslovakia had once been queen of the glass bead, these two imports took over. Vintage Japan jewelry has always been on the top of my "to die for" list, especially when I find a necklace of glass beads or faux pearls. But one shouldn't forget the vast array of pastel colored molded plastic beauties that were so popular in the late 60s to early 70s. Here's a sampling of Japanese wares that I'm sure any sensible "Mad Men" loving woman would enjoy owning.

Gerard Manley Hopkins Called Them Inscapes

Several years ago when I was working on my Masters thesis, I came across the journals and poetry of poet/priest Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889). A brilliant philosopher and thinker, Hopkins discussed natural objects as having inscapes "unified complex characteristics that give each thing its uniqueness and that differentiate it from other things (Everett, Glenn. The Victorian Web. www.victorianweb.org). I think of the term often, especially when I begin to see the changing of the seasons, which comes later in Upstate New York than in other areas of the country.

O Mexico! -- For the Love of Mexican Vintage

One of my storefront categories on my website is "O Mexico." I have a thing about Mexican art and craftsmanship, especially stuff done for the tourist trade from the 1930s to the 1970s. One of my earliest memories regarding Mexican art revolves around my father's trip to Mexico when my family lived in Arizona in the early Sixties. When he returned, he had pop guns for my brothers and a pair of moroccos for me. They were a deep maroonish color with hand painted flowers on them. So beautiful ... It has been my good fortune to find many hand crafted items such as the moroccos over the years and they grace their presence in my shop whenever I can find them. With the drug cartels controlling much of what goes on in Mexico right now, I often wonder how the artisans who relied so much on tourist revenue are getting along. Here's a sampling of these gifted artisans' vintage wares: