Be Kind, Thrift and Rewind

Pearls, Darling Pearls!

December 6, 2014

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Pearls are a timeless classic. They look beautiful whether they are the real thing or fake. That is what makes pearls so fabulous. Even modest ladies who don’t like to wear too much sparkle can wear pearls.

Their luster is subtle yet undeniably chic. When I used to have a jewelry business where I sold a lot of earrings I could always count on pearls for a classic look that sold time and time again. I could mix them with crystal beads or rhinestone roundels, or even with little plastic colorful beads for children’s bracelets. Pearls have also been inspiration for buttons that look like pearls. Costumed pearls have been adorned within delicate patterns and been attached to veils and various clothing garments.

Real pearls are a natural organic material that comes from calcium carbonate. It is a good idea to protect your pearls from perfume, lotions, etc. It is best to put them on after you have applied these things and to not wear perfume right where your pearls will lay. The acids in perfume can effects the luster of the pearls. Also pearls can get scratch marks so it is best to store them in their original case or a soft fabric bag.

I chose some photos, from Flickr, for this post with Grace Kelly wearing pearls. I don’t think anyone can look more elegant in pearls than Grace Kelly did.

In the movie Flawless Demi Moore plays a manager in a Diamond Corporation in the 1960’s. She wears a triple layer grey pearl necklace set with earrings in the movie. After I saw that I really wanted a grey set of pearls. I got lucky and found my own grey costume pearls at a Pretty Girl discount store for a mere $3.99. I have received many compliments on the necklace every time I wear it.

I have pink pearls that were gifts. My mother gave me some pink pearls and a friend gave me a lovely fresh water pink pearl necklace. I also took a picture here of an antique pearl necklace with rose quartz that I found at a vintage market. I think pink pearls match my skin better than white or off white ones. I do enjoy all the various colors of pearls, especially in earrings. They never go out of style, so I wear them for years and years!

This sweater with the little pearl colored buttons was my great grandmother’s.

This pink pearl necklace I found at a flea market. I bought it from a vintage seller. Pearl earring a gift from my mother. They are from Claus Vollrath Designers.

Pearls and vintage jewelry from Louis Martin Jewelers at 54 West 50th Street, Rockefeller Center, NY.

These pink pearls were a gift from a friend.

St. Nickolas Eve

December 3, 2014

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When I was a child and lived in Germany, on December 6^th we used to celebrate Saint Nicholas Eve. In the evening we placed our shoes or boots outside our bedroom door in the anticipation of gifts of candy, or fruit. If we had been naughty, there was a possibility of receiving coal, and/or switches. The coal and switches were a warning to shape up before Christmas. I never received switches or coal but I remember once my brother did.

In the Netherlands the children celebrate this on the eve of the 5^th. They believe if they leave carrots and hay in their shoes or clogs for Sinterklaas’s horse, that they will receive candy, or some kind of sweets. The term Sinterklaas is where we American arrived upon our name of ‘Santa Claus.’(1) There they also believe that Sinterklaas rides a white horse and arrives with a ‘Zwarte Piet’ (a soot covered Chimney Man, called ‘Black Peters’) who will climb down the roof, or through their window, to deliver their goodies. They also believe that if they have been very naughty the ‘Zwarte Piet’ will punish them by putting them into a bag and taking them to Spain where they will be taught to behave for a year.(2) I remember seeing Zwarte Piet on a regular basis since they were hired to clean chimneys. They usually carried a tall ladder with them. They were often covered in soot unless it was very early in the day. When I lived there we even went out to buy milk in a tin jug, so things were quite different than they are now, at least here in the US.

In Bari, Italy the sailors carry a statue of Saint Nicolas out to the sea in a traditional celebration of St. Nicholas Day in hopes that the Saint will continue to bless the waters for their safe passage. (3) Apparently there had been a terrible storm in Turkey and several sailors were afraid they would die. They had prayed to St. Nicholas to save them and they saw him appear on the boat and he calmed the waters. (4) St. Nicholas, who had been a Bishop during the time of the 4^th century AD, died on December 6^th. (5) During his life he had been a wealthy man who was known to be a kind and generous person, which is how he became associated with gift giving. He often gave gifts in secret. (6) During the 16^th century in Europe for some reason the stories and tradition of St. Nicholas became unpopular. (7) There was still a need for figure to deliver gifts at Christmas time so the various countries of Europe came up with different names. In France Santa is referred to as ‘Pere Noel’, in Germany “Christ Kind’, and in the UK ‘Father Christmas.’(8) Later on, during the Victorian Era the stories of St. Nicholas became popular again. (9)

It seems every country celebrates Christmas slightly differently. Some countries celebrate St. Nicholas Eve on Dec. 5^th, and others on the 6^th. I always loved this simple tradition of setting out our shoes for St. Nicholas Eve for it was unique, a different part of Christmas that stood out from the traditional American Christmas that I know.

Footnotes: (1)-(5) and (7)-(9): http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml for kris kringle- st. nicholas

(6) http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/who-is-st-nicholas/

Fall and Winter Florals

December 2, 2014

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These are just a few pictures of fall and winter florals. Emily, my daughter sent me this photo she took of herself in her pretty floral dress. She bought it at a thrift shop. Her jacket is second hand as well. She really likes hats and often has an interesting one on.

My fall/winter florals are from my fabric allotment when I worked at Liberty of London during the late 1980’s. My friend Josephina, who used to baby sit my daughter made me both the red and black floral jumper dress and the blue floral skirt. At the time she also made Emily little matching dresses. My blue skirt actually used to be a jumper but I altered it into a skirt. Both are fine for days that aren’t super cold. They are full enough that I can layer stockings and another thin layer underneath. I have plenty of contemporary shorter skirts, yet the retro ones like this (especially dirndl skirts) I often prefer to leave midcalf length which is the way we wore them then. I admit I still draw inspiration from the German dirndls I wore as a child when I lived there for five years. The Liberty fabrics have continued to look good since I always hand wash them and use a very gentle laundry soap with no dyes or perfumes. I also never put them in the dryer.

Emily Owen’s photograph

My black cardigan is thrifted, the grey one is from Uniqlo and my blue vintage teal blue sweater is from Junk in Willamsburg. They have some nice vintage clothes if you weed through their selection. I wore a tank top underneath the teal sweater that is lacy on top and is from the 1970’s.

I have always enjoyed florals, particularly after working at Liberty of London and then later on April Cornell. I have treasured the few pieces I acquired while working for both of the businesses.

My boots in the post were both gifts. The black lace ups are Timberline’s and the other boots the designer name escapes me. Those short boots aren’t real leather. I had a problem in that the heel started to fall off. I found out the shoe cobbler can sew your heels onto the sole of the boot if that happens!

The plant holder in this post is made from a recycled front loader washer door. I used to work in a laundromat part time and the owner made it into this plant holder. When he sold the laundromat he gave it and the plant to me. Nice way to upcycle!

Fall seems to have made a rather quick escape. Most of the leaves have already fallen and most days it is really cold. There are a few warmer days here, today for instance. Soon it will be time to bundle up in thick winter sweaters!

Collaged Pictures

November 23, 2014

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This is just some fun I had collaging various pictures together. At the time I did this I had too many magazines and catalogs, and I was given some more by friends. I wanted to save the colorful, cheerful pictures I liked and find a use for them. I have always enjoyed making collages; yet with work and life being so busy I don’t often get the time I would like to make them. Below are pictures of some of the little collage pieces which could work as a book mark for a book. I coated the collages with acrylic polymer to protect them. I really enjoy the pictures of flowers and animals; plus with some house ware catalogs I was able to find pictures of printed fabrics, pillows or rugs which made a nice color combination with the other images.

In the past I have done collages on cigar boxes, canvases, various boxes, etc. It is a fun way to express one self. The John Lennon collage I did years ago was made in 1980 within three days of his death. For three days I went back to the Dakota building, where he lived and held vigil there with the other people who came to mourn his passing. Through the years the collage has weathered and turned yellow. I also made a Diane Keaton collage years ago which I have included a photo of here. I have always thought Diane Keaton is beautiful. Wood Allen’s quote that I affixed on there describes why I admire her “There is not an artificial bone in her body and not an ounce of pretension in any way.” I need to replace the frame; it fell apart when moving! I have some other collages I did with a mix of painting that are older. I actually need to do repairs on them. Excuse the glare on the photos!