I want Spring ~ shop update

Just a few pieces I picked up over the weekend, all going into the shop today. The weather is killing me, one moment it feels like Winter is over and the next the temperature starts dropping. From 88 degrees to 30 in two days...that's not funny Mother Nature!

So today's update is a bit of both seasons, a decidedly Spring dress to wear with a gray wool 40's cropped jacket and mink accessories. Take that!

A true lady and her hats

So last week, while scouring a local antique mall, I rounded a corner in the back to see a pretty hat box on top of a display case. Curious, I looked inside and came across the hat above with the blue and pink roses. Of course it was instant love, and I was so overwhelmed that it took me a moment to notice all of the other hat boxes completely filled with hats sitting around this particular booth.

In my price range, I began looking through all of the boxes of hats and becoming a bit unglued...each one was prettier than the last! There actually are only so many boxes one can carry, so I began taking all of the boxes up to the front desk. On my way back to the booth, I spied someone else moving the hats around. I thought " oh, great, competition for my hats!" As I got closer the gentleman says to me "oh, I am so happy that you are taking some of these hats".

I say, "Well, two things...1.) I am taking ALL of these hats and 2.) Is this your booth?"

Yes, it was his booth, he says and further goes on to say, the hats were all his mother's. Her name was Pansy Valentine and she was born in Saraland, Alabama and she married Cooper Brougher . They lived in Lexington, Kentucky. His father traveled a lot and bought hats for Pansy Valentine. She loved hats. She always wore hats. Some of these boxes are from Stewart's in Kentucky and some of them still have the original tissue and receipts in the bottom of the boxes. I started crying and he helped me carry the boxes to the front.

Ranging from the 1930's to the 1960's, I have been working to restore these hats. A gentle cleaning, some steaming and re-shaping and Voila!, above is a sneak peek into Pansy's hat collection. I think she would be happy that these are going to good homes and hopefully to some ladies that love hats as much as I do now. Thanks for reading!

Violet shop update~

When I was in the fourth grade, me and my friends formed a little gang. We called ourselves the "Purple Pearls". I don't think we did much gang-wise, no knocking over fruit stands or anything but we managed to elect ourselves a mascot (the mythical Unicorn) and get together on weekends to show off our Lisa Frank sticker collections. Point is I think there is a time in most girls young lives when purple is just the thing. Its not pink, its not blue...its just Goldilocks right.

As an adult, I admit that neutrals are more my style. But sometimes when Winter has its hold on me and I am getting a little restless, and Spring seems TOO far away, purple might once again be just the right thing. It feels close enough to gray to keep me from feeling like a rainbow and its color palette moves towards the season that I long for the most. When merely looking through seed catalogs makes me cry for the sight of Dog-tooth violets, Wisteria, lilac and sweet peas. Purple is a great color for February and lets face it, a little whimsy may be in order when you want to feel like a kid again.

Victorian MacGyver

Earlier this week, I came across these images of Victorian Chatelaines in an issue of Country Living Magazine. I have seen certain pieces like the scissors and measuring tape, eye-glass holders and ketchalls but I had no idea of the range of cool gadgets these Victorian women carried around on their necks or hips. It seems they could be ready for anything like say...

~ Crossing a muddy street in an unseemly part of town when a kind gentlemen accidentally steps on your petticoat and rips the lace. Embarrassed he offers to pay you for the damage, but only has half of what he deems as a necessary payment, so he gives you the name and address of his tailor and bids you farewell~

No problem! Here are a few things you might need~
Acorn perfume vial- Acorns were a symbol of fertility during the Victorian era
Retractable lead pencil~ Pretty much the same design used today
Celluloid and Silver Notebook~ Pages could actually be wiped clean and used again
Umbrella Needle case~sewing notions were often kept at the ready
Nail file~ We all still carry these!
Matchbook case~ because you never know and MacGyver would be proud
Shoe hook~ have you seen all of the buttons on those boots!
Dress clip~ I really like this one and if ever really long skirts come back into vogue...
Compact Mirror case~ with amethyst glass dial

Other popular chatelaine accessories are the change purse, magnifying glass, thimble and thread holders, vinaigrette, glove clamps and whatever else may have been of use to your station or profession. Needless to say is that I will be on the hunt for a few chatelaine pieces from my favorites above. Which are your favorites?

Shop update

New items in the shop right now, all with a kiss of color in their descriptions. Smoky Lilac, Stone-fruit, Amethyst, Ballerina Pink, Mother of Pearl and Truffle.