Fun Finds: Jewelry, Lamp and Finials

I've recently invited a few new things into my life: two pieces of vintage jewelry, a sleek industrial lamp and a trio of aged finials.  As you know, my favorite jewelry maker is the fabulous Christine Wallace.  Just today, she finished a horse-inspired brooch for me made from vintage chains and pins.

 

She also made a bracelet for my mom built around a vintage shoe buckle I purchased several years ago, which will now go into the gift closet for a future birthday or celebratory gift.  Once again, I'm so happy to have pieces brought to life with Christine's one-of-a-kind eye. 

Last weekend, I went to Atlanta with my girlfriends and found this lamp at the Horchow/Neiman Marcus outlet 50% off!  My friend can confirm there was an audible gasp when I saw this on the shelf.  It was love at first sight, even before (but especially when) I saw the price tag. 

I am also very pleased with my new trio of finials from where else but Epiphany, my favorite Nashville store.  I love these on my table, but I have a feeling I'll move them around to different areas of the condo just for fun.  They'd be great together or separate from each other.  

I hope you all have as much fun out there as I have had recently finding fun unique things to cherish!

Repurposed: Mantle Bookcase

DesignSponge is a great resource for creative event and home decor ideas.  I recently came across this bookshelf repurposed from a vintage mantle.  This is a fun way to make an inexpensive sideboard, bookcase or console.  I'm seeing stacked linens in a guest room, dishes in a breakfast nook or media storage beneath a mounted tv.  Lots of options!  I'm officially adding mantle bookcase to my to-do list. 

Street Style: Christine Wallace Vintage Jewelry

As promised, I am happy to share with you the first piece of custom man jewelry by the amazing Christine Wallace.  Handcrafted from antique elements, this is a very special addition to my personal collection.  She used bird and hand charms, a little sparkle, various chains and a tassel to complement the already fabulous antique lion crest which serves as the anchor for this piece. 

It's amazing how adding just one unique item such as this to an outfit can completely transform the look from average to exceptional.  If you look back in fashion, I feel that it's more common to see brooches and the use of classically beautiful gentlemanly accessories.  My sartorial challenge to you, my forward-thinking reader, is to take pride in exploring ways to spice up a normal look by adding something unique to you, bringing back an old-world feel in a modern and memorable way. 

A very special thanks to Brett Warren for the photographs in this feature.  His talents as a photographer can easily be recognized with a look through his work, a beautiful collection from both his New York days and recent shoots in the Nashville area.  I'm amazed by his innate recognition of and ability to capture not only an image but a memory.  

To learn about Brett and view more, visit: 

flickr.com/photos/brettastic
 

Be sure to check out more of Christine's work and current items for purchase through any of the following avenues:

Website: christinewallacevintagejewelry.com
Etsy Store: etsy.com/shop/ChristineWallace
Blog: christinewallacevintagejewelry.blogspot.com

Inside Scoop: Life In The Fun Lane

My precious Victoria, the always fabulous trendsetter, shared a site with me today that I've fallen in love with.  It's called Life In The Fun Lane.  It showcases the projects of Holly, one of the best flea market and bargain shoppers I've ever come across.  She transforms ordinary rooms into casually elegant spaces with her refined taste level, creativity and resourcefulness.  I love the site because she explains sources and prices of unique finds, archives images of her projects, shares before and after photos and passes along many words of wisdom.  Below are a few before & after photos.

Explore her blog at: www.inthefunlane.com

Explore her store WhiteBerry Reinvented at: www.whiteberryreinvented.com

*Warning: make sure you have a few hours to become completely immersed in these sites. 

 

 

 

Street Style

Inspiration.  Where do you encounter things that speak to you?  For many of us who maintain a busy lifestyle, usually it's not something on a far-away runway that grabs our attention... it's the person walking across the street, the woman in line behind you at the movies or maybe several strangers on the elevator.  Inspiration from strangers can often be gifts that life affords you in the form of anything that gives you an idea, motivates you to try something new or makes you fall in love all over again with something you already own.  Ordinary people with extraordinary style.  

Brunette Beauty

The varying shades of brown, mixed with the bold prints and juxtaposed textures somehow don't clash.  I love this look because it's the kind of outfit that I doubt was purchased on a single shopping trip.  My instinct tells me that she found the shirt and fell in love with it, then came across the pants at a different time, then decided to pull out some accessories and effortlessly created these unique pairings with items she loves and repurposes often to create different outfits.

(image source: http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/)

  

Structured Silhouette 

Every single angle is amazing.  Perfectly proportioned and structured, yet looks very comfortable. 

(image source: http://sidewalkisarunway.com)

Cozy Shrug 

I love how the grey fur complements the jeans, the black jacket to the shoe.  But mainly it's the really fun proportion created by the shoulders.  I wonder if this is attached to the jacket or a piece slipped over.  My guess from the straps hanging down is that it is an extra piece, meant to be tied.  If this is the case, I like how she chose not to tie the ends, letting them hang to create more interest. 

(image source: http://sidewalkisarunway.com)

Repurposed: Dishes To Mirror

My visits to Mississippi never disappoint.  I love visiting with my huge family, catching up with old friends, enjoying southern food and always finding fun new things around my parents' place.  My mom, in addition to being a great artist, has a really creative mind when it comes to making unique things.  Take for instance this mirror pictured below.  

Instead of throwing out special dishes when they were replaced, became chipped or broken, she set them aside.  Eventually, the assortment contained plenty of color options and she cracked them into small pieces, placed around this vintage frame and made this mosaic mirror.  For added interest, the mirror is hung over the larger existing one to create a floating look in the guest bath.  Keep an eye out at yard sales and vintage shops for fun dishes, frames or any other pieces that you see repurposed potential in.

Repurposed: Tree Skirt As Tablecloth

Thanksgiving has not yet passed and I am already decorating for the holidays.  I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself.  When I came across this vintage tree skirt (complete with hand-stitched flowers and beads) I decided to use as a centerpiece/tablecloth.  Pulling together a few other elements like these antique wine bottles from a local flea market, gold sprigs from Target and wooden finials I've collected over the years, I'm happy with how this look came together.  

Repurposed: Antique French Menus as Art

I started collecting antique French menus a few years ago.  Handwritten and designed, each is very unique.  I like to think about the special occasions, romantic restaurants, family dinners and extravagant parties these must have been created for.  Aging from the late 1800s to early 1900s, these are among my favorite finds.  I wanted to find a way to use these around my place, so I decided to display them as art without spending a fortune.  I found these large frames at Target for under $20 each.  I love the frames because they have an antique look (which normally I cringe at the thought of reproductions) but the beading and faux gilt is quite amazing on these.  Then, I searched for sheets of scrapbook paper that complemented each menu to mount them on.  This is a great idea because this paper is made especially for preserving what's attached, rather than regular paper which can turn colors over time or with light exposure.  Another fun way to use menus is in a centerpiece or on miniature stands randomly placed around a kitchen or bookshelf with recipe books.  

Repurposed: Shot Glass

As you know from my napkin/pocket square post, I enjoy exploring creative functionalities of items to give them an expanded purpose. While doing dishes today I came across my Ralph Lauren Glen Plaid shot glasses and thought of some fun ways they could be used, other than the obvious.

1) Below, I've used the shot glass as a place card for a table setting. You could easily add taller elements and make it a stand for a table number.

2) With the holidays sneaking up on us, I thought it could be fun to use as a pedestal for vintage ornaments.

3) Perhaps the most functional use is, however random, storage for items such as Q-tips on a vanity.

Repurposed: Vintage Napkin

It's always fun when you can take a unique find and create an alternate or updated purpose. This is a quick and easy way to make the ordinary extraordinary. Take for example the vintage napkin I've used as a pocket square in the picture below. I found this napkin with a hand-embroidered grey and white "A" at a local antique shop in Franklin. In addition to having my last initial embroidered, I was drawn to this vintage piece for the incredible detail. I had this altered to be a smaller handkerchief-like size, then used as a pocket square in this navy herringbone Giorgio Armani sportcoat with gray and blue details. Under the jacket is a slim fitting Dolce & Gabbana white button-up with a subtle herringbone pattern as well.

Always keep an open eye for beautiful things. If something catches your eye and you can't immediately think of a way to use it, pick it up anyway and then play around when you're feeling creative. Or email me and I'll give some tips, then write a fun post about it!

Home: Colorful Tabletop Ideas

Whenever an opportunity presents itself to be creative with your tabletop presentations, it can be really fun to mix colors and textures with vintage repurposed items. Personalized placecards are often my favorite part of the table. Vintage buttons or handles can be used to add character. I love the mix of a formal dish against a rustic surface, giving a lot of interest with little effort. Don't be scared to have fun and experiment!