welcome to my world

Hello new blog followers! I'm so excited to have you here. I thought I'd welcome you with a little photographic look at my world.

First, though, lovely proof that spring has finally come to Michigan: the blooms outside one of my favorite Grand Rapids joints, The Winchester.

These people made me. I look just like the girl on the horse.

Above photographic evidence to the contrary, I was not raised by cowpokes. But I was raised in this cowpoke-friendly state. It's not all mountains, though. There's also a fancy hotel in which you once could have traditional British tea near paintings by Maxfield Parrish.

And there's a bug museum.

I have always been an obsessive reader.

One day I ended up here, and stayed for a long time.

I once went on vacation to Prague for a week, on my own. I brought home this Alphonse Mucha poster and had it put in a fancy frame in Astoria, Queens.

I met a boy. I fell in love. I moved to the state shaped like a mitten.

I have a problem with things that smell good that is somewhat under control.

Obviously, I love vintage clothes, but I also like this stuff.

Here's a peek inside one of my closets.

This is how I like my coffee.

It makes me feel like this.

(Print by Rick Beerhorst, of Grand Rapids' amazing Studio Beerhorst.)

Cocktails are my favorite, but beer is nice, too.

xo

K

bar stools and more

Andy and I always find specialized stores with names like Batteries Etc. and Bar Stools and More (yes, real places) pretty hilarious. Bar Stools and...what? Bars? Um, cushions for the stools? Okay, yes, people need batteries for all kinds of things these days and if Meijer doesn't have the one you need, I guess you're pretty grateful for a place like Batteries Etc. But: Bar Stools and More? The mom and pop hardware and drugstore store can't survive, but Bar Stools and More does! I mean, good for them, but it confuses me. As the ways of retail so often do.

Here's a shop preview with various accessories. And more!

1980s capped toe combat boots.

Mod 1960s silver glitter slingbacks, by Fascinators.

Chestnut brown ankle boots, by Nicole.

Champagne sparkle brocade pumps, by Gaymode.

Pahk yah butts in Massachusetts--state of Massachusetts ashtray.

Rhinestone choker.

Acorns and fall foliage pin.

Pastel moonglow bead necklace.

Silk hand-rolled Schiaparelli ovals scarf.

Silk hand-rolled scarf, by Symphony.

Jewelry box with pink velvet interior and secret compartment! By Mele.

Faux mother-of-pearl travel mirror.

Deadstock 1960s mod pink plastic sunglasses.

Siamese cat figurines.

Sunny yellow 1950s Westclox kitchen timer.

1970s mushroom art!

xo

K

twins

One of my favorite Etsy phenomena is when you have a vintage something in your shop--in my case, usually a dress--and you or someone else finds its twin or near-twin! This has happened to me several times now in my year of selling on Etsy, and it tickles me every time.

Two of my dresses found their near-twins in a single day recently! The first was when Becky of the wonderful BeckyDrolenVintage shop let me know that she had the near-twin of the 1960s seersucker stripe dress in my shop. Photos below--Becky's is on the left and mine is on the right. The only difference that I can see is the collar. I'm very curious about the story behind these dresses!

The same day I got Becky's message, I was reading the Capricious Traveler blog. I have been a fan of the CapriciousTraveler shop as long as I've been selling on Etsy. I saw in Mitsie's shop update the near-twin of another of my dresses. The CapriciousTraveler dress (on the right below) is chocolate brown, has more buttons on the bodice (the same buttons that are on mine), a larger print, and a nifty white border on the bottom. (I thought mine might be missing that border because it came from our big score last summer, and that lady was quite petite and hemmed everything, but I don't see the border on the hem--unless it was cut off.) Also, Mistie's dress has the label (the previous owner of mine removed the labels from many of her dresses), so now I know it's a Henry Lee.

Found any fun twins or near-twins on Etsy?

xo

K

drumroll please...

We have a

Thank you all for your entries, and a hearty welcome to the new blog followers! I had so much fun doing this--you all are just wonderful, and I hope you'll enjoy the blog.

The winner was chosen at random using random.org's True Random Number Generator. And she is: sabrinahollyvintage! Congratulations, you have won $30.00 to spend on anything in my shop.

Like I said, I had fun doing this, so I decided, what the heck, let's have another winner. So I randomly generated another number and--congratulations to Liz/Zadoodle! You have won $20.00 to spend at SmallEarthVintage.

Winners, please drop me line, either via Etsy convo or email me at karen@smallearth.com, and give me your Etsy user name. And start shopping!

xo

K

the VERY FIRST small earth vintage giveaway!

Hurrah! We reached 100 followers on the blog today (hello and welcome, followers new and old!) and to celebrate, Small Earth Vintage will be having its first ever Giveaway!

The prize? $30.00 to spend in the shop on a one-time purchase of whatever item(s) you wish. Get $30.00 off that $100.00 + party dress you've been ogling, or buy a cute spring blouse shipped to you completely free! (The $30.00 will count toward shipping, too). Anyone anywhere is welcome to enter (but note that we cannot ship shoes or leather goods to Italy).

How to enter: You must be a blog follower to enter. Pick your favorite item from the SmallEarthVintage Etsy shop and tell me which one it is in the comments section of this post. You can Tweet and/or blog about the giveaway to gain extra chances to win--just post a link to your Tweet/post in the comments section here (I'm going to limit the number of entries to three per person).

If you're having technical issues following the blog or posting a comment, just email me at karen@smallearth.com and I'll fix you up.

The winner will be chosen at 12:00 pm noon-ish EST on Thursday, April 15.

Thanks everyone for following, reading, and playing! I can't wait to read your comments.

xo

K

flowers, beer gardens, driving with the windows open...

It's still a bit chilly, but maybe spring is here at last: we have daffodils! And there are lots of flowers and ruffles to usher in spring in this week's shop preview, but also some items for those of you who love the less than frilly gear: a vintage auto print blouse, a mod striped knit dress, and a great print blouse that will take you back to Art 101. Oh, yes, and a dress that makes me think of one of my favorite beverages.

Vintage early 1960s pink daisy dress by Wendy Woods.

1960s white on blue dotted cotton blouse.

1960s sunflower fields dress.

Sailboat wrap skirt.

1950s shirtwaist dress with fantastic folkloric deer and vine print, by Lady Guilford.

White cotton 1950s blouse with tiered collar, cuffs and pockets.

Sun blizzard dress, by Lady Bayard.

Vintage automobile ad print blouse.

Chartreuse flower vine print shirtwaist dress, by The Villager.

1950s bronze-y brown sharkskin blouse, by Lady Sutton.

1960s striped knit dress, by Nan Shire.

Cotton sateen print blouse.

Ruffled taffeta floral print dress.

1950s Hill-Day buttercup print blouse.

More ruffles! Floral print sleeveless dress with belt and ruffles cascading from the collar down the bodice.

Raspberry floral print blouse, by The Country Shirt.

Floral print muumuu in citrus colors.

Blue floral and paisley print British Ivy blouse, by Cos Cob.

Alfred Shaheen butterfly print maxi dress in pale yellow with gold and silver accents.

Paisley print blouse, by Queen Casuals.

Persian patchwork print button-up cotton dress, by Lady Bayard.

Corinthian column print blouse, by Jane Hunter.

Vintage High Life brocade cocktail dress. Yes, champagne is classier, but this dress reminds me of a tall glass of pilsner!

xo

K