Monday, August 16, 2010

Mad Men and Martinis

There is something so fabulous about the new found interest in retro glamor. Porcelain skinned pin-up girls with ruby red lips are back in style along with the fashions that movie sirens of decades past made famous. Thanks greatly in part to AMC's hit television series, Mad Men, women are rediscovering a nostalgic kind of sexy. And I couldn't be happier about it. 

I have always walked to the beat of a vintage drum with my personal look and style. Before a big night out on the town, I love to watch Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell wiggle their way through "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" as I channel my inner bombshell. I never tire of their amazing wardrobe changes and I’m so happy to see it making a resurgence in today’s pop culture.


Here is my latest Treasury called Modern Lounge. Think afternoon martinis. Think Betty Draper in a full swing skirt pushing a vacuum. Think Grace Kelly and her flawless fashion. Enjoy!

Friday, August 6, 2010

The Saucy Circus

Etsy recently changed the way their treasury system works. In the good ol’ days you needed a little bit of luck, a little bit of math and a lot of patience to “snag” a treasury once it reached the magical number of 333. It was fun, it was exciting, but it was also very frustrating at times. You couldn’t change your mind and once your chose your title the game was over. You were stuck. No wonder there were so many treasuries entitled “?????” because that was a nicer way of typing out “What the *Bleep* Am I going to Call This?”

I also found it very sad when a treasury expired and disappeared from the Etsy universe. I carefully plan out my designs, thoughtfully selecting each artist to compliment the theme and overall picture. I spend time on my treasuries. I care about them. I don’t like to see them vanish after a few, short days.  Treasuries are another form of artistic expression and I’m happy to see they now have a permanent home (other than here on my blog).

This new treasury system is fun in a different way than the previous version. While you no longer feel like you’ve hit a small jackpot, you have a lot more control over your design and how it gets viewed. Before you were allowed to create only one treasury at a time - and only one - even if you have multiple shops. Now you are allowed to curate as much as you like and showcase them with just one link.

One of the biggest additions is the ability to promote your designs through social media outlets. The big ones like Facebook, Twitter and StumbleUpon are a simple click away. And there is incentive to use them. The more clicks, views and comments your treasury gets, the closer to the top of the list it will move which is where you want to be. You could possibly even achieve the ultimate status goal - making the front page. It’s a brilliant move on Etsy’s part. Let the users do all of the promotional work.

So here it is... My first treasury created on the new system. It’s called The Saucy Circus and it was inspired by my dear friend’s sassy, new line, Voluscious Wear. Enjoy!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Cocktails, Darling?

There is something so wonderfully divine about having a cocktail party. Not a hang-out-in-jeans party, but an actual get-dressed-up-and-sip-from-real-stemware kind of soiree. Something elegant and swanky. Something that Holly Golightly herself would attend. 

I'm long over due to play the hostess role that I cultivated for many years before my little one arrived. Lately I've had the urge to hide the stuffed animals, put away the plastic toys and remove the miniature potties from the bathrooms – at least just for one night. I've been itching to pull out my stilettos, unpack the martini glasses and turn on a bit of Dean Martin for an evening reminiscent of a time long ago. 

While I contemplate actually planning this cozy cocktail event, I've designed my latest treasury, The Soiree, as my inspiration and motivation. So break out the bubbly and enjoy these glamorous sellers!

The featured shops: laralewis, RockZombieOldies, stemmefatale, makye77, LovelyVintageEtc, wheredidyougetthat, retrovertigo, allunique, Lorinczi, vintagestyle101, thevintagetreehouse, ardithanngray

The alternate items: thepickers, PhoenixDoveVintage, retrochique, MarciG

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Christmas in July

Etsy changed the way their treasury system works. Gone are the days of waiting anxiously with fingers perched on they keyboard as the minutes quickly count down to that magical number, 333. Now you can just create one. And they do not expire. While there is no more anticipation or feeling of hitting a small jackpot, this new treasury system is interesting. I have yet to create one, well, because I don't have a time limit and I know it will be there tomorrow. Fiddle-dee-dee.

While I have not sat down to curate on this new system yet, I have been honored with a placement in one! My France Journey Bottle Pendant from my Once Traveled shop was featured in this beautiful, "Christmas in July" treasury design by the gorgeous fashion boutique, Liaison.

I'm now inspired. I'm looking forward to learning the ins-and-outs of this new treasury system and the hidden secrets of cultivating beautiful, front page worthy displays. I'll keep you posted!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Rose Petals

There is something so sweet yet luxurious about roses. They are my favorite flower, not just because they are the symbol of love or because I was named after them, but because they transport me to another place and time. They are rich in history, romance and of course beauty.  MelroseFields is and incredible, rose-filled shop on Etsy. They create the most amazing, colorful dried bouquets of real flowers that I've ever seen. They preserve the essence of the flower and create long lasting, gorgeous arrangements that live on forever. Here is an example of their exquisite rose diffuser bouquets.

More roses... My favorite pale pink, rose shimmer ring just sold from my MiaRosina shop. I almost selfishly took it out of the store a while back because the petals turned out perfectly and I just loved looking at it. I hope whoever wears this ring enjoys it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

Some fun facts on roses:
  • Roses are the favorite flower for 85% of Americans
  • George Washington was rose breeder
  • The rose is New York's state flower
  • Shakespeare refers to roses more than 50 times throughout his writings