a guide to all things vintage
Late last year, I decided that I wanted to sell costume brooches on Etsy after getting my vintage reselling sea legs on eBay. Costume jewelry is something that I’m naturally drawn to as someone who never quite trusted herself with fine jewelry. I also appreciate how gaudy and outlandish it can be. You could show … Read more
After publishing a piece about cleaning vintage brass a few weeks ago, I wanted to take a step back and write up a quickie companion blog about finding vintage brass. I suspect that the reason why brass is so highly coveted as home decor is because it’s very versatile. Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, and mid-century … Read more
Polishing off the patina on brass is somewhat controversial—a patina can look unpleasantly grody, but sometimes the buildup is desirable on older pieces. I’ll usually leave the patina on for antique brass pieces (like this hamsa bird finial) and go in with a good scrub for more modern figurines and statues. Personally, I love that … Read more
The vintage costume brooch is a small luxury like lipstick, affordable and accessible even when it’s high end. It’s incredibly versatile as an accessory, since you can stick it on a collar, scarf, belt, or coat lapel—really anywhere if you let your imagination run wild. It can be a simple embellishment that ties an outfit … Read more
Now that spring is in full swing, I find myself, yet again, entranced by the indoor plant section at The Home Depot. Last week, I picked up a variegated pink polka dot plant, or a hypoestes if you must use the designated Latin name. In a way, I feel like I’ve come full circle, rounding … Read more
You’d think there wouldn’t be much going on in a city named after lard, but Manteca knows how to put on an event. This sleepy town throws a couple of fun festivals and markets throughout the year, including a watermelon festival, Christmas parade, and book fest. A while back, I inadvertently came across the Manteca … Read more
As a singleton over the last few years, I haven’t given Valentine’s Day much thought. But lately, I’ve been finding myself getting a little gooey over the hearts and reds that have been permeating store displays in January. It’s my Venus in Libra calling to me, I think. I simply adore the cutesy, frilly symbols … Read more
Not to brag, but I’ve been shopping secondhand since my time in the womb. When my mom was pregnant with me in the early ‘90s, she’d wander the booths at the West Wind Capitol Flea Market in San Jose with $5 to stock up on craft tools and costume jewelry. As a kid, I’d explore … Read more
This holiday season, I’ve been cutting down boxes as much as I’ve been clickety-clacking away on a laptop writing articles. One of the scariest things about starting an online vintage wares business was figuring out shipping and packaging, but I’ve managed to survive these past few months. I learned a lot of tricks of the … Read more
As the patron saint of germaphobes, it’s kind of a miracle that I more or less exclusively own a secondhand wardrobe. Let’s be real: There’s kind of an ick factor with thrifting clothes. But we’re only humans—we eat, we excrete, we get things dirty. While I skip pieces with obvious stains at the thrift store, … Read more
