Planning for babytime

Remember when I made this announcement back in June? Well, here we are. It's December and our little lad is due to arrive any day. Actually, his due date was Wednesday (did you hear that, Baby?) Anyway, if there are a few days of silence here on the blog soon you can safely assume that he arrived. Mr. Jean Jean and I are very excited to meet him and introduce him to life outside of my belly.

So here's the plan: I will be taking January off for the most part, a self-imposed maternity leave from Jean Jean Vintage. You will see me on Twitter, though, and there will be excellent guest posts here on the blog (among other things). And of course the occasional baby photo! The shop will stay open with the current listings and I'll be shipping as usual, although perhaps not as speedily as before. I hope to be listing new pieces and ready to roll again in time for Valentine's Day!*

*Disclaimer: Everything that I just said will happen might not happen. I mean, who knows!? Thanks in advance for your patience as I figure out how to be a mom and have a business.

I'm famous!

 

My name appears no less than twenty times in this adorable little pamphlet for an incredible and life-changing product called "Duff's Ginger Bread Mix." According to the good people at D. Duff & Sons, thanks to this no-fuss mix a host of homes will be having ginger bread oftener and it will be mighty good for the ingredients are the best obtainable.  I'm guessing this cute ingredient book is from the late 30s or early 40s. I wonder if this stuff was any good? I suppose we'll never know!

Proof that my husband reads my blog

On Christmas morning Mr. Jean Jean led me into my office, eyes closed, and when I opened them I saw THIS hanging on my wall! Agghhh! I did a blog post about wanting an old pull-down map earlier this month (do you remember?), but I never talked to him about it in person. I had no idea he got one for me, let alone the exact map that I wishfully blogged about.  I am so happy and surprised. The map is unbelievably rad. Big points for Mr. Jean Jean. Big points.

Happy happy happy to you

 

This is the first holiday in my 30+ years that I have not spent with either my family or my in-laws. Special circumstances (we are due on the 28th!) made air travel impossible this year so we have been working to make our house cozy and comfy for just the two of us. It is also our first winter in our house (we were in California last year) so it really is new territory for us all around! I snapped a few photos around our house this morning . . .

Whatever you are up to this weekend I hope you have a restful, fun few days. I leave you with this excellent Christmas song by Ray Charles. Someone paired it with old photos from the 40s and 50s, which just makes it even better in my opinion. It makes this pregnant lady cry!

A stollen story

The other day, I was working and daydreaming about stollen. I've craved it every holiday season ever since I had my first bite a few years ago at Zingerman's. Sometimes I buy one for myself. Last year, a friend made me one and shipped it from D.C. (thank you Mariana!) This year, I realized I had no plan for stollen acquisition. Fretting, I off-handedly posted this on Twitter:

Can someone just drop by and bring me some homemade stollen? I would be ever so grateful. I would also probably kiss you and cry.

And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a tweet from my sweet friend Olivia, who replied in less than one minute:

I've got a really good recipe if want to try making it yourself! Or I could make you some : )

Now, Olivia is a seriously great baker. It is my fervent wish that someday she will open a bakery where I can order her treats by the dozen. Her recipes are often creative (the last thing she shared was a persimmon purée and chocolate muffin with buckwheat flour) and she has an unfailing sense of proportion and good taste. So naturally, I pursued her offer to make me stollen. She graciously accepted and yesterday the mailman delivered the dense, precious little loaf to my door. Please see Exhibits A-C above. It is absolutely delicious.

Olivia keeps a cooking/baking blog here and here is her stollen recipe. Also, if you live in the Ann Arbor area and find yourself in need of a special treat, I highly suggest getting in touch with her (via her blog) and discussing a custom order. You will be so pleased!

Something very special

This bracelet is to me what a cream-colored, beaded, 1920s silk chiffon flapper dress is to vintage clothing sellers. That is to say . . . it's something very special. I've only seen one other piece like this online or in real life, back in April on the Erie Basin blog. The width of the panels, the color of the glass, the cast filigree, the enamel accents - it all screams early 1900s Czechoslovakia. I just stocked it in the shop.

Locket ring

This locket ring is absolutely incredible! While I prefer to wear my lockets around my neck, I might make an exception for this 1820s beauty. The tiny compartment once held a lock of hair.

Photos courtesy of The Three Graces

Winter leaf update

Good morning! I do believe this will be the last Monday update around these parts for a while, since Baby Duff is due to make his appearance any day.  More about that later . . . for today, he is still comfy and cozy Chez Maman and I'm happily stocking the shop with some chilly blues and whites.

1. 1940s PATINAGE large rhinestone brooch | 2. 1920s STILL WATERS molded glass pin

3. 1980s FROSTED enamel leaf brooch | 4. 1960s ICICLE rhinestone earrings

5. 1920s WINTERS EDGE glass bead necklace | 6. 1960s WHITE CHRISTMAS earrings

 

Yoga Duff, Swim Duff . . . 38 weeks

   

    

      

   

At this point - 38 + weeks pregnant - things are just getting funny. I mean, my belly was cute and all for a while but now it just looks/feels like I have a small person living inside me who is rapidly running out of space. This means many things, including that I basically have five outfits that I wear for the five things that I am doing these days - walking outside, cooking, doing yoga, swimming and working in the shop. It reminds me of the themed Barbie dolls of Christamas' past . . . Tropical Vacation Barbie, Ballet Barbie, Veterinary Barbie, etc. And that just cracked me up! So here is my own version. Oh and how much do I love you? I took a full body pic in my swimsuit, that's how much.

10 days to Christmas

 

1 || Squid Whale Designs fish holder, Snug Studio wooden button
2 || Bark Decor circle scarf, The Fancy Lamb 2012 Desk Calendar
3 || Hensnest10 celluloid ring boxes, High Street Market agate coasters
4 || No Carnations Home mistletoe ornament,  Pony and Poppy dinner napkins

I know we're getting down to the wire here for online shopping, but there is still a bit of time and I couldn't help myself from doing one more of these collections! Here are a few more gift ideas, ranging from $10 to $44, from Etsyland.

Coat + Brooch = wintertime happiness

Dear Golden Fresh Fern Coat | Jean Jean Vintage Vanilla Sugar Brooch

Adeline's Attic Capelet | Jean Jean Vintage Thackeray Brooch 

Greatest Friend Hunting Jacket | Jean Jean Vintage Twinkle Lights Brooch

Wildfell Hall Hooded Cape | Jean Jean Vintage Miss Bankson Brooch

Adelaide Homesewn Green Plaid Coat | Jean Jean Vintage The Races Pin

If I could put Jean Jean Vintage brooches on some coats stocked by my favorite shopkeepers at the moment, this is how I would do it. I could daydream all day about ways to accessorize the wonderful things in their shops! Text is linked.