So charming

I found this ad in an old catalog and just had to share. How great are these charms?! Don't you wish you could see the camping charm? Or how about the motor boat racing charm that they mention? I'm really in love with the "Girls' Athletics" charm, which appears to celebrate the talent of standing quietly in a gym uniform. I've got to start collecting these.

1932 wishlist | rings

Some real beauties from the Fort Dearborn Gift Book & Catalog, 1932. Which one is your favorite? I'm partial to the Otsby & Barton Co. rings myself. You can see a real-life OB cameo here.

A relic

When I cracked the cover of this book, I made a noise that I normally reserve for sporting events. That is because I realized I was holding a relic of American retail history - a 1932 wholesale catalog from the Fort Dearborn Watch and Clock Company. This 900 page catalog features jewelry, furniture, linens, accordions, luggage, candy jars, and just about anything else you can think of. It was intended to be set out on the counter at department stores for customer's to flip through and select from. Sister copies of this catalog are in libraries - they are extremely, extremely rare.

This book has enough material to fill the blog for over a year. Every page is outstanding and reveals so much about the time period. I took it to a local consignment shop to show my favorite lady, Susie, who was born in 1933 - the year after the book was published. I joked that I would like to buy all the rings and purses at the 1932 prices and she reminded me (rather somberly) that, at that time, the average American worker made $3 a week. So, buying a $30 ring was a big deal. Anyway, Susy and I looked through the book together and when we were done she said, "Just add two zeros to these prices, and you have today's value." I think she is just about right.

Purple Deer Giveaway!

Cou cou! Today is the last day you can enter my giveaway over at the sublime Purple Deer Vintage. Who doesn't need a little star pin this time of year? Perfect on a beret, a scarf, a cardigan, a cuff . . . you get the idea!

Friday friends

Every Friday, we Twitter people do something called Follow Friday. We mention the names of twitter folks that we enjoy following in the hopes that other people will choose to follow them, too.

But I realized that not everyone uses Twitter. So I've decided to do a version of Follow Friday right here on my little blog. Every Friday you'll find a little collage of my favorite shopkeepers featuring one of my favorite things from their shop. The list will change up week to week. These are ladies who are not only talented vintage and handmade mavens, but also really great people. I hope we can all find a way to support their work!

Do you need a stamp?

Remember when I talked about my love for little stamp cases a while back? Well, I found one! Granted, it's not shaped like a letter - but antiquers can't be choosers. Now I need to find reasons to use stamps in public so that I can show it off. Or maybe I just randomly start asking people if they need stamps? Could be a good conversation starter in those long post office lines. I could also make it part of my personal introduction: Nice to meet you. My name is Emily but you can call me Duff. I have a stamp case!

What it looks like

When I close my eyes and imagine happy wintry days, this is what I see: hot drinks, cookies, naps, cute boots, something that sparkles, French words, little tins to open and close, old family photos to shuffle through, and walks to the post office - hopefully with a knitting bag full of Jean Jean Vintage parcels to mail! Of course, there is more to include in my perfect days, like chilly morning jogs, sweet nicknames called across the house to/from my hubby, and long soup making sessions. I love those, too, but couldn't find them on Etsy.

Vintage restaurant cups from Anna and Roy
Honey lavender shortbread from Whimsy & Spice
1970s City Stripe turtleneck by Dear Golden Vintage
1980s Ochre knee skirt by Oma Vintage
Vintage leather boots from Adelaide's Homesewn
1950s Royal plume pin from me
Antique pastilles tin from Deborah Vintage
Old photograph from Nana's Vintage Shop
Antique French dictionary pages from Elitas Vintage
Lavender branch pillow by Enhabiten
Vintage wool blanket from Little Byrd Vintage
1930s knitting bag by Adelines Attic

In case of a fire

Chère reader,

If you ever happen to be in the neighborhood and notice that my house is on fire, please retrieve these necklaces from my office. There are five of them hanging together on a hook. Thank you.

♥ Duff