Vintage Indie

Off the Shelf Review - Vintage Vavoom, by the editors of Romantic Homes

Vintage Vavoom (2007, Clarkson Potter, $35.00, 218pp.) by the editors of Romantic Homes magazine might just as well be called Vavoom! This just-right-sized book packs a wallop for lovers of all things vintage, and we are nothing if not that here at Vintage Indie.

      As soon as I knew Jacqueline deMontravel, the editor of Romantic Homes, was spearheading this, I was on high alert for it to come out. For those of you who put down your Romantic Homes several years ago after one too many cabbage rose and Victorian lace vignette, fear not.

      The magazine has been rehabbed into an of-the-moment, authoritative handbook where new and vintage collide in a romantic whirlwind of breath-taking rooms, little shops, gardens and get-aways. Add to that the contributions of editors-at-large like Sandra Evertson and Tara Frey, and RH is one of my top real zine picks each month. And, the book is no different, just bigger and by that, better.

      Gorgeous photography again takes center stage. I did not see a lot of reprints from the mag in use. That’s always good. There are also great instructions, shopping lists, tips from designers, even tips on HOW to shop (as if!).

      From the opening advice of creating a notebook, each chapter includes “workshops” as they are called, to help one get decorating and collecting ideas down on paper, complete with encouragement to sketch.

      All styles and time periods are given equal appreciation here, from the kitschy 1950s to the Wedgewood and Flow Blue of the late 1800s. Chinese is represented as is nautical, western, classic/traditional, colonial and more in the many themes depicted for both decorating and collecting. Advice is also given for cleaning and preserving treasured vintage items, such as linens.

      Perhaps my favorite chapter is on color-everything from a bold palette to bold splashes with dots and stripes to an even more delicious group of photos of all-white displays. Ideas for every taste make for a one very appealing book. It’s a must-have for any decorating library.

- Guest Author, Gina Smith

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*ish}

Off the Shelf Review - French Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng

The story of how I came to purchase French-Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng ( 2007 Lark Books, $19.95, 143 pp., ISBN 13:978-1-60059-096-2) is not a very exciting one, but it can serve as a disclaimer for this and any other book review you’ll ever read by anyone. Forget what the reviewers say; phone a friend.

I first saw the lovely cover in a beading magazine, I believe. The cover art and jewelry alone motivated me to search out the book. Since I belong to three book clubs, naturally I looked there first to purchase. My Crafters’ Choice club offers reader reviews, so I checked those out.

What I found for both this and Meng’s other book, The French-Inspired Home (to be reviewed soon, because I ended up buying that, too!) was discouraging to say the least. Readers thought the pictures were stingy as well as directions and that the projects were not realistic.

Funny thing as I was about to put my plastic money away, one of my on-line jewelry friends blogged about this very book and said she couldn’t wait to read it. Now, mind you, this indicated she HAD NOT read it yet, but this is someone whose jewelry I covet (and purchase), whose style I admire and hence, whose opinion I trust. So I bought the book.

Am I glad I did! Nearly every spread has a full-page color photo on one side, so see what I mean about naysayers? Ask someone whose style and taste you emulate or admire. By the way, let me give a shout out to ‘that’ person for me Lorelei  . So what does all this chumminess have to do with vintage?

The book is chock full of new ideas for vintage finds, such as beads, buttons, lace, old photos, millinery, old labels, advertisements, playing cards, game pieces, fabric, maps, coins and more. That’s a lot of ideas for a $19.95 book-very reasonable, I think. It also addresses vintage colors, vintage findings, collecting and stringing.

And even better, the jewelry is not your run-of-the-mill charm bracelet and dangle earrings. There are tons of unusual pieces: hair combs, rosary, sash, cuff, headband and more.

The presentation alone gives many creative ideas for photographing, selling and displaying one’s wares, all in such a tres chic, tres Francais way. I even found the introduction charming and compelling.

The chapters are organized by theme such as La mer, Le Marche, Le Cirque and more. Just the eye candy in La Mer alone was enough to put me over the edge. I just cannot stop looking at this book! I don’t know what better endorsement I could give than that.

But remember, trust a friend not a reviewer. So, if Vintage Indie is your friend, you know what to do! And you don’t even have to thank us!

- Guest Author, Gina Smith

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*ish}

Off The Shelf Review with Gina Smith - Vintage Style Jewelry

With the enduring popularity of DIY jewelry, beading and of course, all things vintage, it’s no surprise Bead and Button magazine just published VintageStyle Jewelry, Inspired Designs from the 1850s to the 1950s ($9.95, Kalmbach Publishing Co., ISBN 978-0-89024-739-6).

      The wider-format book-magazine features a special pull-out color pictorial history of jewelry as well as more than a dozen projects incorporating vintage pieces, antique buttons, self-made findings and new supplies.

      I most enjoyed the feature about and cover project from Diane Hyde, a former graphic artist-cum-jewelry designer who only just took up beading in 1995. Her rapid ascension to a nationally-known, award-winning beader and designer is inspiring enough for us Etsy and DIY wannabe-hers, but I also found in her recommended reading list some books I’d like to check out further.

      Following the interview are step-by-step instructions for her 1920s-style personalized pendant with easily-understood directions and photos that make it seem like “hey, I just might be able to do this!”

      As for the other projects, I had to keep reminding myself the title of the book-zine does say “inspired,” so those looking for pics of a lot of actual vintage jewelry will not find it here. The pull-out, while well organized, is short on photos, too. Even the restoration tips article is brief and not long on visuals.

      With all this in mind, I decided to check out the editor’s letter- not something I usually rush to first. The message reminded readers that the mission of the parent magazine (Bead & Button) is to “introduce contemporary, original jewelry designs,” also noting this special edition is intended to “apply a new ‘attitude’ to classic styles.” Aha! That explains it. So, depending on what you’re hoping to find, I’d recommend some bookstore aisle-reading before you commit to purchase.

      I found three of the 15 projects that I might actually do; the rest were heavy on peyote stitch and other seed-beading adventures. If you love that kind of tiny work, you may want to add this to your reference library.

      As for me, I may be an unsophisticated kid when it comes to publications, but give me pictures! And, if you’re going to call something “VintageStyle” (which they do, making it into one word), then give me vintage!

 

Next up on the jewelry shelf review: French-Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng. And, stay tuned for my review of the new Vintage Vavoom by the editors of Romantic Homes magazine.

- Guest Author, Gina Smith  

{All contributed content Gina Smith © Lilly*s of London*ish}