The Boho Chic Skirt - A Fabulous Blast From The Past

A few days ago my sister sent me an email with all kinds of fabulous boho chic skirts attached that she had found on the net.  It took me back.....way back and brought back so many good memories.  I remember the textures, originality and swag of those skirts.  They were daring and unapologetic.  Any girl wearing one of them, you just knew she could care less what you thought...she was her own woman in every sense of the word.

Somewhere along the way though, clothes became a lot more tame.

Streamlined.  

Standardized

Sensible

Normal

 Now, only the brave, eccentric, hippies, or out of the box personalities wear these skirts.  

So sad.

And so I bring to you my fav Boho chic skirts.  It really doesn't get any better than this.  I have a closet full of them and I wear them ever so proudly.  All it takes is a few modern touches to work this look.  Whether it is shoes and accessories or a simple tee shirt, this is a super easy style to modernize and rock.

But don't just take my word for it, check these pics out and see for yourself.  Enjoy!

Cherio

One Good Deed And Some Vintage Jewelry

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When I was a little girl I remember getting one of the best gifts I have ever received from a woman who was notorious for being a grouch.  For some reason she gave a starry eyed little girl a box of vintage jewelry.  Some of them were broken but I recall being in awe of the sparkle and shine of the beads...I had died and gone to heaven.  Needless to say I was hooked ever since.

Now that I am grown, I have an even greater appreciation for vintage jewelry. I can fully appreciate the stellar craftsmanship, the fearless color palettes and unrestrained imagination that went into each piece. I just love finding one of a kind pieces that make me gasp...and trust me, I find them pretty often because I collect them. One of the things I do though, is to research and find out about the various designers in the 1930's and beyond.  It has been so very informative and inspiring to me as a designer.

Here are two of my favorite vintage jewelry designers that you may want to buy or collect:

Marcel Boucher - He was born in Paris, France where he designed for Cartier and later for his own company. Marcel Boucher is highly respected as the most imaginative designer of quality costume jewelry. His bold, meticulously executed designs is sought out by collectors from all walks of life including movie stars like Sarah Jessica Parker. Each piece is a "work of art".

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Trifari - Since the 1920s, Trifari has been one of the most respected and admired producers of costume jewelry in the United States. Trifari was Founded in the1910s by Gustavo Trifari, the Italian-immigrant son of a Napoli goldsmith, the company has designed jewelry that’s been worn by countless high-profile clients, from Mamie Eisenhower to Madonna.

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Who would have thought that one kind act from the town's grouch would bring so much joy and passion into my life for these pieces and for design as a whole...  Thanks Miss B, rest in peace.

Cherio!

Chenille or No Chenille...That Is The Question

thebellabode.

I have to admit that last week kicked my butt!  Really good. In the process I sadly had to neglect my blog for a little while.  Well, am back now and feelin good, bye bye week from hell.......honestly it felt like it.

Over the weekend I met a lady at a craft show who had the most amazing vintage chenille spreads.  It really brought back memories of my childhood.  My grandmother had lots of these beautiful spreads and ever since I could fully appreciate them I had been searching for the right one for myself.  I admit that some are over the top and somewhat unrestrained but I adore these spreads.  I like the texture, pattern and vintage fabulousness it adds to a room.  Plus, it really reminds me of my earlier years with my grand mother and those memories are very precious to me.  Check these out, would you rock one of these in your bedroom?

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Cherio!

Goodwill Hunting - Bargains For All!

When it comes to bargain shopping, I am like a lion on the Serengeti, I can stalk, hunt and negotiate with the best of them...........plus I totally enjoy the whole experience.  It is a great feeling to see your hard earned money go farther and accomplish much more than you expected.  It never gets old.


A few weeks ago, a very dear friend of mine sent me a link to www.shopgoodwill.com and as the saying goes "the rest is history".  I am obsessed with this site.   It is not just "a" goodwill shop, it is ALL of the goodwill shops in the US combined and available online.  Imagine that and I dare you not to get happy. 
From collectibles to Art, Sports memorabilia, vintage jewelry and so much more, you can find it all there on the site.  All you you need is a little patience to sort through the extensive listings.  Trust me, it pays off big time so take your time and have fun!


Once you find what you want, you can go ahead and bid on it. Just sign up/create an account which is a very easy process and you are ready to bargain!  After that, if you are the winning bidder on an item, once it is paid for, your purchase will be shipped to you.  Easy, peasy. This is perfect for anyone with an ebay business since you can buy collectibles for a good price and sell them over.  Check it out, it is so worth it.

All of the pieces shown in this post are items that I am bidding on or won already.  What do you think?

This is a very old oil painting, it is signed by the artist and worth a lot more than I paid for it. Cha ching!

This piece is a vintage necklace, the stones are glass set against a gold tone base.

This is a vintage still life I fell in love with, the colors are exquisite in this piece.

 

    And finally the piece de resistance, a Vintage Xinling Gorge Watercolor Scroll. I adore this piece. 

Cherio!

Joy To The World!

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday.  There is a wonder, grace and beauty about this season more than any other.......and there is a joy that is  truly as undeniable as it is infectious.    

One of my absolute favorite things about Christmas though, is the nativity scenes and vintage paintings depicting the birth of Christ. Although these are steadily being replaced by more commercialized or "politically correct art", this is what warms my heart and makes me feel like it's Christ-mas.  

So without further ado, here are some of the paintings and nativity scenes I am in love with at the moment, enjoy!

 

Cherio!