Fantastic Plastic

One of my favourite items to sell is bakelite. Especially jewelry. I don't quite know what it is about bakelite that intrigues me so but I know whenever I find it I do the happy dance. Perhaps it's just one of those reminders, a nostalgia for the past, or maybe it's that it isn't made any more and I feel so happy about preserving it? When it comes to bakelite jewelry though I'm almost sure it's the colour.

Gorgeous reds, greens, yellows, and blues and several colours in between, shiny or matte carved or smooth as a baby's.... you get the picture. It's stunning and whimsical and oh so easy to wear. And depending on where you live it's very plentiful. 

Okay so, a little history; Bakelite is an early plastic, the official nomenclature for it is unpronounceable so I'll use it's other official name: Thermosettting phenol formaldehyde resin. Developed in New York in 1907 by Belgiun born chemist Leo Baekeland. It was used initially as an insulator in electrical items as it was prized for it's heat resistance and non conductivity. Insulators, radio and telephone casings, toys and jewelry were just a few of the many uses for this versatile plastic often referred to as "the material of a 1000 uses."

The use of bakelite for jewelry became popular in the 1930's. Figural brooches, and carved bangles being among the most desirable for collectors but many many plane bangles were made and can be purchased relatively cheaply on the bakelite jewelry market.  

Being a Canadian I'm unfortunately in the land of the few, the bakelite market is not strong here but I do find pieces like these simple bangles occasionally. I'm hoping for the day when a fabulous figural brooch comes my way, and when it does, I'm keeping it!

The Business of Customer Satisfaction

I have been selling vintage online now for about 4 years. That's a lot longer than I ever dreamed I'd be doing this and it seems (though of course are there are hard times too) that it is getting better and better. That's four years of building an online business, watching the ebb and flow. The one thing I've always been hesitant about in doing on-line sales is, I can't really deal with a live person. I often feel confused by things I read in email as I'm unable to gather the context of the words. (More than a few sales have gone awry because I misunderstood an email!) So I am always very appreciative when someone goes that extra mile to share a little of their joy after recieving an item.

Recently a woman from Hungary ordered gloves from me and was quite concerned whether she would get them in time for a special event. I was also on pins and needles because I believe, if my customers aren't happy, I'm not happy. Needless to say I was delighted when she wrote me this letter. 

Thank you so much! They arrived just in time, much sooner than I expected. Here are a few photos:

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That is the best result I could hope for and makes me feel so happy to know that in some small way I made someone happy. 

a cuppa joe

Recently I've begun selling vintage and collectible coffee mugs so I though it might be interesting to look at  the evolution of the mug and find out a bit about the coffee-splosion that has enveloped us over the last 20 years or so.

 Though coffee has been around for centuries cafe culture is relatively new especially to North America. The earliest known cafes/coffee houses in Turkey date to the 14th century. They began as social hubs where artists and philosophers gathered to exchange ideas. Since then we have been gathering around the bean for everything from social chit chat and heated political debate to making it our own personal work spaces.

 Walk into any cafe today and you'll find no less than ten people busilly typing away on their laptops. We write papers, blog, process photos, surf the internet, sell real estate, buy stocks,  and make untold number of other business deals all while supping a warm cup of coffee in a very public place. In some respects nothings's changed, it's still a social gathering place where the dark brew is consumed but one thing that has definitely changed is the size of that cup of brew.

When Bogart ordered a cup a coffee in 1942, it came in a mug about this size.

An 8 oz mug.

Order a  regular coffee today and it comes in mug like this

A 12oz mug.

I don't suppose any of us ever dreamed we'd be paying almost 5 dollars for 1 cup of the stuff but here we are.

Guess it's a good thing then that the size increased  though if it's an exponential kind of thing is this what a coffee cup will look like in 2045? 

Hmmm... I think it's coffee time :-)

Is it in the air, or in the cloth?

Okay, I apologize to any of you who are still deep in winter's grip but I must proclaim it because I can feel it, this palpable lightness in the air. The birds have ceased their huddling and are now singing in the rain. The rain itself is softer, less hostile and stinging than in December. And just yesterday I saw and heard this little hummingbird singing his heart out at the top of this tree. "it's spring, it's spring, come fly it's spring!"

I don't know why but somehow it's sent me back in time, I'm in full nostalgic mode circa 1970. Perhaps it's the youthful air of spring or perhaps the hummingbird that made me think of tropical climes.
This week I ventured to Hawaii with the purchase of this fab tie by Prince Kahio and this surfing shirt by Surfline. The bright oranges and yellows just make me happy. The fabrics polyester and bark cloth are so retro 70's they could have been my mom's curtains. Lol.

Vintage Christmas Classics

 

 No christmas is complete without a Christmas Movie. So today I thought i'd make a list (and check it twice) of my all time favourite Christmas Movies and Shows. 

Numero Uno hands down is The Christmas Story, directed by Anne Wheeler. Who doesn't love the leg lamp! Here's a clip...

Next of course is the unforgettable Grinch that evil, so evil green piece of nastiness whose heart was two sizes too small.

And the inspiration for the green meanie Good Old Ebineezer Scrooge.

Thankfully they both bounced back from their Miserly Ways. I like the 1938 classic version best.

And last but not least, the classic Charlie Brown Christmas in which Charlie Brown discovers that the true meaning of Christmas lies in in the oldest story of all, the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

and so I bid you all A Very Merry Christmas!  May you spend it in the loving arms of family and friends, and if you can't may you be the family or friend of someone who has none.

I'll be taking a break over the next couple of weeks, See you in early January, HO, HO, HO!

A Very Merry Vintage Christmas To You

A Very Merry Vintage Christmas to all Who Celebrate. I'm in a very Christmas mood today as it's snowing for the first time this year (and most likely the last) here in Lotus Land. We rarely get snow at or on Christmas so when it does snow I like to be out in it. So while I'm out I'll leave you with some Vintage Christmas images to use for gift wrapping. (If these don't print properly just google "free printable vintage Christmas images" and you'll be amazed what comes up) Don't forget to think re-use for your gift giving this year, protect the future, preserve the past.

Thanks and a SALE

Today I'd like to take the opportunity to thank my valued customers. To all who share my love of all things old, I thank you for your continued support, whether it be purchases, comments, or just encouragement in general, I do appreciate it immensely.

And to show my appreciation I'm having a winter sale.

Beat The Winter Blues Sale! 

Until December 9th, purchase any item/s over $25 in my Etsy shop and receive a 15% discount. 

 Just enter the coupon code "auntbetty25" at checkout. 

Thanks for making this a memorable year.

All the best this holiday season.