Copper Garden Earrings – $24

Vintage copper beads that are etched in a delicate floral design are strung on a rosy copper ballpin, suspended on handmade hammered copper rings, and finished with copper leverback earwires. A coppery garden for your ears…

These earrings are not only beautiful, but they are also part of a wonderful program called Etsy Project Embrace  (TeamEPE) and 20% of the profits will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

These earrings are in the Adorn By Amy Singley shop. I’m bookmarking this shop for sure. The jewelry is lovely and I respect an artist who also has a good heart.

Image credit: Adorn By Amy Singley at Etsy.com

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The sisters are creative by influence and choice – their interview says that they are “from a family of artists…” Courtney Spivak teaches communications at the college level, makes short independent films, and is also a musician. Christina Spivak is a stylist and commercial photographer. She’s worked in both independent and Hollywood film. The sisters began by selling their pieces in craft fairs and now their work is available at Etsy.

Here are a few pieces from thier White Owl Shop.

Blossom Lace Earrings
$18

These earrings featured hand-dyed, reclaimed vintage lace. The Blossom Lace Earrings would be a lovely Victorian accent  for day. If you are looking for something a bit more dramatic, perhaps for an evening out, then take a look at the Xandra Lace Earrings.

Xandra Lace Earrings
$22

Bolder still is the Ludivine Tulle Statement Necklace. It’s made with a reclaimed chain, a “burst of chocolate tulle”, and it’s accented with gleaming studs of pewter, silver, copper, and black metal.

Ludivine Tulle Statement Necklace
$38

Image credit: White Owl at Etsy.com

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How cool is this Ouija board necklace?!  Made from a recycled bottle cap, it measures a bit larger than 1 inch. The Ouija necklace is strung on a 24 inch ball chain. I remember getting an Ouija board for Christmas one year and it was always such a fun, but creepy experience playing with it. Either one of my girls would love this charm pendant.

Vintage Ouija Board Charm Pendant
$7.50

This pendant is more my style. I collect witch-themed items. I like that this witch has a early pin-up look to it.

Witching Hour Charm Pendant
$7.50

Check out Creative Rampage’s shop for more unique jewelry items.

Image credit: Creative Rampage at Etsy.com

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I found this gorgeous vintage sea glass Worry Locket today at the Ghost Ship shop at Etsy. Ghost Ship explains that in ancient times, Greeks would carry worry beads around to relieve stress. “The beads were often found objects and strung together to be lovingly counted in meditation.” 

I used to have a worry stone and I would rub my thumb on the smoothest part when I was stressed out. It sounds silly, but find a smooth stone or some worry beads and give it a try.

This sea glass was found along the Canadian coast and Ghost Ship speculates that it could be from old medicinal or spirit jars thrown overboard by fisherman years and years ago. It’s held safely within a silver filigree heart and hung on an 18″ long silver-plated chain.

Simply beautiful.

Image credit: Ghost Ship at Etsy.com

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Vintage Halter Dress

$37.00

The dress is estimated to be from the 1970’s and the dimensions are equivalent to a size small or an extra-small.

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Today, I found jewelry made out of vintage typewriter keys – typewriters from the 1800s-1940s. How cool is that? 

I love words and letters and anything to do with words and letters, so you might be able to guess how much I am coveting a pair of tab key earrings. The jewelry is all handmade and unique. Take a look at PreciousPastime’s shop for the Typewriter Treasures.

Vintage Typewriter Key Earrings

Vintage Typewriter Key Watch

Image credit: PreciousPastime’s Shop at Etsy.com

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Artimentary’s shop features earrings made with recycled and vintage materials.  I love these little vintage lucite roses. They remind me of either underwater sea creatures or roses on a brithday cake. Not sure which, but both interest me.

Black Rose Deco Earrings
$20

These earrings are made of vintage glass beads and brass. They would look adorable nestled in an Easter basket.

Tiny Fleur Earrings
$22

Image credit:  Artimentary’s shop at Etsy.com

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*Vintage or Resale Shops

The easiest way to go green with your style is to purchase something that’s already been around for awhile. When shopping vintage, you’ll find a particular attention to detail that is not present in newer similarly priced clothing.

This sun dress from Vintage Vixen illustrates what I mean.  Take a look at the scalloped edging, the subtle diamond embossing of the cloth, the bow-straps. Made in the 70’s this vintage dress looks spring-time fresh and infinitely wearable. It’s just one example of what you can find when you shop vintage.

Take a look at your local resale shops, as well. You can find great staples – skirts, blouses, dresses, etc – made out of good quality materials for greatly reduced prices. Or you could remake something like my good friend, Leah, does with her recycled material tote bags. The bag that I purchased for my niece was made out of two different blouses. Very clever. Very green.

Other vintage shopping avenues include flea markets, eBay, Craigslist.




*Shop a clothing swap

A swap is good for the enviornment for the very same reason that shopping vintage or resale is and by swapping you save even more money.  Many online clothing swaps are available.

SwapStyle.com is a one such many-membered swap.  It’s been featured in magazines like InStyle and Elle. The service is free to swap, sell, or buy from other members. This t-shirt dress is an example of what you can find at SwapStyle.com.

For added swapping security, you can have your address verified for a nominal fee and only deal with other “verified” members.

*Juno & Jove

Juno & Jove offers a more courture version of eco-friendly fashion. You can shop by item or designer. Juno & Jove is billed as “A Lifestyle Emporium for Women, Men & Home.”

They feature vendors who exhibit high standards of socially responsible manufacturing and business practices. This includes using materials that have a lower-impact on the environment as well as fair labor practices. This bias-cut dress is an excellent example of the exquisite items you will find in their online store.

*White Apricot.com

White Apricot.com is a virutal mall for the eco-friendly fashionista.  Click here for today’s shop discounts, including this one from Embodies that gives you 15% off of your purchase with the savings code WHTAPT08.  White Apricot has links to fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products.

*Etsy

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ve probably figured out how much I love Etsy. I love to support the little guy or in most cases, girl. Etsy is a great place to find handmade items made out of vintage, organic, sustainable, or recycled materials.

Here’s an example – a sundress made of bamboo jersey with an inset stripe of vintage scarf material from Labudde’s shop. When shopping at Etsy, use search terms like “eco-friendly,” “vingtage,” or “organic” to find what you want. Sometimes it’s tricky, but Etsy gives you the ability to sort of jump around and I’ve stumbled onto some incredible pieces this way.  New items go up daily, so keep checking back.

Vintage image credit: Vintagevixen.com

Swap image credit: SwapStyle.com

Couture image credit: Juno & Jove.com

Savings image credit: White Apricot.com

Handmade image credit: Labudde’s shop at Etsy.com

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Kelly
$150

Would you describe a little bit about your process? (Do you start with the materials or a drawing?)  How do you go from inspiration to finished piece?

The materials I start with are a combination of new & vintage pieces.  Selecting the materials to use is one of my favorite parts of the jewelry making process.  I pick based on colors that blend well with crystals to add just the perfect sparkle and shape.   My favorites tend to be vintage pieces that are extremely unique and pretty.  Pieces that inspire me are how I create each accessory.

After the materials and color combinations are selected, I then create the design.  I like to be symmetrical with my designs, but really embrace necklaces that move when worn.  This is why I work a lot with lariat styles.  Lariat necklaces move and are able to look different every day.  I also love mixing different materials, for example a chunky sliced geode offset by a crystal.  My goal is to create a real statement piece.

Tamara
$100

I love the idea of using vintage and recycled pieces to create something new and beautiful.  What gave you the idea to do that and where do you find the vintage and recycled materials?

I have always enjoyed collecting anything beautiful.  Over the years, while traveling or out and about, I started collecting jewelry from various vintage shops, estate sales and flea markets from all over the world.

For many years, the pieces remained in a drawer and untouched.  After my daughter was born, I decided to begin using my treasures to craft new jewelry.  It was such an amazing feeling to finally use elements from the past to make something new and wearable.  I was fortunate to have some really great local jewelry and beading shops in my area that were had very patient employees show me new techniques, which really helped me hone in on my craft.  After that, it really sky rocketed with demands and I have enjoyed creating jewelry ever since.

Ten percent of 1 O.A.K. by Sara proceeds go to benefit the New York Restoration Project.

Image credit: 1 O.A.K. by Sara

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Then, take a look at this lovely piece of whimsical jewelry crafted of vintage brass. It features a leaf overlay and it’s strung on a 30 inch long vintage brass chain. The Woodland Lovers pendant is item #n23 and it retails for $60 at the Anna Vintage Jewelry online shop.

Woodland Lovers – Pendant
These earrings remind me of fossilized ferns – exquisite greenery captured for all eternity in stone. Well, these ferned earrings are not quite that old, but they are made from vintage brass. They are strung on gold-filled wire and topped off with a copper love knot. Pretty. The Ferns Unroll Their Woolly coils earrings are 3.5 inches long, they are item #e24, and they retail for $55 at the Anna Vintage Jewelry shop.

The Ferns Unroll Their Woolly Coils – Earrings
Anna Vintage Jewelry is based out of Portland, Oregon. Anna builds her limited edition pieces out of vintage materials – new materials are used for some clasps and for earring ear wires. You can find out more about Anna here.

Image credit: I Heart Anna.com

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