A Little Creativity….Work Zone

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” ~Author Unknown

Since I’m waiting for my book to come in so I can do my last Jewelry History post, I thought I would give you a peek inside Nostalgic Summers “World Headquarters.” Actually…my spare room turned into a work space.

Now I have to tell you I am a bit organization obsessive! I love when everything is neat, organized and color coordinated. But I do admit when creativity strikes I throw all that to the wind.

So here’s a look inside my creative space.
Here’s my desk, an old enamel top table, which I am IN LOVE with! Above it is my inspiration/memory board.



This is my computer desk, also a wonderful enamel top table. I painted the bottom red originally it was industrial gray.


On top is a great old chippy blue cubby (cupboard?), and the white container on top is my puppy treat jar. (they work hard and need treat breaks).

My “helpers,” Audrey and Lily.

These next few pictures are of my props, jewelry display pieces and my great patriotic collection.


I hope you enjoyed the peek inside. I would love to hear where you spend your creative time!

Happy Halloween!
AND….I promise A Little Jewelry History, Part Five will be next!

A Little Creativity….Auction Finds

“The pearl is the queen of gems and the gem of queens.” ~ Author Unknown

Remember all the booty from my “A Day At The Auction” post? I’ve been working on lots of pieces from the loot and thought I would give a little preview of what I’ve created.

My sister in law works for Delta and the Flight Attendants are wearing pink for October in honor of BCRF’s awareness event. She purchased a necklace I had made with vintage pink rhinestones. Then she said I should think about making some pieces for October and Breast Cancer Awareness. I didn’t have much vintage in pink, so I didn’t think much about it.
But…as fate would have it, there were several great pieces of pink in the auction box I had won. So I made a few necklaces, put them on Etsy and decided to donate a portion of the sale of all pink items in my Etsy shop to BCRF.

Here are my Pink Etsy items. They are still available and a portion of sales will go to BCRF.



I also have two pink Advertising Art Pendant Necklaces that I’m including.


I have also been working with the HUGE stash of vintage pearl beads I won at the auction to create bracelets for my “Something Old/Something New” Bridal Line.



These are also available on Etsy. I have LOTS more pearls and would love to create a beautiful, unique, one of a kind keepsake for your big day.

Stay tuned next week for…..A Little Jewelry History ~ Part Five. The 60’s and 70’s!

A Day At The Auction

“Who'll give me a dollar? One dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya give me two?”

I haven’t been to an auction for years, but I found an auction bill at the grocery store in Battle Lake a few weeks ago. Among the usual auction fair it listed a large collection of costume jewelry. I was intrigued (and hooked!). The auction was Saturday, and since we were at the cabin I decided to check it out.

I forgot how great auctions are, everyone’s checking out the items, pretending they’re not really interested.

Now I don’t have a poker face…so I’m sure it was easy to see me drooling over all the vintage pearl beads, fantastic vintage brooches and clip on earrings!

Even though I didn’t hide my excitement I did pretty well. Here’s my auction bounty.


I can’t wait to get started on some new pieces! I already have an idea for the pearls!

“Well, the auctioneer was goin' about a mile a minute
He was takin' bids an' callin' them out loud
An' I guess I was really gettin' in it
'Cause I just shouted out above the crowd!”
~ John Michael Montgomery- “Sold”

A Little Jewelry History ~ Part Four: WWII/America's Golden Age

“A kiss on the hand may be quite continental
But diamonds are a girl's best friend
A kiss may be grand... but it won't pay the rental on your humble flat
Or help you at the automat
Men grow cold as girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end
But square cut or pear shape these rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's best friend” ~Marilyn Monroe

We start this jewelry history in the 1940’s. Men were away fighting the war, and women were filling the jobs they left behind. Many of the factories that had produced jewelry were now producing war related items. Many metals were restricted for costume jewelry so sterling silver was the substitute.
Costume jewelry of the 1940s could be identified in two categories: fashion and novelty. Fashion jewelry was cast from the finer metals like sterling silver, and was being produced by the major manufacturers, Coro, Trifari, Haskell, and Carnigie to name a few.

The glass stones that were so abundant previously were now in short supply. Manufacturers used them sparingly, creating bolder designs with single large faux gemstones.


Novelty Jewelry was stamped from less expensive base metals or molded from plastic. Novelty jewelry was more fun and whimsical. Patriotic jewelry was a popular theme.


The fifties brought Americas Golden Age. The war was over, and there was a lot of optimism in the country. Jewelry of this era reflected this optimism with glitzy gold tones and lots of rhinestones.


When Marilyn Monroe sang “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend,” women went crazy trying to emulate the look and rhinestones were a perfect fit.

I think this era more than any other made me fall in love with costume jewelry. I remember my grandmother letting me play with her box of “old” jewelry when I was little. It was a treasure trove of “glitzy” 1950’s brooches, bracelets and of course the famous necklace/earring sets!

Nostalgic Summer Catch Up

"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." ~Stanley Horowitz


The last two weeks have been very busy here at Nostalgic Summer, so this little post is to catch up.

First as you know from my last post I am creating a new line, “The Vintage Matchbook Advertising Art Pendant” Here are the finished pieces.




I have so many matchbooks to go through, stay tuned for more designs to come!

Also yesterday was Nostalgic Summers FIRST Art Fair. It was held at The Second Debut in St Louis Park.

I had a great time, sold several pieces and had the opportunity to get to know another wonderful artist Karla Mae. Look for a few art fair collaborations to come!
This is Karla's booth. She is a wonderful Visual Artist who creates mixed media collages, cards, custom scrapbooks and photo memory albums.


Everyone have a great fall.
And look for “A Little Jewelry History...Part Four” next week.