Summer Headquarters......

 In a few days we will be packing up and heading off to our summer home for our yearly extended stay.

I look forward to these few summer weeks and always find it goes by so fast. 

There is always some major project on the "to do" list we tackle. This year it is the bathroom redo.

But we do find time to rest, relax, and enjoy the company of friends and family.

 "The summer night is like a perfection of thought."  ~Wallace Stevens

And we always start each day with a long morning walk when the air is still cool.

 "In summer, the song sings itself."  ~William Carlos Williams

I will also be scouring the great flea markets, antique and second hand shops in the area, finding unique, interesting pieces to add to my shop or upcycle into one-of-a-kind jewelry!

Have a great July everyone.......and if you find your self in Ottertail County, stop by and say "HI"

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."  ~Sam Keen

GIVEAWAY TIME!

 It's been to long, and I think it's time for another Nostalgic Summer **GIVEAWAY!**

This giveaway will be FUN, a little different, and just a tiny bit of work for you. Here are all the details;

Nostalgic Summer LOVES making jewelry that makes you HAPPY...but we hardly ever see you happily wearing your new Nostalgic Summer Jewelry, so..........We here at NS would LOVE to see pictures of EVERYONE in their NS jewelry!

Here's how this will work: Don't be shy...put on your NS jewelry, your prettiest smile, and take a pic of yourself and send it to renee@nostalgicsummer.com
We will do a blog post with all the photos...and YES photoshop is allowed! (believe me, my hair and ahum...eyes need a touch of photoshop)


Now for the **GIVEAWAY** part!!! YEAH! Everyone who sends in a picture will be eligible. The prize will be $100 worth of NS jewelry! The drawing will be random so everyone has an equal chance to win!
So comb, your hair, put on some lipstick, and your NS jewelry, be creative, and send your photos to: renee@nostalgicsummer.com

Please send photos by June 26th.
Don't let Audrey & Lily down.....they would love to see you looking as GREAT in your jewelry as they do in theirs!

 Spread the word to everyone you know who owns a Nostalgic Summer piece.

It's been too long............

It has been too long since my last post, but we have been so busy here at Nostalgic Summer World Headquarters and our Summer Headquarters are now open!

So here is a short catch up with more to come very soon!

We opened the Summer Headquarters late this year, the slow to start spring and everlasting snow kept us away. But it's now open and we are ready for a lovely summer!

We participated in several wonderful Art Shows this spring, a few new and one wonderful show we did last year as a benefit for the women of Cornerstone Women’s Shelter. They were all great shows...but I'm glad the spring shows are over! We did make the Eden Prairie News for our booth at the Arts In The Park Show!

Arts In The Park

I've been hard at work on a few new pieces....I'm so happy with this new line "The Geometric Collection" and the positive response! 

Here are a few pieces from The Geometric Collection:

The Floral Triangles

The Chevron Triangles

Geometric Ovals Necklace

All the above pieces are available on Etsy

Elongated Rectangles....coming soon to Etsy

Black & White Ovals

I hope you've enjoyed this peak at our new collection....Happy June!

"And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days; Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune, And over it softly her warm ear lays." ~ James R Lowell

~ Earth Day 2013 ~

"The earth is what we all have in common."
~Wendell Berry 

 Happy Earth Day Everyone!

I have been pondering what to write for this my third Earth Day post, in my last two I introduced you to my father: Earth Day 1970-2011

And talked about my company's vision: Earth Day 2012

So....This year I want to talk a bit about how in small ways we can help to make a difference.

I run three Etsy shops, Nostalgic Summer,  Nostalgic Artifacts , and Été Nostalgique De Luxe. Needless to say I use a lot of packing materials, and when I opened Nostalgic Artifacts I was concerned with all that wasteful packing I would have to use for the very fragile items I would be selling. 

Here's how in my very small way I am trying to alleviate this problem, and maybe give all of you ideas for keeping your packaging "Green":

90% of the boxes used in all three shops are recycled. I've found if you visit your local business they will be glad to let you take used boxes off their hands, and every package I receive is recycled 100%.

All my packing material is recycled....Shredded magazines, old wrapping paper, etc....

It looks very nice when shredded!

 And great in the box!

I do have larger, fragile pieces that shredded paper will not work for, so I use packing peanuts....I KNOW THEY ARE SO BAD!....but I also get these from a local business who would otherwise throw them away, and I feel reuse is a much better idea. I do recommend to all my customers that they reuse these peanuts also.

I enclose Thank You cards in each package I'm shipping out and I use....yes you guessed it....recycled paper! I use paper samples that another business was eliminating.

I know none of these ideas are grandiose, but I feel any small step you can take will help. And if everyone took small steps we would have a grandiose change for our beautiful planet!

I would LOVE more Earth friendly ideas...so please leave them here in the comments.

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." ~John Muir

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~Native American Proverb

 

  We are linking this week with:

What We Accomplished Wednesday

*IT'S A FACEBOOK CELEBRATION!*

We've cracked open the champagne and are celebrating here at Nostalgic Summer world headquarters!

Last week Nostalgic Summer's Facebook page earned it's 777th follower...and since 7 just happens to be my favorite/lucky number I thought 777 must be really lucky.........So to celebrate I am holding a very special  "777 SALE!"

I've chosen seven pieces from the Nostalgic Summer line that I will sell at the special price of....you guessed it!...... $7.77. *WOW!*

Here is a look at each piece and the description:

Green and white tin bangle ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

Donkey Bead Pendant ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

Tin Oval Earrings ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

Tin Round Earrings ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

French Fashion Pendant ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

Happy Hour Pendant ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

Tin Heart Pendant ~ $7.77 plus shipping.

To purchase any of these seven pieces send a message to: renee@nostalgicsummer.com with the name of the item you would like, your shipping address, cc # & the 3 digit cvc on back of card. You will receive a confirmation email once we process your order. Or if you prefer we can send you a bill through Paypal.
 

The special sale will end on 4/20/13...unless items sell out sooner. This is a first come, first serve offer.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL MY 777 plus 1 FOLLOWERS!

“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small gifts.” 

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer ~

~ Flower Show Inspiration ~

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I recently attended the Macy's Flower Show "The Painted Garden" in Minneapolis. Macy's website touted the event as being "Drenched in a spectacular palette of color, this years show evokes the inspiring architecture and vibrant spirit of southern Asia." And it was gorgeous! Now I don't know if it is the lack of spring like weather, the shock of color or the excitement of a tradition my family has held for years, but I was INSPIRED!

 Walking in you were greeted by this beautiful painted elephant.

The flowers were arranged in color pallets from warm yellow, orange, red to cool blue, violet, lavender.

I was inspired by the shocks of color, and especially the mix of patterns on the umbrellas .....

To create my new tin line, "Raindrops"

"Raindrop Cluster Necklace"

Dog Tag Style "Raindrop Pendants"

These new pieces will be available at my upcoming *art/crafts shows. But if you are interested please email me at renee@nostalgicsummer.com.

*More to come on Nostalgic Summers upcoming events.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

"I am following Nature without being able to grasp her, I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."
~ Claude Monet

*Bangles!*

"Good things come to those who wait."
~ Unknown

It has been a very busy  month here at Nostalgic Summer. I'm creating new pieces for my online shops, a few upcoming shows and for a special offer just for you!

We were able to find a supplier with a great price on our vintage brass bangle blanks (that are "Made in the USA), and I would like to pass my savings along to you.

Going forward I will be offering the "Earth Friendly Repurposed Vintage Tin Bangle Bracelet"
at a new low price of $32 in Nostalgic Summer's Etsy Shop

*But the BEST NEWS is you will now be able to purchase the "Earth Friendly Repurposed Vintage Tin Bangle Bracelet" from me here or through our Facebook Page for the lower price of $30!
*This price does not include shipping.

And the EVEN BETTER NEWS is for a very limited time you can purchase TWO bangles for $55.

Just send a message to: renee@nostalgicsummer.com with the bangles you would like (all choices are in the photo below), your shipping address, cc # & the 3 digit cvc on back of card. You will receive a confirmation email once we process your order. Or if you prefer we can send you a bill through Paypal.

So tell me...are you a two bangle or a three bangle?

Happy Spring! Happy Bangle!

Send inquiries to: renee@nostalgicsummer.com.

Linking to: Common Ground: The Marketplace