$WIN$ Show Us Your Vintage Style Contest

I was going to wait until the Jenny and Pearl Facebook page hit 300 'likes', but we're at 297 as I'm writing this and I'm impatient plus I'm listing so many cute things that I'm dying for you to see (a few of which are in my previous post).  I thought I would celebrate and award some lucky winner with a $50 store credit for Jenny and Pearl.  Good towards anything in the shop.

Of course, you want to win!   So... follow these 4 easy steps.

1.  'Like' the Jenny and Pearl Facebook page - easy, peasy lemon-squeezy!

2.  Post a picture of you, or someone you love, in their vintage best on the Jenny and Pearl FB page.  In the interest of fair play, here are a few pictures of my own to get the ball rolling.

Here I am with my brother, a menacing Santa and my sister (attempting to wink at the camera).  We are making it happen in the 60's.  My mother clearly had a thing for kids in stripes and short hair!

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!  Welcome to the 70's and our mini version of the Brady's, starring mom as Carol, Karen as Marsha, Kathy as Cindy, dad as Mike and Karl as Greg.  Groovy!

Oh the 80's - bigger hair and even bigger shoulder pads!
I'm the one on the left with the poodle hair (don't be jealous!) holding my daughter Ashley.  Next to me is my sister-in-law Shelley, Veronica, Anita (my mom) and Kathy (my sister).

Get the idea?  If you haven't survived several decades like me, post a current photo of you rocking vintage style or raid your mother's photo shoe box (I know that's where they're stored) for your family's vintage best.

3.  Wander on over to the Jenny and Pearl etsy shop, pick out the one thing you would like best (or two, or three) and mention your favorite find below your picture.

4.  Spread the love.  The picture with the most 'likes' on our Facebook page wins!  Share the picture on your own FB page to get your friends to help.

I know I've made this sound complicated, but it's really this easy.
1. Like
2. Post
3. Comment
4. Share

Do you really want to win?  Then, share your post with friends and family and beg them to vote for your picture.  I know you're not above begging.

Good luck!

**Winner will be announced Monday, May 21**

*** Congratulations to our winner, Kathy!  She chose this adorable skirt as her prize.


Thanks to everyone who bravely participated and showed us their vintage best!

Summer Fashion

I have been a busy girl lately. Shopping my heart out (I know...pity me), prepping clothes, and finally, assembling a great team to shoot all this cute stuff to put in my shop, Jenny and Pearl.

black and white hawaiian caftan

Last weekend we got together and these pictures are some of the results of that photo shoot.

80s patterned sweatshirt, high-waisted denim shorts and cross-body bag

Summer is definitely on the horizon (or already here, depending on where you live), and these clothes are sure to get you in the summer spirit!

There was a certain theme that emerged...

spring flowers circle skirt dress

color...

60s mod bleeker street dress

 Color...

bright flowered 60s angel sleeve dress

  ...and MORE color!

patterned secretary blouse and apple green wrap skirt 

So, whether your look is conservative...

floral multi-color maxi dress, suede feather purse, floppy hat

 or NOT...

mint green rockabilly dress and mint green rockabilly shirt

If you like colors that pop..

80s sheer black and gold top

...or just a bit of sparkle...

I know you will find something you love at Jenny and Pearl Vintage.

Please keep in mind, not everything shown here has been listed yet. After all, I'm only one person  - well, three actually, if you count my alter egos Jenny AND Pearl.  If you see something you like and you can't find it yet in my shop, just contact me and I can give you the specifics so you can snatch it up before anybody else does!

Thanks again to my top-notch team. Photographer - Jazmin of Jazmin Lane Photography

Stylist - Lauren Ashley Or

Models - Natalie Contreras, Rachel Rutledge, Kathy Kohler, Jenna Duncanson and...

black pearl button western shirt

...my reluctant, yet willing son-in-law Daniel Or!

And to my sweet husband Steve, who managed to pull together all the necessary equipment, just in the nick of time.  I couldn't have done it without all of you!

Change Is In The Air

Hello friends!

Wow!  It has been a long time since my last post.  I was on my way to 1000 Gifts and life hit me square in the face.  You know those times, when you're treading water just to stay afloat?  Well, that's been life in our house lately.  But it looks like we're getting some long, clean strokes and finally making some progress so... here I am.

The most exciting bit of 'life' that has happened recently is the fact that Steve and I are becoming  grandparents!  That's right, our daughter Ashley and her husband Daniel are expecting their first child - and it's a girl!  It is slowly, very slowly sinking in and I'm liking the sound of it.  

I will post a prego picture soon!


There have been other changes in the works as well.

Hibiscus Needlepoint Pillow - SOLD!

I have been selling on-line in my etsy shop for some time, with a wide variety of lovely vintage goodies.  I am shifting my focus to vintage clothing and accessories, specializing in colorful California style fashions and a bounty of fun accessories.  So, what does this mean for you?

Petite Spring Basket Watercolor - Sale price $14.40

1.  I have inventory that I'm selling off to make room for clothes.  Everything in my shop that is NOT clothing related is ON SALE now for 20% off.

Honeysuckle Pink Van Briggle Lamp - Sale price $60.00

I am trying to clear out my inventory, with new listings daily.  This is a progressive sale, and the discount will go up to 30%, then 40%.

Velvet Petals Fine Stationery - Sale Price $7.20

So...you can snatch up your favorite items now at the 20% discount or be patient, wait a week or two, and hope that the treasure you have your eyes on is still around when the discount rises to 40%!

I am very excited about this new shift for my business and can't wait to show you all the beautiful clothing I have found.

Tiffany blue Tadashi dress - $120.00

Take a look around my shop Jenny and Pearl and my sister shop Jenny and Pearl Jewelry.  Happy shopping!

My Sister, My Friend

I'm slowly making my way to 1000 Gifts. 

Today, I could think of only one,

so #23 is my sister Kathy.  

Through thick and thin...

there never was a dearer, truer friend.

Choosing Hope

I don't know if you would call it Murphy's Law or just 'life', but as soon as I set out to bravely list the 1000 things I'm grateful for, I encounter more pain in a week than I have in a long time.  

Very little of this has been my own pain, but the pain of those around me who I care for deeply.  If you are dealing with severe financial stress, the threat of homelessness, the death of a loved one, the pain of betrayal or the heaviness of depression, then you know the pain of those near and dear to me.  

At times like these, it becomes almost more than we can bear.  So, it seems very Pollyanna to list the small, daily blessings when faced with these hardcore realities.  But, I know that if I fail to acknowledge life's little treasures, the hardships that I face become heavier.

The subject of hope has come up a few times this week and the committed act of choosing hope over hopelessness.  Well, it appears as though my sister-in-law Nadine is on the same page, since she chose this topic for her blog post today.  She shared so openly and candidly that I thought I would pass along her words to you.

"I guess the choice is, you can live safely without hope and protect yourself from the chance of getting hurt but the exchange is that life is never what it could be, you’ve accepted the lowest common denominator for your life or that of your family. Or you choose hope and faith, put yourself at risk of getting let down again and again but you keep the door open to possibilities."

So, in the spirit of hope, here are the treasures I've gleaned from today, some of them little and some of them big.

#18 friendship - I couldn't survive without this!

#19 my parents - always there when I need them

#20 a better-tasting gluten free bread (I know, lame compared to the others, but so much yummier than the alternative!)

#21  hope - not because of, but in spite of the circumstances

Here's to hope!  

Read the rest of Nadine's post Choosing Hope.  Your heart will be encouraged.

   God, the one and only—
      I'll wait as long as he says.
   Everything I hope for comes from him,
      so why not?
   He's solid rock under my feet,
      breathing room for my soul,
   An impregnable castle:
      I'm set for life.  

Ps 62:5-6 (MSG)

Lazy Saturday

Today was an unusually relaxed day. 

Slept in a bit, spent time with my two favorite girls and a good friend, and did a whole lot of nothing.  I forgot how much pleasure there is in being completely, totally and unapologetically unproductive. 

Here are gifts #12-16 on my way to 1,000.

#12   the view from the hammock on my back porch

#13   the pleasure of having known Kaye, a remarkable lady who inspired yesterday's post

#14   a day with my girls

#15  being lazy

#16  hunting for treasures (I'm a garage sale junkie)

oh yes, I almost forgot,

#17  'falling back' into bed tomorrow morning after the clocks go back an hour (definitely a tie-in to #15)

Enjoy your weekend, and make time to be lazy!

A Legacy of Love

I've just begun making my way through to 1000 gifts.  Yesterday, I had my post all ready to go when I received some incredibly sad news.  I didn't know what to say, or how to respond, so I posted nothing.  I can't say I feel any better prepared today, except my mind has been filled with a single thought.  I will share that thought later, but first, the sad news.

Yesterday, my dear friends Amie and Emily, lost their beautiful mother Kaye, in a tragic car accident.  Their dad, Phil, was badly injured.

"Grandma Kaye", as she was known to so many, was one of those rare individuals.  Kaye was love in action.  She exemplified grace, mercy and compassion in a way that is hard, if not impossible, to find.  She was kind to a fault.  I take that back, there is no fault in kindness.

Her boundless energy and love for people was evident in everything she did, tirelessly giving to her family, her friends and anyone in need.

I cannot begin to imagine the pain her dear children and grandchildren are feeling at this time.  But I pray they find some measure of comfort in God's arms and in the love of family and friends.

This is the thought that has been occupying my mind. 

I feel challenged today to live the way Kaye lived

• proud of the roles of mom, wife and friend 
• giving selflessly whenever there is a need
• ready with a smile and a word of encouragement
• filled with boundless energy
• showering others with grace and love
• always ready to see the best in others
• loving Jesus, fully and completely

Grandma Kaye, thank you for your godly example and the legacy of love you have left behind.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)

Gifts #5-11

These are the gifts I'm thankful for today.

#5  listening to my daughter's speech for school - so well-written and smart!

#6  a phone call from my hard-working, newly-married, first-born daughter

#7  the perfect tart, crisp, green apple

#8  a pain-free day (a gift I thought I would never receive again)

#9   the camellias blooming by my front door

#10  a hug from my needs-a-haircut, drives-me-crazy, makes-me-laugh, candy-consuming, almost-taller-than-me teenage boy

#11  a sister-in-law who is also a holistic nutritionist - in spite of the no-sugar, no-gluten, no-dairy diet she has me on right now

What a difference in my day, looking for the gifts, instead of focusing on my needs!

One Thousand Gifts

Just discovered a new blog, well, new to me anyway.  It is called A Holy Experience.  The writer of this blog, Ann Voskamp, has also written a book "One Thousand Gifts". 

I have never read the book and have just begun reading Ann's daily posts but, right away, I was struck by the purpose of One Thousand Gifts - A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are - a recognition of the power of gratitude.

So, I have started my own One Thousand Gifts journal, where I can record daily reminders of all the beautiful gifts I have been given.  These are the first four gifts that came my way today.

#1 - the blank pages of a journal - filled with endless possibilities

#2 - ruby red pomegranates bought at a roadside stand

#3 - a text from my teenage daughter just to make me smile

#4 - wise counsel from a dear friend

I'm on my way -  4 down and 996 left to go!

DIY 1 Hour Project - Yardstick Jewelry Peg Rack

I recently moved my office/studio into our daughter's old bedroom.  I gave it a fresh coat of paint and have been slowly organizing my supplies and product to make it my own little perfect getaway.  I love it!

One of the things I really needed was a place to hang chains so they would be accessible and untangled for my jewelry making.  As I was scouring the garage for inspiration (yes, I find inspiration in odd places), I came across an old yard stick that had just the right amount of wear and vintage appeal.

I've taken that yardstick and made myself the perfect peg rack for my chains.  So, if you are looking for a fun and easy project (won't take you more than an hour, I promise), find an old yard stick or, if you don't need quite as much space, use a ruler, and follow my step-by-step instructions.

Step 1 - Assemble all your tools.  For this project you will need a hammer, a yardstick, a small nail, cup hooks or eye hooks.  You can buy cup hooks at the grocery store, hardware store, Wal Mart, etc.  I started with eye hooks but switched them out for cup hooks further on, since I felt they would hold more.

Make sure your hooks have a small screw, to avoid splitting the wood.

Step 2 - Every two inches, nail a hole into the wood to make it easier to screw in your hooks.  NOTE:  Do not try to put a hook too close to the edge or the wood will split.

My first attempt, with an old ruler.  Too close to the edge.

Step 3 - Screw your hooks into the nail holes.  I used a drill bit to help hold the small hook and give leverage.

By now, your yardstick should look something like this.

Step 4 - Make sure your yardstick is level.  Trust me, if it's not, it will irritate you every time you glance at it.

Step 4 - Use screws to attach it to the wall. Again, do not screw to close to the edge.  Do I sound like a broken record here?  Go in at least one inch.  You may need drywall anchors if you want it to hold a lot of weight.

Here's the finished project hanging on the wall by my work table.  I love the way the sun shines into my room and the beautiful aqua paint on the walls.  

Next week I will show you the rest of my space, where I work, dream and create!

I would love to see your version of this fun project.  What would you use this for?  A towel rack, key rack.  Be creative!  Post it on my Facebook page to show your craftiness!

Daniel and Lauren Ashley Wedding Photos - Part 2

Okay, I promise...after this post I will not talk about Daniel and Ashley's wedding again...ever...well, at least for a little while.

Last week, I shared pictures of the Cambodian ceremony that we celebrated.  This week, I want to share with you the pictures from the 'Big Day'.  And what a day it was.  A beautiful celebration from beginning to end.

I never imagined that having your child get married would be so emotional, wonderful, joyous and just plain fun!

So, here's a peek at the day.







Getting ready, the bride and groom were all smiles.

Brothers

 

Sisters

 

Dad, do not make me cry!

 

Walking our girl down the long, leafy aisle - it felt like a dream.

Finally, Mr and Mrs Or

The most beautiful bride ever!

 Our new family portrait

 Grandma and Poppa Vaters...look what you started!

Incredible to have so many of the Rutledge clan come from Canada to share our joy!

 After the food...

and the cake (lots of cake)...

 They danced.

 We danced.

Everybody...

I mean everybody, danced. 

 

...happily ever after.