Mint

Rikkianne Van Kirk of Chakra Pennywhistle is back today to show us part two of her vintage etsy roundup! (Doesn’t she have great taste?) If you missed it, be sure to check out her more feminine collection from yesterday. Today, it’s all about earthy colors, texture, and comfort!

For the second collection I decided to go a little more boho in style. I am really loving woven pieces. It can be a lot of fun to throw in some texture to an outfit.

Ethnic prints, woven bags, and especially the colors burnt orange and a blue green teal flow so well with each other. There is a rich earthiness to these pieces. I tried to pick items that would make an outfit pop. The crocheted necklace stands alone! I would love to wear it with a white tunic and jeans. A big stone ring would be nice too!

That straw bag is also calling my name. The colors are fantastic and the leather handles are the perfect shade, making them easily matched to a vintage platform! How about those western bow ties? I think that they could live another life pinned on the top corner of a simple tote. The possibilities are endless! I had a lot of fun with this one and hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

SHOP!

{set 1} sea lion vintage + nickie frye + dalena vintage + hog eat hog

{set 2} edward vintage + brown bag vintage + kitbits + meat market vintage

{set 3} junk envy + le petit oiseau vintage + skinny and bernie + sunday adventure club

{set 4} skinny and bernie + le amor + stephanie bracciano + my wagonette

Thanks for sharing your finds with us Rikkianne!

Today we’re really lucky to have Rikkianne Van Kirk, the talented designer behind Chakra Pennywhistle, share some of her favorite vintage clothing finds on Etsy. She’s starting off with a delicate, more feminine collection and tomorrow she’ll share her boho-style picks. Take it away, Rikkianne!

Hi there, my name is Rikkianne and I have a passion for vintage clothing. I was so pleased to receive an email from the wonderful Ellie letting me know that we share the same love for vintage style, and even some of the same favorite vintage shops on Etsy. For me, Etsy has become the place to buy vintage. Not only are the sellers very professional, but they are extremely creative folks that truly appreciate the style. It is so much fun to browse Etsy vintage shops and view the different interpretations of vintage design. It can also be very inspiring when it comes to bringing an outfit together! I am so honored to share some of my finds!

I must say that there is nothing quite like buying and wearing vintage clothing. Not only is it a fabulous form of recycling, but it brings a sense of history and appreciation for times past. Personally, I love to find pieces that have been hand sewn or hemmed to fit the previous owner. There is something so special about putting on a skirt that was altered by hand and it fitting my 5’2 frame perfectly. This is so rare, but when it happens I smile as I relate to the gal who 20 or 30 years ago had the same curse of shortness as I. Basically, vintage is the celebration of something old turned new — which can be reflected in one’s wardrobe with a simple vintage piece combined with modern day accessories or a good pair of jeans.

For the first collection I focused on a feminine color palette with simply, lovely pieces that could be brought up to date very easily (versatile and timeless). Each piece has the delicate details that only a true vintage can have. From embroidered pockets, eyelets and lace, dainty buttons, and a wide leg, all of these pieces have their own unique qualities while not going overboard — allowing them to transition easily to modern-day attire. I really love the delicate details found in the apron! The cross stitching is fabulous and the fact that the thread is black really caught my eye!  I also added a men’s shirt into the mix. I chose the tan 70′s button down with my husband in mind. My husband likes to keep things simple. He is a tee and Chuck Taylor kind of guy. While I wish that he would throw on a plaid, pearl button down every now and then, he worries that it would be a bit too much. I think that the light design of this shirt is just subtle enough to pass the husband test. It is vintage, complete with a bit of a butterfly collar, but walks that line leaning toward nice as opposed to trying too hard.

SHOP!

{set 1} my wagonette + the eves like us + faithful vintage + dalena vintage

{set 2} big brother vintage + this year’s model + revival house + noble town vintage

{set 3} brown bag vintage + ramona west + this could be you + boston vintage

{set 4} dear golden + nice + adelaide homesewn + a touch of vintage

Stay tuned for part two tomorrow!

I can usually talk my boss into buying a really nice design book for the studio, but I rarely buy them myself. They’re so expensive and after a couple years most of them look a bit dated. However, when I ran across The Handy Book of Artistic Printing at Durham’s Ox & Rabbit, I had to bring it home.

The book is completely full of that beautiful, old, American style of letterpress with ornaments and elaborate typefaces that was so popular in the late 1800s.

Although this looks like fine art today, it was actually a style common in advertising. The Handy Book of Artistic Printing is full of specimens, beautiful color schemes, and typography samples from the era. It also places Artistic Printing in an historical context, which is interesting to read about since most histories of graphic design give it very little attention.

Worth every penny! You can see more photos on Mint’s flickr.

I love this collaboration between illustrator Nate Duval and letterpress designer Linda & Harriett. You can buy them for $4.50 each right here.

Mint reader Jenny Lu is in the process of launching a line of jewelry (go Jenny!) called Albeit. The collection includes letters, numbers and symbols on delicate chains in 14K gold. She’s in the process of putting together press kits in hopes of selling her work through retail stores (both online & not) and she’s looking for feedback. So, what do you think?

You can visit Jenny’s website and purchase her jewelry here.

Durham, NC based band Bombadil has a new record, called Tarpits and Canyonlands. These beautiful illustrations were made for Bombadil by IdiotsBooks (one illustration for each song on the album).

If you live in the triangle area of NC, it gets better… Bombadil will be celebrating the disc’s release at Golden Belt on July 11. There will be ping pong, snacks, music (by The Tender Fruit, Luego, & the improvisational marching band, the Scene of the Crime Rovers) and limited edition prints of the illustrations will be sold for $25-50.

You can purchase Tarpits & Canyonlands here.

Stephanie Teague is a clothing designer from Greensboro, North Carolina, who makes really fun pieces from recycled, surplus and sustainable fabrics. She uses antique quilts, feed and flour sacks, depression dresses, and leather from old couches or jackets. From her etsy site: “Everything is handmade by me with great care. My goal is to produce comfortable couture that is also gentle on the environment. This is my passion!”

Stephanie has new designs coming soon, so keep an eye out!

[photos by Evergreen Studio]