The Bees Knees

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While my new colorist would disagree, I am usually of the opinion that less is more. My once honey tresses are now bordering platinum, and I look like a Playboy Bunny that's been kicked out of the mansion for getting knocked up. What does this have to do with a cartoon bee? Well today I exercized some restraint (ahem), found one item that I love, and am sharing it with you.

Which brings me to our jaunty little friend here. Made by HawkGerber, Ink, I'm in love with this love note. Plus, its G-rated enough to give to just about anyone. Mom, husband, grocery bagger, political candidate; I wish I could make it rain with these cards. Also, the Bees Knees is the name of a delicious Prohibition-era honey and gin cocktail, so you really can't go wrong here.

Moral: You can never be too blonde or have too many perfect love notes lying around.

Letterpress card. $5. HawkGerber, Ink

Behind the Curtain

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Happy to have a guest blogger on The Etsy Detective this morning. Sarah goes by many names, but Say Say Boom Boom is probably the least complicated. Take it away, Say Say!

^^^^^^^^^

Greetings Etsy Detective fans, little seester Sarah here, perhaps better known by my rapper name, "C'est Boom." If you've ever been to our childhood home, you will remember that one of it's coolest features is a vintage pull down map of the good ol' USA. While we don't use it for navigational purposes (thank you iPhone), we do use it to cover up our Dad's comically huge mounted flat screen.When pulled down during parties it hangs perfectly over the plasma and with another tug on the string, et VOILA, his Bruins games are back.

Daddio found his vintage map on Etsy and luckily, there is no shortage of these scholastic gems for all you wanderlust couch potatoes out there.

^^^^^^^^^^

EllieBean here. I'm thinking this vintage  french botanical chart would be a good alternative for a kitchen TV. Impress your guests with the assumption that you can decipher this...in French.

1950's School Map-New York's Glacial Period. $173. Gallivanting Girls.

1815 Map of Europe. $115. JenniFerocious Ink.

French Botanical Chart. $72. Bonnie &Bell.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

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[Click here to buy this find]

Mr. Etsy Detective has a change jar (magnum wine bottle), where he claims there are hundreds, perhaps THOUSANDS(!), of dollars in change, all saved up for Baby Bean's college fund. While I appreciate his enthusiasm, my estimate is that there may be $50, tops, in the bottle.

If you too believe in the power of the almighty penny and think high interest savings accounts are for sissies, I hope you'll enjoy today's finds. I love piggy banks, and these mostly vintage change-eaters. I threw the lion in for diversity, and I will tolerate no anti-porcine sentiments on this blog.

Brass Piggy Bank. $38. Buffalo Winter.

When Pigs Fly Piggy Bank. $38.99. Shabby Crabby. 

Mexican Orange Piggy Bank. $25. Plain Jane Pottery.

Vintage Cast Iron Lion Bank. $92. The Fancy Lamb.

Paper Dolls

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[Click here to buy this find]

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Happy Friday friends! Today's finds come to you from the shop of Theater Clouds by Elly MacKay. Elly's work reminds me of a modern day Ralph Cahoon, with a dash of Tim Burton melancholy and a sprinkle of Smashing Pumpkin's Tonight Tonight zeitgeist for flavor.

While I finally held my focus  and stuck to a theme (this is my brain on pregnancy hormones), Elly's other work's  feature mini Maharaja's riding tigers, blustery winter scenes and tiny ships teetering at the edge of the world. If you are in the market for some impish art, I highly recommend a click-through.

Catch. $20.

After the storm. $33.

For a moment time slowed. $18.

Economy of Scale

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Growing up, we always had a scale in our kitchen. Not to weigh things (that would be too obvious), but to hold things. Usually bananas went in the scale, but occasionally you could find tennis balls, ginger snaps, or pet food in their place.

Whatever you decide to use your scale for, you can be sure that it will be a welcome and unexpected design element for your kitchen. So weigh your options and purchase your very own brass banana hammock. I'm thinking the gorgeous cast iron blue or red from above would look awfully nice on a sunny white counter. (Ahem, I-need-it!) Sorry, I had something in my throat.

Vintage Red Cast Iron and Marble Scale. $175. LOVintageFinds.

Brass and Cast Iron Scale. $59.  j3decor.

Vintage Hanging Farmhouse Scale. $130. Marie's Maison.

Antique Blue Cast Iron Scale. $175. One Fairfax Road.

Vintage Orange Kitchen Scale. $74.95. Modern Square Vintage.

Rhinestones are a girls best friend

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[Click here to buy this find]

I get lots of requests from friends on what to post, ranging from "Find me blazer buttons" (the please is inferred) to "Hey girl, my Thai tailor is in town and I need some rare vintage silk for a smoking jacket I'm having made."

However, the most common refrain  is "Do more wedding stuff!" This weekend, a bride asked me to look into some vintage costume pieces for her upcoming nuptials, and I'll tell you what, its been a hell of a lot easier than tracking down bolts of luxurious silk paisley.

I realize this blog is meant to be curated, but I had a really hard time paring today's finds down, so I just decided to add them all. Its my blog, I do what I want. From something blue to little buzzy rhinestone bees to snowflakes fit for an ice queen, I found a little something for everyone. All under $50.

Large Vintage 60's Baby Blue Petals and Rhinestone Earrings. $17. Charlotte Sue Vintage.

1940's Bogoff Vintage Rhinestone Earrings. $50.  Gilded Elegance.

1960's Crystal Tendril Flower Earrings. $17. Papercherries.

1960's White Pink Snowflake Earrings. $8. Vintage Textile Pixie.

Vintage Feather Tulip Earrings. $26. Keepsakes by Kristi.

Pearl Cluster with Leaves. $8. Amy's Vintage and More.

The Seaside Bedroom

[Photo courtesy of Veronica Torres MIller]

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[Click here to buy this find]

I might be biased, but I don't think there is a better decor in the world than an authentic seaside cottage. I'm not talking tumbled seaglass and hydrangea art. I mean the spare, bare, awesomeness that is a stark summer bedroom, walls as thin as paper with creaky furniture and unframed oil paint. With zero sense of irony, the shelves hold decades of memories; soup cans filled with striped rocks, Bazooka Joe comics (gum included), embarrassing paperback romance novels, and all manner of beach trash. These rooms are time warps, and absolutely priceless.

Living in Georgetown (in all its hunting- portraited and silk damask glory) I struggle to remind myself and my coastally-minded husband that we need to limit the number of boats, fish and shells we keep in our home. Its a farce anyway.

So today, as I'm feeling awfully homesick for Cape Cod, enjoy some finds that might serve as a seaside starter kit of sorts (say that seven times fast.) Shipping Etsy furniture can be expensive, but this dresser is located in New Canaan, CT and just might be worth the drive, my New England friends.

Boat on the Water. $95. Original Paintings by Kris.

Vintage Painted Dresser. $445. La Grange de Silvermine.