Elva Fields Blog
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Thrill of the Hunt
It's no secret that the hunt for vintage goodies is one of my favorite parts of what I do here at Elva. It may just be THE favorite part of my "job," and it's something I learned at a young age from Mama Deb. (I've written a bit about this on our other blog...and you can read the post here.)
I've never met a flea market or antique mall I didn't love. I nearly ALWAYS leave with something wonderful...even if only an idea or inspiration, but usually with a trinket or two, too. I've also begun to introduce my own little ladies to the fun, and it occurred to me, seeing their enthusiasm and curiosity for the treasure hunt, that you all might enjoy a little behind-the-scenes action on these vintage adventures.
First, you'll need to pack a bag. I have a bit of a go-to system that works for me (after A LOT of trial and error) with some tweaking depending on whether I'm headed to an outdoor market or an indoor event that mostly involves sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. The rest is pretty standard no matter what:
~ a sturdy tote bag(I can't yet bring myself to be one of the people dragging a cart around. I have one, and I'm sure it would save my shoulders, but I'm just not ready for that kind of dedication.) The bag I usually drag along--if it isn't the favor bag from my college roommate's wedding weekend that seems to be in heavy rotation as my actual purse these days (stylish)--is this great multi-pocketed FEED bag that also zips into a small stow-away pouch size. Kind of awesome AND it feeds a student in need for an entire year. Totally awesome.
I write down everything I purchase and its price so I can keep track of costs and inventory easily--especially helpful at the end of a long day when it's a blur of buying. I also make note of any ideas that come to mind (which happens often at market) or items I may have passed up but want to circle back around to later.
~ hand sanitizerFlea markets are not the cleanest places on the planet. I mean, most of the time I'm digging through at least 40-year-old jewelry that strangers used to wear. On their bodies. Ears, necks, and wrists, specifically. And then, other shoppers at other dirty flea markets have handled and worn and wiped whatever all over the same old jewelry. If I think about it for too long, I might gag a little, actually. So...I end up using a lot of this spray lavender oil that smells fantastic and helps keeps the germs at bay. And then I feel better about eating whatever snack I brought along while I dig through dirty jewelry.
~ waterWhich leads me to bringing a snack and a drink. Sometimes flea markets have amazing concessions; other times, not so fantastic. So, it's always served me well to bring along some sustenance. Trail mix and a bkr bottle of water generally do the trick for me.
~ cashIt's king (or queen, which sounds way better) at flea markets. A few vendors these days offer credit card options through Square or other swipe-on-their-phone processing, but you'll get the best prices and the biggest smiles with the green stuff. I always bring a bunch of small bills, too, because there's nothing better than offering a dollar or two for a brooch, making the exchange, and moving on without having to wait for change.
I've taken my sweet little ladies along to market with me a few times, and they've learned to hunt alongside their die-hard-flea-fan mama. I've introduced them to my favorite jewelry vendors, many from whom I've been buying for a dozen years or more and who knew me when those little ladies were a twinkle in my eye or hanging out in my belly.
They ask a lot of questions, wheel and deal like pros, and want to try EVERYTHING on. They're amassing quite the collection. Can't wait to put 'em to work stringing beads with those vintages soon.
Aside from jewelry, I'm always scoping out other goodies from the flea or antique mall. Small ceramic and glassware dishes and containers get me every time.
Like the Viennese porcelain vase below. Between the pale blue glaze and the gilt dragon decoration, I was smitten. (Not to mention that fluted lip!)
It's now happily at home on my studio shelves, along with plenty of other finds from my vintage adventures. They bring such a smile when I'm hard at work and stop to take in the surroundings--I adore being among beautiful things to enjoy.
And I always have to sift through vintage postcards. My favorite wedding gift to give is a framed vintage card of a meaningful spot for the couple--either the place they were engaged, their honeymoon destination, or even where they married. Also super-fun for a graduation gift (their school's campus or town) or housewarming (new/old city or neighborhood).
Then there's the fashion at the flea. Scarves are a given, and occasionally I'll snag a bag or two in great condition, like this woven straw tote I spied at last week's antique mall hunt (and proceeded to use for all of the jewelry I found throughout the booths that afternoon.)
It's now at the ready on my studio door for a trip to the farmer's market down the street, a post office run, or a walk to a barre class down the block. Plus, I just like looking at it hanging there all cute and fun.
I might have gasped audibly when I spied this vintage Etienne Aigner clutch on a dark, dusty shelf at the same antique mall. The burgundy hue seems so right-on for the season, and I'm completely digging the suede with the brass horseshoe closure. Definitely a fun find.
The best part of bringing it all back to the studio is that it's often like Christmas when I begin to unpack everything. So many times, I buy in such a flurry that, by the time the day is over, I've forgotten what I found. Slowly unwrapping the goodies at home, I delight in the find all over again...and can't wait until the next opportunity to do it all over again.
Happy hunting, friends!
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Little Ladies: One Year of Making A Difference!
We're celebrating ONE YEAR of our Little Ladies collection!
These bright and fun necklaces (for kiddos and adults alike) pay it forward, providing beads and materials for a child to make one of their own in classes we teach to underprivileged kiddos in our community. (Truly, a bit of beauty for all, one bead at a time.)
We're marking the anniversary by offering $10 off any Little Ladies purchase now through the weekend with code ONEYEAR10 at checkout!
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A Few of Our Favorite Things: heirloomed
Our latest Leading Lady, Ashley Schoenith, founded a company that designs beautiful goods "inspired by the past, for generations to enjoy," and heirloomed offers so many pieces we know we'd love in our lifetime and pass down for others to do the same.
A certain thoughtfulness and attention to simple, well-executed detail pervades all of the products from heirloomed, and we found ourselves smitten with the whole site. We picked a few favorites to share with you here:
One of Ashley's original designs was an apron, inspired by time spent in the kitchen with her grandmother, and this linen waist version is a clean-lined classic.
This ceramic biscuit-cutter is at once elegant and utilitarian, and we love that it's a collaborative product between two great southern brands: heirloomed and Honeycomb Studio.
Another one for the baker or biscuit-maker, these French-style rolling pins of hand-turned oak wood bring some serious simple sophistication to the kitchen.
We've always thought our secret hidden talent would be gardening, and this would be a beautiful uniform for our days digging in the dirt.
In the meantime, we'll stick with jewelry, and this oyster shell dish for holding small trinkets is a beautiful, functional addition to a table top or shelf.We hope you'll find a few of your own favorite things over at heirloomed--we're thrilled Ashley is our latest Leading Lady!
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Leading Ladies: Ashley Schoenith of heirloomed
Five years ago, we kicked off a series called Leading Ladies, featuring some of our favorite tastemakers, bloggers, and business owners and collaborating on a one-of-a-kind Elva Fields necklace for each of them. From the wonderfully colorful Joy Cho of Oh Joy! to the dynamic duo behind Cool Mom Picks, the talented Cassandra LaValle of coco + kelley and the beautiful Bri Emery of designlovefest among others, we had such fun creating signature looks for each lady.
This time around, we're re-launching the Leading Ladies series with a twist, asking each lovely lady our latest question: What's In Your Jewelry Box? Their vintage (sometimes heirloom!) jewelry becomes the springboard for the design, and we work together to co-create an entirely new, wearable, fresh, and fun look especially for them with the materials.
First up is a gal who has created an entire business and lifestyle around appreciating and enjoying heirloom treasures. In fact, this is what founder and designer Ashley Schoenith of heirloomed states as her company's mantra:
The most cherished and beloved things one can own cannot be purchased. They must first be used and loved and enjoyed. Memories must be created, laughter had and good times spent. And only then, these things become treasures, passed down for generations to come. The next generation will appreciate this "thing" even more than you do.
Knowing this (and based on her company's name alone) it seemed highly probable she'd be up for the Leading Ladies: WIYJB? fun...and that she'd have some pretty wonderful jewelry with which to work.
We were not disappointed. Ashley sent along some amazing pieces from her vintage jewelry box (you should see the beautiful way she stores it, seen above and here on her blog) for us to consider for the project.
Emily of Elva Fields (EF): The vintage jewelry you sent is beautiful--how did you acquire it? Are they family heirlooms? Do you have any memories or stories associated with them?
Ashley of heirloomed (AS): Well, as you know I love all things vintage, especially when they are truly family heirlooms that have been passed down to me. I was so fortunate to have inherited some jewelry from my grandmother’s collection. I sent over a few choices for you, many of those were from my grandma but the brass beads we ended up going with were actually from my mom. I remember her wearing them when I was younger.
[The beads were] originally a short necklace that fell midway down the neck with lots of strands, so to see it today as something completely different design-wise is just amazing. The necklace broke many years ago, probably 15 years or so, and they’ve been sitting in my armoire in my bedroom inside a crumbled little paper bag just waiting for a special project. And to be able to bring these back to life in a new way is so special to me.
Though we sent a few proposals featuring some of the other vintage materials she sent our way (below), the bronze beads jumped out to both of us as the style to pursue.
About this above proposal that combines her heirloom beads with a few from our collections, including faceted brass from India and Africa, and a vintage braided goldtone chain at back, Ashley noted, "I love this piece so much. I am such a neutral person that I think this is probably something I'd authentically wear all the time." We considered a few other vintage chain styles for the back of the necklace (see below) but ultimately both decided the braided version suited the bead assortment best.
Once we finished up the design, we sent it to Ashley to enjoy and photograph.
EF: How might you wear them now as your new necklace? Where/what occasion--everyday look or more special occasion?
AS: I think the beauty of this new piece is that it is so transitional - it could be worn for with an everyday look, like a tank top to dress it up a bit for a girls night or even just a work / school function to look a little more put together. Or, it could totally go with a little black dress look for an event or even church. I love pieces that can take you anywhere, especially accessories since I like to keep my wardrobe pieces more in the capsule collection / basics arena. And because everything is metallic / brass / gold and neutral here, again totally my style, I know this piece will be a staple in my wardrobe. But even more special is the heirloom component, which will make me want to wear them even more often. I love how Emily mixed the tones and textures and really added elements that kept this piece feeling current for today but also reminiscent of its history and roots..
What an honor to be part of this process with her; in incorporating materials she cherished but wasn't able to wholly enjoy and creating a new heirloom for her to wear happily and with delight in the memories it holds...and to possibly pass down to generations to come.
After all, Ashley explained that, "Many of our goods are based on vintage designs so I am always on the hunt for vintage jewelry (some you can find on our Vintage Goods section of the site) when I go out to antique markets and thrift stores. It would be such a dream for me to one day design a collection of jewelry as part of our assortment that is based on vintage pieces."
Perhaps this is a sneak peek at more to come from Ashley at heirloomed! Until then...it was a pleasure to collaborate with a Leading Lady who treasures history, legacy, things handed down, and family in much the same way we do. Thanks, Ashley!
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images by Emily Maynard for Elva Fields and Heidi Geldhauser for heirloomed
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WIYJB? - FAQs
~ What does WIYJB? stand for? Why I Yell Jibberish Badly? Who Is Yammering Joyfully (about) Bourbon? Where Is Your Jelly Bean? All great guesses, but it's actually Elva speak for What's In Your Jewelry Box?
~ Why do you want to know what's in my jewelry box? Well, we're not nosy or anything, but we're definitely curious. And so many of you have told us over the years about the beautiful jewelry you have at home: vintage heirlooms from loved ones or fun finds from the flea market that would be wonderful in a design, but have been sitting--unworn--for years. And you seemed kinda sad about it. So...we thought we'd pop the question to get the ball rolling! Let's see what's in your jewelry box and find out if we can do anything great with this "forgotten" jewelry so that you can wear and enjoy these heirlooms, rather than letting them gather dust. Besides, we like to see you smile. And smiling with jewelry is even better.
~ How does it work? We created a step-by-step visual aid (see it here!) to walk you through the process, but essentially, you'd order our WIYJB Custom Design Mail-In Kit, send us your jewels, and we'll create something fantastic together from them.
~ I'm not a designer...how would I be part of the process? The good news is, we work together, so you're not alone in the designing. AND...we're big believers in the idea that EVERYONE is creative, so we're betting you have some really great ideas that might unfold as we begin the fun of creating something beautiful from your treasures. Whether you have a look through our design archives or scroll around on Pinterest, maybe even putting together a mood board for inspiration, we welcome your contribution wholeheartedly! And if you're not that into it, we'll jump in. You can be as involved as much or as little as you'd like--after all, it's your jewelry!
~ What type of jewelry can I send to you? You're talking to the team that has used salt and pepper shakers in a jewelry design, so we'd hesitate to put limitations here. However, there are a few items that seem to work best for custom designs, and we find costume jewelry is the way to go...we aren't your typical diamonds-emeralds-platinum fine jeweler. (We'll take rhinestones over rubies any day of the week!) Vintage brooches, buckles, charms, chains, beads, earrings, buttons, pendants--you name it, we can probably find a way to repurpose it in a fun and fashionable design for you to wear. And if you're not sure, we're always happy to help you decide on a jewel to send our way for the project.
~ How long does the process take? Once we receive your jewelry in its care package here in the studio, a custom design takes approximately 4-6 weeks to complete. If you have a specific deadline in mind, we are always glad to accommodate when and where we can--just ask!
~ Why is the WIYJB? Mail-In Design Kit $100? The cost of the WIYJB? Kit essentially serves as a non-refundable deposit toward your custom design. It allows us to source materials especially for you and is credited toward the final cost of the creation. If, for some reason, you decide not to proceed with a custom order after purchasing a WIYJB? Custom Care Package, you will receive a $50 merchandise credit with us that does not expire and may be used online or at any of our seasonal trunk shows.
~ How much does a custom design cost? Prices vary depending entirely upon the intricacy of the design and the materials you choose to use in the design, but our custom designs start at $350.
~ Can I give the WIYJB? Custom Care Package as a gift? Of course! How thoughtful of you! We can certainly include a gift note with your purchase (there is an option to do so during the online check-out process) to let the recipient know about the gift, and we would then work with them directly once we received their jewelry. And, the kit arrives as a linen-bound box, wrapped and ready with a beautiful bow, and will be the perfect jewelry box for the finished design once it's complete!
~ Is my jewelry safe with you? It is. The Mail-In Kit includes insurance up to $100 (if you'd like to request a larger amount, please let us know before ordering!) and your jewelry is fully insured while in the Elva Fields studio. Your finished creation will be insured for the full cost of the design upon its return to you.
~ If I send you multiple pieces, but we only use one in the design, will I get my unused jewelry back? You will...though we'll be sad to see your beautiful jewels go, we'll love knowing that one of them is now a wonderful, wearable design to be treasured for years to come! Who knows? You just might decide to create another design with us down the road, so maybe it won't be goodbye for long.
~ Whose jewelry box is featured on the blog post? So glad you asked! It was actually the inspiration for the whole WIYJB? idea several years ago, as it was my great-grandmother Elva Fields's jewelry box, handed down to me with some of her treasured heirlooms inside.
Don't see your question answered here? Email us...we love hearing from you!
