Limited Editions: Antique Coin Dispenser and Perfume Bottle

I wanted to document two new pieces for my limited edition line of jewelry that have already come and gone. This collection consists of jewelry incorporating many of the one of a kind antique and fine curiosities I come across.

1. Sterling silver necklace chain incorporating an antique 19th century German silver dispensing coin holder locket that was once part of a chatelaine. Chatelaines were typically worn by female housekeepers in the 1800's as a belted chain holding useful household tools like scissors, watches, keys, vinaigrettes, and more. Over time, the chatelaine evolved from a mostly utilitarian use into a status symbol for the wife to the house owner. This particular dispenser holds dime and penny sized coins - which in the 1800's was most likely a significant amount of money for the lady of the house.

2. Gold plated necklace chain incorporating green Swarovski crystals and an antique brass perfume bottle with dauber and rare seal. Vial unscrews from the dauber revealing a hollowed opening in the bottle pendant. This vial still contained remnants of the perfume scent it once held.

View Past Limited Edition Entries | View Full Collection

Etsy Finds: Vintage Love

I came across these two stunning finds while in the midst of my daily Etsy "finding." I'm looking at Etsy content throughout the majority of the day for my work in merchandising, so when something stops me in my tracks, I know I've just got to share.

1. How clever is this repurposed vintage locker console? I've been dreaming about using vintage lockers as creative & decorative storage options but would have never thought to turn one on it's side. It's the little things like these that seed mainstream trends - yes you can call me on that one when these start popping up everywhere!

2. I've already got a thing for vintage dress forms. Lately, I've been on the hunt for an antique version with a solid bust just like the one above. It retains all of the vintage character but still leaves a clean palette for jewelry & styling photos. Too bad this one's reserved but I'm happy to keep the hunt alive.

From the Etsy Offices

This past week I made a quick overnight trip to be in the Etsy offices in person for a few important meetings. The shots above show some views of the office from my corner of the world and a little goofing around during off hours.

One of my favorite parts about the Brooklyn office is the fact it's dog-friendly. Each time I make the trip up I seem to be greeted by yet another new pup spending the work day in the office - that little cutie-pie above is Danielle's newest addition to her family, Miss Myrtle. She is a rescue dog from a puppy mill. Also, as you can see - one of my coworkers is out of the office on paternity leave so Christine and I decided to try his (armor gloves?) on for size.

Vintage 60's Industrial Shop Chairs

Someone seriously needs to purchase these vintage industrial shop chairs I found on Etsy this past week. They've been dangerously eating at me ever since I laid eyes on them - aren't they just gorgeous? I think they'd be perfect in an open floor plan, used as bar stools, or addition to an artist's studio. I've seen so many similar remakes cropping up across mainstream retail - but you just can't beat the real deal.

The description even notes that they've been kept in a temperature controlled storage unit since their production - sigh. I'm seeing another case of "non-buyer's remorse" in my future...

The Etsy Photo Booth

Last week I was in New York working in the Brooklyn Etsy offices. We recently had the Magnolia Photo Booth Company build one of their famous custom booths to permanently live in our dedicated Etsy Labs space - it's completely open for use by anyone attending events in the space and staff members alike. Read more about the Magnolia Photo Booth Company and their innovative take on the photo booth right here.

While in town, I finally got a chance to take the Etsy photo booth for a spin. Technically it was for a project to retake Etsy profile photos, but as you can see one thing always leads to another...

Some of my all time favorite photos came from spur of the moment photo booth sessions. There's something about the candidness of the frames, the washed out look of the film, and the limited physical nature of the strip you are left with - know what I mean? When in Brooklyn, check out the Etsy events calendar so you can hop on over and snap some shots of your own!

P.S. That's the DanielleXO and some of my fellow marketeers from Etsy posing here with me.

Such a Thing as "Non Buyer's Remorse"?

I am so relieved someone finally purchased this antique industrial laundry cart off Etsy. I had it in the favorites of both my Etsy accounts and kept coming back to spy on it. While I would have loved to have made it mine, it can haunt me and my itchy fingers no longer.

Until I meet your long lost relative Mr. Antique Industrial Laundry Cart...

944 Magazine's First Ever Wedding Issue

I love how this guest curator piece for 944 Magazine's first ever wedding issue came out. What a fun piece to collaborate on - not to mention having the opportunity to tout why Etsy is a great destination for covering all the little details concerning the big day.

I love 944's fresh take on nuptials and how they seemed to create not just another wedding zine. Find the extended feature on page 14 and view the full flip book here.

New York Jewelry Finds

I'm back down south from a whirlwind week in New York filled with both work and play. By day I got to enjoy being able to work in the DUMBO Etsy offices - always great getting to work face to face with my creative coworkers - and by night I spent time eating and drinking my way through the city with Tim while catching up with many of my friends who still live in the city.

Always must stop destinations in my free time are the jewelry supply warehouses stocked row upon row of little plastic cubbies filled with vintage, dead-stock, and raw brass findings, chains, and oddities. This trip I was able to stock up on findings, bring back a couple sold out designs, and came across some brand new (to me) vintage stock including the whistles, canisters, chains, and perfume lockets below.

I'm looking forward to working with these and the other new components I discovered while in the city. Stay tuned.

Tumblr Opens a Richmond Office

I've been so excited to learn Tumblr will be opening it's first branch outside of New York right here in Richmond, Virginia. The Richmond Tumblr office will be located in Manchester and they threw a launch party at one of our local favorites, Legend Brewing Company, last night.

Tim and I met up with another Richmond Etsy staffer at the event and the place was packed for the launch. We got the chance to chat with Tumblr's president, John Maloney, and other friendly Tumblr folks. John seemed thrilled to know Etsy already had some staff representation in RVA and said he'd be visiting the local office about once a month.

I'm so proud of Richmond - learn more about the new Tumblr office here.

Vintage Kitchen Helper

I'm so excited about this vintage green kitchen timer I picked up on Etsy from The Vintage Parlor (a great little vintage shop filled with decorative curiosities). I love how it clicks when turning the dial, counting down the minutes, and the anticipation of that startling ring. Being a chronic multitasker, I'm pretty forgetful without a list and can tend to space out in the kitchen when I have a lot going on - so this little gem will not only save some meals, but look great while doing it.

2011 Resolution: Food Evolution and Making Time

Had this post ready to go last night and the doorbell rang just as I was checking over for final edits. Was a great night; find the post in original form below:

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Once again on New Year's Eve I find myself sitting here with Tim enjoying the start to a low key evening. We have invited over some of my very best friends for a mighty feast, all ethically sound - local organic beef, local shrimp, organic potatoes, and organic greens.

Upon reflection of my past 3 food related resolutions, I'm proud to look back at where I began and how each of the small steps I've taken over these years has helped me evolve to the mindset I live each day with.

In keeping with the idea of food evolution, I've decided to join in on a challenge Tim has set: eating a solely vegan diet for the first 12 days of the new year. This means no animal byproduct whatsoever including meat, dairy, or eggs.

While neither of us plan to become vegans for the long term, we are both really interested in the challenges, hurdles, and hopefully advantages of adapting a vegan diet over the next several days. Personally, giving up meat will not be as challenging for me as giving up eggs and specifically dairy will. I know Tim's biggest challenge will be the meat.

Throughout my personal journey during this challenge, I'm hoping to find a few new alternatives for the dairy products I can't get enough of in my daily routine that might just stick with me after the 12 days are over. Tending to have higher cholesterol, transitioning into whole grains, healthy fats (oils), and antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables has been a breeze over the past few years and has even been rewarded with little weight losses here and there. Then there's dairy...a complete weakness in every way.

Wish me luck on the challenge! I'll be documenting any mood, energy, and weight changes in a follow up post once it's all over. Take a peek at the mega vegan shopping trip we made at Ellwood Thompson's earlier today over on Tim's blog - be sure to keep up over there for documented updates and recipes we'll be trying.

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In addition to the vegan challenge, this year I'm finding it more important than ever to make time for my family and friends. This time last year, I made the transition from living in Brooklyn, New York back down to my home town of Richmond, Virginia. It's been an incredible journey getting to know my roots again in a new way while working remotely for the company of my dreams.

One thing I am not as proud of is while my life continues to be amazingly busy, I've sometimes let this become an excuse for not making time to spend with those most important to me. I joke that since I've made the move back to Virginia, I haven't really seen my family and close friends any more than I did while living in New York. Long story short, time to turn that into a joke of the past.

I hope each of you are keeping safe over this New Year's Eve and are looking forward to the possibilities the new year has in store just as much as I am. Would love to get any of your tips, pointers, favorite recipes, and words of advice on the vegan diet.

Mary Andrews Named Among Inc Magazine's Masters of Etsy

I'm thrilled to be named as one of Inc Magazine's Masters of Etsy featured on Inc.com.

It was such a great experience interviewing with them and having the opportunity to share some tips for streamlining a small business I've learned over time. Being familiar with the questioning side of the interviewing process via writing Etsy's Quit Your Day Job series, this was a though provoking turn of the tables.

Hope you enj0y scrolling through and discovering some new-to-you Etsy designers (ahem, masters) included in the round up.

Trendspotting: Blazers are Back

I've never been a blazer kind of gal, but I'm starting to wonder if this just might be the year.

Piggybacking on the menswear looks trending as of late, these simple cuts and clean lines might sway me into the land of the fashionably preppy.

Looks via:

Black Leather Jacket: Lookbook
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Studded Collar Blazer: devaniweaver, Etsy
Gray Capped Sleeve Blazer: Urban Outfitters
Blue Fitted Blazer: wanderlustvtg, Etsy
Black Riding Jacket: Lookbook
Black Fitted Jacket: Urban Outfitters
Gray Blazer: 13bees, Etsy
Pink Blazer: H&M, via Lookbook
Gold Balmain Jacket: knight cat

The sequin butterfly shirt

I'm just going to come out and admit it: I have a little bit of a thing for those notoriously tacky vintage sequin butterfly shirts. Are they even a shirt really, or more of a poncho? In any case, every time I come across one in Etsy's Vintage category, my heart flutters a little - pun intended. It's even gotten to the point where I've started searching for them instead of stumbling across them. I love how some versions seem fairly tame and then others are just blatantly out of control.

While I've never broken down and bought one, I've definitely given the idea more than serious consideration. I think I still just need to get to the stage where I convince myself there are plenty of places it could be worn.

I could totally rock one of these gaudy butterfly ponchos, right? No question.

As Seen in Cleo Magazine: Mary Andrews' Contrary Zodiac Necklaces

I snagged September's issue of Cleo Magazine where they've selected my Contrary Zodiac Necklaces as part of the "What's Now" column: 15 Reasons we Heart Etsy. I've been saving this amazing news for a while waiting for the actual publish date and couldn't be more thrilled to be included in "The It Issue" featuring none other than Drew Barrymore.

One of the best surprises about this feature for me was the fact it centered entirely around Etsy designers; I'm in good company here and completely humbled to be highlighted in a publication of this magnitude.

Trendspotting: Studs

Each season as the stud trend comes back rearing it's rough & tough head, I've never seemed to consider the idea of incorporating them into my own style palette. However, as we get closer to fall, select versions of these softer interpretations cropping up are something I think I could get along with.

These stud inspired looks can be found via Etsy and Lookbook.nu.

Main Image, Studded Sweater: LookBook
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Pyramid Earrings: michellechangjewelry
Studded Headband: LouiseRose
Studded Vintage Flats: PrincessSamy
Studded Bustier: LookBook
Black Studded Bag: DesignsByLakouri
Grey Studded Wedges: LookBook
White Studded Bag: VerseauVintage
Black Studded Dress: LookBook

My Etsy World

Thought I'd share some of my more recent Etsy acquisitions. I live in a virtual Etsy world each day as I work and more and more my physical world is becoming one in the same. Tis a good feeling.

Fragment Light, anzfer
Oscillate Shirt, Thimble and Acorn
Letter M Vintage Milk Glass Mug, KupAndSaucer

Happy 5th Anniversary, Contrary

Contrary Turns Five Today

Thank you for your support over the past five incredible years. Now it's time to celebrate Contrary's 5th anniversary with a sale to remember, and you're all invited! Sale details here.

Etsy's Offices

Did you get a chance to see the photos of Etsy's Brooklyn office space over on Apartment Therapy? As we grow bigger, I hear the space will be expanding too. Rumors of reclaimed hardwood floors and a rollerskating party to break them in before moving the furniture in were all abuzz in Brooklyn recently.

See the full set of photos and original architecture plans on the Hangar Design Group's site.

Mary Andrews Aprizi Interview

I recently had the opportunity to chat with Giff Constable, the CEO behind the new start-up Aprizi. If you haven't heard of Aprizi yet, you should know about it. It's a site set up like a personal shopping engine updating itself based on your likes and dislikes in order to learn your unique taste - then return curated suggestions based on your activity with the site. There are already heaps of Etsy items integrated and I've been having fun taking the suggestions for a spin on my own while the site continues to be fleshed out.

Learn more about Aprizi and see my full interview with Giff covering all things Etsy, tastemaking, my own creative journey, and some tips I've got for indie businesses over on the Aprizi blog.