A SToNZ Arm Party

SToNZ bracelets can stand on their own, but they really do love to travel in numbers. I put together a little arm party this morning of all SToNZ bracelets made of sterling silver, leather, copper, Lake Erie beach stones and real sea glass. You are cordially invited.

There really is no such thing as too many bracelets. 
Just sayin.

Mom's Wedding Dress

I still have my mom's wedding dress as well. (See earlier post below about Grandma's dress) I guess I have started a small collection. (Mine has been vacuum sealed in a silver package for the last 25+ years. The wine stains that the dry cleaner pretended they removed are probably nice and permanent by now.)

Mom & Dad tie the knot: April 14, 1957

Mom lived in New York and the dress came from Jay Thorpe on 57th Street. 

Jay Thorpe      Photo: Gottscho-Schleisner, Inc. 

It was also a tea length lacey dress. It's really tiny, as mom was just a tad over 5' tall and most likely weighed about 100 pounds at the time. I tried it on for fun when I was a thin teenager and could barely get the side zipper closed. Funny how those pointy shaped bodices were in style then.

I always think of mom a lot this time of year, since they were married in April and she passed away in April of 2006. She'd be so proud to know that her grandchildren are about to embark on job searches in her favorite city. I wish she was here to cheer them on.

Mom and Dad flanked by my New York grandparents.

Thinking of you, Mom. 

You were an adorable bride.

My Grandmother's Wedding Dress

I remember the first time I saw it. It was 1985 and I was engaged to be married. Grandma Evelyn went to the back of her closet and took out her treasured wedding dress, thinking I might like to wear it for my special day.

Eve Kolinsky engagement portrait 1923
by Standford Studios

Although I adored the idea, (and the dress) it was discolored and fragile, and would never hold up to an evening of dancing and revelry. (Or even a gentle cleaning, for that matter.)

But she gave it to me that day and I have kept it safely stored away. 

Today I took out the dress and photographed it. Only one image survives of her wearing the dress. You can just make out the big pale pink silk satin bow at the hip.

Photo: Standford Studios

The date was June 24, 1924. It was the roaring twenties, and Eve wore the tea length dress and forehead hugging headpiece in true flapper style. The headpiece and veil are long gone. (I have a vague memory that she told me they were borrowed for the occasion.)

I believe she said that it was handmade of French lace. There are machine stitches holding it together, but every tiny snap up the side is hand sewn in place. It's so lovely.

Eve was 26 years old on her wedding day. She married a man named Bill (just like me) and she'd go on to have twins (just like me) but her life took a horrible turn when she became a widow when her children were just 5. She did not marry again for 32 years.

For her second wedding, she chose a tailored look. And gloves, of course.

Photo: Michael Nalley

She approved of my wedding gown even though I hadn't chosen to wear hers.

And can you guess what color her dress was that day? 

Yep. Pink.

Missing you, Grandma.

 ♥ 

Win Mixed Metal SToNZ Necklace at Orange After Prom Fashion Event

Win this  SToNZ necklace!
A long sterling silver chain with 4 great charms. Perfect for the graduating senior!

Holiday Collections and Top 10 Gifts for the Holidays

a fundraiser for Orange After Prom

 

Sunday December 4, 2011  10:30am

A morning of fashion, shopping and fun.

Informal modeling by OHS students
View this season's “most-wanted make-up”
• Continental Breakfast
• Complimentary makeovers
• Raffle & Giveaways!

Dress Department Level 2  

Saks Fifth Avenue • Beachwood Place

For tickets and more information email Mindy Weiss at weiss5264@aol.com
All proceeds benefit The Orange High School After Prom 2011

SToNZ Trunk Show was a blast!

The Once In A Blue Moon SToNZ Trunk Show at three.home in Chagrin Falls was a huge success last weekend. I am so grateful to the many friends, new and old who stopped by and said hello. (And bought so much!) I love you all~

A super huge thank you to Rory who is the creative genius behind three.home, and to Dan and Ashley Derecsky of 26 briks who I have to thank for this awesome new SToNZ sign made from a steel drum lid. I know...SO cool, right!?

Fabulous Handmade Satchels by Sandra's Satchels

If I lived in beautiful Seattle, Washington, I'd drop by Sandra's booth at Pike Place Market every weekend and beg her to let me share a booth with her and her fabulous handcrafted fabric "satchels". I think SToNZ would look just great with Sandra's Satchels!

This "Small Plural Slate Shoulder Bag" is mine, all mine! 

But I'd bet Sandra would be happy to make one for you.

Sandra has been selling her wares at Pike Place Market for ten years now. She is constantly adding new items to her offerings, and she goes out of her way to listen to what her customers want, happily creating pieces for them using fabrics they request.

I found Sandra on Etsy. Her pieces are perfect for gifts...I am partial to her glasses cases, make up bags and laptop sleeves. The upholstery fabrics she chooses are modern, elegant and just plain perfect.

Each one is more beautiful than the last! The tough part is choosing which one to order! And the quality is spot on. You won't be disappointed. Take a look at her Etsy shop if you can't make it to Seattle. Great stuff.

The beginning and end of my modeling career

My mother was a born and bred New Yorker, and her parents, Belle & Morris, lived in The City all their lives. When I was growing up we visited about once a year. It was great fun. Mom & Dad would leave me with my grandparents and head off to see a show, take in the latest exhibit at Moma or The Met and visit old friends.

For me New York was all about Central Park, The Planetarium, The Natural History Museum (right up the street from Grandma's apartment on 79th Street). The Circus, bagels and lox, tapioca pudding from Horn & Hardart, corned beef, pickled herring and visiting Grandma's friends and relatives. It was an adventure.

oops...correction: actually October 1963

And of course we always went shopping for new clothes. In the summer of 1968 I was in the children's department at Lord & Taylor on 5th Avenue trying on dresses with my mom and grandmother. Suddenly a couple of ladies approached Mom and asked her whether she'd be willing to let her little girl pose for a photo session modeling some clothes for an hour or so. (If that happened today, surely you'd think it was some sort of scam and immediately call for store security.) Grandma and Mom were excited.

"Sure" they said. "Take her away! See ya later, Suze!"
Well, that was weird. But OK....
So I followed this lady down into the back hallways of the store where I met what I thought was a beautiful model wearing way more eye liner than my mother had ever owned in her lifetime. They put me in this too small raincoat that I remember thinking was so expensive, I'd never be allowed to own it...(besides the fact that in my family you always bought coats on the humongous side to allow for growth) I was led to a courtyard patio where women having lunch at the store luncheonette were watching us out the windows. I was told to observe the pretty model lady and just sort of do what she did. I am fairly certain I was chosen for this gig because I was wearing my shiny new Mary Janes with those goofy little white socks. (The kind that always got stretched out and crept down into your shoes when you walked.)
After about an hour of this posing and standing around, I was returned to Mom and Grandma, and we went about our day. A few weeks later a $15 check arrived in the mail. ("Man, what a cake job!," I thought.)
Then Grandma sent us a pile of clippings from the New York Times style section. Ah, my fifteen minutes of fame. No one was more excited than my New Yorker mother.

For a bit I was convinced that a modeling career was in my future. Then reality hit when I realized I had knock knees, a rather prominent nose and would never grow taller than 5 foot 2 and three quarters. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted.

Just remember girls, whenever you go shopping in The Big City, be sure to wear clean socks and your best Mary Janes. You never know when you might be "discovered".

Vintage Skeleton Keys, Hearts, and Lake Erie Beach Stones

Flea markets, antique shows, garage sales and beachcombing have given me fodder for some new SToNZ necklaces this week! I have been especially attracted to boxes full of vintage skeleton keys and old sterling charm bracelets. You can never have too many hearts!
Of course as always I have to add a few Lake Erie beach stones to the mix.

Small heart big love

Buried Treasure

Infinite Possibilities

Revealed Secrets