On Saturday I had one of those great little vintage hauls that reminds you why it’s worth getting out there and putting your hands on things.

It was a solo trip to one of my favorite spots in southern Maine, a thrift shop that doubles as a cat sanctuary. The shop is located in Wells and is comprised 100% of items donated by the coastal community. Furniture, art, books, jewelry, and every kind of houseware you can imagine.
It’s also home to cats who are in the process of being rehabilitated prior to adoption. Not only do I love what they are doing there, but it’s always a thrilling treasure hunt finding just the right pieces for your aesthetic.
My first treasure was this belt, buried deep in the menswear section. It’s the perfect length to fit with high waist pants — I fell in love with the heavy hardware contrasting the woven leather. The buckle is stamped 1996.
Inspired by the belt, I spent some more time in the clothing section, eventually discovering this brown satin handbag, complete with tassel and cord strap. It was part of a very 90’s 3-piece mother-of-the-bride skirt suit. They were nice enough to split it from the suit and sell me the bag for $5.
Can you see a color story forming? The earthy red/browns were really catching my eye. I’ve been to this shop a few times now, but have never accessed the jewelry case. This time around I tried on a bunch of different necklaces, and fell in love with this strand of jasper beads. They are high shine, and have a cool marbling effect with loops of grey, taupe, and mossy green weaving through each bead.
This very abstract scan of a ladle leaves a lot to the imagination, but this piece was eye catching in its simplicity. Here we are again with this color! The red/brown resin handle was a standout to me — and the gentle shallow shape of the scoop has a quiet elegance. Anthropomorphizing a kitchen utensil is a sure sign that you are slightly obsessed with des objets.
One of my last treasures was a small book of Gauguin paintings, most from his time in Tahiti. In the doldrums of Maine winter, these vibrant paintings of a lush and warm world were too good to pass up.
One of my favorite paintings is ‘Aha oe feii? — are you jealous?’ because of how accurately Gauguin captures the question and emotion within a single expression.
Gaugin’s paintings are steeped in narrative, with symbolic depth to each of his works — but when I look at this I can’t help but lean into the literal and palpable feeling of warm sun on my back.
productivity v creativity
I originally wanted to style all of the wearables (beads, bag, belt) into various looks, but I’ve struggled this week feeling a lack of ‘productivity’. I had an exciting project lined up for Monday, and at the last minute it was postponed. I felt enthusiasm drain from my body like air leaving a balloon. I was totally deflated for the rest of the day; and the following day still couldn’t rally the energy to create a project with nearly as much magic as the one I was supposed to shoot.
I lost my flow for a few days; I couldn’t conceptualize anything into existence. So I did what I could manage, which was resorting to a very elemental form of creative expression: I decided to draw. Paper, ink, oil pastel; a remedy that forced my brain to focus on exactly what was in front of me: the page, the shapes, the colors, the forming scene.
Nurturing my need for creative expression bled into the next day, when I arranged a bouquet inspired by Castor Fleuriste.
Below is the inspiration for my arrangement, created by Louis-Géraud Castor. I always get inspired when I read about the creative process of an artist — if you do as well, then A Conversation with Louis-Géraud Castor is worth reading.
I didn’t know what I’d find when I went to buy flowers, but a large bucket of calla lilies immediately reminded me of the arrangement by French florist Castor. I bought 6 bunches of differently colored lilies and brought them home to arrange in a supernova cluster.
The amount of joy I’ve gotten from these in the past 24 hours is indescribable. For my fellow New Englanders who might feel like they are languishing in these late winter months, I can’t recommend enough that you brighten your space with the beauty of fresh flowers. Even the process was therapeutic; slowing down to focus on trimming the stems, placing each flower into the arrangement, savoring the unique colors in each bloom — then stepping back to take it all in.
And so, my rejection of productivity resulted in creative joy.
and now, a few ways to wear a strand of vintage beads
My $19 string of jasper beads is a shining example of versatile jewelry, and I was inspired to take a few shots of how I’d weave them into a wardrobe.
First, I’d wear them to elevate a chic basics look: the beads add an understated moment of color in the otherwise monochrome pairing of white crew tee and black leather jacket.
Or in the summertime, to add dimension to a beach look: they pair well with a complimentary color like this turquoise bathing suit.
They’d add a feminine edge to a workwear look: by dipping into the neckline of an oversized corduroy button down.
And lastly, a little Carrie Bradshaw “sleeping in pearls” energy with this loungewear look: the bone colored marbling ties in with the ivory silk cami. A flat sterling herringbone necklace layers nicely with the beads, and plays well with the herringbone patterned bra straps.
Just a few fun thoughts on how something as simple as a string of beads can be your unique stamp on an outfit.
Signing off with a recommended read; this week
wrote a great piece on adding character to an outfit, in case you are in the mood for some more inspiring vintage content.Until next time!
Georgia
I love the idea of wearing the beads to the beach, that look was my favorite.
Love how you styled your finds. The shot in the blue bathing suit is stunning. Absolutely loved reading how you were able to get yourself in to a creative mindset and create something different. That is such an inspiration ❤️