Mine Eyes Crave Green!

Either I'm itching for spring or my favorite green beer holiday, St. Patrick's Day, either way I've been into green items on Etsy.com recently. In fact, so into green that I curated two treasury collections featuring predominantly green items.

Please take a peek, leave some love and spread the word.

Vintage Beaded Purses for that "Something Old" for Brides

"Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe."

This week one of my beautiful vintage purses was featured in an Etsy Treasury Collection (top right corner) of vintage, white, beaded purses. I thought, what a great way to incorporate something old into your wedding outfit.

While I was reciting the poem in my head, I of course had to look up the origin and meaning of it. Here is what I found:

"A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. So this wedding tradition is definitely English, and many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.
Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. "Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. "Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. "Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Christianity has long dressed the Virgin Mary in blue, so purity was associated with the color. Before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for wedding gowns, as evidenced in proverbs like, "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. It may date back to a Scottish custom of a groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be in the left shoe. These days, a dime or a copper penny is sometimes substituted, and many companies sell keepsake sixpences for weddings."

Found on http://ask.yahoo.com/20031027.html 2.20.11

I've been considering wearing light blue instead of a white color for my wedding dress and am intrigued to see that this was common before the trend of white wedding dresses came to be. Maybe I'm on to something. More trivia for the inquiring minds: the tradition of white as the choice for a brides gown "was popularized through the wedding of Queen Victoria. Some say Victoria's choice of a white gown may have simply been a sign of extravagance, but may have also been influenced by the values she held which emphasized sexual purity." Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding 2.20.11

TREND: Bold Eye Popping Stripes for Spring 2011

Have I mentioned how much I love getting Bazaar in my mailbox? It's like a little present every time. That and the Anthropologie catalog.

This summer I found two stunning striped silk vintage scarves and for whatever reason they really caught my eye, so I snatched them up and added them to my YazBerry scarf collection in my store. While thumbing through the February, 2011 Bazaar magazine, page 177 in the "Rules of the Season" article caught my eye: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Prada and Fendi are all featuring bold, colorful stripes in their Spring 2011 collections. I guess the four of us had a hankering for eye popping stripes.

The caption reads:

"SAY IT WITH STRIPES Prints reigned on the runways, and pop-hued parallel lines were king. Mix them with other bold motifs for a modern look." -Bazaar, February 2011, Page 177

Here are a few tasty striped vintage scarves from my YazBerry stash. Scarves are a great way to add a pop of color to your wardrobe without spending a lot of money or committing to a color/pattern/look. You can wear them in so many ways and truth be told, next to obi belts, vintage scarves are one of my favorite go to accessories. I own 50+ personally. 1980s Long Scarf - Vera Striped Navy Gray Magenta - YazBerry - Vintage
1980s Silk Scarf - Long Striped Navy Red Yellow - YazBerry - Vintage
1980s Geometric Scarf - Primary Colors - YazBerry - Vintage

If you are looking for more delicious stripes, here are a few of my favorites from handmade and vintage sellers on Etsy.com I even included some yardage in case you want to make your own striped lovely! To view this treasury collection visit: Bold Stripes for Spring

Note: Image of Page 177 from the February, 2011 Bazaar magazine is copyright Harper's Bazaar.

2011 Bodes Well for YazBerry

As of 12:15 AM on the 2nd day of the year, I have already had handmade items featured in 6 Etsy.com treasuries (one self curated)! After a slow holiday gift giving season, this recent positive response to YazBerry bodes well for a successful 2011.

Here are links to the treasuries and the featured items:

My Dangle Earrings - Vintage Metal Beads - YazBerry - Handmade are very popular and one of a kind.
They have been featured in 3 treasury lists so far this year (plus one I curated myself) and will be gone before you know it. There is only one pair so you better get them fast.

New Year's Adornments, curated by Virginia E. Berry of yazberryfashion, featuring jewelry and accessories by HandmadeMN street team members.

Ringing in the New Year, curated by MyShiningStarDesigns.
Features a funky take on New Years.

new years eve partay, curated by nectarjewelry, featuring a very clever collection of images, a work of art itself in a fun montage for New Year's 2011!

Take me to the Ball I'm Ready, curated by workingwoman, featuring ball ready looks with a golden bond.

Happiness in Honeysuckle,
curated by newnance, featuring a vibrant, happiness inducing collection of items with honeysuckle (and other bright colors) in the mix.

One of my favorite colors is Honeysuckle, and Pantone has decided it is their favorite color this year too. Many items in my personal wardrobe and in my collection are Honeysuckle (aka salmon or coral). My Shoulder Bag - Coral Turquoise Beaded Flower Applique - YazBerry - Handmade is featured in the above treasury. This too is one of a kind and there will be no others made like it. The appliques are salvaged from a recycled silk knit shirt, which has become the liner.

And, Fabulous in Minnesota,curated by lightreading, featuring a gorgeous, icy collection of work by Minnesota Artists.


My Obi Belt Reversible- Antique Japanese Kimono Obi - YazBerry - Handmade has been featured on blogs and treasury lists in the past. It is a crowd pleaser and gets great reviews in my feedback. It is a limited edition piece and there is only enough fabric left to make 2-3 more. I use antique Japanese kimono obi's in many of my pieces, which are roughly 12' long and if all of the fabric is usable make 3 - 6 belts (ideally).

Here's wishing you a fabulous, prosperous, healthy and happy 2011! Welcome New Year, I am so grateful and pleased you have arrived.

YazBerry Beaded Chain Clutch Featured in Beaded Treasures List

I'd like to thank the delightful Jeweler Artesserae for having such a keen eye for beaded treasures. Artesserae featured my Beaded Chain Clutch in the "Beaded Treasures" treasury list on view now on Etsy.com. Check it out today to help us make the front page!

Three stunning cotton prints from my favorite quilt shop here in Salem, are quilted in curved shapes to create the rounded clutch. The chain handle is made from vintage beads which I have hand strung with metal pins so they are durable and strong, attached with two large rings on each side. The purse is convertible and can be used with the chain or without. Comes with optional hand formed flower pin. I think it would be fun to wear it on your dress or jacket when you carry this purse. Lined in peach with quilted pocket and pen slot. My beaded chain clutch is available now in my Etsy.com store: yazberryfashion.etsy.com


While you're poking around Etsy.com, you should check out Artesserae's jewelry. Here are a few of my favorites, I've never seen anything like them. They are exquisite!

YazBerry Obi Belt Makes Front Line Treasury

Thank you euphorbiadesigns for including my handmade obi belt in your lovely Etsy treasury, the Front Line. Please check it out so we can try to make the front page. Here's the link.

My obi belt is available in my Etsy Store: yazberryfashion.etsy.com

Oxidized Copper Treasury - Verderame

Visit the treasury to help us make the front page! This is definately front page worthy.

Thank you lunica (designer of fun purses and totes) for including my handmade copper leather corset in your treasury "Verderame" which features a gorgeous collection of copper and oxidized copper hues. Gorgeous!

Be sure to check out lunica's etsy store. She makes fun purses and totes with faces and floral motifs. Love the faces! Here are a few of my favorites from her store (made in Italy ;) ).

The Most Elegant Table in Town

"You are ready for royalty!"

Click here to view the treasury.

Thank you to looksSEWnice (from my home state Minnesota!!) for including my wine glass charms in your elegant blue dining table decor treasury! Be sure to check out her store. She sells some lovely handmade place mats as seen below as well as other lovely treasures!

Think Vintage for your Fall Fashion Needs

YazBerry Vintage Dress featured in an Etsy.com treasury list "fall fashion!!!" by Jewelry Maker and over sized pin cushion creator, minusOne.

1970s Long Sleeve Dress - Purple Print - YazBerry - Vintage Click link to shop!

"fall fashion!!!" treasury can be viewed here until Thursday.

I really enjoy the color palate minusOne selected featuring shades of rich plums and deep golden yellows. The classy vintage styles are fabulous!

Be sure to check out minusOne's stores on Etsy.com: minusOne.etsy.com for minusOne jewelry and jayteedoubleyou.etsy.com for her Blue Hair Knits line of over sized pin cushions. Here are a few of my favorite items for your viewing pleasure:

Vintage YazBerry Men's Jacket Makes Half & Half Treasury

ThatSomething jewelry maker and purveyor of original wall art and vintage treasures, has featured a YazBerry Vintage seersucker men's jacket, available here, in the "some half and half" treasury list; a collection of gorgeous cream colored items.



Be sure to check out ThatSomething on etsy.com. Here is one of my favorites:

Kimono Clutch Makes Blue Berries Treasury List

WrenWillow, a seller of fine hand dyed and hand screen printed baby clothes has included the Kimono clutch in her blue berries treasury, currently viewable here. Be sure to check out her Etsy.com store: wrenwillow.etsy.com.


The Kimono Clutch is available now in my Etsy.com store: yazberryfashion.etsy.com Elegant antique obi fabric (the extravagant belt worn with a kimono) forms the outside of the elegant clutch. Surprising graphic colors peak out from the edge of the flap giving you a taste of what lies within, a bold vintage scarf. Beaded and appliqued color swatch embellishes inside flap.


Photos by Yaz: yazbon_2000@yahoo.com Recently, YazBerry held a photoshoot with photographer Yassine Belhaldi who is currently taking bookings.