Once again, I'm participating in the Challenge of Travel Blog Hop. Last year, I had a blast "visiting Japan". This year, the theme was the Staycation Edition. The lovely Erin over at Treasures Found is our gracious hose and you can find all of the other blog participants linked there.
This is my gorgeous city, Long Beach, California. I am surrounded by lovely vintage objects, architecture, and history (and don't forget the Pacific Ocean). My house was built in 1927 and is a Spanish Bungalow. There are many wonderful neighborhoods filled with charming Craftsmen, Tudor, Spanish Revival and other classic style homes.
When first started making jewelry, I hadn't discovered art beads yet and I would simply create my pieces after looking at classic pieces from the eras I loved.
Below are some of the more public site of my fair city and my great influences. When Long Beach became the permanent home of the Fabulously Deco Queen Mary, the city got even more vintage clout. I've stayed at the QM before, and it really is lovely and very vintage. I can picture someone on the ship wearing one of my creations. 
I've gotten rusty at making the type of jewelry I used to make. I find so much inspiration from art beads in my current work than I found it difficult to go back to just being happy with my fantastic vintage bead stash. But, for this exercise, I decided to concentrate on the Vintage and not so much on the Art Beads (although there are a few pieces with resin pieces I have done in the past. I've included both old and new, mostly because I want to use this exercise as my own inspiration, Incorporating some of the vintage shaped into more modern jewelry using art beads. We will see where this takes me.
Meanwhile, some work - both old and new - using vintage inspiration. But first, a valid excuse as to why my photos are quite a nice as I'd like them to be.....May I present Sid in my handmade photo booth. Grrrrr. Thank you Koolaid Man Sid. Oh Yeah. (NOOOO)
Here's a VERY early piece I made that was COMPLETELY 1920's inspired (but not a vintage bead to be found).
New piece (that I LOVE) with vintage bakelite, lucite and crystal beads.
A couple of 1940's Style pieces. I could wear this style every day and be happy. My vintage stash makes me happy in general.
This is an older 1950's inspired piece that I made for Disneyland's 50th Birthday using vintage beads and a resin collage I made out of old Disney ephemera.
This is the real deal! Simple yet elegant.
Vintage lucite with a modern twist using a little bird pendant I drew.
And the only pair of earrings I've included. There are very simple and more 1930's.
A whole mess of vintage and vintage inspired that really should be on the dresser in the boudoir of the Queen Mary Stateroom.
That's my little staycation for now. I guess I didn't really stay put, I just traveled back in time.
Please check out the other bloggers listed on Erin's Blog. There will be many treasures found there, I'm sure.
Lisa
