Vintage Style, Modern Twist

What to do with family heirlooms, particularly jewelry, always seems to be a tricky topic. So often grandma's jewelry gets passed down to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that truly want to have a memento to remember their loved one, but they just don't know what to do with it. Sometimes grandma had a very different build or style and the pieces just don't look right on the recipient, sometimes they are so dated they don't fit with anyone in the family, and sometimes there's a beautiful piece that has some damage that makes it unwearable.

I was in this situation a few summers back, when I received a collection of jewelry from my grandmother's estate. There are some pieces I love, and wear as is. Many others I wanted but didn't know what to do with. They have been in a cedar chest through two years and a move- lately I've been really thinking through what to do with them... I want to create something that I will use regularly, and that will really showcase the pieces.  We (Christine and I) came up with some fun ideas that we're sharing with you! 

Some pieces are an easy DIY project, you can alter them yourself in a non-permanent way. I received a set of blue ceramic beads, to which I added a vintage enamel brooch - it made the perfect July 4th accessory.

Christine has a collection of vintage milk glass and metal necklaces that she has knotted off and wears for a modern, casual look.  Rather than buying "new" accessories, check out some local thrift and antique shops, or search around on e-bay, etsy, and poshmark for fun vintage finds. You never know what's out there just waiting to be found!

Vintage Jewelry - Out2LunchDesigns

Some pieces, on the other hand, require more work to make it into your wardrobe. For this you need professional assistance- which we have just added to our repertoire! We'd like to introduce the Out 2 Lunch custom line! (Not sure why it took so long to come up with this - probably because it's a little scary to work with other people's heirlooms, and we want to make sure we get it right). Our clients can be as involved, or not, in the design process as they choose to be. Some people just know that they want to use certain pieces- maybe to create a set of gifts for all the children and grandchildren, or maybe to enhance a special day with a sentimental or special heirloom piece.

Fabric Swatches - Out2LunchDesigns

Once we receive the jewelry we sort through our fabrics and come up with fabulous combinations that suit the pieces. Other folks have in mind a color scheme or a certain style they want to capture- in that case, we will work (in person and or via email) to find the perfect fabric to meet their vision. Once we have the design elements in place, we create one of our high quality, handmade clutches - seamlessly incorporating their family pieces. When we are done, everyone has a memory that they can incorporate into their life! 

This can also be a popular wedding option. For a few years, the "brooch bouquets" we're popular. Though beautiful, they were often very heavy and not useful for anything but decor afterwards. We are now offering the chance to create a wedding keepsake you will use for years!

Incorporate family jewelry as the "something old" on a clutch for the bride, create a set for the bride and her mother, or create a bridesmaids set - using your jewelry or ours. Our design style and attention to detail will help you to create a keepsake that will be treasured for years.

Check out our website www.out2lunchdesigns.com/home/custom-orders for more details, we'd love to help plan something special for you!  Plus, show us your pics of vintage jewelry used along with today's styles! (tag us on Instagram!)

Happy Creating and Styling!
Stacy and Christine

Hydrangeas...Pass it on!

Today we're talking about plants, specifically hydrangeas; and the idea of "heirloom" plants, passing pieces of gardens on from one place to another and one person to another, or through generations of a family.  We've all heard of heirloom roses, but in my family, the tradition developing appears to be
heirloom hydrangeas.

If you've ever seen the old mop-head hydrangeas, huge bushes bursting with enormous round clusters of blue, pink, purple, or white blooms, you know what I'm talking about!  These plants are Gorgeous!  And here in the south, they are an absolute classic.

Hydrangea bush starting to bloom

Growing up in North Carolina, our house had a whole side of it lined with big blue mop-head hydrangeas.  They were stunning!  Hydrangeas are rather large bushes and they do spread and fill in an area over time.  When our family moved to Maryland in my teens, my parents dug up some of the hydrangea shoots/clusters and took them along.  They were planted at our new home where they continued to grow, thrive, and spread.  Many years later, the process was again repeated as my parents retired back to North Carolina, and brought some of those original hydrangeas with them.  Their yard is currently full of numerous varieties of hydrangea, including those original mop-heads from my growing up home.

The newly planted Hydrangea Row (as we're calling it)

This past summer, my husband and I started doing a lot of overdue renovation to our yard.  We decided we needed some large bushes (that could tolerate some shade) to line our back porch, and naturally my thoughts turned to hydrangeas.  Upon mentioning this to my family, they offered to thin some of theirs.  Free Plants?  Yes Please!!

We thinned mop-head hydrangeas from various parts of their yard, but I must admit I was most excited to get some "sticks" my father cut off those old original hydrangeas.  Now, when I say "sticks", that is exactly what they were!  Some of the hydrangeas we received were small clusters with roots, but these were literally sticks, cut off the plants.  I had heard that you can propagate hydrangeas that way, but never having tried it, was a little skeptical about their future growth and development.  I am certainly not a garden wizard.

Planted hydrangea shoots (sticks)

Never-the-less, I brought the plants, (and sticks) home, and set about getting them into their new location.  The plants with roots were immediately planted in the ground.  As for the "heirloom sticks" (as we now referred to them), I first trimmed or freshly cut the bottom parts.  Then they were wet with water, and dipped into rooting powder (or had powder (rather liberally) sprinkled on them depending how big the stem was).  After that, all the "sticks" were planted in the ground in a large cluster and watered - a lot.  Hydrangeas need lots of water, especially when new. 

For the next couple weeks I diligently checked my sticks - somewhat unconvinced of their survival, as I saw their sad, wilted leaves curl up and turn brown.

Then suddenly a few weeks (and some hurricane rains) later - buds!  

And a few weeks after that?
Leaves!! They grew Leaves!!

The heirloom hydran- geas might just make it to carry on; and maybe someday once they've grown and spread, I can continue the tradition and pass them on again! 

In the mean time, I can't wait to see them grow and fill in.  And maybe one day, my children will remember those large mop-head hydrangeas all along their back porch growing up.  Pass it on!


Cheers!
Christine