I am often asked why I decided to collect vintage pins. I come by my vintage and antique interests as a result of family influences.

My mother has collected vintage and antique treasures for as long as I can remember. I will never forget the time that she appropriated the funds which the rest of our family had assumed would go towards our first color television set. We ended up with a very special antique corner cupboard instead. As a sign of protest at the corner cupboard purchase, we sat in chairs to "watch" the corner cupboard which was supposed to be our new TV.

My mother-in-law and father-in-law were also avid vintage and antique collectors. My mother-in-law was an antiques dealer as well. Since my husband and I had similar interests in vintage things, our home is full of old furniture.

After I had been making stock ties for a while, I decided to starting using buttons instead of bead strings as embellishments. New buttons were quickly usurped by my fascination for and admiration of the quality of workmanship and quality of materials in the vintage buttons. The evolution to the search for vintage pins was a natural progression. I am now very knowledgeable about the history of evolution of costume jewelry pins.

I started my acquisition of vintage pins without specific rules for purchase, but quickly honed in on my search criteria. I have followed my self imposed search criteria ever since. I choose to offer a vast vintage pin collection as service to my stock tie customer first and foremost. My mark up from my original purchase price is low. I will offer significant discounts on vintage pin purchases to go with stock ties. I have been known to give away pins because I know that a certain pin belongs with a certain stock tie.

My rules and search criteria for vintage pin acquisition are as follows:

1. Only buy what I like, because I may be owning it indefinitely.

2. Check the fronts and backs of items to verify functioning parts, mechanism of closure, and evaluate for missing pieces.

3. Evaluate size of pin in all dimensions- height, width, depth- to determine whether the pin will be successful for planned purpose, i.e. "will it fit on a stock tie?"

4. Choose pins with colors which are appropriate for the planned purpose.

5. Only purchase a duplicate of one that I already own or have owned if I really like it, because in all likelihood, I will be owning it indefinitely!

If I am caught up on custom orders, I many choices of directions in which to go for my time in my work room.

I have three sewing machines (each of which are designed and set up to manage different tasks), 2 sergers, a coverstitch machine, and an industrial leather sewing machine. I have accumulated these machines slowly and thoughtfully over a period of time. The multiple machines allow me to have the correct equipment for the task at hand and allow me to jump from machine to machine during a single project without having to reconfigure one piece of equipment. One of my favorite sewing machines happens to be the least expensive and most portable (send me a message if you would like to know what it is).

My workroom smells of leather as in addition to hundreds of fabrics, I keep all of my softer leather hides  in the room. The hides are either rolled or hanging from a large garment rack in the middle of my space. Tools are hung from the walls, spools of thread are in view on large racks, and my cutting surfaces are divided in to fabric side or leather side. The image of my work space would best be described as controlled chaos. I am always grateful when a friend wants to come over to look at something that I have made, because I feel compelled to declutter the floor space. This controlled chaos is precisely what fuels my imagination when I have time for choices on next project. 

A vintage pin, vintage belt buckle, vintage button, colored ribbon , piece of brightly colored fabric, or an interesting textured leather may serve as a launch point for one of a kind project. Alternating between sewing and leather work is refreshing. I usually segment a project or multiple parallel projects into construction and cutting, material prep, and fabrication. I try not to launch into lengthy projects when my real job work schedule and other life commitments do not allow time for the proper focus and gratification of project completion.

​Today is a leather day.

I have been thinking about an interactive format for my sewing and leather work hobbies for a while.
I have finally decide to take advantage of the BLOG function on my website.

Fear of failure is a concept which does not often enter my mind. Setting goals which are within reach and willingness to make goal adjustments when appropriate have been helpful.

Every day that I have time to enter my creative work space I remind myself to create something new either in design or method of construction. If my new concept does not work out the way that I pictured it in my mind,  I am minus the time for creation and the cost of materials, but have learned from the process.

I try to create wearable, functional pieces which are as much as possible one of a kind expressions of the wearer and myself. I do not use patterns. If I am am asked to make a piece which is outside of the realm of possibility for me to wear myself, I will offer options of others makers who may be more in keeping with the esthetic which was requested.

My inspirations and motivations are everywhere- home, work, stable, and feedback from friends, clients, and prospective clients. Comments and questions are welcome!