News for May 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Emporium Proprietor continues to do a lot of Volunteer Activities. When presented with a volunteer opportunity, our Proprietor asks herself, “What would Grammie Do?” The answer is always clear.

We support the following non-profit organizations and awareness building campaigns in our communities:

 

 

 

 

Seasonally, we offer Discounted Tickets to the Great Dickens Christmas Fair, with special rates for groups of people who are in school, and for elders and seniors. Please contact us with these requests!

 

 

 

And we are also please to introduce a place for you to express your interest in doTERRA Essential Oils  ~  From there you may also request Wellness workshops or private consultations.   As our friends over at Mrs. Greenbalms Healing Salves tells us, “the plants remember Paradise.” And as musician Laurie Anderson tells us, “Paradise is exactly where you are, right now, only much, much better.”

 

We are also continuing to offer our Letter Writing workshops at libraries and bookshops around the San Francisco Bay Area and on the East Coast. Stay tuned for upcoming class schedules and ways that you may participate or purchase supplies.

Costume Academy 2012

Malvena Pearl’s Emporium participated in the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild’s Costume Academy as a vendor this year on Sunday, March 4.

Jan brought her amazing, costume jewelry to our table and Ais helped us out a great deal with set up and customers. We had caramels from Bequet Confections, lots of printed inspiration, some hats, The Tarot of the Tailors and a nice selection of Mrs. Greenbalm’s products.

The other vendors were friendly and as always, gracious and fun to work with.

A hearty “Thank you!” to everyone who helped us out and who stopped by to say hello!

Recent event with Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild

Happy belated Bastille Day to one and all!

I wanted to share some photos of a unique gathering of costume enthusiasts that was recently held at the Bellevue Club in Oakland, CA. It was An Evening at the Petit Trianon, set in 1789. There is a large group of photographs via the Guild’s Flickr Photo Pool and they have a Facebook page.

The lovely and talented Claudine de Montigny brings us some great information about how she constructed her beautiful and detailed outfit for this event on her blog, Idle Hands. Lady Heather offered me a her ticket and I was able to attend the event. (I was poised to sit outside the event, on my historically correct wooden crate, wearing peasant garb, knitting) It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic party goers and craftspeople enjoying themselves.

leah_jorge_erinhal-gailynnebox-of-cupcakes-viewclaudine-n-mialynne_cynthia_catherinewow-blonde-in-bluehelena_-jenny_feathersld-peasant

Vive La France!

Malvena Pearl at Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild event

Garnier Palace d'Opera

Costume Academy 2011 Sunday May 22nd~ from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

ASUC MLK Student Union, 2475 Bancroft Way, University of California, Berkeley

Come find us in the Tilden Room on the 5th Floor!

Malvena Pearl

Purveyor of Millinery, Ephemera and Artful Diversions to Inspire the Costume Enthusiast

Peruse our selection of handmade & vintage hats from many eras, hair adornments, books, vintage catalogs, as well as accessories for men and women. There will also be framed Godey’s prints, ephemera and a special treat this year: vintage estate jewelry from a hobby collection. It’s all antique or vintage, unique, rare and one-of-a-kind costume jewelry made between 1850 and 1970. We will have patterns, sewing manuals from the 1920s-1950s and theatrical lobby cards. We also carry vintage ribbon, trim, buttons and other vintage notions. Bibliomania and Black Swan Books will provide assorted posters, prints and clothing, including embroidered nylons. We will feature four handmade bags by Wendy Lou in vintage fabrics.

pins a go gomalvenapearl-25queen-vic-coronation-tin-vase3444124107_b2c6314465_z_largeJans Antique setwendylou-bags2wendy-lou-bags-1erte_fashionsketch_thumb

Welcome a new collaborator to Malvena Pearl

beads3This post is to welcome Jan Nixon to Malvena Pearl’s group of collaborators, enthusiasts and partners. I’ll be presenting her wares at Costume Academy in May. put on by the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild. Here’s a little bit about Jan:

Jan Nixon, Jewelry Collector/Research Hobbyist
Specializing in Vintage, Antique, Military Jewelry, Jan enjoys the history, stories and unique construction behind each piece of jewelry. Jan can help you find that perfect piece for that perfect occasion.

Dickens Season is here

I have volunteered my services as Minion to the folks running the Dickens Faire costuming shop. We’re starting with some hats for a dramatic production set in the Cavalier period. (The little theaters throughout the Faire put on different productions each season and the costume shop supports all the actors at the whole Faire.)  I like working with other costumers and learning new things. I’ve wanted to work this event for some years and I’m glad I have this opportunity.

I also have an assignment from one of my day- job supervisors to make several aprons with a “prom” theme for a catering . ( frilly, colorful, fake flowers or Very Bright fabric – whee!)  A couple of gals from my informal costuming group are venturing forth to a new-to-us discount fabrics place tomorrow afternoon. I hope to get suitable fabric for said aprons.

Meanwhile, her majesty Roo continues to be under the weather. I hope she will soon be willing to deal with her medication for her kidney/bladder problems. She’s quarantined to her room /my sewing room.

costume pals in Williamsburg, PA

Update on our friends’ visit

Sahrye, friend and Ms. M. in Colonial Williamsburg, PA

Ms. M. and Sahrye report back from their visit to Colonial Williamsburg, PA

They went  in costume in their casual jackets and petticoats. (a promise of photos, forthcoming)  Then we got word that they paused in front of the web cam near the Magazine! Yes, our friends were caught on the web cam!

Our friends ran into another group of costumers from our own Greater Bay Area Guild who were also visiting before Costume Convention 27 in Maryland. They met up with Kendra V., Trystan and Sarah Lorraine, authors of  some of the finest and most inspirational costume blogs we have ever found. Kendra teaches at Costume College and at Bay Area Costume Academy; and she was visiting with a number of other very knowledgeable and well-dressed GBACG members who are also enthusiastic about 18th century dress.

Ms. M. said that she and Sahrye were pleased to look so authentic — they were asked for directions and whatnot by other visitors! They went to the Dewitt Museum and saw many of the open drawers in the Textiles section – they had the opportunity to study many lovely, hand-made items such as stomachers, quilting, jumps and aprons.  Sahrye got to be a living “model” and show off her many layers of 18th c. clothing.  They went to the Chowing Tavern for dinner with a couple from Denver, CO, and “closed down the Tavern” with Kendra and the other folks from the Guild.

Trystan and Kendra
Trystan and Kendra
Sarah Lorraine in Williamsburg, PA
Sarah Lorraine in Williamsburg, PA

The next day, Sahrye and Ms. M. received a personal tour of several pieces in the Conservation Collection from Linda Baumgarten. They were also able to take a peek at some upcoming exhibition pieces. I believe when these two return, we will have to share their notes and have at least one gathering.