Malvena Pearl’s Emporium

We recently put in a request to the elusive batch of House Elves to do some overtime, assisting with the pillow covers for a client’s sofa. The client provided all of the materials and requested biased piping, using a cashmere blend that will match her sofa. It turns out that the House Elves were on sabbatical, so the Proprietor completed all the sewing, research and musical accompaniment selection, herself.  Soon, the House Elves will return, but until then, I’m on my own. With some limited assistance from Hercule, who eats his dinner in the Malvena Pearl Studio and sometimes naps there, this project is now COMPLETE. And as my thesis mantra became, Done Is Good.

Any road, here are pictures that Mr. Acorn was kind enough to take for us.

NOTE: The musical accompaniment that assisted in the completion of two pillow covers are listed below the photographs. Happy New Year!

Music that helped me complete this project:

The Band (the brown record)

Mel Torme sings Songs of New York

Frank Sinatra Songs for Lovers

Robin Williamson Songs of Love and Parting

Bruce Springsteen Unplugged

Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown

Mr. Cinders (1983 revival original cast recording)

K.T. Tunstall Live in London 2010, in which KT does her impression of an audience member: “MORNING LOVE. I’M OFF TO WORK, NOW.” in her Biggest most Boring Voice, ever.

I showed my work on Facebook and got some nice responses:

This yellow, red and orange piece was for C. at the lovely wedding of R & R.

So, another friend wrote and asked me if I could make something to go with a festive tropical dress she has, that she wears to a holiday party each Christmas season. Here is what I came up with. This piece did not work for my friend’s Ensemble. It is now For Sale on the Malvena Pearl Etsy web site:

We are happy to announce that the Emporium’s Etsy shop will now feature organic body and skin care products by Mrs. Greenbalm. These healing oils, salves and tonics are created in Bend Oregon by Martha L. McCook. Our proprietor swears by these gentle products. Please visit our site to find our selection. As Martha believes, “love is the best medicine.”

“Why are you selling tattoo care products on your web site?” I have four pieces of body art. Mrs. Greenbalm’s is the best product I have found to take care of them. Many people in my family have tattoos. Many friends of Malvena Pearl’s Emporium have tattoos. My uncle Louis Ira Robbins had a tattoo parlor in Maine for many decades. His mother was Malvena Pearl and she proudly showed me photos of my uncle at a tattoo competition in the 1980s.
I support small businesses and I met Martha (creator of Mrs. Greenbalms) at the Tattoo Expo in San Francisco, when I got my first tattoo.

The Costumer’s Guild sale in August went well. Thanks to everyone who came to see us.

We have some beautiful, handmade bags by Wendy Lou in the Emporium’s Etsy.com shop. Here’s a peek:

Malvena Pearl’s Emporium will be participating in the 2011 GBACG Costumer’s Bazaar, held on Sunday, August 28th, 2011 — from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the Veterans’ Memorial Building in Albany, CA.

Here are some samples of the treasures that will be on sale:

costume jewelry

The location of this year’s Bazaar is the Albany Veterans’ Memorial Building at 1325 Portland Ave., Albany, CA.

We hope to see you there!

I recently designed, produced and completed this sparkle collar for the owner of a very lucky Brittany Spaniel

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.

The line of clothing for dogs is coming together. We are drafting and designing patterns, finding recycled and re-usable fabrics, testing possible trims to make canine couture. Currently we are developing three lines of customized dog couture: warm coats for Northern California; fleece and flannel lined, water-resistent rain coats; and coats for working guide dogs. We have also found a number of dog owners who are willing to have their dogs pose for the camera of our staff photographer, Kenneth Cooper Smith, III.

Kenneth C. Smith III in Mad Hatter's hat by Lynne McMasters

Several of our clients have hairless breeds, such as the Mexican Xolo or hard-to-fit breeds such as bulldogs with wide rib cages and necks; “Heinz 57″ mixed breeds with unusual proportions and distinctively-sized  bodies, very small “teacup” breeds and very slender breeds, such as whippets.

To inquire about our offerings, please use our Contact Us page to send us your inquiries! Thanks!

I wandered around the corner to Homespun bike shop yesterday and spoke with Jesse and Ami about their upcoming classes.

They are offering classes on all sorts of interesting topics like how to do worm composting, how to make pie, how to make handcrafted herbal body care products and much more!  There may be a collaboration with Malvena Pearl’s Emporium and with the Oakland Needlers in the near future.

In the meantime, click on their photo below to check out their web site and wares!

I found a studio to share with the lovely and talented Jacqueline Palacios! Yippee! It’s located at the Fruitvale Presbyterian Church on MacArthur Boulevard, in Oakland. More updates to follow as we settle in and set up. We started moving in and I can finally see the floor of my spare bedroom.

A client came by Casa Roo for a fitting/hemming of a pre-bought 1850s-style, cotton dress that she has asked me to embellish. Yay! She came by during the rainstorm, so that’s motivation for you.

Ms. Sahrye Cohen expertly helped us put together an entry for inclusion  in the exhibit at the Nova Albion Steampunk Exhibition in Emeryville  March 12 - March 14, 2010.

On March 20, 2010, Malvena Pearl will have a table and display set up at the Greater Bay Area Costumer’s Guild Costume Academy.

I’m also working on the White Queen outfit, the Red Queen outfit and Queen Alice’s outfit for the  9th Annual Blind Babies Foundation Annual Beeper Egg Hunt in San Francisco.  I’m organizing the first-annual Tea and Raffle with the theme of Alice through the Looking Glass. Come join us!