Introducing Lopaka Designs

Lopaka Designs: Unique and Timeless Inspiration

"Lopaka" is Hawaiian for "Robert." My name is Bob ... aka "Robert" ... I was born in Hawaii ... and though I reside in the fantastic Bay Area, my roots are in the Hawaiian Islands. I love antiques, family history, ephemera and making things. Lopaka Designs is located in Vintages, our shop in Los Gatos, CA. At Vintages we sell handcrafted, Made in America products, vintage treasures from Victorian times to the 1960's, as well as other gift items.

I am one of two crafters in the shop ... Susan has been creating wonderful crafts, jewelry, tags and cards for quite some time now. Her designs are available the her Etsy site Pretty Ribbons as well as in our shop.

Lopaka Designs is my Etsy site and I am now starting to place some of my own designs on the site. Some of the early items are jewelry ... handmade using repurposed antique and vintage treasures, combining my love of antiques with contemporary findings to create mostly one-of-a-kind jewelry, accessory and decorative pieces. I hope you love them ... let me know what you think.

Handcrafted Christmas Tree Ornaments

One of the things I love about the Holidays is decorating the Christmas tree with unique ornaments. At home we have a lot of ornaments that celebrate events or travels we have had. Some are vintage ornaments or family treasures of Christmases past. Others are just simply beautiful. Then there are the handcrafted ornaments ... special ... one of a kind ... unique to our tree!

Every year we have both vintage and handcrafted ornaments at Vintages. Susan hand makes a variety of ornaments every year. Take a look at some of what we have in the shop.

We also have a selection from a creative artist we met earlier in the year, who makes these little bottles filled with treasures and enhances traditional glass ornaments with tinsel, beads and doo-dads.

When you want something unique, handcrafted or vintage to decorate your holiday tree, wreath or centerpiece, Vintages probably has it.

The Maxfield Parrish Poster Book

Maxfield Parrish (July 25, 1870 – March 30, 1966) was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the 20th century. He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery.

...Wikipedia

Understated! Maxfield Parrish was one of the most influential artists of the early 1900s. His work covered so many subjects and genres, that he is difficult to classify. Neo-classical ... yes. Arts & Crafts ... yes. Magazine cover illustrator par excellence ... absolutely. Master of color ... without a doubt.

In fairness, Wikipedia does go on to say: 

Parrish was one of the most successful and prolific of the illustrators and painters of the Golden Age of Illustration. He was earning over $100,000 per year by 1910, at a time when a fine home could be purchased for $2,000. Norman Rockwell referred to Parrish as "my idol." Parrish, although unique in his execution and never duplicated, exhibited considerable influence upon other illustrators and artists, an influence which continues through the present.

I have always loved his work, from the innocence of his "girls on a rock" images, to his compositions of people framed by fantastic architectural structures, to his whimsical knaves and princes. We have this book titled The Maxfield Parrish Poster Book. This is a later (1974) publication of his poster art ... each piece in the folio ready for framing. OK, these are not originals, but the price is right and the execution of the prints is quite good. 

Printed and published in the USA by Harmony Books (New York) in 1974 with an Introduction by Maurice Sendak. The book contains 21 independent prints, plus the introduction and a chronology. Nice find. ($49.00 in the shop.)

Antique Yellow Ware Bowls

 

Yellow Ware Bowls and other American Primitives in the front window of Vintages

Yellow ware was a staple of every family's cupboard from the mid-1800s to around 1930. While bowls were the primary item found, all types of kitchen vessels as well as decorative items were made using yellow clay. The earlier pieces were made in England, but by the mid-19th century American potters entered into production. 

Collection of Yellow Ware from Found on the Eastend

Another collection from Frog Goes to Market

Yellow ware has been highly collectible for years and we have several wonderful bowls for you here in Vintages, along with other American primitives. Take a look.

These bowls are all from the early 1900s and range from 10 inches to 14 inches in diameter. Priced from $65 each.

Magnifier Necklaces with Vintage Beads

I recently put together these magnifiers with some vintage beads and hung them off of black satin cord. Each of these is a neat little glass magnifying optical lens with one yard of black satin cord and a black organza bag. Perfect to hang around your neck or keep in your handbag. Great little item to use so you can see your project a bit better, to read the fine print or dinner menu, or to inspect jewelry or silver antiques.

We have these priced at $24.95 each. No two are alike. Handcrafted here in our own studio. Available in our Los Gatos shop or at Pretty Ribbons, our Etsy shop.

New Creations from Norma Dice

We introduced jewelry by Norma Dice in 2009. Norma is now 92 and still creating beautiful jewelry from her studio in Santa Cruz, California. Norma and her late husband Jim spent many years searching for treasures of the earth. They bounced around in their Jeep wagon, traveling all over the West digging for rocks. Norma and Jim shared their finds with the community -- at local fairs and in their back yard. Polished stones, geodes, agates and other precious finds. 

Norma taught herself to make jewelry from those treasures and still enjoys creating these little works of art a couple of decades down the road. To quote her: There is a whole lot of love that goes into each piece of jewelry. I like to look at it for a little while then pass it on. We are proud to offer a new collection of her one-of-a-kind pieces here at Vintages.

Our latest selection emphasizes the beach ... why not? Norma is from Santa Cruz, the ultimate Beachtown USA!

Abalone Necklaces and Earrings ($99.00 & $29.00 each)

Wire Wrapped Shell Pendants ($45.00 each)

Peas-in-a-Pod Pendants ($69.00 each)

Carved Cat's Eye Scallop Shell Pendant ($45.00)

Gorgeous Wire-wrapped Lapis Lazuli Pendant ($75.00)

Wire-wrapped Antique MOP Gaming Token with a Pearl Drop ($89.00)

Antique MOP Gaming Tokens (from $10.00 each)

Most of the Norma Dice jewelry pieces are available online, with more available in the shop.

Felix Doolittle's Amazing Bookplates

We just got back from the National Stationery Show in NYC where we ordered a dozen designs of bookplates made by the amazing watercolor artist Felix Fu. Felix Fu is an artist and visual storyteller who was born and raised in Hong Kong. Now living and working in Newton, Massachusetts, Felix creates tiny watercolors that capture the joy, beauty and essence of life. Charming and whimsical, his images have a nostalgic feeling that reminds one of a simpler, more magical time. Perhaps it is the flavor of the English influence in Hong Kong blended with New England tradition and a dash of child-like enthusiasm. Felix Doolittle stationery is unlike any other - each piece is like a miniature work of art.

Bookplates have been around for centuries. They have evolved through family crests and personal coats-of-arms to whimsical statements and verse. Felix Doolittle bookplates, like Felix' artwork, harken to times when we pasted a label on the inside cover of our prized books, letting anyone who perused the volume know that the book was mine! I guess I am still old-school. While I am content to read the "newspaper" and my news online, I like to hold a real book, curl up on a couch in the family room or lounge chair under the shade of a tree and enjoy the stories and adventures conjured up by my favorite authors.

The bookplates should be in stock soon, but we couldn't wait to show them to you. Feast on the images, and email us if you want to be notified when they arrive ... or come by when they are in stock. These are all printed on premium self-adhesive, acid-free paper stock. They measure 2.03" x 2.85". These little works of art are sold individually for $2.25 each. Here are some of our selections.

Handmade Leather Mini-Books, Necklaces and Key Chains

You know how I love miniatures ... and miniature books in particular. I was blown away by these little leather books made in Philadelphia, all by hand using reclaimed materials.

The artisans explain their books in this way: These miniature books are made using archival insides and vintage outsides. Inside you'll find line-free strathmore drawing paper - thick, hand-torn and hand-stitched acid-free pages that work perfectly with ink, pens both thick and superfine, pencil, charcoal and myriad other mediums. The book's covers are made using handpicked scraps and worn leather, cut to fit the appropriate size. The leather has been bartered from farms in Ecuador, ripped from old chairs in Holland, taken from boots and shoes and saddles and bags and wallets, and found in abandoned houses across the United States. They are scavenged from dumpsters and flea markets and yard sales all over the world and every book is made by hand, so no book will ever have an exact duplicate.

This is a tiny artist book, perfect for the detailed renderer or the writer of very short stories. Each journal comes completely blank, awaiting your imaginative entries. They are hand bound and covered in reclaimed leather. Size: 1 1/4" high x 1" wide with 42 sheets (84 pages). Priced at $49.95 each.

The book necklaces and key chains are also made from the same materials and they hang from either a 19” long gunmetal chain or a brass key chain. The books are just as usable as the one that is not on a chain. We have these in two book sizes: a small, 5/8" high book with 30 sheets (60 pages), priced at $49.95 each, and a medium, 7/8" high book with 42 sheets (84 pages), priced at $52.95 each.

Spice Tin Angels

Remember those old spice tins? They were cool ... and now they are gone! But creative folk artists have been resurrecting them in a variety of creative ways ... reincarnating this little tin cans as the centerpiece in various folk art pieces. We found these little spice tin angels with ruler legs, wooden wings and spice tin bodies all held together by hand twisted wire. Simply fantastic!

We have these little hand made masterpieces priced at $79.95 each. Get them while they last!

Creative Inspirational Metal Art by Jendala

We just received our first shipment of these wonderful metal art pieces that are created by Northern California metal artist Jennifer Utsch. She envisioned Jendala art from her strong belief that there is a connection between creativity, the environment and universal growth. These inspiring pieces are handcrafted locally from salvaged and reclaimed materials. Jennifer: "I design and create all my products using the hand torch. All metal is reclaimed, mostly from sheet metal and steel cans. I then paint and assemble each piece with beads and bells selected from sustainable cooperatives in India and Indonesia."

We fell for these wonderful ornaments, magnet boards and key chains because of their wonderful colors, rustic shapes and inspirational messages. Hope you love them too!

Key Chains • $9.95 each

Affirmation Chimes and Ornament Bells from $14.95 each

Meow & Woof! Key Chains, Ornament Bells and Magnet Boards

Inlaid Wood Money Clips and Card Holders

Just in! These superbly crafted money clips and business card holders from a New England studio. We love the warmth and sooth texture of finely crafted hardwood pieces. Priced at $49.95 each, these are perfect for the man in your life ... or just get one for yourself! Why not? As Susan's old boss had on his license plate: "IOIT2ME"!

The artists maintain a studio in a small Rhode Island town. Working out of a nineteenth century mill overlooking Dorset Mill Pond, they utilize the beauty of their surroundings to create objects that are simple yet elegant in design. Their woodcrafts are both serviceable and handsome. With minimal care, they can be appreciated for years to come. The hallmark of their work is its combination of artistic expression and utilitarian design. 

Whimsical Dog and Cats Ceramics

Elias Ceramics out of Salem Oregon makes these wonderful, whimsical WhiskerKins bowls, mugs and dishes. Each these are handmade and hand painted. Every one of these canines and felines are full of character ... and maybe a bit of mischief as well. Can you resist these lovable faces?

These are not just for pets, as they are perfect for your wake-up coffee, morning cereal or afternoon snack. The bowls, mugs and plates can also be customized to celebrate your favorite "best friend."

Small Bowls (24.95) and Mugs ($24.95)

Small Bowls (24.95), Medium Bowls (29.95), Plates ($29.95), Saucers ($12.95) and Mugs ($24.95)

Handcrafted Clay Pendants by Susan

Susan has been creating these wonderful pendants using clay. She decorates them with a variety of found objects, glitter, gold and silver leaf, rhinestones, and die cut words of wisdom.

These are all hand made, one-of-a-kind pendants and are priced starting at $12.95. These all come with coordinating ribbon or cord (your choice) and are presented in an organza bag or jewelry gift box (again, your choice). Come on in and check these out.