Mothers Day Sale, Open Studios, Spring Shows

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First things first. Mother's Day is coming up and in honor of all the women in our lives, we're having a 20% sale all this week on our website. 

Spring shows are underway! Catch us next us weekend at the Urban Air Market.
We'll be at the corner of Fell and Octavia between the Biergarten and the playground in booth 86.

So Many Spring Shows - come see us!


Urban Air Market - Spring Show SF
May 5, 2013, 11am-6pm
Hayes Valley: Octavia Blvd. @ Hayes
San Francisco, Ca.

PG&E Spring Bazaar
May 9, 2013, 11am-4pm
66 Beale St.
San Francisco, Ca.

Marin Open Studios
May 11 & 12, 2013, 11am-6pm
19 Caletta Ave.
San Anselmo, Ca.

Fairfax Festival
June 8 & 9, 2013
Fairfax, Ca. 

San Anselmo Art & Wine Festival
June 22 & 23, 2013
San Anselmo, Ca.
Rivertown Revival
July 20, 2013
Petaluma, Ca.

Willits Kinetic Carnivale
September 7 & 8, 2013
Willits, Ca.

 
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Spring Sale, Vintage Medals, New Shows Added!

As spring finally takes hold, we're busy planning shows for the Summer and Fall seasons and reflecting a lot about how far we've come! The ANTIQUITY collection seems to have taken on a life of it's own. I just found some fabulous vintage Order of the Eastern Star medals to transform at a vintage shop in Northern California. These are indirectly sentimental, as my great-grandmother was a Grand Matron of a San Francisco Order of the Eastern Star in 1927. I have no idea of what significance this is, but the medals are a delightful mix of re-interpreted European heraldry infused with a invented sensibility of American historical traditions. (You can read a bit more about my San Francisco/Eastern Star roots here)

I've combined one of the triangular medals with some burgundy Swarovski Crystal. It pairs beautifully with this pair of coordinating Victorian button earrings. Elegant and versatile!

We use the vintage ribbons too - they make delightful adornments. I also found some brooch tops from the 1940s that were ripe for repurposing.

We've got lots of new shows on the calendar - check them out!

Trunk Show at Oaklandish
Saturday, April 13 2013, 12-3pm
1444 Broadway,
Oakland Ca.

Urban Air Market - Spring Show SF
May 5, 2013, 11am-6pm
Hayes Valley: Octavia Blvd. @ Hayes
San Francisco, Ca.

PG&E Spring Bazaar
May 9, 2013, 11am-4pm
66 Beale St.
San Francisco, Ca.

Marin Open Studios
May 11 & 12, 2013, 11am-6pm
19 Caletta Ave.
San Anselmo, Ca.

AND - we're having a 2-day Spring Sale! 

25% off your entire Compass Rose Design order through Sunday 3/31/13

use code SPRINGSALE at checkout for 25% savings! SHOP NOW!

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Edwardian Ball - Dark Garden - Five & Diamond

This month we've had the honor to work with some of our favorite colleagues in preparation for the Edwardian Ball, which starts tonight! While we will be going as attendees this year (hooray!), our jewels will be installed at the Five and Diamond booth - just inside the main entrance. We've sent some particularly luscious new designs from our newest collection.

Some folks will already be wearing their Compass Rose Design creations from the Trunk Show last week at Dark Garden. It is beyond an understatement to say we enjoyed ourselves at the Dark Garden Styling Party and Trunk Show for the Edwardian Ball.

Dark Garden is one of my favorite spaces - that a small army of corset makers - true visionaries - can exist in the modern world is pure delight. Whether the one of a kind masterworks for Dita Von Teese or a ready-to-wear - each invokes a personal transformation and expression of individual beauty.

Here is a lovely woman I met that night who was kind enough to model our Clockwork Empress Collar and Double Clockwork necklaces - thank you Maya!

 We brought some beautiful pieces from our new 2013 Spring ANTIQUITY Collection and lots of folks came to get their outfits ready for the Ball next weekend.

 

Don't miss our January Valentines Day Sale!

SHOP NOW and save 15% with secret code: VALENTINE in January!
 
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See our Events Calendar for Upcoming Shows 

I left my heart in San Francisco...

History is at the center of our work at Compass Rose Design. Lately, we've had trains on the brain and have been making lots of men's accessories with Railroad date nails and antique uniform buttons dating between 1880 and 1950. A few finds relating to San Francisco railroad history have been a delight!

We've recently come across several antiques that have local historical significance. Notice the PPIE 1915 buttons in the above photo. These buttons commemorate the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition - the Worlds Fair. Though the exhibition celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal, the event was perhaps more about showcasing San Francisco's recovery from the 1906 earthquake.

This poster advertised the momentous event, which drew millions of visitors to San Francisco's Marina district - the Palace of Fine Arts buildings still remain, near the Exploratorium site.

Since the original buildings were made of plaster, wood and burlap for quick construction, the Palace of Fine Arts was reconstructed in the 1960s with more durable construction materials.

This SF Municipal Railway button was an incredible find! Transportation service started as early as 1860 in San Francisco with horse drawn omnibus on Howard and Third Streets in San Francisco. Other small companies were also started on Sutter Street, the Mission and North Beach, seen below.  (Photo source: San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection, AAC-8187) 

 

By 1876, it was clear that the hilly terrain in San Francisco made horse-car travel difficult and unprofitable. Thus began the conversion to cable cars. In 1902, the United Railways of San Francisco took over service and by 1909, SF Municipal Railway, known as SF Muni, was founded.

We love San Francisco - and we love how much people love the places they are from. Holding these historical moments in our hands, wearing these genuine antique treasures, connects us with lives and stories of the people who came before us.  Check our Railroad collection to see if we have buttons from your town or state.

We also had a GREAT time at our local Fairfax Festival this weekend - thanks to everyone who came to visit!

 

The Railroad collection continues to be a big hit. We're happy to see more clever gents wearing awesome accessories - unique pieces with real history and sophistication.

Check our Summer Events Calendar for upcoming California shows!

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