November’s Vintage Style Council Member of the Month is our fellow New Englander Julia of Jeeze, Julia. To help give you a better idea of who she is, we asked Julia some questions about her favorite piece of jewelry, how she stays inspired, and why she is dedicated to living an eco-friendly life.
First, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your blog?
I’m Julia! I’m a contributing writer for the Goodwill International blog, a freelance seamstress with an Etsy shop, and an Online Media Manager for an independent natural foods store in my area! Being mindful of the environment and of local community is a huge influence in every part of my life from my own purchasing preferences to the way that I run my Etsy shop and what I share on my blog. I love to write about my latest reads and newest thrifted finds, but my all time favourite thing to blog about is the beauty of my home: New Hampshire.
You mention in your blog that you strive to make a life that is inspired. Can you explain what that means and share some advice for how to do that?
I have my best, most productive, happiest days when I’m feeling inspired. After I’ve witnessed or felt something truly beautiful I feel like anything is possible whether it’s crossing that last thing off of my housekeeping to-do list or sewing a new dress for myself from scratch. I’ve noticed that if I don’t make an effort to become inspired then I’m tempted to just sit on the couch and waste hours getting lost in the abyss that is the internet! So, I decided that to try to make the most of every day I would aim to live a life that is inspired. This means that every day I seek out little moments that will jolt my creativity. Every person has different goals and interests, so there is no sure solution to finding your muse, and, in fact, it can be different for me every day! I have an inspiration board on Pinterest that sometimes provides enough beauty for me to get up and do something with myself, but other days I may need to take a walk through the woods with my mister to fill my lungs with fresh air, or clean my apartment so I have a fresh and neutral workspace. My advice for you to find your own inspiration is to track what makes you feel all fluttery inside! Make a pinboard, a playlist of songs, put on a movie that gives you happy and comfortable (but not so comfortable that you sit down and start watching!) background sound, or look at past projects you’ve completed that make you really proud! If all that fails, make yourself a good ol’ fashioned cup of coffee. That pretty much does it for me every time!
Julia modeling one of the organic continental ties from her shop
Like last month’s Member of the Month (Shell of Kitty and Buck), you hand-craft accessories and sell them with the goal of creating as little impact on the environment as possible. Can you tell us what led you to make such eco-conscious choices for your shop?
I grew up in a very small town in New Hampshire right where a mountain meets a lake. I didn’t have many neighbors and cars hardly ever passed by on our dirt road. I felt like the whole mountain and lake were mine! I loved to explore them and at a young age I felt the importance of protecting them. I’d hate to think that my future children didn’t have the possibility of a childhood running around in the woods, too, so I’m doing everything I can to reduce my footprint on the Earth and preserve the natural world.
Julia’s engagement ring
And, lastly, what is your favorite piece of jewelry and what is the story behind it? This is such a difficult question! I don’t own very much jewelry, but I’m one of those girls who will wear a ring or a pair of earrings for years at a time so each piece I do own holds very special meaning to me. After much deliberation, I think I’m going to go with my engagement ring. My fiance had it custom made for me according to a dream that I once had! It’s handmade with recycled white gold and a reclaimed diamond and cast from an actual twig. The girl who made it grew up in New Hampshire, too, so I love to know that this tree-like ring has the same roots as I do. It’s unique and organic and perfect for me.
Thank you for helping us get to know you better, Julia! You can learn more about Julia’s projects and life by reading her blog Jeeze, Julia. We also named one of our vintage engagement rings after her, our Julia Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring circa 1950, which you can see in our vintage collection here.
Julia Vintage Diamond Engagement Ring circa 1950
