I walked by this store in North Park - What is it?
Hard question to answer simply! We are at both times a collective of local artists - jewelers, candle makers, painters, hat makers - and a purveyor of antique and vintage goods ranging from the interesting to the strange and unusual. Imagine a mix between an Edwardian explorer’s smoking parlor of curiosities, and the spooky Victorian mansion of the old woman in your neighborhood who just may be a witch. You’ll find our aesthetic somewhere within there. Everything is certainly unique, and often one of a kind or hard to find.
Are the items in this store old new?
Both! Jewelry, hats, candles, crystals, and other giftables are in made by small artists. Other items, such as pinned insects and taxidermy, are a mix - some are vintage and antique items, others are done by artists. Much more, such as the wide array of home wares and clothing, range from vintage to antique.
What is your ethics code regarding the bones, bugs and taxidermy?
Sustainability is our biggest concern. Taxidermy, with very few exceptions, are vintage or antique pieces, which often are left uncared for properly and wind up in landfills. We restore what we can, modify if need be, and give them a second chance. Bones and skulls available or used in the art is often times locally collected, as the owners live surrounded by hundreds of acres of land near San Diego! Butterflies and insects are either vintage pinned pieces, or made nowadays using ethically sourced insects (insects and who have lived their full life cycle).
Where do you source your antiques?
The pieces we sell - especially the most odd, curious and rare of items - come from many different sources. Over the past decade we’ve fostered many relationships with antique dealers, estate sale organizers, and auction houses around the world. We also do lots of ground work, picking through flea markets and swap meets, knowing exactly what kind of pieces we are looking for. We aren’t experts by any means, but our passion for the unique, odd and macabre in our own collecting has given us the knowledge to source only the most interesting and unique of pieces we can get our hands on!
I loved the hats! But none of them fit me?
All hats here are by the brand (part of the collective) Haberdash Hats. Custom orders are available. We will size your head up and you will have the perfect fit! You can pick out your color and style as well. These is no extra charge for custom orders.
Visit Haberdash Hats for more information on custom ordering!
What is the Jewelry made out of?
Our jewelry is a mix of solid bronze, sterling silver, and gold filled. Bright light and shiny gold colored jewelry is gold filled, while the more weathered and earthy darker gold colored pieces are bronze. Anything silver colored is indeed sterling silver.
All jewelry is crafted in San Diego, and custom orders are available for no extra charge! If you see a ring you like that’s not in your size, not a problem. If you walked away from that dream piece and it’s gone now, don’t worry - we can recreate it to the best of our abilities.
https://www.flightoffancydesigns.com/ <———- Click here for more detailed information and photos
Do you buy things?
Sometimes, yes! We are never ones to turn down unique and interesting pieces. If you’d like us to take a look at interesting items you have for sale, shoot us an email with photos or to set up an appointment to bring your pieces in to be seen in person!
We are also always open to seeing the work of other small artists who feel like their pieces would be a good fit. If you’d like to sell your wares or art in the shop, send us an email with your information.
THE GOLD DUST COLLECTIVE
3824 RAY STREET
