Big Flea Bling

I almost forgot to share my jewelry finds from this past weekend's flea market. 

One of the stops along the way with Eddie Ross at the flea market was a huge table piled with tons of jewelery.  There were people all around the table just digging and I couldn't wait to join them.  Eddie shared how useful these items can be for other uses such as the napkin rings he embellished with earrings like these.

After the tour was over, I headed right over to that table and dove in to the mountain of goods.  I would eventually like to cover the top portion of the mannequin in my dining room with vintage jewelry.  There was jewelry of all types in every shape, size and style but my focus was on finding rhinestones and clear rhinestones in particular but I couldn't resist some of the colored items.

Not rhinestones, but I also got a couple of leaf pins.

The vendor gave me a discount for buying several pieces and she also had cases of more expensive vintage items but pretty and cheap were my preference.

Vintage *bling*

Grace was nice enough to model some of my Great Grandmother's Jewelery. I thought she was looking a little plain so I decided to help her out. I really like this chain with pearls and blue rhinestone balls.


A few months ago I posted this mess - boxes of my great-grandmothers jewelry that my mom gave me.



One night, I sat for about 3 hours unraveling and organizing it all. It was interesting to say the least. Just opening the boxes was an experience. I was around 6 years old when she passed away but the smell of perfume seemed familiar to me for some reason. Well, after 3 hours my hands were black from all the tarnish, dirt and corroded metal. I found some beautiful things inside ...

Look at this rhinestone necklace ...

Love the blue beads on this ...

I thought this made a pretty big statement ...

And attached was a little charm that said - Sweetheart - USN. A gift perhaps from my great-grandfather who was in the military. I never met him.

Love these green beads!

The rhinestones on this necklace are actually a pale green color, but it does not come through in the photo.

I thought this filigree pendant was beautiful ...

I think these earrings would look great with the right dress ...


Besides jewelry, I also found this monogrammed belt buckle ...

A gold watch with diamonds (sorry its blurry) but the clasp is broken.



One of these (can't remember which) belonged to my mom apparently from the 60s. Groovy!



Don't love the zig-zag, but again, like the beads!


This lighter was interesting. It looked like mother-of-pearl, but the finish was wearing off and there's another image coming through from underneath.

I loved this earring but alas, there was no match. :-( The hanging part is cylindrical and it kind of reminded me of poison box jewelery.

And finally a coin from 1900.


I could write 20 posts about the stuff in the boxes, but I'll stop here.

I'm posting late today because I've been busy this week driving all over Virginia in search of bins to organize my office. That was one of my New Years Resolutions and I'll be working on it this weekend. I'm also taking my little ones blueberry picking tomorrow.

Have a nice weekend!

Books and Flowers (part deux)

My lilies are blooming!


So recently, I read a book (Pillars of the Earth - VERY good) and like always, I've lost all the bookmarks I have so I used a piece of paper. Over the hundreds of pages, I folded the paper over and over.


I thought, this is sad. I really should have a proper bookmark. I never got around to buying one. I remembered I had some unused ribbon from my wedding 5 years ago and with yet another broken (now repaired) brooch, I made myself a bookmark.


Now I need just need another book. I understand that there is a Pillars sequel. What I really need is to find the time!

"Upcycling"

Recycling is everywhere these days and for good reason. Less waste is good for the planet. Well, recently I found that you can buy entire lots of broken vintage jewelry for the price you might pay for just one in good condition. Lots of people do this and I think its great.

Some pieces are missing a stone (or two or three) ...



... some broken such as this rhinestone piece missing the pin ...


... and others just missing their mate.



But throw them away? No ... How could you throw such beautiful things away? No one is perfect, right? Besides, age and imperfection gives us character!

Yesterday, I finished my pillow with turqoise shell buttons that I posted about yesterday. It looked like it needed a little something. I pulled out my broken jewelry and found this beauty.



An inexpensive pin back, jewlery glue and an overnight drying time later ...


Pretty and perfect once more.

Vintage Jewelry

Over the weekend, my mom gave me 2 boxes of my great-grandmother's jewelry. I have some of her other pieces that I've posted before.




First of all, how cool are the boxes?? The second box is an old cigar box. Anyway, upon opening them, this is what I found ...




A tangled mess! I have my work cut out for me sorting all that out. Mom told me to do with them what I wanted, but considering their personal significance, I can't imagine getting rid of a single piece. One of the few things I remember of my great-grandmother is that she loved her jewelry. Well, the least I can do is organize it a little better.

Jewelry making ...

I found a picture of a freshwater pearl and rose bead bracelet on flickr not long ago and I thought was so pretty. I decided to give it a shot at making one myself. Here is the finished product.



It was a learning experience, but I'm really happy with it. I'd like to make a ring and earrings to match, but I'm waiting for findings I ordered.

"Vintage" jewelry ...

I don't really know anything about vintage jewelry. I happen to own some thanks to my mom who inherited some of her grandmother's things. Here are some of those things mixed in with other things I've acquired like the bracelet on the lower right that is actually new and the square rhinestone shoe adornments (is there a term for those?). They were my mom's "something borrowed" for her wedding 38+ years ago but I guess they never made it back to the original owner.

This is one of my great-grandmother's rings. I love it. I can't say I really have many memories of her because I was young when she passed away (maybe 6?) so I don't remember much. What I do remember is that she loved jewelry and wore a lot of it and that she liked the occasional beer. Other than that, what I remember is not so happy ... my mother's devastation the day she died. My mother loved her a lot and was very close to her. I was young but I remember that clearly.

I recently purchased more items on eBay (some shown below). That was interesting. There is such a demand for things there and bidding is competetive if you don't want to spend a lot (like me). My plans were to use them as adornments on things I might make but now I don't think I want to part with some of them. For example, the large square with red stones is really beautiful and the picture doesn't do it justice. Its missing some rhinestones, and that makes me wonder if it has a history like my own heirloom pieces.


Whether they're vintage or not, I love every piece.