Friday, May 18, 2012

20 weeks old!


Severen is 20 weeks old today, which makes him about 4 1/2 months! Since our last check in (16 weeks) he has been very busy! He is able to roll around now. He also recently discovered that his feet/legs are not just random objects but actually parts of his body that he can control. He rubs them together, flaps them around and reaches for them.  He likes to try to sit up by pulling on our fingers and gets frustrated when he can't do it. He got his first taste of rice cereal and gobbled it up. He actually wanted to drink it from the glass, which I let him do.

The weather has been wonderful and we've spent lots of time outside. He likes to rest on a blanket under a big tree and stare at the leaves. If his pants are off, he is especially happy! He sleeps in his own room on his floor bed and that has been fun (photos coming soon!) I am amazed at how much he moves - we've gone in to get him in the morning a couple of times and found him chilling out in the middle of the room on his back, just babbling.

He is so even-keeled . . . no high-highs, no low-lows (although that might come with teething, I am told). Lots of good stuff in between.

And why is this post so late? Because it is 5 PM and I just ate lunch. It's been a long, long day with not much to show for it. Except this post. And a happy baby. Bon weekend!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

The box the box!


This piece in the collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum is incredible. As usual, I like the box more than the thing inside the box. Just look at the label. Just LOOK at it. I feel like my insides are dissolving (in a good way). Jesus, it is amazing. What I would give to pay a visit to this Artiste en Cheveux and commission a piece. I'd ask for an extra box or two with my order.

On the topic, I'm pretty excited about mourning jewelry (have been for a few years) and I am going to start talking about it more here, mkay? So, now let's see . . .  the blog will be about vintage jewelry, my son, scarves, pretty lockets, old photos, hot chocolate, motherhood, my son, hairwork and death jewelry. Soooooo cohesive, I know. Bear with me! I promise things won't get too crazy around here.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Shop update



 

 

  

 



A little mid-week shop update. Everything is at the top of the shop!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Minerva/Athena jewelry

 gold + enamel + diamond Athena brooch                                     gold + enamel + pearl Athena brooch
                        Ebay ||  $1619                                                           Kensington House Antiques || $2950

gold + shell Athena cameo brooch                       gold + hardstone Athena cameo brooch
Ruby Lane || $890                                                     Lang Antiques || $5950

gold + diamonds + enamel Minerva brooch

 
gold + enamel + gem-set Athena brooch               gold + natural turquoise Athena cameo brooch 

 brass + enamel + paint Minerva brooch, in the shop

I got a few questions about the Minerva/Athena brooch I listed a couple weeks ago as part of the Classical Studies Update. Was this a popular style? What other examples of Greco/Roman goddess jewelry existed? Well, I went looking for similar pieces and I found some real beauties. All of these are fine - gold, pearls, diamonds, etc. - depicting the goddess Minerva (or Athena) in a variety of styles, but with certain consistent features. She always has flowing, curly hair. She is always wearing a helmet, topped with a creature of some kind (griffin, dolphin or serpent). And . . . she is always beautiful. She seems to have been a popular subject for enamel brooches and cameos in the late 1800s. My piece is a great example of how costume jewelers imitated fine jewelers, copying popular trends using less expensive materials. Man, I love 1930s-1940s costume jewelry. I just really love it.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Locket Lundi


Happy Monday! Today's locket is an unusual one. A thick, oval piece with Mother of Pearl inlays creating a background for two detailed scenes. I think this is probably an early mid-century souvenir piece from Japan - fantastic! I just added it to the shop.