Le shop

I'm very excited about the shop right now, especially these new pieces!

Les vacances à la Midwest

2000 miles in the car, 26 bug bites, 10 days, 6 states, 4 antique malls, 2 campsites, 1 family reunion and 1 freshwater lake = summer vacation in the upper midwest! Here is what I was up to while I was away.

Going, going . . .

Summer is almost gone. I know it is. Which makes days like this all the sweeter. I was off to the post office here, goodies in tote, wearing some new (old) jewelry.

top| Threads 4 Thought, via Heavenly Metal
shorts| from an emergency pair of jean I bought @ Tati in France when I lost my luggage!
bag| vintage knitting bag ca. 1930s
shoes/sunnies| hand-me-downs from my best buddy
earrings| etched rose-gold panels on sterling screw backs ca. 1930s
rings| Persian turquoise and seed pearl rings, both missing stones - oh well! ca. 1900s
necklace| pearl, rhinestone and base metal festoon necklace ca. 1900s

Free roller coaster ride

Edwardian Gold and Diamond Bird Earrings c. 1900

Memento Mori - Stuart Crystal Skull Ring c. 1791Unique Antique Essex Crystal Pendant Locket c. 1893

Antique Diamond Bracelet Brooch c. 1880

Persian Turquoise Ring c. 1700

If you ever want to feel like you are on a roller coaster, without leaving the comfort of your own home, all you have to do is look at this website - Georgian Jewelry. Your insides will be all topsy turvy with excitement in no time. This stuff is the real deal - diamonds, 18K gold, platinum, etc. I like several things on the site, but not necessarily the shiniest, fanciest pieces. I tend to like the jewelry that looks - well - most wearable. I don't think I'd feel too comfy leaving the house wearing a lot of karats and precious metals. But then again, maybe all I need is a little practice!

Goofy and gorgeous

Have you seen this jewelry before? It is has four names a) reverse carved glass jewelry b) paperweight jewelry c) souvenir jewelry and, my favorite - d) goofus glass jewelry.

The first name gives you an idea of the technique used to create the jewelry. It is made by carving a design into the back of a piece of glass, painting the cavities created, and then sealing off the back. The second name - paperweight jewelry - comes from the domed appearance of the glass. The last two names, souvenir jewelry and goofus glass, likely came about because cheap, reverse molded, unfired paint glass used to be given away as carnival prizes. Maybe when you got home with your prize you looked closer and said, "Wow, this glass is goofy!" Or, "I've been goofed - this stuff is junk!" Who knows. Anyhow, at some point our pretty jewelry got confused with this funky glassware, possibly because the reverse molding/carving technique is shared.

This glass jewelry has been around since Victorian times (buttons, etc.) but my favorite pieces are from the 20s, 30s and 40s. There are later pieces that aren't as nice - with dogs and marlins and stuff carved into the glass. But earlier pieces have more ladylike motifs - flowers, birds, sprigs of berries, etc. These are getting harder to find but they are still very affordable. Maybe something to start collecting? I know I am! Look for some in the shop soon!

First two images courtesy of Vera Battemarco and Morning Glory Antiques.

♡ Huzzah! Vintage Giveaway ♡

Today kicks off a week-long giveaway I'm sponsoring over at Huzzah Vintage. If you haven't checked out Gina's site, you are in for a treat. It is a serious blog that doesn't take itself too seriously. Fantastic writing, insightful posts, helpful hints for fellow bloggers, fun givaways - never a dull moment! It is one of my favorite daily reads. Check out today's post for instructions on how to enter to win this sweet locket. You'll also find a special discount code good through August 31st at Jean Jean Vintage! Have fun!

The Lake

By the time you read this, I'll probably already be on the road headed north to Lake Superior. I love the Lake, but of course the Lake loves no one. Case in point: The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which thrills and terrifies me. And in case you were wondering, yes - I know every word to the Gordon Lightfoot song.

But I digress . . . I'm headed up to an area where my family went when I was a little tot. I've attached a photograph here for your enjoyment of my brother and me there ca. 1988. My mom also went there when she was little and my grandparents vacationed there in the 50s. So, it is a special place for me and I can hardly believe that I get to go back.

I will be out of touch for a few days, but back online and posting pretty jewelry in the shop on Monday!

Rubie's year

It is 1910 . . . women are still nearly a decade away from the right to vote, the Titanic is being built at a shipyard in Belfast, Georgia O'Keefe just finished art school at the University of Chicago, Gershwin is learning how to play the piano, Oklahoma is the newest state in the union, Nicholas II is the Tsar of Russia and - someone gives a girl named Rubie a lovely locket.

I have great reverence for sentimental jewelry of all kinds, but this piece in the shop is particularly touching. It is easy to imagine what was happening - and what was about to happen - in the country and in the world when Rubie first put this locket around her neck 100 years ago. This is the magnificent thing about vintage and antiques - through surviving material culture, we have a powerful link to the past.

The feelings bound up in the locket are a century old, but they feel fresh and new. The locket is wonderful, the photos are charming . . . it begs to be worn again.