The Big Chill

The silence around the Jean Jean Vintage shop and blog has been partially due to ice storm madness (and lack of electricity) chez moi for the last five days as well as holiday happiness. But rest assured that I am still working behind the scenes to ready an amazing batch of new jewels for the shop. January is going to be bonkers. Dare I say the BEST month for rings EVER in the shop? Yes. Coming soon!

Wee rings coming soon

These four teeny tiny rings will be in the shop very soon! I just love them. They are perfect for a pinkie or to wear as a first knuckle ring.

For the friend who has everything . . .

This antique pineapple holder (yep, that's right) is up for auction in Lisbon, Portugal today. Could this be a last minute gift for that friend who has everything? I really want to see a photo of this with a pineapple inside. I don't know why I think this is all so funny . . .

Image courtesy of Renascimento

New stock all week!

I am stocking new items (and shipping) all week! Here is a peek at what is to come today. The necklaces are already at the top of the shop.

FREE Priority shipping upgrade

This week I'm upgrading every domestic order to Priority shipping. Why? Because things get really stressful really fast this time of year. Wouldn't it be nice to get your order on a Wednesday instead of a Friday just for a little peace of mind? One less thing to have on your mental checklist? You bet it would.

Also, the final day of Jean Jean shipping for the year will be Saturday, December 21st. So don't forget to order your New Years Eve baubles this week, too!

Pretty, pretty pendants

If you follow Jean Jean Vintage on Facebook or on Instagram you know that there are some great pendants headed to the shop. Here's the whole crew - aren't they lovely?

Hey, what's in here?

Pssst. Did you know that I have hundreds and hundreds of pieces of jewelry "off the floor" of the shop? This chest is full of gorgeous stuff, yet un-photographed. If you are looking for something in particular and don't happen to find what you want in the shop, please get in touch with me. I just might have something for you in here. Here's how things might go down . . .

YOU: "Do you have a bonkers brass festoon necklace from the 1930s?"
ME: Yes. I look at it every day.

YOU: "My friend loves dragons. Do you have anything with dragons on it?"
ME: Why yes, I do.

YOU: "I need something big and sparkly and under $30 to wear on my winter coat. What do you have?"
ME: Lots of things!

YOU: "I need a locket with the initial M to give as a gift. Do you have one?"
ME: Actually, I do. 

Moral of the story: It never hurts to ask. And if I don't have what you are looking for, chances are I know someone who does. So give me a shout.

A pretty girl with a barrette - what more could you ask for?

The ever stylish Ellen of A Wild Tea Party just posted a photo of herself wearing one of the ALOUETTE French barrettes from the shop and I had to show her off! I love checking out Ellen's outfits. She has an elegant sense of classic taste with a bit of a wild side and her accessories are always inspired. And who doesn't love to see a little Australia summer sun this time of year, even if it is on a computer screen? Thank you for the boost on this sleet-filled day, Ellen!

Do you have a customer appreciation photo for me? Maybe a Jean Jean brooch out to a party or a Jean Jean locket at the office? Please get in touch and share!

❄ Holiday Sale ❄

Happy Holiday weekend! The shop is 25% now through Monday. 

Click to shop ↦ rings ♦ necklaces ♦ lockets ♦ earrings ♦ brooches ♦ bracelets

Thank you for your business. I can't wait to send you something!

Ghost trees

Have you heard of albino redwood trees? There are apparently only about two dozen of them in existence, most of them in California. The location of the rare trees, which can survive as a parasite off a "parent" tree for a century or more, are kept secret to protect them from curious visitors. The highest concentration of the trees seems to be in Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, where at least eight have been identified.

You can listen to a story about these "ghostly redwoods" on an archived episode of Weekend Edition.

Photos via Wikipedia Creative Commons

Take a star from the sky

After years spent handling, researching, wearing and thinking about beautiful jewelry, I am now accustomed to a certain level of "wow." I don't react to everything all the time - certainly not like I used to when I first started this gig. I guess I am a bit desensitized! That said, there are always things that make me shake my head in amazement. Like this Victorian paste brooch. It looks like someone plucked a star from the sky and put it in a velvet box. I feel this one in my ribs, which means it's really good.

Incidentally, I just stocked a 9 CT and paste ring in the shop this week. She's really pretty.

You can see more extraordinary paste jewelry on this Morning Glory reference page.

toshi yoshida

An auction catalog I recently scrolled through had a couple of abstract pieces by Toshi Yoshida up for sale. I placed bids but I didn't win! This was one of them. This was the other. Aren't they brilliant?

Images courtesy of artlino: Japanese Prints

Instagram Giveaway

Giveaway! Yay - it has been awhile and this is a great piece. A tiny turn-of-the-century Victorian love knot pin, plated in yellow gold and set with an opal. To enter, mosey over to Jean Jean Vintage on Instagram and ♥ like ♥ or regram the giveaway announcement anytime today (before midnight, EST). You get two extra entries if you become a new follower, too! The winner will be announced by Severen on Instagram tomorrow afternoon. Don't you want to hear him say your name in his adorable toddler voice?!

Bakelite fruits and veggies

If you follow me on Twitter you probably saw a photo of some bakelite and wood dress clips a little while back. Well, I decided to sell them off-Etsy to a collector in New York (this guy) who maintains a website called The Bakelite Museum among other pursuits. The "museum" portion of the site has one of the best resource collections of bakelite photographs I've seen online. It was the only place where I was able to find examples of pieces similar to mine - carved wood, carved bakelite, "garden" subject. In fact, there is an entire section devoted to fruit and vegetable bakelite figurals. Have you ever seen a bakelite potato? How about beets? Or asparagus? It is worth a visit just to see the asparagus, trust me.

Images courtesy of The Bakelite Museum, ebay and Morning Glory Antiques

18K gold sea urchins

There's still time to get this 18K gold Tiffany & Co. sea urchin suite on your wish list for the holidays. And why not? This kind of figural jewelry is so fun. I'll be keeping my eyes out for the gold fill version, which is a bit more in my price range!

Images courtesy of Lang Antique and Estate Jewelry

Jean Jean Vintage by color

Do you ever search your favorite Etsy shop by color? I sometimes forget that is an option! It is a completely different way of seeing things. Jean Jean Vintage is apparently is full of orange and blue - who knew?! Here are a few of my favorite vintage Etsy shops by color:
 
Dear Golden in green 
The Slipperie in peach
The Deeps in black
Oh, Albatross in white
Adelaide Homesewn in cream

Little Jean Jean Smurf

The first costume I remember wearing for Halloween was my Smurf costume. Do kids even know who the Smurfs are anymore? I found almost the exact costume on Etsy today (and here is my little mask!) and I laughed because the packaging looks ancient! Ahhhh, remember the days when a "costume" meant a plastic mask and a wee smock? That was all you needed to feel totally decked out for Halloween. Now it seems that kids don't dare leave the house without a wig, some light-activated wands or swords and a full-body suit! I also giggle when I remember how low-tech everyone's decorations were back then. Maybe folks would throw a fake cobweb over the door and put one of those pumpkin trash bags full of leaves on the lawn. Now there are gravestones, moving zombie arms, spooky music playing from speakers, special Halloween lights . . . the works. Just imagine what Halloween festivities will be like in another 30 years!

What is the first costume you remember wearing? Or how about your favorite costume as a kid? Happy Halloween!