Copper and enamel, part one

I am into copper and enamel right now, especially pieces from the 1960s. Not one to normally wear a bracelet stack, I would totally make an exception for these four bracelets. Don't they look rad together?! Like this look? There will be enamel pendants and necklaces to follow mid-week!

Sea serpent jewelry

It is fun to imagine the woman who originally owned and wore the SELJORD Art Deco bracelet (first image above), which I just listed in the shop this afternoon. Sea serpents are not for the faint-of-heart and the motif is extremely rare in Art Deco figural jewelry. As I was researching this bracelet I came across some other examples of antique jewelry with sea serpent/sea dragon motifs which I just had to share. All images are linked to their original sources, if you would like to take a closer look. It is worth noting that the red glass necklace, which is for sale over on ebay, is clearly made by the same company that made the Jean Jean bracelet, which is really remarkable. I would like to go back in time and spend a day in the workshop where those were made. Shhessssh.

P.S. If you have a good memory, you will remember a similar bracelet listed in the shop last year - with snakes instead of dragons.

Images via: necklace and pendant (ebay) / ring (Tadema Gallery)

New bracelets

New bracelets in the shop today! All to be found in the Jean Jean Vintage bracelet drawer.

Four bracelets, four decades

There are four new bracelets in the shop, each from a different decade. Top to bottom: 1970s, 1910s, 1950s, 1940s. Check out all of the Jean Jean bracelets in the bracelet drawer of the shop! And as always, if you are looking for something that you don't see, get in touch with me and I bet I can find it for you.

Bracelets for summer

After I spotted my buddy and Etsy colleague extraordinaire Amy wearing a maxi skirt from Thief & Bandit I did what any girl would do and spent the next twenty minutes committing their shop contents to memory.

I'll have to think long and hard about whether god intended for me to wear their leggings. In the meantime, I'm thinking of picking up one of their bracelets (images linked!). The fabric and stud pieces are so fun and beg to be paired with a summer tan and a tank top.

P.S. The Thief & Bandit kiddo collection is also excellent. These leggings were made for Severen!
P.P.S. Amy stocks a great shop over at Wildfell Hall Vintage. Her vintage blouses are particularly swoony.

Images courtesy of Thief & Bandit

For your wrists

I'm stocking several new bracelets today, 1920s-1950s. I'm slow, so it will probably take the rest of the afternoon. But they are coming - and they are great! You will be able to find them in the bracelet drawer of the shop.

Climbing rope bracelets

Is this bracelet dorky? I've lost all perspective. Maybe it is the inner 3rd grader in me that loves the wrap style and the colorful, woven pattern. Think friendship bracelets. Think snap bracelets. The clasp on this is really cool (stainless steel and magnetic), too. I love it and I can't take it off. Oh, and it glows in the dark. Help. Me. I might be buying a few more (including some chunkier ones) from this company.

Art Deco buckle bracelet

I'm listing this gorgeous Art Deco buckle bracelet in the shop today. Buckle motif jewelry is one of my favorite styles. Victorian, Retro, silver, gold . . . no matter the era or material. I love it. Deco era bracelets with this motif are pretty hard to find and - in my opinion - super glamorous. Here are a few other examples of 1920s-1930s rhinestone buckle bracelets from one of my favorite antique jewelry sites. Need to see more? You can see many more examples of buckle motif jewelry right here.

This is what bakelite heaven looks like

My friend Amber has an absolutely amazing collection of bakelite jewelry. Just look at those colors! Those towers of bangles! I think the best part off Amber's collection is that she actually wears the jewelry - it's a part of her every day life. That is super inspiring to me. Can you guess what the most valuable piece is here?

Something very special

This bracelet is to me what a cream-colored, beaded, 1920s silk chiffon flapper dress is to vintage clothing sellers. That is to say . . . it's something very special. I've only seen one other piece like this online or in real life, back in April on the Erie Basin blog. The width of the panels, the color of the glass, the cast filigree, the enamel accents - it all screams early 1900s Czechoslovakia. I just stocked it in the shop.

Four thumbs up

I am giving two thumbs up to this leather cuff from K/LLER. The little metal panel makes me want to borrow two more thumbs and give it four thumbs up. It also comes in gray! You can find it here.

Image courtesy of Totokaelo

Inspired by insects

Butterfly wing bangles

Beetle ring

Cicada ring

Butterfly ring

My friend Ellen of A Wild Tea Party told me about the company Dinosaur Designs in Sydney, Australia. They make jewelry out of synthetic resin, which is sort of a dream for girls who like plastic jewelry. Their recent collection based on insects is so awesome. The black resin cicada ring is my favorite! You can browse the online catalog here.

Photos courtesy of Dinosaur Designs

The man of your dreams might be hiding in your bracelet

I was moments away from listing this 1950s identification bracelet the other day when I suddenly realized that there was a hinge on one side of the name plate. Could it be a secret compartment?! I pulled and tugged and eventually it popped open and lo and behold there was a man smiling back at me! He looks a little bit like Frankie Valli. Given how difficult it was to open the compartment, and the fact that the manufacturer's photograph is still inside, I don't think that the owner of this bracelet knew about this secret feature. But now you do! This bracelet will be in the shop today.

P.S. I have been giggling for almost a week now because the title of this post got cut off in my blogger "draft" list to read, "The man of your dreams might be hiding in your bra." Imagine that, if you dare.

We meet again

Finding matching vintage jewelry really makes me happy. It is so interesting to see different versions of the same design, isn't it? It also gives me a sense of what it must have been like to go shopping back in the day, when ladies had a choice of styles and colors at the jewelry counter. These brooches are from the 1930s/1940s - the yellow one is in the Jean Jean collection and the blue one is from the pages of Warman's Vintage Jewelry (2008). The yellow brooch will be part of next Monday's sunny shop update!

Cool girls wear these

When I saw these 1940s photos, I knew that I needed to get on the ball and start collecting identification bracelets. I mean, how awesome is this girl?! I'm pretty sure she is wearing nine ID bracelets. I've been stockpiling them for Jean Jean Vintage this last month and the collection has grown to well over a dozen bracelets. I couldn't resist staging a look-a-like shoot after I finished photographing all of the bracelets for the shop. All I need is a chocolate malt and a time machine and I think I could hang with this girl.

Photos courtesy of Life Image Archives