Randolph Street Market

On Saturday, I took one of my oldest friends for her first trip to the Randolph Street Market in Chicago.  We had a blast looking at all of the great antiques, vintage items, jewelry, and quirky things!  We even saw a pair of Laurel and Hardy lamps!  My family has a love of all things Laurel and Hardy, as my brothers are essentially Stan and Oliver re-incarnated. 

You can see so much other great stuff in the background of this photo!  I absolutely adore the market.  They had some amazing food vendors.  The lovely french nuns were there selling their baked goods from the St. Roger Abbey. Both my friend and I purchased incredible chocolate croissants and my friend also picked up a blackberry poundcake.  We also had lunch at a crepe stand at the fair also. (Unfortunately, I've forgotten the name of the crepe stand).

Anyway, of course, I purchased a bunch of jewelry while there.  I picked up several sterling silver brooches, some really cool cufflinks and a gorgeously stunning 1940s trembler brooch (top right of the picture).  It's not a huge haul as I did have to pay higher prices due to the venue, however I think I did well. 

Vacation Photos!

You can tell that I'm a vintage jewelry collector at heart.  I was in Utah and California for a combined total of almost 2 whole weeks and every day, I wanted to find another antique store / flea market / estate sale to go to!  As it was, I was only able to go out and buy jewelry 4 days out of the 12.

Not a bad haul, huh?

Anyway, my first trip was to an antique market in Springville, Ut called "Treasures Antique Mall."  It has two huge buildings and is right off of I-15. In the time that I had, I was able to go through only 1 building. I had hoped to go back for the other one later, but that never happened.

This is me making a pouty face. :(

Anyway, I was able to find some great deals! And one of my sisters-in-law found a multi-stranded freshwater pearl necklace worth a couple hundred dollars that was marked $30.  The staff was incredibly helpful and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

Here's a better picture of the haul from Treasures:

The next day, I was talked into going to Deseret Industries, Utah's version of Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift stores.  We went to three "DIs" before I found one that had jewelry.  Unfortunately, they were all bagged together in mini lots, so I felt I was taking a risk, and I didn't come out with much.

The "good stuff" were a couple of Coro / Corocraft necklaces and a funky purple glittery beaded necklace, as well as a bunch of beaded necklaces that I'm selling as a "lot" on Etsy. 

After 5 days in Utah, I then flew out to LA to visit my brother and his wife.  I had a marvelous time there.  One day, we went to six estate sales, and I got a load of great jewelry!  Seeing the different architecture there was really neat too.  We were in Playa Del Rey, Venice, Santa Monica, and Marina Del Rey. I found an incredible beaded purse from the 1920s! I also picked up some great cameos and brooches.  The brooch in the middle is a Weiss! 

Another day, we went to a prop liquidator who sells off stuff from closed down theatrical productions, TV shows and Movies.  They had all of the jewelry from the "One Life to Live" soap opera.  I was able to pick up 6 vintage necklaces.  Unfortunately, the would not provide any proof or documentation that these pieces were on the show, so I cannot resell them based off of that information.  However I can add it as a neat story.  Supposedly the copper necklace on the bottom right corner of the picture was worn by the character "Dorian."

The whole reason for this trip WASN'T to buy jewelry, I can't forget that.  So here's some of the real reasons!

I Obviously Have a Great Love for Jewelry

I obviously have a great love and appreciation for jewelry, thanks to my mother, much to the dismay of both my father and my boyfriends. ~Ivanka Trump

She Caught the Katy

Was listening to my music on random and this came up. Started out the Blues Brother's Movie. Chicago Cult Classic Extraordinare!

What's in Style Right Now? "Vintage Look"

All right, I admit it. Its my dirty secret. I susbscribe to O magazine.

There.  It's out.  Don't judge me.

You're judging me, aren't you?

Anyway, Oprah.com featured this necklace by Lia Sophia as one of its "Great Buys of the Week" last week. 



Necklace by LiaSophia.com Photo from Oprah.com

Here's what they had to say about it. "Love the cameo look but afraid that broaches are too fusty? The central pendant on this necklace is traditional, but it's updated by four whimsical others, plus it's hung on a sleek silver chain."

Oh, and it's $98. 

Why not take your own vintage brooches and make a necklace similar for less money?  There's a neat trick I picked upon pinterest that uses straws! I know, straws!

The original link from pinterest goes back to http://www.tigercatjewelrystore.com/tip&tricks.shtml. They show you how to use a commercial jewelry converter, and how to use a straw. 

String your brooches onto a chain, or link a few together, and you've made something similar.

Or better yet, if you aren't handy / crafty and you want to support small businesses, go to Etsy and do a search for "vintage brooch necklace."  You'll come up with some gorgeous one-of-a-kind necklaces that are just as stylish as the one Oprah featured!

For example:

Vinchique = $48

FishersBeeHive = $35

FiorellaJewelry = $82

BrassBoheme = $65

In my opinion, all of these necklaces are more charming and have more personality than the factory made piece we started out looking at. 

What's in style right now? Vintage...upcycled!

The difference between false memories and true ones...

The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant. ~Salvador Dalí

California Dreamin'

What more can I say?

What's in Style Right now? Metal Cuffs

I got a free subscription to In Style Magazine with my order of shoes from an online retailer.  I've enjoyed it for the most part. It's an easy read and it has given me some ideas on how to improve my own wardrobe, even though I'm not a size 0 nor 16 years old.

Anyway, they have been featuring a lot of metallic cuffs.  If you don't believe me, check out this slide show.

Now, none of the featured cuffs that In Style has are under $60, with many of them over $100! Which seems extreme to me. So I went through Etsy to see if I could get some vintage cuffs that would still fit with today's fashion, at more affordable prices. (Click the image to get to the actual listing)

Here's a stunning cuff from TheVintageBombshell that is only $15.00!


70s Silver Toned Metal Cuff Bracelet with Agate Cabochon

Nonnie60 has this stunning Hammered Metal cuff featuring Topaz and Rootbeer Rhinestones for only $26.00

Vintage Bracelet, Hammered Metal Cuff, Gold Plated, Citrine & Rootbeer Glass Gemstones, ca 1980s

TrinityBejeweled features this braided silver toned metal cuff for only $13.00!


Heavy Braided Metal Cuff Bracelet

Here's a shiny silver cuff by KathiJanes that is still affordable at $19.95.

Vintage Bracelet / Cuff Silver Tone Metal Statement Large Chunky Shiny Art Deco Cuff Retro Cuff 1980s

If you are willing to spend a little more money, there are also some more higher priced cuffs available on Etsy. However, they are vintage, so not only are you being eco friendly by buying them, you're supporting small business, keeping them out of landfills, and buying something that very few people have!

I love this geometric cuff from GibsonGirlVintage that features a silver square pattern over top of a copper cuff! It is $70.

60s Geometrical Gold Metal Cuff Bracelet

FrenchFrouFrou also has a mixed metal cuff that is very modern and clean for only $45.50.

vintage bracelet modernist copper brass mixed metal large cuff

Finally, here's a truly excellent copper cuff from beatomicbeauty with a checkerboard pattern and greek-key design! The most expensive of the cuffs I found, this one is still only $75, which is at least $100 less than the most expensive cuff featured on "In Style."

Extra Wide CHECKERBOARD Vintage Copper CUFF Bracelet

If you're looking for great cuffs, don't forget to check out Etsy for some great vintage pieces that are still "in style."

My husband gave me a necklace

My husband gave me a necklace. It's fake. I requested fake. Maybe I'm paranoid, but in this day and age, I don't want something around my neck that's worth more than my head. ~Rita Rudner

Chiropractic Adjusted Jewelry???

An interesting thing happened while sitting in the waiting room of my Chiropractor a few weeks ago.  I was chatting with the receptionist about her mother, costume jewelry, and my shop. Another patient waiting for her appointment asked me more details, and I talked about how I buy from estate sales, clean up the pieces and sell them online. 

She then said "I have a bunch of old jewelry that was my mothers that I don't know what to do with!  I won't wear it, it's not my style. Would you like to see it?"  I wasn't going to turn that offer down.  The next time I went to my chiropractor, the receptionist told me that she had a bag of jewelry and a phone number from the patient I had been talking to.

This lady trusted me enough to leave the jewelry for me to look through!  I excitedly took all the jewelry home to find that most of it was in original boxes! One of the sets in the picture (on the bottom left corner) appears to be much more modern than what I usually deal in, maybe late 1980s / early 1990s. Another set (in the top left corner with the pearls) is so covered with verdegris that I'm not sure it's salvageable. But most of it is right up my alley! Check out the Laguna crystal set, in orginal box, with original hang tag!!!

Clockwise from upper left: Faux Pearl Demi parure, light blue "butterfly"
rhinestone necklace, Laguna Crystal Demi Parure, Jade Parure, Topaz / Jonquil
rhinestone necklace, Clear rhinestone set in "Winston Jewelry" box, Pavé Rhinestone Parure

Anywho, I called the customer and talked to her about the pieces.  I explained that it is exactly what I'm looking for. I also described each set, explained what I would price it at if I had it in my own shop, and then offered her a price that worked out to be about half of what I would offer.  She took it instantly, no haggling!  She then said "I trust you on this. I don't know anything about it, and I don't wear the stuff.  I'm just happy it's going to someone who will find people who love it."

She ended by telling me that she'd drop of another bag of jewelry at the chiropractor's office in the future. After my conversation with this lovely lady, I called the receptionist (whose name also happens to be Joanne) and told her about the arrangements.  She said she didn't mind being an intermediary, especially as she'd get to look at all the jewelry ahead of time.

I really am blessed to have my store's business improving like it is! It is truly exciting to be making so many connections and networking the way I am!

EcoChic Fresh Finds for Saturday!

Our recently listed 1960s Elgin Swiss watch is included in today's EcoChic Fresh Finds! Click on the photo to get a better look at all the gorgeous items!

Sale!

I'm going to California soon and am hoping to build up some funds to go to estate sales and flea markets out west.  Soooo.... Use Coupon Code CALIFORNIA to get 25% off everything in the store!

You could get 25% off this:

Rare Weiss Tassel Demi Parure

or this:

Emerald and Peridot Rhinestone Demi Parure

or this:

Vintage Purple Swirled Art Glass Demi Parure

or this:

Vintage Mouse Ring with Articulated Tail

Or this:

Chunky Faux Turquoise and Gold Rope Ring

This Week's Sales!

We sold 4 lovely items this week, with 3 of the items going out of the U.S. to Australia and the U.K! Click on the image to see the transaction and get further details about the item.

(Yes, these are the earrings that are on our blog banner!)

Batman's Boogaloo

One of the things I am is a music-slut. I LOVE music of almost all kinds. Needless to say, I have over 20,000 tracks of music in my collection.  Most of the time, I just put the whole thing on random and whatever comes up, I groove to.

Today, something popped up that made me laugh and smile and groove in my seat.

For your listening pleasure... I present to you.... Batman's Boogaloo!

A woman never goes anywhere...

A woman never goes anywhere but the hospital without packing makeup, clothes and jewelery.

-Grace Kelly

EcoChic Endless Summer Gatsby 101

We've got a ring featured in this fantastic treasury of vintage jewelry by EcoChic member Miranda.  Click on the image to see the actual treasury!

You're asking me???

I still consider myself a vintage jewelry newbie.  I have loads of questions about designers, construction, identifying pieces, pricing, and other topics. Sometimes I worry that I make myself a right pest when I'm chatting with members of the EcoChic team on Etsy.

But recently, I was asked by one of my supervisors at work to look at some costume jewelry that her father had started buying at estate sales.  According to her, her dad had met someone who'd made "Loads and loads of money" buying jewelry cheap and then re-selling it. He had decided to start buying lots of jewelry at the ends of estate sales in the hopes that he'd have something good and make "Loads and loads of money." So Cath had brought in a box of her father's finds for me to look at.  "Is any of this any good?" she wondered.

I started to go through the pile. In the back of my mind, I was thinking "I don't really know a whole lot, I only know enough to be dangerous." But she asked for my help, and being a teacher by trade, I am always happy to share my knowledge.  Her dad didn't have anything spectacular, there were no unsigned Miriam Haskells or rare DeLizza & Elster Juliana Parures or anything. Pity. After I sorted out the pieces stamped "Chico's" and "Claire's" I took a hard look at what was left. 

Her father has a good eye: he had several gorgeous Lisner and Coro pieces with unusual Aurora Borealis, Ruby colored or Topaz stones, BUT they were missing more than half the stones or had other damage to the pieces! Everytime I saw one of these pieces missing the stones I groaned a little inside. I told her that unless her dad found someone who wanted the pieces for crafting, he wasn't going to get hardly any money for those pieces because they were missing stones and were broken.

For the remainder of the items, I wasn't sure how to start pricing them for her, so I told her the truth. "The only information I can give you is what I would price these things for MY store."  Most of the pieces that she had, I genuinely would price at about $10 or $12 a piece.  But there was one star piece in the whole pile. Her dad had found a B. David choker made with tiny perfect pink rhinestones. The rhodium plating was perfect, all the stones were bright and clear.  I told her honestly that I would price that choker at between $30 and $40 in my shop, and that if she was willing, I'd buy it off of her for a fair (agreed between the two of us) price.

She sold it to me, and then said that she was glad that I was willing to look at the jewelry and she'd probably have more from her dad in the future. I left work that day still stunned that someone had come to me looking for advice on costume jewelry. 

I still consider myself a vintage jewelry newbie, but I've come to realize that I'm like my students in many ways.  I always tell them, "You know more than you think you know. You've just got to trust yourself."  So now, I realized that I know more than I think I know, and I just have to trust myself.

I feel confident that the information I shared with her was correct, and that I was fair and honest in my dealings with her. There's not much more that you can ask of yourself.

I will still include that disclaimer when talking to people.  You know, the one that says "I am not a vintage jewelry expert!" But I'm farther along the path to vintage jewelry knowledge than other people are. 

An excellent Reference

Elaine from Chatsworth Vintage has, unbeknownst to me, been writing a thoroughly excellent blog detailing the history, production, shipping and packaging of vintage jewelry and other items.  She recently posted on vintage Japanese Celluloid jewelry and it was an incredible read.  I am so excited to have found her blog and will be using it as a reference from now on.

http://chatsworthvintage.tumblr.com/

Go over and learn something!