I really think that American Gentlemen...

I really think that American gentlemen are the best after all, because kissing your hand may make you feel very very good but a diamond and a sapphire bracelet lasts forever. 

~Anita Loos

Randolph Street Market Finds

This past weekend was the last full Randolph Street Market of the season, and I found some fantastic pieces!

I was able to pick up several fantastic pairs of cufflinks, from some watermelon rivolis to a set of silver toned beer steins, to  fantastic set featuring men in armor sword fighting!  I also found a gorgeous demi parur featureing topaz toned rhinestones and some amazing molded glass leaves!  The mesh thing up in the upper right corner is about 5 feet long! It makes a fantastic mesh scarf that can be tied in many ways for many looks! (It has to be my favorite find!)  There's also some amazing brooches and bracelets. Ooooh, and in the upper left corner is a bee brooch with a genuine piece of amber!

I've been on a buying spree lately, but my listing hasn't been at the same speed.  I'm hoping that within the next few weeks I'll get more things listed in preparation for the upcoming holiday season.

In the meantime, enjoy looking at my finds and let me know if anything appeals to you!

Sold!

It's been a while since I've posted some of the items that have sold recently from my shop.  I don't know if anyone else really likes seeing this, but I think it's kind of fun to see stuff that other people buy!  I have had quite a few sales recently, so I think I'm going to limit today's post to sales for August thus far.

The pictures are linked to the transaction page so you can see additional details if you are curious.  There are more gorgeous items available for purchase in my Etsy shop! (Click Here!)

August 2:

Vintage Rhinestone Swirl Brooch

Lovely brooch features a large central rhinestone with 6 slightly smaller rhinestones surrounding it, then swirling "arms" of rhinestones radiating out. A total of 37 rhinestones forms this lovely piece.

August 3:

DESTASH - Vintage Earring Lot

Destash lot contains 8 pairs of earrings. Some screw back, most are clip earrings. 3 pairs are signed: Coro, Hobe, and Charel.

August 5:

Vintage Huge Domed Rhinestone Earrings

Stunning rhinestone earrings each feature 38 rhinestones. Baguettes, navettes and chatons are are arranged in a domed kite shape for added affect and to capture as much light as possible! Re-inforced in the back with a metal rod, these earrings are statement pieces!

August 10:

Vintage Olive Green Multi Stranded Extra Long Necklace

8 strands of olive green faceted plastic beads fill out this gorgeous vintage necklace from the 1960s. Extra long length means you can double it or even triple loop it if you want. Texturized gold toned caps finish off the strands at the clasp.

DESTASH - Lot of Vintage Brooches 

Destash lot contains 16 brooches. Most are vintage, some could be newer. Most of the brooches are still wearable, however there are some with damage, i.e. missing stones, verdesgris, finish loss, missing pin shafts. Three brooches are signed: Hobe, Giovanni, Made in Austria.

August 11:

Vintage Spiked Gold Ball Necklace and Earring Set - Designer Signed - Trifari - Double Stranded

Fun and funky double stranded necklace and drop earrings feature spikey texturized gold balls and shiney gold beads. Even the clasp is spikey! Designer signed, these are definitely attention getters! Clip on earrings also feature two sizes of spikey gold balls and a smooth gold bead.

Vintage Molded Glass AB Cufflinks and Tie Tac Set - Designer Signed - Swank

Unique cufflink and tie-tac set is reminiscent of chips of ice or little icebergs. Molded class stones are shaped like chunks of ice and shimmer with multiple shades of blues. Even the silver toned settings look like ice with their craggy texturized surface!

August 12:

Vintage Sterling Silver Siamese Bracelet and Earrings

Gorgeous Vintage Bracelet and Earring set features traditional Siamese Niello Enamelling and Silver work. The bracelet features panels held together with rings. Each octagonal panel features one of three different images:

1 - Mekkala(h), the Goddess of Lightning - shown with lightning bolts coming from her hand. A well known figure in Thai culture.

2 -Dancing Angel - depicted with a long curved garland (looks like rope) held behind the back. Were warriors who were magically turned into angels (Ramayana).

3 -Nang Fa, the Fairy of Happiness - looks like she is dropping stardust from her hand to the floor.

The bracelet is just under 7 inches long and is signed STERLING MADE IN SIAM .925.

The earrings are screw back and each feature an image of a traditional Siamese dancer. They are also signed SIAM STERLING. They have a traditional Siamese paisely shape.

Vintage Black Rhinestone Necklace and Earring Set - 1960s or 1970s

Elegant and simple necklace and clip on earring set features jet black rhinestones set into gold toned settings. The necklace has a single large open backed, unfoiled navette rhinestone on a chain of chatons. The earrings feature an open backed, unfoiled navette hanging from a chain of five chatons.

Frosted Glass Rhinestone Necklace - For UpCycle or Repair

Fun and flirty necklace features large frosted glass and aurora borealis rhnestones on a silver figure 8 chain. Hook and ball closure. Silver toned settings. I marked it for UpCycle or Repair because some of a condition issue.

August 13:

Vintage Coro Topaz & Amber leaf Necklace - Designer Signed - 1960s Mad Men Style

Lovely necklace features texturized gold leaves, faux pearls, topaz rhinestones and amber colored rhinestones. This necklace is perfect for adding a classic 60's touch to your outfit without being too costume-y.

August 14:

Vintage Rhinestone Choker Accented with Pear Shape Rhinestones

Stunning choker features 11 large pear shaped rhienstones sandwiched between two strands of rhinestones. Between each pear shaped stone are an additional 2 rhinestones. Hook fastened.

Emerald and Peridot Rhinestone Demi Parure - Brooch and Bracelet set - Vintage 1950s or 1960s

Sumptuous set features large 3/4 inch by 1/2 inch emerald green cushion cut rhinestones accented with tiny peridot chatons. All prong set into gold toned settings, these pieces are an elegant addition to your collection.

The brooch features 9 large emerald green cushions, 4 more smaller cushions (3/8 inch by 1/4 inch), and 32 peridot toned chatons arranged into a diamond shape.

The bracelet features 7 large cushions and four rows of 25 peridot stones. (That's 107 total rhinestones!)

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. 

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."