A Mystery

Does ANYONE have any idea what this is?

I am stumped.

Take Back Halloween!

I recently came across a fanstastic website, http://takebackhalloween.org/ which is dedicated to taking back Halloween for women.  What do they mean by "Taking Back Halloween?" Taking it back from the sexy nurse, sexy doctor, sexy this, sexy that, sexy-anything options that are so prevalent for women and championing costumes representing strong women through history like Queens, Activists, and Movie Stars.

What is even more amazing, is for each listing, they include links to purchasing items to complete your costume.

But I have a suggestion.  Many of the links to various pieces of rhinestone jewelry are links to buying the pieces off of Chinese re-sellers. I personally don't think this is the best idea, as these pieces are shipped across the world, we don't know under what conditions they are made, and they aren't the most enviornmentally friendly option.

If I were them, I'd link to an Etsy search of vintage rhinestone jewelry!  Going vintage is much more environmentally friendly, not to mention, much more likely to be period appropriate. AND the quality of the pieces is going to be a lot better.

I did a quick search on Etsy and found some great pieces that could be used for many of their costumes, including Queen Victoria, Carlota of Mexico, Audrey Hepburn, Josephine Baker, or Rita Heyworth.

Looking to do costumes that are more Egyptian / Middle Eastern like Isis, Hatshepsut, Jezebel, Puabi, or Zenobia? Here are some suggestions...

Regardless, my suggestion is, before purchasing reproduction or faux-vintage rhinestone pieces off of Amazon or some other costuming website, check Etsy first for true vintage! You'll find pieces that will not hurt your wallet, and will be a little more forgiving to the environment.

Dali Jewelry

I stumbled across a new favorite website recently: Retronaut.  It is a collection of vintage / antique photos and articles that offering tantalizing glimpses into life in the past and their visions of what the future would be like.

On particular article really interested me and that was the photo collection of jewelry designed by Salvador Dali.

photo from http://www.retronaut.co/2012/06/dali-jewellery-c-1950/

 

 

I can't tell if this one has genuine diamonds or if its rhinestone from the pictures. Either way, it's truly a work of art! 

 You should go visit Retronaut and see some of the other really interesting pieces.

Grayslake Antique Market

Today I played hooky.

I didn't go to church.

I know, I know... I'm a baaaaaad girl.

But the weather was gorgeous!  It was 70 degrees, sunny, bright blue skies with cotton candy clouds, and a light breeze.  It didn't take long to talk my husband into playing hooky with me and driving up to the Grayslake IL Antique Market at the Lake County Fairgrounds. 

We got there with only 2.5 hours left before they closed for the day.  It was time for a power shop.  We quickly went through the outside vendors, skimming the tables and darting our eyes to look for items that we SPECIFICALLY wanted.  I, of course, searching for jewelry, and my husband looking for old crates and bee-keeping stuff.

I zipped by booths that normally I would have lingered at.  If I didn't see something on my first quick dig through a jumbled jewelry box full of stuff, then I moved on. Hubs started to walk ahead of me to scout out whether or not tables were "worth" looking at.  (Of course, I always went by anyway to judge for myself.

I do think I got some great deals!

Purchases from today at Grayslake

Some of the designer pieces I picked up were a Goldette Mesh Choker (Featuring the 3 graces); a Weiss white rhinestone necklace; a Florenza Demi Parure; a Kramer Enameled bee brooch; Hickock cufflinks; and a Coro Sterling Brooch!  I was also able to pick up 3 victorian brooches, and an Art Deco 1930s bird brooch!

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!)

Vintage Jewelry Party

As an experiment, I hosted a "Vintage Costume Jewelry Party" at my house.  I took out every single piece of jewelry that I have in my collection, laid it out nicely on trays around my home, and invited just about everyone I know in the area to come and look.

Here's what the invitation said:

You are invited to come learn about and play with vintage costume jewelry.

Do you have pieces of vintage costume jewelry that you're curious about? Wonder if that vintage costume jewelry you inherited is worth anything? Bring it and we'll find out! We'll research it and determine a value. Heck, I may even buy it off of you!

OR

Have you been looking for that perfect vintage piece for an upcoming event? Want to be environmentally friendly and re-use pieces instead of supporting big-box stores and Chinese factories? Be chic and original with vintage pieces! I have a bunch available for sale if you want.

OR

Just come and play! I've got jewelry to try on, books about jewelry to look through, and websites available to look through.

Just come when you can, you don't have to stay for the entire time.

We'll have treats and beverages, mirrors and of course sparklies!

Feel free to bring a friend if you want.

 

All told, I sent the invitation to about 60 people and 11 people came! 20 percent of those invited actually came, which is just about average for a party of this sorts, so I was fairly happy.  I did some good business, and a couple of people brought some jewelry they had questions about. I had a really good time, and I think that my friends did also. 

 

It took me 4 days of sorting and tagging all my items in order to get ready for this party. As of right now, 11:00 p.m, it looks like it will take me all of tomorrow to package the jewelry back up.

 

The dining room table covered!

I'd like to think the experiment a success. My mother, a member of a "vintage ladies" group has suggested I do a vintage jewelry night for one of their upcoming get togethers, with more a discussion of what might be of value in their current collections as opposed to purchasing jewelry. I can't wait.

 

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."

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!

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. 

Today's Haul

(click to zoom)

I love going Estate Sale-ing. I can usually find some great pieces and keep my costs down for my shop. Unfortunately, the sales have been a little depressing lately, with not much good stuff when I get there.  Yesterday was a rare day when I got to go sale-ing on a day that wasn't Saturday.  Of the 5 sales I went to, 0 had any good jewelry.  Today though, Hubby and I went to Estate Sales and bought all this from just 4 out of the 8 sales I went to.  Hey, a .500 average is great in Baseball, it should count for something in the Vintage world!

Anywho, one of my favorites from today is that ring in the bottom left corner.  That's sterling silver and Israeli Turquoise.  There are some shell cameos up on the top, and some funky clamper bracelets too that I'm digging on. The necklace on the top left is Hematite, and the top right is Majorica pearls.

I'll be a busy girl photographing and listing all this great stuff. Gotta inventory it and do some cleaning first!

What's in Style Right Now? Vintage! Part 2

Continuing with the article I saw yesterday about great jewelry buys for under $100, I wanted to look at item number 2. 

ASOS Diamante Linked Collar

It's for sale for $26.96.

I betcha I can find some Vintage Jewelry that has the same style!

VezaVe has this great 1950s Necklace

Shopon Sherman has this great Coro Lucite Set!  (Look! Earrings too!)

Creativegatherings has this one, with fantastic lemon glass and rhinestones!

All these previous necklaces were found on Etsy in less than 5 minutes.

Goes to show, you can find great vintage jewelry that's low on cost and high on style!

More to come!

What's in Style right now? Vintage!

I was reading the news this morning and found an article entitled "Bright baubles: Get statement jewelry for under $100" on msnbc.com. Looking at the image on that page, I saw vintage pieces, even though those pieces were new! 

Lets do a comparison.  Here's a screenshot from that webpage:

Number 1:  The BaubleBar Drop Earrings, priced at $94

I found earrings on Etsy that had a similar style for much less.

Like these from Masterymixedmedia

or these by PritiStar

or these by JanasTreasures

We'll keep visiting these suggestions over the next few blog posts.  In the meantime, don't pay $94 for a pair of earrings when you can pay less for jewelry that's got much more style, and history!

The most Fabulous Earrings I've seen in a long while!

Check these puppies out!

Aren't they delicious?

Check out the listing here

Two of my current favorite pieces

I do collect jewelry, and I sell jewelry.  Sometimes I'll buy a piece intending to sell it so that I can then buy more expensive pieces, but then I end up falling in love with them.  My husband tells me to list everything I buy for the purpose of selling, regardless of if I fall in love with those pieces.  I have two pieces listed in my Etsy store that I am getting the biggest kick out of wearing lately.  I get so many compliments on them that I'm surprised they haven't sold yet!

The first is a vintage milk glass and metal floral brooch that also has a bail on the back to be worn as a pendant.  It is so cute, springy and lovely!  It weighs almost next to nothing and doesn't appear from any one particular decade.  I'd guess it to be in the 1960's but it works with modern styles so easily!  (You can see the listing here.)

The second is also a brooch and pendant combo.  This one has the tiniest cameo set in the middle of an abstract-ish five petal flower and accented with small rhinestones.  It too is so modern looking but with that vintage flavor, I'm not sure why it hasn't sold either!  (You can see the listing here.)

I certainly hope you can see why I love these pieces!  They've got so much personality. Both are unsigned, but both have prong-set stones and lovely detail work.

Do you like Mysteries?

Here's a mystery for you.  What is this piece?  It has no hardware on the back and no markings to show that hardware ever existed.  As you can tell, it's got some fantastic artistry to it with all that wire roping. 

Visit the Etsy Listing for more information on this piece.

Isn't it so cool???