Collection: Vintage Brooches

I love vintage accessories of all kinds, but brooches are on the top of my list. They add a little sparkle and flair to sweaters, blazers, and dresses.  And with so many varieties, I use them to express my personality and style.  My collection really started with a hand-me-down family piece, and now, I try to pick up a few every year. As we speak, I have a sweet little cherry brooch coming my way that didn't make it into this photo! But I'm sure I'll share it soon in an outfit post!

1. Red and White Polka Dot Flower-  Gift from Q for my birthday this year!
2.  Mini Scissors- To express my crafty side.
3.  Rhinestone Lipstick-  Because you all know how I love a red lip and cosmetics.
4.  Rhinestone Typewriter- my newest. This was a congratulatory reward to myself upon finding out my first short story is being published this fall (stay tuned!).
5.  Enamel Anchor-  Because any aspiring modern pinup girl needs a nautical brooch in her life.
6.  Pearl Flowers-  I think this came from a random grab bag of vintage costume jewelry somewhere along the line.
7. Bakelite Star Brooch-  This is actually crafted from recycled bakelite pieces. I bought it from an artist in West Virginia last summer on our family vacation.
8.  Rhinestone Lizard- a Christmas gift from my mom and dad.
9. Red Rose-  a gift from my student teaching mentor. It belonged to her mother.
10.  Round Opal Brooch- This belonged to my great grandmother, and it was handed down to me after she passed away.

I have been gifted quite a few brooches, but I have also gotten good at finding what I want on eBay and Etsy.  Be sure to check both places to find the best price and condition! It's amazing how different people will charge things for the same pretty little pin.

Besides the cherries in my near future, I'm also keeping an eye out for a 1950s umbrella--like this one, a real 1930s Bakelite animal or fruit pin (these can be absurdly expensive-$700?! Really? They aren't diamonds!), and A, M and Q monograms. Plus, I never can pass up those pretty enamel flowers from the 1960s, though I love giving those as gifts!

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my collection!

xo,
Amanda

Shop Preview: For Your Neck

Growing up with grandparents who were jewelers meant we were lucky enough to be gifted pretty baubles pretty often.  Our grandma still has quite the collection of jewelry (even though the store has since closed) and will find special pieces to give to us on holidays or just because.  She recently gave us a collection of costume jewelry from her own collection, that she thought we might like to sell in the shop.  She was right!  And here are some of those pieces (along with a few others that we've collected along the way...).

These will all be coming to the shop very soon--and all will be $25 or less!  Everyone needs some pretty for their neck, right?

xo
Jayme

Bejeweled

Hi, dearest readers (and friends). I'm sorry we haven't been blogging much.  Trying to figure out my real life is taking precendence over my virtual life...unfortunately.  But Jayme and I have a lot of ideas and plans for blogs coming right up!

Today, I'm sharing with you my little collection of vintage jewelry.  I think I have a few more pieces around the house somewhere, but these are my most prized and most worn items.

Our family was in the jewelry business for many years--our uncle still owns two jewelry stores in Pennsylvania (and has even started to dabble a bit in estate jewelry. I wonder if we had some influence?). I would love to explore the world of vintage jewelry more in our business. Jewelry can truly make an outfit.

Here are some of my favorite finds/hand-me-downs/gifts:

Necklaces

I found this magnifying glass necklace and gold koi fish at a PA antique shop in February--my mom bought them for me for my birthday!

I found this tugboat charm and chain in a jewelry lot I bought; I found this little cameo at another PA antique store.

This turquoise necklace is a family heirloom, passed down from a great aunt I don't remember meeting, who lived in Wyoming. 

I love wearing a brooch on a blazer or coat for a little spice; these are all thrift finds except for the round gold brooch with an opal, which belonged to my great grandmother.

My little bracelet collection.

I think this set of sterling bangles came from another grab bag of jewelry (maybe from my great grandma's attic?); I love how they are so delicate and each has its own etching.

Q bought me this charm bracelet when we were dating--it only had the little engagement ring charm on it then.  He got me the heart for Valentine's Day and the bear for my birthday (he's my bear/protector). I hope to collect a whole bracelet full, then pass it down to Aurora when she gets older!

I bought this Lisner demi-parure set from an online antique jewelry shop for our wedding; I wore the earrings as shoe clips, and my sister wore the brooch, as my matron of honor.

Last but not least, my favorite piece of all, is my engagement ring from Q.  It's from the 1940s, and the diamond is set between two little sapphires. I loved the metal work. And I love that I get to wear this every day!

I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of my collection.  I'm hoping to collect more, though right now, I am on a shopping/spending freeze.  But that's another entire blog post...

 xo,

Amanda