Vintage Beads

I came across these beads today and could not resist purchasing them. However....I am not going to keep them, I am putting them in my Etsy shop. Ok, yes I did keep a few bags for myself but the rest are for whoever wants them. If you love working with antique and vintage and new beads just don't do the job for you well these beads are awesome. Some really cool shapes and nice smooth wear, the pictures do not do them justice. They need some cleaning as you can tell, but who does not like a little natural "patina".

 The greenish beads to the left are actually to halves of a whole almost like a bead cap and they are faceted too! Nice matte discs and check out the cool green shapes!

Yes, those are rose shaped glass, and the really neat rectangle shape is side drilled on the top.

 I am sure most of these are Czech and early 1900's, with some vintage mixed in.

Aren't they just beautiful....yes I am an easy girl to please!

Making Room for a Bead Giveaway

 Since yesterday I have been putting away all of my little found treasures from Texas, trying to organize it into a space that is already lacking good storage. So to make room I have cleaned out some of my containers and have made roughly a 3 pound pile of beads to give away.

 No junk in this pile! There are some vintage beads, pendants, gemstone and glass beads lots of beady goodness for you!

 Just leave me a comment telling me what is the best treasure you purchased at a garage sale, flea market or antique shop. I love to know what folks are buying! If you want to share this giveaway go ahead and let me know you did and your name goes in the proverbial hat twice. Giveaway will end on Friday Oct. 7th with one lucky winner. 

Here are more of my new treasures,wonderful vintage religious medals in all sizes.

 tons of great rosaries

 old hardware, buttons, keys, game pieces...

clock faces, tags, monopoly game pieces, cuff links...

These trinkets are my passion, what's yours?

Vintage Button Earrings

I could not resist working with these vintage glass buttons, even though the buttons seem a bit like spring, I think the earrings would pair nicely with warmer fall clothes.

The red Czech glass beads are so deep in color and I especially love the picasso finish on them.

You can find these on Etsy

Is anyone else having issues with blogger? It has become very fustrating. I still am having a problem posting comments and can not access blogger from Moxilla Firefox. uggghhh!

I am having a super giveaway this week a $25 certificate for printing at Vistaprint.

 Be sure to enter here!

So what do you think?

seriously....in all honesty I truly want to know what you think of this bracelet,
and no fluff either.

I have lots of old mother of pearl buckles and I never quite know what to do with them, this piece just kind of evolved one day. It has been sitting on my photography table for about a week as I am still trying to decide what I think.

So, since we have this great blog platform I figured I would ask you .

This piece is a combination of styles, vintage, modern, eclectic....It actually is so comfortable to wear and very lightweight.

so, sock it to me, I will still like you...no worries.

Bracelets 3 ways

If you follow my blog then you know I create jewelry in several different styles, although when displayed together they are a cohesive group.

Here we have Through the Keyhole. A rustic cuff style bracelet. I have been experimenting with some leather and found  layering it suited me best. A weathered copper base, leather and an old brass keyhole with natural verdi patina. I hope to offer this style in my wholesale line, I am still working on the design and this is the first. What do you think? Honestly...

Here you have Green Lagoon which is in the August issue of Bead Trends. For this piece it is all about the color...the Chrysoprase is just stunning and pairs so nicely with the smooth rich color of the Amethyst.

and lastly...Vintage Rhinestone Sparkle. An assemblage of vintage findings featuring a very sparkly rhinestone earring re-purposed as the focal in this bracelet.

Do you have a favorite? Perhaps vintage is not your thing...what is your favorite style?

My Two Favorite Things

I love working with vintage and antique elements almost as much as I love shopping for them. It is all about the hunt and the treasures you can find. I know y'all know what I am talking about..... that awesome feeling you get when you see a really cool piece and you are able to claim it as yours. My jewelry design allows me to enjoy my two most favorite things...hunt and create. I am extremely fortunate as lots of my findings come from the antique shop where I have a antique booth and where I work 3 days a month. There are several ladies who keep me in mind when they go to auctions and sales they always have great things for me to pick from. 

This antique button necklace has lots of old elements in it. Mother of pearl button from my stash, old watch fob chains and antique glass cube beads. Etsy is also another great source for vintage finds and I am addicted to searching for them. The vintage raw brass figaro chain comes from LuxeOrnaments and the rhinestone beads are from EightJewelry also on Etsy. This necklace is available at Bright's Antique World in booth #158.

Faith, Hope and Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love. ~

...and Teddy Roosevelt...because.

 You can find Faith, Hope and Love in my Etsy shop.

Light and Lovely

There are times especially in the hot months that I do not like to wear much jewelry (however, I never leave home without earrings). I tend to go for something lighter ...I mean it is bad enough to be choked by the terrible humidity here in Tennessee,I don't need my necklace doing it too! So, for me here is a pretty  alternative.

Elegant Romance on Etsy

A sweet little necklace that is light on the neck. I used one of the great findings I found in Connecticut (also available here) and added an antique Victorian button. I used a copper disc to finish the back off and give it a nice neat look. 

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Be sure to enter  my Bead Trends giveaway. Two prizes will be given away, the July issue of Bead Trends and a pair of earrings that are also shown in the July issue. Giveaway ends July 9th.

You had me at woof

 

"He is you friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart." Unknown

 An assemblage necklace created with a vintage Iowa dog tag and one of my vintage dog stampings. I am in love with this guy...I mean really how could you not love that mug!

 You can find this piece in my Etsy shop.

I have one more piece to charm you with...

"My Little Scottie"

 You can find Scottie in my Etsy shop.

I see a giveaway coming up....check back tomorrow!