Collectible and Vintage Jewelry

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I love shopping VJSE Team Member Shops!!!!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

THE BLUE RHINESTONE NECKLACE - A Wedding Story

Mr. & Mrs. Troy Curtis

Recently, I was asked, "Do you have a memorable sale of a piece of jewelry?" The answer, "YES!!!" I know exactly the situation! Undoubtedly, the most memorable sale that I have had took place in 2005. We had a jewelry booth set up at the Coburg Antique Faire in Oregon. A group of young women, approximately 25 – 30 years of age, came into the booth. They were all talking about their husbands and fiances’, and this one girl picked up a light blue rhinestone necklace and said, “Wouldn’t this look great with a wedding dress?” At the time,(unbeknownst to me) she didn't have someone special in her life, but was dreaming of the day she would marry. Off they went to another booth. Approximately an hour later, this girls friend came to the booth, picked up the necklace and purchased it.

Now, jump ahead one year later, at the same antique fair - 2006, I noticed this young woman and her mother walking up to me with a yellow manila envelope her her hand and a big smile on her face. She asked if I remembered the group of women and the blue necklace. I actually did remember, because I had thought of the friend that came back and purchased the blue rhinestone necklace. She handed me the envelope, and in it was wedding program with the picture of her in the necklace and a wedding dress; as well, there was a program for a wedding. On the back of the program was a story about “the necklace”. I knew right away that this young woman was the new bride! She came back to my booth to share the story!

Picture of Heather included in the Manilla Envelope

I didn't really know it was my favorite until nearly a year after the initial sale. Here's the story according to the Bride's friend that was on the back of the Wedding Program (please forgive the spots on the program - I've shared this story with so many people, and it's taken a toll on this poor program):

Back of the Wedding Program

I'm not really sure where Heather is now, but I have shared this story with many family, friends and acquaintances. This was my most memorable sale. It was more than just selling a piece of jewelry, it was a story of true love and friendship....as story of hope, inspiration and the power of prayer! Where every you are Heather Taylor Curtis, I pray that your marriage is blessed with much love, family and friends! I am positive this story has blessed many other lives....including mine!

I have to write a follow up on this article. After writing this blog, I began thinking of this young bride and wondered what ever happened with her, and how she is doing. I then did something totally out of character for me. I went to one of my favorite social networking sites and searched her name and city. Guess what? Yes, I not only found her, but was able to contact her through email. She posted a colored picture of the special day with the necklace on. They have a baby girl now,,,,, This story to be continued!

Friday, May 11, 2012

The Supremely Chic Little Black Dress

Born: August 19, 1883, Saumur

Died: January 10, 1971, Paris

Real name: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel

Maisy dressed as Coco for
An Evening at the Wax Museum

Every year the fourth grade class at my grand daughters school does a production called, "An Evening at the Wax Museum". It's a wonderful opportunity for each child to pick a person from history that they feel have significance. All the students fill the auditorium dressed as their historical character with a "button" drawn on their hand. The audience goes around to each child, presses the button, and receives a 2 minute speech about their character.

Our Maisy picked Coco Chanel, which seems like a natural choice, because even at her age she is a fashionista dreaming to be a fashion designer someday. I was able to provide the pearls as well as make her a "little black dress." Ms. Chanel, certainly changed the face of fashion as a powerful woman in the industry.

Caitlin Bbrax

Coco Chanel was the one who made it uber-classic, but she is not the inventor of the little black dress which has been a classic "must have" in every woman's closet! According to Coco Chanel: The Legend and the Life (by Justine Picardine, $40, amazon.com), “the little black dress was not formally identified as the shape of the future until 1926, when American Vogue published a drawing of a Chanel design.…"

It was an apparently simple yet elegant sheath, in black crêpe de Chine, with long, narrow sleeves, worn with a string of white pearls; and Vogue proved to be correct in the prediction that it would become a uniform.…” Contrast that description with these today's sassy, sexy, little black dresses that can be seen on edress

oliveyouvintage - 1950's
Coco Chanel's Classic LBD Design

TheTrousseau - 1960's

FancyThatVintage - 1970's

BetaBoutique - 1980's

Women have deemed the LBD as possibly the essential, the single one that will take you practically anywhere. Through the centuries, the little black dress has been worn to afternoon tea parties, the workplace, weddings, funerals and formals. Dressed up or down with jewelry and jackets, depending on the desired effect.

1980's Cuff by The Jewel Seeker

Egyptian Bib Necklace by ZephyrVintage

1960's Flo wer Power by TheEarringStore

A simple modernist cuff, a large bib style necklace or even Featherweight earrings in black and white or silver tone can are nice accents for daily wear. While the the fashionista could make switch to rhinestones or pearls for a sophisticated and sexy evening at the dinner theater. There are no limitations for dressing the little black dress up or down.

AlexiBlackwellBridal

Grand Vintage Finery

To accessorize this classic black dress, an excessive array of pearls, genuine and costume, simple and gold intertwined would be gorgeous. Of course, a classic quilted Chanel handbag with the CC logo or a pearl clutch would be carried, and Chanel's trademark two-tone pumps or ballet flats could be worn on the feet. However, let's not forget the designer signed line of Chanel fine and costume jewelry. The hard to find, rare pieces of Chanel jewelry was well made and is highly collectible.

18 KT Gold Plate Chanel Earrings by Sneller

Whether you love vintage fashion or are into the current styles, you can add vintage jewelry to accent that LBD to fit your style, event or mood! The Vintage Jewelry Sellers on Etsy Team offer the following suggestions:

'Casual Accessories for my LBD - VJSE Treasury' by The Jewel Seeker

All of the jewelry featured in this treasury is sold by members of the VJSE Team (Vintage Jewelry Sellers on Etsy) For more of their excellent jewelry & awesome service search VJSE GROUP TEAM in the Vintage Section!

Vintage Yellow Earr... OodlesofBling $10.00	Vintage Necklace Re... VintageJewelry... $15.00	SPRING SALE Vintage... waalaa $16.99	Vintage 1970's ... EBFinds $26.99
Vintage 1950s Neckl... ALLUWANTISHERE... $35.00	Vintage Red Glass C... BrightgemsTrea... $6.50	Shell Necklace Dyed... JessesVintage $12.49	Vintage Flower Broo... VintageTreasur... $20.00
Vintage Rhinestone ... emmjeyessvinta... $36.00	Red Paste Vintage F... CrimsonVintiqu... $90.00	Vintage Green Cellu... RMSjewels $35.00	Cute Vintage Plasti... vintagegemz $25.00
Amber Beauty- Vinta... Gener8tionsCre... $45.00	Vintage Bracelet Ba... TheJewelryChai... $16.00	Enamel Flower Brooc... 4dollsintime $14.50	Vintage Necklace Pi... timmaryjewelry $22.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio

Friday, March 30, 2012

1970's Seventeen Magazines Part Two: The Pendant & Skinny Chain

My last post focused on the fashions of the 1970's as I see it through the pages of a collection of Seventeen Magazines that I picked up at an estate sale in Central California. I was enthralled with those times and the economic, political and social influences on fashion.

Above Photo's copied from 1971 August Seventeen Magazine

I’m still turning pages, treading my way down the fashion highway of the early 1970’s. The colors were bold and bright; as well, the fabrics designs were heavily patterned with large plaids, stripes, paisley’s and flowers. Plaids were mixed and matched, while overstated colors contrasted. There was no room for boisterous extreme jewelry accented by sparkling rhinestones. Simplicity was the word. Long chains with a pendant dangling loosely from the gold or silver tone links were one of the fashion trends of that time.

Seventeen Magazine, August 1974
Jewel Trifari Advertisement

As I was collecting various pictures from my treasured 1970’s Seventeen Magazines, I found a full two page ad from the well known vintage jewelry company, Trifari, proclaiming, "how to wear a sweater with Trifari". The pendants hanging from the 18” – 36” chains ranged from abstract designs to sweet simple figurals.

Seventeen Magazine, August 1974
Jewel Trifari Advertisement

Multi-strands of beaded necklaces were still a popular left over from the 50’s and 60’s, but the design changed in that the strands were longer and the beads were bolder. The more common single strand beaded necklaces were quiet statement baubles of art glass and often accented with a larger pendant.

The picture on the left is a Trifari ad out of the August 1972 September issue of Seventeen; and Judi Bollan - VintageJewelry4u on Etsy - sent this picture of the same Trifari Necklace from her personal collection.

Abstract pendants were very popular, as well as tassels. It was not unusual to adorn an outfit of plaid wool bell bottoms and sleek ribbed turtleneck with a heavily embroidered floral vest adding several layers of thin chains.

This advertisement out of the 1972 August issue of Seventeen shows another chain and pendant and various styles of earrings that could be worn with the necklace.

The Vintage Jewelry Sellers on Etsy Team members have some fabulous examples of vintage Trifari, Monet, Sarah Coventry and other designers from the 1970’s. Here are just a few designs that I favorite which date from 1970-1974: