Paying Tribute

So much of the vintage jewelry we all love seems to pay tribute to something or someone, and this week's offerings are no exception.  I focused on perennial favourites like Joan of Arc, the city of Paris, a mourning brooch, and Queen Victoria.  Please enjoy this sampling, now available in my Etsy shoppe...  ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned next time for some beachy-themed pieces, just in time for summer vacations!  :)

 











 



 

Flora and Fauna

The blue rose earrings I made earlier this week not only flew out the door as soon as I'd listed them on Etsy, but I got multiple requests for more!  I only wish I had another dozen or so pairs, but I always say that's the beauty and bane of working with vintage pieces.

I guess I'm not the only one in the mood for flora and fauna this time of year, so I made a garden of new earrings and a necklace, mostly with this springtime theme in mind.

Roses, vines, soft colours, and some delicate religious pieces are where my heart is at right now.

 

I love the faded quality of this old celluloid cabbage rose.

 

 

And thought these hand painted Russian drops were adorable paired with chippy peachy roses.

 

 

Here cameos and crowns are mellowed with aqua quartz and chalcedony.

 

 

I always appreciate when you stop by!  Enjoy your week!  :)

 

 

 

 

Tapestry

Do you ever stop to ponder at what a tapestry life is?

A rich, woven mural of experiences, joys, sorrows, lessons, loves,

people, places, things,

memories of the past, and dreams for the future.

This week I drew from a variety of styles and symbolic references,

colours and textures,

to create a tapestry of sorts,

a buffet offering from which different pieces may hold different meaning

to different people.

From carved bone tusks to a mother of pearl dove,

Victorian and Art Nouveau lockets

to petit point and a prayer card pendant.

Cream, blue, green, pink, silver, gold...

there is something for everyone in this tapestry we call life.

Thank you for stopping by and have a beautiful week! :) Robyn

Lady of Leisure

Bonjour, mes amis! Today I wanted to announce the exciting news I'd mentioned in my last post. The moment has finally come that I have been dreaming about and working hard towards for quite a while... I have quit my job! That's right! After seven years at the cosmetology school, I've decided to take a leap of faith and devote myself entirely to my jewelry business. It's a bit scary, losing my steady income, but I've prepared for the transition and am ready to break out the wire and plyers and get busy! Far from being a 'lady of leisure', as this blog title indicates, I will be working more closely with my wholesale rep, as well as beefing up my Etsy supplies shoppe, The Paris Carousel, in addition to adding items more frequently to The French Circus. I have had so many ideas to grow my business, but simply did not have the time to implement them, so now it's full steam ahead! ;)

In the meantime, I have made several 'ladies' this week for all of you to enjoy. This first necklace is a custom triple-wrap for a very accomplished goldsmith! I was so honoured that she requested a piece from me.

I've called it 'greek goddess', a tribute to her heritage and design philosophy.

This next necklace features a Victorian filigree cameo and vintage mother of pearl cross, hung from a double-layer of mop rosary and rhinestones, accented with garnets.

And finally, another cameo necklace, this one a whimsical bib style with a vintage filigree fan and pewter hand pendant on one side.

I always appreciate your stopping by and look forward to even more exciting things to share as the weeks and months unfold. Have a leisurely weekend! :)