Double Trouble

Double-strand necklaces always seem to be popular and they're fun to make! It's kind of like getting two necklaces in one, so I thought with the holidays upon us, why not get into a little double trouble?

This necklace features a Victorian mesh chatelaine purse (the original chain mail, perhaps?) and a contemporary fleur de lis pendant, for a nice juxtaposition of old and new.


I added the cross to the front of the purse and included modern silvertone loop chain and very old French wooden rosary beads.




I am in love with this next necklace! Do you remember that beautiful old Limoges perfume bottle I got from my friend Danette? Here it is, alongside another very old crown-shaped perfume bottle, sparkling vintage rhinestones, filigree links and iridescent red rosary beads with little end caps on each. So lovely!





Finally, I am offering in my Etsy shoppe this pair of earrings - vintage crescent moon-shaped rhinestone findings carry lightweight religious charms and are accented with bright blue apatite stones. A perfect stocking stuffer!



Thank you for stopping by! Please stay tuned for some exciting news I will soon be sharing about another jewelry venture I will be very busy with! Happy last shopping weekend before Christmas to all of you! :)

Dark Beauty

Those of you who know me also know that I love pastels and white, white, white furniture, clothing - you name it! But this time of year, I thought it more appropriate to honour the dark winter months with some deeper colours and, yes, even black. These more somber tones somehow lend a seriousness to my new jewelry that I don't think is the normal emotion my pieces impart, but it seems like a refreshing change. At least for now.

The focal point of this piece is a beautiful black metal Victorian mourning locket from France. You don't come across these every day!


I accented it with part of an enamel guilloche bracelet, old book chain and gemstones in sparkling peridot and ruby and lemon zircon - the colours subtly echo the holiday season.




This next necklace features a brass Art Nouveau frame pendant into which I secured an image cut from a vintage prayer card. A silvertone cross and rosary connector and brown marbled glass rosary beads contribute to the neutral palette.






For something a bit more whimsical, these goldtone guitar earrings will bring out your inner rock star! I encircled them with darkly colourful gemstones including rubies, sapphires, pyrite, touramline and apatite. Yummy!




These designs are much more are currently avaialble in my Etsy shoppe. Thank you for stopping by! :)

The Work Table

Bonjour, mes amis! Are you all getting ready for the holidays? I returned from the flea market this past weekend with an armload of vintage goodies (and a mild cold), and thought it would be fun to show you my work table where I store everything until I'm ready to use it.

I like to keep my jewelry supplies in sight so I remember what I have and may get inspired to pull out just the right bracelet link or chain for my next design.

Here small silver trays carry gold and rhinestone treasures.



I love, love, love mother of pearl rosaries and keep my collection draped over this old candlestick. Notice how they form a 'curtain' to hide the ugly telephone from view!


I got this adorable glove box at the market this weekend for a song. I think it might be made out of celluloid and when I saw its lovely pink satin interior, I was sold!



I've decided to keep my favourite (and most delicate) pendants inside and I truly feel like a queen each time I open the lid.


I also found this sweet rhinestone heart brooch. I will probably dis-assemble it and use it in three different necklaces!


And look at this cool plastic cuff! I've never seen anything like it, but the picture looked to me like - what else? - a French Circus! So, of course, I had to have it.


This garnet necklace reminded me of the ones I often see on 'Downton Abbey'. I'll be trying to design something soon with a trio of pendants draping like icicles.


And I picked up a few sweet pieces to add a pop of colour.


I've been busy at the work table, trying to re-stock my Etsy shoppe for the holidays and here's what I listed this evening:

I am nuts for the sliced cube stones that dangle from these 'wintergreen' earrings.



Sorry, folks... this cut steel and cameo bracelet was already snagged about ten minutes after it went on-line! But I just had to show you anyway. ;)




Some more earrings, perfect for Christmas...



And finally this really cool seven-strand necklace - a real showstopper!




Thank you for visiting! :)

Vintage Arts Market

I had a fabulous day at the Vintage Arts Market fund raiser I had been telling you about. Nearly twenty bay area artists came together to help our friend Moe Munroe with her medical bills after undergoing treatment for breast cancer earlier this year.

Here I am peddling my jewelry. (By the way, it took me about four hours to finish that salad on the table because it was so busy all day!)


The market was held in the Burlingame Women's Club, a sweet old building with hardwood floors, high ceilings and plenty of sunlight streaming in - perfect for this event!



A couple of my other favourite vendors included artist Beka Brayer, who creates cool steampunky assemblage sculpture. Notice the dental molds on sticks and frozen Charlotte dolls!




I kept getting drawn in by this display from Come 'C' Antiques. The soft colours and shabby furniture had my name written all over it!








My mom actually purchased these pretty china teacups!


And this faux cake was fit for Marie Antoinette!



Thanks to a very profitable day, my Etsy shoppe is looking a bit bare, but I'll be working on designing new pieces in plenty of time for the holidays. Here are just a few I listed this evening.




Many thanks to Moe Munroe, Beverly Conrad, Carole Wood and my parents for giving me the opportunity to participate in the first annual Vintage Arts Market and helping with the logistics. BevMo (as they like to refer to themselves) hope to do this every year, with proceeds going to a different beneficiary each time. Now how's that for holiday spirit?!

Please stay tuned next time when I'll show you a peek at my worktable and some new flea market finds I got this weekend too! Have a beautiful week! :) Robyn