Welcome to Spanish Lullabies

I have a genuine appreciation for all things "vintage". I enjoy Estate Sales, Rummage Sales and attending the Brimfield Antiques Fair. I like to incorporate the feeling of old things to my jewelry designs. That's why my favorite material to work with is brass. It ages beautifully on its own and looks stunning with many different finishes. I also have a few silver items for a crisp, clean new look. Perhaps there is something for everyone here. I hope you enjoy what you see and read.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Born in the Wrong Century

~~This first post is dedicated to old things!~~

I love old things. My Mom and I stopped at a Garden Center in a nearby town and they had beautiful old-looking iron arches, gates, wind chimes and whimsical garden decor. Something about it all just appeals to my eyes, especially when these old items are surrounded by beautiful, new blooms and vines. I dream of being in a secret garden of my own. **sigh**


And, like I said in my welcome to you, I like to incorporate this feeling of old/vintage/antique items into my jewelry design. So I took some pictures of some of my favorite personal jewelry...some I have designed and some that I purchased from Tag Sales or Estate Sales. What do you think?

My Step-Dad is very generous and he loves to shop for gems and beads to see what I might come up with for a jewelry design. He bought some pearls for me and the bracelet is what I came up with...ONE of the things--because there were A LOT of pearls! The focal piece on the bracelet is one that I aged all by myself. It was one of my first attempts at aging brass and I am pretty proud of it. My friend, Jenny (who also shares my love of old things and especially jewelry designing) gave me the toggle bar and ring and made me promise not to use it on anything I would give away...something that I tend to do (I just can't help it)! So, a special bracelet for me is what I used them for and it is one of my favorites. Thank you very much Bob and Jenny, both, for being so kind and generous!

 


These are all new, but with an old-time feel to them. Again, with more beads from Bob, this time Tiger's Eye in a beautiful shade of gray and black.





The earrings at the top right of this picture cost me a whole $3. After I purchased them I found out they are 14K white gold. I really wouldn't have cared what material they were made out of, I fell in love with the filigree and the twist back posts. I couldn't get the best picture of them...sorry! The simple drop earrings below them started out as a beautiful, but very short lariat style necklace I found at an Estate Sale (purchased for about $1). I kept the delicate brass chain they were originally on, but I hung the faceted glass drops from some new ear-wire that I really loved the style of. So, the mix of old and new is again at the center of that design. The brooch is a curious object. I couldn't pass it up when I saw it. The person I bought it from didn't have the initials "JCS", so I don't know the story behind that. But those initials can be taken out and changed. It's a neat concept.



And finally, here are some pictures of some household items and handyman curiosities that caught my eye.When I saw this rocking chair (that folds flat) at a Tag Sale, I couldn't resist it. The tapestry on the seat and back is in great condition and I can't help imagining who might have rocked in it oh-so-long ago. When I bought it, my children were still very small and I actually used it to rock my daughter to sleep a few times. The hat and hatbox are a recent gift from my ever-generous and thoughtful Mom. She actually purchased it for my daughter to play dress-up with, but after my daughter was wearing it for a short time, the netting started to rip. So I think I will keep it safe from playtime. Grandma's very fancy granddaughter actually loves it and would wear it for real with pretty much any outfit she has, so that is a possibility. So, when I see these things, I immediately think about the original owner and envision them using and/or wearing them....Which is why I was particularly excited to see the original sales receipt for this fancy hat. The mystery Fancy Lady bought it on August 16...I wish I knew the year. She bought it at Steiger's in Springfield, MA, which was in business from 1893 to 1993. Her purchase totaled $8.98, probably not an everyday purchase. There was definitely a special occasion for her to attend, or so I like to imagine.







These hand drills are so intriguing. The handles are wooden and the craftsmanship is solid and durable. I have visions of these becoming towel/robe hangers for the bathroom. I saw that idea on a home improvement show one time and I have never forgotten it. I got them for 50 cents a piece. I wonder how many times these came to the rescue of the original owner?


As I end this post, I am wondering about and imagining lots of possible "followers" and fellow admirers of times-gone-by. How romantic an idea to imagine having been born in a different time period. If I had been, would I dream of times-gone-by still? That's a curious thought. I welcome you back to see future posts and I hope you enjoyed stopping by.