Bead Love

Bonjour,

Beads, glorious beads, are my newest obsession. Until I began making jewelry, I never stopped to think of all the different beads that are produced.  Now I see beads everywhere and find beauty in most of them.

Some of my favorites, and also those which are most commonly produced, are Czech glass beads.  The Czechs (actually their predecessors, the Bohemians) have been making beads for centuries, but began greater production in the mid 1800s when they began using molds.

In the early 20th century, they began mass production and became the world's leading bead exporters. Since then, the industry has been negatively affected by wars, the Depression and political turmoil, but once again the Czech bead makers are at the forefront of their trade.

There are infinite colors, shapes and sizes of Czech glass beads.  The beads I've shared here are a few of my latest acquisitions and are examples of fire-polished beads in different shapes and finishes.  Aren't they lovely?

These small objects keep me inspired.  Wouldn't these beauties inspire you as well?

Adieu,

Remembering Oscar

Fashion is about dressing according to what's fashionable.

Style is more about being yourself.

Oscar de la Renta

The fashion world lost a giant with the passing of Oscar de la Renta.   If there were ever anyone who defined "style," it was Oscar de la Renta.  Any little girl who ever made believe she was a princess would have also dreamed of wearing an Oscar gown.  I certainly did, since he was a designer who dressed the first "American princess," Jacqueline Kennedy. He made every woman look like a goddess…and with style.  

Here are few recent Oscar gowns I love…pure elegance... 

I will leave you with more of Oscar's words...

Luxury to me is not about buying expensive things; 

it's about living in a way where you appreciate things.

Thank you, Mr. de la Renta, for all the luxurious memories.

THE Bracelet

Bonjour,

Today I thought I would share with you the piece that began it all...the one item that sparked my love of jewelry. As you will see, it is nothing special and certainly has little monetary value, but to me it is priceless.

My love of jewelry was inspired (actually more like instilled) by my mother.  My mother told me on many occasions that all she ever wanted was to be a mother to one little girl; lucky for her, that's exactly what she got. And her ideals for a girl were strictly feminine. I grew up in an era of ruffles and lace, adornments of which my mom never tired. (She would have loved to have seen me in ruffles to this day.)  In addition to the frilly dresses in which she clothed me, there were always accessories, hair bows or ribbons, purses, and especially jewelry. Of course, the first pieces she purchased for me were the typical baby bracelet and ring; but this is the one I consider the actual "first."

This bracelet was given to me by my mom and dad on my third birthday I believe, if not the Christmas before. I loved it then as I do now. I love its simplicity and its timelessness. Throughout my childhood, I rarely took it off.  It is not solid gold, only a gold-plated base metal, and every few years my mother would take it to a jeweler and have it replated.  It would look new again. Although I do not wear it daily any more, I do still wear it...and often. It could stand to be redipped again, but I prefer its flaws to show…there are memories there.

When I was photographing the bracelet for this post, I discovered the maker's mark inside, Krementz USA.  In my research I learned that Krementz was a New Jersey jeweler which was in business since 1866 and which originally became successful by mass producing men's collar buttons and cuff links in gold in the early 1900s.  The company later began making gold overlay and electroplated jewelry when costume jewelry became popular in the 1920s. They offered a lifetime guarantee on their jewelry, which is probably why my mother had my bracelet replated periodically.  They are no longer in business, but their  jewelry is still available for purchase in venues like Etsy and EBay.

I wonder how many other little girls' first introduction to jewelry was through a piece by Krementz & Co.  Did you ever wear their jewelry?  If so, please share your story.   I'd love to hear from you.  Please leave comments below or via the link above.

Adieu,

Lune de Sang

Adieu,

How many of you viewed the eclipse of the blood moon this morning?  In my location, the spectacular sight occurred right before daybreak, which is the time I normally wake up and walk my dogs anyway, so I did not even have to adjust my schedule in order to watch the event unfold. In fact, observing la lune is a regular part of my morning ritual.

There is minimal lighting around my house (my neighborhood is somewhat rural), and my morning walks are affected by the different phases of the moon.  Before I had dogs to walk, I rarely took the time to enjoy the sight of the morning sky, especially at that hour.  Now I am attentive to the lovely moon, as I am partially dependant upon it to light my path.  I love those great full moons which shine like lighthouse beacons. I sorely miss their passing when they wane or are hidden by clouds.  There is something to be said for rising before the sun.  As I look up, I picture the night sky as the earth's jewelry box, filled with sparkling diamonds...a neverending treasure chest of gems.

"The Night Sky" by Levviathor

And, as for this morning's lune de sang, I watched for as long as I was able to withstand the drone and bite of the rabid mosquitoes buzzing around me.  The sight was definitely worth the few itchy bumps I received.  I hope you were able to observe it in your part of the world as well.

ABC News-Reuters

In honor of our precious moon, I share these favorite earrings with you, made with antique buttons and available in the "Shop" link above.

As always, I'd love to hear from you. Please comment below or via the link above. Until next time...

Bonjour,

Bulgari Love

Bonjour,

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to take in an exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, "Bulgari: 130 Years of Masterpieces."  It was a fabulous way to spend a Saturday.

The exhibition, which showcased the evolution of the Bulgari style and its social and cultural influence, included 150 pieces of jewelry from the 19th century through the present time. The displays of the exquitsite items also included photographs of many celebrities wearing the jewels, along with other archival materials.

Over the years, Bulgari has been influential in the world of jewelry design through innovative styling, such as that in their tremblant brooches which were very popular in the 1960s. These beautiful brooches were one of my favorite parts of the exhibition. The ornate pieces featured precious gems, mostly diamonds, which were mounted using a special technique which included tiny springs which suspended the stones and allowed them to move freely and flutter with the movement of their wearer. They were unbelievably lovely.  The one below was given to Elizabeth Taylor by her then husband, Eddie Fisher. 

Tremblant brooch in platinum with Yellow and Cognac-colored diamond, 1959 

Of course, my absolute favorite piece in the exhibition, to which I kept going back for just one more look, was a stunning 118-karat (yes, 118!) emerald necklace. That alone was worth the price of admission.  And if that were not enough, there were also matching earrings.

Necklace and earrings, 1961; Platinum with emeralds and diamonds

Bulgari photos via Houston Chronicle

The exhibition ends Sunday. If you have the opportunity to attend, I promise you will not be disappointed. Can you imagine wearing that necklace above?  I feel sure it literally would be a pain in the neck to wear, but I'd love to attempt it. How about you?  I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below or via the link above. Until next time…

Adieu,