Lavaliere and Porcelain Cameo Necklace Design

Just listed in my ETSY shop....

Assemblage necklace featuring a rare Nov-E-Line lavaliere and beautiful West Germany porcelain cameo

Pretty emerald green and purple faceted beads

Art Deco paste links

Paste crown serves as a clasp

It also features seafoam freshwater pearls and a sterling silver crown charm at the back neckline.  The necklace is meant to be worn at a shorter length as the drop of the lavaliere is a little over 4".  I think this is my new favorite!







My New Design Assistant!

Happy Sunday!  Before we run out to the Steeler game this afternoon (YAY!...I LOVE going to the games!), I wanted to show off my new "assistant" I found over the weekend.  I have been looking for an old mannequin for a long time.  And, of course, the one's I fall in love with are hundreds of dollars.  While shopping for something totally different, I ran across this fabulous find at Kirklands!  Yep.  Kirklands!! 

All ready had the french stampings too!!

I couldn't believe my eyes!  I have found others but really not what I wanted.  SO glad I was patient!  She is so pretty and a great size too!

with a maiden looking on.........



She will be perfect for jewelry displays and photo's for necklaces and belts!  Which brings me to my newest creations....

This piece is so versatile!  As a belt.....



.....a necklace LONG or wrapped SHORT.....

.....or as a wrap bracelet........

It is loaded up with charms of rosary cross's, victorian jeweled findings, religious medals, hand beaded stones and beads...all suspended from a vintage rhinestone belt, rosary, and brass chain!  It will be listed on my website and my Etsy shop this week.

Well...off to the game!  GO STEELERS!

Give or Receive?

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving holiday was filling and fulfilling!  Unfortunately, I was side tracked by a cold that came over me very quickly.  And what I thought was going to be 4 glorious days of working on my jewelry designs and playing catch up....instead I ended up in bed for 2 full days.  But as John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".  So. True.

The Christmas shopping season is under way.  Both Etsy shops, My Boutique Bijou and Bone Pile Bijou, are stocked and ready.  All packages come to you gift wrapped ready for giving, even if the recipient is yourself!  Here's a little example of the wrapping..........

Should your purchase be a gift for someone special, I can send it directly to them....already wrapped and will include a card with your message as well.  Just drop me a note in the note section at checkout.

Until next time...happy shopping.  I'm heading for some more Vicks and tissues!

Tracey ♥



Victorian Brass Hardware Shines In a New Light

Browsing the pages of Etsy, I'm always seeking out different elements to use in my jewelry design.  During a recent search, I stumbled upon a wonderful shop called FOUNDLINGS.  The shops owner, Shelley, carries gorgeous authentic Victorian brass hardware and the most unique found objects from her travels. 

One of the pieces I purchased is a Victorian brass escutcheon which is the focal point of this necklace:

I mounted a tiny paste rhinestone crown to the center of the escutcheon

A crystal rosary, brass chain and a splash of red glass beads for color

The cross of the rosary was relocated as a charm dangling from the hardware focal point

I gave it an antique watch fob swivel clasp.  And voila!  It's one of my favorites.  It has a very "old world" look.  It is listed at my Etsy shop!  Wouldn't this be a great holiday gift for that someone special?









Flea Market Daze

Our flea markets here in the 'Burg are winding down.  The cold weather is looming and weekend treasure hunts will be dwindling to a few estate sales here and there.  So I have to stock up when I can.  The weather lately has been unseasonably beautiful.  So dealers are still hanging their shingle. 

This past weekend I went to our local flea market.  And although it is all year 'round, some dealers can't handle the cold.  Walking through the treasure hunt is one thing...standing in the cold waiting for customers and sales is another.  I know.  Been there, done that.  But since it was 60 degrees, there was a nice crowd.  Even though I had to make a few appetizers to take to a friend's house for the 1PM kick off, after all...it's Steeler Sunday,  folks...I can always find time to go to the flea market!  For the short time I was there, I managed to score pretty awesome things.......

Gorgeous Art Deco pieces...the necklace is my favorite and will certainly end up in one of my designs

I just LOVE the vintage charm reciting the Ten Commandments!

Some Victorian pieces including a brass repousse cameo....

Not too bad for a quick flea market dash!  Now...what to do with them.....!



Hair-do BLING!

I have had a pile of empty headbands laying around for a while.  So I figured it was time to do something with them.  Here is one I finished.  There are a few more in the works.  This one screams "flapper"!  Perfect for upcoming holiday parties or a lovely Christmas wedding! 

An assemblage of a red rosette, a large Deco Rhinestone brooch along with a combination of antique buttons....

I love the rhinestone "fringe" on the brooch!  Definitely a statement piece!



Vintage Romance

There are certain jewels that always have a romantic quality about them.  A Cameo.  Pearls.  Diamonds...in my case, vintage rhinestones are a girls best friend.  Here is some jewelry I have recently designed that whispers vintage romance.....

A gorgeous pink shell cameo bracelet

Vintage pearls and Art Deco embellishments

Romance with Glamour

Pink freshwater pearls and Art Deco



These lovelies can be found at my Etsy Shop or my Website.  Don't you just those romantic vintage gems?





Lend Me Your Ears

I have always been focused on designing necklaces and bracelets.  For some reason, I was neglecting my favorite accessory:  Earrings!  Lately, I find that it's also my favorite accessory to design.  Maybe because of the intracacy.  After all...you can't hang huge brooches from your earlobes.  Besides, I've tried it.  It doesn't work.  Smaller, more delicate findings are called for...along with a few swear words with a jump ring flying across the room. (!!) 

Here are some creations I just listed in my Etsy shop.  They will also be listed on my website within the next few days....

Dangles and posts.  Old PINK (!) rosaries; crystal rosaries; paste rhinestone embellishments; pink, black and gold; Asian Intaglio...  So pretty and all ready to turn heads!

FleaMarket Gems

Today we leave on a camping expedition for the next four days with a bunch of our lunatic friends.  "Expedition" because we have never been to this campground and I heard it's "wild"...whatever that means.  "Lunatic friends" because they are...well...crazy.  And we fit right in...ha.   I figured I'd better post this before we left because I know when we get back on Sunday, I will be too exhausted and will need a vacation from our mini-vacation!

I wanted to show you my latest finds at my last fleamarket treasure hunt.  And, boy, did I find some fabulous pieces.  Feast the ol' peepers:

This beautiful rosary is old and tarnished, no markings.  But I love it just the way it is.

The bracelet is sterling!

This FANTASTIC flower once adorned a dress or gown.  It is absolutely stunning!

And my favorite (!!) is this huge paste brooch of a peacock.  OMG...it stopped me in my tracks!  I already have a necklace design in mind and will show you when completed:

I will miss the fleamarket this weekend end.  Buy noon Sunday, I will have the sweats and shakes because of it.  That's called an addition, folks.  And I got it bad!

Have a wonderful weekend and happy hunting if you're out flea-ing or estate sale-ing!

xoxo,

Tracey  

Bead Swap Inspirations

My last post was the reveal of the Bead Swap hosted by Sarah over at My So Called Junky Life.  Showing off all the baubles and beads I received from my partner who was actually Sarah.  This week, after much deliberation, I decided to make several pieces rather than try to use everything in one project.  Here is the first of many.  Using white fresh water pears, gold filigree beads, rosary beads, rhinestone disco ball bead and a little gold crown.......

The only thing I used out of my own stash were the white flower bead caps and the aurora beads.  Don't you just love the little crown?  Fit for a queen!   Since I am the queen (in this household!), I think I'll sport it around a while!

Bead Swap Blog Hop

Hi Everyone!  It has been ages since I have posted on my blog...as you can see.  This is a great way for me to get back on track. 

I recently participated in the Bead Swap hosted by the lovely Sarah of My So Called Junk Life fame.  It was my first time and, like the first day of school, I had some jitters.  After all, I am sending beads and findings to someone I have never really met.  I was going for the "OMG!" reaction as opposed to the "What the???" reaction.  But since Sarah and I have pretty much the same taste in the beads/findings/jewelry area, I felt I was safe.  I sent her jewels in a fabulous vintage box I stumbled upon from Vickie at http://www.visualsbyvickie.com/   Forgive me though...remember, I'm a newbie...I did not photograph what I sent to Sarah and post it....(cue the eye roll).  I'll do better next time, really!  Ok, enough blabbing, more beads.....

The gorgeous presentation box!

As I open it up...imagine my surprise....LOOK at these little nests...too cute for words!!

PLUS..my favorite color of the moment...an AQUA bag full of jewels!

Here's the bagful.....  

A closer look....Some Bling...of course!!

Freshwater Pearls in white, grey, and black....stunning!

Black glass beads.  Quartz beads which were my favorite!  I must find more...

Brass beads, rosary connectors and a length of rosary beads. 

 Check out the little crown!!

A fabulous cameo and flower button along with wonderful cabochons...

The Cameo button is my other favorite!!

I think I made out like a bandit, as my mother would say...what do you think?  When I received my package I emptied everything out onto my dining room table.  I'd walk by several times a day and just stop and stare at all the jewels.  Planning my strategy of what to create with it.  Do you do that?....come home from the fleamarket, amass everything in one pile and just sit there and look at it?    

As soon as I create something very special with all the beautiful trinkets Sarah sent me, I will post it.  Of course, I also may just "look" at it a while first and savor.