Halloween or Samhain & What to wear

Next week on the 31st October is the celebration of Halloween or Samhain.
Many religious traditions surrounds this ancient holiday

Vintage modern Kitsch necklace

For the Celts it meant the end of the harvest and the start of the dark winter days. Bonfires were lit and it was a time for celebration.

On October 31st the night is sacred to the departed spirits; and this one night allows spirits to wander freely, also fairies and other little people are about. But you have to remember that the devil and evil spirits are also free to roam the earth. The trick or treat custom is meant to placate these spirits. The wearing of costumes is to blend in with the spirits so as not to be harassed by them.

Vintage ebony ring

In the Christian tradition, it is the feast of All Hallows Eve and November 1st is All Saint's Day, with November 2nd as All Soul's day.

Flowers that are popular during this time is the marigold, celosia, amaranth, carnations and gladioli and were used in the feasts.

Magical flowers and plants are acacia (victory over death), apple (desire), calendula (proof against demons), chervil (communication with departed spirits), Elder (cursing and blessing), fox glove (fairy folk), Heal-All (bewitchment protection, juniper (proof against witches), nettle (banishment), rue (witches), violet (mortal love), willow (sorrow) and yew (death)

Mountain Ash Brooch by Exquisite (intellect, prudence)

Apples and pumpkins are plentiful this time of the year and were ideal to use in the feasts. Pumpkin being dual purpose and doubling as lanterns.


Vintage black heart bead necklace

Dress up this Halloween with black vintage jewellery and accessories more available at Jewels and Finery.

Make a Rainbow by Patience Strong

Make a Rainbow

If your world looks gloomy and you're feeling grim and glum.
Make a rainbow for yourself, don't wait for one to come.
Don't sit watching at the window for the clouds to part.
There'll soon be a rainbow if you start one in your heart.

Take some lovely thoughts out of a poem or a prayer.
Turn it over in your mind and let it linger within,
and hold on to the magic word that lets the brightness in.

Work your own small miracle and make the dull day glow.
Put some sunshine into life and let the glory show.
Make a rainbow for yourself with colours brave and gay,
and underneath its golden arch your cares will fade away.
Patience Strong

Today found a book of poems by Patience Strong, this one just stood out and I thought I would share it with you.

It was such a glorious autumn day I went for a walk to the local shops. In the charity shop I picked up a few books and many laughs. Why one of the assistance was wearing a pair of bunny ears, I still do not know.

Our garden is slowly going to sleep for the winter. The hydrangeas are fading but the magic is still there. Caught this one little guy looking out through the foliage. The nights are drawing in as Halloween approaches. I do love this time of year.

My favorite Blogs - Vintage & Craft

The last week has been quite eventful. last Monday spent almost all day in hospital having MRI's on my brain and cervical spine. Followed by an afternoon of staring at a changing black and white screen of another VEP test.

My neurologist told me at my last visit he was looking for lesions. Its official, I have a blockage in the nerve of my right leg which makes the nerve transmit much slower than my left. Also low in Vitamin D, another surprise. Now have to chew great big chalky tablets, still, it could be worse - I might have been told to swallow them whole!!.

To add insult to injury, late Monday started to have a sore throat and flu symptoms....yes I have managed to get swine flu. Not as bad as the cold I had earlier in the year but getting fed up of having to take paracetamol every 4 hours when I start to ache & burn up. Taking Tamiflu, twice daily now. Feel I'm rattling just a tad with all these tablets.

But less of my ailments. Spent tonight reading some great blogs that I follow.

So I would like to just give 3 of my favourites:

Older Rose's blog is written by a lovely lady who if I had half her talent I would be so happy. She makes fantastic crazy quilts. Paints furniture and buttons, and has loads of animals.

Tied Up Memories by Tracy G, has crafted some lovely jewellery. She also makes paper crafts for her Etsy shop.

And finally for tonight:-

Nostalgia at the stone house another talented lady. Using vintage fabrics, jewellery and furnishing, she creates such lovely dolls and handcrafted goods.

Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright review

If you have an interest in vintage jewellery or brooches and pins then this book is a must.

Read My Pins by Madeleine Albright - Stories from a diplomat's jewel box

Published earlier this year makes a fascinating read. Not being political at all, I brought this book purely for the information about her brooches (pins) and I was not disappointed.

The book has over 200 photographs of brooches or pins from ones that cost only a few dollars to ones produced by Cartier. Antique and vintage jewellery mixed with newer brooches. Unknown designers to ones from Trifari, Monet, Swarovski, Kenneth Jay Lane, Christian Dior, Ciner, Haskell and Lea Stein. A Brooch made from a piece of the Berlin wall mixed with campaign badges. With a comprehensive "Pindex" with small photographs of each brooch/pin with information at the back of the book.

Madeleine Albright the US former Secretary of State has loved jewellery for many years adding to her collection as time and money has allowed. Wearing brooches in her lapel of her jackets, she wore a snake brooch to a meeting with Iraqi officials The snake was in response to a poem published by the Saddam Hussein's government because she had dared to criticize him.
Following the meeting, the press picked up on the brooches message; and soon she began to use the jewellery as part of her diplomatic arsenal. With "Read my pins"

Her collection of pins are now on tour in The Museum of Arts and Design, in New York, USA. The collection is there from 30th September 2009 to 31st January 2010. The collection will then move to Washington DC in the summer of 2010 and to Indianapolis, Indiana in the autumn of 2010. It is due to also tour internationally. If it comes to the UK, I would be one of the first to go.

Make Jewellery Issue 7

Jewels and Finery appeared in the Make Jewellery magazine issue 7.


Earlier this year we were asked to send a few samples for the magazine to photograph.
So we were delighted that we were given 3 separate mentions through out the magazine.
Since the magazine article we have sold many of our vintage beads, buttons and findings.
Now we are in the process of restocking.
Most of our packs are unique made up of antique, vintage or vintage modern items.
But you have to be quick as many sell out straight away!
Thank you to the magazine for the features. This issue is available in shops now and has instructions to make the glamorous necklace, bracelet and hair slide with vintage parts.