Happy Christmas & New Year

Hope everyone had a good Christmas and have an even better New Year.

 (Photograph is of the Christmas cakes made and decorated on Christmas Eve!!)

This is just a quick update to say that we are having a sale on Jewels and Finery of many pieces of antique, vintage and second hand jewellery.

 Vintage brooch by Hollywood

Already reduced is our Christmas and party jewellery and vintage men's jewellery. But there will be many more great sale offers over the next few days - but only until the new year.

Modern contemporary brooch

Vintage clip on earrings

Jewels and Finery Craft  now has more items on for sale, including vintage beads, buttons and other craft supplies.

Vintage brown splatter buttons - English made

Red round vintage buckle

Back to normal in the new year including book reviews, Sarah Coventry brochures and updates on Exquisite jewellery.

Happy Christmas 2010

Every year we send Christmas cards with scenes of snow and the bookies odds are up and down to will it be snowing on Christmas day. Well this year it looks to be coming true. Its snowed for most of this month.
Writing this blog at about 6.30 am on a cold Wednesday morning, its once again snowing and we still have a thick covering on the ground. Not that I intended getting up so early but my oldest has flu and is one of the worst when he is ill.
He has Asperger's Syndrome a form of high level autism and has little awareness of time. Snow is an extreme of temperature and represents change, so his anxiety levels were raised last weekend when it came down thick and fast. As the snow has been here for a few days now, he was just starting to settle again but then he came down with flu! Oh the joys - this probably means that we will all get it now.

So with the heating just kicking in and feeling cold I thought I would show a few "warming" jewels to bring out the sun.

 
 A large vintage brooch in the design of a vulture. Makes me think of hot desert areas and cactus plants.

 
Warm seas and swimming for this 1990s sea horse pre owned brooch with sparkling diamante and enamel.

A second hand snake clamper bracelet in black enamel and clear diamante - for hot swampy areas with snakes skimming the river banks and noisy insects.

Finally managed to make my cakes for Christmas and will show the photographs next time.

Jewellery Glossary - H

With just 11 days to Christmas, I still have yet to start making my Christmas cakes - but plenty of time left!!

So to our jewellery glossary - now on the letter H.

Haematite/Hematite - A common mineral with a high iron content. Tumbled stones are shiny, metallic and heavy for their size. Thought to energies, empower and grounds and anchors us.

Hallmark - A mark on jewellery to show silver/gold/platinum/precious metals as set by the country of origin.
Some require additional information such as patent, manufacturer and origin. 

Heliotrope or bloodstone - Dark green quartz with red, brown or yellow markings. Essentially green jasper with red flecks. Thought to strengthen, add courage, support and stimulate.

High relief - Used to describe a cameo which is carved to create a three dimensional look.

Horn - Animal horn used in jewellery. Some horn was thought to have magical properties. Now an outlawed practice in many countries.

This week we have added many brooches, necklace, earrings, bracelets, men's jewellery and clips.

Clothes show live 2010 video link on You Tube

Here is one of the videos that I took at the Clothes Show Live 2010 at the NEC, Birmingham.

It's a small section about movies with dancers and models. Love the lights and the backdrop.

We have added lots of vintage Christmas jewellery this week to Jewels and Finery.

Impressive blue rhinestone brooch

Here are some photographs of the Christmas and party jewellery we have for sale at the moment.

Large angel brooch

Christmas brooch by Jewelcraft

Christmas bells brooch circa 1960s

Starflower diamante brooch modern.

Blue aurora borealis necklace 1970s

1990s large star-shaped clip earrings

Ble cabochon earrings for pierced ears 1980s.

Well, it is still cold, icy and some areas still have snow in the UK. The Christmas tree is up and plans have been made for Christmas itself. Who's going to cook the turkey this year? I will get round to making the Christmas cakes - late but the way that I have always done them; and they are always lovely and moist (With no orange peel and lots of nuts). But more next time and the recipe.

Clothes Show Live NEC 2010

On Sunday my daughter and I with her friend, went to the NEC, Birmingham for the Clothes Show Live 2010.
Aimed at teenage to twenties fashion and lifestyle, I still enjoy going.

 Gok Wan presenting the Clothes Show Live show

None of the clothes were suitable or even fitted me. My diet is going well though and so maybe next year!! Plenty of choice from "market type" stalls to designer wear at lower prices. Short dresses were in plenty as well as trousers, tops, woolly hats, leather gloves and Pashmina scarves. Small bouquets offered that something a bit different from the high street fashion lines.  Again I visited the vintage section with clothes, jewellery and accessories.

This year there was a section for making clothes and accessories. Cloth, buttons, patterns, yarn, sewing machines and expert advice were available. Along with colleges that offered specific fashion and textile courses.

Make up by names such as Bourjois and Rimmel, along with many other manufacturers are for sale. the choice is amazing and offers abound. Various stalls offer make overs, hair styling and massage. One celebrity hairdresser Lee Stafford, has amazing stamina. Every time I passed his pink stand, he was talking to people, having his photo taken and posing with everyone. Not bad considering we were there from about 10 am and left after the last show at 7 pm!

The show was hosted by Gok Wan but I could not see him over the sea of people at his book signing.

 Gok Wan being carried of stage by a whole load of hunky bare chested men

Next to the Clothes Show and included in the tickets was the Dance Show.Stalls specific to dance and many small and a large stage to watch many forms of dance. One of our friends is a member of the Phoenix Dance Company and so we watched her appearing on the large stage.

  The Phoenix dance Company in action

This year I came away from the shows with enough make up to last a long time, leather bags, magazines, free samples and lots of jewellery both vintage jewellery and some new ones.

In all the hours spent at the shows, I still do not think I saw everything as there is so much to see and do. My only gripe is the lack of seats and food prices are far too high.

This year I managed to video part of the show. In fact its the first time I have videoed anything!! So shaky hand and a bit distant with muffled sound. Well what do you expect ....it was a total mistake really I pressed the wrong button on the camera and should have taken a photograph.

And that I will post this week when I have mastered You tube!!           

Snowing in Solihull England

Well with 25 days to go until Christmas, it is still very cold and snowing in most of the UK.
After the second heavy snow fall last night. Most has now cleared but the cold weather has now turned the melting snow to ice. So take care when out.

diamante star brooch

Here are some pieces of snow inspired jewellery to reflect the weather and time of year.

Frosted Christmas brooch by Hollywood

Penguin brooch

Penguin brooch in enamel

Pale blue diamante brooch

1960s spiky space vintage clip earrings 

Green 1960s star brooch

1960svintage star brooch

1960s green diamante star brooch

Penguins, snowflakes (of all sorts from traditional white to green with a touch of aurora borealis). White jewellery and ice blue jewellery. Just a small number of brooches to wear on a warm coat...............with boots or wellies, scarf, gloves, hat and of course thermals!!

Cat on scales and jewellery with a dog design

This is Monty - who must have been watching me jump on and off these weighing scales!! Now every time he goes into the bathroom he sits on them. Wonder if he is trying to loose weight like me!!

Pewter cat sat on chair brooch by JJ

Just a few brooches with dogs designs on as well.

Well with 36 days to Christmas, we have now started to show the last posting days on our websites. So have a good weekend

Congratulations - A royal wedding

Well at long last the announcement of the Royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Already the souvenir mugs and plates have been produced by the Stoke on Trent potteries, and the popularity of sapphire engagement rings has increased.
Lets just hope that the wedding day weather is not like today - cold wet and raining!!

More gorgeous jewellery has been added over the last few days to Jewels and Finery and of course more to come....

Craft Show NEC November 2010

I love going to the different shows at the National Exhibition Centre, just by Birmingham's airport.

Clear rhinestone 6 mm

So last week, my daughter and I took our selves off to the Craft fair which also had Christmas craft gifts and Art supplies included. It was an ideal opportunity to visit many craft stalls and see lots of different things that can be made.

 Panda sew on patch to list shortly

My daughter likes paper crafts and art, so she was in her element buying things to use for Christmas cards and for her scrap booking. Although there were less knitting, beading and sewing stalls. I still found plenty to see and buy!!.

 Vintage buckles

Came back with lots of ideas that I want to try out but now need to find some time.....

At long last Google shopping has stopped blocking Jewels and finery Craft and our items are now appearing in the directory (some even on first page)
Have a good week.......   

Jewellery Glossary - G

Well November has arrived and with only 51 days to Christmas now!! Usually I am running around at the last minute and panicking, but this year I am slightly more organized and have already started my shopping.
We have also had a busy week with photographing lots of jewellery as well as buttons and buckles for our craft site.

 Vintage tiger brooch

Now onto the jewellery glossary and for the letter G we have the following:

Garnet - A variety of gemstone that is available in a variety of colours of red, green, violet and yellow.  The dark red coloured stone was very popular in Victorian times.Garnets are thought to bring a warm fiery energy that helps fight cold and sluggish feelings.


Guilloche enamel - transparent or translucent enamel that is applied to metal that is engraved in detail

German silver - an alloy that does not contain silver also known as Tibetan silver.

 Vintage bow brooch signed Lisner

Gold - precious metal. Pure gold is 24 Karat (99.9%) but it is soft. To harden more copper or other base metal is added. 18 K was used in antique (rose gold) and Russian jewellery. Gold can also be used as a gold plating or wash, as well as gold filled/rolled gold.

  Antique gold fob with carnelian & bloodstone

Green Jasper - a type of quartz with a long history of being used in making amulets and ornaments. Magically believed to protect from snake bites and poisons.

Here are some of our latest photographs of vintage jewellery and vintage buckles to be added to our websites soon.

 

Halloween 2010 & figural jewellery collection

This year I started collecting Halloween and witch figural vintage jewellery. I already had a simple witch on a broomstick brooch, when I saw a new brooch by Kirks Folly and had to buy it.
Now I have 4 brooches in total, some new and some older but not yet vintage. Here is my collection.

 Kirks Folly Wicked Season of the Witch brooch

A little second hand witches cat brooch

Second hand enamel witch on broomstick brooch

 Cat on pumpkin - new brooch

I have had various comments from just admiration at the brooches to "Are you a witch" said with all seriousness.
To my daughter who found it strange that I would want to buy a brooch to wear for a few weeks each year. 

There are many Halloween themed jewellery available - from vintage to second hand. The most renowned maker for availability here in the UK is JJ or "The Jonette Jewelry Company" that have produced whimsical designs from 1935 up until recently. So sorry but you will only find black and Gothic vintage jewellery for sale only on our website

The last one of a cat has reminded me to show the latest photograph of Marla. Who in my last blog had her teeth removed. She is still left with the 4 front ones and very back teeth. Which she had polished and cleaned.

She was asleep when I went to take this but woke and is eying me suspiciously!!

So have a happy Halloween

From the Weaver Family and from Ufton - who did not want to get dressed up and have his photograph taken. That was until I balanced a biscuit on the table!!