Thursday, March 29, 2012

A day on the Seine


Fancy spending the day on a boat along the Seine? Well come along and join me at Nomad's Market, this sunday, the 1st of April, 2012.   I'll have loads of pretty things for sale and there's going to be a capoeira demonstration as well as a jazz concert in the afternoon. This market is part of the city's first ever Vog en Seine-- all day long, several ports of the Seine will be playing host to different musical and cultural activities.

Sounds fun right?

Here are the details:

Peniche Henjo
35 quai de Tournelle 75005, facing the Notre Dame
75005, Paris

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Brocante sunday


More often than not, there are at least two or three brocantes held in various parts of the city on Sundays. I'll often find treasure like this for example, but there are also times when the treasure comes in the array of interesting things laid out before one's eyes. This Sunday is a good case in point.

There was a ton of interesting china and household furnishings in the brocante I hit and while this isn't my particular field, I took pictures of the nicest objects I found.

Hope you'll  enjoy this selection as much as I did.

I never knew what these tiny glasses (I wanted to show their detail so they look big, but really they're tiny almost like shot glasses size) were for till I asked.  These particular ones date back from the 19th century and they're hand carved crystal. You can imagine how I took a step back after I heard that. I didn't want to accidentally knock them over while taking a photo! And they were used for very strong spirits--like eau de vie after dinner. Since they were so potent, they only needed small glasses!


Then I saw this gorgeous sewing kit made of, are you ready, ivory and silver.  It was absolutely gorgeous and heavy to boot too! Good thing I'm not much of a sewer else this little beauty would have come home with me. And now I know why elephants are now endangered since back then even such things as sewing kits used to be made with ivory!


 And this one, I've never seen till now. 19th century ladies smelling salts! Isn't it neat?  I don't know if the picture shows it clearly but the inside was filled to brim with what looked like rock crystal salt. I found it so beautiful and I could totally imagine some lady dressed in tight corsets holding it up to her nose so as not to swoon. I was transported. And tempted to add it to my growing pile of beautiful yet highly impractical objects in my house, but at 170 euros, I had to leave it behind.


 And finally a tapestry print hat bag, of a more recent vintage of course.  I totally found myself thinking of reasons why I had to bring it home.  Alas, reason prevailed once again. What in the world would I store in this thing?

Ah, but you didn't really think I came home empty-handed did you?

A delicately pretty milk pot and matching sugar bowl from the early 19th century. I got a really good deal too because somewhere along the way, the little sugar bowl lost its cover.  I didn't get too finicky about this detail because I love the way they look together with the pink and gold stripe running along their rims.  I love the way the handles curve and the pretty lip of the milk pot.  How could I pass it up?

Saturday, March 24, 2012

A necklace update

Hello friends, despite the long silence I've been hard at work on some lovely new pieces.  I'm really happy to share with you this new set of necklaces.  Its different styles for different folks and tastes. They're made from different kinds of glass beads from Millefiori beads, French beads, ice beads to Bohemian beads.  Maybe you'll see something you'll want to take home with you? 

Sautoir with wedding cake beads

Silver and gray 

"Ice" beads from the 20s/30s

Faceted Bohemian beads from the beginning of the 20th century

Gorgeous millefiori beads

French glass beads


All are now available in the  shop! Stay tuned for some exciting news later on!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Chambres des poupees

 
Since I use antique and vintage beads for my jewelry I'm perpetually at brocantes and vide-greniers,  ever on the look out for materials to use. These past winter weekends haven't been very fruitful. The cold, the damp and the gray seemed to have hidden all the treasures I normally find. I didn't even manage to take pictures.

So I wasn't expecting much when I set out this weekend.  But there were wonderful finds to be found. I'm going to have to do two posts!


Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Rubedo line

Cuff
To commemorate their 175th anniversary, Tiffany is not only coming up with a new line, they've come up with a new metal! That's right, you read it right-- a new metal. Its a compound mix of gold, silver and copper though the exact amount of each ingredient is unknown.  It's supposed to have all the shine and luster of gold with the flexibility of silver.  I had to take a look at their website to see this new metal.  It looks very similar to Victorian gold or rose gold and it makes for a very tempting selection. I've selected a few favorites which are shown here (pictures courtesy of Tiffany.com).

I love the idea of a new metal and this color is just beautiful.  I wouldn't mind adding the cuff or the hoops to my collection.

Hoops
 Isn't this ring so delicate?
Ring
Its so nice to see such an established house Tiffany continuing to make great strides in jewelry making. Its a good lesson to remember that creativity is an endless wellspring and that are imagination should be unfettered!