Everything old is new again

       Every store that I go into that sells any kind of jewelry and accessories, I always have to check them out.  Whether it's a high-end department store (which I don't frequent often) or a big box discount store that sells everything from fishing equipment, to diapers, to fashion jewelry, I always pass the jewelry section to check it out.  More and more recently I've seen a trend everywhere I look of jewelry with a faux-vintage vibe.  I've noticed necklaces with vintage looking cameos, pocket watches, keys, and of course, the big owl pendent that has been resurrected from the seventies and mass produced into renewed popularity.  Even big craft stores with jewelry making supplies are increasingly featuring charms and findings with a vintage look.

     Being a girl, I also love bags, which of course, one can never have too many.  I've noticed alot of cute little embellished clutches in stores recently.  Little bags with sparkly things, feathers, fabric flowers have become very popular.  As it happens, little vintage bags are one of those things I have a hard time passing up when I see them in thrift stores and flea markets.  Same thing goes for vintage compacts.  I just love them!  Big or small, fancy or simple, I can't pass them up.  So, of course, I've amassed a decent collection of both.  And what to do with them?  Make a little embellished bag of my own, featuring treasures from years gone by.  Everything old is new again. 

Embrace your mistakes!

This necklace is a reminder of the good that can sometimes come out of making mistakes.  I had made this chandelier pendant a while ago, figuring I would put it on a chain.  Still not so great at soldering the jump rings on, I made a bit of a disaster out of it.  The resulting pendant had lumpy soldering in front and a lopsided loop.  Daggit!  I put it aside in the mess-up pile.  I still really liked the picture on it and wanted to use it for something.  While going through some junk jewelry I found an old wire hoop, probably once part of a choker-style necklace with a dangle.  So, I broke out some silk ribbon, lace, buttons, beads, and wire, and started just wrapping away.  The result was this very fun, elegant necklace that completely hides the lop-sided loop I made.  I love it!  Now I want to make some more!

Horses

Some things in your life you will just alway have a special affection for.  One of those things, for me, is horses.  I was a ten year old horse not you never really outgrew that horse-crazy "phase".  I rode in high college, and beyond.  Always poor, I always found a way to barter my way into riding other peoples horses.  After children I realized that my jumping and showing days are a thing of the past ( I no longer bounce back after a fall like I did when I was twenty).  Of course, I will still get on a horse if the opportunity arises.  Still, I am always still drawn to all things equestrian, which is why I cannot resist little vintage horse jewelry that I find at the flea market.  Moments of "oh, look!  a little earring with a rhinestone horseshoe" are very common for me.  So this necklace is in honor of my inner horse-crazy child who will never truly die.  The one that got up at ungodly hours to braid a horses mane for a show. The one who still loves the smell of horses and the way they will nicker softly at you when you open the barn door to feed them in the morning.  The one frantically wiping the green horse slobber of her nice show jacket that she just put on and her horse decided to rub his face on it before entering the show ring.  The barn rat.  Yeah, that's me, I'm still here.