Showing posts with label buttons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buttons. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Milk Glass Moon and Take a Memo


Any etsy seller will tell you that one of the biggest challenges is the actual listing of the item.



It's one thing to make something, or find it treasure hunting, but then a whole 'nother chunk of time to photograph it and write up the listing.









As the busiest time of year approaches, I hope you'll stop by here often. I will try to have pictures of new creations posted here before I might actually get them listed at Age Before Beauty.















Thank you for visiting!




Monday, March 7, 2011

Springy Stripes

Loooooove these unusual, old, glass, striped buttons.








Re-invented with vintage rhinestone rings.
Old, tarnished brass beads. Silver wire wrapped and dangling from oxidized sterling ear wires.


Reconstructed, re-purposed, re-imagined... cool earrings.




Sunday, February 6, 2011

Transformation

Old bakelite game chips make terrific mossy ear-wear.





























An antique glass button from a horse's fancy bridle becomes a glorious glowing focal point.

















Two broken brooches--- create a heartfelt pendant.




Tiny, painted antique buckles = sweet earrings.













Worn (lucky?) old poker chips are now cool, industrial accessories.


A watch toggle and a broken photo locket provides closure.







To this beautiful antique sterling coin purse which now holds personal treasures, transformed into heirloom jewelry.



 
 Celebrating transformation at Age Before Beauty.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Deck your lobes...

Deck your lobes with lovely earwear. 


Fa la la la la, la la la laaaaaa,










I'm making some pretty blingy bits for your ears. All are sterling wire wrapped and boast sterling findings. 














Old religious medals, antique beads,








 fabulous Victorian buttons, creamy mother of pearl, 

















 Edwardian purse clips, 


and lots of fun and festivity to boot.


I'll be at the Craft and Fancy Show this Saturday. 
And for all of you who also would like sparkling ear bling for the holidays, please check my etsy shop, Age Before Beauty.

Deck your lobes, and your neck,... who cares about the halls?



Friday, October 8, 2010

A Weighty Issue

A tiny history lesson...
Perhaps you know this, and if so you may wish to move on. But, this is something that I just learned---and this is the reason that I'm a collector and lover of old things. Because they have a past, a history and I absolutely adore feeling a part of its journey.






This is a necklace that will be listed in my shop shortly. The centerpiece is a beautiful, velvet covered, veil weight. I fell in love with its patina and then sought out its purpose.  From the mid 1800's to the turn of the century women wore long veils over their hats to protect their faces from the dust and wind. These lovely buttons were sewn to each corner of the veil to keep it from blowing away. 



Learning about this custom explained some of the large, black, glass "buttons" that I have collected and have always thought would be odd additions to clothing. These black "weights" would have been used in mourning attire to weigh down a veil as well. 

The very knowledgeable button expert from whom I purchased the velvet weight told me that they were even used at the corners of hankies to cover drink cups outdoors and keep out the bugs and dust.


Knowing all this makes this sweet velvet veil weight even prettier.
Even more precious.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

I Simply Remember My Favorite Things...

... and then I don't feel so bad.
An antique mourning photograph with its background water-colored red, long, long ago.
One of my favorite things.
A delicate purse charm with little garnets...
Fancy, ornate buttons...
Favorites, favorites.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Age Before Beauty

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Studio Shots #1

I love seeing where people work. Especially creative people. I.e. I love peering in to studios. So I will let you peek into mine. But here's the deal... As much as I love seeing studios, I dislike contrived spaces. Cleaned, over organized, Martha-esque--- because I just don't believe it's true. So come, here are some little snippets of where I work, and what I see, what I love, and what I do.
This is my chippy, metal storage shelf. A sweet friend brought me this lovely card from her trip to England. I made the magnets for my Pop Pop not too long before he passed away. That's a copy of a beautiful, old photo of him. And, those of you who are familiar with my etsy shop, know that I named it Age Before Beauty because it was one of his favorite expressions.
I hope that you have "a triumphant day..."