Miriam Haskell...

I've officially made it half way through the week so I decided to treat myself with perusing eBay. I didn't really have a whole lot of luck for the amount of time that I spent looking. However, I am pretty excited about a Juliana clamper that I found with the etched frame at a very, very good price. I will have to show you all when it comes in the mail and then maybe I will do a post dedicated to Juliana/D&E clampers. But for today, I've also been obsessing over Miriam Haskell jewelry...no, wait - I obsess over that everyday. Even though I've been collecting it for almost 7 years now and researching nearly every day, it never ceases to amaze and even make my breathe catch with the gorgeous intricacies of the pieces that are out there. And I don't know if I've shared what an Etsy freak I am (love, love it), but I've noticed that right now there are some super amazing pieces for sale there. I know there are seemingly a million more jaw dropping pieces out there (even when I just do a simple google search I about have a heart attack) but I wanted to concentrate on pieces for sale just on Etsy. So sit back, relax, and drool...

*Note: all of the links to these listings are in the captions.

There's a huge range of pieces that start from the early eras...

Shell and Wood Bracelet

This is from when she first started and was into nature themed pieces. This is an amazing bracelet that has really great other pieces from the same collection. In fact, not too long ago I purchased the matching necklace (sadly, it's at my parents' home right now where I keep most of my jewelry when I am at school so I can't show you a picture) and it's one of my favorite pieces because it's so unique. One thing I find really interesting about the coil bracelets (which I adore, but can hardly find...) is how thick the base actually is. I believe they are usually made with metal threading. I have one early coil bracelet and it's ridiculous to hold in your hands...After the nature pieces came the bright, pastel designs...

Turquoise Dress Clip

 This is back when Frank Hess first started designing as well as prior to the signed era (which started in 1947 and he also designed during.)

Coral Dress Clips

Frank Hess liked to design with bright colors, especially during the unsigned years prior to WWII when the design was centered around enhancing all of the fashions that were coming out of Europe. I especially love the rhinestone embedded pot metal motifs that were incorporated into many designs. Once WWII came around they incorporated a lot more thread and cord, rather than metal, into the designs like the set below.

You can see that they were still able to use some of their original findings and elements, but not nearly as many and the designs shifted away from metal when it could, especially the backings. They became cord, plastic, or very thin, cheap metals. 

WWII Set

But once the war was over, designers as a cohort became more likely to put signatures on their pieces, and this is when Haskell transitioned into signing and the designs also become more feminized and highly intricate to go with low necklaces and more simple, elegant dressing.

Gorgeous Shell and Flower Brooch

This is when you start to see the characteristic filigrees coming into play. In fact, once they started using filigrees, the signatures came along. There are very, VERY few pieces out there that have the filigree without signatures and are authentic. Something to keep in mind.

Filigree Based, Baroque Pearl and Rhinestone Brooch

If you look closely at Haskell backings, it's important to note how thick and luxurious the metal stampings are. Pay attention to the different styles of filigree you come across. The gilding is also really important because it has a very distinctive coloring to it because they used a specially formulated "Russian gilt" that incorporated 24 kt gold. 

Citrine and Filigree Set

Antoher thing that you always want to look for in many signed necklaces is the 8 (not 6) petal flower on the J hook. This is one my own pieces as an example...

And you can see the same thing in the original ads.

Miriam Haskell Advertisement

I find it funny how they even referred to their color options as "antiqued golden" or "antiqued silver" in their advertising because old gold is such a sought after trend today.

But back to Etsy...This is a particular favorite of mine:

Amazing Wrap Bracelet

I have a real weakness for bracelets.

All I can say is wowza...

And recently I've been getting into stick pins.

Milkglass Stickpin

I will forEVER love the multistranded necklaces.

Mutistranded Beauty

And the showstopping centerpieces.

Cascading Blue Necklace

There's dimensionality to the pieces like no others...

3D Beaded Flower Brooch

Even over-the-top designs are perfectly classic.

Huge Pendant Necklace

Especially the baroque pearls.

Dangling Brooch

And unbelievably feminine. Anything garden/flower themed is a hit for me. 

Pretty Pink Clamper

I really should stop there for now! Those are my favorites of the current Etsy listings for Miriam Haskell, but new pieces are being listed everyday so you never know what will show up next...

Hopefully the next time I go home I will be able to do a post on my personal Miriam Haskell pieces. They are so gorgeous to look at in person. I don't think I could ever stop collecting it. Does anyone else collect it? It's so hard to resist...

Hope you enjoyed the feast!

Till next time...

Xo 

Decorating For Your Soul

I know I just did a post, but today has been a bit frustrating and I really think I would enjoy talking to you guys about a few things that help me relax.... Is anyone else having a frustrating day? What do you do/where do you go to relax and find your inner peace? It was the first day back for me at the university and there were some ups and downs and confusion and....oh boy. I got pretty frustrated but my boyfriend knew exactly what I need when I get upset so we went for coffee on the bay...

The sweetness of lattes always help me to chill out and breathe easy and the color of the bay today was too hard to resist. I'm totally in love with the bay because in my hometown, all we have is a river that is pretty dirty and most of the time the park along it isn't all that great. Plus, there aren't really any naturally growing trees or precipitation, which both make the view here a million times more beautiful. Once I felt more calm after walking along the docks for a bit, I really got to thinking about how living here by the university has been so nice and how I feel so relaxed and more at home than I ever imagined. In fact, my little apartment with my boyfriend and kittybaby is my little heaven. I think it's because this is the first time I've lived outside of my parents' home and being across the state in a beautiful town and a cute apartment that's all our own while having the opportunity to study what I love has been a great experience for me and a huge blessing. (By the way...I know I will be mentioning her in the future, so meet my kittybaby Penelope.)

She is like a child to me. Anyone else like that with their pets? She's part of what makes my life here so special...

Anyways, thinking about how much I love it here made me want to talk about decorating because one of the ways I made sure I would enjoy myself is by making a home in my apartment. I know that I've mentioned before how much I love decorating, but I also wanted to talk about why the way I decorated my apartment is such a source of happiness in my life. I began planning the apartment as soon as we decided for sure we were moving. I really didn't even know what the apartment would look like exactly because being 5 and a half hours away we didn't get to travel here much before the moving date and we found the actual apartment long after I started buying and planning. However, I did know what kind of a feel I wanted the apartment to have. Whenever people ask me how I like to decorate, I can't really pinpoint what kind of style I am. I would say our apartment is...

Vintage with crisp colors...

(eliteproductionsintl.tumblr.com)

And I like french inspirations... 

Pinterest

As far as antiques go, Victorian and Art Deco era pieces are always a nice touch.

(oldrags.tumblr.com)

(youbringthatsmarthaircut.tumblr.com)

 With maybe a bit of stripped down/industrial inspiration thrown in?

(madeinpersbo.blogspot.com)

I love a good, unexpected stripe.

(zsazsabellagio.blogspot.ca)

A pop of color...

(parisapartment.wordpress.com)

A statement chair (and another stripe!)

(sequinsntulle.tumblr.com)

 And of course I obsess over empty old frames. Especially gold ones.

(romancingthehomeltd.blogspot.com)

 I think that the point that I wanted to touch on the most: Decorating isn't always about following a specific style and staying within the lines, it's about surrounding yourself with what you love. When I find things for decor, I just look for things that speak to me without worrying how they will all fit together, because I figure that if I love it all, then it will all go together in the end. I have heard many designers say that decorating is more effective when the room/house has a collected  look and feel, that way it feels more like you. Your living space should be a reflection of you. It should bring you comfort and warmth each time you walk into it. To me, that's what makes a "house" a home. Also, and I think you will agree with me if you have a passion for decor, it's never truly finished. There's always a new piece that finds it's way into your heart and your home. 

Recently, I picked up two new pieces that I really like in my apartment. Remember I showed you a pic of the radiator that I was working on? That turned out to be a huge and frustrating job but I finally just got it done. I still want to add a gold leaf to the detail, but that will have to come later...

(Above) This was the picture I showed during the process of removing the rediculously thick layers of lead paint...

(Below) This is the color I ended up finishing it as...

Eventually I would like to have it professionally sandblasted and change the colors up to make more of a statement, but for my needs right now it's a more subtle accent. I thought it looked nice next to my "statement chair" and my Victorian era mantel and cast iron fireplace insert that my dad and I spruced up.

The other piece I recently picked up is this crown molding tin out of an early 1900s opera house down in Missouri. I wasn't sure exactly what to do with when I first saw it while I was working over break, I just knew I had to have it. My boyfriend wanted it over the TV so it could be showcased.

I'm still trying to get used to mixing creams and whites together because that isn't something that I used to do before. But no matter the colors, I just love the piece's history and the embossing on it.

I think the old Victorian industrial-type pieces really tie in nicely with old mirrors and frames. Even Penelope likes old frames...

Those are just pictures from my living room area. That and my dining are my favorites I would have to say. I think it's because I put a lot of furniture pieces in those two spots that I had to refinish/repaint and overall I put a lot of work into it, along with my dad and my boyfriend. When we first acquired all of the pieces from various vintage/antique shops around the state and down into the next they looked a bit random. But once we painted, sanded, and touched it all up, it was like the perfect mix. Anytime you can put a personal touch on a piece, I say go for it! The work is always worth it...

By the way...If you are also a renter and aren't allowed to paint any of your walls, I recommend looking into the paintable/textured wallpaper. I know there are also easy removal, temporary wallpapers but that can get spendy and I didn't want to spend the money to do a whole wall. When I first moved into my apartment there was a light chocolate accent wall, and frankly, I'm not a fan of painted accent walls for myself. A good wallpaper wall? Yes please. So I went and bought wallpaper at Lowe's to cover it up. I left mine white, but it is paintable for any color you wish. And also, instead of putting it up the normal way by wetting it, etc., I went to my local craft store and bought glue dots and did rows of three all down the paper, cut it to fit like normal, and it worked like a charm! Now I have a very subtle accent wall that can be easily removed with no damage, and I love it!

If you want to check out my pinterest board that most inspires my decorating style, here is the link to my Precisely This board, meaning, "Precisely This" style, even though it includes many different things, it's all somehow very.....me =)

So, what kinds of styles do you all like to decorate with? Do you feel like your home/apartment is your sanctuary? Do you wish you could change it? 

Let me know, I'd love to hear all about it!

Till next time!
Xo

So it's been a while....

The past few weeks have been so hectic between the holidays, travelling back to my apartment, and the start of the new quarter. Last we talked it was about to be New Years, hope you all had a wonderful night! Do you have any ideas for how you want to live out this next new year? I find it interesting and we wait until the January 1 to revamp ourselves, our attitude, our home, our job, relationships, etc etc and all that stuff resolutions tend to encompass. Really, couldn't everyday be a new opportunity? Even if it's just a small one. What are you doing new with today? This year?

I will admit that I am guilty of buying into the whole resolution idea. Usually my biggest is to lose weight, and I know I'm not the only one out there. I began a weight loss journey a long time ago and once I started, I don't think I've ever stopped. It's a lifestyle change that's flows in and out with small changes an adaptation. But I think there's one thing that I overlooked and can't quite get a good grasp on: I am beautiful. No matter my size. This year I want to strive for acceptance. From myself, for myself. I remember feeling empowered when I finally realized it didn't matter what other people thought of me....but recently I've realized, it doesn't me any good to care or not care about what other people think of me, when I'm spending every day looking down upon myself for one reason or another. Usually it's how I feel about my body. And why should I? I've come a long way - from a size 14 to a size 6. I should be proud. But somehow....I haven't quite made it. In fact, I'd say since losing weight I feel WORSE about myself. So this year, I want to work on loving my body every day no matter how it looks. I wish every woman could achieve this. We ALL deserve to love our bodies - no matter what we look like or what size we are. 

Another thing I want to focus on is being creative. Having some kind of expression that goes outside of my own head and the negativity that can reside there. I used to paint, sketch, and sew all the time but being in college makes it a bit difficult and I have to really be motivated to use my time on it. Since I buy vintage jewels so often, I have a lot of broken or poor conditioned pieces laying around and I decided to try putting together vintage assemblage pieces for myself. So far I've made a necklace and a ring. I don't like using glue, so everything is wired and can be taken apart with ease if I decide it needs to be. I usually don't like when people use pieces to make other things because they most often use pieces that were in good condition and it makes me sad (which is why I've taken so long to start these projects) but I only used pieces that were broken or in disrepair. I first made a necklace....

The pieces I used are Robért, Demario, Haskell, Japan, and NOS pearls. The components are all imperfect and partly broken/missing, but I thought they joined together nicely. 

And I got so many compliments the few times I wore it that I decided to make a ring as well...(sorry for the chippy nails!)

I don't know how often I will be doing this but it felt good to create something that I can wear. 

I'm definitely not an expert, but I like the way the pieces came out! They are perfect little reflections of my style. 

Hopefully you all can find something to focus on and feel a sense of accomplishment about. There's something really soothing about it. 

Well, I have another class to go to soon. So I gotta run! 

Till next time!

Xo

Feast for the Eyes

I hope everyone had a great Holiday! One is gone, and now another is approaching. Today I got lost in the fantasy land that is Pinterest even more than usual. Since New Years is coming up I have been seeing a ton of pins for outfits and sparkles and I thought that I might share some and give you a feast for the eyes tonight to spur some inspiration.

So whether you like the class short sequin dress...

Or maybe something a bit more elegant.

Perhaps some feathers instead?

I don't think you can ever go wrong with lace.

As long as you can twirl in it.

Just add a pretty earring...

And maybe a sparkly shoe to dance in....

Or something with an edge...

Perhaps some statement jewelry, like a necklace?

Or even some stacked and chunky rings.

And be sure to paint your nails.

And I never forget my winged liner.

Maybe even try out a bold lip.

Be sure to stay warm!

Grab a great little purse.

And remember....

Cheers!

Till next time!
Xo

*These photos are not mine. They all can be found on my Pinterest with their links.