Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Cheapside Hoard



In 1912, workmen in a tenement in London hacked through floor boards and uncovered the largest selection on 16th century jewelry ever found. Experts speculate it was the property of a jeweler or goldsmith to the middle classes. Most pieces were inexpensive and made for the merchant class, but the stones and metals were of high quality.








Why the hoard was hidden and who exactly owned it remains a mystery.

You can read more about it here.

All photos and more great pieces to drool over can be found at the Museum of London website

The collection is scattered through several London museums which makes me want to plan a field trip to England to try and see the whole hoard.

Anyone game?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Happy Fall to All

Just set up my pumpkin collection:



This is my latest acquisition. Leafy pumpkin from Mom C:



Little sparkly:



Little shiny:


HAPPY FALL!!!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Getaway to Glenwood Springs!

Birthdays are a big deal for me. I like to go on an adventure and do something I don't normally do. Usually, every year D plans something spectacular for my birthday and I plan something spectacular for his. Our birthday celebrations have taken us everywhere.

Last year, we went to Leadville, CO's Pioneer Day Parade.



We stayed in a yurt.



We bathed in healing waters.



Climbed up mountains of sand.



Visited a ghost town.



This year, we did a joint celebration weekend. We just got back. What a wonderful time!

We decided to go to Glenwood Springs. I had always wanted to visit their Fairy Cave.

One of the first families to settle in the area happened upon these large caverns. When they brought lanterns down to take a look, one of the little girls saw the light reflecting off the millions of water droplets covering the cave formations and remarked that it looked as if fairies lived there. The name stuck. The family started conducting tours of the caves and this grew into what is now a large ordeal with rides, pizza, and an olde timey photo booth.

I wanted to go to a cave. We hadn't toured a cave since we got engaged in one two years ago. I love caves, especially wet ones with formations that are still growing so I was pretty excited to get to Glenwood.

To get to the caves, you buy a lift ticket and sit in a big tilt-a-whirl type sphere that is suspended on a thick wire that pulls you up to the top of a mountain, much like a ski lift. This was the view from our sphere.



The cave itself was pretty good. Most of it was dry, which can be expected after 100 years of picnicing families.





After we left the tour, it started to rain. The whole day had been warm and sunny up to then. Now it was rainy and cold. We had inteded to go the Glenwood Springs pool after the cave, but the rain and the crowds were a bit much. I then remembered that a nursing student at work told me there were vapor caves I should look into. I googled them when I got home that day and it appeared to be under some hair salon. Not very impressed, I cut and pasted the info into an email to D and forgot about it.

We decided to drive by and take a peak, for curiousity's sake. We even went in to inquire about prices. It was then I got an idea of how truly cool these caves were.

There is a salon and spa on the top level with Aveda products and everything is modernly furnished with pleasing music being piped in and large, glass water coolers brimming with ice and lemon slices. There is a main room called "The solarium" with a fountain and tropical plants where you can lie about and relax.

There is nothing modern about the caves themselves. They have been treasured for their medicinal vapors for thousands of years. You can read about them here.

You descend a long, narrow staircase and a gust of humidity immediately hits you, leaving droplets of moisture all over your body. Inside, the cave has been carved out like catacombs. There are several small rooms linked together by a long, meandering hallway. Each room has a moat-like gutter carved around it where hot water flows from the rocks. There's a faucet with cool well water that one can fill a basin with to take into his/her little hiding spot. The benches are made of worn, smooth stones.



You can spend all day going from the caves to the solarium for a mere $12.00. Cave visits are also included in any spa service and I GOT A SPA SERVICE!!!

You see, they had reasonably priced body wraps. I always, always wanted to be given a mud bath and it looked like a good opportunity. Though D had no interest in joining me, he told me to go and have fun. I was SOOO happy. It was like crossing something off the bucket list, you know?

Anyhow, this is how it works. You're escorted into a tiny room and told to strip to nada. They give you small towels to put over your private areas and you lie atop a mountain of blankets and a plastic sheet. A warm mixture of clay and herbs is painted on you and they you're wrapped up like a burrito with a warm neck wrap added for extra comfort. They turn off the lights, close the door and leave you in this cocoon-like state for about 40 minutes, give or take. Then you're escourted to a shower to rinse off, you put on a cotton robe and walk away feeling high as a kite. It was worth every penny. I can't wait to get another one.

After the cave, it was off to the bed and breakfast we booked. We tossed our stuff in our room and went for a stroll outside. I was still feeling super from my mud wrap and very affectionate.

I love this guy. And I love my shawl. And I love this guy in my shawl.







We woke up early for what we hoped was to be a long day of hiking. Well, D woke early. And then woke me early.



We stopped at Four Mile Creek, a bed and breakfast that D wanted to stay at, but they didn't have any good rooms left. I still wanted to poke around it because I heard they had a little merchantile set up with folk art and crafts.

As soon as we turned in, I screamed "STOP THE CAR!! I gotta get out!" D obliged.



Kitties. Everywhere. The owner came up and explained that their barn cat had a litter a few months ago. Most of them were cute orange stripeys. He said we could have one. He even offered to give us a carrier. D said no. I wanted to take home at least one, but was contented with a bar of sweet smelling herbal soap from the merchantile. We got along great with the owner, a retired Denver fire fighter with a love for antiques. He had restored the barn himself and made it into a beautiful guest house. There were log cabins, too. The main house had a cozy common area filled with collections of buttons, toys, books, bullets- you name it! His wife was clearing away the breakfast dishes and was really nice, too. We told them we would stay there as soon as we could get away next!

Then it was off to hiking. We didn't get to do the hike we wanted because the weather had turned dark. We were able to get in a good hike and admire the Aspen changing colors.






Driving home was awful. There was road construction, traffic, pouring rain....and then it started to SNOW! Wowee! After a few hours of this, we decided to stop at Beau Joe's for our favorite Colorado pizza. We earned it!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Swap!

Hooray! When I got home I had a HUGE package waiting for me from my swap buddy!!

I was so excited. The "I love pink and aqua" swap was the 1st swap I ever participated in. The rules stated to include at least one craft supply, one thing you made and spend about $15 not including shipping. I really agonized over what to get my swap partner. I scoured her website looking for clues on what she might like. I searched thrift shops, estate sales, garage sales. I asked anyone who was around to look at the package I was assembling to give me an honest opinion. I sent the package priority mail and crossed my fingers...

And I got an email back saying it was received AND LOVED!!!! Hooray! And then I got my package soon afterward and love,love,love the contents!

Here's what I got:

Can you see the adorable pink and aqua plates and cups? They remind me of lunchroom trays in a cafeteria. I can't wait to use them for TV dinners with D. In the back there's a velvet jewelry box - something I always have a use for.

And check out the paper goodies - big pink hearts to string on a garland maybe, cards she made, envelopes and places for tiny notes. Also, lots of embroidery floss in shades of aqua and pink.



Funky patterned fabric quarters to use in the cushions I'm making for the rocking chair I refinished this summer!



She made me these tiny notebooks! I use notebooks all the time at work and always look for cute ones like this.




Pretty vintage pin. Love the pearls!



Fancy star boxes with lots of pink and aqua buttons.




Needless to say, my cat was impressed.



Cute little cupcake that grows in water. So sweet!



Here's a closeup of one of the cards she made. They're the perfect size for sending recipes or short thankyous. The cookie book is a find, too. Great recipes to try!



I also got a fun tin of candy scented lip gloss that for some reason I didn't get a photo of. I know I immediately used it so maybe I didn't put it back on the table afterwards! Speaking of missed photo ops, when I opened the package, everything was wrapped separately in little pink and aqua tissue papper bundles. It looked so pretty. I wish I had been able to control my excitement. But being me, I tore into it squealing with glee and just made a terrible mess of it. Oh well.

Here's the package I sent her:

I knew she quilted, so I tried to get a sewing theme going. I found this little wicker sewing basket and glued sequins to the top.



The inside was pink gingham. All my collected treasures fit snuggly inside.



I found a vintage pattern and embroidered it all in aqua. If you can't tell, it's two busy bees working hard at sewing. One has a needle and one has a thimble. I then appliqued my embroidery to a potholder made of vintage fabric.




Here's a closeup of the pin I included. I also gave her a bit of the fabric I used for the potholder. I just loved that fabric. If you look closely, you'll see there are tiny deer hidden in the print.



Pink buttons, pink plastic glittery bells and a little girl's apron with pink and blue flowers.



Vintage trims and ultra fine glitter.




Well, I've just GOT to get to bed or I'll be a zombie for my patients in the morning.

Take care!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Going Home

So I went home to Chicago for the weekend to visit my sister and ma. It was a quick jaunt. Got in Thurs night and left today in the wee hours of the morn so I didn't have a chance to hang out with old buddies or go to all my favorite shops. I mostly went home to see this:





Do you remember Mystery Science Theatre 3000? It's those guys. Minus Mike. Joel's there. So's TV's Frank and Pearl and they're all very funny. Totally worth it.

And before the show, we went here. This was by far the best Renegade I've been to. It was huge and people came from everywhere! Tons of really neat jewelry and clothes. Not just the usual felt stuffed animals and knitted scarves, but real cool pieces that took a lot of time and effort. (Don't worry, you can still score a silkscreened t-shirt with an octopus or cartoon sushi).

So I wanted to treat myself to something cool and I was immediately drawn to the jewelry booths and this girl in particular:



I love how her pieces tell a story. Her compositions are original and thoughtful. Some have vintage or antique parts, some have casts she made of antiques.



This necklace was for sale as just the ring. It's a Slavic engagment ring from the 16th century, excavated in the Baltics.



Every piece is a curiousity. Looking at her wares was like reading Smithsonian magazine. All these little nooks of history and experience the world has to offer and I have yet to explore!

I almost bought this:




Made from a cast of a wax seal, I was drawn to the nautical theme. I love nautical things. Especially ones with Victorian sentiment attached. I always have. Later in life, after jaunts on ferries and whale watching, it is apparent I have no sea legs whatsoever. Boo.

***All the above jewelry photos were taken from Erica Weiner Jewelry's website. Please contact her for purchasing info.

This is what I did buy:




Vertebrae were made into a mold and cast in brass. It was pricey for me but I just fell in love with it. And I don't really mind doling out a bit more to have an interesting piece from a good artist.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Best Friends - Old and New

This afternoon I went to the post office to send off my swap partner's package for the "I Love Pink and Aqua". I was pretty happy with the results, I must say. When she gets the package, I'll post pictures of what I sent.

When I started collecting for the swap, I first went to my jewelry stash to look for a good piece to either give to her or get inspiration from. No swap package made by me would be complete without some lovely bauble, bangle, or bead.

I found this, which, when bought for $2.00 at an estate sale, became my favorite necklace for a good two months.



The adjustable length and rhinestone/pearl combo made it perfect with every outfit. And the price was astounding.



I looked for blue and found the following:



Oh, how I adore this broach! I just couldn't part with it. Especially after losing a rhinestone and finding the perfect replacement in my stash. Can YOU spot the repair? Of course not. This guy had a $2.00 price tag as well, incidentally.



Now this is a beauty I really thought of including. Really, really, truly.



This I got at my favorite new thrift shop, Cajun's Closet. It is the thrift shop that supports the Cat Care Society. Here's their web page.

If you live in Denver, PLEASE GO TO THIS STORE. It's for your own good! Incredibly well organized, cute displays, good prices and daily discounts. One day a week, if you bring in a can of cat food, you get 10% off an item. You can bring up to 5 cans for a savings of 50% off one item. There are also student discount and senior citizen discount days. And if you're up to it after a great shopping spree, cross the parking lot and go to the shelter. It's a clean, modern building with very friendly staff. Just tell them you want to pet the kitties and they'll be OVERJOYED! Seriously! I'm an animal lover and love just spending time with cats and dogs, but most shelters are wary of strangers coming in, especially ones with no intention of finding a pet to take home. It's understandable. They want to do what they think is best for the animals. But it's still a bummer to encounter these folks.

This shelter is probably the best I've ever been to. The animals are all healthy and obviously well taken care of. They are separated into small groups of 4-6 in small rooms, each equipped with a screened in balcony accessible by cat door and loads of toys, beds and ledges to climb on. It's also very clean. There's a little shop area in the front that sells pet toys and kitty knick knacks.

Anyhow, back to the bracelet:



I just love the clasp. It is decorated with little stars each with a tiny pearl in the center. Such detail! A good score for $3.00. I ended up not including it because of the beads - some were purple and some of the pearl beads were worn. Also, it's a very tiny bracelet.

And here's another piece that didn't make the cut:




More royal than aqua. Cute, though. And great on a sweater. With sweater weather coming up, I'm glad to have it in my drawer.

So, I'm dying to show what I DID include, but will have to wait. Instead, let's talk about my new treasures. Last week, my in-laws (aka mom and dad c.) were visiting. This left little time for garage sales. Mom C. and I did shop, shop, shop which was great though. Being new to Denver and low on girlfriends, I rarely go to boutiques and loved having a fellow shopper around. I've spoken of Mom C. before. She's got a great sense of style and a stash of killer costume jewelry so shopping with her is always great fun.

Mom and Dad C stayed with Mom C's cousins, M&L. M&L are the closest family we have in Denver and are awesome, to say the least. Smart, funny and with an open door policy - I'm a big M&L fan. L is a doctor with a wealth of experience and always a good word of advice. M is a professional organizer (have you seen the new A&E show hoarders? She helps people like that). M also has a cool sense of style and blends old with new flawlessly. She knows where to find great antiques and also owns modern art and somehow everything fits seamlessly.

Anyhow, the last night Mom and Dad C. were here, we went to M&L's for dinner. M made a great birthday cake celebrating the birthdays of me, D and probably Dad C., since his b-day is around mine, although he let us blow out the candles. D made homemade ice cream. What a feast!

At the end of the meal, M gave me a sandwich baggie filled with goodies from cleaning out a client's mess. She knows I love jewelry and asked if I had any interest in the bag's contents. Here's what was in the bag:




First, bits and pieces. Little broken bracelets and single earings. All precious and useful. I love this earing especially:




I so wish I had the pair! It's like a piece of stardust. This picture doesn't do it justice. I've got to figure out a way to use it.






Little blue flowers that were once a bracelet or necklace. Also no plans yet for this, but who can resist their charm?

Here's an autumn set with amber rhinestones and gold leaves. One earring is missing a leaf, but the pin is perfect and I'll be sporting it soon.




Here's an interesting pin. It's missing a few stones. The back is marked sterling, so when I get a chance, I'll give it a good cleaning and see what I get. I'll also straighten out some prongs and post the result.



Lastly, a bracelet and necklace set.





The necklace is broken, unfortunately. At the dinner table, I discussed these pieces with M and Mom C and we were all interested in them because they were so heavy and well made. At home, I examined them further and found the name Trifari on the clasp of ther bracelet. Apparently, this was a very well known costume jewelry company. Started in 1918, many pieces command a high price and there are many collectors eager for pieces that brandish the Trifari crown logo. Though my set is probably not worth much, it's still an interesting history.

Well, that's it for now!