a happy find

Last Friday I got an email from Gilt Groupe about an amazing sale they were having. If you've never shopped Gilt, they are basically an online store that has daily sales on designer jewelery, clothing, housewares, etc. for way marked down prices. Some of the stuff is still pretty pricey but you can score some great deals there. I bought Charlie a really nice watch from there for Christmas that was originally a couple thou but marked down to a couple hundred!

I've been avoiding all shopping related emails for a little while because I don't exactly have money to burn right now, but when I saw the little section about turquoise jewelry, I had to check it out.

I fell in love with nearly every piece and wanted so badly to buy a ring or a necklace. Then I spotted this guy..


One of the many things I was drooling over. After I was done teasing myself with things I couldn't buy, (why do I do that?) I went on with my day. I start gathering things for a shoot for a guest post and I made the happiest little discovery in my jewelry box!


I stumbled across this fairly similar ring that I had all along and totally for got about! It's one of the may costume pieces I inherited from my nanny a while back. My dad's mom was into big chunky, semi tacky jewelry just like I am and she had loads of costume jewelry because of it. I think I forgot about this little guy because I have a bunch of pieces I wear frequently laying out on my dresser and the rest are in a jewelry box. This is definitely making it into the rotation now that I've rediscovered it.


So it's a little different from the Gilt one and definitely not as "valuable" but I was so happy to find a new love for something I already own after drooling over pretty jewelry I couldn't buy. Plus, I think it's definitely more special than anything I could buy since it belonged to a family member and has been around for quite some time. :)


Just thought I'd share my find with you on this gloomy Monday morning. Maybe it'll inspire you to look around at what you already have that you might be missing!

Have a good week! :)


** p.s. Gilt Groupe is a member's only site so if you're interested in getting some sweet deals on designer stuff, either email me (it's on the contact page) or leave your email address in the comments and I can send you an invite link! :) **

brass flowers

Once upon a time, these little brass flowers were part of a chandelier. I don't really know where it originally resided, I just know it was in my grandparents' house somewhere before it came here. I don't ever remember seeing it hanging in their house though.





I think it belonged to one of their parents and then it might have ended up in storage. This would explain why it had a lot of water damage and was therefore rendered useless. I saw my dad taking it apart one day, figuring there was a lot of brass on there that he could sell as scrap metal and at least make some change off of it.




I saw these little flowers sitting there and asked about them. He said I could take them if I could do something with them because he'd rather they actually get used than just be melted down somewhere. So I gathered up my loot and put them in my room until I could think of something to do with them. The other day I saw this on Anthro's site..





I think I finally know what to do with these! I think I'll make one for myself and if it turns out well, make more and put them up on Etsy if I ever get that shop up and running. Hopefully this will be motivation :). I played around with some beads to see a good size and color for the middle. I also need to figure out what type of chain would look best.




Unlike the Anthro one though, I think I would only put one on instead of three. They're all the same size and have a bit of weight to them since they are solid brass so I'd rather keep it simple.




I wonder if other people would be as interested in a necklace made from a vintage chandelier as I am..

:)


Whenever I do get the shop up and running I will surely post a link.