Tarnished Treasures

How about a little Show and Tell?  I read a blog recently in which the writer noted, “if the children have Show and Tell at school, why don’t we do the same here on our blogs?”  I think this is a big part of what our blogs are about.  And for non-writers like me, it’s  more about showing than telling! 🙂  So join me as I share a few tarnished treasures,  from antiques to one my FAVORITE books.

I know this is generally a jewelry-related blog.  I seem to post just as much about antiques, I know.  If truth be told, I love antiquing just as much as I like making jewelry.  Really, I think it is truly a tie.   Photography (my obsession with photo-taking really) is fast becoming the second place contender.   I enjoyed two out of these three favorites this over the weekend.

Between a basket ball game, laser tag, and a trip to see the Nutcracker, I went with the whole family to the DC Big Flea at the Dulles Expo Center.  This is the location of the big Gem and Jewelry Show that I attend as well.  Apparently there were over 1,000 booths between the two large buildings.  And a serious crowd.  I went back alone on Sunday afternoon which was such a rare treat.  I only made it back through one building, as this time I actually stopped to talk to vendors and spent more time really  looking at the beautiful items. I found a booth that caught my eye immediately,  The Paper Flea Market.  Trina’s booth was filled with the things that I love….and as it turns out, she is local and has a new Etsy shop that she will be stocking.  I found this great old 45 – singles record rack…perfect to hold postcards and cabinet cards.  Just look at the vintage leather-trimmed case!  Another great find.  I plan to store ephemera and fragile papers inside.

I couldn’t resist the very clever and very sweet journals that Trina creates.  She had a nice selection created from vintage books lining a shelf and there was one I couldn’t put down.  I’ve been crazy about old buttons lately, so this one had to come home with me.  I hope  Trina adds the journals to her shop soon – you’ll love them too, and I think they’d make a great gift.

I came home with something rather new for me, as I’ve never picked up a piece of girl’s toy furniture.  I’ve seen those small wooden pieces, but they never really registered as something for me.  I was in a booth stocking up on chandelier crystals, and basking in the joy of finding a few small Victorian pocket mirrors all for $3.00, when something a pretty faded blue caught my eye.  It was a tiny toy dresser, complete with that worn style of glass that I just love.  In a moment I realized the dresser would be perfect as a display or for storage.  Before long, it was coming home with me (as well as everything pictured with the dresser).   The start of another collection?  I’m not sure…..I’ve recently added powder-box music boxes, and Victorian buttons to that growing list .

Speaking of a new passion – another item I’ve been scouring for when I’m out antiquing are those old satin award or convention ribbons.  There is something about them.  I find it so interesting to do a little research and see what I can find out about the event listed in the beautiful gold letters.  I found these together, apparently someone attended this convention two years in a row – as a guest and then a Delegate?   If you look closely on the back side, you can see that half of the ribbons were actually a navy blue at one time but have faded to an ivory over the many years.  It seems rare that one is still attached to the original packaging.  Don’t you just love the pomp and circumstance of the old days?

This brings me to one of FAVORITE books about vintage treasures and craft projects.  I was given “French General:  Treasured Notions – Inspiration and Craft Projects Using Vintage Beads, Buttons, Ribbons and Trim from Tinsel Trading Company” by my friend Lori last fall.  I loved it from the minute I saw it – its robins egg blue color, diminutive size, and the way its pages are gilded.  The true treasure are the pictures and tales shared inside.  This book seemed to capture the style and character that I have been gravitating towards lately in my jewelry designs.  I have referred to this book again and again, finding a new thing of beauty each time I open the cover.

Maybe you can imagine my excitement then when I found this ribbon, hanging on the wall of a booth.  Ah, what a moment to find the perfect thing (and you antiquers out there know what I mean)!  I love the fancy ribbon with the tiny metallic sequins, and oh that bullion trim!  Seems so hard to find nowadays.  I did a little research when I got home and found that this ribbon is from the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and and the Daughters of Samaria.  There isn’t a lot of information out there, but it is an African American organization that was originally founded in 1847.  I wonder how old this ribbon is?  I found one that is similar here.  If you’d like to learn more about American fraternal organizations, I found an interesting time line here.

This concludes my Show and Tell.  I hope you enjoyed the vintages treasures I had for you in this round!

Have a great week ahead.  Looks like we’re going to be hit with a little snow.  I’ll have some happy kids if  school is delayed, canceled, or at the very least released early!