Beloved Eleanor

Out and about on my travels I found the following ‘new’ things for my collection:

Another vintage postcard of The Monument, and an engraving of Regent Street I rescued from a junk shop in a really ratty frame.

Due to requests, here is a small pic of my crystal necklace, which was inside the French chocolate box.  It’s not a great pic, but I hope to do some restoration to the necklace – so I will take a better one when it is finished.

You ‘get the picture’, right?

You’ll also be pleased to know that I have finished my courses, and the exams, and am just waiting for confirmation that I have passed everything.  Watch this space…

Also, I’ve finally managed to catch up on films, and have now seen Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes and Alice In Wonderland.  Oh, and some new DVDs I ordered   I finally have some time!

I have also done some genealogy for the first time in ages, and I have lots to catch up on, and charts to make/amend.

I also have another ‘new’ aquisition.  I shall share soon…thanks to all of you that are still visiting.

Check out a new acquisition of mine, a Victorian – so I’m told – chocolate box from Paris.  Its picture is still really fresh, and it has its original lace around the edge too.  No chocolates in there I’m afraid…

It is from the chocolatiers Marquise de Sevigne, which is still going today.

A nice bonus also was the necklace that was inside it.  I think this needs re-stringing though, as I’d love to wear it, but I don’t dare at the moment.

Some more of my collection:

First is a vintage Valentine’s card franked February 14th, 1901 and is my only American postcard.  The lucky lady is Miss Rubie Bray of Bethlehem, PA.

The second pretty Sarah card has not been franked, but was sent to Miss Sarah Hawkin by her friend Bertha.  I think the images of Sarah may be that of Sarah Bernhardt, the actress.

The final card I believe is a WWI card, and has not been used.  It does however advertise the purchase of Government Securities.

Take a look at my lovely ‘new’ 1880s picture of Eleanor’s cross at Waltham.  I had not seen this particular image previously, and was admiring it last week.

Enter the lovely Carol – who got it for me!  Sending lots of hugs your way

I’ve loved Marcasite for years.  I think it must be because I saw people still wearing the sparkling brooches made of it when I was a child, and just maybe I saw pieces in the jumble (junk) sales I used to be drawn to then too.

I remember when I was very young owning 1920s and 1930s handbags, necklaces and earrings.  But, they were my dress-up, so I don’t have them now.  Just goes to show how your character and taste is fixed even at that young age.

Over many years I have been gifted and bought quite a few Marcasite pieces, I have a few necklaces and earrings, but mostly rings.  As I said in a previous post, the only vintage Marcasite I have is two rings that I bought fairly recently.

Below is a group shot of my Marcasite rings, then my 1920s Deco Marcasite ring, and lastly the Marcasite ring I bought a few weeks ago.  I think this one is 1930s.

As promised in my previous post, here amongst other things is the early plastic (probably early twentieth century) cameo brooch I bought at the antiques/collectibles shop at Haddo.

It is dark brown, detailed and gorgeous!  Didn’t hurt that it only cost a few pounds too

In other pictorial news, a few months ago I tracked down a children’s story book by Lavinia Smiley, also signed by her.  For those of you who don’t know, it was Mrs Smiley and her husband that donated the castle to the nation.

Another nice bonus was a little book about Sir Thomas Lawrence the artist (bit of scandal in there too, yay!) and a little oracle book, which looks like it was printed in the 1930s.  For those of you that also didn’t know – I collect oracles.

Please see the pics below, I have left some as thumbnails, and some give a closer view.  I have an update regarding the Mum’s knitting and creative projects, but as there is quite a lot to catch up on, it will follow in another post.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’m really missing finding my antique jewellery bargains.  I’ve also now been lured into looking at antique silhouettes.  Great things to get, easy to store and the cheaper end of the market to buy thank goodness!

I haven’t had my fix of either for ages.  I haven’t bought a name brooch (or any other kind for that matter) since September 2008, and I haven’t got a silhouette to start my collection yet – soon I hope.

A Victorian Brooch Collective

Some of you may also remember that I love Victorian ‘black’ brooches, i.e Jet, Pressed Horn etc.  Here are some good sites to window shop at:

• Black As Jet
• Penelope’s Pearls
• Things Gone By

I haven’t bought anything from these sites yet, plus there are always auctions to pick up interesting items from.

Interesting information if you like this kind of brooches:

• Morning Glory Antiques Hand Motif Jewellery
• Art of Mourning: Brooches

Some of my black hand brooches

A selection of my favourites

Here also are some great shops to browse at silhouettes:

• Wigs on the Green
• Peggy McClard Antiques
• Richard Mole

Well, that will get me either the very wrong, or very right readers!

Most of you will have guessed I’m actually talking about the Steam and Vintage Fair at the Castle at the weekend.

WOW.  What a turnout (thank you!), what weather, what beautiful engines/cars/motorbikes etc etc.  I loved the tractors and the organ, the silver classic fire engine!  I was even able to get out for a short while to look at all the stalls and see some of the engines take part in competitions.

I didn’t get a ride on the steam waggon (boo) or the wee red bus (double boo) which I wanted to take home in my handbag, but maybe next year!  I think this was the best turnout ever, and I’m so happy for the Steam Club, and of course for the Castle.

If you weren’t there, where the hell were you?!  You missed a great one….

From the collection I inherited, the ship The Queen Mary.  This postcard was sent to my friend from onboard ship.