{nine quiet months}

It has been around nine months since I last wrote a post on here. I should rename this blog:: 

The Dustiest Blog in the Universe.

Today I'm working on a holiday shop update and thought I'd share something (while dusting off the blog). I have these two amazing Gatsby sister necklaces that were planning on swishing into the shop over the weekend. Here they are:

That is, until I did this....

They look amazing together! I may have to hang on to these pretties for a few more days. 

In other news, there is a sale happening in the shop today through the eighth of November. Enjoy fifteen percent off any order over twenty dollars. Coupon code and details can be found in the shop announcement! 

Feliz Dia de los Muertos!!!

{Paste Dreams}

Paste is a term for leaded glass that were cut to resemble gemstones. I have read that it was more difficult to cut paste than a diamond! It took a great amount of skill and these early 19th century pieces are wonderful examples of the quality.

During their peak of popularity (1700's-1800's) paste jewels were very desirable. Due to the wide variety of cuts they could be set in jewelry that diamonds could not be. The leaded glass gives the stones a brilliant glow that you can only find in old paste. Some paste stones were foiled and there are rare pieces that were tinted to various colors.

 Paste differs from rhinestones in that it is leaded glass and is not machine cut. If you look closely at each stone you can see the hand crafted characteristics.

{Locket Love}

I wanted to share a small portion of my collection of Victorian Open Faced Glass Lockets. Each one is so different from the next - it is difficult to pick a favorite! These make such wonderful love tokens or memorial pieces.

Clockwise from the top:
{1} French Paste Crescent Brooch with dangling paste and glass locket, circa 1880
{2} Persian Turquoise and Seed Pearl glass locket with dried flowers (you may remember him from the "Persian Turquoise" post!), circa 1880
{3} Tiny "porthole" locket with glass door - it is difficult to tell by the angle, but this little locket has a very deep "well" inside - perfect for stowing tiny treasures! Circa 1880
{4} Victorian Solid Gold and glass locket with crimson velvet interior, circa 1860
{5} Large, Georgian gold locket with a beveled glass door, circa 1850. My sweet boy, Logan gave me the lucky four leaf clover
{6} Persian Turquoise and seed pearl scroll top glass locket, circa 1880
{7} Georgian rock crystal brooch. A tiny door opens and the crystal magnifies the contents. Circa 1840