{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!!!

Vente de Février

A sale is brewing on the horizon and there is a sneak preview for my lovely blog readers! 

Tomorrow is the first of February and The Hidden Chamber will hosting a sale in the shop. However.....for those who read the blog, the sale begins today! 

Please use coupon code SWEET10 during checkout to receive ten percent off your order. Sorry, but the code must be entered and cannot be applied after the sale. 

The sale runs through next Friday, February 8th....just in time for Valentine's Day shopping!

{twilight seclusion}

 Victorian mourning jewelry is so beautiful and so sentimental. Each piece is handcrafted with care - oftentimes commissioned by the person in mourning. I was sifting through my jewelry box and decided to share a small portion of my favorite pieces!

 Included in this small collection are carved cameos  - crafted out of different substances such as vulcanite, bog oak and Vauxhall glass. 

There was so much thought and consideration to symbolic details in these jewels.

"Those who wish to show themselves strict observers of etiquette keep their houses in twilight seclusion and sombre with mourning for a year or more, allowing the piano to remain closed for the same time." 

{blue enamel lockets}

I was organizing my jewelry chest a few weeks ago and discovered I have a vast collection of Victorian lockets. Some of my favorites are the ones dipped in delicious turquoise blue enamel. I never see two alike. Some are decorated with tiny gold swallows, some with different enamel and gold work and some inlaid with seed pearls and gems. I don't mind the ones with chippy enamel - which is extremely frequent. They each have their own distinguished history and charm.

These lockets are like tiny vaults. Some of them contain treasured photographs of someone that someone once loved. I get a rush of happiness when I open a little jewel that is over a century old and it contains the original declaration of love! The petite heart heart locket contains a token of plaited hair from two different people.

One of these pieces is not a locket - the top far right fellow is a brooch that crept into the photographs. 

I love the inlaid Scottish Thistle!

I'm hoping to start filtering a few of these into the shop soon. Just in time for Christmas!

{p.s. I believe there is a sale in the air! Please check back soon for details}

{ blue moon sale }

Did anyone see the blue moon last night? I found some gorgeous photographs online!

There will be a Blue Moon Sale in the shop today through Monday, September 3rd. 

Please use coupon code CHAMBER10 upon checkout to receive ten percent off your order!

Happy September!

{être encore, mon cœur!}

I have made a very beautiful discovery! I was so excited to purchase these Victorian mourning pins --- loads of them, still on their original cards, wrapped in ancient tissue! 

These were found in an old suitcase belonging to a 90 year old lady. Each of the packets you see have two cards in them (so exciting!) The pins feature a repousse image of a child surrounded by a wreath of flowers. 

After my heart stops beating so quickly, I'll put some in the shop!

UPDATE:: These little darlings have been listed - and I passed on my savings to you! You can add one (or more!) to your collection here

{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.