Tweet, Tweet!

Kearney - July 2010

I have taken the plunge. Jumped off the proverbial cliff. Dived headfirst into...TWITTER. Yipes! I can't see myself tweeting that I am at the grocery buying lettuce. Or that the person in front of me can't drive. But I CAN see myself tweeting about vintage stuff. What's selling? What's hot? New finds! Sales in my shops! Trends in the current fashion world (that would be pearls, crystals and lace, in case you were wondering...). So come follow me on Twitter. I promise you won't hear about my grocery list. (bread, goldfish, cheese, string beans, an onion...blah...blah....blah....)

TWITTER ID: baublesbeads (clickable)

Music of the Night

These days I find myself working on my business quite a bit...at night...at midnight....

A song that always flits through my head hails from the famous Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, "Phantom of the Opera." The lyrics followed by a beautiful performance. Enjoy your midnight retreat!

"Nightime sharpens, heightens each sensation

Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination

Silently the senses abandon their defenses

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor

Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender

Turn your face away from the garish light of day

Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light

And listen to the music of the night...." - Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Richard Stilgoe, Charles Hart

Soñando de España....Dreaming of Spain!

Umbrella with Dangling Faux Pearl ($22)

I listed 15 (yes, 15) pieces of jewelry marked "Spain" in my online shop "Baubles & Beads & Books" today. I have been buying these pieces for the past several years - they simply appealed to me. The colors, patterns, figurals...lots of fun! These jewelry pieces are made to look like Damascene jewelry, and many dealers accidentally label them as genuine Damascene, when in fact, the vast majority of these pieces are correctly termed "Damascene-Style."

Parasol ($25)

Genuine Damascene jewelry is actually an ancient art form which dates back to the middle ages and was used by the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks, becoming popular in the 15th Century in Europe.

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Mouse with Swirled Glass Cabochon Belly ($22)

Genuine Damascene jewelry is made with genuine gold and silver wire inlaid into non-precious metal, and then the grooves are blackened in. This process was not only time consuming but costly, so alternatives were developed. Spain began mass-producing jewelry that was made from a piece of stamped metal, and then the raised areas were re-finished in either silver or gold-tone, while the flatter surfaces were finished in black.

Fabulous Dangle Earrings ($17)

Colorful accents can also be found on these items. I have run across a few items with original tags that proclaim they are electroplated in 24k gold - I daresay this doesn't affect the value. It pays to know whether the jewelry you are considering is genuine or costume. Costume is jewelry is great...I LOVE costume jewelry...but I wouldn't want to pay genuine jewelry prices for non-genuine jewelry...and wouldn't want you to either.

Sailboat with Billowed Sail and Lady with Parasol ($20)

Hope the article was helpful and that you enjoy the pictures!

**Most pieces pictured here are Circa 1960's**

Anna Nalick - Breathe (2AM)

This song is such a reminder to relax...take a breath...realize that life is short and you can't go backwards...learn from the past and move forward...let things go....breathe.