Sparkling Red

It’s the first day of my official favourite season (as much as I bemoan the end of summer)! To celebrate it I bring you pretty sparkling red things: vintage jewels.

I first bought the ropy necklace last year at a Salvos op shop (thrift store), naturally attracted to it like the magpie that I am, but for some reason I never felt inclined to wear it.

The reason came clear a week or two ago: it was crying out for matching earrings. I found the two little flower-like studs at the Sacred Heart op shop, twinkling up at me from the depths of a giant glass bowl on the shop counter. I wore the set to work the very next day with the deepest pleasure.

Some little trifles simply need to wait a little longer for their day in the sun.

Photo: February 2016

Spare Parts, or Lace Camouflage?

I am rather like a magpie when it comes to jewellery. I have collected a lot of pieces in my travels – literally, overseas; vintage and second hand pieces in boutiques and charity stores; and modern pieces by contemporary jewellers and labels, both in brick-and-mortar stores and online.

It is unusual and curious pieces that catch my eye. This white enamelled cast metal bead necklace was one such piece. It attracted me because it made me think of lace, or filigree; it was sculptural; and it was white, a favourite hue of mine to wear. I had also thought that perhaps I could pull it apart and use the components to repurpose into new jewellery.

The only time I donned it was for a photoshoot to accompany a story on the colour Wedgwood blue (although I didn’t use it in the final shot). When it came to actually wearing it out however, I didn’t. It just never felt right. There was something about it that seemed somehow dowdy – I could imagine old ladies wearing it with their Laura Ashley floral dresses. I liked the necklace as an object, merely, it seemed. I also like it as a picture, especially camouflaged against the lace fabric – maybe that is the answer, to wear it with a lace dress?

Hmmm, this calls for further experimentation. The fate of this necklace hangs in the balance!

Photos: September, 2013

Wish Upon a Star

Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.

It’s thought that the superstitions of wishing upon shooting or falling stars originate in the ancient world. Either be inspired by a comet’s tail or a shooting star, this pretty rhinestone brooch, however, is not quite that old: I believe it is 1940s.

I remember once travelling between Melbourne and Sydney by train, and seeing six or seven shooting stars one after the other – perhaps rather it was a meteor shower. I was absolutely entranced. I don’t recall whether I was particularly lucky subsequently – perhaps I wasn’t quick enough with my wishing! 

Just Dotty for Spots

Is there any more beautiful fibre than natural silk? I am such a sucker for silk scarves wherever I come across them. They are so delicate and floaty, and remind me of a summer breeze.

When I spotted (excuse the pun) this scarf by Australian designer Leona Edmiston in a charity store for just a few dollars, I could not resist purchasing it – even though I already own several polka dot scarves. It is such a lovely candy pink too – classic 50s-style in combination with black polka dots.

If only there were enough summer days to wear all my light-as-air scarves!

Easter Fat-Free Sweeties

After all the fuss and hullaballoo I made over what Antipodeans wear at Eastertime, guess what I ended up wearing? One outfit involved a pair of wide-legged blue jeans that I discovered on my shelves (having forgotten I owned them), another incorporated black trousers (albeit with a bright pink silk vintage raincoat). However, the latter outfit did feature these candy-coloured beads.

They look like a string of delicious chocolate-filled sweets, don’t they? I actually found just the bracelet quite a few months ago when I went vintage shopping with Sapphire at the Geelong Mill Market. Then only fairly recently I stumbled upon the earrings and necklace at a Salvos charity store. I was very pleased with the find. They are the perfect fat-free treat for Easter.