Bloggers who collect - vintage rings

I'm starting a new blogging week with a late, but very much welcome addition to the former bloggers who collect series. To today I'm welcoming Hazel and her lovely collection of vintage rings - all with a gorgeous story behind them;

Hi, I’m Hazel from Tales of alittle Hazzelnut and I’m going to share my collection of vintage rings with you today. At the minute I have about thirteen in my possession, so it is rather small but is growing rapidly. As soon as Rachael mentioned her Collection posts I knew I had to get involved; firstly I’m nosey and love to know what other people collect, and secondly, I thought it would be nice to share my collection and to find out if anyone does the same.

So onto the collection…

I’ve never without a ring, and I seem to rotate between all the rings in my vintage collection. I started collecting vintage jewellery (necklaces, bracelets, rings) when I was sixteen and currently have a rather large collection. However, I’m only going to show you my collection of rings.

My love of vintage rings started quite early. From about the age of five every Friday my Nana would come over for the afternoon and every time without fail I would insist she let me wear this ring;

It’s a 1920s cameo ring which my Papa bought her while on holiday in Dublin, and after she passed it was left to me in her will. It is probably my one of my favourites. However, I don’t wear it often for two reasons; one, I’m terrified of something happening to it, and secondly, it doesn’t fit on any of my fingers, apart from the little one! 

Here is my other ring from the 1920s. Surprisingly this is the only silver ring in my vintage collection, and it is probably the most worn. I obtained it for £3 (bargain!) at the vintage fair I attended last summer. 

Similarly, this is probably my most worn gold vintage ring (1940s). I just find it absolutely stunning and it goes which basically everything I own. 

The final ring I’m going to share with you has quite a sweet story behind it. During the second world war my Papa was stationed with the RAF in India and because my Nana loved to shop but was restricted by rationing he would send over jewellery and clothes he commissioned to be made for her, this is one of those pieces;

I absolutely adore it and the story behind it.

I personally find the best places to find vintage rings are in antiques shops and at vintage fairs, sometimes they can be quite pricey but I usually attempt to haggle it down. 

So that’s my collection, hope you liked it. Does anyone else collect vintage rings? Or even vintage accessories?

Inherited vintage rings

When Joe's gran came up from Florida for our wedding, she brought with her some of her rings that Joe's late granddad had given her over the years. She so kindly passed them onto me as part of welcoming me into the family. Since she gave me then they've been kept in my drawers and its only now that I've got them out and worn me. I'm not a huge ring wearer, I don't even wear my engagement ring everyday and I still find it odd showering with my wedding ring on. Now I'm opting to wear my rings a little more. All the rings I own have been passed down to me, the only new one being my engagement ring. They were passed to me to keep them going, so that's what I'm hoping to do and I thought I'd share them with you. I've posted about my engagement and wedding rings before so I'll focus on the new additions. 

Ring 1 - Joe's gran's wedding ring
Ring 2 - Flower ring formally my grans
Ring 3 - Platiumn ring - a gift from Joe's grandad to his gran, now my wedding ring
Ring 4 - My engagment ring
Ring 5 - Pearl set ring another gift from Joe's grandad to his gran

If you remember my wedding ring is actually one of the ring's Joe's late grandfather brought for his gran. It's a gorgeous, yet simple platinum ring. Rather then being flat it rises up with the middle being a good 4-5mm in height if that makes any sense. Its simplicity is what I love about it, it sits so nicely against my engagement ring that although they aren't the same metal or shape and that they were brought decades between each other. From the moment I tried one the ring it fitted perfectly [seriously my fingers small that rings often have to be resized] I knew this was meant to be my wedding ring.

But there's also a second wedding ring to my collection - a 14k gold ring that was Joe's gran's when she married his grandfather. It's just a little too tiny to wear everyday and I've always been a white metal girl hence why I'm not using it as my own but I'm on a mission to wear it more. Its a lovely ring in great condition, even the etching around the edges is still clear.

The pearl ring and the gold wedding ring.

There was also the mother of pearl ring which sits upon a silver metal [metal I'm really not sure which type]. The pearl is a little loose and this ring is the smallest of them all so I can only wear it on my little finger so sadly this is one, unless I get it altered won't see the light of day too much.

Lastly there is my gran's ring of which I truly love the shape. From a thin base the band curves up and thickness into a width wide enough to be the bed for this gem stoned flower. We were going to get it priced [if that is the right wording for it] to see just what those stones may be and to see if they knew of a possible age but I never got around to it before leaving the UK. Again it was one of those rings that just fitted and along with the Singer Sewing Machine and the vintage compacts it was one of the few things my mum passed to me that was my gran's so it has a very special meaning to me. Maybe all these including my wedding and engagement rings will get passed down to our grand children.

Have you inherited any rings? What do you want to pass down to your children and their children?

Prim and proper with Ernest Jones

I've always been a bracelet girl more then any other kind of jewellery girl, so when Earnest Jones gifted me this shiny sterling silver hallmarked bracelet how was I ever going to decline? What's more LOTS is even etched into the side - not large enough to see unless you're close up but meaningful all the same. It is however a set up from my normal pieces of jewellery - I'm typically a cheap bead bracelet kinda girl and the posh jewellery I have remains my engagement and wedding rings and a couple of inherited pieces. Nevertheless its a cute, simple little piece and it's already made a couple of outings. Maybe I'm growing up?

Ernest Jones is a jewelers that we always kept in mind when considering the rings for our engagement and wedding and their range of products is always expectational. The busy bees there are currently busy launching their 2012 Spring/Summer themed range of products which in part is a collaboration between H.Samuel and Ernest Jones. Smashing and mashing up the past with the future, taking old designs and remaking them, the new ranges from Mighty Brights to Twirling Twenties features something for everyone.

It's this sense of theme that I love the most nevertheless you can rebel and run between the categories. What's more, they are aiding the internet savvy among us with their new Facebook Ap in creating virtual wishlists. Anyone that knows me, knows my eBay account is filled with huge lists of wish lists of vintage powder compacts. Wish lists really are an amazing aid to help pick gifts, especially for those among us who aren't the easiest of people to buy for. Not only does the Facebook Ap allow you to virtually store your wish list, but it also offers you the chance of winning your five selected items so it's certainly worth a little play.

But what would I choose?! Considering my buys from the estate sale at the weekend regarding sewing and etiquette it would have to be the 1950s. So here's my pick of the Flirty Fifties theme, an era of "all things prim and proper". 

9ct white gold diamond swirl pendant

Pequignet ladies' two toned bracelet watch

Jubilee cultured freshwater pearl bracelet

Silver pearl heart pendant

18ct yellow and white gold lemon diamond halo ring

Nevertheless I'm not sure what the etiquette police of the 1950s would say of my choices!

This is a sponsored post.

Collectors Club - Cameos

Firstly before I introduce you today's edition of the collectors club I want to say a HUGE HUGE thank you to everyone that took the time out to comment on my earlier rant from this morning. I never imagined so many thoughtful responses and they have all helped me rethink the situation with "friends" back in the UK.

On a happier note as it's a Tuesday it's another post in the Collectors Club featuring Emily and her gorgeous collection of cameos - an assortment which comes to show how you can collect old alongside new. Remember if you want to share you own collection, either pop a comment in the box below or email [lo_ts@ymail.com].

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Hello, I'm Emily from http://emmerliejay.blogspot.co.uk/ and I collect anything cameo related! :) I even have a cameo duvet set, which is posing as the background of the images in this post.

My Nan wears a large blue cameo necklace almost every day, and apparently I was fascinated by it from a young age. I guess this is where my love for cameos comes from. I like how every cameo is unique, but still elegant and classic!

The necklace on the left is my first cameo necklace, and believe it or not, it's from Primark! It was only cheap and the metal on the back is starting to discolour but I don't care, I love it :) It goes with pretty much everything and is my first choice necklace most of the time! The necklace on the right was given to me by my Boyfriend's Mom, she found it at a tabletop sale. The chain can be removed and there is a brooch fastening on the back, so it can be used for either a necklace or a brooch :)

This is a cute heart shaped cameo that I wear on a lot of coats and jackets. My boyfriend bought this from a vintage store, I think. I think the lady in this one is the prettiest of my collection.

My Dad bought me the necklace on the left for my 21st birthday, he got it from the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, UK - an area famous for good quality antique jewellery. I love this one, but try to keep it safe and only wear it on special occasions because I'm scared of losing it! The necklace on the right was from a high-street shop called Accessorize, bought by my boyfriend (he spoils me too much!), this is another one that goes with a lot of outfits.

The ring on the left was my Nan's and she said I could have it, it's a little bit too big for me so I keep it displayed on my dressing table. The one on the right is again from Primark, it's way too over the top to wear so I just keep it for decoration!

If you're interested in buying cameos, you can buy them in high-street shops as they're quite fashionable at the moment. However, other great places to look for them are vintage stores, tabletop sales and carboots! 

I'm going to carry on collecting cameos for the rest of my life as I think they're timeless and, even if I don't wear them, they're beautiful to look at.

I'd like to say thank you to Rachael for letting me ramble on about cameos and I hope everyone enjoyed reading!

I'd love to hear your comments on my collection :)

Emily x 

Maps as jewellery

I wanted to use today's post to introduce you to a lady who's embroidery is amazing. Penelope who runs the blog and etsy sites of Il Gatto Sellvatico is not only a stitcher but then goes on to transfer some of her designs into divine pieces of jewellery which she sells on Etsy. It's this embroidery jewellery mash up which I adore the most. I spotted some of her pieces around the blogging world and more prominently within a tiny tiny article within the Cross Stitcher magazine and I wanted to share some of my favourite pieces with you.

FROM A MAP TO A PIECE OF JEWELLERY - map of the USA to an adjustable necklace map - both hand embroidered. 

European maps of Italy and Norway.

Felt appliqued map of LA and a statement mountain piece.

Penelope credits the shape of the USA as being one of her biggest inspirations; "I thought that the shape of the US is such an iconic shape and would make a really cool necklace. Then I thought that other states and countries might look good as necklaces as well and that they would make great souvenirs of a people's beloved places. I think that all the colors of the regions (of a country) mixed together in the irregular way that it is on a map is really beautiful. I love to travel and I have travelled quite a bit as well as moving around a lot. I have lived in two different countries (like LOTS), I have lived in America and Italy. Because of this geography is particularly intriguing to me."

I think they'd all make the most gorgeous little gift or a treat for yourself and have really inspired me to look into map crafting ideas featuring and based around the UK as a memento of my homeland and my English roots. But that's another crafty thing to add to my to do list!

Be sure to check out Penelope's blog and etsy pages and see everything else she gorgeously creates and let me know which designs you love!

Collectors Club - Brooches

I'm rather excited to be sharing Bex's collection today. Bex has been a great supporter of this series from the off and I'm very happy that she took the time to take part and show us all a glimpse at her gorgeous collection of brooches!

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Hi, I'm Bex from Futures. I'm here to talk to you about my collection of brooches. When Rachael first asked if anyone would like to appear in her Collection posts, it got me to thinking. Which collection could I post about?

Pictured above is my brooch collection in its entirety. Brooches aren't the only things I collect, I also collect Agatha Christie novels (and my boyfriend would also say beauty products), however my brooch collection is by far the prettiest one.

I began to collect brooches when I was about ten years of age. My paternal grandmother had recently passed away and left me some beautiful jewellery. I became a human magpie, seeking out more sparkly items for myself. I would buy any jewellery I could find until one day, my Dad and I were browsing in a local charity shop and found this little fella:

Something about him just stood out to me and I begged my Dad to buy me him. I had no clue at that age what a brooch actually was, so my Dad explained. He told me to look after him well, so he bought him and I did just that, keeping him in my little tartan jewellery box which I still have to this day:

My favourite brooch would have to be this one pictured below. Not only is it my favourite, it was also the most expensive by a long shot - however, for something as beautiful as this, who am I to complain?

I bought this stunning brooch in Camden, London when I was 16. The seller was an elderly Irish woman, who I could tell just by looking at her, didn't have very long to live. I fell for this brooch and felt really bad haggling for a cheaper price, however I still paid more than I've ever paid for a brooch in my life - it is possible that the price of this brooch is the same as about eight of the brooches in the top picture! I don't really wear the brooches in my collection, preferring instead to put them out on display on occasion, however this one quickly became a part of my staple wardrobe, especially when I became a prefect in Sixth Form. I still wear it now, although not as often, as tiny hands could easily grab it and do some damage to either themselves, me, clothes OR the brooch...

Since then, I have constantly kept an eye out in local charity shops, on local markets and various other places for gorgeous brooches to add to my collection. I haven't collected many in recent years, either I haven't found any that I've liked or I've been too busy to take a proper look.

I'm hoping to start up my collection again in the near future - brooches can be absolutely stunning and also provide a great focal point for an outfit.

Do you collect brooches? I'd love to see your collection

Bex xo

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Do you collect anything old and new and would love a place to feature it? Just leave a comment below!

All the little wedding things

Until you get married you forget all the added extras that come into call for your outfit. The back history is that I'm on my third dress for the wedding, after falling out with the first and the second not fitting. With the second result I went into panic overdrive and with only a week left before the wedding the hunt was really on. Then I stumbled over this little sheer knee length, sleeved dress from Forever 21. Its a gorgeous rich peachy colour and from the moment I tried it on, I knew it was the one. While it's not a traditional wedding dress as such, colour or design wise it's totally me. Our wedding venue was a little different, our vows were contemporary [they made me cry every time I read them and the selected reading before the day] but this all reflects us, and our wishes for our day. I guess when you pay for it all and organise it yourselves rather then having families involved you get that added extra freedom.

I have been very silent on blogger and twitter for the past week but now we're back from our honeymoon [five nights in Chicago] i'll find the time to bombard you with tales and loads of photographs of our adventures [will be hard narrowing down from the 450+ photos that I took]. 

Thursday and a wedding ...

One element that possibly has been lacking on the blog post front is mentions of our wedding. This in part is through Joe having my blog as has home page [so mentioning of clothes and outfits go out the window because it doesn't want to see or know anything about what i'm wearing before Thursday]. Perhaps it reflects us as people - we're rather laid back about our wedding and we've never felt the need to go on and on about our day or us, we've never been ott about your relationship. But its come to the point where it's only days away and most of the details and plans are in order, well most of them so I thought I should start sharing the details with you all.

I thought I would start with our wedding rings. Joe's ring is made from tungsten which we managed to hunt down in JCPennys [American department store] I love it for it's simplicity, it's thickness and it's little edging design.  My ring is platinum and is a gift from Joe's gran to myself. In fact it's a ring Joe's grandad brought for her and it fits perfectly - which is amazing when i have such tiny fingers. Additionally it matches well with my white gold engagement ring. I love knowing my ring has a  history and one that is filled with love. I know both Joe's gran and his grandads memory are really important in his life and i'm glad they have an important part in our wedding even if his grandad can't be there in person to share in our special day.

Sunday sunday

Gah it's August tomorrow, this year is zipping by. August and six and a half months into this visa malarkey. Three quarters of the forms are filled in, Tuesday I hope to get my "immunisation" records [if that alone doesn't confuse my little countryside Drs surgery] and book my posh medical in London. Work are getting a bit sarky about the whole thing - one women wants more hours so probably wants me to leave quickly, others probably think I won't end up going. Another girl revealed on Facebook she's got engaged, while i'm totally happy for her i wish me and Joe got the same respect as a couple, i think we often get doubted and thought less of because we're long distance. Plus there's the matter of people at work not knowing we're engaged ...yeah that's a major secret.

Sitting outside this afternoon ended up being covered in those creepy thunder-bugs - aren't they awful little critters! Make me itchy thinking about them again. Yesterday was spent baking millionaires shortbread and chocolate muffins - I call it training to be a housewife then did even more sorting. Its going well! That and i've started wearing my gran's ring more - [it's the one on the left in the picture], it's one of the few jewellery pieces I really liked and I always thought it was a bit of a shame hiding it away in a box, i'm not a real big ring person but it suits well against my engagement ring. Plus I crazily came up with the idea of wearing half my bracelets onto the plane to America, I have rather a lot and i'm surprised at how much they weight, but i'mma not leaving them even if they stretch my arms off!

Pressie part 1 - amulet necklace

Here's just the first part of my special parcel pressie I got from JJ yesterday; I was like an inpatient five year old waiting to get this parcel! Anyway to save this from becoming an extremely hugely big post I thought i'd break it down, makes it easier to pace out the blogging a bit too. 

I'm not too sure how "vintage" [only have the fact that it was from a vintage shop] or the history of amulet pendents [bar Victorian ones designed to cover the smell of the daily life of human smells in an era without Lush and Original Source] but I just totally love this necklace. I've always had a bit of a "thing" for long dangly heart pendants and Joe's hit it right on the head with this one. 

The inside of the heart is designed to hold a small amount of your chosen fragrance [in this instance Joe's aftershave - yum] with its topper tightly fixed in place and secured by a tiny little chain. Surprisingly even with its length and liquid contained, its not heavy on the neck which counts for loads, too many pendants weight you down before you even get anywhere!

Part two to come next time; the compacts!

Necklaced compact

I'm torn between utterly loving the reuse and redesign of vintage compacts to hang upon necklaces which in turn are often very art deco [and subsequently glamorous] in their nature. I'm spilt between thinking wow at the reuse and "oh my what have you done?!" Saying that it is an adorable use of a vintage compact and they just "fit" together so well, especially how it hangs off the bow.

Found on KariBeth's etsy page, they new life to vintage finds, from necklaces hung with pocket watches, keys and photograph frames to name but three. They really are a sweet vintage and charming delight.

Have a peek and see what you think!

A vintage treasure chest

From the success of the images of the vintage compacts from the other day, I thought I'd use this as the perfect excuse to draw your attention to this gorgeous images of these delightful treasure chests of shops that the vintage finds which my sweet, sweet JJ buys me things from.

Images like this vintage stroller pram get me very broody and I'm sure I'm able to hear my body clock starting to tick already and i'm only 23 but it doesn't help when oh so many girls from my year in school have had one, if not two children already. What's helping even less is the introduction of the baby clothing range into the store I work in. The mittens, socks and shoes for the 0-6 month old babies are just oh so adorable. But old and vintage is often more sturdy and more reliable and that is why this pram catches my eye - just a tad heavy and large for getting into the boot of the car methinks.

Not only do I just adore the desk but the two picture/photo frames standing upon it just ring out "buy me". While one seems to be missing its back, their delicate decorations and engraving just scream out quality and love. I can still hear them calling ...

What girl could turn down a peer into this vintage jewellery mass? From rings, to necklaces via hair brushes and a watch there is almost certainly something for every taste. What I just love is the colouring and the art deco design upon the vanity set at the far right of the page. Beige has never looked so attractive!

There is always time to think about Christmas, even when it was only 3 weeks ago, especially if its thrift and vintage. They really don't seem to make Christmas decorations just as sparkly as they once were!

Once you have one you start wanting more and more! This sweet, little silver topped perfume bottles are a delight to find hidden among the plants and the plates. Even the tray they are sitting so edgily upon the shelf is a gorgeous little treat!

In every image, of every object I just love how the item is presented and offered as if in a space and a place like within a home. Far from being presented in the typical format of contemporary shops of being pushes to the masses, everything in lines, everything the same, these objects offer a practical space for admiring the delights and the ways of the old. While these objects, be them antique or furniture - they are all presented as having and deserving not only a place, but more so of a use within the home and life we have today.

To let you into a secret, all these images and the vintage items I am luckily enough to call my own make me dream and wish, but most importantly make me drive towards having a shop so influenced by these styled vintage shops, of my known. I know I'm a massive daydreamer but its just something I would love to do. Who knows, maybe one day?!