Bauble & Chain » Antique

Vintage Czech Glass Pieces from Bombalurina

Leslie — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:00:55 +0000

I love Czech glass. The colors are so saturated and intense.

Vintage glass and lucite owl necklace*, $38
Bombalurina

limonata bracelet – vintage glass, sterling, jade, $32
Bombalurina

*Owls are the new owls. And unicorns are the new hobos.

Skeleton Key Necklace from Urban Heirlooms

Leslie — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:00:50 +0000

I love that it’s sitting atop an open book of quotes.

Round Hole Square Peg Vintage Deco Key Necklace, $25
Urban Heirlooms

Nifty Greek Bracelet by Mollie Dash

Leslie — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:00:13 +0000

Mollie Dash has a lovely website and blog. I love that the website’s home page incorporates not just images of her jewelry, but also architectural details — a shadowed chandelier, letters on the facade of a building — that speak to her aesthetic.

Here’s one of my favorite pieces currently for sale.

Greek Bracelet, $55
Mollie Dash

I also really got a kick out of this secret glimpse into her jewelry box. (Reminded me of Posy’s trays of “lovelies.”)

Design*Sponge has a sneak peek of Mollie’s apartment, too.

Urban Bloom’s Lovely Leaves

Leslie — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:00:49 +0000

I got a really nice email from an up-and-coming jewelry designer and former Brooklynite, Lauren @ Urban Bloom. Her latest pieces feature real leaves covered (dipped?) in gold and sterling silver.

An early favorite:

Lily Double Strand Necklace, $65
Urban Bloom

Check out the gallery of sold pieces to get an idea of her work as a whole:

You’re right, Lauren, this one is especially lovely, too.

Thanks for the email!

New Etsy Faves: KariBeth, Lustre, Glitteryblue

Leslie — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 11:00:51 +0000

I could spend hours poring over Etsy. Who am I kidding? I do.

Here are three new favorites I recently discovered. Each bring a unique perspective to vintage materials.

KariBeth
Aside from taking the most incredible product shots — works of art themselves — her jewelry is lovely. It was impossible to pick one piece to show off. Bookmark her blog, or sign up for updates, to peek at new items as they appear.

Vintage Rhinestone Daisy Necklace, $58
KariBeth

Lustre
In her words, “sweet trinkets.” I couldn’t agree more. The lucky cat makes me smile. So does her take on the acorn. (I might like it better than Kenneth Jay Lane’s!)

Maneki Neko Charm Necklace, $29
Lustre

Glitteryblue
Her earrings make me wish my ears were still pierced. Everything is so thoughtfully selected and put together. Sigh.

Fabulous Pink Cab Drops Limited Edition Earrings, $12
Glitteryblue

The Inspiration for Bauble & Chain: dejarnette new orleans

Leslie — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 11:00:00 +0000

A couple of months ago, dejarnette new orleans offfered readers of Decor8 a generous 20% discount. Though I am a Louisiana native and lived in New Orleans not so long ago — and worked in the jewelry industry, no less — I had not heard of Katherine or her work.

It was love at first sight.

Within half an hour I had purchased these two gorgeous necklaces:

Love Note Necklace, $52
dejarnette new orleans

Heart of Hearts Necklace, $48
dejarnette new orleans

I can’t describe how happy I feel when I wear them.

I started Bauble & Chain because I experienced, for the first time in a very long time, what makes jewelry so special. It doesn’t have to be expensive, or bestowed upon you, or universally regarded as beautiful. Whether it’s a necklace, or a ring, or a bracelet, all that matters is that you love to wear it. I hope one of the pieces of jewelry I write about will connect a happy jewelry-maker with another happy jewelry-wearer.

Thank you, Katherine!

(P.S., told you I was a sucker for hearts.)

Incredible Mix of Old & New at Erie Basin

Leslie — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:41:32 +0000

I literally just set up my RSS feeds looking for items tagged “jewelry” in Wists and Delicious and came across this store that just happens to be around the corner from where I live.

Erie Basin is located on Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, near Lenell’s. If you have taken the B61 to Fairway, and looked to your right, you have probably seen it. Like me, you may have intended to stop in, but overflowing bags of groceries may have prevented you.

The store’s online shop features “an always changing selection of just 12 pieces. Many of the pieces shown are unique or have limited availability.”

My favorite piece, this breathtaking moonstone ring by Conroy + Wilcox, has already been sold. However, shop owner/curator Russell Whitmore also features antique jewelry alongside the contemporary pieces inspired by the past.

Is your name Amanda? More importantly…are you a brunette?

I just found something really special for you.

Plaited Hair Ring, “Amanda 1813,” $195
Erie Basin