Friday, October 4, 2013

Miller Time Friday - Ain't Nothing Like the Real (Fake) Thing, Baby....


Happy Friday!  We are now well and properly into October, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature around here.  It was 22 C here yesterday!  Such a lovely treat for a place that soon enough will be inundated with snow and ice!  I will take it for as long as it lasts!

I also finally started to use some of the apples we picked last Sunday - baked both an apple pie and an apple crisp.  It wasn't a perfect pie crust - it was one of those bloody pie crusts that did NOT roll smoothly.  But I am a good patching artiste, so I made do!

Today's post is inspired by a pair of earrings I got in the mail this past week from J Crew - the flower drop earrings:

Flower drop earrings
These were originally $90 CDN, then went on sale for $60CDN, then 30% off that and I had a credit, to I think I paid $30 for them, which I was perfectly okay with paying.  They arrived in a HUGE J Crew box, which did seem kind of a waste to me. 

I was drawn in by the blues, not having earrings with that blue in my costume jewelry collection, and with my red hair they seemed a no-brainer.  For the price.  I have to emphasize that point, as I think I would NOT have been happy had I paid $90!


Pretty blues!


This picture shows you the length...

They are quite heavy on; I wore them last night and by the end of the evening, my ears were itching a little - a problem that I often have with cheap jewelry.  Some of you will be able to give me a good explanation for why that is.

The bling-y costume jewelry that is EVERYWHERE, and so cheaply done, inspired me to dig out and fix some antique pieces, one of which I have had for 30 years that my mother found for me while travelling in New England.

These pieces are at least 60 years old, but maybe one of you can place them better than that?  My mother bought me the gold and crystal set at a really nice antique store in either Boston or Burlington and gave them to me one Christmas while I was at university.



I purchased the blue necklace about two years ago at an estate sale.  The lone blue earring I have had for 30+ years - I bought it at a vintage shop.  It originally had a mate, which was lost in one of the many moves Barry and I had in the 80s.  I still wear it sometimes by itself or clipped on a necklace or a sweater!

Both necklaces were not working for me however - they fit more like chokers and I do not have a choker neck.  I feel like I barely have a neck at all and it is definitely not made for chokers!  I had my ace jewelry repair guy add 6 inches of extenders to each piece and now they nestle nicely just below the throat.

There are no pictures of me wearing these because I woke up late this morning and my hair is a mess, but I will try and take a picture wearing them this weekend - maybe at the same time I prance around in that little blazer I doctored up!


You know, I really need a new camera - hmmm - good Christmas gift for Barry and I to buy each other!

Anyway, the picture above captures the glittery-ness of these, but the blue necklaces almost seems to have a greenish to it in that picture, but it is definitely blue.



The craftsmanship of these old pieces is exquisite - they do not feel cheap at all - they feel lovely and timeless.  I guess the whole point of this post for me is this - if you are looking at all of the cheap bling that is out there in the stores right now (similar to my J Crew piece above) - why not consider going to a local antique shop or show or online and buy good quality?  I think I paid $100 for the blue necklace and it is so much prettier IRL than the J Crew piece.  It is a Sherman piece - on the web I found the following description:

Gustave Sherman, the famous Canadian jewelry designer, was known for using only the finest Swarovski crystals in his pieces.  He also used a rhodium backing on his pieces, which gave them lasting quality.  A well cared-for piece of Sherman jewelry can look just as good at age fifty as when it was originally crafted.

The link I shared above has many lovely pieces for sale and I think any would be a lovely addition to your wardrobe - I am definitely bookmarking this site and others for possible purchases when I get caught up on my clothing budget...;-)  Sherman opened his business in 1941 and his pieces are now highly covetable.

I mean look at the aurora borealis brooch below for $135CDN:

Sherman AB Brooch
link
 How divine would that be to wear?????

And I now want to get my mitts on one of the maple leaf brooches below:

Topaz Sherman Brooch
source

So for less than many are paying for pieces on J Crew and other retailer websites, you can buy some really lovely and timeless quality pieces, not simply trendy!  I have been wearing my newly fixed pieces a lot lately - depending upon how you wear them, they can be either a bit of  fun bling or some seriously classy bling.

Guess Mama McLeod knew what she was about!

In honour of my mother and my newly-wearable pieces, and of the apples that need to be used up downstairs, let's make a Bling-Bling cocktail, shall we?

Bling Bling shaker Cocktail Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Pour into sugar rimmed shot glasses and add a piece of fresh apple over the top of the glass.
  • This will make 6 shots. Drink the shot and then eat the fresh apple

I am so going to the Happy Store and making this for watching the episode of Scandal that I taped last night!  YES!!! I missed you Olivia Pope!!!

Have a happy Friday and stay safe out there!  Barry - I hope you read this post!!!!!!

41 comments:

  1. It's the base metals in the non-gold and silver, possibly nickel which many are allergic to. I can't wear costume earrings for long either; I tried announcing I could only wear 18carat gold, but this got me garden tools for Christmas.

    That blue with your hair sounds striking!

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    1. Oh that is funny!

      Nickel - I bet that it is it! It is fine for 2 or 3 hours, but that is definitely it!!!

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    2. Lane, that is hilarious about the garden tools. Thanks for the laugh of the day.

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  2. Love this post Wendy! I often notice that a lot of stuff that people buy new can be bought for the same or less money, but be better quality in a second hand/ vintage scenario. Furniture in particular, but your necklaces are a great illustration also. I have a lot of old costume jewellery - one piece dates to my great-great grandmother. It is really lovely, and when I wear it people always compliment me on it. It's not at all valuable, but it has a sense of 'weight' to the piece that you lack in modern costume jewellery.
    That said, I love your blue earrings, I'm sure you'll enjoy wearing them xx

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    1. Hi Hedi - you are so right - there are many steals to be had of much greater quality! I have a few of my grandmother's pieces and I cherish them and they are definitely better quality!

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  3. How much fun! I'm always struck by how nicely my mom's costume jewelry has held up over the years. I love the pieces from your grandmother, especially those earrings. Gorgeous!

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  4. If you're looking for vintage costume pieces at reasonable prices you should also try Etsy. I have a small brooch problem (errr...maybe not so small...) and you can always find lovely ones for $10-20.

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    1. Yes, I agree -- one year for Christmas I bought several antique brooches from etsy and was super pleased with them. Wendy, I love those necklaces -- that is one of the aesthetics I am particularly partial to. My grandmother had several costume jewelry necklaces that I treasure now, both because they are beautiful and different and because they were hers and I loved her.

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    2. Thanks Ladies! Uh-oh.. I see a new Etsy problem emerging!

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  5. Wendy, those blue earrings look FABULOUS with your hair! I am so jealous of your red hair... it's just stunning. I love vintage jewels, I too have an old set of clear rhinestone jewelry, including necklace, bracelet and (clip on) earrings. My mom got them in an estate sale for me. I think they are from the '40s or so. I wouldn't say the quality is any better than J.Crew, but they are very pretty! I do have to agree that J.Crew jewelry is only worth it on super sale, and even then, not always. I do, inexplicably, really want this necklace. Something about bees and bugs on jewelry, it gets me every time!

    Oh, and you definitely need that maple leaf brooch. That is perfection!

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    1. Well, I have a thing for hummingbirds, so I can relate!!!!

      You can have my red hair if your hairdresser has Paul Mitchell, heehee! I am really a brunette with auburn highlights, but my hairdresser says I am really a redhead! ;-)

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    2. LOL, that is excellent. I don't dye my hair becuase it has finally achieved the deep brown hue I've always wanted, naturally. However, I am sure I'll change my tune once the grays start coming!

      I have gone back to read all of your kiki ballet flat related posts. I just have one question. Do you take your normal (as in not J.Crew) size in those? I am a 10 pretty much everywhere but at J.Crew I need an 11 or sometimes 10.5. The eggplant are in my cart and just need a final reassurance to pull the trigger! haha!

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    3. JCrewJD I take my regular size in the Kiki flats, regular non-JCrew size that is, 8.5, and they fit perfectly. I love mine. The eggplant look like such a terrific colour!

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    4. I would echo Dani - I take my 6.5 (I am usually a 6 or 6.5 in non Jcrew)

      Dani - just bought the Chambord for the cocktail - $38! Do you mind? to quote our favourite Quebec lawyer..

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  6. That sort of jewellery has gone up in value hugely here. I used to see them for under a hundred quid easily but now much much more. But I think those blue earring serially suit you, goes well with your hair and the fall sits at a right length to your neck. I think you'll get a lot of use out of them. But your whole collection is superb!

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    1. Thanks CSW! I have so much of this stuff - I just need to make it work!

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  7. Your costume jewelry is amazing! And I agree the blue earrings are stunning with your hair. Nice cocktail Wenders. I'm still sick with my chest cold, I think that recipe might burn it outta me and also look at all the vitamin c!

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    1. Well you know what your grandpa and I would say about that!!!

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  8. It's the nickel content in the costume jewelry that bothers your ears. I had similar issues and stopped wearing costume jewelry earrings altogether.

    Rhodium plating is used to keep silver and other metals, like white gold, from tarnishing. I have a pair of sterling silver hoops from Brooks Brothers that are rhodium plated and they have never needed polishing.

    I love your vintage pieces. I have a set of Sherman cufflinks and tie pin that I bought at a vintage shop in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan of all places. They are a single large deep blue stone with a bit of the rainbow effect and were in what looks like the original box in faux alligator and a satin lining with "imported stones" embossed on the inside and the name "Cliff" written in pen on the outside of the box. I just love wearing them with a French cuff white shirt. Seeing Cliff's name on the box always makes me smile.

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    1. Hi xoxo - how neat to hear about the Sherman cufflinks! I think those sound lovely! I would have some great imaginary tale about Cliff!

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  9. Love this post! I have some of my grandmothers costume pieces and they are so much nicer than the crap J Crew sells. Not to say I don't love your blue earrings. I think the must be stunning in you.
    Try coating the back of the earrings with clear nail polish to keep the metal from touching your skin. Sadly it won't help the post. You could coat that too. I probably would. I'm brave/dumb like that.
    Every time I wear my Granny's pieces, I am overwhelmed by how much attention they get.
    I'm taking a necklace out to wear today!! Thanks for the inspiration.
    You can find a ton of the wonderful old pieces at antique markets and shops. Most people just dump these things when the inherit them. One persons junk and all that:-)
    Have a great weekend!

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    1. HI Jennifer - thanks for the tip about the nail polish! For $30, the earrings are a really fun thing, but I can tell you that they do not sparkle like the other pieces above!

      I love trolling those places. We don't have money around here. Now Lane Land - that is where the goodies are...

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    2. Arundel Flea market-- awesome ( has been in NYT yet).

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  10. I echo what was said above, it is probably the nickel. I can only wear gold and platinum, perhaps high grade silver, but these days they make some nasty alloys so not even that! Try coating the post with clear nail polish, I hear that helps.
    I come from a family of jewelers, so costume jewelry was frowned upon in my family. My mom used to make and sell costume jewels when she was in her 20s. I own a few necklaces and do love them. Yours are gorgeous! And so is your red hair, I totally agree with your hairdresser!

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    1. Thanks AB! I wish I had come from a family of jewelers - think how much more impressive my jewelry box would be!

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  11. Your J. Crew earrings go beautifully with your hair and complexion - how much money would it cost to have a jeweller replace the posts with a hypoallergenic post? Your crystal necklaces are gorgeous and are definitely heirloom-worthy. Well, you know I love vintage jewellery! I sold most of my J. Crew jewellery, and have just kept a few things - the freshwater pearls and a Lulu Frost bracelet. I recently purchased a couple Art Deco crystal necklaces from the 1930s - it took some hunting on Ebay and Etsy to get them, as it seems they are a hot commodity nowadays. But yes, I agree, vintage pieces do seem to have nicer weight and quality than anything that can be bought in the stores nowadays.

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    1. Good thought Louise! My jewelry repair guy and I are getting close - next week he is going to rehab my mother and grandmother's charm bracelets - this week he fixed a bunch brooches. Would love to see the art deco pieces - please model on your blog!

      I am about ready to consign our give away all my JC pieces - I never wear them and someone will love them!

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    2. I have photos of one of the necklaces in this post here. Let us know how the jewellery rehab goes!

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  12. Your jewels are beautiful. For the most part, i am not a big fan of J Crew jewelry. They look great when paired with a J Crew outfit and from a distance. On their own, they look rather cheap...just my opinion. Vintage is nostalgic!

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    1. BB - I know! Even what I buy new often looks old! I think the website makes the jewelry look much prettier than real life!

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  13. That top necklace looks very similar to one I remember my dad giving my mum one Christmas. I have it now - I wore it last winter with a plaid flannel shirt that has the same colours in it.




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    1. HI Patricia - isn't that fun! I like the idea of pairing it with something else!

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  14. Love your jcrew earings,the bliue is divine.
    I have to confess that i havent worn the big neon earrings that i bought from the crew in the spring:).
    Love to look t them though,haha.

    Have a great weekend!

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    1. They would be perfect with the tippi in midnight!

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    2. Ina - you are bad on my budget! :-)

      I bought that neon bracelet - it is heading to consignment next week... Unless I save it for dress up!

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  15. Love your jewellery, Wendy! I too have some old costume pieces from my grandmothers. They are far more special than most things I see these days.
    I LOVE those blue earrings on you! They are stunning!
    I pierced my ears in my youth, but had so many issues with allergic reactions that I let them close up in my 20s.
    I've been considering getting them done again, but I'm not sure if it's worth the effort if I can't wear cheap bling!!

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    1. Hi Ruth! Well read Fred's informative post below! Yikes!

      I actually find myself wearing less and less jewelry and this is the first pair I have found itchy in a long time, so I will have to rehab them if I want to wear them!

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  16. from your plain-spoken BFF in the big city:
    1. nickel allergy can sensitize your entire body.
    2. nickel allergy gets worse, not better.
    3. if your skin is sensitive to metals, you need to stick to gold, 14 k and higher, for anything that will come in contact with your skin. This is not unrealistic. For the cost of a couple JC mystery metal pieces, you can get small real gold hoops and hang dangly things from them.

    and not for nothing, but I once had a secretary whose pierced ears became badly inflamed and then infected from cheap earrings, the infection spread, both her lobes separated into two little flaps starting at the holes, and they had to be stitched back together. seeing her suffering would have put me off Ni forever even if I hadn't been allergic.

    Please take care of yourself.
    xxxxx

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    1. Oh Lord! I will see if the jewelry repair man can put silver or gold posts. I never have issue with good silver or gold. Good too know, but scary!

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Kindness is a virtue...