Saturday Shop Talk – House of Athena

 "House of Athena"

Personality: The Wise and Just
Places you'll find yourself: Making clear and fair decisions in even the most challenging of situations

I shared in one of my previous Sunday Snags that I started making bracelets for the first time. I hadn't done this previously because I wanted to come up with a way to make them easily adjustable. I have thin wrists and can never seem to find bracelets that fit without falling off. I know others have the opposite problem as well and don't want to be pinched by a tight bracelet. Well I found a solution that I'm happy with, so my bracelet line has been launched! 

This particular bracelet I'm sharing today is such an interesting piece! It is made with an antique button, reference title Greek Temple on the Acropolis, and it's dated from between 1880 and 1899. It shows a depiction, in incredible detail, of the Parthenon, temple to the goddess Athena. The scene is done in a silver/white metal and is surrounded by a brass border. The button is set on a brass charm and connected with a delicate chain that comes in your choice of lengths and a lobster claw at each end for easy adjustability!

"House of Athena"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

The Divine Sarah

Saturday Shop Talk – The Divine Sarah

"The Divine Sarah"

Personality: The Larger than Life
Places you'll find yourself: Capturing the hearts and captivating the souls of all who see you

 This piece is one of my more unusual I think. Or at least it's more specific anyway. I made this ring from an antique button (which is what my shop is best known for), but typically the buttons are more general in their designs. Things like flowers and birds tend to be the most common designs in antique buttons. However, this button is definitely an exception. This one is of a specific person who actually lived during the time the button would have been made. The cameo is of Sarah Bernhardt, a renowned theater actress in France during the Belle Epoque. It's funny to think of it this way, but I imagine having your face on a button would be somewhat akin to having a celebrity's face on a t-shirt now. She was known the world over and would have been a recognizable figure among theatre lovers at that time (late 1800s). The button itself is beautiful. It was created in the late 1800s/early 1900s with a brass bust atop a deep navy blue tinting. 

View my entire shop here.

Last week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Love Amongst Brambles

Saturday Shop Talk – Love Amongst Brambles

 "Love Amongst Brambles"

Personality: The Stalwart and Brave
Places you'll find yourself: Fighting for those you love at all costs

I love this! I made a few new hair clips recently and this is one of them. This pretty hair accent was made using a beautiful antique button depicting a thistle in an Art Nouveau design. It is set on a brass filigree clip and ready to add some old world glamour to your next hairstyle! There are three different versions of this piece in my shop right now. Be sure to check them out!

 "Love Amongst Brambles"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Song of Spring

Saturday Shop Talk – Song of Spring

"Song of Spring"

Personality: The Sweet and Cheerful
Places you'll find yourself: Humming to your heart's content as a warm ray of sunshine brightens your day

I'm not a cold weather kid. I'm just not. I like warm, sunshiny days that I can have the heat of the sun on my face. We are knee deep into December now and I already need a dose of spring. I figured this little birdie may help. I made this brooch from an antique button titled "Bird on a Wall", circa 1890-1918. I have a number of rather large buttons in my collection and they seem a bit too big for rings and necklaces. However, they are the perfect size for a lapel pin! This one has gorgeously rich detailing of a songbird atop a brick wall, peeking into a rose garden with a lovely view of a neighborhood of homes in the background.

"Song of Spring"

View my entire shop here.


Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

The Serpent's Kiss

Saturday Shop Talk – The Serpent's Kiss

 "The Serpent's Kiss"

Personality: The Desperate and Fierce
Places you'll find yourself: Facing crisis and choosing for yourself which path to take

Okay, granted, this isn't very festive for December, but it is so beautiful and I just had to share it. This necklace is made with the most detailed antique button! It depicts Cleopatra laying in her hammock beside a basket. For those that know the old telling by Shakespeare, that basket holds the asp that will take her life. The button was made from between 1890 and 1910 and may actually have been modeled after an adaptation of Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.

"The Serpent's Kiss"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Sugar Plum

Saturday Shop Talk – Sugar Plum

 "Sugar Plum"

Personality: The Jolly and Joyful
Places you'll find yourself: Spreading the fun of the holiday spirit!

Okay, it is officially December tomorrow so I'm sharing this! How cute and festive is this hair wreath! I was just bursting at the seams to show you! I made this holiday half wreath or crown using reproduction vintage mint candies in classic red and green. Then I added the prettiest little beaded berries in deep raspberry red and plum to emphasize the sugary winter wonderland feel. The ends are tied with pretty ivory and green floral ribbon (you'll have to forgive my bow, I tied it behind my head and didn't realize I pulled the loop all the through until the photos were already taken!). It is so cute! I just wanna wear it every day of December!

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Morning Bluebird

Saturday Shop Talk – Morning Bluebird

 "Morning Bluebird"

Personality: The Unexpected Beauty
Places you'll find yourself: Surprising loved ones with an unexpected visit

This pretty hair flower was made with velvet poinsettia petals in the retro festive color of turquoise. I've made multiples and each one has a unique silver vintage button center. I think these little beauties would be perfect for a holiday hairstyle, don't you?!

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

By Any Other Name

Saturday Shop Talk – By Any Other Name

 "By Any Other Name"

Personality: The Delicate and Warm Spirited
Places you'll find yourself: Brushing your fingertips along the blooms that cover grandma's garden wall while gently humming an old favorite of hers

This classic floral necklace was made with an antique button (title: Rose, circa 1880-1918) set atop a brass filigree charm. The button depicts the simplest of images, the rose, but does so in a beautifully poetic way. I can easily imagine a lovely Edwardian lady walking through gardens wearing this, her favorite of all the blooms.

"By Any Other Name"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Atop the Trees

Saturday Shop Talk – Atop The Trees

"Atop The Trees"

Personality: The Dreamer
Places you'll find yourself: Sprawled out under the oaks, daydreaming of the clouds

These pretty little hair flowers are perfect for fall! Don't their changing colors remind you of the tree leaves altering from green to gold and red? The petals are a soft velvet and each center is an antique or vintage button in varying colors to suit your fancy. I made the back so that the attachment (alligator clip) can be taken out and an attachment of your choice (headband, snap, bobby, etc.) can be slipped in! Versatility reigns supreme! 

 "Atop The Trees"

Visit my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

How High the Moon

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I'm holding my very first fashion linkup! Come share your favorite plaid with me!

Mad About Plaid!

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Saturday Shop Talk – How High the Moon

 "How High the Moon"

Personality: The Enchanting Charmer

Places you'll find yourself: Dancing alone under the moonlight with stars in your eyes

This lovely little charmer of a necklace was made with an antique brass button, titled Man in the Moon, circa 1880-1918, depicting a crescent moon with a detailed face, engraved stars, and a midnight blue tinting. Once again, one of my favorite parts is that the original brass color is coming through after a hundred years of hands rubbing the tint away. 

 "How High the Moon"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Upon the Wings of Night

Saturday Shop Talk – Upon the Wings of Night

"Upon the Wings of Night"

Personality: The Dark and Dangerous Beauty
Places you'll find yourself: Sipping bourbon in the dying light of day 

This piece has such a fierce despair that I truly can't help but love. I made this necklace from a one hundred year old remnant of mourning lace. It has a delicate roped floral design with tiny black glass beading throughout. The lace remnant has a nearly identical sister piece which means I have the chance to make two of these darkly beautiful necklaces. I'm offering two options on the chain for people to choose which they prefer. The first is a 1940s black silk tie back cording and the second is an antiqued brass chain, both of which are adjustable in length (you can see both options on me in the photos below).

"Upon the Wings of Night"

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Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

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