Playing with paint

Playing with paint
abstract art

15 January 2013

Old Treasures

For some time now, I have had this circular piece of beautifully carved shell in my sewing basket waiting to be used in a piece of embroidery.   I found it among the needles threads and bobbins in my mothers old sewing basket.  It was etched on both sides and I could never decide which side to have uppermost, so the embroidery never eventuated.

When I went to the farm before xmas  I took it into my favourite  jewellery store in town who had repaired and restored jewellery for me before, and had it made into a pendant. The fixing they used means I can wear it with either side showing. 

 I do not have pierced ears, so find it hard to buy clip on ear rings, but found these on a table of jewellery at the local markets.  They are quite solid, and the best part was the price was $3.  Have no idea of the metal but they are heavy as well.
These things reminded me of a couple of pieces which I have that are getting quite old.
The next photo is of a pair of earrings and pearl necklace that I wore with my debut dress when I was 17.
 The next is of a brooch/pendant and earrings which I bought for my mother for Mothers Day the first year I was working after I turned 16.
The last photo below is of a cameo.  When I was first married and aged 21, I lived at a seaside resort in Victoria.  Over the road lived a dear old lady, a retired teacher, aged in her 90's.   At one time she became ill, and one of her friends asked me if I could prepare an evening meal and lunch for her, when I was preparing ours and just check on her of a morning and see that she had something to eat.

She was a sweetie, very interesting to talk to and I enjoyed her company.  She had long grey hair that had a tinge of yellow, which  may have been blonde originally. My baby daughter would sit on Miss Bedford's lap and clutch at  this flowing hair when I was brushing it before plaiting and  winding the plaits  round her head.

Eventually her nieces and nephews heard of her failing health and decided to take her to Melbourne to live with them.   Before Miss Bedford left, one morning she asked me  to get a beautiful old organdie blouse made in the Gibson Girl style with pintucks and lace on the front out of her cupboard.  Instead of buttons it had  cameos in different colours....of white, blue, lemon, pink and apricot.  

She told me she wore it with a long skirt for tennis parties on the lawn courts at her home where she grew up and  asked  me to choose one of the cameos to thank me for looking after her.     I chose the apricot, and have treasured it ever since.  A few years ago I  had it made into a pendant, so I could wear it instead of it languishing unseen in a box.
130yr old cameo











12 comments:

  1. Wow, you do have some treasures don't you? I don't have pierced ears either so am always looking for the older clip on earrings. I love that cameo and the story of how you came by it.

    FlowerLady Lorraine

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  2. Oh lovely. I too love old jewellry (and other old things)...my engagement ring was my maternal grandmother's and though the shank was repaired twice I never changed the setting (ca. 1910). And I have many bits of my mother's costume jewellry, clip-on earrings included. Even though I have pierced ears and tiny lobes, I still enjoy having them smile at me from my jewel box. :-)

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  3. Beautiful story attached to the cameo, Shirley. I love it. These treasures are lovely to have and nice that you are still able to wear them. Di.

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  4. Love the cameo, Shirley! What a beautiful gift!!!

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  5. you have some stories to tell Shirley, how lovely to have the cameo to remember the dear old lady. The jeweller has made a great job with your Mum`s old shell, it looks beautiful, I expect you will get lots of questions asked when you wear it.

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  6. Hello Shirley, I loved hearing your stories about your jewelery. The carved shell is truly gorgeous and the cameo is truly beautiful. What a dear lady to give it to you. A treasure indeed. Hugs Judy

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  7. Shirley, thanks for sharing those gorgeous pieces and treasures and the stories attached. xx

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  8. Old treasures, indeed, Shirley, and their stories make them more so! Thank you for sharing them.

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  9. Lovely story, Shirley :-) Thank you for sharing your treasures with us. Wonderful idea making the lace into a pendant.

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  10. What a gorgeous post Shirley. I love all the pieces you've shared, and it's so nice to think people still treasure pieces from the past. Your carved shell pendant is beautiful, as is that very special cameo. I adore cameo pieces of all types. Hope you are well. Warming up here again!!

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  11. beautiful gift and with history. wear it and enjoy it.

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  12. Shirley these are certainly some beautiful treasures you have and it's lovely to hear the story behind them also.

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