Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Period Pieces

Anybody who's read this blog for a while knows that I have a thing for period drama, and as my kids call it, "old, dusty stuff". The old, dusty stuff in this case means vintage jewelry. Over the years, I've found some wonderful pieces for as little as 35 cents.



The BBC drama TV series, The House of Elliot (set in the 1920's) has been making me swoony. It's the jewelry the Elliot sisters wear. Long, swingy necklaces; drop earrings, beads galore. My daughter Bron has been patient with me as I shout, "OH! Look at the color of that necklace!" while she's trying to absorb the storyline. It's so well written that you can't help but fall in love with the characters.

The siblings, Beatrice and Evangeline, left penniless by their philandering father, try to make ends meet by designing and selling clothes, and dream of starting a fashion house for the well-heeled. They are quite talented, and you find yourself rooting for them until they start making disasterous choices that affect not only them, but those around them. At which point it's not me who's shouting, but my youngest girl, "No, Evie, don't be stupid! Grow up, Bea! Jack's wonderful--what's wrong with you?! I don't feel sorry for them one bit."

But anyway...this drama has inspired me to share with you some of my vintage costume jewelry.




My blue glass strand, which now shall be called 'Miss Evie's beads'.



A close-up




You can't tell from the photo, but the clear crystal pendant on this piece has a faint lavender hue.




This locket was given to me by my friend Julie as a birthday gift. You can meet her at One Penny Jumble Packet.




Close-up of the acorns on the locket



And the most charming part. Inside, I found this photo. I don't know who she is. Someone's mother...aunt...sister? I can't bear to take her out.



This has a bittersweet memory attatched. My husband gave it to me after I had miscarried many years ago.



Don't you love these drippy hearts? My husband also gave me this one when we were newlyweds. He found it in a thrift shop near our first apartment.



I purchased this for 35 cents when I was in high school. I believe it's vintage, but not sure how old.



Love the old clasp.

Now, last but not least, you might want to visit the lovely Rayanne over at
Lovely Thought.
She's having a jewelry giveaway.

28 comments:

Unknown said...

swoon!
Gorgeous my dear. And now? I want to go watch that show. where are my pearls?!

Jodi said...

Netflix, darling.

Cheryl said...

I remember watching this on Sunday evenings. Loved all the costumes and props. As it was Sunday evening, it is inevitably tied up with that feeling of "oh no, work tomorrow". Fun going through the beads!

Amy said...

My daughters and I loved watching that show! I was always so distracted by the hats and coats that I think I missed the costume jewelry. Hmm, guess I'll just have to watch it again:)
Your jewelry? Delightful. All of it. Love the acorn locket. And the dropped blue hearts necklace is perfect.

Stephanie Ann said...

Antique jewelry is the best! I've seen the outside of the locket but didn't know that that photo was in there. How cool!

Rae said...

Jodi...that locket! Lovely, oh so lovely, can you hear me with my Texas accent??? Oh my.
Thanks friend for the link up. You are in "the pot" twice...how sweet.
and yes, every year about this time our azaleas bloom.We are semi-sub-tropical down here in this part of Texas.
love you, Rayanne

Jodi said...

Amy, I agree. The coats and hats were quite distracting. I so wished people still dressed like that.

Jodi said...

Cheryl, we have it on DVD, so we have to be disciplined not to watch more than one (or two, or sometimes three) episode(s).

Jodi said...

Steph, I'll show you next time you come over. You could do a post on Civil War jewelry, I bet.

Jodi said...

Rayanne, in the pot twice? Whoopie!!

Hana - Marmota said...

Look, the curious acorns make a re-appearance! :-)

Elisabeth said...

Beautiful jewelery!

Mum and I have been watching The House of Eliott over the last few months and are now on to season 2. We love it!! I feel so inspired and love the clothing. Maybe someday I will get to 1920s clothing. :)

Anonymous said...

very pretty! i like your collections...

Julie said...

I just added the DVDs to my Netflix queue -- can't wait to watch them.

Thanks for sharing photos of your lovely jewelry. That acorn locket is gorgeous. That person must really love you a lot to give that to you and not keep it for herself. ;-)

Niamh said...

Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only one who got miscarriage presents! Last time I got shoes, and mangos :) If there is a next one, I'll have to request some jewelry.

Leslie said...

I just put that show in my Netflix queue... and I had to laugh at your "discipline" comment. We do the same thing : )

I love that you kept the photo in your acorn locket. And I can see the lavender hue just fine in the pendant, which I THINK is my fave, but it's so hard to decide!

P.S. Have you watched all the Dickens' series? Mutual Friend, Bleak House, etc? How about Wives and Daughters? Good ones all.

Jodi said...

Leslie. yes,yes and yes. Loved them all.

amy said...

have i told you lately that i love you?

Jodi said...

amy, have I told you lately, back atcha? xo

Joy Lake said...

I don't know which of your kids you're refering to; three of my favorite things are necklaces, 1920s fashion, and period pieces. Love the post but think it needs a retraction hee hee hee ;D

Chelsey said...

I love that you keep her photo in the locket.

How compassionate of your husband to give you that necklace.

Emily Young said...

I love that locket! And the photo inside... I wonder who she was? You should write a story about her.

At least now we have "House of Eliot" to look forward to once we finish the last episode of "Downtown."

Emily Young said...

P.S. Thank you for your wonderful comments on my article! :) Coming from a beautiful writer like you, it means a lot.

Jen said...

BBC drama? I'm so there. I'm addicted to BBC and Masterpiece Theatre. We just finished Downton Abbey, then got it from Netflix and watched a couple more times. And have you seen Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch as a younger, modern Sherlock Holmes? Awesome.

I love your vintage jewelry collection. Especially the locket with the photo inside! It makes you wonder who she was and what she was like. Thanks for sharing your collection with us.

Jodi said...

Emily, oh my gracious, you're the writer, not me. I just jabber with the keyboard :) But thank you. I bet you could write a story about the lady in the locket.

Jodi said...

Jenn, yes I have seen the new Sherlock. The cliffhanger was killer (no pun intended). I can't wait for the next season. Neither can my 15-year old, who thinks Benedict Cumberbatch is quite fetching. Oh my, where did my baby girl go?

Jodi said...

Joy Lake, well, it was Alex that would say it, but you would laugh. However, mom gets the last laugh since now that you're both married, you both seem to have developed your own interest in "old, dusty things". ;)

Jodi said...

Chelsea, yes he is. :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails