I'm starting to feel like a jingle bird because I keep flying down the street to the local antique store where I meet up with an amazing vintage jewelry dealer. My new friend knows everything there is to know about vintage jewelry and has been collecting and selling successfully for 18 years. Someday, I may show you pictures of her shop, but today.... I'm just showing a little of what I've been bringing home from her shop.
I know, this picture is just not enough, you want to see more, you want to dig down into the tubs and get a look under whats on top. So do I. I'm looking for vintage charms and beads and other amazing things.
Thats whats been keeping me so busy these days. I'm digging through the bags and bags of delicious vintage castaways my friend doesn't sell in her shop because they have a broken clasp, a missing rhinestone, a bent charm or a lost sister earring. It may be junk to her, but it looks like treasure to jinglebirds like me.
When all the sorting, cleaning and gentle chopping is done, I find myself with lots of little peices that long to be recycled into new gorgeous creations. No matter how many times you stop by the local craft store, you will never find these vintage jewelry findings, treasured antique beads, wartime Czech crystals, wonderful old rhinestones and retro glass beads. There will be no post war Japanese celluloid cabochons or intricate micro mini Italian mosaic beads and you won't find Victorian jet black glass beads, mother of pearl carved hearts and so many other things which are just not made anymore. If you want them for your projects you will just have to take a look here, where jinglebirds like me are willing to share.