Piece #4 of 100
Okay, I fess up. These are not really rubies, but the rhinestones are real! These are the earrings that Shoey wore during our first photo shoot. I am now calling that our “first” photo shoot, because we are planning more. Woo hoo!
These sparkly dangles are about two inches long, and are not signed. Mom has an identical pair with “emeralds.” Red and green. Two of a kind. Based on photo evidence, I’d say they’re from the mid to late eighties.
Twenty-five years later, the earrings look great. But we’ve aged a bit. Nowadays one of Mom’s favorite activities is getting clothes from me. Not every week, but once or twice a month I bring her outfits (complete with matching jewelry, belts, and scarves) from her closet. She gets so excited! It’s gotten to the point, that she doesn’t have any more room in the two armoires in her single room. I’ve tried explaining to her that in order to get more outfits, she’ll need to rotate some of her clothes out of her closet and into mine. I can take some things that need dry cleaning and kill two birds with one stone. But she has a hard time letting go of the clothes. She won’t let me take any of them! But she surely wants me to bring more! I guess a third armoire will be the answer. Or else I have sneak in and take some things out. It’s sad and funny all at the same time.
deb burow says
I totally love this blog!!! I see you started it over 2 years ago. I don’t want to miss any of it. Is it all here or has some of it been deleted?
I feel so “normal” as I read how your mom loved and still it sounds like, loves this stuff. My friends all wear tiny, miniscule, “tasteful” jewely which I think is totally boring. So it is good to know and read about someone who loves flashy, artsy, gorgeous, sparkly jewelry.
And I really had to laugh as I read that she wore more than one necklace at a time. My favorite thing to do!!
My pieces bring me lots of joy and I am sure they did your mom, also. And think of how many people are smiling as they read your blog.
This is a perfect Saurday afternoon activity!! Thank you, Thank you.
Yuehua Li says
thank you very much, Barbara! I am a chinese, a fan of your blog and newletters living in Beijing. This time, your jewelry story has inspired me to start collecting something, or somethings, since i love so many things, like all sorts of scarves, clothes, bags, books, music CDs so on and on including the jewelries of course. I ve been really love these things and even felt guilty sometimes when i thought i was spending too much on these luxery things… Still, I will not go too extravagent in the future I think, but I will be COLLECTing! An article says colleting something is a really good habbit, and it is healthy! I beleive it will bring me more than just the things accumulating there! thank you again!
Barbara says
As I progress in my jewelry education, I’ve now learned that effect of the rhinestones wrapping around the red crystals is called a “cluster setting!” Woot!
Glena Davis says
This is the first time that I have read your story and I am enjoying it very much.
I must admit to being 82 yrs young and had several prs of earrings in that style of jewerly.
In fact I still have some.