The Fringe

I live in a county that has an awesome monthly Antiques Fair during the Spring and Summer.  The vendors do an incredible job of providing us with very unique vintage wares.  It is located in the county's large fairgrounds, so some of the vendors set up in the horse stables.  I came across one stable all the way at the very end that had this unusual strand of glass beaded fringe sitting on top of a pile of Victorian house locks and keys.  I stopped dead in my tracks: 

 

 

At first I thought this was an old strand of Christmas lights, but I was informed that it is a late 1800's fringe that was used to decorate lampshades.  The glass beads are such a vibrant color with unique carved markings.  The fringe isn't cloth but braided brass metal.  How cool is that?

 

 

I had to have it.  My hearbeat quickened at the thought of what I could do with the beads and the braided brass fringe.  I wired some with vintage metal tassels and hung them from bracelets made with austrian crystal rhinestone brass chain, bronze and shiny gold chains, hand aged rhinestones, and gemstones and solid brass vintage beads.  I think the end result is very different and eclectic:

 

Amethyst and freshwater pearls

 

 

 

Amethyst, green onyx, carnelian, and turquoise howlite

 

 

Freshwater pearls and turquoise howlite

 

 

 

  Tiger eye, agate, and carnelian

 

 

Thanks for checking in!

 

Sara

 

 



 

Lockets

The Holiday Season will be here before you know it and I'd like to start giving you some In Small Spectacles ideas for gifts.  Currently I'm working on embellishing large solid brass, copper-lined vintage lockets with antique rhinestone brooches and earrings and solid brass filigree stampings.

 

I prefer to use only rhinestones that are prong-set in any In Small Spectacles piece for the added security needed in any vintage element. If you haven't noticed, most mass-produced pieces of jewelry made today have rhinestones that are simply glued in. Not here!

Each of the lockets suspend from necklaces I hand wire wrapped using solid brass wire and solid brass vintage beads, hand-aged rhinestones, czech glass, freshwater pearls, and rhinestone and metal filigrees.

 

Keep checking back as I update you on more pieces I have made and listed on Etsy.

 

Sara

 

 



Etsy Treasury

Great new Etsy Treasury featuring In Small Spectacles just posted today.  So lovely!  I love the Etsy community!!


Thank you, LLetcetera!

Sara

Hello Kelly!

In Small Spectacles can now be found at Kelly Lane Resale Boutique in historic Lebanon, Ohio just outside of Cincinnati.  I met Kelly at the Warren County Art Festival this summer and we reconnected at the Hyde Park Art Show earlier this month.  I took a liking to Kelly immediately; she is so friendly and encouraging. We both decided to work together to get some vintage bling up North. 

 

 

One step into her boutique and you immediately get a sense of how creative she is.  Her background is in interior design and that is evident in her incredible displays of upcycled clothing, artisan creations, and beautiful accessories. 

 

 

 

Kelly's store was the recipient of all the new etched brass cuffs I just made, as well as vintage skeleton key and salvaged chandelier crystal necklaces, antique tassel necklaces, etched brass demi cuffs, Renaissance embellished brass rings, and oodles of earrings.  Everything is one-of-a-kind.

 

Stop by, tell Kelly "Hello," and take the time to stroll downtown Lebanon, voted "Best Hometown 2012" by Ohio Magazine. 

 

Sara

Etched Cuffs

I've been joyfully busy making more etched cuffs embellished with some of the best and most unusual vintage rhinestone I have come across. My In Small Spectacles friends love them so much as they are so easy to wear and make a lovely statement.   

 

While by far the most labor-intensive, my etched brass cuffs continue to be my favorite piece of jewelry to make. Each batch of brass that I etch comes out differently, and it's like magic when I sand and polish the darkened brass and the golden etching shows through.

 

 

The patina in this old sacred medal is awesome.

 

 

 

Old Mourning Jewelry made cheery with brass Austrian crystal rhinestone.

 

 

I prefer to pair aged metal with the bling of vintage rhinestone to create an unusual contrast not seen very often. I love that someone who brings In Small Spectacles home for themselves or as a gift takes with them a one-of-a-kind handmade piece of wearable art.

 

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Sara

 

It's All in the Details

Right this very second, 20 solid brass cuffs are in the process of having scroll work, tapestry, Gothic script, Moroccan tiles, musical scores, and The Lord's Prayer etched onto their surface.  I am reminded of a woman who asked me at one of last weekend's art shows why it is I bother etching the back of my bracelets when no one will even see that part.  I told her it's the attention to details that counts and makes a piece more special.

The phrase "the devil is in the details" is often used to describe how overlooked items can cause a plan, idea, of design to fail.  However, I much prefer the phrase "God is in the details" because I find that to be the more positive, accurate, and giving credit where credit is due.  Indeed, not one particle of dust or strand of DNA in every universe, galaxy, and unseen realm exists without God's creative hand. 

 

 

It's the attention to detail that I believe glorifies Him.  "Do everything as unto the Lord."  That includes etching the backs of bracelets, improving and learning new techniques, using only solid brass where I can, and getting the highest quality finding or gemstone.  I want the person who buys or is gifted one of my pieces to look down upon it and hopefully see something beautiful pieced together by hands guided by God using His elements.   

Look for these brass beauties and information about a new store in Ohio that will be carrying In Small Spectacles within the next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sara

Weekend Shows

 
Just a quick update to let you know In Small Spectacles will be at the Lakota West Show on Saturday and at the Hyde Park Square Art Show on Sunday.  Both are some of the top shows in the Mid West, and I'm thankful to be a part of them.  I am bringing lots of new pieces and designs to show.

Hope to see you this weekend!

Sara

Fall Sale

 

I want to clear the way for more inventory, so I am having a Fall Sale now through Sunday, September 23rd.  Everything in the Etsy Shop is 25% off.  Just enter code FALL25 at checkout for the discount to apply.

Happy Shopping!

Sara