lemon love » jewelry

make it work

Brittney — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:19:57 +0000

Okay internets, I have a confession:

I am a medieval history (and fantasy) nerd.*

I just thought I’d make that clear. I love it. I love the history, I love the books with unicorns, I love the pretty dresses and knights in shining armor.

My family often compares me to the character of Cecily Cardew from Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest (who, in the film version constantly imagines herself in states of Romantic Distress)… which really is one of the most accurate descriptions anyone could give me. (Just add in a lot of swearing, an abject love of shoes and hatred of broccoli, and also the tendancy to say the most awkward thing possible very loudly when a crowded room goes silent.)

Anyway, since the ’search’ bar on etsy was getting a little dusty, I thought I’d use it, searching for items labelled “medieval”.

And oh boy, did I find some cool things.

Typing “medieval” under “Handmade” gives me cool things like this Isolde necklace for $165, this stunning Sodalite necklace for $25.

Looking for a different style? this moonstone necklace is super cool and only $35, and griffin pendant is pretty sweet and also only $14!

One of my favourite things about Etsy is the complete range of prices and things you’ll find: if you’re looking to invest in an accessory, chances are you can find something you’ll like, and if you’re looking on the cheap, you’ll find something cool, too!

Besides, where else are you going to find a Lady Godiva necklace?!

(UM, AWESOME!)

Turning the search bar from “Handmade” to “Vintage” gives you some pretty cool stuff too! Like this Architectural drawing of St. Andrew’s (I’d totally frame this and put it on my wall!), and a cool pair of faux-midieval earrings for $39.

Need a unique brooch? It’s only $16, which I count as a deal. (If that’s your thing!)

And of course, EVERYBODY needs an angry viking ring. $60 is a bit steep for me, but for those little angry eyes? It’s worth it.

I’m not going to lie, I’ve come very close to buying this necklace for $22 several times, but I’m afraid it’s too big and heavy for me to pull off. It’s pretty nifty though, no? I can’t buy this one until I finally order this lion necklace from ragtrader (who is AMAZING) that I have been seriously eyeing for about 6 months now.

And kids, I know you want it, don’t bother ordering this, because I already have:

(“Bond of Blood” 70’s Romance Novel: $7.77

*The #1 thing I hate about the medieval era? King Arthur.

and sometimes I

Brittney — Sat, 30 May 2009 06:30:56 +0000

Here we are for installment number two!

I have two pretty different looks here today. Directly after my first post I went out on a limb with a handkerchief–a dangerous, dangerous limb.

See, I’m not the kind of girl who can normally wear a handkerchief. In fact, most type of headgear (probably the wrong term) on me essentially makes me look like I’m wearing a wig. It just doesn’t work for me! I also have a habit of constantly playing with my hair, so any headband, hairclip, kerchief, bow or bandana is going to be removed and adjusted a good twelve times in the day, often being abandoned altogether for a nice, comfortable ponytail.

But I wanted to use my blue kerchief. Really badly.

And I had just seen the fantastic photograph of Alexis Bledel as Rosie the Riveter and I got to thinking… I could do better than that.

So I got out my kerchief, spent a few minutes playing with it, and ended up looking like this:

Heck yes. I wore that. And I went out in public. (Another shot.)

For years I’ve amused myself for countless hours finding silly ways to do my hair and makeup (and outfits), only to chicken out and change at the last minute out of an abstract fear of being rejected by society because of how I looked. But I’m secure in myself and my job and my friends and… why the hell not?

So I did. I worked. All day. I recieved quite a few compliments… aaand quite a few stares. I get it. While I’m not absolutely crazy about ‘costuming’ for the everyday, it’s definetly fun on the occasion. It’s very cute because whenever I wear my pearl necklace & earrings and do my hair (psuedo) vintagey… I get many comments from my older customers, which is definetly very fun.

I really try to vary my outfits, and choose which days I’m going to go all out like my “Rosie” day. Since I work 7 days a week (between the two jobs) I normally opt for a much less overwhelming appearance, but I still take the time to wear some sort of jewelry.

Here is a full view of my uniform from the following Saturday:

Khaki pants = the height of sexiness, in my opinon.

See? Black shirt, fugly grandma khakis. I love them so. The number one thing I hate about my work uniform is it’s awakened this love for button-up collared shirts. But I can’t wear them outside of work, because then I’m wearing my uniform! Clearly, my life is filled with difficulties.

S-M-R-T spells SMRT.

Wore my big hoopy gold earrings, rocking blue eyeshadow, and raided Mom’s closet for the small gold chains (the big one, as mentioned before is a gift from my Trucker Uncle. Everybody should have one!). No real comments on my obviously more conservative accessorizing today, but I definetly felt like a rockstar.

Feeling like a rockstar is basically the best way to start out any shift that involves asking someone if they need room for cream in their coffee. How can you be friendly and outgoing while feeling like a janitor?

diamonds on the soles

Brittney — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:54:15 +0000

This past week has been a roller coaster of pain, sadness and joy. My family has undergone a great loss, and as such we have come together and re-formed our little social network which keeps us afloat in times of trial.

Wow, that’s like the vaguest and most Hallmarky thing I’ve ever said, eh?

My aunt passed away last Friday. She had been fighting cancer for the last 12 years, and we are happy that she is in a better place, and no longer in pain, but we’re still all a little shell-shocked at her leaving, and the anticipation of the upcoming memorial service has us all speaking in hushed voices.

My Aunt and Uncle from Australia are here, serving us wine and keeping us chipper (as they always do), and we have begun our recovery process in the only way we know how.

By going shopping.

On Saturday we went to Macy’s, on Sunday, Old Navy and Ross, and today we hit up the antique stores in a neighboring city (and of course, Goodwill!). I love antique stores, mostly because every find truly is a discovery, entailing searching through piles of unsorted jewelry, a thousand china cups stacked on a shelf, and similar other oddities, not to mention the artistic way dealers arrange their sections in the big antique malls. Today I brought my camera along, to demonstrate to the uninitiated how absolutely charming antique stores can be.

How about these two little ladies? A pair of salt and pepper shakers for $25; I see them as friends, waiting to adorn your table.

I love bunched up jewelry displays, I can’t help myself. I’m rather fond of the blue rhinestones, but I think my favourite ones are the silver cowboys on the right.

This little corner seemed very quiet and solemn, the way the angel was sitting in the corner was just too perfect! Sometimes it’s hard to shop around in fear of disturbing the wonderful arrangement of objects.

How about these little blue pitchers? I love the way the doe is eyeing them.

As for me, I came home with two items: This lovely rhinestone bracelet, which I shall wear to the next wedding I’m invited to.

And this funny little contraption, which I hope a few of you will be able to identify: it’s a walnut grinder!

My mother inherited one from her mother, and I associate many days of my childhood with this tool, chopping walnuts for a pie or cookies and such. My sister, being the eldest, has claimed priority on inheriting Mom’s grinder, and I’m pretty excited to have one of my own to add to my hope chest!

Antique stores remind me of the silver lining in history: Tragic things happened, wars went on, friends grew sick and died, but there was still a cup of tea at the end of the day, and a friendly pair of salt shakers on the table. It’s nice to have little familiar things in times of grief.

we walk

Brittney — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:57:39 +0000

Today my sister and I went antiquing. We’re lucky to live in a town with an old-fashioned Main street, that contains the right kind of antique stores: junky and cheap. You can find all sorts of cool things, like broken cameras, old spurs, discarded earrings, and salt and pepper shakers of all kinds. It’s really the best.

It’s become a tradition for my sister and I to go whenever we’re both stuck at home and bored for whatever reason. Today I caved and bought a necklace I have looked at three times* now:

Isn’t it gorgeous? For $6, I think it was highly worth it. It certainly packs a statement, and is a great add to the rest of my jewelry collection.

What have been your great finds lately?

*Which, for anyone who has ever gone shopping or antiquing should know: is nearly impossible and basically means that I was DESTINED to own this necklace.

like a fruit machine

Brittney — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 05:31:19 +0000

My rellies have arrived all-right from Australia (Australia!) and they’ve brought the required tax of two boxes of Tim-Tams, and I am happy.

No, finals aren’t over yet, but I’m posting. I don’t know if I’m lucky or cursed but my classes have lately had this tendency to be a complete waste of time, besides providing fodder for blog updates, twitter posts, and basically every other aspect of my brain besides the part that retains information about whatever subject I’m studying.

I’m trying out a new segment! We’ll see how this goes:

Because EVERYBODY ELSE picks out cool images, takes the picture and saves it to their webspace and links back… I’m going to draw them instead. Preferably when I’m on the bus. Away from the image. And have no real recollection of what it looks like. Clearly this is a profoundly soul-stretching excersize. I have no idea how to spell excersize.

Let’s start with something I hope y’all already know about:

These boots. I want them. I am not able to link back to wherever they came from, because they came from MY MIND, but I fully believe that somewhere, SOMEWHERE, they exist. I REFUSE to give up on this. (And a pair for Winona, because I promised.)

Not like, literally, my baby cows should be smaller, but, well, you know, we all have to have flaws. Luckily for me my only flaw is my calves. My huge, huge man-calves.

(MAN-calves!)

(No, really, I got them from my Dad.)

(My Dad, who is a MAN.)

This lovely bird mirror, that I found here and it is only $112, which seems pretty reasonable, I guess.
It is gorgeous, and SO ME, but I have yet to own my own apartment, wall, etc, so am a little nervous to purchase something like this (semi) sight unseen, from the internet, where it could be damaged in shipping! But I still dream about it someday being in my home.

So… I have a thing for ampersands. Yes, that’s an ampersand, or the ever-so-famous “andsign” as many people refer to it nowadays, &&&&&&&& I love them. The way they look in type and script is so awesome, and I think graphically they really pack a punch. The ampersand tote bag can be found here for a measely £10, which I think is actually a lot of money in US dollars, I honestly have no idea. I’d also love to own the “2″ bag on this website, but the “&” really is what I’m salivating after. Too bad I only own about a gazillion purses, you know.

And finally, this lovely lion necklace from ragtrader has been on my wishlist since September. I want it so! I’ve already purchased a necklace from ragtrader before, and can only rant and rave about how awesome she is. My necklace arrived promptly, it’s of great quality, and I think I get the most compiments on my clover than any other necklace I own (and that’s saying quite a bit!). I really need to add this lion to my collection, if only so I can feel more FIERCE during bad days.

What do you think? What are the things that keep returning to YOUR mind, your internet shopping wants?