The other day, I was blessed by a gift in the mail from the very thoughtful and generous Michelle Adams. I'm so fortunate to have such wonderful readers...you're always sending me fabulous treasures! I want to show you what was in the box.
First of all, look at this lovely, vintage tatting. I have a few pieces of old tatting that I've been incorporating into some of my jewelry but this will be a wonderful addition. I can't wait to use some of it.
Thanks to my very generous readers, my collection of antique prayer books and Bibles is steadily growing. Thank you, Michelle, for these two tiny prayer books, both very old. One was printed in 1886, the other in 1887. Also, this lovely monogrammed sterling thingy. I'm not sure what this is but it's going to make a fabulous jewelry element.
Did you notice the vintage, glass rosary and medals? Also, in the box was an old mother-of-pearl buckle as well as...
...a very old button card, complete with glass buttons. This is probably one of those things I won't be able to tear up and use. I have a real affinity for old things and a tendency to want to keep them in their original state. This is very inconvenient at times!
I just love the old photos Michelle included. Both of these were shot right outside an ice cream parlor, which is probably now long gone. The little dog in this one reminds me of my Maggie.
And here's the whole family, out for a Sunday ice cream. Can you imagine what a treat this must have been for these little guys?
I have a pretty large collection of old prayer cards. Inside the books, were three very old cards. The religious imagery on these cards is often beautiful but, I think what I like best is the idea of someone holding these cards in their hands for comfort....praying over them.
I believe the black beads are probably from a piece of mourning jewelry and quite old. They appear to be jet and are on a very old, crusty string, knotted between each bead. The beads themselves are very oddly shaped and somewhat pitted and worn. Jet is sort of like petrified wood and forms when waterlogged wood sinks to the bottom of a body of water and becomes covered with mud. Over time, with heat and pressure, it forms into a coal-like stone. It's lighter weight than glass which makes me think these beads may be jet.
So, there you have it...my treasures of the week.
