Valentine Collection

You might remember last December I blogged about my Christmas jewelry.  Here is my Valentine’s Day gear!  Seriously, I don’t wear all these things, but I keep them around for sentimental reasons.  Every piece has a story.

The felt heart above was made by and given to me by my grandmother.  She tatted the flowers and lace, and sewed a little pocket where I could hide a penny in the back.  It attaches with a safely pin.  I love its attention to detail and sweetness.  The little plastic heart next to it has been in my jewelry box since I was at least 6 years old.  I don’t know where it came from!

I made this little heart pin a few years go.  The dough is made from Wonder Bread; a mixture of Wonder Bread and white glue.  It’s still strong to this day!

I bought these porcelain hearts in Mendocino a few years go.  I love the swirly bits of gold and how smooth and light they are.

Lastly, I have some junky jewelry.  The big heart blinks when you push on it.  They are just plain fun to wear, especially when I teach.

What do you have?  Share some photos with me!

Box of Memories

My Grandmother's charm bracelets.

To those who have collected jewelry all their life, a journey through the jewelry box is a trip back in time. 

My collection is like a photo album.  When I hold necklaces that belonged to my grandmothers I see their faces shining back at me.  My favorite pendants from childhood remind me of a particular age, outfit, holiday or feeling.  Some pieces are from my first trip to San Francisco, gifts from friends and former students, visits to street festivals, and special vacations.  My jewelry box also contains a record of different phases in my life; the 80’s, my rhinestone period (before "Bling"), the Goddess years, world culture hippie, and “small and delicate”.  I have a few necklaces I made when I was little and many I’ve made as an adult. 

For me, the value of a piece of jewelry is not its materials or artistry, but the story it tells.  This explains why I have so much trouble clearing away the clutter.  As long as I have space, and can keep it organized, I don’t mind.  Every so often I get rid of things because their sentimental value has slipped away and I know I’ll never wear it again.  But I don’t throw them out.  Necklaces and earrings get disassembled and added to my workshop to be repurposed into new wearable art.