The Tradition of Charm Bracelets

Years ago, a good friend of mine had this beautiful silver charm bracelet. I have always loved unique things, and I was just in love with her bracelet. Each little item told a story, had a reason for being there.

One weekend, a few of us went shopping and she wanted to make a stop at her favorite spot to buy charms. While there, all of us saw things that we just loved. We decided that we would all begin our own bracelet. We were all teachers, so we each put an apple on the very end and promised it would stay there for life. Then we picked some more....

This is my first bracelet ever. It started with a few charms, and every time we went back to this little magical store, we would add more. Now, some like their bracelets very dainty and light. However, for me, the heavier the better.

I grew up in a household full of neat and eclectic finds. My parents still have that "museum" of a house and I have followed in their footsteps. I love "stuff" and my jewelry is no different. I am a tall gal and I like big jewelry. I also like as many charms as I can fit.....

Each charm has meaning behind it.....a bubblegum machine because at the time I was always chewing gum, a cat and a dog representing my animals, a knight for my mom's side that we are related to, and a beer stein for my father's German side.
Charms from friends, places I have been and the things that I love....

This is my second bracelet. The peasant and the fleur-de-lis belonged to my mother, more places I have visited, and others that I just liked or had some meaning. Rub the Buddha's belly for good luck, and Ganesha, the Indian god with the head of an elephant. I collect elephants, and that is a whole other blog.
My next bracelet had a wedding bell, because I married my soul mate, a windmill, clog, and bicycle for our journey to Holland (there were so many bikes) the lantern for the way he helps my soul light up, many from the Caymans where we visited. Most importantly, a phone because I wanted to call everyone to tell them of the "stork" that was going to deliver my baby girl.

After many years and lots of travel, I put this bracelet together. Years, meaning after both of my daughters were born. They collected in a box, and there are just so many because my husband, who is very thoughtful, tries to get me a charm when he travels to a new place, which happens quite a bit.
This bracelet also symbolizes the start of a tradition......
.... which my blog is also themed......
I try (granted I am still working on my second bracelet) to write down the meaning of each charm on a bracelet. That way, one day when I pass them down to my girls, they will know. They will have a permanent "storybook" about me, that can be passed down for generations to come.

When I taught, I had a parent of a student that had this beautiful and unique charm bracelet that I commented on with love. It is from a company that makes bracelets and one can choose all of the items that they want to put on. She got me a gift certificate, and then I went to a house party to make mine (above). It was really cool because they had tables all spread out covered in all different charms and beads, and after you pick all of your goodies, they put it together for you. I like this one because of the amethyst color to it and all of the charms represent my step children, my first daughter, and our family. I need to add another charm for my second daughter. I feel very special when I wear it.

This is a recent addition. As you know, I love the Eiffel Tower. There is a ET charm, and Arc De Triumph, a large Paris souvenir charm, that is not too large for me, Disney, Inverness, a beautiful town in Scotland where I had spent some time, a kokopelli from my dad's travels, and an infinity.

My husband and I have always signed our notes with infinity (+oo, -oo) Think of the "oo" as a sideways eight. We had it on our wedding cake, the invitations, and engraved onto our wedding bands. So, image my excitement when I found this one....

I also got one for both of my daughters. We have many charms that match because if we travel somewhere, I MUST get three of them, like Japan, CA, SC, etc.

Normally, I design all of my bracelets. When I found this one though, it spoke to me. It also turned me on to the older style of bracelet with more rings and is better made. Later I got a plain vintage chain and made my "G-ma" bracelet with it. I still have to post that photo.
There were many charms that reminded me of my Grandma Betty, the most amazing woman that ever lived! We were very close. She had a huge impact on me and I used to spend weeks with her on "the farm". The last time I saw her, my daughter was just a couple of weeks old and had jaundice. My Gma was in a nursing home, slowly going down hill. I felt horrible from giving birth, and I was nervous about the baby getting germs, but I just had to make the drive to see her.

We spent about thirty minutes there. I believe my grandmother had the early stages of Alzheimer's , she was talking like she was living and seeing her life fifty years ago. But when she saw my baby, she was there. She held my little girl in her arms with joy. When we left, I told her "Everything is going to be okay G-ma" and she said, "I know". I then said, "I love you G-ma" and she said, "I love you too". Those were our last words to one another, and that was the last time I saw her. Yes, I am crying, and yes, I am going to do a special blog about her. She was my favorite person ever.

I have had a very hard time with loosing my G-ma. She always said I was "her baby". It has been over five years now. When I saw this bracelet,
I saw the stop sign that said, "I will never stop loving you", the mink coat (I now have hers, but would never buy one for the record), the roller skate (she loved), and the sax, which my Great G-ma Good played (her mom) and the music note, I just felt like they were sending me a little message. I HAD to have it and I so love it.

After our travels to Japan (with husband on business trip, myself and both girls) I was looking for a charm for all of us to represent our amazing trip, to a place I so love and can't wait to go back to. I was searching on ebay which is an EXCELLENT source. I did find a "Japan" island for all of us, but I also came across this. It belonged to someones grandmother, who had brought it to the states after the war. There is another find as well of oriental charms. The detail on these charms is just amazing. I don't wear this but admire it a lot. My hopes are to eventually put some of them, the sturdier ones on a charm "necklace". When the show "Ghost Whisperer" first came out, the lead character (who owns an antique shop) had this amazing charm necklace on. I have searched with no luck.
This is my oldest daughter's soon to be bracelet. It takes time to put all of the rings on each charm to then put onto the chain. As you can see, she really could have two bracelets, and in time is welcome to do that. But I have a feeling she will be her mommy's little girl, and she will keep it as is.

This is my youngest daughter's bracelet. Well, will be. I still need to get her a chain. I don't think her little wrist will be wearing it anytime soon though.

So, I hope that you have enjoyed my blog on charm bracelets. There are many resources for finding good deals and it is such a wonderful tradition to begin. It will tell your story for years to come no matter whose arm it finds itself on.

Please leave comments......

Thanks and have a "charming" day.

Advent Calendar Made by Mama and Daughter

I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great time at my Grandpa Dick's and I am just so blessed to be able to share his beautiful farm, that I spent so much time on growing up, with my own children. I feel like I am small again on a fantastic adventure. I had some great moments with my Grandfather too. He really is a great man.

So, I am doing a quick post, (I will add some pics of my G-pa's later). I feel guilty because I have really let the house go. So today I am trying to catch up, although it is very hard not to go to my computer (that I really missed during my trip). I have a pile of laundry that if snowed upon, I would have my own ski slope... I also hate to admit that I have very sticky floors from the flood of juice my three year old somehow spreads all over...

This is a advent kit I found, but I don't remember who makes it. It is one of those big scrapping companies though. Anyway, I always had a German Advent Calendar growing up that I would fight over with my brother and sister. The chocolate inside was just so good. I wish I could find those today. The kind you see now a days are just ho hum with a picture or whatever character. I was so excited when I found this.

My oldest and I pick out some other items to go with it and did the whole project together (until their Papa put them in the tub, and at that point we were both over it). After her tub break, we finished it up and I just think it is great. We can use it every year, put some candy or a treat in each little drawer and enjoy this treasure we made during a bonding moment.

I am really sorry that I colored in the spots where I put pictures of my girls. I am just a really paranoid Mama and I don't want to put pictures of my girls online. My husband would kill me as well.

I did want to share this with all of you and I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment, I love to know I am not just posting for me.....

Stay Tuned...... I have taken the photos of my charm bracelets for my next blog and will post this "story" soon.

Have a great day and thanks so much for reading my blog!

R...

Great Finds of The Day

Please excuse the scattered pictures.
I am still figuring out how to blog...











Today I picked my five year old up from school and asked her, "So what do you want to do baby?" She excitedly said, "I want to go to the antique store!"








Does anyone know anything about this old hat box. It is huge! Looks like Abe Lincoln's hat could fit in this thing!







Last week, for the first time, I took her with me to one of my favorite spots (actually it is a spot my Mom and I visit). She was so good and really enjoyed herself. Today, I told her that we could go to another favorite spot of Grandma's and Mama's. She couldn't wait.


Now this place is on the second story of a very old building in an older rt of town. Lots of people bring their items there and have little areas "boothed" off. There can be some great finds, and there is also some crazy junk. I love it though, especially when someone has a sale at their "'booth" like today.

Now, my daughter wants to go one way, and I the other. "There is a certain route that Grandma and I take and you need to follow that route". We went from spot to spot, and she was surprisingly good. We found some great glass containers and she was just amazed at all of the "stuff". When we were in one "booth" she would eventually say, "Mama, can we go now?" But she didn't want to go home, she was just ready to go to the next "booth". I have to give her some credit though. I can take a long time, because one must look through the "stuff" to find the treasure. And I found some great ones.

About 3/4of the way through, she did start to get restless but I can't blame her. She did find a treasure for herself (A UT football pencil and pad holder, the pencil goes in a hole on the football.) "I love Tennessee football games Mommy". Whatever - she just LOVES paper and pencils and pens and such (just like her Mama).

So, onto the goods. You will find pics below and above, I am still figuring this blog thing out and can't get the pic to go where I want it....

Okay, now, this old croquet set (above) is too cute. And then, I saw a price tag of $6.00, and that booth had a sign for 50% off. Too cool, but not with two small girls who want to play with it on my tile floors. I finally yelled, "I didn't buy that to play with, I got it so that it can sit in the corner and look cute and gather dust". Ha ha ha!

If anyone knows anything about this huge hat box (above), please let me know. It too was on sale, 60% off and it was just too cool to pass up, regardless of the hat it once contained.

Awesome find for the crafter, an old set of number stamps (above). If you look at the pic of the stamp side, you will see a swirly cool number. Just neat to look at, might use them but not intention in purchase.
R UR IIIIs Bugging U Yet? So Sorry!

This old box of wooden matches (below) I just loved, and even more so at 50% off.

I knew that I would kick myself if I didn't get this bird wall pocket (is that really what they are called) thing a ma bob. I want some old vintage shimmering tiny shabby chic-ish flowers for it. Love the shabby chic items, would love to have that off white furniture and pretty feminine colored items all around with robin's egg blue walls, but I just have too many things I love, too eclectic, therefore I just have all types of stuff all over, and my husband has adjusted well. He's the best.


Okay, gotta have the glass containers. Some are old, some might not be, but they were all unique and I really liked them. Just got my German glass glitter from wanderlustNpixiedust.etsy.com and I can't wait to put it in my new containers. This stuff is just so beautiful, and she packs it all so wonderfully that I just want to look at it. She has hypnotic Myca flakes as well. Just love it!

Do I even have to explain the colored glass containers?

I have several old wooden drawers, thus it adds to the collection, and I also have a plan in my head for this ugly, dirty type tray that was 60% off.
Now, even though this old shutter isn't as old and historic and as big and marvelous as my pair hung in my bathroom (see blog "ideas for old shutters"), it is still a shutter that some love and paint and sandpaper can make into a treasure to display all sorts of neat stuff....

Like the stock/share sheets that I found (okay, I wouldn't really put those in my shutter) but they sure are neat. I am a big fan of old papers of all kinds and even if these are only from the 40s, they are still way cool in my book.

So, now to post my pics. Keep your fingers crossed that I can get it worked out. I hope that you have enjoyed my fun day of finds...

Best part though, was the bonding that I had with my daughter. I always need that "me time" away from all of my many responsibilities, but I really enjoyed my adventure much more with her in tow. I told her that I want us to always hang out just like my mother and I do. She said, "Aaaahhhh".

Thanks for reading and I sure do like comments.... hint hint hint

Go Big Orange! Shared the day and the blog with my daughter. Her little sister is already fighting her for it. If you are not a Big Orange Fan - doesn't offend me one bit!

Bird Wall Pocket

Pretty jars for all of my pretties..

Why do you want that old door???

This is what my husband asked me, as well as his best friend, as I was moving in with him years ago. I LOVE my old door and the wonderful crackled lead free paint that is layered all over it.

In my single days, I had my door propped up behind my old iron bed. I love the doorknob on it. I found this wonderful old door on an old back building of a home that is no longer there. Unfortunaltly, like many of those old treasures, it was torn down to build condos. However, I saw that old collapsing back building many times. One day, my father and I went and asked the owner if we could have some of the boards (I love to paint signs on them). The owner said it was fine. Little did I know of the other treasures (that my husband still does not understand) I would find, like the many old window panes, an old table with fold out leaves, and this beautiful old door that I must have been close to in a past life. He let me take, not buy, take them all. He was so nice, and I was so happy.

So, I have used the panes for various creations, like the "bulliten board" in my "studio" and one in my daughter's play room. The old table, that used to house a favorite lamp and my collection of pegged wood boxes, is currently sitting in my garage with one broken leg. But my husband has promised to fix it, one of these days. And when he does, it will be perfect because once he puts his mind to it, his work is amazing. And many boards have been painted with such words as bakery, Paris, Bath House, and Oysters. I plan on painting an Eiffel Tower on one, surprise surprise.

Now, back to the door. We started out with a round, glass top table. Not good with small children. Made me nervous as hell and sure enough it fell off one day and shattered. Luckily no one was hurt. Next, my husband used the same base and built a new square top. He did a great job, but both of my daughters like to lean on it, and it wanted to fall over.

So, know how you finally get into "determined wife mode" when your husband knows you mean business and pulls in his tale so that you don't rip his head off? Well, that is what happened. I put the table in the garage and decided I was getting a new one.

Light Bulb - I love it when that thing goes off in my head. Years ago, I ate at a restaurant that had old doors as tables. They were covered with glass, and old photos and various ephemera was displayed here and there. Loved it! My wonderful husband has agreed that my old door, that he never understood, can be made into my new kitchen table. I am so excited! I have actually scrapped off the wonderful paint, not all, but most, and being the genious that I am, I even told my husband that we, he, could just use the old post from our old playground, for legs. They can be banged on like crazy and distressed (many crafters dream). Now what husband wouldn't be happy about an almost free table to please their wife to shut them up for a bit? We were going to put glass on it, but with the girls, I think some clear plexiglass or whatever, will do. They can do all of their projects on it, and I can display my "stuff" and their work under the glass, and all is good.

Even better, I have two chairs I purchased years ago that have an alligator print to them (carved wood) and my husband inherited his father's old church pew which will be perfect along one side. Especially with my leaning girls.

So, stay tuned to see how it looks when it is done. If you have any ideas or experience with this kind of thing, please comment. Even if you just enjoy my post, please comment, just so I know that I am not talking to myself. Thanks!

I am hoping, and nagging, that he will get it done this weekend. Wish me luck!

Idea for using antique shutters .....

I loved these shutters so much when I found them. They came from an old house in New York. Before I married, had my finds displayed everywhere. A friend told me once that my house was like a museum, something new to look at each time she came. Yes, I have lots of stuff, I love my finds AND my clutter. My husband has grown somewhat accustomed to it, or just accepts it. I had these shutters put away for a while, but then I decided that I needed my stuff and that everyone in the household would just have to deal.

"If Mama isn't happy, no one is happy".

One day, that light bulb came on and I decided to hang them in our half bath. My husband, as usual, did an amazing job taking care of me and hanging these huge things up. I loved it! They brought height to the room and made if feel warmer.New light bulb... I LOVE old photos and postcards and have quite a collection. I took some of my favorites, of course the Eiffel Tower was in there as well, and tucked them into the shutters. Too cool, pat myself on the back.

You can get creative and tuck all sorts of neat stuff into them. For Halloween, I tucked some Halloween decorated hang tags into the slats, and plan to gussy them up for The Christmas Holiday as well. The tags were great because they were scented with cinnamon and spice and made the bathroom smell so yummy.

Hope you enjoy this idea. Remember to always look at those things you love and how they can be used in a different way.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts or ideas so be sure to leave your comments!





Stay tuned to see what I am going to do with my vintage door from an old house that is covered in cracked paint.....

These are a few of my favotite things .......

Here are some of my Eiffel Tower vintage items and cool finds like my french flash cards, charms, and my stereoview....
I love this old stereoview that I found, with a gasp of course. Have others, but not of my favorite Eiffel Tower. I found the larger tower from a seller in Paris. I have also placed some of my great grandmother's favorite silver spoons that were passed down to me. I just love them all, and they are over 100 years old.
One of my etsy favorites, http://smalltreasures.etsy.com , has these watch parts, old tickets and bingo markers. She has the best stuff! She lives in Germany and has great places to find vintage items.... I have a few cool places of my own where I found loads of old mother of pearl buttons and this cool paper egg.....
Same etsy fav.... vintage ledger sheets tied with a gorgeous ribbon. I added some other items as well like my favorite hydrangeas. I just look at it and it makes me feel warm inside.....

I love a cool find .........

Found these cool dominoes at one of my favorite local shops .... These cards are just too cool. I love their old vintage box. I plan on selling some of them in my etsy shop.
You can never have too many sheets of old vintage music............
I also got some great old cups, bowls, and shakers for my glass glitter. I will post some pics once I get them organized but if you want some for yourself check out http://wanderlustnpixiedust.etsy.com/ . You can just get lost in all of her items and the way she displays them so deliciously.

I Love To Paint Signs

This is a sign that I painted on a board from an old farm house. Lots of layers and a crackle effect. I then painted the word "Paris". I just love it! My Mom thinks that I should sell it, but I can't just yet. Maybe I will make another.

I am a first time Blogger, gee can you tell? I want to get the hang of this and post my ideas, pics, etc.

I love to create! I just turned a spare bedroom into my "studio" where I can work on my projects and display all of my favorite things. I recently started selling my items on Etsy.com. I have sold three items now and it just makes me so happy that other people like what I do. Even when others just look at my items, it makes me happy. I have a lot of ideas in my head .......

I love finding old cool things. Recently I found some old dominoes, a card game and some old sheet music. I also got some old cups, bowls and salt and pepper shakers to put some of my items in. I found some beautiful old glass glitter and I can't wait to just look at it, on display, in my "me space".