Bangles!

Ahh, more bangles to the Cherche' collection. 

I hope to add more in the weeks to come.

A girl can never have enough bangles!

Sweet and dainty

Check out these sweet gold filled bracelets! 

Sweet and dainty, just like a lady should be.

As always, they're great for stacking!

Etruscan bangle

One of my jewelers told me that I could throw away any part of this bangle, but if I would, please give him the hinge.

He says it's handmade, and as a craftsman, he wanted the old part.

I told him I wouldn't be throwing it away.

Here it is featured on the ol' blog for sale. Hand-made hinge and all.

Fob bracelet

As promised, here is the first of (hopefully) a few pictures from Cherche. "Pictures from Cherche" happens when my husband has a little free time. I'm sure you've noticed that trend...

I love this piece. I've had the medals for a while and was waiting to put each of them on a sterling wire as four different necklaces. I then came across this heavy, good-looking, gold-filled link bracelet and thought it looked great this way. So here it is; ready to sell. As mentioned, the bracelet is gold-filled. The charms are sterling silver English medals from the early 1900s. One of them has the most beautiful initial engraving with the date 1914. The others have no engraving on the back.

I believe these were given as awards of some sort back in the day. A sterling keepsake certainly sounds better than a plastic four-foot trophy. Ahh, Americans...

Bauble of the week

I wanted to kick off the month of April with a bauble of the week.

Here's something pretty for you to look at. This gold filled mesh slide bracelet is from an estate in Georgia. I particularly like the seed pearls and the tassel dangle. I've said it before, I like jewelry that moves.

Happy spring! 

Some new inventory and updated Spring calendar

I had some new inventory floating around, so I put some new items in The Queen Bee. 

It's hard to see, but that's a flat, gold filled bangle with black enamel and a safety chain. Many of you ask for just that criteria. 

I got these crown cufflinks converted to earrings. It's quite appropriate that these sit in The Queen Bee. Also shown is a brass brooch/pendant on a long chain with cabochon stones. 

This is a great right hand ring for someone who loves big statement jewelry. It gorgeous on the hand. 

I'm planning out my spring calendar to get substantial new inventory for those of you who are asking. There's a potential trip in March, and my trip to France is confirmed. We fly out on the 17th of April. I'm going for leisure, but I certainly intend to come home with a stash that is up for purchase. You might have to fight me to keep some of it, though. 

Let's just hope I stumble across the right pieces at the right prices. 

The grand opening

I've been a very busy girl. Pardon my absence.

The grand opening went so well. Thank you to all of you that came to support little ol me. The store looked incredible, and I've said it many times, but I'm so glad that my inventory is surrounded with such elegant decor. Shannon has got some good taste; I'm just glad she's asked me to be a small part of her adventure.

I told you she had good taste. So go check out the inventory at LD Interiors in Southdowns Village on Perkins Road. I'll be putting new stuff in often. Hope to get some good feed back from you! 

The French

Bonjour! I'm excited to show you these French pieces! And they both happen to be silver! I thought they went well together. 

The Eiffel Tower never gets old to me. Wouldn't this be awesome with some sterling bangles?

This weekend, I went to the mall to get my birthday present...a month early. I know what you're thinking. I wanted to wear some of my new clothes during my birthday month. Duh.

I decided to go to Forever 21, so I could get the most amount of clothes for my money. I got some great fall pieces, and I noticed that I came away with the same "look" to all of them: very French. {I'm saving my J.Crew shopping trip for when my mom comes to town.}

Unfortunately, I can not afford the fabulous clothes that I see on pinterest. I don't even pin them, for my heart grows ill with covetousness. But just this once, here's a sneak peak of what I've been missing. 

Though, there is some hope. Do you know what I hear about the French? I hear they have an uncanny way of putting things together whether it be food, drink, clothing, or accessories. My mom likes to tell the story of our friend, {la} Michele: she came to the states for a month with one purse, an orange purse. An orange purse! It somehow matched everything. And how do they mix those prints the way they do? 

I will try to find my inner French girl...I won't have to dig deep with my maiden name being Bolotte. I will find her and be creative on a budget. 

Oh, and I will wear French inspired jewelry to prove it. 

Playing dress up

As women, do we ever tire of playing dress up? 

I don't think I do. 

Enter what's called a "slave bracelet ring." I've seen these before but never knew the official name. 

While I was junking antiquing a few weeks back, I came across this here bauble. 

I did not purchase, as I do not care for this look, but I always like learning about these kinds of things. I find them interesting. And I don't mind a funky 70s gem here and there, but this was a bit much for even me. 

But wearing it around the store for 30 minutes? Oh, yes. My 6-year-old "gotta wear it" attitude is exposed when I'm handed anything tacky, funky, chunky, or appalling. 

Remember?

Ah, well it's  all in good fun. 

Images from my real collection coming later this week. Trust me, you won't want to miss them! 

A jewelry company

I've been neglecting the Cherche' blog lately, but I have been doing some ground work when it comes to my inventory. I'm getting repairs done and hope to showcase some of the progress soon.

Until then, I'd like to show you a designer I'm loving right now. It's a contemporary company called Bounkit. Check it out. Let me know what you think! I think it's awesome!

Blue

"America! America! God shed His grace on thee."

Boy, did God pour out His splendor on our country.

And I'll pour out my slendid blue jewelry finds today! Not nearly the same thing, but you get the picture: I love my country. I love my jewelry.

A professional photographer makes all the difference

It's true. Having a sister who is a photographer doesn't hurt. I'm so glad she snapped some of these photos from last week's show. Many of you expressed interest in the show but weren't able to attend. Take heart! I plan on doing another show in the Baton Rouge area again soon. It was very impromptu this last time. I promise to be more intentional for the next. 

Take a look at some of the collection. You may recognize many of these images from previous posts. Here they are again. 

Remember Miss Sally? These were her "scatter pins" that were popular in the 1950s. I made them into french hooks for pierced ears. 

This was the "backward necklace" that Andrew photographed a few weeks back. This is a very old piece, early 1900s with a paste stone set in gold filled. 

My inspiration for a write-up I'm doing. More on that later. 

This piece may get the most attention. I know why: it's gorgeous.

Small 14k pendants. Will be getting the chains soon. I realize people would like to buy the piece "ready to wear." Those 14k chains can be pricy for me, but I will bite the bullet and do it. 

Gold filled love knot pendant; love knots have unintentionally become a staple in my collection. 

A 1960s piece: mother of pearl leaves with 14k hooks. 

White gold filled with emerald. 

1950s turquoise studs set in 14k gold. From an estate in Arizona. 

A show stopper! 1920s art deco 14k white gold with diamonds and 2 sapphire stones! It was a stick pin converted into a pendant.  

Maybe it's because I just watched Oprah interview Ralph Lauren this afternoon, but I think this "good photography" thing has a lot to do with the picture ol' Ralph Lipschitz {original name} paints in his story telling, brand identity, and persona. His creation of classic style is genius, but good photography tells such a beautiful story. His ads are inspiring. I'm inspired by beautiful things. Who isn't, really? 

Sometimes you need a morale booster; a success story to keep you going. I know my husband needs inspiring on daily basis to create something wonderful. I need it too. 

Bottom line: don't give up. I tell myself that. I tell my husband that. And I know I'll tell my kids that. You know, I was thinking of the changes in life: the paramount events and how parents watch their kids graduate from kindergarden and make the sports team, or not, and so on. But no one really talks about the progress of the 20-something year old: the successful dinner party, the 2nd wedding anniversary celebration, the nutritional supper you cooked for your husband, recovering from the bad day at work. They all sound trivial, but it's those things that matter in our life, and sometimes we need encouragement. We need encouragement to keep going. 

So let's keep going. 

I'm going to Paris today...in my heart.

Some days you just feel like going to Paris...

Doesn't that look nice. 

Except I'm not going to Paris. I'm going to Thibodaux, which ain't half bad because I'm going to visit and have a jewelry show. 

I can have Paris in my heart if I were to wear this 1930s Parisian souvenir bracelet though. Hurry before my mom buys it. 

I bet it's cool in Greenbow, AL

I found these cool pieces not that long ago. I love a good retro, 1960s piece of jewelry. It keeps things funky. It keeps this southern gal funky. 

Black and red cloisonne', black enamel, and mother of pearl bangles. 

Do you feel as if you're channeling Jenny in Forrest Gump? 

"You know what I think? I think you should come home to GREENBOW, ALABAMA!" 

I never forgot the snake, arm bracelet she wore in the drug scene. Not my thing; the bracelet or the drugs.

{Necklace SOLD} 

Bold

Requirements for donning this bauble: bold, fun, and infectious personality. 

Check out this brass, costume piece with faux amethysts and peals.

Dreaming of bracelets

I believe a woodpecker has woken me up in the wee hours of this early a.m. It's 2-something a.m. in the mountains of North Carolina...

I read my Antique Weekly to entice sleep again but no dice. I'm all caught up on my history of Bakelite, though. Maybe I'll share soon!

But since I'm up, I'll share with you a recent find, yet another bracelet. A girl can never have enough bracelets, you know.

{SOLD}