My truck is almost dead...

...hence I've had to miss The Gem Expo that started today in Toronto at the Hyatt Regency on King Street. I held off as long as possible before finally having to cancel. There are personal things taking up time, as well as non-stop typing for three or so weeks (= 1/2 a new vehicle!!!). Between white-knuckling it to the market and back once a week in the truck and twice-weekly grocery and library runs thanks to generous friends, I'm managing.

Meanwhile, I've been making jewellery at the market and then promptly selling it without taking photos. I'm also dipping a toe into the world of estate jewellery and any other doodads that catch my eye.

Case in point. This was my haul a couple of weeks ago:

A tiny engraved, sterling silver baby's bracelet in the style of a belt. I had no idea what this was when I first saw it, it was so small. 

The two eating implements are a toddler's first spoon and a "food pusher", often sold as a christening gift.

This is a circa 1920s or '30s??? brass watch chain with a still working compass. I am still boggled by the beauty of this piece. That's goldstone in the long link, invented in Venice in the 17th century and worth reading about. I knew goldstone was glass and manmade, but I'd only ever seen beads. I also assumed that it was a fairly modern material. Unfortunately, the 2nd piece is long gone. I ran this by a vintage jewellery pal and she said it looks like something that would've been given to or worn an engineer or some type of train person, perhaps? If anyone out there has an idea, please let me know.

This, on the other hand, is I think an old pewter whistle, possibly a dog whistle, but I can get a bit of a toot out of it.

These items will be for sale at the Nostalgia Show, Woodstock Fairgrounds on Nellis Street, Sunday 13 September, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Nancy and I will be located across from the snack bar (great food, as I discovered back in March!). We are hoarding all of our best collectibles and antiques for this show so please come and see us.

Here are a few pictures of the latest iteration of Showcase 800 and Booth 800/847 at the One of a Kind Antique Mall on Wilson St.

 

Showcase top...

Inside the showcase...

See anything you like? Send me an email.

Thanks for looking!

Jade, Serpentine & Mouthwatering Watermelon Tourmaline Necklace... & I've Moved Showcases...

Yes, I'm starving -- and typing "mouthwatering watermelon tourmaline" hasn't helped -- I just spent FOUR hours at the AntMall aka One of a Kind Antique Mall tidying up the booth, as well as moving from the old showcase at the main floor entry to a great spot around the corner and a few steps down the aisle.

First things first:

I had originally discovered this bead combination as I was getting ready for the July Gem Expo, but only yesterday got around to stringing them together. Wow, yes, the photo really does show up the fact that one lotus flower is quite noticeably larger than the other! Honestly, in real life, one looks a bit larger, but not to this degree. Take-home being, if you can't decide how something looks, take a photo. If you still can't figure out what's bugging you, flop the photo. Works every time.

Faceted matte Afghanistan jade, (probably dyed) green serpentine lotus flowers, watermelon tourmaline slices, with pewter bead caps and spacers and silver-plated zinc(?) flower clasp. This is about 19-1/2" to 20". I'm going to restring it, though. If anyone is interested, the blog price just for you is $95 plus shipping. Please email me to confirm that it's still available and what the shipping cost will be. I take PayPal and Square, and if you're in Canada I can accept an Interac email bank transfer (or whatever they call it now).

Okay, that's the purty stuff. On to the work part of my day. The AntMall has added another cash register so it's getting really crowded up at the front of the store with people lined up to pay for bulky goods and friends are standing around waiting. The dim lighting wasn't helping me, either. Last week, I was asked if I minded moving around the corner and down the aisle a bit. If nothing else, the new showcase is very well-lit. Bonus is it's across the aisle within laughing distance of my pal Brenda who sells high end semi-precious, silver and gold jewellery for incredibly decent prices in Booth 861. You really need to check her out. In particular she has lots and lots and lots of sterling rings for both men and women -- men's watches, too.

Buh-bye little showcase. From here...

...around the corner...

...to here...

Another angle, from Brenda's booth:

Took a good three hours to empty the old showcase and get this one loaded up. Tried putting Nancy's blue breakfast set on the glass "island" tray. Nah... don't think so...

Works for me for now:

I will be loading up the showcase with lots of new goodies in the next few weeks, PLUS -- sneak advance notice:

Nancy (Vendor 847) and I (Vendor 800) 

are having a 

15% OFF SALE 

for the entire month of October. 

That's everything in this showcase, as well as any items with our vendor numbers in the booth -- that's the booth with the blue walls directly across from the ladies washroom on the main floor just down from the cash desk.  

Thanks for looking!

Handmade Pure Copper & Mixed Metal Bracelets...

I'm now carrying these Fair Trade hammered pure copper and copper plus mixed metal bracelets made by the Bemba tribal people of the Katanga Province in the Congo.

Great for both men or women, they're $15 each, with a 10% discount if you buy two or more. These would make wonderful Christmas -- or just because -- gifts.

Shipping and handling extra (email me for a quote). I'll have them at the Woodstock Farmer's Market on Nellis St., Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. until noon from August 2nd on. An assortment are displayed at the One of a Kind Antique Mall, 97 Wilson Street, Woodstock, Showcase 800 on your right as you enter the first floor. The mall is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. seven days a week, except statutory holidays.

Thanks for looking!

Crystal Suncatchers Now at the Antique Mall...

Yesterday Nancy and I added more items to our booth and noted what has sold in just two or three days: small handmade birdhouses, old medicine bottles -- still some of each of those left; beautifully made doll clothes still in their original packaging and quite a few $2 grab bags of tiny toys.

I dug out a 3-armed silver-coloured towel rack to use to display my new copper and crystal suncatchers to hang in a sunny window or in the garden. Note that these are made with jewellery-quality crystals and are wire-wrapped (not strung with fishing line). Polish the copper with a tiny squirt of ketchup.

I tested them out in the sun yesterday and they definitely produce lots and lots of rainbows.

This length, with a leather cord, $15 plus shipping and handling. You can get them from showcase 800 on your right as you enter the first floor of the One of a Kind Antique Mall. I will also have lots of suncatchers to choose from at the Woodstock Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. They'd make a great hostess gift if you're going to a party or barbeque this summer or to a friend's cottage.

Thanks for looking!