Great Finds: Handmade Silver “Amare” Bracelet

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Sarah S.

As much of a hassle unpacking is, sometimes it does give one the opportunity to rediscover long forgotten treasures. A couple days ago I ran across this simple silver bracelet I made in high school (my public high school had a very robust arts program!). It wasn’t until I was wearing it for sometime that I noticed the stamped word, “amare” on the inside of the piece. “Amare” is Latin (and also Italian) for “to love” or, as I suspect I might have first intended it to read, the imperative command, “love.”

Great Finds: Hologram Necklace

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Sarah S.

Among silver tea sets, vintage typewriters, and fur coats, I found this hologram necklace once belonging to my late nanna. My dad, now retired, was an engineer who worked on holograms, so I’m sure he gave her this beautiful rose necklace. In the right light, the image truly looks 3D. Given all the hologram-inspired fashion I’ve seen the past couple of years, my nanna was clearly ahead of her time!

Hologram Fashion

Vintage hologram necklace; Gap moto denim jacket; j.crew popover, Gap leather ballet flats

Great Finds: Antique Bullet Crystal Necklace

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Sarah S.

Usually, I stick to buying coffee and veggies at the Madison Farmer’s Market, but a couple weeks ago, I ran across this antique bullet and crystal necklace at RocksNsoul‘s market booth and had to purchase it. I’d hate to get too hippy, but isn’t the dichotomy just lovely?

You can purchase your own unique necklace on her Etsy shop. Another favorite of mine that I saw at her booth was this amazing cuff bracelet. Maybe I’ll save that for my next trip to the Farmer’s Market!

Photo courtesy of RocksNSoul.com

Great Finds: Spoon Ring

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Sarah S.

Maybe I’m the last to discover spoon rings (my friends seem to have seen them many times before!), but I thought they were such unique pieces to stumble upon, especially since I found this gorgeous ring at an apple orchard gift shop. For $10, I found a ring I find myself wearing almost everyday. Not a bad find!

Great Finds: Parisian Poster Coasters

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Sarah S.

Apparently, I have great luck in finding interesting art coasters (see my Great Finds: Baroque Coasters). I picked up these Parisian coasters at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Posters of Paris: Toulouse-Lautrec and His Contemporaries. Not only was the exhibit magnificent (these posters were responsible, after all, for “giving Paris a museum of pictures, an open-air exhibition”), but I got a great deal on the coasters, which cost me only $8.

Au revior!

Sarah

Great Finds: Vintage Perfume Necklace

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Sarah S.

I discovered this unique contraption at a local antique shop, and though I first spotted it for its gorgeous exterior, was even more intrigued when I learned what was inside. The back of this pretty vintage necklace (circa 1970s, is my best guess) opens up to reveal a spot for cream perfume. There is still some old perfume left (yuck!) so I’ll have to clean it out, but I do intend to add my own fragrance. What a perfect way to freshen up in the middle of a work day or a long night out!

Even better is knowing that I got a great deal for the find too! I bought it for $10. It’s selling online for $78 on Ruby Lane.

Ciao!

Sarah

Great Finds: Espresso Cups

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Sarah S.

My sister studied in Austria, and as she travelled Europe, she collected espresso cups. Though they weren’t the easiest things to take back to the States (miraculously she only broke one), they do make great decoration pieces in our apartment. Here are a few of my favorites.

Ciao!

Sarah

Salzburg, Austria

London, England

Florence, Italy

Munich, GermanyNice, France; Lake Forest, Illinois; Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Florence, Italy

Great Finds: Baroque Coasters

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Sarah S.

Yep, the title is correct; I found Baroque style coasters complete with ultra-realistic, chiaroscuro-filled mythological and Biblical paintings. Did I mention they were $4? I picked up these treasures at a barn sale in New Hampshire, and not only did I come in under budget on coasters (I was expecting to spend more like $8), I found a coaster set that trumps any inexpensive one I could find at Target. Now if only I could find a real Caravaggio at a barn sale…