Showing posts with label Bracelet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bracelet. Show all posts

Friday, June 10, 2011

Charmed, I'm Sure


Want to hear a story about a magic charm bracelet that appeared out of nowhere? Ok, here's how it goes: 

On a recent trip to Hershey to visit my boyfriend's family, I was talking with his mom about my love of vintage items (I talk a lot about my love of vintage items).  We jumped in the car and spent the afternoon "thrift-store-hopping." I didn't find any jewelry, but did score a 1960's Coach bag, Totes scarf and crystal ring holder.  

On the way home,  I mentioned that one thing I was really looking for was a vintage charm bracelet.  When we got inside the house, she disappeared upstairs and emerged a few minutes later with the most amazing sterling silver nautical bracelet.  *Poof!*


Turns out, she used to sell antiques and pulled this bracelet from some of her old inventory.  And, she wanted me to have it! I was blown away by her generosity.  

Ok, so it's not really magic, and it didn't appear out of nowhere, but let's not be a spoil sport. I can assure you that the bracelet is magical, right down to the jingle it makes when I wear it.  

You can find vintage charm bracelets at estate sales and, if you're lucky, occasionally at thrift stores.  Otherwise the internet is your friend and can offer you a plethora of choices:

From Charm Chatter

from Vintage Retrievers

From Fine Estate Liquidation

from ReRuns
from LilahBelleVintage

p.s. I just finished reading a copy of The 19th Wife (you can see the cover in the background of one of the photos at the top). I highly recommend it for your summer reading list. Especially if you are like me and love Big Love and Sister Wives. Yep, I said it.  Sister Wives.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Your Cloisonne Bracelet


I've always been drawn to Asian styles of decorating and I love this red cloisonne bracelet that I recently "borrowed" from my mom on one of my visits home.

Cloisonne is an ancient decorating technique for metal jewelry and other objects.  The earliest known Cloisonne objects date all the way back to 12th century BC Cyprus!

Here are some other fun cloisonne-inspired items:

Cloisonne Vases from Left Coast Luxe

Sunday, December 5, 2010

25 Years of Service

The Atlantic Petroleum Storage Company was founded in 1866. In 1874, the company, now known as Atlantic Refining, was purchased by John D. Rockefeller and integrated as part of Standard Oil. 

Photo by Thomas Hawk

Trying to establish a national presence, Atlantic merged with the West Coast oil company Richfield Oil in 1966. The combined company became known as the Atlantic Richfield Company, better known by its acronym as ARCO

My grandfather, Albert "Abe" Samuels

My grandfather started at Arco in the 1930's as a chauffer (a fancier title than truck driver).  He worked there for his entire career, spending most of his time as an ARC and an electrical welder.  He was awarded a "years of service" lapel pin for his 25th anniversary.  He had the pin made into a bracelet for my grandmother, and it was eventually passed down to me.  

These days, it's rare for anyone to stay with one company for even a fraction of that time.  Talk about becoming a master of your trade.  

I love wearing this bracelet.  It fills me with an enormous sense of pride.  For my grandfather and for his dedication and loyalty.  For all of his hard work.  And while he never reached the ranks of John D. Rockefeller, he loved what he did.   He punched his time card at ARCO for more than 25 years and made an honest living for his family.  And for that, I am extremely proud.  


Other Vintage Gas & Oil Collectibles:

Vintage Gas Station Sign from AMradio

Mobil Bag from Industrial Relic