Selep Imaging Blog: December 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Christmas Hutch Version 1

Welsh dresser with Christmas arrangement

I arranged my first Christmas china display in my hutch! (I got the hutch in July 2010.)

A mug I got for the colors, not the shape

Have you ever suffered what something called "paralysis by analysis"? I had so many options and little free time. I have a collection of "solo" Christmas plates, (Snowman, angels, or Christmas colors) that I could have used. I could have added garlands, lights, stemware, ornaments, ornaments in glass jars, candlesticks. I could have icicles dripping from behind the top rim. You get the idea.

Royal Albert Teacup and Saucer

What happened after Thanksgiving? As a start I put out the bright Christmas plates (Mitford by Hallmark) that I got for a song. After two weeks or so, I added the milk glass and miscellaneous cups and saucers and mugs. A day or two before Christmas, we decorated the Christmas tree. And now? Christmas has come and gone, and New Years Day is just around the corner. Well, next year...

Hallmark Mitford Christmas China in Hutch

Christmas Hallmark Mitford China displayed in Hutch

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

I am linking to these parties:

Roses for Show off your Cottage Mon (I was entry 35)
A Picture is Worth for 2nd Time Around (Entry 3).
Shabby Chic for Transformation Thur (Entry 32 of 62+)
Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 14 of 44).
Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur (Entry 11 of 27).
Between Naps for Tablescape Thursday (Entry 70 of 120).

Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 95, (Entry 17 of 76)
French Country for Feathered Nest Friday (Entry 3 of 68)

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration (Entry 15 of 59).

Jessica for Favorite Things Friday (Entry 32 of 203).

Laurie for Bargain Hunting and Chatting (Entry 8 of 24)

Romantic Home for Show and Tell #30 (Entry 60 of 188).
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wed 146 (Entry 55).

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Christmas Tree Pins

Today's photo mosaic was created with some of my costume jewelry Christmas tree pins. Most of these pins are probably the 1950's or 1960's, although a couple are much newer.

vintage costume jewelry Christmas tree pin

The one above is probably my current favorite. It is unsigned.

This one is a contemporary pin from the last decade or so. I think my Dad gave each of my sisters and my mom this same tree pin.

Click on the images to see them enlarged.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

I linking up to the following memes:

This is my 10th entry to Mosaic Monday (I was entry 14 of 83)

Hooked on Houses for Holiday House Tours (I was entry 211 of 240.)

Roses for Show off your Cottage Monday (I was entry 44 of 49)

Naps on the Porch for Metamorphis Mon 99 (I was entry 274 of 300.)

Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays 42 (I was entry 23 of 145.)

House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday (I was entry )

Shabby Chic for Holiday Home Tour (I was entry 56 of 180)

Laurie for Favorite Things Sat (I was entry 16)

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration (I was entry 38 of 63)

Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thursday (I was entry 12 of 27)
Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday 94, (I was entry 29 of 63)

Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thur (I was entry 3 of 16).
Romantic Home for Show and Tell (I was entry 36 of 209)
French Country for Feathered Nest Fri #10 (I was entry 33 of 92)

Jessica for Favorite Things Friday (I was entry 24 of 100).
My Cottage Charm for Trinkets and Treasures (I was entry 3).
A Picture is Worth for 2nd Time Around (I was entry 11)

Linda for A La Carte Finds 7 (I was entry 20).
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wed 146 (Entry 57).

Friday, December 3, 2010

Vintage Holly Christmas Bling

Enjoy getting ready for Christmas!

I haven't started decorating for Christmas yet, so I decided to post something from my costume jewelry collection that was seasonal. The gold toned pin shown above is a 'Trifari' pin from probably the 1950's or 1960's. What is fun about this pin is that I have this pin in 3 different styles or configurations of metal and rhinestones and pearls.

designer signed Trifari gold holly pin with pearls

I like the holly pin with red berries best.

I first saw this pin in 2001-2002, when I started buying costume jewelry on Ebay. I liked the pin but didn't get one. After several years of seeing the gold and silver configurations, I bought them because they were cute and affordable. The gold with pearls (and no rhinestones) is the style I see the most on Ebay, and the silver one with pearls and rhinestones is 'rarer'. But the style I liked most, with red berries and rhinestones I didn't see again until 2009-2010. I began to think some clever restorer had substituted red beads for pearls. When I finally saw the pin again, I made sure I won the bid to finish out my group.

I have more pieces of designer jewelry, and have watched the prices of some of the pieces go up over the years. Unlike my stocks from the same decade. Perhaps this is a sign that I should buy more things on Ebay? ;)

A piece of jewelry is called a "signed designer piece" when the manufacturer or designer's name or symbol is on the piece. You can see the stamped name Trifari on the back of this pin. Trifari was a jewelry manufacturer that created good costume jewelry from the 1930's for many decades. They created metal alloys that looked like gold and silver and didn't tarnish over time, and they used quality rhinestones an imitation pearls.