Showing posts with label Miriam Haskell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miriam Haskell. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Vintage Miriam Haskell Treasures of my Grandmother's

My Grandmother Suzuki's
Vintage Jewelry that I treasure


I often think about my Grandma Suzuki. My nickname for her was "Grams"as I was very close to her. I remember and will never forget how she would hug me close to her, that smell of her signature perfume, and how she always made sure that her hair was perfectly coifed, her face always pretty, and herself always nicely dressed. She was the best cook and always made sure that we were more than just fed. Her food was her love.

Recently, my mom and I visited my grandparents' grave in Kaneohe. We placed tropical red and pink ginger and ti leaves in their vases. I stood there and gazed at their gorgeous view of Kaneohe Bay and from that spot I saw my mom's house on the hill. We looked at their gravestone and calculated their ages. They both lived a long life passing away in their late 80's.


Miriam Haskell's baroque shaped faux pearl necklace and
mini rhinestones in between the pearls

When my Grams passed away, I still remember sitting on her bed which was filled with her belongings. My aunts were cleaning out her room and passing along her belongings to all of us. On her bed, what was left after my aunts had taken what they wanted were numerous scarves and my Gram's costume jewelry. I gathered up all her scarves, as like my Grams, I have a thing for scarves. I put them to my nose and inhaled her perfume.




I opened up the numerous boxes and looked at her jewelry. A large black expensive looking box was there amongst everything else. My aunts must've left it behind bc it wasn't "real" jewelry. But as I opened up the hinged box and found this absolutely stunning vintage Miriam Haskell necklace, I realized that they had left behind a real gem. You can't find this quality, detail, or romance anymore in the new commercial jewelry.

I believe that this Miriam Haskell necklace was meant to end up in my hands as it has led to my Love, appreciation, and fascination with the beauty of vintage jewelry and other things of the past. Whenever I look at this necklace, I feel Happy as it reminds me of my Grams. I can still hear her voice in my head, see her cooking away in her kitchen and turning to me and smiling.

Happy days from a happy childhood.



Other little treasures that found me
My Grams' "Service" pin
and vintage French perfume Crescendo by Lanvin


With my fascination with Miriam Haskell jewelry, I've acquired Vintage jewelry components which were used by Miriam Haskell to create their wonderful jewelry and I've created jewelry from them. Please check out my Etsy shops Stacy's Designs 88 and Blue Lovebirds for pieces using Miriam Haskell components.





Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Abby's Custom Bridal Jewelry Order

Abby's GorGeoUs Wedding Gown

Abby is my official Etsy Internet Pal. She is a fan of my bridal jewelry and appreciated my "eye" and style. She wanted a complete bridal jewelry set...necklace, bracelet, and chandelier earrings. It all started with the "True Love" earrings. She LoVed them and wanted the other pieces to have the same feel---romantic, eclectic, and a bit sexy.

After Convos back and forth (my GF asked me recently---what's a "Convo"? They are emails thru my Etsy shop ), I came up with this Mock Design...she LoVed it, I LoVed it, We All LoVed it!



mock up design with the True Love feel


How do I come up with my designs?

It's a "feeling". I look at the pearls, crystals, beads that I have, I think about my client and review my notes and photos, and then something "pops" into my head. Sometimes the design and pattern comes to me really quickly. Other times, I have to futz around with the placement of the components over and over again. When I start designing, I can sit there at my table and design for hours on end. When I get into the "groove", I can't stop. I keep on going b/c I have that "feeling". It's a rush...indescribable.


Abby's Custom Made Bridal Jewelry


Abby wanted 3 strands for her necklace, 2 strands for her bracelet, and a long version of the True Love earrings.

Everything is timing and luck. While Convo'g with Abby, I happened to luck across some beautiful Vintage Miriam Haskell faux pearls and Marjorca pearls. I had to use them in Abby's beauties. They were the perfect additions.

For her jewelry, I used a large variety of components----vintage Miriam Haskell faux cream pearls, vintage Marjarco, Swarovski crystal pearls in various sizes in both white and lt cream, glass seed beads, Swarovski crystals in various sizes, Sterling silver liquid silver beads, Oxidized sterling silver spacer beads, and vintage clear and frosted glass beads.

This is definitely a design that you can only find in my Etsy shop.




2 Strand True Love--Abby Bracelet


3 strand True Love---Abby Necklace



True Love---Abby Earrings

After completing her bridal jewelry, I was kinda stumped with how to box these lovelies. Obviously, they didn't fit in my normal jewelry boxes. Luckily, I'm a bit of a pack rat and had kept a William Sonoma's box which W&S gave me when I registered for their wedding registry. It was so cute that I couldn't toss it. It was plain white inside and out. I got crafty and using my Close To My Heart paper, decorated the inside and out. I hand stamped a special design and handwrote a special note especially for Abby from me.

The Outside of the Jewelry Box
Decorated by Moi! ;)


A special note to Abby from Me


My Hand Decorated Box
especially for Abby's Custom Bridal Jewelry


I didn't stop there...I wrapped the box in a beautiful burnt orange satin ribbon and girly girl'd it up with a silk yellow daisy. The entire box was done up in Abby's wedding colors.

Update: Abby and her fiance really LoVed her bridal ensemble. I'm so HapPy! Congratulations Abby on your upcoming wedding!


And they lived happily ever after...

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