The Fountain Head Catalog

Every once in a while an ephemeral treasure crosses my path and this old jewelers catalog is right up there with the best of 'em. Riddled with character (and a bit of mold) the volume once served as a scrapbook for a lady named Alice at the end of the 19th century. Lucky for me, Ms. Kelsey Currie over at the Bargain Barrel stowed this fascinating volume away and show it to me when I stopped by one day. Of course, I could not resist once I saw its tattered contents!

The catalog was published in 1890 by The Fountain Head for Jewelers Supplies. It seems as though Alice was using this book as a housekeeping file system (kinda the way I use Evernote these days). The pages are filled with recipe clippings for everything from Banana Blanc Mange to Buckwheat cakes, pasted snippets with housekeeping tips and exclamations over the trials of a poor ironer. A couple of pages have clippings with first aid treatments and herbal remedies. There are several pages pasted with obituaries, wedding and graduation announcements, poems and even a few short stories.

The first time I perused the book I was absorbed by the haphazard elements of faded newsprint contrasting the crisp black and white etchings of clocks, fancy tea sets and other fine wares. I love the stains, the blotches and even the torn newsprint. This is the stuff that mesmerizes me! Now I'll stop rambling and let it mesmerize you (and don't forget you can click the images to view in their full size loveliness.)

Jewelry Findings Catalog

This old catalog, circa 1920's, is chock-full of decorative jewelry findings and metal stampings for earrings, brooches, pins, buckles and much more.

Every page has been meticulously inscribed with the corresponding stock number of each item. Wouldn't that have been a tedious task?!

I searched around the inter-webs a bit for any information on the Rhode Island Stamping Company of Providence, RI but came up with nary a positive query.

The book was purchased via a winning bid on Ebay last winter but it's been sitting in my items-to-be-blogged-about-someday pile and guess what...today's the day!

Now it will most likely venture into the studio to be added to the cool-old-paper-to-be-snipped-up-for-collage pile.

And...since there is no way I'll use up all 40 pages of unique decorative paper-y bits I may post a few pages up in the vintage shop. Keep an eye out for 'em you jewelry fiends ;)

Pop-Arty Fun

We have a budding jewelry designer on our hands. Lizzie got a jar of Pop-Arty beads for Christmas and boy have they been fun. She's made dozens of necklaces, bracelets and rings for us all to wear including her dolls and Daddy (he's such a good sport although he wouldn't let me take documentation!). Lizzie's taken Pop Arty's packaging very seriously, "if it wiggles, put a ring on it."

Couture Collage

So here's a glimpse of the project I've been working on the past couple weeks....Sushipot's Couture Collage pendants. Each pendant is unique and carefully designed with you in mind. Believe me--you won't come across anyone else wearing the same thing when you're sporting a Couture Collage pendant! These pendants are actually quite versatile (dress 'em up or down), light weight (wooden base) and they look good worn on a long chain or wrapped around your neck with a dark ribbon. I've designed these with extra large bails so you can get creative how you wear them or display them when you're not.

I was quite impressed with the photos that Lizzie took of me wearing one of the pendants and will be using her images in the shop listing. We both had a lot of fun taking these pictures :) The first seven pendants of the Couture Collage series will be up in the shop over the weekend but I wanted to make sure all of you had a sneak peek. Now you can wear a Sushipot original if you like!

Here's to a weekend of lots of rest and a little work (hopefully). See you back here on Monday!