DesignSponge Challenge: #DSCollections

The talented Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge has issued a challenge in the blog-o-sphere. She's curious about the collections of her readers. Throughout the month, Ms. Bonney's invited Design Sponge fans to share their personal collections on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag "#DSCollection." Find full details at the blog.

Although my personal collection items are rather eclectic, born of greatly varying time periods and styles, there are a few patterns to be found in my magpie's gatherings.

The trio of Victorian-era velvet boxes in this post's first photo caught my eye because of their soft, faded blue hues and contrasting metal hardware. I have the key for that gorgeous lock on the largest box, too!

Equally irresistible to me is vintage jewelry. 

These antique celluloid necklaces are circa 1930s. As they are super delicate, I rarely wear them. I particularly adore the chenille pipe-filled blown glass globe charms. The other necklaces have floral motifs, featuring leaves, flower buds, and acorns. So much character and charm can be found in celluloid pieces! 

Just a fraction of my modern, vintage, and antique birds collection... There are celluloid, ceramic, glass, chalkware, and chenille birds in it.

Thanks for the #DSCollections challenge, Design*Sponge! It's super fun, and I'm excited to see what sorts of items the other participants share.

Bijoux Binge

I tend to go through periods where I try very hard to conserve and not indulge my consumerist desires, and then...I fall off the wagon in a display so grand, you could say I'm overcompensating for the lean months. "Wish Lists" and "Carts" are reviewed and checked out, and I'm high for days on the thrilling view of packages peeking out of my mailbox.

The latest binge includes a supposedly Georgian wax seal. It's huge and made of brass with intricate repousse.

 The seal features an agate stone.

I also acquired this Victorian quizzing glass. Repousse all over!

And finally, this base-metal locket with flourishes and flowers rounds out the collection.

All of these pendants will eventually become part of necklaces.

Progress

Pictured is a likely Deco-era watch case with shiny bits and antique wordage. I think I want to rework the quartz fringe. The antique blue glass drop is a token from French honeymoon, and the fox(face) is paper clay derived from a mold of an item found on a dig in the United Kingdom.