More Rhinestones

When I was looking through the costume jewelery in that antique oak tool chest, I also found this bracelet. When we were kids, we did not get a lot of gifts from grandparents or aunts and uncles. One Christmas when I was about ten years old, a package came from Ohio from my Grandma and Grandpa Hanle. My sister and I both received these rhinestone bracelets. Quite grown-up jewelery for such young girls, but, did we ever just "love them". It would not surprise me if your Aunt Shirley still has hers, too. She is more of a pack rat than I am !!!

Blue Rhinestones

I was looking through my costume jewelery in that wonderful old oak tool chest a couple of days ago and came upon a couple of "vintage" pieces. This blue rhinestone "choker" was purchased to wear with my blue lace prom dress back in 1957. Originally, there was a pair of clip on earrings to go with it, but, they have been lost or misplaced, apparently. When I think about how old this necklace really is and the fact that it is still with me after all these years and many moves -- that in itself, is amazing. In 1957, this necklace was quite inexpensive -- vintage rhinestone jewelery at the antique malls these days, is quite pricey !!

A Vintage Gift

Your Dad gave me this "turquoise" pendant necklace for my birthday when we were dating during our high school years. That would make it a vintage piece since that was way back in the "50's !!! It is purely costume jewelery, not the real thing. I really loved this piece and wore it a lot. While we were living in Oklahoma, I became very fond of turquoise jewelery-- the real stuff !! So, more gifts from your Dad coming up !

Vintage Blues

I love costume jewelry even though I don't wear it often and have way more of it than any one person should ever need. I especially like vintage pieces and have purchased some at antique malls through the years, plus have a few pieces of my own from my teen years. So, of course, those would be considered vintage at this point in my life !! Sharon and I went to the auction on Saturday and this piece was put up for bids. It's always nice when something I like is not what any other bidder is interested in !! Knowing what I have paid for pieces at the antique malls, I considered this a steal at $10. The pendant measures 2" across - the rhinestones are a lovely deep blue. I will put it in the oak "tool chest" jewelry box, I suppose. Maybe I will have a reason to wear it sometime.

Special Jewelery Box

This ornate brass and glass, hexagon shape box was amongst the things that once belonged to my G'ma Hanle. My Mom brought it back from Ohio in that truckload of things from Aunt Bertha's, and of course, it was love at first sight for me !! I really didn't think Mom would let me have it, but, she did !! The jewelery that I display in it are vintage pieces I have purchased at the antique mall shopping trips -- pieces that I "just couldn't live without" !! A pair of G'ma Lottie's earrings, a teddy bear pin, and a tiny green glass kitten have found a home in this box, also. It sets on my dresser in my bedroom and when I am dusting and cleaning, I always spend a little extra time on it - just admiring it, because it is beautiful and special, as are the pieces within it !!

Jars of Memories

More "stuff" on top of my kitchen cabinets !! These are all vintage Ball and Atlas quart jars except for one, which is a bi-centennial commemorative made by Ball Glass Co. That one, I purchased. Mom and Dad always went to farm auctions - Dad would invariably bid on and win a box of mixed items just to get one thing in that box that he wanted, My brother has followed those footsteps ! That is one of the reasons there was always so much "stuff" in different places on Mom and Dad's farmstead. Most of these jars came from that collection. I may have picked one up at an antique mall -- their origins are all vague, but they have made nice homes for a collection of marbles that came from G'pa P.M. and costume jewelry that was G'ma Lottie's. The marbles in one jar are handmade clay and very old is what G'pa told me when I saw them on his shelves and questioned him about them. All of the marbles came to us after G'pa died. G'ma Ruth had the box of G'ma Lottie's jewelry out one day for all the girls to pick out something - I have forgotten how I ended up with the left-overs - maybe she was going to pitch them and I talked her out of it. Whatever the case, I have fun looking the pieces over every so often !

The First Gift

Your Dad and I started dating when we were sophmores in high school. Do I remember what we did on our first date ? Let's see !! It was what all kids did in the 50's. Your Dad came to pick me up in that beautiful "robin egg blue" '54 two-door Ford automobile, met my mom and dad, and away we went to "drag main street" of the big metopolis of Ogden, Iowa !! Dragging main street meant driving back and forth on a 4 to 5 block stretch, U-turning at each end and doing it all over again. Of course, there would be stops here and there to visit with other couples and singles doing the same thing. Now, wasn't that just so exciting ? Well, I thought so, because I was with the best looking, most handsome boy in all of Ogden High !! If you remember the sitcom "Happy Days" ? Well, your dad was "THE FONZ" of our school with that gorgeous black hair in that duck-tail style and his black leather jacket. Geez, was I the lucky girl !! And, then before the evening was over, there was the drive to Boone to the A & W root beer stand for that great root beer float. And, then that kiss goodnight ! Wow ! Oh yeah, back to the gift ! This necklace and earrings was the first gift your dad ever gave me. It was that first Christmas after our first date. I am sure his mother helped him pick it out, just like he used to take you to help pick out gifts for me. This set has had a special place in jewelry boxes throught the years - over 50 years now !! Wasn't that just yesterday ?