Jewelry Giveaway

As a way to say thank you for reading my blog, I have decided to give away the vintage Lucite Rose earrings pictured above. Leave a comment on this post through 10/31/08 and you will be entered for a chance to win. I will have my daughter draw a name from all the posts on 11/1/08 and will post the name of the winner on my blog. By entering you are giving permission for your posting name to be used if you are the winner. Good luck!

Please note: No shipping charge if winner is in United States or Canada. Shipping charge may apply for shipping to other countries.

Read more...

Wonderful Recipe for the Season

I know this blog is mainly about jewelry, but a co-worker gave me this wonderful recipe and I thought I would share it with you. It's great for this time of year.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Carmel Sauce

Bread Pudding
2 cups half and half
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1 cup (packed) plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
1-½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1-½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
10 cups ½ inch cubes egg bread (about 10 ounces)
½ cup golden raisins

Caramel Sauce
1 ¼ cups (packed) dark brown sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
½ cup whipping cream

FOR BREAD PUDDING: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Whisk half-and-half, pumpkin, dark brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and vanilla in large bowl to blend.
Fold in bread cubes.
Stir in raisins.
Transfer mixture to 11 x 7-inch glass baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes.

Bake about 40 minutes or ‘til tester comes out clean.

MEANWHILE PREPARE CARAMEL SAUCE: Whisk brown sugar and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Whisk in cream and stir until sugar dissolves and sauce is smooth and bubbly.

Serve bread pudding warm with caramel sauce and cinnamon whipped cream.

Read more...

Collecting Jewelry - Where to Begin

If you want to start a jewelry collection, but aren't sure where to begin, these tips might help:

• Collect What You Like - It sounds simple, but many people try to start a collection by purchasing items they think are valuable rather than items they truly love. Collections are more fun when you are excited about what you find.

• Use Price Guides - When you are starting out, it is easy to make a mistake and pay too much for an item. There are many price guides on the market that offer information on determining the value of an item.

• Search the Internet - The internet is a valuable resource for both research and shopping. There are many online stores that sell vintage jewelry. When you shop online, you are able to find more vintage jewelry than you could find in you local area. Online stores can also give you an idea of value.

• Understand Condition - Most vintage jewelry pieces have been worn and loved for many years. You do want to take condition into consideration when determining value, but you shouldn't expect vintage jewelry to look brand new.

• Have Fun - Collecting jewelry can be an enjoyable and rewarding hobby, so have fun!

Read more...

An Introduction

Hello and welcome!

I have been collecting jewelry for many years and can't think of anything I would rather collect. I wanted to start a blog that would allow me to share my love of jewelry and offer some information as well, so here it is - my first blog post.

My blog will contain information on vintage designers, jewelry styles, and materials used in various mediums and eras. I will try to post a new blog each week, so please check back often.

If you have a jewelry question you would like answered, please post the question or contact me and I will try to answer it. If the question is about a specific piece, please try to send detailed photos.

I am happy you are visiting my blog and hope you will return soon.

The Vintage Jewelry Collector

Read more...