Loving Lockets...

A collecting passion of mine over the last several years has been antique lockets. I love the old ones because they are exquisitely crafted and can be used to store more than just pictures. They are also great for keeping locks of hair, old remnants of special fabric, or an important piece of paper from days gone by. And with scanners and computers it is easy to take an old momento or photograph and make it wee small to display or store in a locket that can be worn and carried along with you on your every day journey. I find it to be incredibly comforting to have an object or a momento from a loved one worn on me and kept close to my heart as I go about my day. Take a look at my collection....

 My favorite has to be the black enamel and rhinestone cross locket. It is absolutely breathtaking and will make a stunning container for something special along with a nice picture.

Another really special locket is the piece below that I just brought back from my recent trip to Paris. I just love it because I found it myself, it reminds me of my wonderful and special trip, and it has the beautiful Notre Dame on the outside of it. (of course, it also says 'Paris' just above it and that makes another reason it is so cool)...

Another thing I just LOVE about old lockets is the turn of the century monogramming and engraving that you can sometimes find on them. There just isn't any engraving as ornate as the type they used to achieve back in their day! It definitely is a lost art form, and I long to find an engraver in this day and age that could even come close to the skill of these old artisans from long ago....

 See a locket that would make a special momento holder for you??????

I just finished the piece below for my mom for her birthday. I incorporated a locket on the bottom so she could put a lock of my grandmother's hair and a picture inside. Her birthstone is amethyst, so I incorporated purple rhinestones and mauve pearls and used a monogram initial for the centerpiece

...I think she liked it.

 This locket necklace is cool in the fact that you can wear it doubled or long. It is a real attention-getter long with it's crystal link chain, old Victorian rhinestone centerpiece, and really exquisitely detailed floral and leaf half-locket on the bottom...

This piece may just make a detour to my jewelry box if It doesn't sell before the weeks out. I'm thinking of keeping it for myself and adding a lock of my grandmother's hair to the backside of the locket. For now, I have put an old prayer card portrait on the back of the locket and it is really pretty...

 I was out antiquing yesterday, and found the most beautiful and unusual piece that I have ever seen....

...It's an old hand carved monogrammed mother of pearl game chip. Not sure if it was used to gamble with or if it was used for some type of Victorian game played at home, but it is EXQUISITE!  It will make a fine necklace with all of it's elegant details and irridescent glow.

Look at the reverse of the piece, I don't know which side is prettier....

I'll post pictures when I get this piece together! Can't wait to get started with it!!!

Au Revoir for now and thank you for stopping to look.