May

We know today that both men and women will be heading to the woods for another season of hunting.  It may be rifle or bow, pheasant or deer, but what I am talking about today is neither.  I find that hunting is one of the most satisfying hobbies there are.  In my case it’s not the bang...it’s the bling!  Yes , it’s a hunt!  I use to think I was the only person around that loved hunting for bling.
For me it all started around thirty years ago, I was beginning to admire the old rhinestone pins that my Aunts would wear on occastions, since I was so drawn to the intricate details of design, I’ve found that many of the vintage costume jewelry had a very special appeal.  It started with garage sales,  I would buy one here or there. Then one day I ran into a place on Niagara Falls Blvd. that bought and sold estates.  I would wonder into the place and ask if they had any old jewelry.  One day the owner handed me a good size box (especially for being filled with nothing but jewelry).  He said he hadn’t had time to sort it yet, but for $40.00 it was mine.  I’ll never forget that day!  It was like finding a treasure .  The biggest thrill was taking the box home and sorting through all the twisted chains and bling to see what exactly was there.  Bingo!  I wasn’t looking for gold or silver...just some interesting bling from times gone by.
I remember calling my mother on the phone, heart racing…”you’re not going to believe what I just did!”  (only a mother could understand the excitement of such a treasure find).   Many years later,  I continue to hunt and have never lost the desire to find something new and interesting.  

What does one do with so much bling?  Let me tell you, many a person (mostly women) are collectors of costume jewelry.  It has become so big, that there are costume jewelry clubs online, conventions, and much knowledge to be shared for those of us that are hooked on this hobby.

I have designed a kissing ball with a Christmas tree made of 400 pieces of vintage costume jewelry for the Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls many years ago.  Now-a-days, there are bridal bouquets being made of this jewelry in place of flowers. One designer recently took a vintage rhinestone necklace and sprayed it completely white for a modern twist on jewelry...it just about floored most collectors.

You’ll never know where the next piece will end up, but for the serious collectors...redesigning a vintage piece of jewelry is serious stuff.  They know the difference today between Emmons, Kramer of New York, Eisenberg, Trifari and unmarked pieces., and you better not mess with them!

So if you see me at the next Estate Sale in your neighborhood, you’ll know what I’m hunting for...and if your grandma left some “old junk jewelry” behind...take a second to let me know….you’ll be able to identify me.