Upcycled Vintage Jewelry: Environmentally & Socially Conscious Bling for Your Ears

Turquoise Vintage Cameo Drop Earrings

Why not lessen your environmental footprint by purchasing jewelry that incorporates vintage pieces? 

Earrings with vintage cameos or rhinestones add a uniquely vintage touch to your jewelry that ensures you won't find a friend or stranger wearing the exact same pair!

As I try to do with the majority of my designs, most pieces have at least one vintage component or in some, the only new addition is the actually earring hook, wire or leverback. 

Using a vintage teardrop for example in a beautiful white milk glass is the perfect accent to a turquoise patina finished piece. 

Finished with new red copper leverbacks, these earrings are not something you would find at any other shop than FrameBoutique.

Turquoise & White Teardrop Earrings

 

Something old, something new,

Something borrowed, something blue,

And a silver sixpence in her shoe.

Need that "something blue", "something old" & "something new", look no further because with some of our earrings you can fulfill all three of this good-luck bridal rhyme with one pair of FrameBoutique earrings. This good luck saying actually dates back to the Victorian era.

Something Old: symbolic of continuity, oftentimes a link to the bride's own family & mother's past.

Something New: represents good luck & hopes for a bright future. Wearing a new item also symbolizes the bride & bride-groom are creating a new union that will last.

Something Borrowed: symbolizes the support of friends & family by lending something that represents 'happiness', but must be returned after the wedding. 

Something Blue: symbolizes faithfulness, loyalty & is sometimes a blue garter. In the past, couples actually wore blue bands on the border of their wedding suit & dress to show their love, modesty & fidelity to each other. 

 (http://www.somethingoldsomethingnew.co.uk/)

When using vintage rhinestones, I always embrace the minimalist aesthetic. A long, elegant kidney wire won't outshine these incredibly vibrant {Tiffany blue moonstones} & will bring an {Art Deco}-inspired touch to any outfit. 

Tiffany Blue Diamond Drop Earrings, Kidney Wire

New pieces are added daily to FrameBoutique.Etsy.com (Click on the names of the earrings to be directed to each listing)

White Milk Glass Teardrop Earrings

Lapis Lazuli Teardrop Earrings

Teal Mosaic Studs

Azure Blue Drop Earrings

Opalescent Diamond Brass Drops, Kidney Wire

Fire Opal Studs

Black Friday

As one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Black Friday has always been a day on which I've avoided making my own purchases. I've never been a fan of the corporate giants who dominate the market and the mass produced, cookie-cutter goods they sell at a fraction of the price. Because of this, I've always boycotted the shopping frenzy known as Black Friday.

However, this was before I discovered the eclectic and creative world of Etsy; a world where the little guy, the independent business/seller is able to prosper & share their goods with an international community. A few years ago, I bought vintage cameras for my husband off of Etsy and I vowed that all of my holiday gifts would come from small, independent shops that represented everything the mass produced products did not - thought, love, time. I am still a big supporter of buying handmade, buying local and buying from the small, 'little guy' businesses.

Be the change that you want to see in this world. As cliche as that phrase sounds, it is something I strive for each day and especially for this holiday season. I will not purchase items for my family members that can be found at any big department or box store, rather, I have purchased beautiful, hand-knitted cup cozies from Upper Duke Designs: http://www.etsy.com/people/UpperDukeDesigns & I will be making my own soy candles for the people I love.

Which path will you take this holiday season? What handmade products will you be purchasing and which local, independent businesses will you be supporting?

Rather than "buy nothing day", why not choose to support a small business today?

Pocket Watch, Glasses & 'Stache Necklaces, Oh My!

At long last, FrameBoutique has (back) in stock the much sought-after, antique line of pocket watch necklaces that quickly sold & emptied our stock last time (sorry for the delay for those who inquired!). We have three pieces from the previous line along with three new varieties, each with a distinctly unique design, which I will be listing later this week!

Along with the pocket watch necklaces I will be listing later this week (if my schedule slows down!), I will be listing my black glasses frame necklace (a favourite amongst friends & often, a whimsical party prop). As well, I finally have the moustache necklaces back in stock! Getting ready for Movember!

Happy Monday everyone!

Petals of Pages, An Upcycled Brooch

As a community, Etsy sellers & buyers constantly inspire & motivate me. Having my work acknowledged or "favourited" is very encouraging & the most rewarding is when customers request custom orders & sincerely love their new FrameBoutique item.

A few hours ago, I put the final touches on a custom order of my upcycled brooch design using "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho & I thought I would share some great links on upcycling.

Soon, I'll post a DIY tutorial for my upcycled pom and brooch designs!

A few months ago I decided to try my hand at decorative poms, but I wanted to use my own unique design & material. That's when I found a new purpose for a very worn Noam Chomsky book. I was surprised by the amount of people that contacted me, created treasuries or favourited this small, 6 inch pom I had made.

There was also something strangely cathartic about ripping apart a book after graduating with my master's in English.

Then I started to research this movement a bit further & found some interesting facts. Upcycling is actually very different from recycling or "downcycling" since the recycling process creates a product that is of lower quality than before.

With upcycling, designers like myself (& there are thousands on Etsy) take something that would otherwise be chucked into the garbage or recycling bin & repurpose it into a new product that is of an improved, higher quality.

In an effort to combine this newfound love of upcycled items & jewelry, I designed a upcycled brooch which I call "Petals of Pages". This brooch is the perfect size, 3 inches in diameter and 1 & 1/2 inches tall.

I wanted to share some of the great free DIY designs I've stumble across. Here are some great links that are specific to upcycling: http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=116 or http://blog.sustainablog.org/six-creative-upcycling-projects/ or http://blog.gaiam.com/blog/don’t-recycle-that-5-cool-diy-upcycling-websites/

If you would like to share a upcycled project, post it here or shoot me an email. A great read for those interested in upcycling is Michael Braungart & William McDonough's "Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things".

To see my Etsy listings, check out:
Petals of Pages: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78051501/brooch-altered-book-petals-of-pages?nc=1
Shabby Chic Pomander: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78001653/home-decor-hanging-upcycled-book-shabby

New Fall Fashion Designs!

The design for this miniature necktie necklace started when one of my partner's ties ripped and he was going to throw it out. I decided to create my own "party tie" as a quirky, whimsical piece for my birthday party. Now, I have four different colour combinations that have been crafted and upcycled out of vintage silk ties and they seem to be a great hit with customers.

I also have a new line of pocket watch necklaces coming out soon in three different designs. One of the designs which I have yet to take photographs of is more of the steampunk style since you can see all the internal gears and mechanisms working.

In addition to these pieces, I have a plethora of new earring designs which I seem to be creating faster than I can list them on Etsy.

Some of my favourite from these new additions are the vintage cabochons which are mostly of German and Japanese designs. They have been upcycled to create these stunning earring studs.



Here's a sneak peek at some of the other designs I've been working on. Some of these pieces have not yet been listed, but can be reserved. Contact me if you are interested in reserving any designs you see on my blog or in my Etsy store. Check to see which listings are available at frameboutique.etsy.com!

This earring stud gift set is a collection of Japanese vintage cabochons. Each are speckled Millefiori glass.

A beautiful lavender purple vintage cabochon that has been upcycled to create this great ring.

I love the teardrop shape of the bronze filigree earring stud post that these vivid aqua blue cabochons are set against. Very unique design.

These red checkered earring studs are actually upcycled vintage buttons that I found in a button boutique.

This melon ribbed cabochon comes in a variety of colours and I've used them for rings and earring studs.

I especially love these vintage white Japanese cabochons which give the appearance of confetti or flakes of various colours set inside the glass. I've set aside so many of these for myself! :)