A Little Bird Told Me ...

A little bird told me ... it's the start of Spring (almost) and the birds are as happy as we are. So we thought it appropriate to have birds as our March Featured Product.

bird |bərd| • noun • a warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrate distinguished by the possession of feathers, wings and a beak, and (typically) by being able to fly. 

Birds seem to have fascinated man right from the start. Maybe it is their ability to fly. Or their beautiful plumage, especially of the males in mating season.  Or could it be that they are soooooo cute!

And birds have found a place in many of our favorite colloquialisms:

birds of a feather flock together

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 

the birds and the bees

kill two birds with one stone

a little bird told me

We recently came across these fantastic folk art birds made of reclaimed wood, tin and such.  These are made just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and clearly come from the imagination and hand of an artistic person.

Folk art birds ($59.95 each)

Feathery bird ornaments are a happy sight all year 'round. These little white ones are just a sample of the colors and styles that we have available.

Ornamental birds (from $8.95 each)

Hand crafted wreath with bird on nest (from $29.95)

We have paper birds (decorative paper, tags, die cuts, notebooks), bird figurines, bird ribbon (check out the new wide birds on burlap!), paperweights, wall hangings, and more. And don't forget bird jewelry! Here's a small gallery of our offerings.

Decorative papers (starting at $4.50 per sheet)

Bird tags, labels and sticky notes (from $14.95 each)

Bird dish ($35.95), Bird nest vase ($13.95), Hand-made bird box ($17.95), Folk art bird on the line ($59.95)

Folk art metal sandpipers ($64.95 & $84.95)

Bird paperweight ($44.95)

Burlap bird wired ribbon 4" wide ($4.95 per yard)

Folk art Party Chicks wooden wall plaque ($49.95)

Birds, birdhouses and beach accents.

Audubon bird prints ($18.00 each)

Rustic bird nests and houses on branch ($7.95 each)

Tiny bird cages ($9.95 each); "Love" bird ($7.95 each)

Coro Bird of Paradise Duette Double Clip Brooch from 1940s ($245)

Girl with Basket and Bird (One only - inquire)

Aquamarine & Bloodstone: March's Birthstones

March is one of the months where the traditional and modern birthstones are different. The modern birthstone for March is aquamarine, that beautiful sea-blue gemstone which is a member of the beryl family (as is emerald).  Aquamarine, named for the Latin phrase water of the sea, shows off lovely shades of blue, from sky-blue to sea-blue. It is a versatile stone and is cut into many shapes and used in a wide variety of jewelry. This is a gorgeous gemstone for that lucky March baby.

Beautiful Modernist Aquamarine ring set in 14K gold ($195)

Bloodstone, the traditional birthstone of March, is a dark green chalcedony with  specks of red jasper. (Chalcedony is a crystalline form of quartz.) Bloodstone, which is also known as heliotrope, got its name from the belief that it was a stone from below the cross of Christ, whose blood dropped upon it. Bloodstone is said to help with physical endurance and strength, so is often considered a man's gemstone as a result. It is often mixed with other forms of agate or quartz in necklaces, and is used with Scottish agate in traditional Scottish jewelry. 

Edwardian Sterling Silver horn-shaped earrings from Birmingham, England (1905), with Bloodstone caps (SOLD)

Stone bead necklace, with a variety of agate and quartz beads, including bloodstone ($65)

We only have these few pieces of jewelry (above) with these stones here at Vintages, but I have included some archival photos to give you a feel for the beauty of these two birthstones. 

Fantasy dragonfly pendant with aquamarine stone

Over-the-top Art Deco pendant with diamonds & aquamarines

Large aquamarine stone surrounded by diamonds

Victorian watch fob with a bloodstone center

Traditional Scottish jewelry

Arts & Crafts ring with a bloodstone set in gold

 

Hearts • Murano Glass, Limoges, Jewelry & more

It just seems appropriate to feature hearts in February. After all, Valentine's Day is February 14th! Of course, hearts are not just for Valentines. Any special occasion is made more personal with hearts ... as a gift, as part of the table decoration, nestled on a pillow, or attached to a card. But you really do not need a special time or place to give a heart. Do it "just because."

We always carry a nice selection of heart gifts and jewelry, as well as hearts for crafting and collecting. Here is a gallery some of the many hearts we currently have in the shop.

Handmade paper hearts and fans; felt heart stickers; heart die-cuts

Wonderful handmade hearts and fans ($9.95 - $14.95 each)

Die-cuts of heart & flowers (99 cents each)

Murano Glass Gold Leaf Hearts ($22.95 & 48.95)

Heart Pendants ($12.95 - $19.95 each)

Heart Limoges Boxes are Hand Made in France ($103 to $199 each)

Victorian Lockets, many with Hearts (starting at $59 each)

Remember, we have some of these items online, and many more in our shop in Los Gatos. Call, email or stop in!

Amethyst: February's Birthstone

Victorian Amethyst & Pearl Pin

Amethyst is a form of quartz that has impurities that give it a royal violet color. Other impurities in quartz create some other semi-precious gemstones, but amethyst is always a shade of violet or purple. It's color ranges from a pinkish violet to a dark purple with flashes of red. Generally, the darker the color, the more prized is the gem.

The name derives from an ancient Greek word meaning intoxication. It was believed that wearing amethyst, or drinking from a vessel carved out of amethyst, would prevent drunkenness. Ah, would that were true! Mysticism aside, amethyst is a beautiful gemstone. It is also beautiful in its crystalline form, which is not uncommon and frequently seen in geodes.

At Vintages we have a nice selection of amethyst jewelry, including some lovely rings, brooches and pendants. Most of these are available online. 

A Variety of Amethyst Rings ($79 - $95 each)

Amethyst Ring set in 14k Gold ($345)

Amethyst Ring set in 14k Gold ($365)

Amethyst Ring and 14k Gold Bracelets

A Luscious Victorian Amethyst & 14k Gold Pendant ($365)

Modernist Butterfly Amethyst Earrings ($95)

Contemporary Amethyst & Silver Dragonfly Pin ($65)

A couple of Amethyst Crosses (starting at $59 each)

Scottish Silver Brooch ($79)

Red Garnet: January's Birthstone

Garnets were a favorite gemstone of the Victorians who especially enjoyed their dark red color. Other stones, such as rubies and red spinels have beautiful reds, but at a price. Garnets have served a very versatile place in jewelry through the years in cost, cut and color. It is a bit softer than the other red stones, allowing interesting and unique cuts, from traditional round, oval, baguette and emerald cuts to cabochons, hearts and birds. Bohemian cut garnets (and garnet glass as well), which is cut a bit rough like old rose cut diamonds, are often clustered in groups making a fantastic display.

Bohemian Garnet Bar Pin $95.00

Color-wise, there are four groups of garnet. The dark red stones (often called carbuncles, rhodolite or Bohemian) are the ones we normally recognize as garnets. But there are garnets that are yellowish-brown-red (hessonite or spessartine), colorless (which are usually synthetic, such as YAG or GAG gemstones), and green (tsavrite and the spectacular demantoid garnets). The photo below, from Keith Wallis' excellent book, Gemstones, shows the variety of colors of this versatile gem.

Red garnet is the January birthstone on pretty much all the birthstone charts. We have a nice selection of garnet jewelry, from bracelets to pendants, rings and brooches. Happy Birthday January!

Victorian Garnet Bar Pins ($65.00 to $125.00)

Bohemian Garnet and Garnet Glass Brooches ($65.00 to $195.00)

Garnet Rings, Earrings and Pendants ($65.00 to $295.00)