I’m 90% certain this beautiful brooch and matching earrings are Hollycraft.

Why oh why oh why did jewelry makers not sign every dang piece they made????? Of course, that would take the fun out of research, but criminy.

So here we have a rich-looking goldtone brooch and earrings set with milk glass rhinestones and accented with black enamel.

Flowers with black enameled lacy (sort of filigree) petals and milk glass rhinestone centers. The three leaves on the brooch have life-like detail and light texturing. It all comes together in a very appealing look.

Okay, so why do I say Hollycraft?

A few years ago, a friend had this same set except hers was signed. My research has shown that Hollycraft didn’t always sign their pieces. In fact, there’s probably quite a bit of Hollycraft floating around unsigned and unattributed.

So this demi will be listed in my JewelryObsessed shop, probably around the end of the week.

I’ll be listing this trembler brooch, with its bright, colorful, cheery rhinestone and enameled flowers and butterfly, at the same time:

It has an interesting combination of plain and textured backs on the components.

Why wait til the end of the week? There are some Valentine pieces to be photo’d and listed first. I may post some of them here tomorrow.

I’ve really gotta step up the pace, or I’ll still be purging three years from now…

Coro is my absolute favorite of the vintage makers. Of the jewelry pieces I’ve sold, the one that hurt the most to part with was a small Coro clock pin from the 1930s. I still sorta cringe when I think about it.

That’s why this Coro fur clip was one of the first pieces in the “purge” box. If I don’t do it now, it will be that much harder later, when I’m tempted to keep “oh, just this one… and maybe that one…”

This piece will is now available at JewelryObsessed on Etsy, in this listing: Coro Fur Clip. It’s missing some stones, but is well worth the repair.

I thought I had the proper baguettes for replacement. Imagine my surprise when I discovered they didn’t fit, because the missing stones are keystones. I wasn’t aware of Coro using keystones. Then again, it seems many makers used them at one time or another.

This fur clip is unsigned, but can be seen on JewelryPatents.com. It’s on the page in the link, in the 9th row down on the far right – Patent #159909

The stones appear to be baguettes in the drawing, but I’ve noticed that pieces often have subtle changes between the patent drawings and the finished product, since the patents were to secure the overall designs.

I had once thought about going into vintage jewelry repair and restoration. To me it’s fascinating, and somewhat goddess-like (heh) – resurrecting these old beauties to their former glory.

Some of the first repair pieces I acquired were a bit too challenging for my novice status, so they were passed on to others. I ended up with many more, which have either been repaired or will be sold as repair pieces.

Strange title for a blog post about jewelry, eh? Maybe not…

My name is Colleen. I am a vintage jewelry addict. Okay, make that just plain ol’ jewelry addict. Vintage is best, but – I love it all!

When I was on eBay, I went nuts. Sell a few pieces, buy a hundred more. Lord, those “huge lots” would get me going! And I won’t even go into my shopping frenzies at the antique malls and thrift stores. Oh my.

I had a jewelry store on eCrater for a while, but moved it to Etsy (see the mini in the side bar). It’s called JewelryObsessed, of course. Haven’t done too well with either location. The problem is, I pick out pieces to list but, when it comes down to it, I. just. can’t.

Well… I’ve been snowed in the last couple of days – always a good time to get out the jools and play. This time reality hit.

Here I sit with thousands of jewelry pieces – none of which I wear. Ever. Whaaaat??!

Time to purge. Seriously. It’s all going, and no looking back.

Soooo… a random selection of 43 pieces plus two demi parures are sitting here ready for a photo shoot. Among them are Trifari, Coro, Vendome, Sarah Coventry, Goldette, Roman, along with some lovely old unsigned and some newer. eek. This is really happening.

Stay tuned. I’ll post photos along with my thoughts, babblings, and possible rantings as the purge progresses.

This is going to be an ordeal.