Bling show-and-tell, on request

If I had my way, I'd show you way more bling-only shots, except that I think people shots are more interesting. So I'm glad Curtise requested a close-up of the necklace shown in yesterday's post as it gives me a chance to show off. This department store necklace was not thrifted, and it WAS a splurge item, but I had just put my Brit Hunk on a jet and wasn't going to see him for two more months at least, so I was so so sad. I love the blue and green faceted pieces of glass. They may have mirrored my blue mood at the time, but generally blue makes me feel calm and serene, a good thing for an excitable chick like me! (Maybe that's why I wear blue so often?).

Meanwhile Ariane expressed an interest in seeing the necklace and bracelet from my May 18 post. This is one of my faves. I bought it in a Toronto vintage shop before I moved back home to Ottawa before getting married in December. I'm guessing it's 1980s. It's a choker style and I just adore the big golden flower. I have to make sure I don't wear the clasp to tightly; otherwise the tip of the flower digs into the hollow of my throat.

You may have already seen this bracelet, picked up for two pounds at an auction house market, so I'll show you a different view from before. It's very, very small and just fits around my wrist. I love it; it's so old world. Wonder if some gent gave it to his betrothed in Victorian times? It would be so romantic if it were a token of love ....

Speaking of the auction house market, I haven't yet shown you this necklace I picked up there for a couple pounds. It's kind of granny chic - smaller than what I normally wear, but I couldn't resist the shiny bits.

Here's a preview of my latest crush and Etsy purchase, a hand-painted boho multi-strand necklace pendant that I want to accessorize for you with just the perfect outfit. Stay tuned!

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My auction adventure

It began outside the sliding doors of Gerrard's Auction House.

I had found a vintage bracelet in the open market area there a week before for a mere pound ninety-nine, so I went back to scout for more cheap goodies.

The place was pretty quiet downstairs as there was an auction in progress on the second level.

Then a blur of vintage purses on a counter caught my eye. I asked at the front desk and turns out they were part of the auction upstairs. I had never been to an auction before (save one at a charity shop that I failed miserably at). Before I knew what was happening, I was registering at the desk and climbing the stairs to the auction. I had taken a closer look at those purses, and there was one in particular that I wanted.

This is THE purse that caught my eye. I LOVE the green. It's obviously handmade, but I have no idea how old it is. No stinkiness whatsoever. Just exquisite.

I stood waiting for the lot of my purses (I was already thinking of them as MINE) with an ever-quickening heartbeat. It wasn't very busy upstairs so most of the lots weren't being bid on and could have gone for ten pounds. I was hoping the same would happen for me. By the time the lot came up, I was so pumped I felt like I was about to have a heart attack. The auctioneer started talking and up shot my arm - we were off to the bidding races. There was no way those purses were getting away.

Alas, there was an online bidder and we went back and to for a bit. But I won, paying just $2 under my cut-off figure.

Here's the inside of the green purse, an obviously handmade job. MY insides were pretty jelly-like as I waited at the counter to pay and claim my purses.

This was the second purse in the lot, not as special as the first but still an interesting - and obviously handmade - piece. I like that, like the green one (which is admittedly a bit squished and will look better when I flatten it out to reshape it), it's a wee asymmetrical. Beautiful, imperfect. That's my cup of tea!

And so went my second ever real live auction adventure. Maybe auctioning will soon become old hat -- or old purses again??

Sharing my finds for Ta-dah Tuesday!

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