All posts tagged: jewellery

Ninon’s accessories

I can’t really trim Ninon’s dress because I can’t get the right trim in Wellington, and I feel I shouldn’t make a special trip up to Brian Gaskin’s in Palmy because I have to go up there on business next week. So instead I’m researching what jewellery and accessories she should wear. It’s pretty easy actually: every-single-painting shows the sitter wearing a collarbone level necklace of large pearls, and large pear-drop pearl earrings. Some ladies went for simply the pearl necklace and earrings, and nothing else: Most sitters added a few more accessories of her own to go with the ubiquitous necklace and earrings. This one has bracelets: Brooches at the centre front holding the fichu in place are common, usually with pearl drops: And of course, I have Elisabeth d’Orleans as my inspiration for Ninon with her pleated fabric/shell with a bow and jewelled bodice trimming. There are other portraits that show the same pearls in the bun at the back of the head And one lady went all out to gain Louis XIV’s …

Friday Rave: Things Unseen Jewellery

Published by The Dreamstress

Mr Dreamy got me the best Valentines Day present ever this year. It is a custom floral necklace by my favourite jeweller, Nini of Things Unseen. Nini is based in Wellington, and her line sells in a couple of posh shops in town, such as Rex Royale, and on etsy, but if you want to be able to buy any of her really good stuff you have to get up very early: anytime she shows up at a jewellery or craft fair she sells out, and there is a little mini-riot in front of her stall as everyone tries to get their hands on a fabulous piece of jewellery. Of course, you can circumvent all of that by contacting her in person and getting a custom piece, which is what Mr D did. Lucky me! Nini’s jewellery is steampunk, with an elegant, feminine, and very witty twist. She uses cogs and gears and bees and dragonflies and all sorts of other fabulous stuff. She uses other motifs too. I particularly like her hare line. (hehe …

Kimono silks, fripperies and royal gossip

Published by The Dreamstress

I’ve bought some rather pretty pogey bait at op shops in the last few weeks. First, a fabulous necklace: It’s a little more fantasy than historical, but in a pinch it could do late Victorian (at least based on my Sears and Roebucks from the 1890s). And it’s just a lovely piece all on its own, with fairly quality workmanship. The fabric it is resting on is a roll of unused vintage kimono crepe. Like so many kimono out there, it has the paulownia mon. I had a bit of a blowout on vintage kimono silks actually. In addition to the pink I got this beautiful crepe with mysterious white on white patterning. Its a whole roll (an entire kimono), unmade up, so the pattern disappears and reappears along the roll, and includes bits of design that make no apparent sense at the moment, but will when they are matched with the right corresponding bits. I’m looking forward to placing a kimono pattern over it, and figuring out how the designs would fit together. And …