Can you identify this piece of vintage jewelry?

Yep, it's that time again. This jester fellow was in the big pile of vintage jewelry, and I have no idea where he came from.

My kitten friend at metroretrovintage thinks he is a fur clip, possibly from Boucher in the 1930s. He has a sort of scratched in mark that says "C351" and either "51 53" or "57 53."

He has two hinged pins on the back, one with sort of an old-fashioned stick pin stopper.

Any ideas?

Bueller?
Oh, and I've listed a bunch of stuff in my GUSsupply shop, with tons more to come.

Random babbling and scary movies that aren't at all scary

So, I've spent the last few days sorting through the boxes of vintage stuff. Lots of fun, and I find sorting stuff very calming because I am, after all, a Virgo. All kinds of groovy old jewelry in there, and I've just started listing it in my GUSsupply shop on Etsy. However, betwen this and work being super busy, I haven't had much time to do anything else. That includes making jewelry myself and attending to this poor, neglected blog. Unfortunately, it seems like when I get busy, this is the first thing to fall behind.

While playing in the giant pile of jewelry, I've been watching horror movies on DVD. I got Paranormal Activity 2 and The Last Exorcism. Both of these movies are supposed to be super scary. The Last Exorcism tried, but it made me laugh. I'm sorry. This genre really should have died after the original Exorcist. And I didn't like the first Paranormal Activity. The sequel didn't make me any happier. Both were entertaining enough background noise while I was putting jewelry into little plastic bags, though. Thank goodness I didn't pay to see them in a theater.

I promise to come back strong here soon. Until then, be happy!

The vintage jewelry mother lode

So, I have a friend who has a ton (and by a ton, I may literally mean a ton) of vintage jewelry and doodads. His mom used to sell it at flea markets and such, and she passed away quite awhile ago. He's been bringing the stuff by so I can sell it in my GUSsupply shop on Etsy.

Today he brought over six boxes of stuff. Little bags inside little boxes inside bigger boxes, all full of shiny stuff.

It's like an archeological dig. I never have any idea what might be in the next layer. There are three copier paper boxes, one larger flatter box, a dvd player box, and a shoebox.

I started going through them tonight, but just got overwhelmed and closed everything back up. But before I started sorting and listing, I wanted to take pictures of the boxes as they showed up at my house.

Seriously brimming with mystery and possibility, huh? Who wants to come over and play?

Yeah, Franklin likes boxes. He's helping here.

Keep an eye on my GUSsupply shop. New vintage stuff coming as soon as I start my dig!

Random holiday weekend wrap up

Believe it or not, sometimes technology and I do not get along. Yesterday, I went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for dinner. They have some kind of flowering shrub or bush blooming at the corner of their house. (Yeah, I don't get along with plants very well, either. Trust me, it's either a bush or a shrub. With flowers.) The blooms were covered with three or four species of butterflies and moths, as well as several kinds of bees. It was absolutely amazing. There must have been thirty different buggies buzzing on these flowers. So, I got out my cell phone and took pictures. Yay! I made the phone camera work. I intended to download (or upload or something) these pictures onto my computer today so I could show them to you. Only, I can't get the phone and computer to talk to each other. I could take a picture with my regular camera of the phone picture on the phone screen, but it wouldn't have the same effect. After fifteen minutes of trying to convice the computer to converse with the phone, or vice versa, I admitted defeat and unhooked them. So, close your eyes and imagine the beauty of these lovely insects communing with each other, enjoying the late summer nectar of the flowers, because you will never ever get to see the wonderful pictures I took.

Today, I watched the 2009 movie, Julie and Julia. It's not really my kind of movie--no gangsters, decapitations or hauntings, but it was very sweet and smart, and I laughed a few times. Streep was so fun as Julia Child. Is there nothing she can't do? Overall, I found it quite inspiring, to be honest. These two women found their own ways, through their talents, charms and smarts, to make themselves happy and successful. I came away from the movie wanting to do something wonderful, so I guess that's a pretty great testimony for a fun little film.

And finally I've been listing vintage jewelry like a psycho in my GUSsupply shop on Etsy. It's only right that Gus should help, right? Here, he has turned an attached box lid into a sort of kitty settee, perfect for lounging and fluffing and overseeing whatever the heck Mama is doing in the shop that is Gus's namesake. He's as inspirational as Julie and Julia!

I hope your weekend was full of happiness and relaxation.

Vintage jewelry in my GUSsupply shop

This week, I've listed some absolutely delicious, sparkly vintage jewelry in my GUSsupply shop on Etsy, including this 1920s Art Deco rhinestone necklace.
This 1940-50s rhinestone brooch in blue. I've never seen another with with dangling crystals, have you?

This is a gorgeous light blue rhinestone two piece set, with a necklace and sweater guard. So Sandra Dee.

And this double strand blue and purple crystal bracelet from Marvella. Trust me, these crystals are too yummy.

Introducing. . . GUS Supply!

Last week, I opened a second etsy shop, GUSsupply. Since Franklin is the face of MAB Jewelry, I thought it was only fair that Gus should be the king of this shop. Look at that kitty nose! Anyway, in this shop, I'm going to focus on supplies, vintage and other quirky, fun stuff that I've accumulated. I'm decluttering my life, and will also be cleaning out my mom's house here over the next few months. It's good to pass stuff on to people who will love it. Who knows what might find its way into the shop? Useful things, pretty things, and fab old things, like the beauties listed below.

Vintage jewelry and accessories, like this unusual cameo circle pin

Fab vintage finds, like this 1950s enamelled metal compact

Vintage books and ephemera, like these cool animal illustrations

Jewelry supplies, like this batch of glass cabs

Stay tuned for more grooviness!