Antique Jewelry Lampshade
I’m so fortunate to have a great collection of antique costume jewelry given to me by my two Grandmothers, my Mother and my husband’s Grandmothers. They all knew how I love sparkly-pretty-girly things and for years, I’ve made it into an antique jewelry lampshade which sits on my dressing table.
After I caught a good glimpse of the lamp in the sunlight the other day, I saw that it was in desperate need of a new shade and all the jewelry needed a good cleaning. So one by one, I took each piece off, cleaned it and put it back on the new shade.
To anyone else it would have been a chore, but I thought it was great fun to look at each piece and remember where it came from. The turkey pin was bought for me by my Mother in an antique store in DeFuniak Springs. I wear it at Thanksgiving, of course. One of the sweater clips is below the turkey, and it’s one of my favorite things from the collection to wear.
The owl is probably my least favorite, but it’s still pretty cute. It came from my husband’s paternal Grandmother. Not only does he look a little goofy, but it’s also really heavy. I wore the stick pin on the top right when I was in high school. It came from my maternal Grandmother.
“Ear-Bobs,” as my grandmothers called them are clipped to the bottom and top of the shade. I’ve had a few converted for my pierced ears, because there is no hell on earth like having the blood squeezed from your ear lobes by heavy clip-on earrings! How did ladies stand it? I tried to wear a pair to church one Sunday and almost passed out from ear-throbbing! People around me thought I was caught up in the moment, when in reality, I was having jewelry trauma.
These photos show up better when the lamp is turned off, but in person, it really sparkles when lit.
There are two collar clips (above) that I haven’t really figured out how to work. I’m not even 100% sure that they are collar clips. I just don’t know where else they would go. They don’t really “clip,” but they just sort of hang there. Too big for earrings, I’m just not sure what they are. But they’re beautifully made, whatever they may be.
I’m so glad I finally got around to cleaning everything and changing the shade. Instead of hiding these treasures away in a box, I get to enjoy them every day and remember all the ladies I loved (and present tense – “love” for my own Mom!) who shared their pretty things with me.
Leslie,
I do enjoy reading your latest article ….. makes me feel you are right around the corner!
The jewelry that you are calling collar clips make me think of the earring type jewelry some of the young gals wear once in awhile. They just clip over your ear and you have your ear decorated top and bottom! I actually saw a young mom with a gold one on at the Saenger Theatre yesterday. This may not work with what you have but thought I would share the idea with you.
Hugs to you and the fellas, pat
Well hello stranger! Thanks for popping in! I’ve been thinking of you and we need to get together sometime!
As for the collar/earring/who-knows-what-things, I’ve tried on the ear, but they fall right off. Way too big. After I looked at the photo, I can also tell one of the orange colored ones is bent. Oh, no!
I love your lampshade! I think it is so nice that you have the jewelry out to enjoy it every day. I made black velvet boards and framed them in gold frames and hung them inside my closet where I use T pins to hang necklaces and bracelets. The pins I just stick into the velvet covered cork board. Even though they aren’t out in my room I still get to enjoy them every day as I dress. Yours look beautiful!
I think your idea is wonderful. Your treasures are framed – like a work of art, and like the lampshade, they are within view to enjoy them every time you see them!
Your “caught up in the moment” comment made me laugh out loud. Such a beautiful collection. How blessed you are.
Malinda in Mississippi
Thanks, Malinda in Mississippi!
What a pretty collection. It’s even more special in that the pieces are from your family. All my jewelry is in drawers and I haven’t cleaned it in ages…but I do love polishing my silver 🙂
I just had to buy more silver polish at Piggly Wiggly less than an hour ago! I love to polish silver too, especially at Christmastime!
Love this idea! I have some great pieces too that I inherited from my Mother and Grandma…. Now I’m in search of a lampshade! Thanks for the great idea!
Make sure you get one that’s got some firmness to it. All fabric tends to droop, and no one wants droopy doo-dads!
Now I am kicking myself for all those things I have sold at yard sales over the years. I still have a few of my mother’s pieces, but not nearly as much as I have sold. The lampshade is a great idea for displaying them. I have toyed with the idea of cutting off the pins and the backs of earrings and glueing them together to create something new, but I can’t quite bring myself to do it.
New collections can always be started! Another thing I’ve seen that I love is arranging them in a Christmas tree pattern and framing it to display during the holidays. The only problem I saw was that this version was under glass, so you couldn’t use them, but that would be a simple thing to fix!
So sparkly! I like the Christmas tree pattern idea!
I just love your lampshade display of your beautiful jewels! What a creative way to display them so that you can see them everyday. They are all so unique and pretty.
Thanks AnnMarie. I’ve learned to hang on to them all because my tastes and styles change over the years. The pieces I thought were kind of crazy a few years ago, now seem downright stylish!
Ear bobs, oh my. I haven’t thought of that in years. Thanks, again, for bringing back precious memories of my childhood and my grandmother (ma’am maw). It is one of the reasons I love your writing.
Thanks Sylvia. Glad my ear pain was enjoyable! Hahaha! Anything for you!
How fun! Great idea for showing off these treasures. My grandmother called them “ear bobs”also! I remember her pulling one off to talk on the phone and my sister and I playing dress up with them. Just a few minutes of wearing them gave me a terrible headache!
I think earbobs may be the reason women went gray headed back then. None of us have gray hair now that our ears are pierced, do we?
Hmmm. Something to consider . . .
HI Little Bitty Pretty One! OH, these are lovely pieces you have. I’m sure there are lots of memories attached too. I liked your idea of poking them all on the lampshade! 😉 Thanks for popping in to see me and since you’re a bunch younger than me, I didn’t have those fans on the walls but I remember some friends who did! So stylish! 🙂
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Simply GORGEOUS! I adore vintage brooches and bling. What a fabulous way to display and enjoy their beauty. 🙂
Thanks so much Tracey.
Beautifully showcased memories.
I love, love, love this display idea. While, I don’t have a collection of your size, my inherited costume pieces are some of my prides and joys. You have inspired me to find an unorthodox display!
Isn’t it fun to have memories that aren’t always photographs?
I love this idea – I have a nice sized collection that I am saving for my daughters bridal bouquet – but this would be a great idea for after the wedding (and I must say, she is not even engaged yet – LOL)
I’ve seen bouquets made from jewelry flowers and they’re beautiful. What a great idea – engaged or not!
Such beautiful treasures! I love, love, love how you’ve displayed them…amazing!
My Granny called them ear-bobs too!
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Thanks so much Cindy, and happy weekend to you.
What a wonderful way to display you collection. It’s all so beautiful, especially when lit!
I love it, I might have to try my own. Thanks for showing it to us.
Hugs,
Patti
I especially thought you would like this, since we both have an appreciation for sparkly-pretty things!
You had me at earbobs! My grandmother said the same thing! I have tried wearing some of those clip on earrings and they are torture. The lamp is beautiful and sentimental.
Thanks so much, and I hope your ear-lobes feel better!
Hello, visiting from Tweak it Tuesday! I absolutely LOVE this! I collect vintage bling also, but this is an idea I have not seen before–just gorgeous!
Thanks Cecilia. So glad you stopped by, and I’m so happy you share the love of old-sparkly thing-a-ma-jigs!
Thank you so much for the inspiration! I had just been given some of my late grandmother’s jewelry. It looks precious on the lampshade.
Don’t you love getting gifts like that, full of meaning? Have fun with it!
That is a great idea. You could do this with all sorts of jewelry. I think I might do this with my kid’s gifts. Even though I would never wear it I do want to save their efforts. It wouldn’t look as fancy but this is a great way to save and display some great jewelry.
Excellent idea for the kiddie gifts! Tell them they are the “light” of your life!
Leslie Anne,
I’m enjoying your newspaper columns and blog so much!
You always have something relevant, thoughtful and fun to share.
Ear bobs! I haven’t heard that familiar term in ages. Your collection of jewelry is wonderful – your future granddaughters will enjoy hearing stories of how they were worn by you and your lady ancestors 🙂
Granddaughters! From your lips to God’s ear!
[…] is my collection of family brooches (more about it HERE) I’ve shown you before, and for the most part, I like to wear them in many different […]