Charmed Bracelets

Get Bill Gates' Boots for $1.50!

I've been working on this new blog to get ready for the Cattlemen's Ball, and I thought I'd drop in on the online auction to see how much the cowboy boots autographed by Bill Gates--and another pair with Warren Buffett's signature--were going for. 

Boy, was I surprised. The high bid for the Buffett boots--they spelled his last name wrong, too--Warren Buffet Autographed Boots  is just $1. Ditto for the boots with Seattle hometown boy Bill Gates' signature: the high bid is $1. 

Now maybe folks are waiting till the day of the event to bid, but there are some pretty good bids in there for practical things: the high bid for a 24’ Aluminum Stock Trailer  is $1,300. 

I hope this doesn't mean that the Cattlemen and -women won't be spending money this year. I'm counting on selling a lot of jewelry. 

Here's the link to the online auction: Cattlemen's Ball auction

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Jade and Japanese Charms

Jade is the perfect pairing for these vintage charms from Japan. 

The first charm is a Japanese fan decorated with images of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms. The second charm is a tiny turtle, a popular symbol in Japan. Turtles symbolize long life and security. 

The bracelet has two strands. One is a simple string of jade beads and the other is a chain that I made using jade rondelles, sterling silver wire, and closed jump rings, which are also sterling. 

This is a very popular design, but the first one I've made using jade. 

The jade bracelet is 7 1/2 inches long and closes with a sterling toggle clasp. It will be for sale at the Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska. 

A note about Japan: I consider Japan to be my second home. I lived in Japan for a total of more than seven years and my older son is Japanese--I adopted him when he was seven months old. I also have a master's degree in Japanese language from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, so it's not surprising that I gravitate to all things Japanese. 

THIS BRACELET IS SOLD. I WILL HAVE OTHER JADE BRACELETS FOR SALE SOON. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Special Charms for the Cattlemen's Ball

I've been having a great time searching--both in the real world and online--for very special charms to make jewelry to sell at the Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska on June 5 and 6. 

Here's one of my favorites: A tiny cowboy hat charm that opens up to reveal an even-tinier six-shooter! I've made a bracelet with this one using turquoise and sterling silver chain and wire. That bracelet will be for sale at the Ball. 

The auction item that I donated to the ball is a sterling and turquoise bracelet with a similar opening cowboy hat charm, but that one has a horse and rider inside. See: My Auction Item

I found this little covered wagon charm at an antique store in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, and it seemed appropriate for Nebraska's pioneer past. I haven't made a bracelet with it yet, but it will be among the charms that I'm taking to the Ball for women to choose from when they special-order a bracelet. 

The covered wagon charm is probably 1960s or later, and is sterling silver. 

These little huaraches, or Mexican sandals, are sterling silver and were originally hung from a pin, as you see in the photo. But I'm going to take them off the pin and put them on a turquoise and sterling silver charm bracelet. These are handmade, which adds to their charm. 

I found a number of charms that seemed to fit the Cattlemen's Ball theme. But I'm not assuming that women who come to the Ball are only interested in jewelry with a Western or ranching theme. 

I've also found some Asian charms that are very special. These include a couple of little abacuses with beads that move and a Japanese fan with images of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms. Also a turtle, a symbol of long life and protection in Japan. 

This abacus is labeled "sterling" and also "Japan." I am guessing it was made in the 1940s or 1950s, because of the workmanship. 

I put the fan and the turtle together on a bracelet made with green jade beads and sterling silver. See: Jade and Japanese Charms

This little sand dollar is pretty special. It's a vintage sterling charm, and I'm guessing it was made in the 1970s or later. I haven't designed a bracelet for it yet, and I'm thinking it may look better on a necklace, maybe choker-length. 

Here's another special one: A Mexican sombrero with a design of flowers and leaves around the brim. (Click on the photo to see a larger image.) It is just exactly the size of a nickel and I'm pretty sure it's handmade, which would make it mid-1900s, say 1940s or 1950s. 

It's hard to date charms, because the same design was often made for decades, but the handmade charms are generally older. Same for charms that have a lot of silver in them, because silver has become more expensive over the years. 

I have a great reference book: Charms and Charm Bracelets, by Joanne Schwartz. 

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

A Very Special Charm: Victorian Jointed Doll

This late Victorian (@1890s) jointed brass doll demanded a bracelet designed especially to showcase it. And that's what I did. 

I took the charm with me when I went shopping for materials, and ended up with a combination of sterling silver beads and accent beads of brass and copper to set off the color of the doll. The clasp is sterling silver. 

This charm is modeled after a wooden doll of the period. It is a little over 1 inch in length and is jointed at the hips and shoulders. It may originally have been gold plated or gilded, but is now worn down to the brass.

The charm came from England.  

Price:   $200

Length: 7 1/4 inches

I custom-fit all my bracelets, so be sure to send me your wrist measurement. I will make this bracelet either longer or shorter, if necessary, to be sure it fits properly. 

THIS BRACELET IS SOLD.  

(Click on the smaller image to enlarge.)

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Special Vintage Charms

I'm having fun searching for unique vintage charms to make my bracelets special. I rarely buy charms that aren't sterling silver, since almost all my jewelry is sterling. 

Here are some of the ones I've found so far. 

Silver 1920s Puffed Cat Charm

This little cat is hollow, which is why he is described as "puffed." He's tiny, just 6/8ths of an inch by 3/8ths of an inch, and is sterling silver. This one came from my favorite charm dealer in England and is in very good condition. 

I think this cat has personality to spare, plus he has that lovely feel you only get with old silver. SORRY, NOT FOR SALE. I made a bracelet for my friend Monica with garnets and this cat. 

Vintage 1910 Silver Rickshaw Charm

This tiny rickshaw is my favorite charm. It is Chinese export jewelry, meaning made in China for export, back in about 1910. 

The charm is only 3/4 inch tall and 1" wide. It has a compartment in the back that opens and closes and the seat of the rickshaw has Chinese "touch" or maker's marks. 

I'm working on a jade bracelet to show off the rickshaw.  SORRY, NOT FOR SALE. 

1960s Silverware Charm

This vintage charm is a knife, fork, and spoon, plus a tiny oval that says "guaranteed table-ware." Each utensil measures just 6/8th of an inch in length, and the charm is sterling silver. This one also comes from my favorite charm dealer in England.

A customer asked me to make her a necklace with this charm and rose quartz beads. I was happy with the results: Charming Necklace With Rose Quartz

Early 1900s Working Abacus

Hard to believe, but the beads on this tiny abacus actually move. I found this charm in an antique store in Seattle's Pioneer Square neighborhood, and it is really special. It's silver plate, not sterling, and is slightly warped, which I think adds to its charm. 

Wear this on your wrist, and you won't need a calculator.

Jointed Brass Doll Charm

This late Victorian (@1890s) jointed brass doll is modeled after a wooden doll. It is a little over 1 inch in length and is jointed at the hips and shoulders. It may originally have been gold plated or gilded, but is now worn down to the brass. 

I designed a bracelet to showcase this very special charm, one that combines brass and silver, with accents of copper as well. See the bracelet.

See also: More Special Charms

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

 

 

Garnets and Queen Victoria: SOLD

Garnets were very popular in the Victorian era, so they seemed appropriate for this bracelet, which features a charm with portraits of Queen Victoria and her children. 

I found this unique charm online, from a dealer in England. 

It is a Victorian watch fob, made to celebrate Queen Victoria and her many children. Queen Victoria's portrait is in the center on one side, and her son and heir Prince Edward (later King Edward VII) and his wife are in the center on the reverse. 

The surrounding portraits are of Victoria's many children. The charm dates to the late 1800s and is sterling silver and in excellent condition. 

The bracelet is four strands of garnets of various sizes and shapes. It closes with a sterling silver toggle clasp. 

Price: $140. THIS ONE IS SOLD. 

I custom-fit all my bracelets, so be sure to send me your wrist measurement. I will make this bracelet either longer or shorter, if necessary, to be sure it fits properly. 

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Goin' to the Ball ...

Well, I've decided. I'm going to the ball. That's the Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska, a cancer fund-raiser with the theme, "Give Cancer the Boot!" Dates are June 5 and 6.

Does that mean I should wear cowboy boots with my ball gown? 

I'll worry about clothing later. First, I need to deal with the planning. I'm going to sell my jewelry as part of the General Store, which is apparently set up in a tent, and I'm also going to be speaking during one of the breaks in the fashion show. 

My topic? What to say when a friend is diagnosed with cancer--the do's and don't's. 

Those who know me know I have a lot to say on this topic. 

It's going to be an amazing event, and kind of a different world for me. That will be fascinating. My good friend Monica is going to come along to help me at the General Store, and also to take lots and lots of photos. I heard today that a couple of horses, geldings, were donated to the auction. Maybe I'll come home with a horse!

The most famous auction item so far is a pair of boots signed by Warren Buffett. He wrote something like, "Go beef!" or "Eat beef!" on the boots and signed his name. I was told that the boots will go into a online auction, so that people from all over the world can bid on the boots.  

Here's the link, if you want to learn more about the Cattlemen's Ball: Cattlemen's Ball

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

A Steer With Personality: SOLD

I found this sterling silver steer at an antique store in Seattle's Pioneer Square. It is circa 1940, and is nicely heavy. It was originally attached to a keychain, but I decided it was perfect for a bracelet. 

The little steer is handmade, and he has lots of personality.

This one-of-a-kind bracelet has triple strands of sterling silver, turquoise, and chrysocolla (the small beads). It closes with a toggle clasp. 

Price: WAS $180. NOW $100

As with all my jewelry, the price includes tax, shipping, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

Length: 7 1/2 inches. 

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2009.

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Unique Sterling and Turquoise Bracelet: SOLD

This one-of-a-kind bracelet is sterling silver, turquoise, and chrysocolla (the small beads). 

I found the sterling silver cowboy hat at an antique store in Seattle's Pioneer Square. It is circa 1940, and is nicely heavy. 

It has that lovely feel that you only get with old silver. 

Price: $160.

As with all my jewelry, the price includes tax, shipping, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

Length: 7 1/2 inches. 

Contact me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

@ Jeanne Sather 2009. 

Cattlemen's Ball: My Auction Item

Here's the bracelet I've donated to the auction at the Cattlemen's Ball in Nebraska.

It's handmade of sterling silver and turquoise, and the charm is quite special. It's a vintage (1960s) charm made by British charm maker Nuvo, and I bought it from a charm dealer in England. The little cowboy hat opens on a hinge, and there is a tiny cowboy riding a horse inside.

Perfect for the Cattlemen's Ball!

This bracelet will be sold during the auction, but I have other similar ones that I'll be selling at the General Store on Saturday, June 6.

The Cattlemen's Ball is a cancer fundraiser and has its own Web site: Cattlemen's Ball

This bracelet was sold during the auction at the Cattlemen's Ball, but I have a similar one for sale: Funky Vintage Cowboy Hat Charm Bracelet