Hope you are having an awesome day!
Isn’t it all about a mindset? We can cater to our emotions and fears of what we are thinking about. Or we can rise above them and focus on more positive things. Often I think of my mother and the fact that she is no longer with us. Instead of focusing on the sadness that it could bring me, I think about the beautiful treasures of her effortless style. Whenever I get a chance to wear and talk about one of her pieces, I jumped at the chance.
My Mother’s Carpetbag
Patricia Nash Carpetbag sold on HSN
One of her treasures is the carpetbag shown in the photo above. Quite truthfully, I have no idea where she bought it or if someone gave it to her. She decorated the house with a few vintage items that she found at the GoodWill. It is possible that she bought the bag there, but it has no designer label or markings on it. Someone possibly could have made it for her from carpet remnants. Its origin remains a mystery. A couple of years back, HSN featured a carpetbag to coincide with the release of the latest Mary Poppins movie. Patricia Nash designed a bag inspired by the movie and it quickly sold out. Seeing if I could find anywhere still available, I was able to track it down on eBay for $650 plus shipping. Wow! The Patricia Nash bag, shown below is more structured, while my mother’s bag is a free-form style. From the shoulder strap to the body of the bag, it is completely made from carpet. My current carpetbag crush is MadeofCarpet on Etsy. These amazing bags are made in the United Kingdom, and the bags ship free to the US. MaxCarpetbagworks is based out of Los Angeles and the bags are reasonably priced.
According to Wikipedia, Carpetbags were made from oriental rugs or from Brussels carpet, with “a heavy pile formed by uncut loops of wool on a linen warp”. The carpet was the chosen material because the remaining pieces were easily bought for its manufacture.” My recent YoutTube video show more details of the bag and I talk about my mother’s memories of the carpetbag.
It’s awesome to have great feelings of sweet memories through a piece that belonged to my mother. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Do you have a favorite memory of a loved one through a vintage piece that you still use today? Let me know in the comments below.
There are certain items of jewellery that you can wear at any time or even all the time as they don’t warrant any special occasion or event. These extremely versatile pieces of jewellery make ideal gifts for almost anyone providing you have some idea about their sense of style. Obviously, shopping online for these items is the most convenient way of buying as there is an almost infinite choice of styles and designs and you don’t even have to leave the house! If you are buying for a family member, this is quite an easy task as in all likelihood, you will know what they like.
But what sort of jewellery do you buy as a gift? Well, unless you are buying for your significant other, it’s a good idea to buy something attractive rather than symbolic. Silver is a good choice of precious metal as it goes with almost anything and is usually well received by all age groups. If buying for children or older people, look for something age-appropriate, many websites will have a drop-down menu where you can buy something for various age groups.
Please see below for a list of jewellery that are usually considered safe choices if you are buying as a gift or wearing it for any occasion:
Bracelets – Bracelets make excellent gifts for both men and women regardless of age. The choice on offer is wide and varied and range from chunky solid silver bracelets to dainty ornate pieces that look good on smaller people. Resist the temptation of buying anything too gaudy or extravagant, best to keep it simple for a timeless look.
Rings – Rings are slightly harder to buy as gifts as they are highly personal. This is obviously not a problem if you are buying an engagement ring or wedding ring for your fiancée but for everyone else, care should be taken. Again, something relatively simple yet attractive in silver or tungsten will usually tick the boxes as a gift that is thoughtful yet understated.
Earrings – Earrings are probably the easiest jewellery to buy for yourself or even as a gift for someone. The usual, common-sense approach of not buying anything too loud or extravagant applies, unless of course you know the recipient will appreciate them! From diamond studs for your wife to pearl earrings for your mum or grandmother, there is certainly a world of choice when it comes to earrings.
Necklaces – Providing you know the recipient fairly well, you can choose from a wide range of necklaces to suit all. They don’t have to cost much and in fact, you can get some really quite stunning tribal style necklaces that are certainly on-trend for many people.
The most important thing to consider when buying jewellery is the quality. It should be well-made and obviously not too cheap. It may also be worth checking that the retailer has a comprehensive returns policy, this is especially pertinent if you are buying a wedding or engagement ring and you get the wrong size in error.
In today’s digital age, purchasing goods online is like second nature to us. From technology and holidays to fashion and health products, there are no limits to what can be brought through the World Wide Web today.
Even though buying online is normal these days, there are still a number of things you want to look out for. It’s true that not all websites and digital stores are created equal, so you’re going to want to weigh up a few of the considerations in this article.
When it comes to men’s polarized sunglasses, you may want to look at Humps Optics for the ultimate solutions. With a great range to choose from, you’ll find a variety of styles to suit your budget and fashion preferences. They are a trusted store which is also another important factor as many online optical stores will say they are fit for purpose but in reality, they just aren’t up to the standard for providing sufficient protection for your eyes.
So, whenever you are about to buy glasses, whether sunglasses or everyday optical glasses, you will want to consider the following factors.
What To Look Out For When Buying Glasses Online
* How Durable They Are – You want to ensure the quality is there. If they break on the first few wears or the frame chips, then the quality and durability obviously were not strong enough. Opting for well-known brands on accredited stores provide good insight into the best quality glasses for the type of purposes you are looking for. You want to ensure they are offering polycarbonate lenses that are resistant to scratches and glare and offer high UV protection.
* Be Extra Careful For Complex Prescriptions – If you are seeking an intricate prescription such as multifocal lenses, then you may want to leave this for instore or at least have your exact prescription written by an optician before searching for it online. This way, you know exactly what you’re looking for.
* Look For Vision Insurance – Some websites do not accept vision insurance which means you might lose out on money saved. You will want to search around to see if insurance is something the online retailer offers.
* The Returns Policy – Shopping online always comes with risks. It is tricky to try a pair of sunglasses on to know that it suits you and that you feel comfortable wearing it. This is why you want to ensure there is a good returns policy in place so you can try before you commit to the purchase. There are also great apps you can download that help you see how frames suit your face before you purchase. There are online retailers who will send you a pair to try on before you buy!
* Ensure The Store Has Different Styles – You need variety when shopping online. Make sure the online store has a mixture of frames you like so you have plenty to choose from, depending on the activities you are doing and your personal stylistic preferences.
Above are the online shopping tips to keep in mind to ensure that you get not only a quality purchase but also a pair of sunglasses you need and want.
Diamonds take literally millions of years to form under intense pressure from tectonic plates, and these pure carbon stones are very valuable in their own right, yet when we are talking about a diamond that is set into an antique jewellery item, there is much to consider when appraising its value.
The 4 Cs The 4 Cs are used to grade diamonds, namely: cut, colour, clarity, and carat. To a large extent, the same would apply to a diamond set into an antique piece of jewellery. Admittedly, cuts have been developed a lot in the past 50 years, and modern diamonds tend to have more brilliance than stones from antique or vintage jewellery.
The Cut Of The Stone As mentioned, diamond cuts of today tend to make the stone more brilliant, and if you are looking for a suitable diamond engagement ring, Kalmar Antiques has a collection of engagement rings at very attractive prices, and with a range of cuts, you can choose one that best shows off the stone.
The Clarity Of The Diamond There may be surface marks on an old diamond and this could affect its value. If an antique diamond has some inclusions, this would affect the price also. It is important to clean a diamond that is inset into an antique jewellery item prior to inspecting it for clarity.
Some antique diamonds have a yellowish tint and this can affect the value, and generally speaking, the less colour, the higher the value. Many vintage jewellery items contain coloured diamonds, as they have always been popular, with pinks, blues, reds and yellows commonly found in antique and vintage rings.
Carat Size One carat is equal to 0.2 grams, and as you would expect, the lower the carat weight, the less valuable the diamond. It is difficult to know the exact weight of a diamond when it is part of a jewellery item, and most jewellers could make a calculated guess. Here is some more detailed information concerning the grading of diamonds, which is recommended reading if you are a novice collector.
If you want an accurate appraisal of a diamond, you can ask an expert to assess the stone, and this will give you an accurate assessment of its value. Most jewellers offer such a service and if you are buying a diamond antique or vintage engagement ring, you can ask the dealer for an appraisal of the diamonds. In some cases, the real value of the diamond lies in the value of the antique jewellery item, which might be extremely rare and therefore have more value than the flat price of the stone.
If you are looking for that ideal vintage diamond engagement ring, start your quest with an online search, as the online antique dealer has a wide collection of quality items, all at very affordable prices.
Christmas is right around the corner and I must say I decorated and cleaned over a period of days and it really made relaxing and even more enjoyable. I plan to share some of my holiday favorite decorations so stay tuned. As I am writing this post, I am listening to the Bible app Dwell. I just came inside from playing with my hubby and puppies in the freshly fallen snow. I am a little different, I would rather play in the snow than be on the beach in the wintertime.
It has been hard to find a good plaid skirt. I happen to see on QVC a tartan plaid skirt from the Joan Rivers collection. The color options were red plaid and blue plaid. I decided to get the blue and was priced at $66.00. The fabric content is 65% polyester and 35% rayon. I have until January to return it if it’s not what I think it should be. I actually had to size down to an extra small because the skirt is fully gathered and if not styled right can seem quite overpowering. I carry my weight in my hips so I have to be aware of that kind of style moment. The skirt also has an elastic waist and pockets. In the image below my hubby and I are in the process of getting out Christmas decorations so what a perfect time to take a picture. I literally was feeling the variation of blues with the denim jacket and turtleneck. I went with black tights and L’artiste ankle boots in a olive with a floral pattern to spice it up a bit.
I decided to accessorize the outfit with a Joan Rivers Poinsettia bee brooch. Even though the colors are red and green it doesn’t give off holiday so the bee pin can be worn all year long.
The QVC models styled the skirt as more of a holiday party and they each wore heels. However, I wanted to see what a casual ensemble would look like. I must admit the skirt is very full so I may still be on my search for the right plaid skirt for me. I have two wool plaid skirts that I have had for some years and was seeing what was out there in the fashion arena.
I am very self-conscious of my hips and if anything accentuates them anymore I am not a happy camper. I am not body shaming myself just aware of certain parts of my body that I don’t want to look any larger than what they are already.
Do you wear plaid? How do you style it, skirt, pants, scarf, dress? Please let me know.
This week has been a whirlwind of fall to winter in a day. On Sunday, my hubby was cutting up the leaves with the lawnmower while I worked on bringing the perennial plants inside the house. Then on Monday, the very next day, we had at least 3 inches of snow. I really enjoy watching and playing in the snow so I was tickled pink. I’m have been listening to Christmas music for a while now. I am different. I actually like to play in the snow, I enjoy it and thank the Lord my hubby does too.
JTwisdom in GILI quilted coat
My hubby photographed the burning bush with its red leaves covered so delicately in snow. It snowed off and on throughout the day. It was beautiful. Even though Monday was Veteran’s Day, my hubby and I still had to go into work because it was no holiday for us. My hubby and I had to take it slow in the JEEP.
Burning Bush covered in snow
What do I wear?
When temperatures are from mild to cold what are we suppose to wear?
I learned long ago that I have to dress for the day. It’s been colder than normal this November so the layers pop out of the closets. With a high 27 one day, I pulled out a soutache sweater that I recently purchased (on sale) from Soft Surroundings. It retailed for $90 but I snagged it on sale for an amazing price of $19.99. The sweater has a wide bateau neckline so I added a slim-lined turtleneck and I paired the sweater with my Isaac Mizrahi brocade print pants, Clark ankle boots, and Patricia Nash leather backpack.
I haven’t taken many pictures because I’m working on getting my body more tone and tight. No body-shaming just a fact. After nine years of blogging, I’m still surprised that I do what I do. It has only been God that takes me out of my comfort zone. I have never been a size 0 and don’t have a million followers but I have always been told that if you touch one person’s life it’s all worth it. Being thankful and grateful, I am humbled. God is good.
I am listening to some Harry Connick,Jr. right now and it feels like the holiday season. Check out the video to the song, Just One of Things, Harry Connick, Jr. A Celebration of Cole Porter. Jazz was a favorite of my daddy’s and it’s rubbed off on me.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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