Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Southern California Snow Day

Right now, on my desk are some fantastic finds that I have ready to go to photography. The plan was to get them listed on my website today. But Mother Nature had other plans.
You see, I live in a Southern California beach town. Mild weather, surfers, tourists and great taco shops is what you will find here. Last night a Northern storm blew in. It was loud, windy and very wet. I am not complaining as we are in a drought, complete with lawn watering restrictions and huge surcharges if we use too much of the precious stuff. Our water reservoirs are low, the lakes are way low and we need snow in the mountains.
We woke up this morning with snow in the foothills all around us. As long as I have lived here, I have never seen snow like this. I live too close to sea level to have it in my yard, but it was all around me. We hopped in the car for a quick ride to higher ground to fully enjoy the beautiful gift the the North wind brought to us.
                                                   Nothing as crisp and clean as fresh snow.
                                Amazing how this sheep walked the snow to look like her wool coat.



Real Icicles!

         This looks like it was shot in black & white though it is full color. It was so quiet here and the air was crisp, cool and clean.
               My favorite snowman! Left on a burlwood chair next to a little shop along the way.
Love the contrast. 
A country snow!!!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Just a Regular Day

It was just a regular day, but I am so thankful to be able to start each day, bright and early, like this:
An hour on trail just sets me up for a nice calm day. We listen to the birds and feel the ocean breeze. I am thankful everyday for Red.
I am also very happy that I started listing fresh finds again. I have begun to fill up my etsy shop this week. I am having a 30% off sale until Midnight Dec. 31. Even my fresh finds are being added to the sale as I write. Here are a few of my fresh finds from today:

An unusual Yei Figure Pin:
A nice 1960s Navajo turquoise cuff bracelet:
Would you call these "hipster" style?





Tuesday, December 16, 2014

G I F T

Every trail ride is a gift. I cherish the time that I spend with a horse. I always have. I wanted a horse as a child more than anything.  I drew horses all of the time and asked for a horse every birthday and Christmas. I waited 31 years to finally have my own horse, Snickers. I rode that horse for 18 years and was thankful for every minute that I spent with him.
This is Snickers:



I have such fond memories on trail with Snickers at Shaffer's Ranch. It was just he and I alone on trail with the wildlife, the sounds of nature and the bond of friendship. It's the friendship between a girl and her horse that only an equestrienne or a cowgirl can understand. Being out on that trail for me was the most natural and free place for me. It was my home, my happy place. When I lost him 5 years ago, It left a huge hole in my heart. Today, the ranch is gone and Snickers is gone. There's no going back.

So, I buried myself in work. Focused on being a mom and a good provider. I have worked literally 60 to 80 hours a week to build this business, re-inventing it as things change in order to make a good life for us. But, I'm tired. My hand hurts. I love selling jewelry, but I want to go outside.

This year is the Chinese year of the horse. At the turn of the new year, I posted on Facebook that it was indeed the year of the horse and perhaps this would be the year that I would replace Snickers. At the time, I did not know it, but through a wonderful and amazing chain of events that only angels could orchestrate, I now have my dream horse, Red. He's so much like Snickers that it blows my mind. I never could have found him on my own. Never.

So this morning, there was a storm coming in and no one wanted to ride on trail. I have only had Red 6 weeks. He's a retired show horse that his owner out-grew and lost interest in. We have been going out several times per week as he learns to be a trail horse, but have only been out with others.

 I got to the ranch at 7:30 AM and Red & I decided to go for it. We decided to go out on trail alone and try to get back before the storm.

It was such a beautiful morning. As we rounded the corner at the trail head, I had that nervous feeling in my stomach wondering if he would go, wondering if he would be spooky or start acting hot because of the cool weather. But, he went. We went. It was so beautiful. The sound of the water in the creek, the wind in the trees and Red's hoofbeats were all muffled by the cloud cover. The eucalyptus trees were alive with fragrance as we passed the roadrunner pair who were hunting for a tasty something in the long grass. I savored every moment.  This was the world from my view this morning. Peaceful.



Just after I shot this photo, the rain started to fall, and so did the tears. They were tears of joy and gratitude for this amazing gift I have in Red. I needed him and this. He needed me too. For two years he stood in his stall waiting for his owner to come ride him. Now, he has someone to spend time with every day. Someone to love on him and tell him he's special. 
 As I told Red that he was a good boy, so happy that we did it all by ourselves,  I realized that we were now free to go whenever we want to, just to explore and enjoy the trail. I realized at that moment, this morning....
I am home again.  
So is Red. 


Here's a photo of as very proud red Arabian horse who did something a bit scary today and succeeded! We succeeded! This is going to be a great friendship. Such a gift. 
Thank you angels. Thank you God. 

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Beautiful Tennessee Walking Horse for Sale

This horse belongs to my friend Jayme. He is for sale. Jayme is a great trainer.
Here is what Jayme has to say about him:

For sale: 3 yr old Tennessee Walking Horse gelding. Firecracker has a few rides, he is very easy going and wants to please. His sire is Windigo's Crimson Warlock and he stands over 16 hands. I have to many horses and need to cut down. He would be great for christmas. His price will go up after first of year. $1900 now.

Isn't he a pretty boy?

UPDATE: Firecracker found a home! Yay!

Friday, December 12, 2014

Great Little Vintage Gifts

I just purchased some estate finds and have listed pieces that make great inexpensive gifts. I ship fast so there is still time for you to order in time for Christmas. The following items are located in my Etsy shop.
                                                                Learn more here



What Emily wants for Christmas

This is my daughter, Emily. She is my main model for my photos-(I am sure that you have seen her on this blog), a straight A IB student, editor-in-chief of her school yearbook, loves fashion, hair and make-up and texting with friends. She can't wait for prom this year so that she can shop for a dress. Isn't she pretty? She's a great kid with a good head on her shoulders.
She has a wonderful, normal life...except for one thing. On June 13 of 2014 she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. From that day on she was insulin dependent. She has to poke her fingers to draw blood 6 to 10 times per day to check her blood sugar levels. She has to calculate carbohydrate grams for everything that she wants to eat AND she has to inject insulin for every thing that she eats with the exception of straight protein.  Every M&M in the candy jar, every goldfish cracker, every piece of bread, every snack, every drink except water and every meal. She can never just pop a morsel of something in her mouth without thinking about T1D.  She did not do this to herself by eating too much candy, drinking too much soda and gaining weight. She is a tiny 95 pound girl with a great figure.  Type 1 Diabetes is an auto-immune disease and we don't know why she has it now. It just happened. 
She cannot exercise without checking her blood sugar and making sure that she has enough to burn. If friends ask her to walk to the coffee shop to study, she has to check her blood sugar before she goes. If it is too low she has to eat sugar before walking and then when she arrives, she has to check again. You see, a low blood sugar can result in a coma or even death. Type 1 Diabetics have to have sugar. 
Her body no longer produces insulin so when she eats sugar or anything that one's body turns into sugar, she has to inject insulin so that her body can process this.  She cannot let her blood sugar get too high as that can land her in the hospital and it causes long term damage. 
She now worries about getting married and weather she will ever get to be a mother herself. She wanted to go to Germany this summer with the school GAP program, but she is afraid to try to calculate carb grams of foreign foods. If she makes a mistake it can be a really bad day.  She worries about getting her first job and if her boss will understand her having to take sudden breaks to test blood sugar or having to pop candy in her mouth to keep her blood sugar up. 
Last month we completed her first walk for the cure. Her she is with her aunt and uncle.
These supportive friends of hers, drove over an hour to walk with her and raised over $1600.00 for JDRF- research.  

Emily can have all the jewelry she wants for Christmas. But...

All Emily wants for Christmas....is a cure. 


If you can help, please donate to JDRF. 
Emily would like her life back, the one where she could eat and exercise without needles, blood, insulin and worry. 

Thank you. 


Thursday, December 11, 2014

Building The Vintage Jewelry Chick

I am now entering inventory into my new website The Vintage Jewelry Chick.
Please Visit Here

I have some wonderful things that are on the docket at One Kings Lane that will come to light on this website like these items:

I also purchased about 50 estate items today that have never been offered on line. I will be listing those as well. I will post here so that you will know where to find them whether it be my website, Etsy or One Kings Lane. Wonderful, rare and beautiful pieces on the way!!!




Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Early Morning at the Ranch

I love those early mornings at the ranch when I am the first one there and it's just me and the animals.
This is my favorite shadow:
See in the dog in the background? That is our ranch dog, "Loba". It means "she-wolf" in Spanish. She's really sweet. Check out her cool eyes: 
There must have been 100 crows in the trees this morning! These were the only ones that I could see, but I could hear them loud and clearly. 
Ran over to the feed store to get supplies for the storm that is coming in. It was very hard to leave without one of these!
Oh! After I spent time on the trail with Red, I did come home and list a few finds on Etsy. Check them out! 






Sunday, December 7, 2014

Gloves

I had a wonderful ride today. My friend brought along a lovely lady and her Horse "Zen". Perfect weather, wonderful girls to ride with. I was riding along side and looked down to see the vintage kid's Roy Rogers gloves that this gal was wearing! A girl after my own heart! I knew she was a kindred spirit then. How cute is this?
Photo is a little blurry as I took it while riding Red. I wear gloves too, but nothing like hers!!!!
Perfect day for horsewomen in gloves!!!!

Saturday, December 6, 2014

A Fun Photo Shoot!

My new website and brand is being built at Click here to check it out.

I am getting very excited about it. It will be much more personal than a typical sales platform and my prices will be rock bottom.

It will have an attached blog where I can share my buying trips and my life as a horse riding girl who lives at the beach with an NHRA nitro funny car driving boyfriend who loves old monster movies and a beautiful 16 year old daughter who goes everywhere with me. She keeps me up-to-date with the trending styles which keeps my dork factor in check.

I also live with Bengal cats and lots of antiques. I collect vintage cowboy boots, love Indian turquoise, but ride in a vintage Hermes English saddle. I ride Western style so I am taking lessons to learn proper English equitation as most of my life I have ridden bareback.

My goal with this website is to help you see my fun lifestyle and then you will understand just how I come to choosing the vintage pieces that I do, and why I put crazy things together with my passionate mixed-up style.

Here are a few photos from a quick photo shoot for the website that I did yesterday. If you visit the site, please know that it is not finished yet, but if you see something that you like, I think that the site is operational at times. You can contact me at vintagejewelrychick@gmail.com and we will get that gorgeous thing to you.

So, check them out! (none of these items are for sale-just eye-candy), but there are many great things on the website that are for sale with hundreds more coming soon.

Amazing Squash Blossom Necklace!
Navajo Piece with possible Lander Blue Turquoise.
Navajo coral necklace with black powder fetish birds. "Powder" was made from the fusion layer from meteorites found at the Meteor Crater years ago. They are clay, but
magnetic.

Amazing Baroque coat brooch with faceted glass "rubies".
Vintage Antonio Pineda amethyst panel bracelet. Taxco, Mexico. 

Santo Domingo hand-carved red coral bird fetish necklace with white heishi. 
Vintage Navajo turquoise Naja on antique folk art horse saddle stand. 
Old Favorites!!!