Wearable Maps

I like maps in general. And they could easily have their own blog post on here. However, as we all know (do we?), I like to be hyper-specific. So I'm narrowing down my interest to wearable maps. Granted, I do not actually own at at present, but I always intent to buy them! Who knows why certain things fall by the wayside.


Maybe I like wearing maps because it sort of says to people, "Hey, I like going places!" or in the case of this picture pictures, "Hey, I come from Ixonia/Wisconsin!" Either way, I like wearing things like tee-shirts, and necklaces or pendants, and scarfs that tell people something about me. 


Don't ask me why I care, I supposedly just do.

Antique Lockets

There are a lot of faux antique lockets around these days... which are a complete travesty! And while on on that tangent, since when it is okay, etsy and ebay people, to call some brand new item vintage or antique when it is simply made to look vintage or antique?! (P.S. I hate you.) Lockets should not be commonplace or items that you buy for yourself (most of the time). How many movies and books include scenes wherein some character explains from whom they received their prized locket?

A lot, guys.

I love lockets--especially large ones. There is just something so lovely about carrying around a tangible photo in a sacred silver case. And don't even get me started on when they're engraved! Can you imagine finding something like that?! Or inheriting something like that? Or bestowing your own upon some future descendant to cherish? Lockets encapsulate (wink) everything that I truly love and value--history, loved ones, jewelry, antiques, etc. And oh, to find a lavalier locket (see photo)! I love the extra drop of the lavalier style. It creates such a beautiful shape along the neckline.

Blue Topaz

There's just something about Blue Topaz... I know this isn't very original, guys, but it reminds me of the sea. And now that I live in the desert it seems especially important to have have at least something that makes me think of water nearby.

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but is usually tinted by impurities; typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray, reddish-orange, or blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink (rare), reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare. But I'm okay with lab topaz. Whatevs.

There are three levels of color saturation. I prefer the Swiss Blue. Everybody else is all about the London Blue, but that's just plain too dark for my taste. I bought a blue topaz ring at the Renaissance Faire years ago, but tried in on it 90 degree weather. It's too big in normal temperatures. Lame.

Art Deco Rings

I've been perusing Albuquerque's antique stores lately and I LOVE that they are full of items from the 1920s and '30s! There's something about that Art Deco style that really catches my eye. I think what I like best is that it is representative of a transitional historical period. Prior to WWI, the Victorians and Edwardians still valued ornate beauty. Flowery poetry, lace, and daydreaming were all the rage. And then the war shattered that idealism and realism started to become in vogue. So Art Deco pieces, especially jewelry, are indicative of that with both filigree and geometry. I love the rectangular gems juxtaposed with old world cuts, the elongated rings that are reminiscent of the sky scrapers from the building boom of the late '30s, and the emphasis on silver instead of the more romantic gold. And for some reason I've found there often seems to be a three motif (three parts to the ring). I haven't figured out what that means yet...

I often pride myself (erroneously) on being anti-diamonds, but I do become a total girl around antique Art Deco diamond rings. I get completely lost in the history of them. How many women have worn them? How many stories are connected to one particular piece? I inherited my great-grandmother's engagement ring from the '20s. It's delicate and discreet (but I wish it was a little more blatantly Art Deco), and I love that I know its story. But part of me prefers the mystery and I'd almost rather that ring were used by a descendant who hadn't known her...