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As I posted in another entry I have recently decided to start selling vintage, antique and pre-owned jewelry again. This brought me to the heartbreaking decision that it might be time to sell some of my own jewelry. I have so much jewelry that I really didn't know where to begin to even look for it. Of course I have three different jewelry boxes and one jewelry stand that is filled with the jewelry that I wore on a regular basis. Most of that will be staying with me, they are my favorites and I just can't part with them (even though they probably number in the hundreds).
When I worked outside the home I wore jewelry all the time, everyday I wore different pieces (and a lot of pieces). I have just about every style of jewelry and my choices would vary depending on what I was wearing (always black though, as discussed before). Since I wear black all the time and since I have always been going for that gothic, Victorian, gypsy, Stevie Nicks look, I have a lot of gothic, Victorian and gypsy style jewelry. Most of that will be staying here with me, although I did find some pieces that I had put away that I rarely if ever will wear again. One thing that I did notice when I was going through all my jewelry is that I own an awful lot of jewelry with lapis stones. I suppose that there are a couple of reasons for that. A lot of the lapis jewelry that I have definitely has a gypsy style to it. I also like the color blue and I think that lapis is one of the most beautiful stones that there is. It's also a lot more affordable than say blue sapphires (which I also have but most of those are simulated stones). So I guess those pieces will be staying with me also. I did find one bracelet that I cannot wear anymore that I will sell but that's about it. I guess it's a good thing that this jewelry looks so good with the black that I'm always wearing, lol.
At Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles I do offer a good variety of sterling silver & lapis jewelry. I have a couple of personal favorites, one is this Unique Sterling Silver 5 Strand Lapis Choker Necklace...
Another favorite is this 925 Sterling Silver Oval Denim Lapis Filigree Band Ring...
The really sad thing is this, even though I don't have much occasion to wear my jewelry anymore I'd still buy it if I could afford it, lol. Oh well, I guess I'm just a jewelry junkie.
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy That Remains
Anyone who has known me for more than say...a day or two, knows that I love the color black. I have been wearing black all my life. Of course I will occasionally compliment the black with another color but, for the most part, I wear black. I can remember being a teenager and my mother asking me, "Why do you always wear black? You're not overweight, you don't need to wear it so much". I don't wear black because it is slimming (although it is). I don't wear black because it matches my mood (although it can and I often tell people that's the reason just to mess with them). I don't wear black because I'm a witch (although I can be something close to witch at times). I wear black because I think it's pretty and I like it.
At Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles we offer many styles and colors in jewelry, some are moderately expensive and some are not. One of my favorite pieces that we offer is this Healing Black Hematite Multi Shaped Beaded Necklace...
We also offer a large selection of shoes and boots but my favorites are the black pairs, like these Kiss-205 Black Platform Criss Cross Sandals Shoes...
Add that necklace and those shoes to a well thought out wardrobe and you've got yourself a classy look.
So the next time you see someone walking down the street wearing black take a good look at them. Chances are you'll be looking at someone who just loves black.
Way back in the day when I decided that I wanted to sell online full time and started Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles I started out selling vintage and estate jewelry. Of course, in order to be able to know exactly what I was selling, I had to purchase several jewelry supplies including a jewelers loupe and a ring mandrel. As Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles grew we started doing business with wholesale suppliers and gradually our inventory went from used, vintage jewelry to brand new in the box pieces. Recently I decided that, in addition to our current inventory, I also wanted to offer the vintage pieces again. So I have been spending some time at some of the local estate sales and I have found a few wonderful pieces that will soon be added to our inventory. Now, of course, in order to do this I needed to dig out my old jewelry supplies so I can get a good look at these and offer as much information about them as I can. When I first decided to do this I was quickly able to find my jewelers loupe which I always take with me whenever I think I might be looking at jewelry somewhere (not that I'm some sort of expert jeweler but at least I can look for hallmarks and stamps, damage, etc.). At the time I found the loupe it dawned on me that my ring mandrel was not with it. I figured I put it some other place and I would find it later. I mean, after all, it couldn't have just grown legs and walked out of here, right? Yeah well, so much for that theory.
I decided this weekend that I had enough jewelry pieces to begin adding them to the store so I started looking for my ring mandrel. We have moved since the last time I used it so I was sure that it was in one of the totes that just never got unpacked (you know, the ones with all the keepsakes in them that you want to keep but don't look at everyday). So I proceeded to go through every single tote that we have packed away. I found pictures of my parents, some of them from the 1920's and up. I found my mother's high school diploma from 1933. I found my father's army discharge papers dated 1919 (he was in his 60's when I was born and I'm old). In another tote I found all of my son's baby things...his first lock of hair, his first shoes, his first jacket. I also found things that he made for me throughout his school years. In yet another tote I found my high school graduation picture (where in the world did that young girl go to), my autograph book from the 1960's, and I don't know how many keepsakes from years gone by...concert memorabilia, pictures from various places I worked and I don't know how much other neat stuff. When I started this project I was really dreading it but, as I was going through the treasures of my life, I realized that I was really having a wonderful time. I smiled, I laughed, I cried and, when I was done, I was sorry that there were no more totes to go through.
After all was said and done I never did find that ring mandrel but, you know what? I'm glad that I didn't. If I had found it I might have said "Aha, there it is", packed up the unopened totes and put them back in the storage closet, never having gone through these wonderful things that brought back so many cherished memories. I still have no earthly idea where I put that ring mandrel but that's okay, I'll just get another one. The few dollars that I will spend on a new one can't begin to compare to the priceless memories that I relived this weekend.
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy that Remains
As I was sitting here working earlier my grandson was watching TV. I wasn't paying too much attention to what he had on until a commercial came on, something to do with Harry Potter. All of a sudden my mind jumped back in time to 10 years ago, the year that the first Harry Potter movie came out (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone I believe). My son, who is 21 years old now, was 11 back then. I remember that year as being the "Harry Potter" year. All he wanted for Christmas that year was Harry Potter related items. Fortunately I had discovered the joy of online shopping by then. I don't remember how many things he got that year (it was a good Christmas for him), nor do I remember how many different online shopping sites that I visited to round up everything that he wanted but I do remember being grateful that I was sitting at home on my rear end shopping for the stuff instead of fighting the crowds and the other frantic parents in the stores who were trying to get the same stuff. I remember that Christmas as being one of the best that we had.
I remember that year for another reason also. That was the year that I decided to start selling online in addition to just buying online. I started out selling some clothes that didn't fit me anymore, along with some jewelry that I didn't wear anymore. After those were gone I looked in my closet and found a couple of pairs of shoes and boots that I rarely if ever wore (obviously I had way too many shoes and boots). So I sold them and then panicked...I had nothing else to sell! Fortunately I found the solution in yard sales, flea markets and wholesale suppliers. And so it continues. Some of the inventory that I have at Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles has become customer favorites, such as this Sterling Silver Antiqued Celtic Claddagh White Opal Ring...
Items have come and gone (we add new pieces all the time) but still, here I sit, behind this computer still at it. My son is now grown and has moved away (now I'm wiping a tear out of my eye because I miss him). In between then and now I have moved a couple of times and my son and I have gone through some wonderful times and some not so wonderful times. Many things have changed but my online selling (and buying) has not. I guess some things will never change. Maybe that's a good thing. Just remember to savor every moment that you live though because things do change and they change a lot quicker than you realize.
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy That Remains...
As we celebrate the 4th of July in this country I am reminded about all of the members of our Armed Forces who have given so much for our freedom and independence. There are millions of veterans who have fought in a combat zone, many of these veterans suffer from some form of psychological condition as a result. Then we have the problem of the millions of sheltered animals in this country, many of whom are euthanized for the simple reason that no one wants them and there isn't enough room to keep them all. Their only crime is being unloved.
So, let's see here. On the one hand we have millions of veterans suffering from a combat induced psychological condition. By the way, did you know that 18 veterans commit suicide everyday in this country? On the other hand we have millions of sheltered animals who would love to be someone's best friend and love them, unconditionally. By the way, did you know that four to five million sheltered animals are euthanized every year in this country? It seems to me that if you take these two hands and gently put them together then there might be a solution (or a beginning to the solution) for these problems. Well, that's exactly what an organization called P2V thinks also.
P2V helps heal the lives of our nation's heroes and sheltered animals by providing cost-effective and readily accessible adoptions and healthcare so that both may live in dignity. David Sharpe, founder of P2V was saved by a little pit bull puppy named Cheyenne. You can read his story HERE. P2V's mission is to pair up active duty military and military veterans, law enforcement officers and emergency first responders with sheltered animals to provide these folks with a means of rehabilitation and to give these sheltered animals a loving home. So it's a win-win situation here.
So please, check out their website at http://p2v.org/. They also have a Facebook page which is http://www.facebook.com/pages/P2V/125894407465018?sk=wall. P2V is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization with headquarters in Arlington, VA. You may not personally know anyone who needs this kind of help however, if you don't, I bet you know someone who knows someone who needs this kind of help. Even if you don't, check them out anyway and help them if you can. These men and women have given an awful lot for this country and for your personal freedom so, do the right thing, please help if you can. You might just sleep a little better at night.
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy That Remains...
It looks as though Dialed In, 3 year old winner of The Florida Derby and The Holy Bull Stakes, is scheduled to have surgery next week to repair a chip in his right knee. He will be out of training for a while but should be back in time for his 4 year old campaign. We certainly wish him the very best. Dialed In is owned by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito.
Robert LaPenta & Nick Zito are a team that, in my book, is the cream of the crop. They have been taking good care of horses and looking out for them for a long time. I am reminded about Little Cliff. The following is Little Cliff's story, as told by Ed DeRosa in The Thoroughbred Times.
Little Cliff, one of two horses owner Robert LaPenta named after the late turf writer and chartcaller Cliff Guilliams, was rescued from slaughter on March 11. Christy Sheidy, co-founder of Another Chance 4 Horses rescue in Bernville, Pennsylvania, discovered the five-year-old Gulch gelding in a direct-to-kill pen in New Holland, Pennsylvania. He had last raced in a $10,000 claiming race on March 1 at Philadelphia Park, finishing seventh of nine and earning $170 for owner LA Buzz Stable. Trainer Ramon Preciado had claimed the horse from Jimmy Moran Jr. for $10,000 on January 13.
Sheidy ran the gelding’s tattoo and had Diana Baker, formerly of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, pull a race record, which is when the connection to LaPenta and Racing Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito appeared. Zito’s wife, Kim, is involved in horse rescue efforts as well.
“Mr. LaPenta and Mr. Zito sent a very generous check to Christy that more than covered Little Cliff’s expenses,” Baker said. “We couldn’t have asked for a better or more generous response than what we received."
LaPenta purchased Little Cliff for $250,000 at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale and bought him back on a bid of $350,000 at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Calder sale of selected two-year-olds in training. Little Cliff finished sixth behind eventual Grade 1 winners and Central Kentucky stallions Political Force and Flashy Bull in his second career start before winning his next two races by a combined 6 1/4 lengths to close out his two-year-old season. At three, he finished third in both the Leonard Richards (G3) and Sir Barton Stakes. He won three of 27 starts and earned $202,762.
Although Little Cliff had changed owners four times throughout his life before being rescued, one thing that followed him from Kentucky to New York to Florida to Pennsylvania were his Jockey Club papers, papers that Kim Zito had affixed with a white sticker that says, “If this horse needs a home when he retires, please call.” “The tragic part of this story is that Little Cliff had this sticker on his papers, and that breaks my heart because it proves that there are people in this industry who don’t give a darn,” Kim Zito said.
LITTLE CLIFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS RESCUE
The sport of thoroughbred horse racing has a far piece to go when it comes to horse welfare, particularly with regards to retired race horses however, thanks to good people like Robert LaPenta, Nick Zito and his wife Kim one day horses will never have to suffer the cruel fate of the slaughterhouse.
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy That Remains
Often, online business and website owners (and also traditional brick and mortar business owners) look for cost effective ways to advertise their businesses. Sure, there are hundreds of places that you can advertise but, more often than not, there are huge costs involved with that advertising and, many times the end results are not even close to what you paid out in advertising and/or marketing fees. eBay and Amazon can afford to take huge hits, most of us cannot. At Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles we have found a cost effective solution to this problem. As a matter of fact, it's so cost effective that it's free. All it takes is a few minutes of your time each day.
The solution that we have found is a Facebook page called Share My Link And I Will Share Yours. It's really very simple. Go to the page and like it. You don't have to wait to be approved or wait for any kind of confirmation email. Just like the page. After that, post a link to your website. We have found that it works best to post a link to a specific item that you are selling as opposed to your home page however you can post a link to whatever you want (providing that it is legal and suitable for all ages), including your Facebook business page. After you post just look on the page and find (at least) two links that you would like to share with your family, friends, business associates or whomever. Hit the "Share" link underneath the links that you want to share and share them to your profile page. It's really that simple. Others will come along and, after they post their links to be shared, they will share yours. Your links and products will be seen hundreds (if not thousands) of times. You are only required to share two links for each one that you post however, you're going to find so many diversified sellers who sell so many unique and different products that you will probably want to share more than two. You might even find that hard-to-find item that you've been looking for forever. The page owners Linda and Michelle have worked very hard to create this page for all sellers to benefit from.
Stop by Share My Link And I Will Share Yours and give it a try. You won't be disappointed. You can tell them that Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles sent you.
Until next time...Rock On!
Enchanted Jewelry & Collectibles...Dedicated To The Gypsy That Remains...
