I had a few more photos from the “shoot” (ha!) that resulted inMonday’s post, and since the next post I’m working on is a bit more wordy, a lot more serious, I thought perhaps I’d prolong the light break. First, a “self-portrait in the mirror, with camera” of me adding my not-a-farmer’s hat to the mix.
And below, a glimpse of my worn-almost-constantly Wendy B gold fleur-de-lis necklace. Since receiving this as a Christmas gift almost two years ago (and okay, it was a gift I pointed someone toward pretty forcefully), I’ve very much returned to my original tendency to wear a simple favourite almost constantly, ignoring most of my jewelry collection most of the time. Still not bored with it. Its cost will drop to pennies per day in the next year or two.
Another constant companion, also a gift, is this Hermes watch, again relieving me of the need to make a decision in the morning. Very occasionally, I replace it with a daintier watch, a silver chain mesh band by Coach, but I doubt I’ll buy another watch for a long, long while, if ever.
Similarly, I’ve got a bracelet collection that’s becoming de rigeur for my right wrist. I’ve written before about thesilver bracelets my mother surprised my sisters and I with last Christmas, before we knew the cancer was stirring again. In that post, I showed the bracelet with two others I received last Christmas — together they made a gold-and-silver high-low mix that I loved. But the gold-coloured balls in the Michael Kors bracelet are at risk of fraying their way right off the inadequate elastic cord they are strung on. I’m going to restring them as soon as our local craft store gets a new supply of the cord.
Meanwhile, though, I found this perfect complement to the group in a fabulous little jewelry store I discovered in Revelstoke, Garnish. The owner, Arleigh, herself a fine artisan, has brought together the best selection of artisans (seventeen of them) that I’ve seen in that type of jewelry. Some wonderful metalwork — etching (I bought a brilliant pendant, very fine silver cut like a dog-tag and etched in a floral almost-William Morris design — love it!), organic castings of maple leaf pods, small leaves, feathers. Arleigh’s mom to a pre-schooler as well as being a jeweler and shopowner, so she’s juggling too much to have a coherent webpage, although she does have a Facebook page. If she ever gets some decent photography happening to show her full range of offerings, and I could order them online. . . I’d be in trouble! Meanwhile, I’m putting Revelstoke on the list for a return visit. Too bad it’s six or seven hours from Vancouver. . .
(Sadly, let me hasten to add, this praise for Garnish is completely unsolicited and did not result in any discount on my recent jewelry purchases! đ
As I was saying, though, I bought a bracelet at Garnish that perfectly complements the gold bracelet Paul gave me last Christmas and the silver one from my Mom. To the classic silver charm bracelet, it adds a simple chunky heart, silver underneath, its hollowed top filled with gold leaf — perfect for pulling together the two metals — and emphatically stating what this wrist collection is all about: showing and remembering the love.
I should add that this bracelet is by Jessie Turner, who does have a great website, far too dangerous for you to look at. You’ve been warned. . . .and no, she didn’t give me a discount either!
There you have it! Two whole posts about What I Wore, within a week of my post pondering the What I Wore phenomenon. . . . the beauty (or not) of contradictions . . . .
You are indeed contradictory! I have a similar fleur-de-lis necklace that
Monsieur bought for my 60th. The story of your mother and the bracelets
is such a touching tale. You are wearing love on your arm.
Although I claim the beauty of contradictions, I'm not quite as contradictory as I might at first seem — what I like to see in other blogs is an integration of What I Wore with other glimpses of a fuller life. . . or, if the focus is only on What She Wore, then it must be tightly edited, really inspiring to keep my interest. I do value a certain amount of What I Wore as an indication of a whole person . . . and because I'm curious . . . Interesting that we both wear fleur-de-lis, we francophiles. . . đ
Good to see the not-a-farmer's-hat making an appearance!
In the field and out . . . đ
I like your signature pieces….and the mix of gold and silver.
It's a woman's prerogative to change her mind…I like seeing you in your WIW posts. I think it shows you on a very personal level.
Thanks, Hostess. I can certainly be changeable, but also, see my response to Madame . . .
And the closeup of your face is my favorite, despite the deft accessories.
Thanks! I was a bit surprised by it, when I uploaded the photos to my computer screen. It's quite growing on me.
I love this portrait of you! You have wonderful taste in jewelry. I've drooled over that watch since you first showed it to us, and love the new bracelet and how you're mixing metals.
Thanks, Sue. I'm really pleased with these pieces, both solo and together. I may become a bit stuck-in-the-mud with them, quite frankly.
Hi Mater, like Une Femme, I've long admired your Hermes watch. And the new addition to your arm party really does pull everything together – well chosen!
What beautiful accessories–all of them! I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite. You've done a wonderful post sharing the meaning your chosen accessories have in your life! So interesting and enjoyable!
That watch, and of course the Wendy B, are my favorites. I am keeping my eye out for a more stylish watch.
We're both big admirers of the Wendy! (although I only have the one piece — should follow your example and pick up a few more . . . )
I've just caught up, after more than two weeks of baby-induced purdah. I missed such a lot – including that wonderful conversation on the invisibility of women my age, and your very kind link. Perhaps I will take up the conversation sometime soon.
I'm glad you post the way you do. I like the variety and the not knowing what I'll find when I click on your new posts.
That's the best kind of retreat — baby retreat! I'm glad that you enjoyed the conversation on women our age being seen — I was really pleased to have hosted and facilitated it a bit. And thanks for encouraging my kind of posting — I've been trying to follow my instincts a bit more lately, and I do sometimes wonder if it's what readers like — or whether I should even think about that . . .
The last photo is my favorite. I see no contradictions here, or even between the posts, just the various bits and pieces, angles and curves, that make us human and make us interesting as well. You manage to capture those fleeting bits well.
Thanks — I'm glad you see the posts co-existing reasonably. I do value your opinion, always considered, thoughtful. . .