Debbie just dropped off some wonderful new work and the shop is full to the brim with beautiful treats for Spring! Two of my favorites of her new paintings are framed with repurposed wood and are simply wonderful. In addition to at least 10 new paintings she also brought in several new clocks, votive candles with her artwork on them for $14 ea, tins with original paintings on the tops $16 ea, journals (mini $4.50- sm.$8 – med.$14 – lg.$20), greeting cards in box sets $38 as well as individual cards $4, and mini paintings for $45 ea. Here are some pictures but everything is so much better in person so come in and see us!

I tend to accumulate lots of little bits and pieces of pretty things and what better way to use them but to decorate little boxes! I made these for the shop and for a few friends that had requested them but this is something everyone can do with a glue gun and a small gathering of trinkets.

Things that I like to use inparticular are trinkets like game pieces, old wallpaper or wrapping paper, silk flowers that you can find at any thift store (just cut them apart and use the pretty parts), vintage buttons and beads, old stamps, and twigs or pressed flowers from the garden.  I hope this inspires!

Happy April Fool’s Day or as the French call it ‘Poisson d’Avril’! As I was looking through some of the hundreds of antique French postcards we have in the shop I was reminded of the tradition of sending a postcard on April 1st to friends and family. Here are a few that I thought were so charming and reminded me that just taking a few moments to write a little not can be a lasting memory 🙂 These memories are over a hundred years old! Enjoy and Happy Spring!

I had so much fun making the last small collection of flower and spring jewelry that I just kept on going…

Here are some additions to my spring jewelry collection that are sweet and fun for everyday or for a little gift and I will have them in the shop starting tomorrow on April 1st…I’m not fooling.

All the earrings and necklaces are $38 each and everything is sterling or gold-filled with gemstones and all made by me!

Also if you are on Facebook come see us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Curious-Nest/137183043007939?sk=wall and while you are there check out the cherry blossom necklaces that I am offering for $30 each and all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross to help with the disaster in Japan.

Happy Spring everyone!

We just received a pretty fantastic box of antiques from France (it came early) in addition to a box we also received about a week and a half ago so here are the combined pictures of the new goodies in at the shop.

This last box had antique French religious medals galore! From the usual $6-$12 ones to more unique enamels and other pieces. Also the relics are everything from 1^st relics (including St. Polycarpe) to relics from the site of the Annunciation. There are also some large mourning frames (including a miniature with an ivory back), champlevé holy water fonts, plaster and carved stone domed glass pieces and all kinds of other treasures! Here are some pictures but it is always best to come see them all in person…

Here is a sneak peak at some amazing pottery that I am bringing in to the Curious Nest starting tomorrow to celebrate the beginning of spring! Oh the flowers and vines that abound in her work…

These are all one of a kind pieces created by the amazing potter Lark Roderigues from Rhode Island who sells primarily on the east coast so I feel very excited to be bringing some of her work out west! All of her pieces are thrown by hand and then embellished with her sculpted blooms and vines to create a whimsical piece of unique and functional art. She has been creating for over 30 years and has been featured in numerous periodicals including ‘Victoria’ magazine. So if you are just about ready to pick some daffodils and need a beautiful vessel to hold them and enchant your home come see these works!

I have always loved the french fairy tale ‘Beauty and Beast’ with its magical creatures, roses, spells and the thought of finding beauty and strength  from within. So as I was looking through my childrens book collection and stumbled upon my favorite version of the story by Marianna Meyer I decided it was time to pay homage to the tale with jewels. I imaged what Beauty would have worn while meandering alone through a vast and empty castle and hence created these little treasures. So enjoy and if you would like to see them up close do come visit them all at the Curious Nest! I have also included a few of my sketches that I drew in preperation for creating the jewelry.

We just got a box of goodies from France! There is another one coming later next week but here are some pictures of what we have in the shop starting tomorrow.

I have some personal favorites like the micro mosaic jewelry boxes, the St. Michael slaying the dragon holy water font and the several of the Victorian mourning pieces but there are all kinds of little treasures to look through. If you have any questions just email me or better yet come to the shop to see them in person.

 Also I am also working on a really amazing jewelry collection inspired by the French fairytale ‘Beauty and the Beast’ that I am hoping to finish in the next few weeks for those of you who like my jewels. There will be all kinds of beasts (dragons, griffins, etc), fairytale beauties and curiosities like a little pendant filled with real beetles. I can’t wait to finish it all up!!!

We love antique games so I wanted to highlight some of the truly unique pieces that we have in at the moment. The most unusual vintage games that we have are the Victorian board games and the Victorian Fortune Telling Game called ‘Le nombre 13’ all of which are quite rare.

Also the ‘Loto’ games, which is the French version of Bingo, are wonderful not only as a collectors piece but also to break apart and use the pieces for altered art or jewelry. We even have two 1920s printing sets that usuable as well as some interesting cubes that many use for decoration. ‘The Nain Jaune’ game is in perfect condition and a true collectors piece. 

These make such wonderfully unique gifts that we are always trying to gather as many interesting ones as we can. Here are some pictures of what’s new!

We just got in this month’s box of antiques from France!

Ohhh so many treasures and I already have several favorites that I think are truly unique including the micro mosaic cross, the traveler’s relic and the ball clay holy water font. We have some fantastic new dance cards, pins and a really cool rosary made out of coffee beans and a crucifix that has a little hidden compartment with dirt from the Catacombs inside. Everything will be out in the shop starting Thursday and we would love for you to come take a peak in person if you are in our neighborhood. But in the meantime here are some pictures!