Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Fire Agate, Baby!!!

Fire Agate, a variety of chalcedony, is a semi-precious natural gemstone found only in certain areas of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is very rare. I have several pieces of jewelry just listed that are set with this amazing stone. They are all from a private collection. The play of color looks like it is bubbling up in the stone. These "bubbles" are called pinfires. Here are a few, with more photos to come tomorrow.



End of October Fresh finds.

Just a sampler of a few things that were just listed or are about to be listed on ebay and etsy, in my shops.







Monday, October 28, 2013

More Haunted Places-Guajome Adobe

I have another Haunted Place to share with you. This is the Guajome Adobe Hacienda. It was built in 1853 and is 7000 square feet. In that traditional Mexican style, it has a central courtyard that the house is built around. This is the very home that Helen Hunt Jackson stayed in while she wrote the famous novel "Ramona"in the early 1880's. I have visited this place that is located in Vista, CA many times. The forest rangers that live on the site and take care of it tell me that they have not experienced any hauntings there, but that the owner says that it is very haunted. The room in the upper left corner is the very room that Helen stayed in over 100 years ago. The wood floor in that room is very squeaky. The other photos are the long outer hallway outside of that guest room. The room with the covered bed is the bedroom of the former Mistress of the house, Mrs. Ysidora Bandini Couts. This a photo of the original owners who built the home.


The beautiful windowed door that opens out to the huge rancho. The lower left is the view from the small sewing room that doubles as a lookout tower. Flowers in the window for Dia De Los Muertos.

This is the original pantry where all food was kept. It has not been restored. It is cold as it is on the North side of the house, chosen as such to keep food stock naturally cold. A rather eerie feeling room. The long counter is in one of the kitchens that is down the breezeway from the pantry.


Here are a few shots from some of the bedrooms.



The house has a schoolroom and had a store. There were over 50 ranch hands at one time.

This is a Dia de los Muertos alter reflected in an antique mirror.

Like The Day of the Dead? I have some great photos coming of that in a few days as well.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Antique Flea Market Fun

Up early yesterday to go picking at an antique flea market. Here are some of the cool things that I saw, loved and left behind. Later, I will post a sampler of what I brought home. (Opals, turquoise, gold, Silver, amber...and the list goes on. One of the best collections I have brought home for my ebay and etsy shops in a long time.)
These Navajo rugs are early and amazing!





This is one of my favorite vendors, Atelier de Campagne. If you look closely you will see Johan in the background of one of the photos.





After getting up in the cold, dark morning, walking for hours and hours, we enjoyed a nice warm omlette breakfast with fresh macaroons to top it off.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Los Castillo

Here is a cool shot of a rare to find BRASS brooch by Mexican Designer Company Los Castillo of Taxco, Mexico.

Vignettes in October

I dropped by that amazing shop in Ocean Beach, CA called Vignettes. Check this out!!!

The clock is totally hand embellished and covered in rhinestones and pearls. It's for sale too!









Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Ocean Beach

Just a quick visit to Ocean Beach today. I Visited Newport Antique Mall. Here are some photos of some cool things.






Then, I had to go to Azucar for a pistachio macaroon with passion fruit custard filling. OMG!!! So amazing. I also visited that out of this world shop "Vignettes". Those photos will be tomorrow's post.