Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Tibetan Gau Box Pendants

My new muse is Tibetan Gau or Prayer boxes after finding two amazing examples at an antique
show. I then found a triangular Tibetan prayer box. I have to list them and find home for them quickly because now I have three. You know that old collectors' saying "Once you have three of them, you have a collection...." Oh no!!




This one is sterling silver filigree set with red coral and turquoise. It has Buddist symbols done in turquoise and the coral. Very nice work! I will be offering it in my One Kings Lane shop. I will let you know when it is coming up for sale. 


This piece has a repoussé design of the Hindu God Ganesha. This one is also going to be first available in my One Kings Lane shop. I will also alert you when it will go for sale. 

This piece has a lid at the top of the box and is complete with original. It is available on my website, HERE. 



A Gau ( can also spelled Ghau or Gao) is a Tibetan Buddhist prayer box or amulet box, usually made of metal and worn as jewelry. Often found in sterling silver with a gold wash, they are also found in brass and alpaca. I have even seen some pictured in gold. These containers or boxes are used to hold sacred amuletic objects such as crystals, prayers, photos or as a reliquary. They vary in size and the lid can be hinged or not. They can be simple or elaborate, with precious or semi-precious stones and are often decorated with Auspicious, Buddist, or Hindu symbols or mantras.

This sort of thing is very popular with the Boho, Hippie or Gypsy style and perfect to wear to the next music festival.

So, I started searching the web for more examples, just because I need to learn about them, not because I am feeling the need to collect then, because I am not, I am not going to collect these, nope....but I collected some photos and made a collage.  Aren't they beautiful?



Tuesday, April 21, 2015

The Yourgreatfinds Website

Last year, I opened my very own website. I had no idea what I was doing and it was difficult. I did it all by myself. Through the tears and frustration, I got it up and running. Then eBay took the great fall and I needed to focus my attention on social media and growing my Etsy and One Kings Lane shops immediately. Bills had to be paid and I could not wait to build a following for my website.

The most challenging aspect of my life is time management. Having so many stores, two brands and social media to tend to as well as a personal life means long days with not enough sleep. I've been working...I now have over 1500 items on Etsy and 800 on the docket at One Kings Lane.

It's time now, to give my website some love.

I have since learned a little bit more about how to navigate a Wordpress website so I am starting to re-vamp my site.

I am adding new images that will be changing as we have time to do street shoots. I love the eye candy!

I am pulling inventory that is hidden on some of my venues to my collection on my website.
Prices will be slashed and fresh estate finds, never seen before will be added.

My goal is to add a little bit (or more) every day. I will post here and on my Facebook business page when I have added items.

Hope that you like the changes that are coming!




Sunday, April 19, 2015

The Squash Blossom Silver Question

Here are two earlier Navajo Squash Blossom necklaces set with nice turquoise, but they look so different, why?

Why is one such a bright white silver and the other rather black?  Now you are saying :"I know! The longer dark one is tarnished." Well, that is part of the answer.

The tarnished one is sterling silver and it tarnishes because it has copper and probably tin alloy-making it 925 percent silver.

The white silver squash blossom is .999 silver. I have owned it for several years and it has never even started to tarnish.

This necklace also looks different because it is a cast piece. The blossoms and Naja were cast in a tufa stone where the shape was carved by hand creating the flat, shiny surface.
The larger squash blossom was assembled of pulled wire and hand made sterling silver metal peiced formed to create blossoms.

These necklaces are from my private collection. I have been placing them up for sale with two others in my brand New TIAS shop .



I will add links to the listings for this items right here on this blog as I create them.

Here is the sterling piece. It is set with Bisbee turquoise and it is Pawn. You can find it in my Tias Shop here.




Here is the tufa cast necklace. You can find it here.


This was just listed. Fully signed. Can be found here.

SHHHH! Here's a secret: The tufa cast piece is on sale, huge mark-down in my ONe Kings Lane shop for just a couple of days. See it here: ONE KINGS LANE.


And here is a fresh find, just listed and not from my collection. It is a smaller light weight piece that is very comfortable. Can be found here.



My decision to sell some of my squash blossom collection is based on my lifestyle change. I spend most of my days dressed in riding breeches and boots now that I have adopted my dream horse "Red".


I try to get to the ranch for a ride at some point everyday. Wearing a heavy necklace while cantering a horse can pound the heck out of one's chest and I am sure it is not good for the necklace either.

In addition,  I have this necklace up for sale in my Etsy Shop. It has matching earrings that come with:

Find this necklace set HERE.

Which one do you like best?



Sunday, April 12, 2015

RINGS BABY!!

I just spent the whole day at an antique event and a gem show. I have A bag full of sterling silver rings for my One Kings Lane Shop and Etsy shop. I am sunburned, tired and have a headache, but besides rings, there are bracelets, necklaces and earrings that are to die for!
I will be resting up and start listing them right away.
Here's a peek at some of the rings:

Saturday, April 4, 2015

A Big Tease!

Here a small sample of the estate hoard that I purchased yesterday. There are about 50 pieces from this collection. They will be divided up between my Etsy and One Kings Lane shops.

I will be listing all week.





This bracelet can be found here.



This stacking bracelet can be found here

.
This ring can be found here.




Thursday, April 2, 2015

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!
I found my Easter eggs just in time!


Rings can be found in my etsy and One Kings Lane Shops.

Ring below found here.

The ring below here:


The ring below can be found here:



The mottled turquoise ring can be found here:



And lastly, the pale blue turquoise ring can be found here.