signs of Spring: wisteria, bats, and sparkling jet

[kambriel]

The first wisteria of the season has arrived just in time for my birthday next week (on the 13th)! Here are a few freshly picked blossoms, shown with the amazing finds I uncovered at a semi-local antique show yesterday... French jet at a fraction of the price of some I found at a flea market in Paris some years ago and a 120-130 year old iridescent glass *bat* button:



Pillow bat's version of sitting under the "mistletoe":


I just love these paisley appliques ~ you can't see it here, but the fringe is not unlike wisteria itself, with many beads dripping from each individual "stem" of fringe. They weren't in quite this sparkling of condition yesterday, but have since been carefully cleaned ~ diamonds in the rough!:


~ Kambriel

[Kambriel.com ~ Etsy ~ Twitter ~ Tumblr ~ Facebook]

Comments

[keeperoflegends.livejournal.com]

It pays to go to estate sales and to stop into antique shops. Never know what goodies you can find.

[pandorasfox.livejournal.com]

*swoons* OMG. that bat button is to die for!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

The adorable thing was how the sellers kept trying to "explain" what the appliques were... ;)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Once he was spotted, he was *definitely* coming home! I was pleasantly surprised, because it was one of those cases (literally), where there was a price range rather than them being priced individually, and I though for certain the bat would fall into the highest range. Quite happily the seller quoted a very reasonable amount right in the middle. I was so happy with that I didn't even bother to try and talk the price down... besides I think my poker face was completely useless at that point since my inner glee was rather obvious ;)

[meddevi.livejournal.com]

*dies for paisley appliques*

[madamekat.livejournal.com]

*ridiculous flailing grabby hands at the jet passementeries while hyperventilating*

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

The fringe on them is so heavy and decadent. There was actually one more matched set of those, but I was trying not to go overboard, so only picked up a single pair. I might be able to see if I could get the remaining set if you were interested (there were of course some beads missing here and there ~ especially in the fringe), but it might not be until July when those dealers come for another show... let me know if you want me to see if I can check in on them for you!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't believe how many times I said "Kat should be here"! I requested a card specifically for you from one seller who had an *entire display* of hairwork mourning jewelry ~ all of which looked to be in exquisite condition! You know I'd have bought every one of them for you if I could... maybe you can get them to send photos via email or a pricelist of what they have available? Otherwise, we know when to plan your next visit :)

I found a set of three matched appliques from a vendor who was outside ~ the jet was absorbing every bit of sunlight which made them ridiculously hot to the touch. I couldn't bare them being out there like that (and worried how that kind of light exposure might discolour them), so I felt it was my "solemn duty" to rescue those.

[victorine.livejournal.com]

I love that purple! I always wanted a house with a porch full of wisteria. Someday!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I adore wisteria... the tragic thing is how it's so ephemeral ~ usually only in bloom for a few weeks. The *fantastic* thing however is it blooms right before my birthday (and yours too!) :) I hope it will stay in bloom for a goodly amount of time this Spring... I've been keeping an eye out for it the past couple of weeks and the very first bit erupted all at once into that telltale purple yesterday!

Wisteria seed pods are quite something as well ~ I collect them and they keep that mossy velvet coating perfectly in tact. Just watch out if you have the pods indoors in the winter ~ they will eventually "explode" with quite a lot of force (usually in December).

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

I'm always kind of charmed by sellers who think they need to explain these things. And they're usually taken aback when they find out that I have some idea of what I'm doing. ;)

Those are beautiful finds. And wisteria isn't common here and I sometimes miss it.

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

One seller was sweet ~ they kept saying how these were made "by candlelight", and all I could think was, "don't you think those ladies could have possibly done at least some of this during the day?" ;)

I wish wisteria could stay in bloom longer, but so much of the spirit of Spring is ephemeral/transitional... you really have to appreciate it whilst it's around. Some blossoms are so delicate, just one rainstorm, and they're gone 'til next year. We had an incredible batch of Wisteria in New England... it was trained over a stone arbor and had been there for over 100 years. The undulating, twisted roots of it were pure art nouveau!

[pandorasfox.livejournal.com]

I wish wisteria could stay in bloom longer, but so much of the spirit of Spring is ephemeral/transitional... you really have to appreciate it whilst it's around. Some blossoms are so delicate, just one rainstorm, and they're gone 'til next year.


I think this is the first year I've really appreciated that.......having my own stuff to watch every day has certainly given me a new perspective.

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

"don't you think those ladies could have possibly done at least some of this during the day?"

Hee! Even sweet little antique sellers can resort to marketing hyperbole. ;)

(And I got the packet--thank you! I will take them to the convention and put them on the flyer rack as well as have them at my panels.)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

It will be an exciting year for you ~ figuring out what all of the individual "sea monsters" turn into!

Besides, you yourself have bloomed ~ your new haircolour is so vibrant :)

[veil.livejournal.com]

Thank you sososososososoo much for the skirt- I love the alterations! (and it still fits :) ) and the bday present..as always you are wonderful.. :) thank you thank you!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I gave this particular lady a pass, sheerly due to how much she enjoyed the bloomers I was wearing! I should have mentioned they were "made by candlelight" ;)

I'm so glad to hear the cards arrived in time ~ that's wonderful, and *thank you*!

[http://users.livejournal.com/raven_/]

Wow - that bat button is amazing.

Happy Birthday in advance :)

[acid-poptart.livejournal.com]

OoooOooooh! Pretty!

Love those paisley appliques!

[blueiduna.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! And what an adorable little bat!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link ~ they touched upon quite a few different types from all over the world which was nice :) I believe the candlelight quote was for the incredibly fine and delicate Chantilly lace rather than heavy beaded jet appliques (which are based frequently on silk wrapped cording which is much thicker than the single filament silk or cotton thread ~ those Chantilly threads can be so thin, you'd think they were made from a spider)... I do actually have a collection of French Chantilly lace like that, some of which has happily survived intact (since it's so very fragile and delicate) ~ other pieces, let's just say I appreciate them in all their tattered glory!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you like it! It's still ~your~ skirt, just souped up a bit... I didn't think you'd mind the added oomph! ;)

I'll always think of you on the 13th, I think it's wonderful we get to share that day :)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I was in momentary disbelief when he was first spotted ~ it's one of those things where you'd ~love~ to find one, but don't actually expect to!

Thanks for the advance happy birthday wish :)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

I didn't expect to find anything particular that day, but once there, my radar tuned in to all the glistening jet ~ it became the theme! The paisley appliques I ~almost~ passed up, can you believe it? Since I didn't expect to find much to begin with, I didn't want to end up "going overboard", luckily we went back and got them!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

There was a whole case of other beautifully ornate buttons of a similar age, but I passed on all of them as soon as the bat made itself known ~ tunnel vision took over!

[acid-poptart.livejournal.com]

So glad you went back! I'm still thanking Damion for making me pick up this top hat we got at the antique show - in fabulous condition and it's a collapsible one too!

[blueiduna.livejournal.com]

Understandable! I mean, just look at his adorable belly!

[meiow.livejournal.com]

What a great find for a birthday splurge! :D

I'm jealous of your wisteria! I haven't been home enough to see if we've got any blooming in Raleigh yet. The smell is even prettier than the flower. :) I've determined I'm going to have to grow it at some point, when I get a container big enough (it's a "weed" in NC, because it loves our soil and can choke out trees, so you have to grow it in containers around here). :)

So, birthday girl! Would you like to meet up for a bit of celebration this weekend? :)

[dark-phoenix54.livejournal.com]

There were a couple of those black beaded paisleys in a stash in the house I grew up in. We always figured they were my grandmothers, but not too long ago I found a picture of my great grand, and there are those paisleys on her dress! (To give you an idea of time frame, my father was born in 1905) I'd kill to have those beaded motifs now! So I envy you your fabulous find.

I am also so envious of your wisteria- mine hasn't even budded out yet.
:( Oh, well, at least it hasn't snowed in two days now.)