It's A Gurley Thing: 2012

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

White and Creamy Faux Pearl Vintage Necklace & Earring Set

One of a kind vintage white & creamy faux pearl necklace & earring set. All of the pearls come from repurposed vintage jewelry pieces.

The necklace measures 15" and has small seed pearls woven through the necklace chain with parts of a bracelet with gold leaves attached to it as well.

The pendant is made from a vintage brooch with pearls and light blue glass rhinestones. Attached to the brooch/pendant is a vintage earring cascading with creamy pearls. This pendant adds another 1½.

Also shown are the earrings which measure 2¼” and are made from parts of a bracelet with gold leaves, faux pearls and chain pieces.

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

To visit my jewelry shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/ItsAGurleyThing

To visit my vintage shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/AtticTreasureChest

Sunday, December 23, 2012

It's A Gurley Thing: Bronze & Green Necklace & Earrings with 22 Caliber...

It's A Gurley Thing: Bronze & Green Necklace & Earrings with 22 Caliber...: This one of a kind necklace is made from 22 caliber casings, green faceted acrylic beads and bronze & gold tone chain pieces. The necklac...

Bronze & Green Necklace & Earrings with 22 Caliber Casings

This one of a kind necklace is made from 22 caliber casings, green faceted acrylic beads and bronze & gold tone chain pieces. The necklace chain is three different chains woven together measuring 16". Add another 3" with the extender.

The earrings are made from 22 caliber casings as well, green faceted acrylic beads and bronze & gold tone chain pieces. They measure 2¼".

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

Sold

sold

To visit my original vintage jewelry shop, click here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ItsAGurleyThing

To visit my wedding jewelry shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/ExquisitelyBridal

To visit my vintage shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/AtticTreasureChest

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Religion 101

I felt it necessary to address my Rosary jewelry.

Apparently I may have offended some Catholics due to my reconstruction of the Rosary. In no way was that my intention. My true intention was 'my' religious beliefs.

The main symbol of the Christian religion is the cross. The cross is a symbol of Jesus' death for us so that we may have eternal life. But there is also a couple other symbols. One is the Ichthys (the fish symbol) that represented that God was the fisher of men. Another is the dove. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Ghost.

The Catholic faith's main symbol is the crucifix. A crucifix is a just a regular cross that bears the image of Jesus being crucified. It also symbolizes the release of the soul in death.

When I purchased the Rosary's on eBay I planned on reconstructing them into bracelets, bracelets for 'all' Christians. Christians that wear the cross. Whether that be around their neck or around their wrist.

I hope this clarifies my intent. It was never meant to deface or disrespect the Rosary but to respect the Cross. To respect and adore or Father, Jesus Christ.

Vintage Reversible Rosary Bracelet

Sold

This pendant is stamped Italy, one side is a beautiful image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the other side is that of Jesus Christ. The pendant measures ¾". The black beads are doubled around the wrist and they are from the original rosary . The total length of the bracelet is 7".

When Jesus saw his mother,
and the disciple whom he loved standing near,
he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!"
Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Gospel of John 19:26-27

The rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a Roman Catholic sacramental and Marian devotion to prayer and the commemoration of Jesus Christ and events of his life.

The term "Rosary" is used to describe both a sequence of prayers and a string of prayer beads used to count the prayers.

Throughout centuries, the rosary has been promoted by several popes as part of the veneration of Mary. The rosary also represents the Roman Catholic emphasis on "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ," and the Mariological theme "to Christ through Mary," taught by Saint Louis de Montfort.

The sequence of prayers is the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary ten times, and the Glory Be to the Father, sometimes followed by the Fatima Prayer. Each sequence is known as a decade. Five decades are prayed, after beginning with the Apostle's Creed and five initial prayers. The praying of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall the life of Jesus Christ.

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces, bracelets & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

To visit my wedding jewelry shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/ExquisitelyBridal

To visit my vintage shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/AtticTreasureChest

Sunday, December 16, 2012

It's A Gurley Thing: Vintage Black & Silver Rosary Bracelet

It's A Gurley Thing: Vintage Black & Silver Rosary Bracelet: This beautiful silver crucifix measures 1¾". The black beads will wrap around your wrist twice and they are from the original rosa...

Vintage Black & Silver Rosary Bracelet

Sold

This beautiful silver crucifix measures 1¾". The black beads will wrap around your wrist twice and they are from the original rosary . The total length of the bracelet is 13½".

The rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a Roman Catholic sacramental and Marian devotion to prayer and the commemoration of Jesus Christ and events of his life.

The term "Rosary" is used to describe both a sequence of prayers and a string of prayer beads used to count the prayers.

Throughout centuries, the rosary has been promoted by several popes as part of the veneration of Mary. The rosary also represents the Roman Catholic emphasis on "participation in the life of Mary, whose focus was Christ," and the Mariological theme "to Christ through Mary," taught by Saint Louis de Montfort.

The sequence of prayers is the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary ten times, and the Glory Be to the Father, sometimes followed by the Fatima Prayer. Each sequence is known as a decade. Five decades are prayed, after beginning with the Apostle's Creed and five initial prayers. The praying of each decade is accompanied by meditation on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall the life of Jesus Christ.

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces, bracelets & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Vintage Button Collage Necklace

This one of a kind gold & bronze collage of vintage buttons makes a beautiful necklace!

The necklace measures 17½" and has several different types of vintage chain pieces attached along with a couple woven through the main necklace. Has a gold tone lobster closure.

Also shown are the matching earrings.

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

To visit my wedding jewelry shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/ExquisitelyBridal

To visit my vintage shop, click here: www.etsy.com/shop/AtticTreasureChest

Beautiful!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

No pictures this time.

I have been posting pictures on Facebook & Etsy all afternoon it seems. Between mine and Howard's shops it keeps me pretty busy.

Howard's shop is called Eggs in one Basket. He has hand made birdhouses along with all types of vintage finds like old bottles, pipes, vases & cameras. He has even sold some deer skulls...

As for me, well I have three Etsy shops. I have my It's a Gurley Thing and we all know that is my original upcycled vintage jewelry to contemporary jewelry designs.

I have Exquisitely Bridal where I do the same type jewelry as my It's a Gurley Thing but exclusive wedding party jewelry. The bride, bridesmaids, flower girl and mothers of the bride and groom.

Then I have my Attic Treasure Chest shop... this is where I sell all my left over jewelry finds that I know I won't make into something, but I hate the idea that it may go to waste.

So, there you have it, what I have been doing all day. Taking pictures and writing descriptions. But it is not all for naught. Between us both, our Etsy shops keep us very busy, so I must continue to be thankful for the blessings that we have!!

Carol

Creation

I'm truly trying to 'blog' everyday...

I've taken a few pictures of some items laying on my work table as I was getting ready to make another necklace and a pair of earrings.

The first picture just shows some chains, beads, old earring pieces and filigree stamping. Next you can see where I've started weaving the smaller chain pieces through the larger chain.

I then attach the stamping to the chain, attach some beads and then the final product!!

The necklace and matching earrings! I hope you love it!!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

My Work Space

I thought I'd give you some insight into my work area. My daughter tells me I'm a hoarder, I don't think so, I just LOVE stuff!!

I love collecting it, I love looking through it, I love, love, love creating with it!

You can obviously tell by the photos that I have a lot, but whether you believe this or not I really know where everything is.

Now, I don't know what is in each container, but I do know that all of my gold is together, silver, pearls, colored beads........

Friday, December 7, 2012

Two Strand Silver & Gold Tone Vintage Chain Necklace

Ooohhhh .....twice in the same day :)

This two strand silver & gold tone vintage chain necklace measures 19". Suspended from the necklace is a 1¾" textured open gold tone circle with more chain pieces and a 5 rhinestone strip with a russet acrylic bead adding another 4" to the necklace.

Along the chain necklace are amber, gold & rose glass round and faceted beads and chain pieces. Attaching each of the different chain pieces to each other are small pewter colored textured circles.

Also shown are the matching earrings.

As in all of my jewelry, the necklaces & earrings can be customized for any size or length.

As a faithful artisan I work with all my love and care. I place great significance in rewarding craftsmanship.

All of my items are created and handcrafted by me.

Holiday Mart at Friendship Presbyterian

I started this blog about 10 months ago and posted a few photos, but that was it. I kept hearing about people blogging, had, have no idea what that means.

I was told to just write, write about what I do, why I do it and when I do it... take pictures. To add some of me to what I write.

So here goes, I got up this morning about 6:00am to get ready for the Holiday Mart at the Friendship Presbyterian in Oconee county. They were having their children's Christmas concert and in between shows they had about 20 vendors selling their handmade goods to the parents. Santa was there as well.

I found out about the holiday mart through a couple friends whose son goes to this day care. I have to say I had a wonderful time! I loaded my car, arrived at the church, I was the first one there (obsessive compulsive about being early).