It all starts here...

Want to see how it all begins in our cottage studio?  Well, it starts with pure and sterling silver.  Here is my latest buy of raw material.  Believe it or not, this is about $900 worth of silver. And that sheet on the bottom is a whopping 6 inches by 6 inches!

 

Choosing China

We get lots of questions from ladies about what china is best for Broken China Jewelry.  Well, it really depends on how you want it finished.  If you have a curved piece, it is really best to get an artist that does the copper foil method.  It's the same as what is used for stained glass windows.  There are lots of kits out there, too, if you want to do it yourself.  Be prepared, though, there is a learning/experimentation curve, but it is well worth it.

My favorite method requires a flat or near flat piece, like from a plate, that can be set in Sterling Silver.  I love this the best because it treats these little pieces of history as fine jewelry.   It just gives it an air of refinement and romance that you just can't beat. 

Since we create ours with a solid sterling back, it also makes the perfect canvas for engraving names, dates, or little messages.  Its really helps a gift stand out and gives it meaning.

Tips to help you find a good piece to have made into a Sterling set Broken China Jewelry charm:

1) The thinner the better.  Bone china is wonderfully thin and we do a lot of work with it (it also breaks easily so we find lots of damaged pieces to use!).  That is not to say that you can't use a thicker china (like semi-vitreous) , but it really can make the charm pretty heavy using a really thick piece. 

2) Take a quarter with you when you hit the antique stores and garage sales.  A quarter is your best friend.  You can use a quarter to see if the design will fit in space.  It can also tell you if the piece is pretty flat. You don't want the design to extend onto the "foot" of the plate (the lip on the backside) either.   Better yet, if you own the piece, lay your quarter on your plate and draw a circle around it with a magic marker.  Remove the quarter and look at the circle.  Is the design inside the circle pretty to your eye?  Trust yourself.  You know what is pretty and what isn't!

It's pretty easy and there are still a few more tips, but this post is getting a little long.  Tune back in for more tips. 

Still not sure if the china will work?  No problem, send us a pic (even one off of your camera phone) and we will be happy to help you out!

Antique Austrian Broken China Jewelry charm custom set in Sterling Silver

It's an Honor...and Thank You very Much

Faces, beautiful faces ... young, full of life, determination, pride.  I opened my email today to see another warm, caring face of a young man. He is handsome, strong, with beautiful eyes and is wearing the obvious military green.  His name is Michael.  Michael.  What a proud name and it really seems to fit him.  Michael's mother  sent me his picture so that we could make a charm of her soldier son for her.

We do soldier charms for those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.  You can see them at RoseBlossomCottage.com under 
A Soldier's Charm 
It is our small way of paying respect and expressing gratitude.  If you go to the page, you can see some of the ones that we have done through the years there.  It has been such a treasure to do these for wives and mothers of our finest citizens.    Often they generously share stories with me.  One wanted to get her charm for the day of her first anniversary.  She was spending it alone, and she wanted to sleep with it under her pillow.  Another had her three little girls vying to get to wear it around the house after she got home from work. (He has since come home and is surely enjoying those little ones along with his lovely wife.) And yet another lives 40 miles from us.  Her husband was in the next building when the Ft. Hood shooting happened.  These wonderful ladies (and gentlemen, too!) support our heroes.  For that I am forever in awe of them.


I was just telling my husband Sam how sweet  the emails are.  I am so struck how softly, humbly each one comes requesting a charm.  They are so grateful.  And yet, our efforts are such small, insignificant tokens in the scheme of things.  What these soldiers and their families do is immeasurable.  Yet they are grateful that we would do such a thing for them.  Let me tell you, everyone I know is so thankful for our soldiers and their families.  We don't always express it well or know how to let our bravest know, but we do.  So God Bless each and every soldier and military family!

Well, I had better get back to work.  Thank you for letting me share this passion with you.  I have to get going on this next batch of charms as each one is many stepped production.  We try to wait until we have many requests so they can be done at one time due to the process.  But this time it will be a small batch.  It has Janet's daughter, a local soldier, and Michael among them.  Janet has waited long enough and Michael's must be done now.  I don't want his mom to wait at all. You see, Michael is a Fallen Hero.  He was killed in Kandahar at the age of 20.  I am sure that Michael would appreciate  us taking care of her in that respect.  It is the least we can do.  Yes, this is a special batch as they all are.

I will sign off with a hearty thank you to all soldiers, past and present, and their families.  Without you, the 4th of July would be just another day.

And now you know, dear reader, what we mean when we say in our tagline..."Where charming is just half of the story..."

Decisions, Decisions.

Isn't this divine? We had the honor and pleasure of working with Angie from Tennessee. There was one Broken China Jewelry charm that she just adored and it was sold out. Could we do another? Why, sure we can. Of course, china is one of those things that you can run out of and can't exactly order more of. Fortunately for both of us, we did have enough for Angie's favorite charm.

She was as charming as her bracelet to work with through a phone call and emails. Angie made me laugh when she said that she was wearing RoseBlossomCottage.com out going through all the charms to put together her bracelet. I love the little girl that comes out in all of us when we are inspired. It's so refreshing.

Sometimes I actually think that we want lots of choices, but it may be closer to the truth to have a few good choices than scads of them. It kind of muddies the water, you know. With charm bracelets, there is always the classic base bracelet. The double rowed silver or gold link bracelet. Since Angie loved pearls and would be adding to her bracelet, it made sense to go with the pretty Flirty Pearl bracelet.

After making that decision, Angie was trying to decide what color pearls. It was important to her because she wants to wear this bracelet a lot. I suggested that she look at the clothes in her closet to see what the predominant color. Angie chose Swarovski cream (excellent choice, I think!).

After sending her a picture to approve the bracelet, we added a few Swarovski crystal suprises. I love a little bit of sparkle, don't you? Teardrop crystals and pearls are such wonderful fillers if you are adding charms slowly.

Every girl should have at least one charm bracelet. They are timeless chronicles to remembering wonderful moments in life. I think what she came up with was absolutely worth effort and thought. And she thinks that her daughters will love it, too. Do you have a piece of jewelry that inspires you?

Marie Antoinette Charms

Aren't these gorgeous? I never get tired of her story, tragic though it may be. I saw these images of the lovely Marie Antionette and just new that they would be perfect for charms. We immortalized her again under liquid crystal, each with its own custom made Sterling Silver setting done right here in the USA in our cottage studio.

Of course, no queen would be without her pearls, so we put a little pearl dangle. Wouldn't these look great all together on a bracelet along with some Broken China Jewelry and Swarovski Crystals? For now, I think I will wear Marie as a pendant. That does create a problem. I have to choose just one...decisions, decisions...

Look for these at RBC later today.

Charms of the Heart

It is such fun when you get the mail and there is a box ready to be opened. Now, the box itself is pretty nondescript, but, oh, what was inside was dessert for the eyes. Love, love, love these little pieces of glass confections. They remind me of a wedding cake with scrolling and squiggles and lots of yummy icing. Lovely to say the least. We just had the best time arranging them...trying this...doing that. After all was said and done, several will never make it to the RBC. You will find them gracing a few gals (who shall remain nameless for right now!) charm bracelets and one necklace chain around here!

Look for these charms in the Sterling Charms, Bracelets, and Chains along with these new Sterling Silver Bracelets.