Antique Jewelry Tips from Elizabeth Taylor

OK, so these tips aren't really from Elizabeth Taylor, but are still very helpful. Currently, I'm reading Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century about their much-discussed Hollywood love affair. I highly recommend. Richard Burton showered Liz with lots of jewelry over the course of their relationship (including two marriages) and while you may not have the diamonds that Elizabeth Taylor does, you should still care for your pieces.

There are plenty of products specifically geared for cleaning antique jewelry. You need to make sure that the cleaner doesn’t contain ammonia, vinegar, or any other acids or alcohols. 


1) Don’t use soap and water, because most soaps will leave a residue on the metal and make the stones look dull. Windex can damage delicate stones and finishes. Vinegar is also harmful to the gemstones.

2) To get dust and dirt off of your antique jewelry, use the softest toothbrush that you can fine. Or use a very soft cloth to clean the surface of stones and gold or silver.

3) Thoroughly dry all of your jewelry after cleaning! Keep moisture away from stored jewelry also, because dampness is a culprit that encourages verdigris, rust, pitting of plated metals, and other damaging conditions.

4) If you wear it daily or often, clean your jewelry weekly. For pieces you pull out of the jewelry box and wear only once for special occasions, clean after you’ve worn them or just before you put them back into storage.

5) To avoid scratching your antique jewelry, keep it separated from other jewelry in a jewelry pouch.

Wishing you a very happy St. Valentine's Day!

Photos from Google Images

GO: Woodstock, Vermont

On my travel 'wish-list' is Woodstock, Vermont and the fabulous Woodstock Inn. I've been told that summer is a fabulous time to visit, but I'd like to go during the snowy winter months to ski, snowshoe, and sit by a cozy fire. There's a great collection of antique shops in and around Woodstock, I've suggested a few below.

SHOP:
-Wilgren & Barlow Antiques: 29 Pleasant Street, Woodstock, 802.457.2453 Open Tuesday-Friday noon-5pm, Saturday 10a-5pm

-Ellaways Attic: 14 Central Street, Woodstock, 802.457.1066  Open daily 10a-5pm

-For more antique shops in Vermont, check the Vermont Antiques Dealers Website.


STAY: The Woodstock Inn

-Not to most economical choice, but certainly the most fabulous. If you don't want to break the bank, there are a host of bed-and-breakfast options in Woodstock to choose from (most fashioned with gorgeous antiques!). Check the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce website for suggestions.

Photos from the Woodstock Inn



Yankee Magazine article

This is a Yankee Magazine article from 2008 that offers useful tips for collecting antiques. I agree with all these, but think the most important tip is number three: Buy what you love! I've bought lots of goodies over the years that weren't from "reputable antique dealers", but rather from estate sales or flee markets. As long as it's something you love and will enjoy seeing everyday, I say buy it!

1. Purchase from reputable dealers. Not only can you usually trust what you buy from them, but they can educate you about how to discern what's authentic.

2. Go to as many antiques shows as you can, and look, look, look. This is the best way to educate yourself.

3. Buy what you love.

4. Don't necessarily hold on to all your collections. That's part of the secret of avoiding clutter. A no-longer-loved item in your own home may make the perfect accent piece in the home of a friend.

5. Make sure you can see and display the things you love. If you have too much, many objects will wind up languishing in storage.

6. Move things around. You'll get a new appreciation for them. You get used to looking at things where they are, and after a while you no longer see them.

7. Be careful of color combinations when you display your antiques. Make sure things actually go together. It's okay to mix contemporary with old, though -- it can create a distinctive and refreshing effect.

8. Try not to scatter collection items throughout the house. They'll be more attractive and orderly looking if presented together.

9. Avoid cramming items together, though. Try to keep a clean look, letting your special items show themselves off while not overwhelming the eye.

10. Insure valuable items, listing them individually.

Stowe, Vermont

List and photo from Yankee Magazine.com

Vintage Ski Posters and Vermont Antiquing

Now that the holiday season is over, those of us living in cold climates stay entertained by the snowy weather and winter sports: skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, hockey and drinking (insert alcoholic hot beverage here). I thought it might be fun to highlight antique sporting goods this month, so look for those posts in the coming weeks. And because Stowe is one of my favorite skiing spots, I'll note some favorite antique shops and markets in Vermont. Enjoy these vintage ski posters and click the below link to learn more about the poster market from Homes & Antiques.com.

Photos from Homes & Antiques Magazine