The Elegant Muse Blog

(Warning! Slight spoiler alert if you haven't seen Season 1!) Have you been watching Season 2 of PBS Masterpiece's Sanditon? I confess, I was so - dare I say - vexed by the ending of the first season I almost didn't tune in. But I'm thrilled that I did.  The second season is much improved from the first - I think even Jane Austen herself would be pleased. Miss Charlotte Heywood shows the resilience of youth after her heart is broken and she ventures on to find new acquaintances in the picturesque coastal resort of Sanditon.  In my dreams all of my favorite period drama characters wear The Elegant Muse jewelry....

You are creative, yes you are! Often I hear things like, “You are so creative -I’m just not!” Though the first part of this is a sweet compliment the second part makes me want to S-C-R-E-A-M! I believe we are all creative - it’s just a matter of where and how your creativity is expressed. Perhaps you love to cook a delicious meal, adding your own flourish to each dish. Maybe you love arranging flowers or plant seasonal blooms in pots and arrange them on a patio or by your front door. Are you a problem solver, either in your...

Loving all things sparkly I, of course, have a passion for rhinestones. To me there’s nothing quite like the sparkle of a vintage rhinestone. A single rhinestone brooch or pendant worn against a silhouette of a solid color (any solid color!) makes a classic, striking statement. But do you know why a rhinestone is called a rhinestone? They are named after the sparkling quartz pebbles once found along the banks of the Rhine River centuries ago. These organic Rhine stones eventually became depleted but imitations were created and have dazzled us ever since. I have a new Special Occasion Collection in the works...

I've always loved miniatures - I think it's my fascination with tiny details whether on a piece of fabric, jewelry, or within a dollhouse. So when I found a cache of petite buttons at an antique shop in Iowa, I knew I had to add a new collection to my jewelry line. I've since collected quite a few - all are circa 1885-1930. And the exquisite detail of the craftsmanship sometimes takes my breath away. I find myself wondering, What garment was this worn on? Who wore it? Where did its wearer travel to? So far the Petite Collection includes necklaces with handstitched...

When I first learned about perfumed buttons I thought I'd not heard anything quite so romantic. These unique and rare buttons have a touch of velvet within them. By adding a touch of scent to their buttons, Victorian women avoided staining their fine fabrics and silks with perfume. Now for the romantic part. It is said that during the Civil War young ladies would remove a perfumed button from their dress and present it as a sweet memento to a loved one when he went off to war. Romance and history come together beautifully in these exquisite one-of-a-kind button earrings which are available...