The Elegant Muse Blog

Antique Grape Buttons Transformed into Earrings

Antique Grape Buttons Transformed into Earrings

Did you know that there are over 11,000 wineries in the USA? Here in Virginia we have over 300 and visiting a winery is one of the most popular things to do year round. Wineries are also chosen as wedding venues due to their often spectacular country views. When I spotted this pair of antique grape buttons, I knew they would make a perfect pair of earrings - whether worn to a winery, lunch with friends, or a special date night. So raise your glass - merlot, chardonnay, malbec or rosé - to your next winery visit! And click here to learn more about the...

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Silver AND Gold Antique Button Earrings

Silver AND Gold Antique Button Earrings

I know some people prefer wearing silver and some gold, but let’s face it, some outfits scream for one or the other. So when I found two antique buttons that included both silver and gold, I knew they’d make a perfect pair of earrings! Find out more about Blooms, a one-of-a-kind pair of antique button (c. 1890-1930) earrings here!

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Would Miss Scarlet Wear This Antique Statement Ring?

Would Miss Scarlet Wear This Antique Statement Ring?

The next season of Miss Scarlet and the Duke begins soon, and I can hardly wait to watch Eliza Scarlet decipher the clues and red herrings and spar with her friend and potential love interest, Inspector William “the Duke” Wellington in Victorian London. With dreams of my favorite period drama characters wearing a piece of my jewelry, I even named this striking statement ring, Miss Scarlet. I like to think she’d love wearing it with her favorite silks and satins. This particular ring was made using 1920’s earring piece from Czechoslovakia - it’s adjustable and one-of-a-kind. Learn more about Miss Scarlet here. ...

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Why Not Wear Yellow?

Why Not Wear Yellow?

I think yellow must be the most underrated, seldom worn color around, and I feel bad that such a joyful color is often neglected. Why don't we wear yellow? Now I can understand not wanting to wear an entire yellow outfit and looking like a highlighter, but a touch of yellow - as in a piece of jewelry, a scarf, or a pair of shoes - adds a spark of brightness other colors just don’t. Think of it - so many lovely things are yellow: Sun Lemons Daffodils Baby ducklings Lemonade Canaries What would you add to this list? Finally, my Anastasia necklace is...

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A Beloved Mom’s Pin Becomes a Daughter’s Treasured Necklace

A Beloved Mom’s Pin Becomes a Daughter’s Treasured Necklace

My dear mother-in-law, known by the family as “Memaw,” loved jewelry. I mean, really loved it. She had boxes and boxes of treasures she’d worn over the years - from inexpensive costume pieces she’d purchased herself, to fine pieces she’d received as special occasion gifts, to family heirloom items - and I believe she adored each and every one of them. A few years after her passing we gathered to sift through her collection - her husband (“Hop”), two daughters, my husband, and I. Memories are so often wrapped up in our jewelry, and I think we all knew that unwrapping...

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