Watch out for those Moths

Things have been quiet because I've been spending so much time working on the etsy shop. Not that you can particularly tell it right now. Lots of reading and researching on creating a specific brand for the store (which I am struggling to wrap my brain around!), as well as updating old listings and adding new things. I've managed to get two new necklaces listed this week- very different but both from the 1960's.

1960's Natural Pearl Strand Necklace

Atomic Age 14k Gold Pendant with Necklace Chain

I also have about 20 things still in draft mode, so be looking for them to start popping up over the next month or so.

Just yesterday a gentleman brought in some really awesome sterling rings- he is a metal detector that has hunted all over, but these particular pieces are from California soil! It will probably be a few days before they get added to the inventory, just because I have so many other things ahead of them, but here is a little teaser! (Excepting the agate ring and the spoon ring. Those are my personal pretties :)

I just love that one tiny yellow knuckle ring! I'm not the best about keeping up with current fashions (mostly because I don't really care. I just wear what I like!) but apparently they are the. thing. right now. At least that is what I have been noticing when I make my social networking rounds each day. It makes me a little sad to think about all the old baby rings that we have acquired in the past and couldn't keep because they were so tiny and no one wanted them! The lesson my hoarder self wants to take away from this is... save everything!!

But that probably isn't the right lesson.

Do what you love, invest in what you love. If no one else likes it or wants to buy it, at least you don't mind looking at it every day as you set up the display cases, or edit photos for the fifteenth tiiime. There have been some things we have had for sale that I just thought were ugly. Didn't like 'em, didn't care about 'em. Unsurprisingly, that was the way other people felt too. It certainly didn't help that I had zero passion about the items I was trying to convince them to buy. 

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that just because I love a ring, it's going to fly right off the shelf. But it's OK. I work hard to present it well. When I love a piece, I care enough about it to find out information about it like the time period it was from, who might have worn it, and what makes it something special. I wear it myself for a few days and admire the craftsmanship that went into making it. And when someone shows an interest in it, I can honestly tell them just why it's a worthwhile investment. When someone buys a piece from me and loves it so much they leave the store wearing it- that is what makes my day. 

In the end though, it is all just things. As much as I love my business, and am so blessed to have it, I am continually reminded of a specific verse- Matthew 6:19-21

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Which tells me that it is ok that I haven't hoarded every single baby ring or green stoned artifact or whatever is popular right now. "A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever"

Because that's not where I want my heart to be. So I sell what I sell; I admire it, appreciate it, thank God for providing it, and remember that there are far more important treasures to cling to.

Friday Feature- 3/29/13

It's time for Friday Feature once more! Now through April 1st, we also are having a spring fling sale in the shop- 10% off total purchase, storewide. Just be sure to use our coupon code- SPRING2013 to cash in on the deals! 

This week, we are showcasing a very romantic piece- and yes, I know you already know, but it's one of my favorites!!

Romantic Vintage Ring with Marquis Garnet & 10 Kt Yellow Gold

This is a lovely, dainty piece that I find myself always coming back to. The mounting is done in 10 karat yellow gold in a charming doily style that has a very Edwardian style to it. This particular ring is more of what I call a "tribute" piece in that its true age is approximately 25 or so years old, but the fashion is clearly from a previous era. The design shows a distinct pull to the delicate nature of jewelry created in the early 1900's and the femininity of the period. 

The ring features a single marquis cut garnet of a beautiful burgundy or wine colored hue. It is framed by a fine border of white gold as well as two small diamonds, each set on either point of the garnet. The size is a ladies 6, which makes for a very versatile ring. It is well suited to being worn on just about any finger of the hand, and is in ready to wear condition. The shank is in very good shape- it has not been worn thin and has a good long life of wear ahead of it. 

This ring is absolutely lovely; it would be a wonderful gift either for Mother's Day, or for a young girl's first prom or graduation gift. It has a classic sweetheart look to it that brings to mind the sweetness and innocence of a bygone time, while still maintaining the structural quality and accessible price of vintage as opposed to antique jewelry.

You can find this week's ring here.

***We are more than happy to answer any questions or requests for additional information. Feel free to send us a message on etsy, to our email- thetigerandthefox@gmail.com or leave us a comment here!***

Treasury Tuesday- Wipe off that Frown!

Well, it has been a Treasury Tuesday for sure around here! When it is below 40 and snowing outside, it is hard for me to get very motivated.

The first one is exactly the opposite of what today is like outside- bright, sunny and absolutely gorgeous!

Golden Apples of the Sun

Live Simply

Needle Felted Pear

Vintage Teacups

Pineapple Shea Soap

And the second one is a bit quirkier- I'm usually a "less is more" kind of girl, but I loved all these pairs of items!

Two is Better Than One

Mixed Metal Pair of Bands

Vintage 1930s Woolly Sheep

Engagement Mugs

Rhinestone Hair Combs

So that is a little of what I've been up to today. 

We were fairly busy this weekend, which was nice, but tiring! It isn't often that I am relieved for the work week to roll back around so I can go back to being a grandpa and catch up on my sleep. 

In saying that, we still have quite a bit on our schedule throughout the remainder of the week, so I was a bit premature on my anticipation. Thursday night we have our biweekly Bible study, and Friday is Secret Church, which means I am not going to be making my usual 9:30 bedtime either night. It's definitely worth it though, and I am looking forward to both! I'm trying to do better about having an uncomplaining spirit, especially after The Fox came across this passage in our evening reading-

"Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolators, as some of them were; as it is written: 'The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.' We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did- and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did- and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did- and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

1 Corinthians 10: 6-13

Out of all three of the mentioned sins, grumbling sounds like the least bad, at least to me. But then I see where it says "A destroying angel" and I have to say, 'That is a strong response!' So if such a strong response is given, maybe the sin is actually a lot worse than I think it is. It is so easy for me to disregard some of my "little piddly sins" and think, really, they aren't that bad. I could be a lot worse. 

"There is no one righteous, not even one;

There is no one who understands, 

There is no one who seeks God"

Romans 3:10-11

Or not.

Praise God there is hope through Jesus!

"But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

Romans 3:21-26

And after reading such wonderful words... It makes it a bit harder to want to hold on to that complaining, or grumbling spirit. Really, what is a late night or two compared to the glory of God? Not very much!

Hallelujah!

Two Nesting Mallards, One Pretty Pansy...

I don't have much to share today, but I just wanted to give a quick update! We got to have a little summer teaser this weekend- Friday and Saturday were up to almost 75 degrees and absolutely glorious! We even got to grill out with some good friends on Saturday evening. That is probably one of my most favorite things to do once it gets warm. The Fox makes the best hamburgers I have ever eaten; I guarantee it. We weren't that fortunate, we had grilled pineapple chicken sandwiches with Cheetos out of a can for our side. That's how we roll up in here :)

Oh! And I got to startle a pair of nesting mallards coming out of the mall Saturday morning. (This was easily the highlight of my weekend.)

Then on Sunday, we got to experience the joy of Kentucky that is a 30 degree drop with a mix of snow flurries!! Monday morning followed with torrential downpours and two cavities for The Fox, which we were somewhat disappointed by, but as he said, "Thank you, Lord it was only two!" He makes staying negative fairly difficult. Then we spotted these beauties when we stopped by the shop to pick up some paperwork!

Other than that, we have been flying pretty low on the radar! God has been helping us in the midst of some tough situations and through them, bringing us closer together, even when we try to our best to do otherwise. How thankful I am that He never gets tired of picking us back up, even when the reason we are down is because we are having a rolling-in-the-floor tantrum. (I say we... but really I just mean myself..)

Our etsy shop has been getting some new things in, as well as updating some of the older listings. It is pretty amazing the difference a gloomy December day and a bonny March one can make when it comes to photographing. In saying that.. I suppose I should continue to take advantage of said sunshine.

May peace and all the saints go with you!!

The Tiger

Rainy Days Make Me Ramble

New/Old Weston Camera with Argus Flash that just came in!

So you just never know what you might acquire in a store like ours- almost every day someone brings us something to check out. Sometimes it is just stuff; old clear glassware, ceramic angels... plenty of things that are pretty or nice, but not exactly in our categories of interest or expertise. Other times, you get things like old class rings or broken necklaces- if it is made from gold, or silver, then we always like to buy, but they're not what you call a "knock out piece" or something that's really suited to the display case.

And other times, you get really awesome stuff, like a ring that looks like a snake twining its way around your index finger, or a full strand of natural pearls from the 1960's that don't even need to be re-strung. Those are exciting moments!

No matter what it is, we love seeing all the random, never expected things that people bring, and today is no exception! This old camera has certainly seen better days, but it is incredibly sturdy (sometimes referred to as "The Brick", and not without reason!) and has a really nice flash intact. Vintage cameras are way "outside my pay grade", as The Fox likes to say, but I just love the look they have, and thinking about how they were used to capture what was most important to whoever owned it. Maybe it went with that person to the Grand Canyon for their first time. Even now, with all our technology, it is still impossible to really capture its magnitude, but maybe they looked back at those photographs, and through the blurriness, or grain, remembered what they saw and how they felt experiencing the real thing. 

I think the rainy day may have gone to my head a little. 

Anyway, now that I've climbed out of my rabbit hole, I suppose what I'm getting to is, it's not just about buying up what's trendy, or filling a store full of things to try to sell and make as much money as possible. Don't get me wrong, we have bills that have to be paid, and this girl likes to eat!! But for us, the thing that is important is remembering where those things came from, and how far we've come- I don't have to carry "The Brick" everywhere with me- I can just whip out my handy awesome smartphone whenever I want to snap a picture. 

To me it is also about doing something I enjoy, that brings me joy, and trusting that the bills will be paid. The Lord is good! I have never been without what I needed, and rarely without what I wanted for that matter. I have faith that what I need will be provided for and it is my job to be thankful for and work diligently with all that I have been given. 

With all that said, I suppose I had better get back to work! :)

The Tiger

We Now Present...

I always have a difficult time starting new things, and this blog doesn't seem to be breaking the standard, either! I suppose the best way is to jump in feet first (not head first, because that is dangerous, my friends!) and go for it. 
A brief introductory so that we are all acquainted:
My husband, Thomas, and I have been married for nearly six years and have both been self-employed most of that time. He has been a barber at his grandfather's barber shop for nine years now, and I worked as a nanny for approximately four. We have been avid antique collectors since our marriage, and as our knowledge grew, we started buying not only for ourselves (we ran out of room pretty quickly in our little house!) but to re-purpose & re-sell. Once we got into the resale side, something clicked! We knew this was something we both enjoyed, and both were pretty good at doing, but our "real" jobs were our main focus and what kept the bills paid. Over time our interests grew to cover all kinds of neat things besides furniture. Glassware, cookware, miniatures- all sorts of fascinating old things that had been left behind as styles and people changed. One day while at our local flea market, we began talking with one of the other regulars who sold costume jewelry. That was her personal niche, but as we listened, we learned that her husband was someone who bought gold and silver to sell to the refineries. The more we heard, the more intrigued we became. With precious metals being at record prices, it was completely understandable to sell to refineries, but so much of the jewelry being scrapped was still gorgeous! It just needed a little love, a little polish and someone who could appreciate it and the character it had, instead of seeing it as an old junky thing. 
So our focus switched a bit- we still love going out on the hunt for a great piece of Pyrex, or finding old tables to put back together- but there is just something about taking an old, tarnished, beat to hell ring and bringing it back to its full glory. The last couple years it was more of a hobby than anything for us, but in April, Thomas was able to open up an actual store front right next door to the family barber shop. The kids I had taken care of for the last two years began school full time a couple months later, and it all kind of fell into place. He still runs the the barber shop with his sister, but between the two of us, managing everything has worked out well. We don't make a ton of money by any means, and working with your spouse can have its difficult moments, but the rewards of being able to be together and build something that we can call our own is so rewarding. We hope that you as a reader will enjoy our many hijinks we get into, and stick with us as we grow!