Twist & TuRN!

06/26/09

When I look at this necklace, I always think of Pat Benatar's song "The Good Life" from her jazz and blues album, released back in 1991. (Egads!!)

It's got a great throw-back tune and is so good-mood setting.

There's a line from the song in particular that makes me think of this necklace . . .

"Now people like to have their fun, bend their knees in twist and turns. Talk on, about the Good Life."

When I hear this one line, this necklace, with it's twisting and turning components, is instantly in my mind's eye.

Here's a link to this great song, 'cause if you've never heard it, you simply must!!

The Good Life


A GREAT SONG.

BY A FANTASTIC SINGER.

TO GO WITH A STELLAR Twisty Turny (& pOsH) NECKLACE!!

Now that's the GOOD LIFE! :)

Signed Kay Adams, A1438
Posh Collection, $220

A Green Queen

06/25/09

There is.

Absolutely.

No Way.

You WILL NOT

FEEL LIKE A QUEEN

IN THIS GREEN.

~~~

It is Scrumptious, Huge, Yummy.

And BRIGHT.

All former brooches are in prong-set magnificent condition, pinbacks removed, backsides completely smooth.


Each can be worn solo if desired.


Be a Queen.

Be a Princess.

BE YOU!

God knows I'm me!!





Signed Kay Adams, A1318
Juice Collection, $495
Sold

Roosevelt's Insight

06/24/09


"Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort."

- Franklin Roosevelt









Signed Kay Adams, A1251
Juice Collection, Sold

RICOLA!

06/23/09

What a fantastic, eclectic sense of style.

Beautiful Connie came into Anthill the other day and instantly eyed the Kay pieces.

She seemed especially drawn to the ones with unexpected collections of like items.

She came close to getting a tiebar collage, but when it was said and done, this Alpine collage was the winner.

I told her how I had to collect these over a period of about three year to have enough to pull off the design aesthetically.

Then she liked it even better!

These are souvenir pins and hat pins that were often sold to tourists in Germany and Switzerland.














The designs usually include a pickaxe and sometimes rope -- for rock and mountain climbing (in the Alps, you know!!).

Sometimes the pins will have the edelweiss flower represented -- a national flower used in Austria, Hungary, Switzerland and Germany!

Also seen are the famous style Alpine hats, sometimes a Swiss cowbell, sometimes the country's flag.

They all have a similar feel, but each is unique in it's motif and personality.

It's so awesome that collaging them together can bring appreciation to their story, their detail, and their heritage!

Not to mention that it looks so freekin' cool!!!

Signed Kay Adams, A1247
Lore Collection, Sold

When Bonnie Met Clyde

06/22/09

Love at first gun-slinging site -- or is it??

Looks like maybe they're already having their first lover's showdown.

A salvaged portion of antique french ivory (celluloid) pendant has been drilled and riveted to a sunset-hued scallop.

And we can clearly see Clyde is sporting his prerequisite handgun.

It would appear undaunted Bonnie is giving Clyde lip.

I wonder could they patch things up and re-write history?? . . .

Signed Kay Adams, A1117
Strike Collection, $135

Father's Day

06/21/09

I love you Pop.

I miss Uncle Will, and I can't imagine how much you do.

But rest assured, he's looking down and from above and having a laugh. He's up there playing his best pranks and telling his best jokes and I think the thunder we hear these days, could be God himself roaring with laughter.

You will always be the twin brother country preachers.

You will always be the musicians.

The antics and the stories and the non-stop humor. The lessons. The vacations. The love. The laughs.

You were the last born of 13 children.

You are the last one here.

All your sisters and brothers, Masue and your Father watch over you everyday.

And how they love you.

Happy Father's Day, Pop.
Happy Father's Day, Uncle Will.


And how I love you.

Prettiest Ever?

06/21/09

Call me biased, but I think this turned out to be one of the prettiest pieces ever!

Old Chanel screwback earring blanks were "crowned" with intense miniature Swarovski rhinestone flowers, which were also sprinkled about with other delicate antique rhinestone earrings in this three tier dazzler.

For versatility, and is customary with my pieces, each tier removes for independent wear.

So you can go as casually striking to as STRIKING striking as you want!


Signed Kay Adams, A1314
Juice Collection, $650
Sold

Magical Discord

06/19/09

The finishes on each of these buckles are all so different . . .
From darkened to bright, they each delt with the passing of time their own way.

The shapes of these buckles are all so different . . .
We see two circles, a small one and a large one. There is a "half" rectangle and a full rectangle. There is the standout figure 8.

The condition of the rhinestones on these buckles are all so different . . .
From mellow to bright, and from aged to gleaming, each deals with the refraction of light a little different from the other.


So how is it that in this discord of finishes, shapes, sizes and conditions, this necklace can be so beautiful?

The unity is that they are all buckles, each unique, each redeeming in its own way.


And that makes the discord MAGIC!

It's not unlike your family, or mine.

Know what I mean?












Signed Kay Adams, A1455
Lux Collection, $245, Sold

Looks Like We Made It

06/18/09

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

I love you Dick Adams.

Happy 21st Anniversary.

Round of Golf, Anyone?

06/17/09

A round of golf for your neck, that is.

I'm not good at the other kind.

Bogey's and Chip Shots in my world have something to with pickles and fish 'n chips.

But I DO KNOW JEWELRY! And here's my collection of golfing paraphernalia coming "full circle!"

It's a hole in one for your neck!

SCORE! STRIKE! PAR!

Well some word I grab at is bound to mean "GOOD STUFF" in golf!

All pinbacks removed, ground smooth, drilled and wired into the circular collage. Adjustable to 20".

Signed Kay Adams, A0867
Strike Collection, Sold

Simple Little Pleasures

06/15/09

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those in which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls off a string.”

-- author unknown (wish I could take credit for it -- it sure fits my philosophy!)









Signed Kay Adams, A1320
Posh Collection, $220, Sold

Alternative Rock

06/15/09

Now THAT's unruly!


. . . now I can finally wipe that Cheshire grin off my face.




Signed Kay Adams, A1456
Juice Collection, $285, Sold

Classic Rock

06/14/09

Edgy, but not unruly.

Unruly comes tomorrow.

Until then? Me giving a Cheshire grin.









Signed Kay Adams, A1457
Juice Collection, $285, Sold

Oh La La. . . LA LA

06/13/09

Oh La La . . . LA LA!

Know what I mean?

And Amy looks this great everytime I see her and in EVERYTHING she wears.

I think she should move to New York or Hollywood and be a model, but then Richmond wouldn't have her, so I'm glad she's not doing that.

Heck, she's has too much fun here anyway.

And you know what? -- she's as kind and FUNNY as she is pretty.


Although not a concept I'm personally familiar with, I think they call that perfect.


Signed Kay Adams, A1437
Posh Collection, Sold

Copper Distinction

06/12/09

Copper layered flowers.

Green, teal, pink and greyblue accents.

Touch of pearl.

Touch of filigree.

Touch of rhinestone.


LOTS of Distinction.






Signed Kay Adams, A1459
Blast Collection, Sold

Butter Anyone?

06/11/09

I made this so you could go to your favorite restaurant, butter your bread, then put your necklace back on . . .

You know -- for life's weak dieting moments.

Thick, solid, GORGEOUS mother of pearl handles (thickest I've ever encountered on vintage flatware) are enhanced by signed embossed sterling silver wraps that serve as a cuff between the blade and the handle.

The blades themselves are (tempered??) steel, and they made me painfully aware of that fact as I broke a good half dozen bits trying to pierce them.

Hanging from the knives are two beautifully detailed carved mother-of-pearl former brooches from Israel.


















Signed Kay Adams, A1224
Strike Collection, Sold

Boobies, Fashion & Awareness

06/10/09

Meet my great friends Phil, Nancy and Katie.

They have been Anthillians as far back as I can remember, and they are the kindest and most lively family you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting.

Nancy is a recent breast cancer survivor, as are several other of our wonderful customers, AND my mother as well.

So, in honor of breast cancer awareness, I have made two necklaces in which half of the proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research.

Now let me tell you -- it wasn't easy coming up with a concept to make boobies out of vintage jewelry "stuffs," but I think somehow I've managed to pull it off.

The first one here is apparently modeled after my own cup size, or so my husband informed me after I completed it.

It's my personal take on the "pink ribbon," which are, in my vision, silver bows with pearls and pink venetian glass beads. Then delicate Swarovski screw-back earring bezels have been turned into graceful little pairs of boobies, also suspended from the pretty hand blown glass beads.

Actually quite attractive on, and very subliminal in it's message, although it is intended to create breast cancer awareness chatter.

So do just that -- with style and grace and pride.

YOU ARE A SURVIVOR!

Signed Kay Adams, A1449
Lux Collection, $195, (donated to Cure by Design 2009)










The second one is clearly not a boob size I'm directly familiar with.

It is made from the rose of a crocheted toilet seat cover from the 1950's, and several of Avon pink awareness ribbons (former lapel pins) that have been in circulation for quite a few years now.

It's dynamic and not as subliminal in it's message as the former.

Spread the awareness with an openness and wacky bit of humor, if that's your style!


Signed Kay Adams, A1450
Strike Collection, $195
Proceeds to be donated.

Packin' HAWAIIAN PUNCH!

06/09/09

Well, here's the lowdown -- THIS IS FREEKIN' GORGEOUS! And Loaded. And LOUD.

As you can plainly see, it's got oranges and watermelons, and grapes and cherries and lemons and pears and blueberries and kiwi's.

It's even got an apple with a green worm poking his head out -- see him over there on the left -- ??

Pieces were former earrings, napkin rings, barrettes, chandelier prisms and brooches.

Don't drink your Hawaiian punch -- WEAR IT!


Signed Kay Adams, A1419
Blast Collection, $285

Cravat

06/08/09

A tie made of pearls?

SWEEEEET.












Signed KayAdams, A0950
Posh Collection, Sold

Chain Falls, USA

06/07/09

Chain Falls, USA.

The next best thing to the California Vernal Falls.












Signed Kay Adams, A0268
Juice Collection, Sold

BLUE

06/06/09

"If the sight of the blue skies fill you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you,

if the simple things in nature have a message you understand,

Rejoice, for your soul is alive.”

-- Eleanore Duse, Italian actress 1858-1924






Signed Kay Adams, A0179
Posh Collection, Sold

Twisted Sister

06/05/09

For your inner wild child . . .

or your twisted sister . . .

Perhaps they're one in the same!





Signed Kay Adams, A0709
Bitz Collection, Sold

Blame It On The Rain

06/04/09



In Richmond, Virginia, it POURED down rain yesterday evening!

It was beautiful! And LOUD! Thunder and Lightning . . . .

POURED --like a squall line -- one thunderstorm after the other.

Right about blog time, I lost power (and it stayed off 10 hours) and thus I couldn't blog yesterday.

But the exciting storms were worth it!

So today, I resume my normal blogging, and couldn't resist to blog on this completely unique rain-like assemblage.



It's like the beauty of a storm permanently captured as rain cascades down from this necklace, giving a renewed vitality to the flora, represented by the gentle enamel leaves.


You know how sometimes rainy days
can really motivate you and give you
an energy you don't normally have?

Especially a creative energy?

Well, put this piece of mother nature on,
and you just might have that feeling
anytime you want!










Signed Kay Adams, A1101
Strike Collection, $220, Sold

HI NANCY!!

06/02/09

Ok -- cute little Nancy here has a GREAT sense of style -- always chic, always timeless, always sophisticated.

In essence, she knows when it's right.

She picked this beauty out the other day and MY OH MY, is it an AWESOME one!

It has some of the coolest -- AND RAREST -- elements I've ever worked with.

These elements include two antique charge coins.

Yes, before plastic American Express and Visa cards, at the high end shops, you were issued a beautifully designed and embossed medallion, with a hand engraved number unique to you -- the customer.

They are very hard to find and usually BEAUTIFULLY detailed. One of hers is from historical Strawbridge and Clothier, founded in 1862.

Other pieces on her necklace include a Rolex spoon bowl, which I removed from the spoon handle of course, an antique European spoon head, a Miraculous medal (Medal of the Immaculate Conception), and the main element from a vintage hand-engraved WWI sweetheart bracelet , and an antique Italian coin medal.

Quite a collection!!

Nancy KNOWS how to pick 'em!! (just like the husband she picked -- what a nice man -- AND, he bought her another for her birthday!)


I told him he made quite a few women happy that day! :))


Hey, btw -- look how Nancy's got the Kay necklace blended with her own chains. Such a GREAT LOOK! I SOOO encourage stacking and layering other pieces from you own jewelry wardrobe to make AMAZING collages right on your neck!!

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!~


Signed Kay Adams, A1389
Lore Collection, Sold

Practical Whimsy?

06/01/09

Ok, so the cool thing here is, if you ever want to transform your whimsical-fun-retro-cool necklace, you will always have 7 vintage lucite rings to detach and give to the kids or co-workers as gifts -- or frankly, enjoy for yourself!

And then you can still wear the funky clear crystal chain.

And you can put the 1940's carnival glass beads (center of each lucite ring) on your miniature Christmas tree as the cutest antique ornaments ever.

Ok -- so I've got ya covered.



Signed Kay Adams, A0754
Joy Collection, $155, Sold