Who wants to see my haul from today?

[stracci2000]

Look at this giant diamond I found lol! But actually it’s a silver dollar encased in a paperweight. Super weird, but the silver dollar is real and it only cost $1.99 at the local thrift store.

Wow! Looks like mint condition! How fantastic!
And you got the bargain of the day!!!
It's one of the most beautiful coins ever minted in the US.

 

[stracci2000]

I found this yesterday in my favorite pawn shop. I've been lusting after a turquoise line bracelet for a while! Yay pawn shops!

 

[stracci2000]

Found at a yard sale today for $1.00
22 pocket watch faces!
Most of them are from railroad watches.


The smallest one on the right tests as sterling.
I think I can make a pendant from that one.

 

[RMOO]

Found at a yard sale today for $1.00
22 pocket watch faces!
Most of them are from railroad watches.


The smallest one on the right tests as sterling.
I think I can make a pendant from that one.

Well, those are cool!

 

[stracci2000]

Well, those are cool!

They are! Maybe I'll frame them as a group for hanging.

 

[stracci2000]

It's hard to believe that many of them are entirely hand painted. There must've been one hair on the brush!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I love the idea of framing them as a group @stracci2000

 

[stracci2000]

I love the idea of framing them as a group @stracci2000

That's probably the only thing I can do with them.
For a dollar, I wasn't going to walk away from them!
The small sterling one will make a nice pendant, maybe with a gemstone in the middle.

 

[stracci2000]

I should have mentioned that they are enamel on copper. They are from railroad pocket watches, used by conductors. They were supposed to be super accurate.
All date to about 1890-1910-ish.
Note the hand painted letters and numbers.
The lettering is less than 1mm high.

 

[RMOO]

They are! Maybe I'll frame them as a group for hanging.

They would be such a conversation starter as a collage! I love art like this: so unique!

I did something similar with some old skeleton keys ( I'm not even sure they are real, but they look it) that I found at an estate sale. I put them in a shadow box that has compartments. It just makes for an interesting wall hanging.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I can’t believe they are hand painted @stracci2000, imagine how steady your hand had to be to paint those numbers on!

 

[Crochet_Sparkles]

It's hard to believe that many of them are entirely hand painted. There must've been one hair on the brush!

Have you read or seen the adaptation of Radium Girls? Those were watch face painters!

 

[stracci2000]

Have you read or seen the adaptation of Radium Girls? Those were watch face painters!

I have heard of this! It's awful how they were exposed.
This is hubby's grandpa's watch from 1925. The radium no longer glows.

 

[stracci2000]

I just happen to have this whole watch, from an estate sale several years ago. Circa 1885- 1900.
It has a thick beveled crystal. Not worth a fortune, but so interesting to me!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Have you read or seen the adaptation of Radium Girls? Those were watch face painters!

They all got sick didn't they ?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Its amazing what one can learn from antiques road show
(Ive only ever seen the English one)

 

[stracci2000]

Its amazing what one can learn from antiques road show
(Ive only ever seen the English one)

I try not to miss it! The US version, that is.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I try not to miss it! The US version, that is.

There should be an italian and a French and a Spanish, a Scandinavian version too
you know they should do it with quality products for a change, not just idiot reality 'tallent' shows and cooking competitions

 

[stracci2000]

I framed the watch faces.
Black brocade over batting, under glass.
I had trouble photographing with glare and reflections.... you can see my arm!
The brocade is entirely black, but the pattern shines.
@YadaYadaYada

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I framed the watch faces.
Black brocade over batting, under glass.
I had trouble photographing with glare and reflections.... you can see my arm!
The brocade is entirely black, but the pattern shines.
@YadaYadaYada

What a wonderful piece of art and history and a conversation starter !

Would these have been spair faces, as parts waiting to be made into pocket watches by the watch maker back in the day ?

Just think how long they have sat around forgotten, unused and unloved, just waiting for you to give them life and meaning and to recognise and celebrate their beauty

And if something is not going to be used for its original purpose surely art is the next best thing !

 

[YadaYadaYada]

I love it @stracci2000. Very innovative and now they can be admired and appreciated rather than left in a box.

 

[LemonMoonLex]

I framed the watch faces.
Black brocade over batting, under glass.
I had trouble photographing with glare and reflections.... you can see my arm!
The brocade is entirely black, but the pattern shines.
@YadaYadaYada

This is VERY cool!
I love crafty women! I remember you saying that your man does photoshoots; your artwork gave me a glimpse into a B&W inspired photoshoot... a la Alice in Wonderland but bejeweled & glamorous with red lips!

 

[stracci2000]

This is VERY cool!
I love crafty women! I remember you saying that your man does photoshoots; your artwork gave me a glimpse into a B&W inspired photoshoot... a la Alice in Wonderland but bejeweled & glamorous with red lips!

You must share with us if you do it!!!!
Who doesn't love b/w photography?

 

[stracci2000]

What a wonderful piece of art and history and a conversation starter !

Would these have been spair faces, as parts waiting to be made into pocket watches by the watch maker back in the day ?

Just think how long they have sat around forgotten, unused and unloved, just waiting for you to give them life and meaning and to recognise and celebrate their beauty

And if something is not going to be used for its original purpose surely art is the next best thing !

These were pulled out of watches. They are used. Some of them are damaged from being pried from the watch. But I think they're too nice to hide!

 

[stracci2000]

You must share with us if you do it!!!!
Who doesn't love b/w photography?

Oops, I misunderstood you!
DH actually did an Alice in Wonderland shoot a few years ago!

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

These were pulled out of watches. They are used. Some of them are damaged from being pried from the watch. But I think they're too nice to hide!

Well you get the prize for best recycling 2022 ! (And due to the pandemic you had to also compete against 2020 and 2021 because the judges stayed home those years)

 

[stracci2000]

In the thrift store today I found these nice sterling and onyx drop earrings.


Then I spotted these......I don't intend on wearing them, I bought them for the coins!
Earrings made from Chinese cash coins.....dating 1736-1795. Not worth much, but still cool to have! I had a small collection of these when I was a kid.....fun to see them in the wild!

 

[stracci2000]

Sterling and larimar, yard sale $8.00

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Sterling and larimar, yard sale $8.00

The colour is lovelly
This is the universe balancing out my fake larimar etsy bead purchase i was dooepd into thinking was real

You did really well with this one
well done !

 

[stracci2000]

The colour is lovelly
This is the universe balancing out my fake larimar etsy bead purchase i was dooepd into thinking was real

You did really well with this one
well done !

I'm sorry about your larimar beads!
But maybe you can still use them for an alternate project.
It's so hard to buy online.