Happy New Year!

A Happy New Year. Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year shall in time end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.

~Edgar Guest

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Cool New Tools!

I posted this once before because I think it is such a great tool. It is the Corner Chomper by We R Memory Keepers. This one literally "chomps" round corners (2 sizes). I can't believe how thick of stuff it will cut and cut clean. So now on to another great find. I was shopping at Eclectic Paperie and found 3 new ones: "Stub Deco;" Scallop Cloud;" and "Angle Photo." I ordered the Angle Photo because I cut a lot of tags and thought it would be a great addition to my "must have" supplies. I was not disappointed--it is great!

This was my first order with Eclectic Paperie and I got my package in just a few days. If you like Tim Holtz stuff, it looks like they have it all! I always support my local scrapbook store, so please shop locally first (if we don't support them, they won't make it without us) Eclectic Paperie is a great place for getting some of the things you can't get locally.

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One Day After Christmas

It's one day after Christmas
I'm crabby and I'm broke.
I'm so full of ham and fruitcake
I think I'm gonna croak.

It's nice to see the relatives
I wonder when they'll leave.
They've been camping in my bathroom
since early Christmas Eve.

They're eating everything in sight
and sleeping in my bed.
I been sacked out in the basement
with my beagle, Fred.

The relatives have all gone out
and left their screaming brats.
The toilet bowl is all plugged up
and I can't find the cat.

It's Christmastime at my house,
the relatives are here.
They eat me out of house and home.
and drink up all my beer.

I love the decorations,
and the sleigh bells in the snow
But I wish those pesky relatives
would take their kids and go.

Those cookie crunchers fed the dog
a twenty pound rib roast.
His feet are sticking in the air
like skinny old fence posts.

Now they're in a free-for-all,
the girls against the boys.
They're fighting over boxes'
cause they're bored with all their toys

My mother-in-law is snoring
in my favorite TV chair.
Those kids are stringing lights on her
and tinseling her hair

I oughta wake her up
before the fireworks begin.
But I wanna see those blue sparks fly
when they plug her in.

~author unknown

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Merry Christmas!

Christmas is forever, not for just one day.
For loving, sharing, and giving are not to be put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself . . .

~ Norman Wesley Brooks

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Merry whatever-you-celebrate and peace for all!!!

Thank you
for having the good taste
to call upon our expertise.


From Elkan Wijnberg, CEO
and the entire Adin-team

www.adin.be

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Don't sit under the Christmas tree with anything else but me!

2 more days to order (till December 21st) to have your presents in time for Christmas!

- all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping -

Don't sit under the Christmas tree with anything else but me!



Victorian locket with rose cut diamond star motif

It could be well possible that this locket was made to celebrate the passage of Halley's comet. The passage of Halley inspired jewellers to make jewels in the shape of celestial bodies. This comet appears every 76 years. In 1705 Edmond Halley predicted, using Newton's newly formulated laws of motion, that the comet seen in 1531, 1607, and 1682 would return in 1758 (which was, alas, after his death). The comet did indeed return as redicted and was later named in his honor.

Or the maker of this beauty was just into stars.... who will tell after so many years?

Click the picture for more information on this beauty.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be


P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
Victorian jewelry
rose cut diamond jewelry
diamond jewelry
universe inspired jewelry
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Flowery icicles discovered in the Garden of Adin

4 more days to order (till December 21st) to have your presents in time for Christmas!

- all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping -

Flowery icicles discovered in the Garden of Adin

So it was that blizzard came up at evening and covered the Garden of Adin, and in the morning the snow lay all around the camp. And when the layer of mist lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small sparkling substance, as fine as frost on the ground. And the Gardener picked it up and he was happy.

Click the picture for more information on this beauty.

Antiqualy yours,

The Adin team
www.adin.be

P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
Victorian jewelry
rose cut diamond jewelry
diamond jewelry
gold-backed silver jewelry
floral inspired jewelry
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Winter merriment in the Garden of Adin

5 more days to order (till December 21st) to have your presents in time for Christmas!

- all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping -


Winter merriment in the Garden of Adin







In the frosty Garden of Adin,
(while pelting snowballs at his beloved offspring)
much to the Gardener's joy and surprise
a bracelet was found
sparkling with glimmering ice.


Click the picture for more information on this beauty.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be


P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at:our subscription page


See our:
Art Deco jewelry
platinum jewelry
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Neo Etruscan crucifix in original box

6 more days to order (till December 21st)
to have your presents in time for Christmas!

- all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping -



Neo Etruscan crucifix in original box

Top notch quality!

There are crosses and there are crosses but this one is one of the nicest in its sort that we have ever come along. Skilfully crafted with filigree and granules, a real joy for the eyes. The corpus is 3-dimensionally worked out and the aureole is also made in the finest filigree and granules technique. It comes in its original box with the text: "Luigi Freschi - Via Condotti - 55, 55a, 56 57, Corso Umberto 1º 401 - ROMA".

In the second half of the 19th Century goldsmiths of that era sought and found their inspiration by excavations such as Pompeï and the Etruscan treasures. Especially in Italy the so-called Neo-Etruscan style reached high levels as we can see here with this beautiful refined cross.

This jewel features a filigree decoration, which is in fact thin golden wire twisted into refined motifs, in this case elegant little balls. You can also notice the use of granulation on this piece. Granulation is a technique where the goldsmith uses very small balls (granules) of metal, which are not soldered to the piece but welded. Both techniques demand very high skills and precision from the maker.

Click the picture for more information on this beauty.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at:our subscription page

See our:
crosses
Christian jewelry
Neo_Etruscan jewelry
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Gift Card Holder

This beautiful gift card holder is on Tammy's Tutterow's
website. Scroll down to her December 7th post and she
will show you how to make it. Who wouldn't like to get a
gift card dressed like this? And it has that vintage look--my
favorite thing.

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Belgium and diamonds...a marriage of centuries

10 more days to order (till December 21st)
to have your presents in time for Christmas!

- all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping -

Belgium and diamonds... a marriage of centuries

all diamond rings

all diamond earrings

all diamond pendants

all diamond brooches

all diamond jewelry

~ A kiss on the hand may be quite Continental, but diamonds are a girl's best friend. ~

Although Marilyn Monroe sang about them in 1953, diamonds are thought to have first been recognized and treasured as gemstones and religious icons in ancient India (where they were mined too). The usage of diamonds in engraving tools also dates to early human history. The name diamond is derived from the ancient Greek "adámas" meaning "unbreakable, untamed".

In 1475 Lodewyk (Louis) van Berquem, a Flemish stone-polisher from Bruges, Belgium, introduced the concept of absolute symmetry in the placement of facets on the stone. 17th century French jeweler, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (1605 -1689, and also with Belgian roots), was one of the early pioneer's of diamond trade with India. In his book "The Six Voyages of Jean-Baptist Tavernier" he documented many historically significant diamond cuts.

Popularity of diamonds has risen since the 19th century because of increased supply, improved cutting and polishing techniques and growth in the world economy. And in our days we at Adin, based in Antwerp - Belgium, are offering the splendours of craftmanship from diamond polishers and goldsmiths of many centuries. This reflects itself in the diamond jewelry we have to offer from the 17th century and onwards.


Antiqually yours,

The Adin team
www.adin.be


P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Adin's Antique Jewelry Christmas suggestions

Dear friend,

This time we take the liberty of sending you a mail without any special picture or back-ground information on symbolism, style or era. Just a list of present suggestions. We also would like to inform you that all orders till December 21st are still in time to be delivered before Christmas and that all orders will be specially packed in a free gift wrapping.

Hoping to be at your service with this,
do we remain,

antiqually yours,

The Adin team

Thoughtful and exclusive presents under $500

rings up to $500

earrings up to $500

pendants up to $500

brooches up to $500

all jewelry up to $500

Thoughtful and exclusive presents between $500 and $1,500

rings up to $1,500

earrings up to $1,500

pendants up to $1,500

brooches up to $1,500

all jewelry up to $1,500

Thoughtful and exclusive presents between $1,500 - $5,000

rings up to $5,000

earrings up to $5,000

pendants up to $5,000

brooches up to $5,000

all jewelry up to $5,000

Thoughtful and exclusive presents between $5,000 - $10,000

rings up to $10,000

bracelets up to $10,000

pendants up to $10,000

brooches up to $10,000

all jewelry up to $10,000

Thoughtful and exclusive presents $10,000 and above

rings $10,000 +

bracelets $10,000 +

necklaces $10,000 +

brooches $10,000 +

all jewelry $10,000 +

P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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In the hands of the beholder...

French Art Deco platinum lorgnette
(a real eye-catcher)

A lorgnette (or face-à-main) is a pair of glasses (or opera glasses) held by a long handle at one side mostly used by the (well-to-do) ladies.

This particular type of lorgnette has a hidden system in its stem that, by moving it slowly down with the tip of your fingers, will release a spring that will open the closed lorgnette with one glass and makes it into a double-glassed lorgnette.

Craftfully worked out in platinum and richly covered with rose cut diamonds and little carré calibrated stones makes this utensil a true jewel.


Click the picture for more information on this beauty.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
platinum jewelry
Art Deco jewelry
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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Look what I won!

I won a set of Tonic Tools from Mario on twitter!
How cool is that? I normally don't get on twitter that
much (it is just not my fav way to communicate) --I
am sure glad I did this time! There are more great
Tim Holtz products to win if you are following the
"12 Tags of Christmas" with Tim Holtz. Great fun
and the tags are gorgeous this year!

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12 Tags of Christmas by Tim Holtz

Day 1 of Tim's 12 Tags of Christmas has started!
Details at http://timholtz.typepad.com. Don't miss
the fun!

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Look what we found!

Antique head parure from Zeeland, Holland.

Although we do not think this is something you would wear it can be a valuable addendum to an antique jewelry collection. A very complete headset from Zeeland which is in the west-southern part of Holland, to be more specific from the area called Walcheren. To find a complete set is special because mostly these sets are split up to different heirs at legacies. This typical wear for a Zeeland country woman (or farmer's wife) was worn in the 19th Century till our days. Today there aren't nearly any people left who wear the dress of this local distinctive style. While the youngsters do not wear it at all any more the older people do wear it occasionally. And in 2003 the last two men wearing the traditional clothing died and most probably in another 10 till 15 years no woman will be wearing it any more either.

What is she wearing you would ask. Well, she is actually wearing more then you can see. First of all, over her back-combed (long) hair with the front of her hair in what is called in the local dialect “toer” (pronounce “tour”) she is wearing a starched so called “ondermuts” (Dutch for the little lace coif that is worn under the cap you see). Over this coif the actual head set was placed. This headset is called “ijzer” (Dutch for “iron”). The reason why it's called “iron” doesn't do it much justice as it is made of a U-shaped silver brace that goes over the back of the head to both temples. At both ends of this brace the gold curls are attached. Most of the times, the weight of the golden curls is engraved in the back of the silver brace as is the case here. It gives us the weight of 32 grams.

Then over this brace the final cap, called “langette”, (also stiffly starched) was placed and hold into its position with three gold needles at both sides of the head. These three needles are in three different sizes and made in gold filigree. Then last but not least, to finalize the outfit at both curls the actual jewel, a pendant, was attached, a sort of triangle plate with low pyramid shapes on it and a baroque pearl hanging underneath.


And then when it started to rain the women hated it because when their stiffly starched caps became wet and soft all their work was for nothing.

Click the picture for more information on this antique jewelry rarity.

Antiqualy yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

P.s. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested in receiving our mails? Forward them this mail and they can subscribe themselves at: our subscription page

See our:
latest acquisitions
complete inventory
or read our explanations on:
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

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A Thanksgiving Memory

When mom would baste the turkey,
We kids could hardly wait!
The smell of all that cooking,
the pies upon the plate,
The cranberries, red and juicy,
The dressing, golden-brown,
Potatoes, mashed and ready --
Can't we, please, sit down?

When Mom would baste the turkey,
We knew she soon would say,
"Come! Count your many blessings
on this Thanksgiving Day."
We'd all hold hands together
and bow our heads in prayer.
It was a happy moment
With all our loved ones there.

When Mom would baste the turkey,
My heart would glow with love!
Our home, so warm and peaceful,
Was blessed by heaven above.
Mom made our gatherings special
In a warm and loving way,
And I'll always have her near me
On each Thanksgiving Day.

~ Nelle Hardgrove

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12 Tags of Christmas

Join in on the fun! Beginning December 1
thru December 12, Tim Holtz will post a new Christmas
tag each day along with complete instructions on how to
make it. Visit his blog, http://timholtz.typepad.com
for full details.

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November Designers Challenge

This is not a very good photo of the supplies we received
to work with on this challenge, but you can get a general
idea. Plenty of fall colors in browns, greens, red, etc. The
chipboard alphabet was black glitter--how fun! I decided
to do a mini album remembering a 2003 trip to NW
Arkansas for the arts and crafts festivals.

I called the book "Road Trip." The cover is a large
chipboard "R" stencil that I had in my stash of chip-
board.

I included some history in this book of the War EagleMill
and surrounding area. We loved the shopping but it is
also a very beautiful part of the country, especially in the fall,
and fascinating to think of it's rich history as you stroll over
the grounds.

I included pockets on some of the pages for holding
the tags or for some little treasure that was picked
up on the trip.

I love using tags, and most of the tags for this book I
used for history or description of the different shows
we were visiting. I even picked up some articles from
the local papers that week that were interesting.

I actually had another page I had planned for here.
It was circle-shaped page and intended as a "balance"
of sorts--but I didn't have any more photos! (I don't
really plan a book ahead--I just start doing it. )

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