u/7dear

I’m having a hard time pricing these because they are each one of a kind.

I’ve bought some brooches here and there, mostly at the thrift stores I volunteer at.
Some of the things hanging off are from the 19th century and can be found at reasonable prices, some are just random things without much value. These are made for the aesthetic of having a chatelaine, not necessarily as a tool kit. (although I am open to that as well, it would just involve having to pre-source all the items which can get very expensive very quickly.)

So it’s possible one of these could be very reasonably priced and another one could be quite high due to one or more of the items being real.

Usually, I allow people to customize their jewelry, exactly the way that they want it, but I’m thinking a better way is just to make one and put it up at the price that is reflective of what it has. I still feel like I would customize for people if they wanted me to remove the antique piece for something more reasonable. Not sure if that makes sense to do in reality, though.

Any advice is helpful!
(Try to be nice. I’m a human and I enjoy making people happy by creating beautiful things they can cherish.)

Edit to add:

I know Victorians were not cranky. I’m just making a joke about the stereotype. I’m a docent at a Victorian museum and I work on our historical garment displays. I have actually seen a few smiles in photographs at work! Victorians were just like us (except for the rate of death, that was ridiculous 😂). I spend most of my time trying to convince people that women were the exact same sizes in the Victorian era as they are today! Another history myth..

Fun fact; the house that I docent at has a tree that was planted in 1892. The daughters of the family picked it up in a coffee can in Santa Cruz. That tree is now one of the tallest redwoods in Alameda. My boots are older than that tree!

This is my library and I like to fancy myself a stern, no nonsense librarian 😆

Me in my library 📚

Random request:  Does anyone know someone who proficiently makes clothing from black snail, most specifically this top? Since I am lamentably useless in making garments from a pattern I would be happy to pay for someone to make one for me. Also happy to provide the fabric and findings if necessary.
Also interested in a few other black snail patterns if this magical sewist is inclined!
Thanks in advance!

This is a glass negative found at a recycling store. Circa 1890. The man of the house had taken an interest in photography and had done portraits of each family member. I can image the status of this family to have the privilege of such a hobby.
I turned this little girl into a lamp by building a shaded box with bulbs inside. I like to think I’ve brought her to life in a way. I wonder what her life may have been like after this picture was taken.

Although I did make most of these pieces, much of them were either frankensteined from vintage clothing or costume pieces. I’m terrible at patterns and creating garments from scratch, much better at deconstructing/reconstructing and tailoring.
Both boots that I’m wearing in these photos were made around 1890 to 1900. A couple of the shots were taken in my home before work.
The Alameda Historical Museum would love to have you stop on by! It’s not very fancy, we have a lot of dust, but it’s free to walk through and the volunteers are a lot of fun!
Alameda, CA

I docent at a Victorian museum. (I am very nice to children, don’t worry!)

(This is my home and I work at a museum.) Also, I just generally look like this 🤣

Alameda Historical Museum, Alameda
CA