I just wanted to share a secret delight of mine. I love all manner of antiques and vintage collectibles, but I've got a secret passion for jewelry. I don't wear much, just earrings, but I have hundreds and hundreds of pieces of jewelry. 99.9% of which is either store inventory or bound for store inventory. It doesn't matter if it's gold & diamonds, hemp & clay beads, early plastics & resins, painted glass or metal, rhinestones, pearls (faux or real), whatever. Dime store or Jewelry store, I love it all! Though, I'm no expert or anything close to it.

One thing I love, since finally entering the cyber-world, is researching pieces that have identification marks. (makers marks, etc...) I do love researching stuff. After we got a computer (5 whole yrs. now), I found myself able to feed that need for information. Not just values, but history. That's where my idea of value really lies. The idea that some average everyday person came up with a jewelry design or idea and, either started their own company or worked with an established outfit to produce it. Artists. That's what they were and are. Tiffany or Avon....it's all the same to me.

Some designs truly transcend time. From a simple cord with a clay bead hanging on it, to a chain with a cross pendant, to the complex and bold collar necklaces and chokers. Caveman to Egyptian to Puritan to this past century. Maybe the exact style is altered, and maybe the colors trend this way and that, but the fact remains that adornment of ago, is bling today.

Teen gals that seem attached to their magical spaceage high-tech computer phones, will pocket the device to try on a string of 'June Clever' pearls or chunky multi-strand rhinestone necklace. Even vintage hair accessories, which I sort of lump together with jewelry, are going home with young women. Combs and clips and those gorgeous asian pokey stick hair things. Up go the tresses, back sweep the bangs, and away they go feeling very mod with their 1930's "hair jewelry". The boys are after sterling silver chokers, hippie-dippie beaded items, and heavy chain bracelets. Although I experience a little deflation when they call the 60's & 70's things..."really old antique stuff from way back then!", I love that they love it as much as I did. (even though that makes me really old antique stuff from way back then, too!)

Some basic things will probably never change. Wearing jewelry is one of them. This season the earrings are small and the necklaces and bracelets are large. Next season may be delicate gold or tiny pearls. I expect to see fabric covered wooden beads jewelry again, one day. I have one 1950's necklace that has flocked beads with gold drizzeled on them. So so cool.

I do love jewelry. Even those crumby rings we used to get that turned our fingers green. (I still have a little box of my favorites, packed away with my disco 45's (the ones not in our jukebox), and my Jesus Christ Superstar 8-track.) (Which reminds me of music, and is a whole other story!)

I guess it's best if one simply embraces those fun fashion flashbacks, as they don't seem to ever die. They just cycle around to be enjoyed again a few decades later. (even our words....flashback, flashbang, flashdance, flashdrive, flashmob...) It's all good. Feel free to enjoy, because....We All Have A Secret Delight!

Written by Elizabeth Allison

The Other Place, ABC Shop on Ruby Lane