The successful film Julie & Julia was fun to watch but left us all asking the question “Why didn’t Julia like Julie’s blog?” Julia Child, the ultimate foodie, simply said that she didn’t think Julie Powell was serious and that the project was more of stunt. Others who knew Julia elaborated saying that Julie Powell’s blog seemed to be more about the process and not at all about the food, that she didn’t describe the food, that she didn’t detail how it tasted, how it looked, how it felt. They lamented that she dwelt more on the trials of the cooking and her own life rather than the results of the meal. Julie Powell herself said that this project was not about the food but more about bravery and courage, empowerment and accomplishing something bigger than you thought possible. Just one day after viewing the movie, with these thoughts stirring in my mind, I went to the bookstore to shop for new vintage jewelry research books.

I pulled every book on vintage jewelry and carried them off to one of those big overstuffed chairs in the center of the store to spend the next hour engrossed in my very favorite subject. I found one that I had not seen before and was enjoying the pictures and verifying that the information was accurate, when I decided to read about the author. The name was unusual but familiar—I had a customer in my Ruby Lane store by the same name. As soon as I got home, I emailed; I just had to know. Is it you?

The reply came quickly and indeed it was my regular customer, Jacqueline Rehmann, who had written the newly published Classic American Costume Jewelry. I know Jackie well; she has been a customer since the first month I was opened on Ruby Lane. I know what she likes and usually know which pieces she will buy from my shop. She loves vintage jewelry; she collects vintage jewelry; she gives gifts of vintage jewelry; and now she has one book published and is working on Volume 2. As I read how her love of costume jewelry began the Julia/Julie dilemma made sense. Like Julia Child, Jacqueline writes from a passion about her subject, from a deep knowing and enjoyment, like writing about your best friend. Julie Powell wrote her blog as someone setting out to accomplish a new project, as someone sticking her toe into unfamiliar waters, cautious and a little afraid of the feeling. It was easier and more appropriate for her to write about the process and not the product, after all the product was an unfamiliar one. Where Julia was all finesse, Julie was rough around the edges. But, I think that if Julia had had a chance to meet Julie, read her book and see that movie she would have come to understand that there is a place for each perspective. She would have realized that there is validity in both sides of the undertaking and that learning is something that happens in many ways and on many different levels.

There is great value in reading and learning from someone who has spent years getting to know their subject. Only Julia Child could have taught us servantless Americans the intricate steps of the art of French cooking. She gave us an appreciation for the end product and I can still see her on our black and white TV savoring every morsel. I would like to think that if she were young again she would be blogging for us, inviting us to become part of her world of French cooking with a passion beyond measure, just like she lived her life.

While many of us share a deep admiration and even love for vintage jewelry, antiques, or collectibles, others are approaching this whole business from a different perspective. Perhaps it is a way to earn much needed income in a suffering economy, or a necessary way to disperse a loved one’s estate or maybe it is a budding interest that is just beginning to be realized or a new project to be accomplished. I often see shops listings with the information not quite right, or a misidentification or perhaps items in a condition that is not up to my standards. Sometimes I feel prices are outrageously high or ridiculously low. I see fellow shop owners paying prices that leave no room for profit in my opinion, or passing by items because they do not know that that odd looking piece is an unsigned Haskell, or delicately carved ivory, or some other fabulous treasure. We are all coming at the business from different perspectives, with different goals, different levels of experience or knowledge and will most likely have different outcomes. One does not negate the other. We all deserve to be here, wherever we are in our journey and for whatever reason and we can all learn from each other.

That is why I appreciate the Ruby Lane blogs. It gives us each a chance to share not only the details of our chosen specialty, but to express our passion for these items as well. It gives opportunity to share our experiences in buying, selling, and collecting, to warn of pitfalls, share our mistakes and failures, triumphs and successes. It gives a voice to the Julia Childs and Julie Powells, to the Jacqueline Remanns and the Cindy Browns and enriches us all. Bon Appetite’

Cindy Brown
Cinsababe's & Cinsababe's Too
on Ruby Lane
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/cinsababe