Vintage Georgian Collet Raffle and Assemblage Earring Giveaway!

I really want Jenny to make it to Italy. She has worked so hard to get half way there. She has been working hard and adding her own money, and painting these lovely things to auction off to make more. Jenny says, " Painting is my passion. The magical Misty Mawn is teaching a class in Italy at the end of September and I have been dreaming about going for a long time. I tucked the dream away thinking that is just wasn't possible on my salary. It was always there in the back of my mind prodding at me. I decided I didn't want my dream to dwindle away so I'm asking for your help to make it a reality."

georgian collets by Sacred Cake (value: 110.00)

Like I said in this last post,   helping others foster their dreams somehow helps us to foster our own. It keeps us focused on what is real. What is good. What is relevant.
Love.
Love for humanity. For eachother.
At a time when the news is full of negativity and despair, there is always a flicker of light.
The God given goodness that resides deep within each of us, in this moment.
Generosity.
Giving.
Grace.
I am offering your choice of three of my best selling necklaces in a donations raffle! Entering the raffle is easy. Just choose the necklace you'd like to win, press the donate button at the bottom of this post, donate 5.00 or more, and specify which necklace you'd like to win! Each 5.00 increment counts as one entry.
You will also be entered in an earring raffle just for donating any amount! So, you have two chances to win.
Each 5.00 increment you donate will be entered in the drawing for the necklace you specify. This is HUGE!
Your choices~

vintage pale pink rosaline collet

vintage pink rosaline collet by Sacred Cake

A gorgeous pale pink jeweled collet that would make Marie Antoinette SWOON. Trust me, you won't want to take it off! Just type the word "pink" when you enter.
Next~

my daughter, Rebecca, modeling my necklaces

chunky pale yellow collet by Sacred Cake on Etsy

This lovely chunky pale yellow collet  will steal your breath when you see it in person. Trust me when I tell you that it is worth a five dollar donation to enter to WIN IT! Just type "yellow" in the text box when you enter.
and last, but definitely not least, this lovely assemblage piece~

"In Memory of Bees"

Bee and rhinestone assemblage necklace by Sacred Cake

This gorgeous vintage and antique assemblage bee necklace will become a favorite! Just write "bee" when you enter your donation.
Now for the extra special part! Even if you don't win a necklace, you will STILL be in the drawing for a pair of these~

vintage aqua assemblage earrings by Sacred Cake

and  these~

vintage rosaline earrings by Sacred Cake

and these~

orchid earrings by Sacred Cake

This donate button will take you to the safe and secure Paypal. Don't forget to specify which necklace you'd love to win. AND remember that EVERYONE who donates will get a chance to win earrings too!

Thank you for being here today.
Blessings and light to You and Yours,
Jennifer Valentine of Sacred Cake

painting by Jenny Wentworth

Antique Buttons Jewelry by Sacred Cake, and a Magical Happenstance Meeting to Share

Victorian mourning button bracelet by Sacred Cake

For years I've admired them. Lusted after their perfect antique patina, their intricate elegance...their antique button mystique. I've literally sat for hours sifting through sale boxes of buttons perfectly sewn to little white cards...and when a bit more money permitted, asked the sales person to open up the case...aaahhhh the glorious coveted Victorian button case, sprinkled with Art Nouveau button offerings of carved mother of pearl and Bakelite...in colors I've never seen and  beautiful Victorian Picture buttons like tiny scenes from an even tinier world.

antique floral buttons earrings for the Etsy Shop

For years, I wondered about the owner of the booth and how she amassed such an extraordinary collection. Now she was someone I wanted to meet! It just so happened that Nancy (her name) was there during a recent visit, restocking buttons as I came around the corner on the way to leave. I greeted her like a long lost friend. "It's YOU." "I can't believe you're HERE." I introduced myself and shook her delicate hand. (Nancy is in her 80's.) Well, to make a long story a little shorter, I practically invited myself to her house...yes, i did! I proclaimed that I was not a serial killer, that I wrote things for magazines and did her children want my number so they could check me out first?

antique cut pewter button with Water Lily

some of my exquisite floral Victorian antique buttons

I called her the next day and we made a date. I could hardly wait to talk with her more. The older generation has so much to talk about...so many stories to tell...and I love to listen. I wondered to myself on the hour long drive to her home if I'd be fortunate enough to make it to 80. Would I still be "hip"? Would I be set in my ways...?  Be the crazy cat lover lady that already lurks inside of me?
     Nancy is lovely with bright blue eyes and straw colored, wavy hair. We sat together for hours and talked of buttons and life and children, and more about buttons. We commented excitedly on the superbly detailed buttons I brought for her to see...I found it so amazing that out of the thousands of buttons Nancy has, she brought her favorites out to me in a small, rectangular glass topped box! That was it. Just one little box. I was amazed that she could limit herself to just that one...well, that one, and thousands more behind glass at the antique mall in Coloma, Michigan! (but those are all for sale)

antique black glass button bracelet by Sacred Cake

I brought a few pieces of button jewelry for her to see and we had tea and the best zucchini bread ever known. I bid farewell before the darkness fell. And it was just beginning to snow. Years ago, I would have just seen her there and politely told her that I liked her buttons and left it at that...I've learned to be more outgoing, to try to connect more with the world when I'm out in it, because my work is so solitary... and I have been dearly rewarded for it. It is funny that I've finally found my life's work, which I so dearly love, and it is such a quiet and solitary thing. I was always "the loud kid"...the one who always got in trouble for "talking to her neighbor in class."  It has become such a remarkable gift, this "talking to my neighbor." I find it so easy to relate to people...to make them feel at ease.
I hope you feel that way when you come here to visit. I really enjoy sharing  with you here and I am so grateful for your presence.

more of my Victorian button stash

Nancy has convinced me that I need to put some of my buttons on cards to show them off...to not ever use them for jewelry, and so I shall when time permits. Until then, they'll live in an old mason jar on my table, where I pour them into my hands and choose just the right ones for bracelets and necklaces and earrings like these...

antique glass button bracelet by Sacred Cake

vintage button and buckle necklace by Sacred Cake (me)

The song of my heart, made tangible.

My Talisman, the first Assemblage Necklace, and my dear Vintage Photo Booth Photos for You to Use!

my dear sweet talisman

She smiles and says, something is coming...it is a secret that I can hardly keep, but it's good. It's really really good.Wait for it. Just wait. and keep going. Do what brings you joy. Because you only get this one wild and crazy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.  Hold on to your child-like wonder, your creativity, your smile.

I found the vintage photo booth picture of her while dumpster diving after the residents of a small house fire began clearing their basement. I spent hours that day foraging for old books, photographs, antique lace and scraps...it was the most amazing "dumpster dive" I had ever encountered. (and I've had many. My children will unabashedly attest.) I went back for one more look when the throw away frenzy came to an end...and there she was...at the very, very bottom of the bin. A bit wet. A bit dirty. A little lost and forgotten.
I took her home.
I began making my assemblage jewelry a few years ago after I purchased a huge 20 pound box of junk jewelry parts from Ebay. I made that necklace first, and sealed her sweetness inside of it.
She is my talisman, when i feel the prying fingers of doubt and dismay pulling at my spirit. I wear her, and she brings me joy. She reminds me that anonymous wholesale or warmly known, the work of my hands will still be out there...touching lives...bringing conversation or compliments, or making women smile at themselves in the mirror. That's what it is all about, she tells me. It's about touching lives. It's about what we leave behind. it's about bringing joy and helping you feel pretty and brides feel beautiful on their most special day~

one of lovely "my brides" Celeste, wearing Joyous earrings. click image to see

So sweet that she has the same beautiful smile that the girl in my talisman has...and her photo and sweet words came along just when I needed reassurance that what I do for a living is significant and relevant in this world.

Ann, vintage photo booth photo

Would you like to make something with some of my collection of vintage photo booth photographs? The collection below was given to me by a sweet friend recently. They were all neatly displayed in a large photo album. Each photo booth photo was labeled underneath with the name of the person. I gently removed them from the album one by one, and wrote the name on the back of each so that I could know their names and return them to the proper spot in the book. I adore these types of photographs, and have been collecting them for years.
The one for my talisman necklace is the original photograph that I sealed with resin. You may use these for a project as well, but be sure to seal the photograph with something like matte medium before using the resin, so the photograph doesn't bleed.

Bernice, vintage photo booth picture

Stas, vintage military photo booth picture

Stella, vintage photo booth photo

Frances, vintage photobooth picture

Elsie, vintage photo booth photo

I just adore old photographs and my collection is ever growing. I have so many more of these tiny photos! If you'd like, I can email you the files. I'd love to share more of them with you.
Here is a collection of more. I scanned them at a high resolution, so they should print well.

My address is sacred_cake (at) yahoo [dot] com. Just send me an email and ask for more.
If you have any questions about how to make a necklace like mine, I'm happy to oblige.

Hey, have I told you lately how beautiful you are? In so many ways...
and I'm happy you are here today.

 Blessings and Light,
Jennifer Valentine of Sacred Cake

I'm Having an Assemblage Jewelry Sale

I've got lots of things in the shop that would make special gifts for someone special on your list! Neutral palettes, sure to be loved and worn everyday, and special one of a kind pieces...come on by and take a peek! Shipping is free and so is the lovely box and bow. (Click the photo below to get there.) Use the code CYBERMONDAY to receive your discount.

I'll be back on Tuesday with a fantastic tutorial!Hint: it involves an antique child's shoe...be sure to come back then to see the tutorial, and hear the story behind it.

Blessings and Light,
Jennifer

New Vintage Assemblage Jewelry and Home Decor, News, and a Little Idea for Candles

I've made some new things for the shop!

"Red Kitchenette" Magnet Board

Keeping Watch Assemblage Necklace

assemblage bridal comb

Keeping Watch vintage assemblage necklace

Willow, assemblage earrings

"secret" assemblage tiny locket earrings

also, my dear friend Laurie Jacobsen made me a "blinky"! What do you think?

I just love it! (Jenny, you make this so very special!)

In other news, my daughter Emily's pregnancy is doing well, I am looking forward to little Benjamin's arrival sometime in early November! Emily and Ben will be living with us, so i will get lots of grandma time in! I can hardly wrap my mind around it folks! Then, more news came as quite a surprize suprise suprize surprise (i can never ever correctly spell surprise! Am I the only one?!)...my other daughter, Rebecca is also expecting! She is due in March...YES. I'm going to be a grandma twice over within 6 months time.....WHEW.  They say they didn't plan it that way....hhhmmmmmm......I wonder.............

OH! I also wanted to tell you about a little trick I do. Sometimes I find decorative candles that I really really like. So, to extend the life of them, I let them burn down about a couple of inches. THEN from then on, I put  a small tea light down in the hole and light that instead. I like to use the scented tea lights or just plain ones. I buy a huge bag of them at Michael's and they last a long time! Pretty nifty idea eh?

Thank you for being here today!
Blessings and Light,
Jennifer

Neutral on the Brain, Vintage Assemblage Earrings, Indie Weddings Love

I've been craving neutral...neutrality...calm colors. Calm feelings. Calm surroundings. I think because life seems "colorful" enough for me these days. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to run through knee deep honey...but most days I think I can feel the wind from the passing minutes blowing my hair. To keep calm, I listen to the Patti Griffin station on Pandora.com. I light candles and incense. I pray. I eat some chocolate. I eat more chocolate later. I take deep breaths and know that this one life is all I get. I have everything I need today, and everything is as it should be. I truly believe that. But it doesn't mean I don't get overwhelmed. I'm very human.

étinceler.

A friend of mine asked of me many many years ago, when I was without transportation and worried aloud about how I was going to feed and clothe four small children...she asked me, "Do you have what you need today?"
I never forgot that...
I have more than I could possibly want, or need this day. So do my children. When my emotions start creeping up to the blaring red "overwhelm" mark, I have to talk myself down. I count my blessings, my gratitude, my joys. And it calms me and centers me to make things.

éternel.

luminosity.

One of those joys is being able to still have the ability to create. Earrings are all I have much time for these days. When I commented about that on Facebook, a dear person said that earrings must be all that is necessary right now. I needed to hear that. Thank you Kelly (Barton) for the sweet and encouraging words.
What keeps YOU sane? Please leave a comment and share your story? I'd love to hear it.

Oh, by the way, have you heard about the website called "Ruffled"?...It is a website dedicated to weddings of all kinds...particularly those very creative indie type weddings with amazing pictures. It bursts with creativity! I think I most like it because it is full of photographs of young couples in love...such promise and hope in their faces. I really like that. The promise and the hope.....yeah, that......I need to see lots of that.

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend, filled with little joys.
Blessings to You and Yours,
Jennifer Valentine

Idea: Window "Dressing" to Stay Cool

There is a heatwave going on...and I don't remember it being so hot last year. I've been roaming around our old house covering windows as artfully as possible to keep the sun out and the cool in. I'm not a huge fan of summer...strange I guess coming from a woman who spent most of her life in Northern Florida....
I've been keeping cool with the old fans around the house my husband has restored to their original glory, and lots of Coke in little glass bottles...
As I was pondering how to keep the curtains out of the way of the window unit, while simultaneously keeping out the sun, I came up with a quick solution! I used an old necklace as a tie back, and then used two clear tacks to tack a vintage white apron to the top part of the window...thus creating a layered defense that keeps a lot of the sunshine out, while still looking pretty...what do you think?

It's all in the layering...on top of the curtains, I also hung a white vintage dress on a wooden hanger and topped with an old brooch...so, three layers. The apron up top, then the curtain, then the dress(es). You could even tie the apron onto little brass hooks, or layer the aprons by tying them to each other to make a valance.

Bedroom window

close up of lampshade

I dressed this old lamp shade up with bunched up layers of old lace and a favorite rhinestone brooch.

window layers

OH, by the way, I'm having a Christmas in July sale! and you get a free pair of earrings with ANY purchase through July at the shop.

FREE with any purchase from Sacred Cake

Hope you like my idea!
Love and Light,
Jennifer

Custom Vintage Assemblage Necklace from Grandmother's Vintage Buttons

Recently, I was approached about creating a memorial type necklace for a beloved client who recently lost her grandmother. I was excited about the challenge of using personal mementos to create something my client could wear to keep the memory of her grandmother close...

She sent several buttons and a pair of earrings and asked that the necklace be created in silver and red. The earrings she sent me to use were a bit of a challenge because they were bright and shiny silver, but the rhinestone buttons fit right in.

I added bright silver leaves from an old necklace to echo the beads she gave me from her grandmother's earrings, red rhinestone findings and glass flowers, matte red navettes and vintage Czech glass and Swarovski beads to add a little sparkle. I also used a vintage filigree base in silver and added a secret locket in the back to hold any small personal mementos. That was a last minute thought that I really love...I think she will too!

The silver sparrow on the chain echoes the bird on the antique button dangle that she sent quite nicely...then I added some silver chain and a pretty red glass drop at the end of the chain to make it adjustable in length.

Just wanted to share this custom creation with you. If you are interested in a custom memento or remembrance locket necklace like this one, using your own personal elements, contact me through my Etsy Shop. Or email me.

See you again soon!

Blessings and Light,

Jennifer