Miss Chatelaine
The bijoux department is in love with Chatelaines; those lovely, multipurpose items that keep a lady's tools and treasures from falling to the bottom of pockets.
After raiding the jewelry making supplies for anything that stirred the imagination, and much fun with research, the artisans got to work.
First, the Designer found images of the usual chatelaine items to downsize and print off on card stock. This not only included those pictured below, but also cameos, portrait minatures, sewing items, scent bottles, jewels and what ever took the ladies' fancy. The Queen Annes are different heights and sizes, so many options were printed. Adjusting for the correct sizes took a bit of doing, and too much card stock.
The shop usually complains about how long it takes to create miniature items, and this work was no less challenging, even with proper jewelry making tools. Fast drying glue was essential for workers with limited patience. And a swear jar was installed on the work bench.
Research pics of actual or replica 18th century chatelaines were kept on hand.
https://100ways.com/blogs/news/jewellery-of-the-georgian-era
http://www.babesfromthewoods.com/2012/08/
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/473164067/c-0004-silver-and-brass-watch-chain-with
As new ideas presented themselves, there were more trips to the jewelry stash, ribbon, bead, and button boxes. A thrifted jewelry jar was rescued from the donation box and thoroughly rifled through again and again for more fasteners, chains and jewels.
Each Queen Anne was assigned a brooch or charm as the starting point for their chatelaine. Then appropriate items were chosen or created for each lady. The designer checked regularly on the shop's progress.
The ladies were on hand, of course, to comment on the Designer's choices and model their chatelaine's proportions, or request adjustments.
Here is Charlotte wearing hers. She has a pin ball (cushion) which she will tie to the apron waist with a ribbon.
This chatelaine includes a key, cameo, scent bottle and portrait miniature. Its top chain pins to the waist band of her apron or skirt.
As usual, the shop learned many things from this project:
1. The magnifying lamp is the best tool ever.
2. Glue takes time to dry. Leave it be. Work on something else.
3. Printed card stock scissors and keys look strange next to real metal chains and bijoux. Even if coloured with metallic Sharpie and stiffened with clear nail polish.
4. Imagination is inspiration. Give ideas a try! There is soooo much out there on miniature making. With how-to videos galore.
5. Keep tweezers handy.
6. Keep a damp cloth nearby. Old jewelry can be dirty. And yes, the shop still gets glue everywhere.
7. Work on, and over, a surface with a towel spread across it. Dropping small bits on the floor is only fun for the cats. The towel keeps tools in place and jewelry bits from rolling around.
8. Be flexible and go ahead and change your mind. You'll feel better. The long chains were shortened as fittings took place. Some of the scent bottles, though pretty, were just too big. Evalina did NOT want a pin cushion.
9. One end of a magnet style bracelet clasp was just the thing for the stopper on a scent bottle. Guess what happened when it was added to the chatelaine? Replaced immediately.
10. Have fun. The Boss would love to have a chatelaine of her own. Wouldn't you?
Pictures of the completed chatelaines will appear in the What's New or Gallery section soon. The next Blog post will illustrate some of the techniques the shop used to create items gracing the chains.
And don't worry. The Designer has chosen some elements for Armand's watch and fob.
The Shop must tidy up now. Comments, suggestions and support are always welcome. Do check out the other chatelaines.