<p>Alum - that’s similar to what a friend of mine did with some of her gold. She took it to a jeweler and had a bracelet made, sort of a thin, free form bangle. That is NOT a good description - but it is very cool. </p>
<p>I am not melting my good gold jewelry, but I also have many items from when I wore smaller, more delicate pieces that now just sit in my drawer. I really don’t think I will ever wear most of them again - I gravitate towards bolder pieces. </p>
<p>OH - recently I purchased a very inexpensive system for storing my jewelry. It is called Neatnix jewelry stax. </p>
<p>It’s great. I bought lots of trays and store them in several drawers in my vanity. Normally, I would just grab the same pieces over and over again, but now I am using things I forgot about.</p>
<p>Agreed, not melting for example the 1950s gold Georg Jensen bangle, but the one from 8th grade graduation (!) that’s all dented now, also multiple gold chains, a small diamond pendant, a pair of pav</p>
<p>Love that idea - I think pearls and diamonds make a great combo. I’d leave the pink-y rubies out then.</p>
<p>I like the storage tray, but… My silly DH does not let me have one, because he thinks that it makes easier for burglars to do their burglar-ly job. LOL, if a burglar ever gets into my jewelry, he will be sorely disappointed. Oh, wait… My birthday is coming up, and even though we discussed “no more material gifts”, there is a rather large charge from Costco on our Amex that I need to investigate. Maybe I should wait until after my birthday… :)</p>
<p>LOL, wnp! I was told that burglars only go after the coveted red soles so my shoe collection is safe for now. I’m still working on acquiring a pair of those red soles, but it turned out to be challenging. I cannot believe how fast the spring and summer CL shoes sold out when they went on sale. :eek:</p>
<p>Actually, my shoe collection can work as an anti-burglar device (if I leave all of my shoes with their spiky heels pointing up on the closet floor, a la Home Alone). :)</p>
<p>I have several David Yurman pieces, which are difficult to clean, even with a jeweler’s cloth, because of all of the recessed areas. I know that pieces without pearls can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner and solution, which will remove the tarnish everywhere.</p>
<p>I love the idea of melting down old gold to make a bangle - the stones and pearls look great. If you have enough gold and gems, you could make a Maltese Cross, similar to this one:</p>
<p>I have two Yurman pieces and have to admit that I rarely wear them. I tend to like my gaudy Target baubles more! Anyway, I’m not big on silver because I’m fair and I just don’t think silver is flattering on me. I have noticed tho that the last time I wore my Yurman necklace it had tarnished and I actually like how it looked on me better. The other piece is a bracelet that is just way too big and clunky on me. Maybe I will melt them when DH isn’t looking (they were gifts).</p>
<p>Well, the votes have been tallied. Dear friend and daughter both love the purple floral dress, but they think the short dress is the more flattering dress on me. The floral is flowing and loose, the short dress more tailored, form fitting. If I might brag a little, daughter said I would be a fool to cover my legs. </p>
<p>Ahh, so the dress is going back. I could save it in the hopes of another occasion, but the chances of needing another long dress in the near future are slim. </p>
<p>So boring black and cream it will be. Thanks to BB, I found a terrific shawl. One she posted was gold - something I hadn’t even considered. I found a gold shawl similar to the Bernie one in a department store and it really looks great with the cream and black, very elegant and a little less, well boring. </p>
<p>Thanks for putting up with my neuroses - out of character for me. So now I only have three more weeks to make up things to worry about.</p>
<p>Oh, I had to check out the Alexis Bittar bracelets - and actually in the Havisham (Miss Havisham??) collection, there was a bangle that is actually very similar to what my friend had done. I love her bangle - also in the collection were a couple with stones, really cool!</p>
<p>NMinn, all I see is a bunch of pre-owned LV bags with the hideous logo print. I want to see those floral shoes! LOL.</p>
<p>Wnp, if your D says so, go for it (mothers’ fashion rule #1: when it comes to fashion advice, never listen to husbands, ask daughters first!) All that racewalking is paying off Sometimes, “boring” outshines “trendy”.</p>
<p>I’m being inundated by shoe ads everywhere I go on the web. It’s quite funny since I rarely buy any and wear mostly Merrels or sandals. My idea of dressed up shoes is ballet flats. (Shoewise I’m really young.) :)</p>
<p>OK, finally saw the picture of WnP2 dress. It IS stunning and glad you can wear it & look great in it! I wish I could wear sleeveless and strapless but those looks don’t work for me. I would probably do better in a Pippa-type style.</p>
<p>Do have to look around to find a dress to wear to a wedding reception in August–friend of the family. D & H will also be attending. I told D we should shop together. :)</p>
<p>HIMom, definitely shop together with your D! Good luck.</p>
<p>I was runnning through the downtown Nordie’s to get from Barney’s (OK, I WAS looking at CL shoes on sale) to my bus stop, and accidentaly ran into a dress that could be worn to D’s graduation (it is still a year away, so I do not want to jinx anything, but I prefer to get things on sale :)):</p>
<p>OK, any suggestions on perhaps a WASHABLE dress that could be worn for a summer wedding?</p>
<p>It’s cute but not something I would wear for grad. I’m not too much into dark & white (tho I’ve got TONS of black slacks). I have a very tough time keeping white (or light) clean. Which reminds me, D is also graduating next May, so hopefully any new dress will work for both the wedding & her graduation.</p>
Oh, wait… My birthday is coming up, and even though we discussed “no more material gifts”, there is a rather large charge from Costco on our Amex that I need to investigate. Maybe I should wait until after my birthday… :)</p>
so my shoe collection is safe for now. I’m still working on acquiring a pair of those red soles, but it turned out to be challenging. I cannot believe how fast the spring and summer CL shoes sold out when they went on sale. :eek:</p>
Which reminds me, D is also graduating next May, so hopefully any new dress will work for both the wedding & her graduation.</p>