Featuring “Flower of the Month”charms.

Last week I introduced you to reverse intaglios. The design is pressed into the medium, the 3d design is painted and then enclosed in a glass or plastic
“bubble.” Some bubbles are flat and backed with silver. Others are 2-sided.

click on the photos to enlarge

It’s easy to get hooked on a theme bracelet, see one and covet another. I found the perfect chain for this series of reverse intaglio bubbles, carrying on the flower theme. This is an unfinished bracelet; I was unable to find the remaining months. There are two styles here: though these are all reverse painted, they are framed in a demi-bubble; the back is flat and solid silver, but the bezels vary. Some are plain, others are ornate. I used the four leaf clover as a divider between the first and second groups.

Work In progress:
And then, typical of ebay luck, and entire bracelet came up for auction complete with a full set of charms of the same type. You never know; just when you think it’s hopeless, poof! It can pop up for sale.

Why I love them bubbles!

When I was a little girl, we would visit grandma in Brooklyn. I can still see myself in her huge kitchen—in a child’s perspective. It probably was constructed in the 1920’s, the paint on the drawers was thick and cracked. I would pull open a special drawer with all my might where she kept her button collection. Every time I visited grandma, I visited the little man playing golf in the bubble button. I was fascinated by being able to look into his world where he was just about to swing his club. I wondered if he could see me, if he was lonely, or happy.

One day I found him on ebay. He must have escaped grandma’s button, because he was now living in a charm, ready to hang on a bracelet. He is awaiting a new home along with several other bracelet free bubble charms.

A clock

Spring flowers

A terrier

Niagara Falls surrounded by a frame of faux pearls

2 colorful fish

reply hurricanekate wrote on Mar 8, ’08, edited on Mar 8, ’08 the sentimentality of this speaks to me more than any charm on that bracelet…the button drawer, the man in the bubble………………inside my favorite bubble is a little girl named susan in her grandmothers kitchen pulling on a paint cracked drawer.even if it’s a bubble inside my head. xo

reply aladybug wrote on Mar 8, ’08 I loved your childhood story, so I am glad you were able to find “the man playing golf”…. It’s not just a man with a club, it’s a little piece of your life as a child.Niagara Falls! Everything fits in a bubble… 🙂

reply asolotraveler wrote on Mar 8, ’08 just always appreciate your creativity! well done

reply hadenough1 wrote on Mar 9, ’08 I remember my Grandmother had those pop beads that pop together to make things. They looked like peals. Love your story,I like the flower bracelet-now you got me thinking of what could be done.Great blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

reply starfishred wrote on Mar 9, ’08 Left message on 360 but these ae sooooo gooood thanks

reply jayaramanms wrote on Mar 9, ’08 Very artistic Vintage charms. Beautiful collections. Thanks for sharing. This week I have started with some paintings. Hope it is alright. My ART SUNDAY post on MICHELANGELO PAINTINGS OF CARAVAGGIO – Please and see.. http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/83

reply 7jewel wrote on Mar 11, ’08 These gorgeous bubbles are bringing back some distant pleasant memory….hmm now it’s on my mind ………..What is it locked away? Could I have had one of these? Very cute xx