Author Archives: Sans Souci

547. The Nine Lives Times: Little Arnold Schwartz Katz update

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Dear Little Arnold followers, I wanted to get back to you with an update. In my last post about Arnold I included a letter I had sent the head vet. You can refer to it here. The letter was sent on a Saturday and received the Monday before last and the vet called me and left a message on my machine. He appeared to have been as perturbed as I, sounded professional and obviously upset, and promised to investigate. I hadn’t heard from him since and decided to call. He returned the call in the late afternoon and we discussed … Continue reading →

546. The Nine Lives Times: on the death of a cat and the art of miscommunication

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I. I am updating previous blog where I announced that the beloved little cat stray cat who adopted me, passed away while at the vet sometime between Monday and Tuesday of last week. A short recap: This little guy who we shall lovingly call Little Arnold Schwartz Katz fell ill within the last month; chances are he was attacked by the two orange boys, Sorbet and Sorbetto.(who came to his feeding station and ate his food.) Arnold got an eye infection, his routine changed, he was functioning but not at full speed. But he continued to eat, albeit not as … Continue reading →

161. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage Charms and Charm Bracelets: ‘Twas a Marriage Made in Heaven…

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This is another one of my fun bracelets; it has some very unique charms. It tells a modern day love story; let’s hope the story has a happy ending. [these photos may be enlarged by clicking]         The marriage manual: 1. It all starts here with the apple. It opens to reveal the famous “original” couple they “swing: out on a hinge to face the world. Swingers, eh? 2. A Stanhope charm. I will do a blog about Stanhopes at another time. Suffice it to say there is a microscopic image in a little lens. Look closely, … Continue reading →

545. The Nine Lives Times…A sad goodbye

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I received a call from the vet’s office this morning. “I have very sad news,” the receptionist said.”Little Arnold didn’t make it through the night. He was found curled up in his cage this morning. The technicians gently blew on him and he didn’t respond. I am so sorry.” I had awakened with a bad allergy and could hardly breathe. All night I had been thinking about buying a special crate for Little Arnold and putting it in a warm spot in the den so I could nurse him back to health. I envisioned him in my house and hoped … Continue reading →

174. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage Charms and Charm Bracelets: What’s Your Sign?

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Order in Chaos…and bubbles (you can click on each picture to see the bracelets greatly enlarged, you will have to scroll across and down)   I saw this bracelet on ebay and I was intrigued; it was full, heavy, and chock full of zodiac charms; I bought it and added to it. More is more; after all, it’s the universe and although it is chaotic, there is a beauty and an order to it. I don’t know how many charms I added to this; a dash of colorful enamel, a zodiac bubble—more on that later, the large zodiac disk you … Continue reading →

544. The Nine Lives Times: Little Arnold Update: And He’s In!

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Hello, all, and a big, I mean BIG sigh of relief. This kitty issue has been keeping me up for days and now I feel I’ve done something. I was honestly going to give up on Arnold going into the trap. He was sitting at the bottom of my deck stairs in a little spot of sun. I suppose hunger had gotten the best of him. I had written the last blog and was going to knock down the trap and just pick up some antibiotics when there he was! Going in! Slowly and carefully and then POP! the release … Continue reading →

182. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage Charms and Charm Bracelets: Bubble, Globes, Intaglios

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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 … Continue reading →

187. CreARTive Sunday: 3/16/08: Antique Love Token Bracelets

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Most love token bracelets were made during the period from 1876 through 1900. They are hand engraved and made from a coin that was in circulation. Seated Liberty dimes were plentiful and frequently used. it was easy to engrave as it had a high content of silver. Remember, in “those days” a dime was a lot of money. These were used as tokens of affection and souvenirs of commemorations of events. Click photos to enlarge. The hollow silver bangle above still has a secure lock. I hung a Seated Liberty dime from the safety chain; 1886 one side, and fancy … Continue reading →

195. CreARTive Sunday: 3/30/08: France, Germany: Antique Souvenir Travel Charms

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  Souvenirs were big in Victorian times; some for love, other for events, travel. This souvenir bracelet of Paris displaysornate links with a center plaque of: L’Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Paris Coat of Arms, Sacre Coeur, Opera, and the Eiffel Tower dangles from a chain. It is Art Deco or earlier. [click to enlarge] Souvenir “books” Lyons dimensions closed: 1 ¾”x ¾”                                   Miniature post cards include: Le Pont Morand, La Prefecture, Place Bellcour, L’Hotel d’Ville, Palais de Justice, Eglise de Fourvière, Ancien … Continue reading →

543. A Nine Lives Times Update: The Unstoppable, Un-trapable, Un-outsmartable Little Arnold!!

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I have been poised at my open back sliding door for an hour and a half with Team Arnold Rescue, my cold tea, my computer, and my camera. I have to say, this ain’t easy. The trap is set and ready to do its job. Then I saw Arnold! He took two small dollops of the outer lure bait, left the plate of food in inner part of the trap untouched and backed out. He must have remembered the trap from when he was neutered last summer. He circled and circled trying to get the food and walked off into … Continue reading →

199. CreARTive Sunday: Italy: Vintage & Antique Travel Bracelets (my work)

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After collecting charms for just a bit my consciousness was awakened to travel charms. I made most of my purchases through ebay where one can find sellers from all over the world. I joined a group of charm collectors on ebay who collect vintage charms. The group is run by the most knowledgable and brilliant woman, Joan Munkasci. (Joan is the daughter of the late Martin Munkasci, the world famous fashion photographer.) We would post our creations and “ooh and ahhh” over each other’s collections; Joan’s collections awakened me to travel charms. I have purchased a number of charms from … Continue reading →

542. Wish trapper Sans Souci good luck: Little Arnold update

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This morning I looked out the window and saw my Little Arnold padding around the backyard grass and eating some shmutz off a stone near my shed. I had just put food out for him on the front porch but Sorbet got there first; I now bring out a tray for two. I grabbed Arnold’s breakfast and rant to the back where I put it on the deck and let out my usual idiotic high pitched, “Little Arnold come!” And he did, and he ate, and then he sat in the grass and washed his face (grooming is a good … Continue reading →

211. CreARTive Sunday: Peruzzi Jewelry: Italy

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Peruzzi — Boston c.1930 — 1981 Mark: Peruzzi Boston Founded in Boston by Gino Peruzzi in the early 1930’s, Sold to Aldo Fioravanti in 1945. Went out of business in 1982. Info from “Amazing Gems”. As usual. please click on the photos. I used to shop in a little store that had the most wonderful vintage and antique pieces. I enjoyed the wonder of the place so much that I worked there part time for several years on Saturdays and sometimes after teaching. I loved being around all the cool stuff. While a customer I fell in love with a … Continue reading →

CreARTive Sunday: 4/13/08: What’s your creARTive passion?

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Start: Apr 12, ’08 8:00p End: Apr 14, ’08 Location: Leave a comment here.     Got a creARTive passion? What makes you, YOU? Want to share a project, hobby, collection, interest? This will be the sign in page should you wish to tour. Just leave a comment. Direct us to the blog post. 12 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply ppiccola wrote on Apr 12, ’08 books, I collect old books…the oldest the better…… editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Apr 12, ’08 Here’s a nice one the ladies will enjoy!http://lauritasita.multiply.com/journal/item/591/CreARTive_Sunday_041308_Antique_Perfume_Bottles reply ppiccola wrote on Apr 12, ’08 sorry i haven’t prepare a … Continue reading →

540. Worries about Little Anold Schwartz Katz

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Dear Friends of mine and of Arnold, I am in a tizzy with worry, consumed, actually, and guilt-ridden about my little friend who is not doing well health-wise. I feel responsible for his health and am mortified at myself for letting this situation languish. I fear Arnold may not come through this episode of an eye infection intact, if at all and I am sick over it. Somehow I thought it might resolve itself but I was wrong. I am taking action. Trapper John is not going to do the trapping but will teach me and my neighbor how to … Continue reading →

539. The Nine Lives Times: Little Arnold Update: CATastrophe?

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Dear friends and supporters of Little Arnold Schwartz Katz: It seems the little pet who adopted us has had a mishap. We don’t know if he caught something, was injured, or attacked by the orange guys, Sorbet and Sorbetto, but he appears to have an eye infection and is barely eating. He takes a few bites and hides. My neighbors saw his eye was red, and then the next day it was black and he couldn’t open it. I think the inner eyelid might have been covering the eye for protection. The following day it improved a bit and I … Continue reading →

216. CreARTive Sunday: 4/27/08: Vintage Italian Etruscan-style charms and Irma: Part 1

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It Started with a Bracelet dedicated to Irma S. Lewis, who taught me more than I’ll ever realize. Note: The jewelry discussed here is referred to as “Etruscan.” In the Victorian period there was a classic revival of ancient styles. This story is about the Etruscan-style jewelry produced in Italy in the 40’s possibly through the 60’s and may have been made by the Peruzzi company mentioned in the previous CreARTive Sunday blog. Years ago, when I lived in a co-op apartment building in Flushing, Queens, I had a neighbor who was old enough to be my grandmother. Irma was … Continue reading →

168. CreARTive Sunday: Vintage charms and charm bracelet: Bare Naked Ladies and Microphotography

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A microphotograph in a Stanhope charm might look like this. Stanhopes, or ‘peeps’, are miniature microphotographic lenses incorporated in many novelty collectables produced from the mid-19th century onwards.   Stanhopes can be found in a range of small collectables, and exist in several main collectors’ categories. To view the hidden image, look for a small glass “bead” in a knob or handle of the object, and hold this close to the eye, focused on a light source. Stanhopes are often found in antique novelties made of bone, but are more difficult to spot in dark-coloured objects e.g. carved wood, bog … Continue reading →

538. The Nine Lives Times: Little Arnold Update 11/5/10: 1+1=3

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Here’s the Kitty Litter Scoop Weekend Edition For quite a while Arnold has been hanging out with an orange buddy, Sorbet. I’ve noted a lot of kitty hollering outside probably due to territory issues. Little did I know… The cat that I had been calling “Sorbet” had a brother, uncle or cousin. It looks like there are two orange buddies visiting the feeding station now. Who knew?? I now refer to the smaller orange guy as Sorbet and the bigger guy as Sorbetto. Both are very sweet. Pretty soon I’ll have every feral cat in the borough eating at my … Continue reading →

224.CreARTive Sunday: 5/3/08: part 2 Etruscan-style Treasures

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Something so simple can bring people together…   This is the second CreARTive Sunday post in a series. As usual, you can click to enlarge.   The series begins here: Part 1.  Now you know the story of why I became impassioned with these charms, you know about my friend Irma. And now, I’ll tell you about my friend, Cynthia. I met her when I returned to work after I had my son. She was a teacher in one of the schools I was assigned to.  As I greeted her, I saw that she had an “Irma Bracelet.”  The universe … Continue reading →