A little truth, beauty, and more...

Take a deep breath, girls, and then we'll open this lovely, worn little box. What might it hold? Treasures to tantalize? Tokens of love? Everyday objects that might be elevated to the exquisite?

Flights of fancy, perhaps...in the form of tiny swallows and sparrows, sparkling with rhinestones, softly burnished, illuminated with the exquisite detail of guilloche beneath enamel...

A dear face, familiar...or not. The well-worn works of a timepiece set aside long ago, no longer ticking. A buckle, miraculously still joined, after a century of use...

Cameo portraits of Grecian royalty and Patrician profiles, a lion rearing on a field of blue under the crown he once served. Chains and swivels and fobs...

A couple that still lingers for a moment under the shade of a garden, he entreating, she retreating...

Thimbles long fallen from the patient fingers of mothers and fickle fingers of daughters not so taken with their needlework...

The solemn visage of a Whitby jet portrait, adrift in antique buttons long since freed from their Victorian waistcoats and dresses...

The elegant rose gold accoutrements of time...

And a tiny dancing shoe stepped out of and left behind. Does her knowing smile tell us more? What, you may ask, has all this to do with you? It is a clue to a wonderful surprise waiting for you at Lily...

My friend Amy Hanna's book has finally been published and has arrived at Lily this week!

This book, called "Rejuvenated Jewels," is so inspirational, you will catch your breath when you look at it. We have a case here, and some extra surprises in store for you. Amy will be coming to do a book signing and trunk show especially for you!

Don't miss this opportunity to meet one of the most genuinely talented and unaffected people I know, and see her work in person...and perhaps take home a little bit of it with you.

Lily will host an evening soiree where you may shop the trunk show, have your book signed by Amy, and meet this extraordinary woman. We will also have a pre-event with just such wonderful items as shown above that you can purchase to inspire and create your own "Rejuvenated Jewels." We will be busy hunting and collecting for this event, and there will be plenty of extraordinary finds for you to choose from.

There will be refreshments and wine served for our guests, and we look forward to seeing you all. The date will be announced shortly for this event, and we would like you to RSVP. (I am encouraging people to purchase their books now; we have already sold three since they arrived.)

Heavy Metal Heirloom

Cold Connection and Collage Jewelry Workshop
Nancy Jamar, Designer, Instructor
Sunday, March 1, 2009 11:00-3:00 Skill Level-All
$45 Class Fee (Kit Included, see below)

This Victorian-styled festoon necklace is built on a base of chain in different sizes and weights to create texture and interest. The main focal will be a vintage button collaged on a lovely filigree, and shaped filigree bails will be made from connectors, and joined with textured rings. The inner festoon of chain will hold a special piece, which each student is asked to bring with them. (If you do not have something in mind, please inquire for likely candidates when you pay for your class. We’ll be happy to make suggestions or see if we have something you’d like.) The class sample shown incorporates a small engraved locket. Our new sample in the store incorporates an old button and mother of pearl components...


Each kit for the class includes an antique Victorian button focal that is unique to that kit. You may select your kit from those available when you purchase the class. Selection of focals is on a first come, first serve basis.

This is a great beginning to intermediate cold connection class that lets you leave with a lovely necklace finished and ready to wear with your best dress or jeans and boots. If you have additional components, beads, or dangles that you would like to incorporate into your design, please bring them to class, and we’ll work with them during the composition of your necklace. We will also work with jewelry adhesive for collaging the focal and filigree, and may explore some metal aging as well.

Based on availability of chain and components, this class may be available as a kit for our out of area customers. Please inquire about kits at (714) 680-8893.

All classes are prepaid.
Call the shop at 714-680-8893 or the cel number at 714-349-2069 to reserve your place in class. You may reserve your place in person at the store by check, check, cash or credit card, or via phone by credit card or paypal. Call us if you need assistance.

Valentine Vixens at Lily!

The Valentine Vixen's landed at Lily on Sunday and here are two of the suspects right here...two of my favorite people, and I got to spend the day with them! I'm a lucky girl! (I'm clapping my hands right now, Dede, and I know you're laughing!).

Look at this lovely hand-painted box that a friend of Christine's gave her....beautiful pale and soft colors of tole-painted roses all over, and a base of soft aqua...

Almost better than the roses...all this delicious silk ribbon!

Here is Joann Bradley working on taping up her first reliquary. This was Joann's first class with us and we loved having her there...
A rapt and attentive group of students listens to Christine...

Christine pulling wonderful things out of her magic ribbon box...

...and some of the class soldering outside in the courtyard. We're so lucky to have such a lovely place to work. Even though sometimes cold and rainy that day, we were snug under the tiled roof outside the door...

The fruits of labor...a reliquary in progress, laden with images, tiny snippets of flowers, rhinestones, feathers and findings.

Move over, Ringle!

There's a new girl in town, and your mom dressed her! Ringle's mom, Ada, brought over this adorable rain coat for 'Tini (also known as Weenah), and she proudly wore it on her morning ablutions the other day in the rain. I think she knows how cute she is in this...check her out!

Junkin'...

A beautiful morning last week, and Dede and I headed out to the flea market, with a contingent of Studio gals coming to join us there. Here is our Dede, at the ATM around the corner from the market, listening for the magic "flitter" of the bills landing in the cash tray...does she look ready, or what!

Look who we ran into! It's Erika, so in addition to all the girls who joined us there (Ada, Maria, Donna, Nery, Cathy and more...) we were treated to seeing Erika and Susie Overland, who were out poking around. We also stopped and chatted with Lynn from French at Heart, who was selling there that day...

Look at this little bit of loveliness...some of my favorite things: old silver, rhinestones, shades of beige and ecru, and of course, sea shells and shakers...

Also from the same booth, this fetching display of baby heads under glass....


And, at the end of the day, our little cart, filled with wonderful tidbits. Boxes, which I love, antique collar studs, hats, millinery trims and more. The first time I had been out poking in quite a while, and a perfect venue for it. A wonderful days with friends, sun, the as-promised-breakfast-burrito, and a breeze in the trees...

Links of Love - Part Deux!

Links of Love Deux
Friday, February 20th 5:30 – 8:30pm
Skill Level – All
Price $65 Includes Class Kit and Supplies

Links of Love make their appearance once again in this divine necklace. Who can resist the wee bit of pink we all fell in love with the first time, a flash of crystal and a splash of vintage that all come together to create the “Links of Love” necklace; a piece of jewelry that echoes the beauty of the past.


Join Somerset Artist and Writer Kristen Robinson in creating this delightful necklace. Sterling silver charms with words full of love intertwine with pearls, vintage charms, rosary chain, silver chain and the centerpiece - a felted heart. The class is process based with bounds of inspiration to take with you into other projects. We will cover basic composition, jump rings, wire wrapping and the principles of needle felting. Please feel free to bring additional trinkets or charms you may wish to attach to your necklace.

To reserve your space call Gilding the Lily at (714) 680-8893
Please Bring With you
• Needle Nose Pliers (for jewelry)
• Wire Cutters

Included in your Class Kit
• Silver Chain
• Sterling Silver Charms
• Crystal Rondelles
• Sterling Silver Wire
• Handcrafted Felted Heart Charm
• Vintage Charms
• Swarovski Crystals
• Jump Rings
• Inspiration and Delight

Upcoming classes...

It's Paris in the springtime at Lily! As promised, we are making a "Paris" bracelet available as a class and kit, and will be setting the date for that class this week. "Amour" bracelets are also back in stock, and we are also offering the words "Bisou" (kiss) and "Bijou" (jewel) at this time. The lovely little French scrolled letters we will use to spell "Paris" are exclusive to Gilding the Lily, and we will try to add more options over time. Amour and Bisou bracelets will feature a sweetheart fob, the Bijou bracelet will have a jeweled dangle, and the Paris bracelet has a fleur de lis fob as shown below.

Also coming up, "Heavy Metal Heirloom," a Victorian- styled festoon necklace with mixed chains, a filigree and button focal, and a spot for you to place a treasured object from your own collection....

And last but not least, "Marie dans le Jardin," a mixed media necklace with wire wrapped crystals and vintage baroque pearls contrasting vintage chain, and culminating in a fob fashioned from vintage ribbon, old brass findings, a portrait of Marie Antoinette under glaze in a prong-set bezel, and a beautiful free form pearl and fleur de lis drop...

This project will have us wire wrapping, cold connecting, doing a little bit of sewing, metal aging and collage, but most of all, having lots of fun creating!

Look for scheduling on these classes in the coming weeks. (For those of you out of the area, limited kits will be available based on availability of components.)

Class Action...

Just a sample of the little lovelies that started to grace the table at Robin's class on Saturday. This one was taking shape under the hands of Sharon Boyer, and being readied for soldering...

The budding solder artiste at work wrapping a round, domed bezel...

Jackie McTeer applying solder to her piece outside at the soldering station...

Jackie and her daughter Margie at work side by side at the table...

Sharon, gun in hand, under the watchful eye of teacher Robin Dudley Howes. Another great class with Robin, whose easygoing manner and skilful, patient teaching is sending more and more women out there armed with a soldering gun and ready to create! We have more dates lined up for Robin and are confirming class attendees right now, so look for openings on the class blog coming up!