Restoring a Family Heirloom

When a friend and long-time jewelry client approached me with a broken family heirloom — a beautiful antique signet ring — I'll admit I was intimidated at first, and for many reasons:

1. The piece had sentimental value.
2. It looked delicate and frail.
3. It was broken in not one, but two places.
4. It was GOLD. As a rule, I never work with gold. Gold intimidates me and it's so costly.

But for some reason, I said yes to the project. Perhaps because she is a friend. Perhaps because I looked at it as a new challenge and a way to break out of my comfort zone. And perhaps also because she told me she would not be devastated if something horrible happened to the ring (i.e., if I accidentally melted it).

This is because the ring's history within her family is a bit fuzzy – the signet ring may have belonged to a great uncle or possibly an aunt. The S seal doesn't match up with any of the family member's last names, therefore its previous owner is unclear. Strangely enough, S is my friend's first name and married name initial so it has now found its rightful owner as far as I'm concerned.

The ring was found in a jewelry box long after anyone familiar with its origins was alive to tell its story. Hopefully now, after some solid restoration work at my soldering bench, it will live on to tell a new story to future generations.

Modern Millie - Newburyport, MA

There's something you need to know about me:  I do not consider myself to be a fashionista. I'll admit it. I'm usually a little behind when it comes to adopting new trends in fashion. A follower rather than a leader. So you can imagine my surprise when I walked past the Newburyport Modern Millie consignment shop a few weeks ago and saw MY DRESSES (yes, more than one) in the store window.

There they were. Two of my dresses, dropped off just days before, on display for the world to see! And presumably to entice the world to enter this fabulous secondhand clothing store and make a purchase. Now, to better understand my surprise, you should know that Modern Millie has the most adorable, alluring, fashionable store windows in town. Perhaps on the entire seacoast. They took my dresses, now tired and drab from spending years in the deep dark recesses of my closet, and accessorized them in ways I never would have thought of! They made them cute again.

And two days later, they were both gone. Either moved to the store's interior to make way for newer items, or perhaps sold for big bucks that will translate into great new fall wardrobe for me! Either way, I had a glimpse of glory and the fleeting thought that maybe I am more chic than I know. Just maybe.

Visit my favorite store in Newburyport at 41 Pleasant Street if you're ever in town! They've got a fun blog too.