(Click on the images to see the pins better.)
Mom was 40 years old when I was born. She was born in 1916. You can do the math.
She was of the generation of women who wore matching shoes and purses, and hats too, until the late ‘60s. Because she was a preacher’s wife, she dressed up every Sunday.
Fine jewels weren’t affordable or appropriate.
Costume jewelry was just right. Some of these pins belonged to my mom. Some I bought. Some were given to me.
This one was given to me by my sister Ginnie when she came back from Peru. I might have been 11 or 12 at the time.
Mom used to say:
“You get hungry for what you feed yourself.”
“Don’t let intellectualism take the place of God.”
“I always knew I had to marry a preacher and a redhead.”
“I try to be funny, but no one ever thinks I am.”
That last quote is a jewel I share with my mom, along with these pins.
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ReplyDeleteHey Ruth,
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my ABC Wednesday with the theme 'Me named J' as a girl ( my youth), yes I was serious looking but of course 'normal' for a girl in a puberty age, I love the jewelry of your mom of course for ladies like her, good idea from wht she liked to wear...(You have the same mom as G. right?) I almost forgot that you 2 are sisters and so you mom passed aways than too, I'm so sorry and my condoleances for her passing away, But maybe its the best for her,she was very old , I hope you are not feeling too sad about it? If so... Don't worrie it takes time to heal...
All the best wishes from JoAnn
Thanks, JoAnn. Oh, yes, Ginnie is my sister, and thank you so much for the condolences. But it was not our mother who died recently, that was Ginnie's partner's mom, so very sad. Ginnie's and my mom died back in 1997.
ReplyDeleteThose are just lovely. That 4th one down looks very much like one my mother had.
ReplyDeleteOh - I'd kill for a collection like this! They're fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI love costume jewelery - it's always such fun.
The wooden bird is gorgeous!
I have some of my late Nana's pieces - my favourite is the silver filigree bracelet my Grandfather brought back from Egypt when he was there during the war, for my Nan.
My mom had tons of jewelry just like these, when she passed on my wife got a few pieces to remember her by. Love your moms last quote :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection - and what memories associated with them. :-) I like your mother's quotes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and letting me know it. :-D
A.
Thanks, Drowsey. Funny, but that one I bought myself!
ReplyDeleteLetitia, I love that bird too. For the life of me, I can't remember if it was my mom's or if my grandma gave it to me after a trip. I always get compliments when I wear it. Do you wear the Egyptian bracelet, I hope?
ReplyDeleteBob, I'm curious if your wife ever wears those pieces? My poor mom just couldn't get a break about humor.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your visit, Boubou.
ReplyDeleteThis post brings back some memory when my mom died 4 years ago, my mom did not have much jewelry, I don't wear any, sometimes not even a watch, but I asked my brother to just have one piece, it is a silver hanger, a parrot, maybe 2 inches big, when I was a kid she always would wear it, I will never wear it, but I love it and cannot even explain why.
ReplyDeleteYour mom did have an elegant taste for her jewelry and I love some of her sayings, my mom would say, never lie, for it will come out anyhow and haunt you.....
"I try to be funny, but no one ever thinks I am" this is a jewel of a saying, for me it is sometimes the oppesite of it.
Thanks for sharing this part of your life.
This brings back such memories for me. My mother was also a pastor's wife. I had many pins like this as a child, some from her and some from my grandmothers. We used to wear hats and gloves to church too. Mostly I am glad to not have to fuss with that anymore, but it does leave me with sentimental recollections...
ReplyDeleteLovely pins!
Astrid, so you're saying this is true of you (?): I try to be serious, and people think I'm funny.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could put your mom's parrot in a frame somewhere?
Thank you for your visit and liking my mom's jewelry.
Thanks, Cloudscome. I remember one Easter outfit with a sweet coat, purse and hat. I like hats, too bad we don't wear them much now.
ReplyDeleteThank you for a window within your self
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nasra.
ReplyDeleteIts your effort to preserve these gorgeous pieces of jewelry Ruth.
ReplyDeleteLong time ago i read an english translation of a French book, forgot the author, forgot the title. The man in the book commissions an artist to make a portrait of his dead wife and requests him to add a diamond brooch ?? is that the right word Ruth ?
After a few days of completion of the painting, the man returns to the artist asking him to remove the brooch from the painting as he felt guilty that he never bought the brooch his wife wanted.
rauf, yes brooch is the right word.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a story. One man driven by vanity, selfishness and greed. Another by integrity. I don't know the story, please tell me if you think of it.
Great photos! And love the quotes..
ReplyDeletesandy
Thank you, Sandy!
ReplyDeleteIt's so funny, Ruth, but I have no memory whatsoever of giving you that pin from Peru! The things we forget! Nor do I remember most of those pins from Mom. Where was I?? I did have to pull up IE to see this properly. I hate that Firefox doesn't coordinate as you planned. UGH
ReplyDeleteHa! I wondered if that would be the case about the pin, Boots. :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about Firefox.
what beautiful pins! i don't even think i've seen most of these. so nice that you have something to remember her by. especially the first photo, that is my favorite.
ReplyDeletei love it when you're funny and we have our little laughing spurts. let's have one tomorrow, k? i need to call you.
loves.
Teehee! Now you've got me smiling and feeling that I AM funny sometimes. Oh I would love to giggle with you tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMy friend, Hilary, has the largest collection of antique jewelry I have ever seen. She would go ga ga goo goo over these broaches. I'm going to document her collection some time on my blog...
ReplyDeleteHehe, Rachel, go ga ga goo goo. Isn't English fun? I hope you will document Hilary's collection.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming up for air! Hope to see more of you soon, when you're ready.