Mid Century Jewelry Designer – Kay Denning

I love love LOVE enamel on copper jewelry. I started off as a fan of Matisse jewelry (which I have seen
Joan wear on Mad Men many times), but then found the work of Kay Denning. Don’t get me wrong I
still own and admire Matisse, but it has definitely been pushed into the background when it comes to
searching and acquiring. Here are some pieces in my currently collection:

 

Aren’t they pretty! These are my favorite pieces.

 The yellow bracelet was one of my first pieces :) 

Bracelets, bracelets, and more bracelets

Yes she did make necklaces too!

How to spot a Denning? Well I find it quite easy, since her work is very distinctive. But a few things to
look for are, first the style. 95% of the pieces I have seen feature a designed made by large “cookies” or
globs of colored glass with a contrasting color background.

  See the raised "cookies"

Also there is of course her signature (which is usually in green on a white background)…obvious I know lol. But I have seen her work mislabeled all the time, and I’m constantly surprised by how many different words people read.  Generally most of the large items like bracelets and necklaces are marked, but rarely (if ever) are earrings and pins.

I have scoured the web and found very little information on the artist other than it seems she made
jewelry during the 60s for Bovano of Chester, CT.  There is one particular color combination that seems like it was quite popular, due to how often I see them.  That combo is the classic red, white, and blue (I wear mine every 4th of July)

 On occasion I have seen pieces that are not the "cookie" style, but rather look almost stenciled.  These are more rare it seems but they do come up on ebay every so often. 

I'm sure I will be collecting Denning for years to come, but I tend to buy it sporadically now.  Prices have sky rocketed, or at least sellers perceptions have warped.  If you do a search on Denning right now on ebay you will see bracelets in the price range up to 250 which just seems crazy to me.  I can understand wanting to get as much as you can for your item, but a lot of them have been "sitting" online for months.  Some of them are worth more than others (at least to me) but a lot of it is just overpriced.  But...if you love it as much as I do keep searching, there are some great pieces at reasonable prices...that is if I don't buy them first LOL. 

Becca

PS.  Check out my Collection here on the blog!

Project Interruptus...

So I didn't intentionally start to post about my dog, but he was so super cute when I started taking photos for a sewing post today.  My sewing project, which I'm moving off the back burner, is for these awesome mid century chair by Selig Monroe I found at a local thrift store.  The upholstery on them is in great condition except for the arms and the ottoman.  My goal is to make form fitting arm covers with a matching slip cover for the ottoman.  But! as I started to take photos of them, my dog would jump into the chair.  I would move to the other one and he would follow.  He actually looks like he is posing! 

The start

Umm..Thanks Max.  Camera Hog. 

Crazy Dog.

Okay one last photo...

Izzy and Max at the living room window.  I snapped it just before I started loading the pictures.  These crackheads and my chairs (shakes head)....although I have to say a pink chair makes grey dogs look extra cute!

Restless Night....leds to Ebay goodness...

Ugh!  I can't sleep tonight no made how hard I try.  Boredom has led to this SUPER great selection of Ebay goodness.  I love ogling all the vintage items and usually they fall into one of the two categories, things that don't fit into my current aesthetic or things I can't afford (mainly the last one).  So scroll through and enjoy!

Mid Century Drink Day!

Yeah!!  Today is definitely a day to celebrate my weekly holiday, Mid Century drink day.  It was one of those long and endless days that seems somewhat brighter now with the thought of a nice refreshing drink.  But alas, I didn't have time to do the normal bar-aid prep, so the drink will be a house favorite.  The Dark and Stormy. 

The Dark and Stormy is delicious and SUPER easy to make.  Here is the recipe!

1 jigger Goslings dark rum
1 bottle of ginger beer
1 lime.

See with three ingredients, how hard can it be.  I'm rather particular...well about most things LOL...but in this instance the brand of ginger beer.  For now I am using Archer brand from Target which is not bad, but stay away from the Goya "Jamaican Style" Ginger beer that you can find at Wal-mart.  Serious Yak!  My favorite is Saranac brand which I can only seem to find at Total Wine but sadly we are out. :(  I quickly gathered everything together.  My dining room table is a little filled with resell junk at the moment so we will move this to the living room desk.

 See my new (to me) mini bullet planter....kinda awesome right!?   I'm rather excited too because I get to use my new (to me again) monkey bottler opener.  (I love it now but at first I was like...I don't know...looks a little serial killer bondage barbie doll head to me...don't worry it grows on you)  I digress....back to the drink...

First fill you glass all the way up with ice.  Check!

Next measure and pour one jigger of Gosling's dark rum.  Check!

Open and top glass off with ginger beer.  Check!

Add a quarter of lime...squeeze and drop.  Check and check!  (I have an unnatural love of lime, I like double/triple)

Tah-dah!  Here is your drink ready to serve.  On a side note....don't worry I'm not two fisting it...the day wasn't THAT bad...the other is for Mr. Honey.

If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!

Ciao for now!

Becca

The Wonderful World of Ebay!

Here are few things that are....well....awesome!  So enjoy the eye candy.

Great Thrifting Week!

You know when you have one of those weekends where you feel like you buy SO much stuff....because everywhere you turn there is a great deal.  Well...that was the week/weekend.

First was this cute Blue Ridge set with a wonderful dogwood pattern...oh yeah...1.75  Thank you Goodwill!

 Great vintage patterned rap skirt...I thought it was an apron...but I think I just need to lose weight. Haha!

Nice Pyrex piece...I think this is a promotional pattern.  I have never seen a handle like this. Has anyone else??

Several pieces of Belleek Irish porcelain for a buck a piece.  Yeah baby!

Pyrex Fridgies!  I love them!

The items just called out to me...I had to do some serious organization when I got home.  How was your week?

Bar Aid - #15 Betsy Ross

So I pulled a number out of my new jar which matches my bar glasses. Yeah! (I'm a matchy kinda person). Drum roll please.....#15 Betsy Ross...ok ok I know the post title gave it away.

I was talking to my friend about this drink and I called it a Betty Ross..Ha!

"Don't you mean Betsy Ross?" - L

"Umm...no.  Betty is Betsy's lush sister" - Me

Yeah I don't think she believed me on that one.

Anyways back to drink...

 RECIPE:  1 jigger Brandy, 1 jigger Port, 2 dashes Angostura Bitters, 1 dash Curacao.  Stir well with ice and strain into large Cocktail glass.

I made a trip to the local liquor store for Port and Curacao (I'm going to have a fully stocked bar in a few weeks!)  Before I went I did a little online research, and found this drink recipe on a couple sites.  Some used Triple Sec instead of Curacao, so if you have that on hand you should be good.

Also,  If you don't have a jigger (or know what it is), it basically means 2oz.

A jigger

In case you aren't familiar with Angostura Bitters, they should be in the mixes section and they look like this:

I measured and poured, then stirred before straining and serving in a roly poly glass.

VERDICT:  Good!  A little strong but that must be the brandy.  Tastes rather like fortified Sangria.  I could feel the warmth after just one drink!  If this is too strong for you I would suggest adding some Tonic or even  Sprite (I'm sure some brandy drinks are fainting right now)

If anyone decided to try it....tell me what you think.