10 on the 10th!

This is my first '10 on the 10th' ! The lovely Shimelle has some fab ideas but I never seem to actually get my act together before the deadline lol. I decided to unearth my great great Aunts jewellery box that came to me when my Grandad had to downsize many years ago & he knew as I was the family historian that I would take care of it. Its nothing special ..... well it is to me!
Marion was born in the late 1800s in Manchester. She spent her career as a very much loved girls school headmistress. Sadly her fiance was killed in WW1 as was her brother Norman and she apparently spent many years in a fruitless search for their graves. In her later life she was unfortunately  the victim of burglary & lost many precious things. But this little box managed to remain in her possession until her death in 1972!

GreatGreat Aunt Marions box - battered but well loved!

When opened the box reveals its hidden treasure.
 I have chosen 10 items to show in more detail

Marion was a great traveller & was lucky to go to many exotic places.
This bracelet shows the major towns of Switzerland with the scenes painted onto enamel

Marions beloved brother Norman who was awarded the Military Medal
 for bravery under enemy fire. He died at Ypres in 1917 aged 23.
This mourning necklace also has a picture on the reverse side of her father

This is a handmade beaded choker sadly now falling apart

One of the brooches in the box. I think this is marcasite? It catches the light beautifully

This piece & another similar one confused me at first but I think I've worked out that
these clip on either side of a collar on a blouse or cloak. Purely for decoration.

This is a mourning brooch made of the famous Whitby Jet.
It has been broken over the years but if i have enough money one day I hope to restore it.
This also held the same photos as the necklace above/

The coral necklace & earrings.
I wore this necklace often but it had tightened over the years so we had it restrung
& its much better. Theres no way I could wear the screw on earrings though!

The joker in the pack?
This necklace is made if golden cotton(?) crochet work & golden beads
but seems to have a 1960s feel to it!

Another mourning brooch - poor Marion :(
I've shown the other side of the necklace with the photo of her father
(my great x3 Grandfather) James Wilson b1853

Last but not least is little chap. My favourite I think. I dont know what he is made of or why she had him
in there but he adds a certain whimsy to the collection don't you think?

So thats my 10 on the 10th for August! Do you have a favourite?
Thanks for reading xx

Look what I made!!

WARNING the following photos are complete rubbish. Sorry. lol.

I have had this project in mind for ages & ages ..... and it finally came to fruition! I am lucky to be able to snaffle a few bits & pieces at work that would be thrown away after use ie promotional or seasonal material. I cannot bear waste. Therefore I have a stash of boxes, calendars, wrapping paper, gift bags etc in my craftroom waiting to be re-used/repurposed. Earlier this year I "rescued" the Tatty Ted hearts mobile that was hanging over the Carte Blanche valentine stock as I wanted to try & make a mobile for my 4yr old greatnieces new 'princess' bedroom at her new home.
After much swearing & gnashing of teeth today I finally got to finishing the mobile & Im really pleased with it :))

The large heart is the original valentine one that I covered with some pretty pink flowery paper and the smaller ones I have used the hearts I cut-out of the same Juicy Lucy calendar that was used for the Thankyou Teacher gifts a couple of weeks ago!

Sorry about the dreary photos but I was getting the pics done in a rush :(
I think Ella is going to absolutely love this in her Very Pink Bedroom. I hope so anyway!!

Thanks for looking xx

And the winner is .........

...... Jo Sowerby!! You are going to be in reciept of this fabulous book just as soon as you let me know your postal address :) Send me an email at hethpet@gmail.com.

Congratulations Jo & commiserations to all the others who entered the draw (my 8 year old did the draw for me!) 
xx

ETA visit Jo's blog curlyscrapbooker!! Sorry I didn't make it clear which Jo I meant lol ;-/