Victorian Gifts

Contributor post by Mairi of mairidesign

The Victorian era was a time of hard work and building for the future but, also, a time of opulence and heightened interest in the arts. Refined sensibilities, romanticism and mysticism influenced our fashions and home decorations to create an expression of the time. With this inspiration, our team have gathered their Victorian style items to celebrate such an innovative period of our history.

Judy Merashoff from JAMsCraftCloset says:

When I think of Victorian, I think of doves, hearts (love), soft colors, intricate patterns, has a romantic feel, and is classy. This heart wreath was made and painted by me forty plus years ago from a kit. I’m not sure how ‘classy’ it is, but it does bring out the feeling of love and romance. It would be beautiful on a door or wall.

Wreath Wall or Door Vintage

Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:

I love this Victorian cameo ring with Marcasite sparkle accents very unusual composition mother of pearl Abalone iridescence within a decorative 14k gold twisted rope edge.

Victorian Cameo Ring

YOKO from yokojewelry says: 

Antique Victorian taste earrings with lapis lazuli. Beautiful lapis lazuli stones are set like a picture on a gold picture frame.

Lapis lazuli cabochon earrings

Elisabeth Perez from LizPOriginals says: 

I love keys and I think this key fan pull could fit this era. Boudoir comes to mind and hot summer days in English posts in India.

Ceiling Fan pull

willowvalleyvintage from WillowValleyVintage says:

I was drawn to the triangular stones on this beautiful Victorian brooch. Another Shop owner, who specializes in jewelry, shared her knowledge and proof read my description. She told me it is Czech Glass and was able to determine the age of the piece by the style of the clasp.

The Lily of Valley Tea Cup and Saucer belonged to my husband’s grandmother. The colors of the set complimented the brooch.

Victorian Czech Brooch

Rita Szöllősi from RitzySelection says:

In 1846 John Livesey made a curtain machine based on Heathcoat. The XIX. In the second half of the century, Victorian UK products are highly popular. The bobinet curtain is an upgraded version of lace upholstery that provides a more diverse base structure and greater patterning options. My lace cushion is made with this technique!

Victorian Lace Pillow

Nature Gifts

Contributor post by Julie from EveryoneLovesGifts0

Spring is nearly upon us followed by the lovely summer months. I love this time of year with the sun shining on our faces, it makes us all happy. But it is also a time to take notice of nature around us, nature can be of trees, flowers or nature animals themselves.

Here at CIJ we want to know what gifts you have that reflect the theme ‘nature’ and tell us a little about your gift.

Dawn Whitehand from DeeDeeDeesigns says: This necklace is made from clay, which is from the Earth, and features two pendants in the shape of leaves. The leaves were smoke fired in a bonfire using tree branches, leaves and various other natural materials, such as pine cones.

So this necklace certainly is of and from nature!

Clay Necklace

Stock Lane Studio from StockLaneStudio says: No matter how old I am, I’ll always love collecting rocks. The image for this zipper pouch was taken on a rock hunt on the coast of Maine. Perfect vessel for our skipping rocks.

Zippered pouch

Candy Rauber from WickedlyCreative says: This little hand embroidered ornament represents the nature of Spring in a fun colorful way. Flowers blooming and a bird (which I imagine chirping) brings thoughts of warmer weather.

Hand Embroidered Ornament

willowvalleyvintage from WillowValleyVintage says: The spring time illustration is by Gertrud Mierendorff is pretty enough to frame!

German postcard featuring a tabby cat in a field of flowers

Diana from JolieFemmeByDiana says: Forest Fun is the theme of this little tote with a plush squirrel and covered with mushrooms. Spring is a good time to get out and hike in nature and look at animals and plants in wild places.

Plush squirrel covered with mushrooms

Flower Power Showers from FlowerPowerShowers says: I make outdoor showers that look like flowers and other metal flower yard stakes.

Outdoor Showers

Richard and Tatiana from DesignstheLimit says: We are enjoying the first signs of spring and have a number of flowers blooming in the yard. Our magnolia has just bloomed and we picked all of the flowers in our newest bridal listings. Time to start gardening and the best way to relax after a hot day in the yard is with a cold ice tea!

Sand-Carved Decanter

The perfect Mother’s Day gift, we sand-carve our decanters and this decanter is perfect for ice tea, sangria, or any beverage you wish to serve in style! Choose from our designs and available font selection and have your order gift wrapped for shipping direct to your recipient @DesignstheLimit

Debbie Haward from HollyBeeandCompany says: We make Wooden home decor. One of our favorite items is our Mountain pieces. We use an all natural homemade earth pigment stain. We also make these as custom order by size and design.

Wooden Mountain Decor

Heatherleanne from MississippiMayhem says: Here at Mississippi Mayhem, I started creating floral anatomy embroideries. The most recent one I’ve completed is a lung piece.

Floral Anatomy Embroideries

Nancy Duncan from EponasCrystals says: I’m ready for warmer weather with flowers and butterflies! These butterfly earrings are made of turquoise magnesite with colorful bead accents.

Butterfly Earrings

Stacy from LilacHouseFlorals says, Celebrate the beauty of spring with an elegant hydrangea wreath for your front door!

Elegant Door Wreath

Carola Bartz from CarolaBartz says, For me, the ocean is one of the big forces of nature. I am lucky to live close by the Pacific Ocean and whenever I spend time at the coast I am captivated by its stunning beauty. A walk on the beach shows me all the treasures nature has to offer right here: driftwood, shells, sand dollars, algae, small crabs.

This mixed media painting was inspired by the interestingly shaped piece of driftwood I found at one of our beaches. Everything else evolved around it. I added some shells and a sea star as well. The quote by Kate Chopin was the final touch and fits perfectly.

Painting of Driftwood

Corkycrafts from Corkycrafts says, Spring is time for trees to bloom new leaves and flowers.
It’s also a time for enjoying sunshine and warmer temps.
A time for planting flowers. Texas is known for wildflowers along the highways. We also offer them as wedding favors too.

Beautiful Flowers

Dawn Whitehand from DeeDeeSupplies says: Spring and Summer sees the emergence of Ladybirds, and these Ladybird charms are perfect for creating spring jewellery, keychains or a wide variety of crafts!

Ladybird Charms

Holistichem from Holistichem says: Our bracelet features a natural Lava Stone charm. Lava Stone is formed from magma erupted from a volcano, so you can have a little bit of nature hanging from your wrist!

Natural Lava Stone Charm Bracelet

Linda from LazyYVintage says: The life of a farmer is about nature. And, this cute Precious Moments plate is called, “I Believe in Miracles.” The miracle of life and nature are one in the same. As we continue through our lives and adventures remember to take the time to enjoy nature and all its wonders.

Precious Moments plate; “I Believe in Miracles”

Christine from cwagenblass9 says; Things in nature have always been an inspiration to me like the patterns and colors of flowers and butterflies.

Flowers and Butterflies

Sherri from ButterflyFeetDigital says; As a gift, one could print up a few of these ladybugs and flowers mini-notecards and tie them up with a ribbon. What says nature more than bugs and flowers?

Ladybugs, Flowers Mini Notecards

Kristen from KestrelCollection says; Great as a gift or for yourself this red and pink floral motif necklace is a way to wear a little spring time nature. I love to see my floral jewelry worn by the fairies at the city renissance festival.

Motif Necklace

Karen Hafel from timetalentjewels says; What more fun in the springtime than to go fishing down by the lake? I had the privilege when I was growing up to have my very own lake so boy oh boy the stories I can tell of the fish I caught!

Spring time bracelet

Barbara from MermaidsHatBox says; I love the spring, when in my garden the flowers begin to sprout.
My garden is a little bit chaotic. I have hardly a plan and plant where I find place. So it is often a surprise in the spring, where some plants sprout from the soil.
The purse from pure new wool is hand-knitted and felted, then embroidered and decorated with beads. The bag will be closed by a button which colour suits the embroidery.

Embroidered purse