It's Federico Time!

This week I switched gears, placing my focus on pricing as much vintage costume jewelry as possible. Because we do not have any estate sales scheduled next week due to the July 4 holiday on Saturday, I asked Nicole from ShadowSells if she would like to try a costume jewelry show from the office. I said it would be an easy show to do because she can stay seated in one place and not have to hold the phone up and walk around an estate home. She was all for it! I am going to start with the budget-friendly pieces, just about everything has a tag price of $24 or less. I went through almost all of the boxes in my immediate workspace and pulled the budget-friendly. I set some pieces aside for my own pop-up sales (higher-end and curated pieces) and some for Melinda to take to her friend Robin’s local estate sales once she starts back up again. It was hard work but I was able to fill two large flat rate boxes with everything that I had time to price, plus additional items I had on hand from Robin’s estate sale I attended with jewelry earlier this year. I also tackled a box of costume jewelry, mostly from India which I have had since February of last year. I continue to give myself grace when I look at the dates on the packages. I purchased this box just a month after we lost Mother. These pieces, plus all the best budget-friendly items I had already sent to the office will make for a great show! The show will be Wednesday July 1 starting at 10:00 AM Central Time. We will be on as long as we are selling! Click on the image above to access the show directly and be sure to bookmark it to receive a reminder when it starts.

I will have Mike organize everything for Nicole so things are as easy as possible for her. I will be on hand watching the show to answer any questions that come up. Kuochun will have a follow-up appointment for his second cataract surgery that day but I will be able to watch the show without sound. Here’s hoping it’s a success, my goal is to sell off all the budget-friendly costume jewelry and focus on other things. I still have more to price, enough for another show!

Because I did not post as many pieces online last week, I only sold one item this week which is this beautiful pair of concho earrings with Sonoran Gold turquoise. This is the second pair of these earrings that I have sold recently. I still have one more posted online with beautiful blue Kingman turquoise.

When I was searching for costume jewelry in my work area, it also gave me the opportunity to organize my Tucson Gem Show finds from the past four years. So many great pieces at “old silver” prices! I am going to alternate weeks when I post new items as I would like to get all the Tucson items posted before I go again next January. As long as I keep consistent I know I can do it! On the alternating weeks I will post vintage Native American jewelry.

This week I started with posting three random items which were on my desk. The Boyz Silver pieces, including this gorgeous cuff bracelet are so well-made and whimsical! They are actually “old silver” prices since I purchased them several years ago, I do not mark up because the price of silver is much higher now. I still have a shoe box full to post!

I had my local repair shop verify that the stone in this belt buckle is not genuine turquoise and I am assuming the antler setting is faux as well. It is still a great, unique piece. Unfortunately the stone has a couple of very faint hairline cracks. The stone is completely secure in the setting and in my opinion would not be noticeable when worn. 

The third piece is this amazing pair of statement earrings by Federico Jimenez. The combination of the purple spiny oyster shell and onyx is so striking! Purple spiny oyster is harvested in the deepest waters and is the scarcest color to find.

On Sunday I started my lot of 2026 Federico pieces. I did not purchase as much this year as I have not had time to tackle last year’s purchases yet. I thought I would feel a sense of accomplishment if I completed the smaller lot first. I did write up descriptions for many of the pieces I purchased in 2025 so those postings will go a lot faster. All I need to do is shoot the photos! On Sunday, I posted the four wonderful pairs of statement earrings shown in the main photo. The pair at the upper left are clip-ons and the rest are pierced. I will probably just power through the rest of the 2026 pieces next week so the lot is completed and turn to vintage the week after that. There are wonderful pieces in abalone and mother of pearl coming up which are newer designs for Federico. They are perfect to wear this time of year and if you have a tan, even better!

We are getting through all our family appointments in anticipation of heading up to Prescott. We have not been there in a month! Next week Kuochun will have his second cataract surgery and follow up appointments after that, lasting through July 8. The girls had their annual checkup on Thursday and will go for grooming next Friday. Kuochun was opposed to it but I want to have the girls on a grooming schedule. Vivi won’t let us brush her and Margot does not love it so I do not want them to go so long that they are a matted mess and it is more of an ordeal to get them looking good. After grooming, I am going to get some photos of them with jewelry on for the website!

After next week, my physical therapist is going to try having me visit once a week instead of two. I will do homework on the other days. I am scheduled through the month of July. This means I will need to go back and forth from Prescott but now that I have the van I should be able to get the remaining items for the garage sale up from Scottsdale by then. I am actually glad that I have all the extra tables that were in the van now! I can always sell what I don’t need after the garage sale. I am going to be delayed a week from going to Prescott because I have three appointments - Monday haircut, Wednesday medi pedi and Thursday physical therapy. After that I will be good to go! I am going to encourage Kuochun to go up there without me, he probably will not want to but I think at least he and the girls could get out of the heat.

That is all the news for now. Be sure to check out our Whatnot vintage costume jewelry show by ShadowSells Wednesday July 1 at 10:00 AM Central Time! More photos and information are posted on the Our Next Event page on CestLaBries.