Les Mis

  

Are you counting down the days until we will see the film version my favorite musical Les Miserables? I certainly am. I have had a long affection for the remarkable musical production of Victor Hugo's book. The twenty-fifth anniversary has come and gone for the October 9, 1985 date when
Les Miserables was first performed in England's West End. I bought the double cassette tape probably around the time Le Mis crossed the pond to Broadway. I remember watching the Tony Awards that same year and seeing the famous choreographed march with flag flying and child character on the shoulders of a fellow patriot. There are stage pictures that stay with you forever and that one will always be iconic for many Les Mis fans. Not just the visual representation of France, 1790 is unforgettable but the music is equally embedded in my heart. It was a tradition for my first grader son and I to play the music on our way to school each morning. Kyle loved Master of the House. Kyle enjoyed the lyrics because he was allowed to sing a few choice words that if he had spoken would have gotten him in serious trouble. Even at age six he was already feeling peer pressure and would make sure that he turned off the car cd player just seconds before opening the car door in front of his elementary school where he would hop out of our car with the score ringing in his ears. Was he just protecting his image at the ripe old age of 6, in that his fellow first graders might not approve of his taste in music? Fast forward to middle school when Kyle achieved a reasonable amount of maturity and he and I took a Mother/Son trip to New York City. We made our show selections and seeing
Les Miserables was on the top of our list. I will never forget that experience. It was just the highlight of the trip to share that experience with my son. I remember we were packed into very uncomfortable seats with little or no legroom.  Kyle had already grown to 6 feet tall. His knees were literally under his chin as we watched and listened. We were totally captivated by the production. Several years later the show played in Houston and once again my son escorted me to the show. This time we experienced the performance with President and Barbara Bush sitting just a few rows in front of our seats. This was an added thrill. This Christmas season we will once again have the pleasure of seeing Les Mis on the big screen. Others of our family may not enjoy the show like Kyle and I will but then again it was always "our favorite". All of this history inspired me to create beautiful jewelry naming the pieces for the characters from Les Miserables. I hope you enjoy looking at them and reading about the characters that inspired my designs. All of these beautiful pieces can be found in my Etsy Store, historicallyhaute@etsy.com.

                                     The Les Miserables Collection

The Bishop Digne Necklace

This is my one year anniversary with Etsy and to celebrate I have dedicated my Christmas jewelry pieces to the classic novel, musical and soon to be released movie, Les Miserables. Victor Hugo's book adapted for the stage and now the screen will open December 25. The setting is France 1780 at the beginning of the French Revolution. This necklace I named for the first character introduced in the story, The Bishop Digne. I gathered each and every element used in this necklace from exquisite antique and vintage jewelry findings. I used sterling silver wire, a religious relic crucifix locket, a vintage rhinestone button, a salvaged broken diamonte bracelet, French rosary chain beads, rosary connectors, vintage red glass beads, and natural cultured pearls. The necklace measures 22" and can be adjusted as per buyers request. This one of a kind necklace will come gift wrapped at no charge. 

                                                     Cossette's Necklace

Cossette, the adopted daughter of Jean Valjean is the inspiration of this feminine and delicate necklace. The next of my Les Miserables inspired jewelry features a vintage Goofus Glass Brooch with a rose motif. It's so sweet and is in very good condition. Goofus Glass Brooches date from 1890 to 1930. I used broken champagne colored rosary bead and chain to suspend the focal. Chunky pink quartz beads and a sterling silver hand forged S hook complete this lovely necklace. The necklace is 20 inches in length but I will gladly adjust the length as per costumer request. My jewelry will come gift wrapped at no extra charge.

                                                      Madame Thenardies Earrings

I chose these beautiful old clip earrings for their gorgeous French painted portrait art because they represent one of my favorite fashion periods. My all time favorite musical, Les Miserables is in the news as we patiently await its release this Christmas. These earrings pay homage to the opulence of the French Aristocratic Society that completely ignored the starving citizens of France at the onset of the French Revolution. I used iridescent crystal beads and tiny chain to further enhance the ornate design of these French beauties.  I love the contrast of the ornate with the use of my hand forged sterling ear wires. They dangle two and half inches in length.

Christmas Season Boot Camp

The fall weather brings in the excitement of The Halloween to New Year Season of gifting. You can be asured that my Etsy shop and retail shop at Ashton House, Beaumont, TX, will be stocked with "one of a kind" antique lovelies. I've been acquiring some beautiful jewelry elements from all regions of the US and some European findings. All of my designs will reflect the style of an important fashion period from the past. Now would be the time to contract me to use some of your own family heirlooms for redesign gifting this holiday season. Happy fall and stay tuned for beautiful things to come.

Back to School Earrings

Congrats to Lori Hepburn the winner of the back to school earrings.

Its back to school time and I am thinking about all of my teacher friends getting everything ready for a new year. I knew that feeling as well for 30 years and I still miss it a little! To celebrate this special time of year I am giving away these earrings. Simply leave me a message and I will enter your name in a drawing. The deadline to enter is this Friday, August 24th. These lovely earrings feature French religious medals and pearl beads that dangle from my sterling silver hand forged ear wires. May the odds be ever in your favor!

Jewelry Class, Here I Come!

Gearing up for taking my very first formal jewelry making class is underway.  April 1 through June 3, I will be taking an online jewelry class given by Deryn Mentock. The concept is very exciting. I will be receiving instruction videos online, joining in on discussion groups and viewing my classmates work all from my laptop computer. I think to myself, "Why didn't I think of that?" I will be posting pictures of my work here on my blog site. I hope you will stop by and check on my progress from time to time. Until then thanks for stopping by.

 Salvage from the past to make your life richer in the present.

Mrs. Coach L

 We’ve got true winter weather outside in good old southeast Texas.  Tonight I will layer on all my cool weather gear and watch my husband and his fellow coaches change the lives of young men on a football field.  As I make my way to my designated seat in the coaches’ families seating, area, I will hear lots of  “Hey Mrs. Coach L.!”  To which I will respectfully respond with a greeting of my own. Teaching is my life’s career, and I am sure that over the years I made more than one student unhappy.  I can only imagine what creative term of endearment might have been applied to my John Hancock.  “Mrs. Coach L” might not sit well with many women. My name is Kim.   “L” has nothing to do with me. You see my husband joined the Evadale Coaching Staff last fall to where he became the second coach whose last name is Williams.  To make everything a lot less confusing, the students use the first letter of my husband’s first name, Laurence, apply it coach and you get ” Coach L”. This is a simple and effective way to keep everyone straight.  Recently I was even called Mrs. Laurence. To this I just smile and accept my loss of identity because I know that being Mrs. Coach L is an honor given to me because of the love and respect a community of children has for my husband.  Yes, my son and I have given up countless hours that when strung together become days, weeks and months of absenteeism from our family life.  Would I trade those hours for being just Kim Williams? No, I would not.  I see all of the good he does for his students and players. I am proud to be Mrs. Coach L. 

Take Time to Share Memories

What a lovely evening we had at Merchant Soiree last night. It was a pleasure to share my concept for Historically Haute with so many potential customers. I heard lovely stories of the recent loss of a loved one followed by the pledge to hunt down the perfect photo to capture the memory of that person. My wish is that all daughters, sons, and grandchildren will take the time to find that perfect photo, love letter or card. My journey in the development of Historically Haute was spent delving into my mother's safe for sentimental memorabilia. Mom and I spent hours devouring each and every letter and document. Shared laughter, tears and many questions might have gone unanswered. I hope you will allow yourself the time to share the memories, stories and history that make each one of us connected to the past.

The Abridged Green Bling Timeline

                                 The Abridged Green Bling Timeline

Before it slips my memory,

I wanted to document

how this simple request,

"Can you make me some football bling

to wear to the first University of Texas,

San Antonio Roadrunners game?",

morphed into Historically Haute, my Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimmykw?ref=si_shop and my desire to participate in blogging.

Here is how is all happened.

DAY 1   Shopped San Antonio Area for

   UTSA Football “bling” for Casey to wear to

      the very first football game. Casey is one of 

    my four sisters and is known for her stylish 

            dress. She loves big jewelry. No luck.

DAY 2  Casey: (When reading this, stretch

the words out very long and give special

emphasis to elongate the vowel sounds.)

“Could you make me a necklace to wear

            to UTSA Football Game?”

            Me: “Sure that will be fun.”

DAY 3   Email from Casey: “I'm going to

            need you to make me several necklaces

    and I will need matching earrings, as well.”

            Me: “Oh that will be fun.”

DAY 4  Trip to Hobby Lobby, coupon in

       hand, to get the supplies to make the jewelry

           that Casey commissioned.

DAY 5  Two hours later it hits me;

            “I don't know what I’m doing.

            Barnes and Noble! Lucky for me

            its right across the street. Books and

            magazines to study!” Several hours later,

    the books are purchased. I think to myself,

            “I've got this under control.”

            Next I make a trip to

            Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, and Joann’s to

            search for the best supplies.

DAY 6   When reading Tales of Adornment,

       By Kristen Robinson, I see that Kristen shares

            information about her Etsy Store.

           Etsy becames my new obsession. Hours fly by as

      I study shops. I make several trips to the big 

       three craft stores for supplies. The managers

            are looking at me with suspicious faces.

            I think to myself, “I hope they don’t

            realize, I used more than one

            coupon, per day, per person."

DAY 7   In a big moment of brilliance, I wonder

   if Youtube has any demonstrations on how

            use to Ice Resin? Is there a mental illness

            called Youtube addiction? If so,

          sign me up for the twelve step program.          

DAY 8   The first attempt to make the bezels is a

            success. I assemble Casey’s order and

            prepare it for shipping.

DAY 9   Call from Casey:

            (read slowly, stretch the vowels)

            “Oh! Halloween Bling would be so cool.

             Can you make some necklaces and

             earrings for me?”

             Me: “Oh, that will be fun.”

DAY 10  I head back to the big three craft stores for                  

             Halloween bling making supplies. I am happy      

 with the bezels which I add to chains. I

  complete designs with beads and charms.

             Now I have a surpulus of jewelry. The

             lightening bolt hits me. I need an Etsy Store!

DAY 11  I set up my Etsy Store, take pictures of my

           jewelry and load the pictures to Etsy. I spend a lovely day exploring all types of jewelry shops.  

             I learn that there is a market for repurposed                          jewelry. I begin to put together a brand with my own special twist for repurposing vintage and antique jewelry.I proudly announce on facebook, "I've got an Etsy Shop,

   √http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimmykw?ref=si_shop." 

 DAY 12 With an enthusiastic attitude about my brand,

 I hit the antique stores on a hunt for vintage

jewelry. I visit Urban Chic, Urban Retreat and

            The 11^th Street Market, and my own collection

              of vintage jewelry. It was inspiring and

              great fun. I enjoyed meeting shop owners and     

introducing my brand.

DAY 13 While checking out my favorite shops on Etsy,

            I stumble upon one of the artists who mentions

In her shop banner her blog site.

             I check the blog out and discover a whole new        

             opportunity to share my work, promote my     Etsy Shop, and journal all that I have learned.

DAY 14  http://kimmwilliams.blogspot.com/ is born.

In just fourteen days, I learned how to take forgotten,

broken and unappreciated jewelry findings and transform them into personalized heirloom jewelry. I opened a Etsy Shop and created a blog. 

            Not bad for a "repurposed" gal like me!

Prologue

Discovery should never be underestimated.