Susan Ruppel Designs

In trying to organize (again) I have run across some old medals that I had forgotten about. They just don't make awards like they used to! A little about a few of these... the gold medal that hangs from a bar on the left is a medal for high score of a game called whist. The game of whist is a classic English card game played widely in the 18th and 19th centuries. This medal has a beautiful ornate script on the back with the initials DWC. Good job DWC! The silver medal right above the whist medal is a an English award for tug of war dated 1957. And, I absolutely love the gold medal with the white ribbon from Rock Jr. High awarded for archery in 1937.

Vintage heart bracelets. Maybe I need to start incorporating some of these into my designs...

My girls' bracelets....

Oh....did I mention I collect vintage charms?

I have been enamored with the trilogy of faith, hope and charity ever since I started collecting vintage charms about 30 years ago. The symbols of the anchor, the cross and the heart represent hope, faith and charity respectively. These are the three great theological virtues which are gifts of grace from God. Sailors would often leave these charms with their sweethearts in devotion of a safe return. Long used by many cultures, the Victorians often referred to to the trilogy of symbols as faith, hope and love, finding changing charity to love fit better with their romantic age.

Faith, Hope, Charity

What I've been up to lately.

Crosses seem to be ever so popular.

Thank you to all have shared kind words and compliments with me. I have been busy listing more jewelry the past few days. Look for more soon as I will be shopping a gem show and a flea market this weekend...double trouble! If anyone is looking for anything in particular let me know and I'll keep a lookout for you!

This is the Weeping Angel of Amiens medal from my collection made into a necklace using a vintage French rosary.