About Mary's Old is Better Shop

My family and I had a Jewelry store for many years that dealt with fine and costume jewelry, collectibles, animation and fine art. I always enjoyed dealing with customers and helping them find the perfect thing for themselves or someone else. When we closed our brick and mortar store I decided to pursue my passion. I have always loved beautiful old things, finding them and putting them in the hands of someone who will appreciate them.
I also love to restring antique beads, to have something different for my customers in the jewelry store I would buy them and restring them, I personally love the very long strands of iridescent beads because no one does them anymore, jewelry stores charge by the inch for restringing, with knots it’s very expensive. I love to wear an antique necklace with my jeans. It’s also about saving these beautiful pieces of art. The beads themselves were all made by hand. Each one was handblown or hand pressed and hand polished. When you compare them to what is made today there’s no comparison. I used to use a new strand of beads for people to compare to. The new beads are very rough and sharp. The old ones are very smooth and feel good on the skin. When I restring beads I use very heavy silk beading thread, doubled, and I add sterling clasps and make double knots, I try to put them back the way they were only better.
When I was very young my grandmother who was a Native American quilt artist taught me to sew, she was a perfectionist and taught me well. My first job was working for a wearable artist. We made clothes out of old saris and paisley shawls and always used antique closures. We would paint silk and use the material to make jackets and use old buttons for the closure. So I love beautiful imaginative clothes. Then I worked as a tailor for many years, Which served to help my skills even more, after that I worked as a finisher for a furrier. We would restyle old furs for people to wear today. So I feel my background helps me a lot. I love artistic accessories that you can mix in with your jeans and T-shirts and look much more memorable.
The same way that when you add an old piece of glass to a modern coffee table, it looks fantastic. If you add three pieces the effect is magnified. A Modern house looks so good if you add something that speaks to you from another era. The contrast warms it up and makes it come alive; whether it’s a great collection of flow blue on open shelving or Lustre Ware in a cabinet or Blenko glass on a buffet, anything that speaks to you.
If you find something you like and want it bundled for shipping, or want to make an offer, or need layaway or special handling; for example if you want something wrapped or expedited, let me know. You can call me or email me. This store is my chance to share everything I love but it’s nothing without you.

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