DIY Antique Victorian Padlock Pendant Necklace

Think of a symbol of love, and a heart probably springs to mind first. I'd bet every woman owns a heart-shaped piece of jewelry!

I decided to be a little less obvious, however, when I came up with this necklace. Don't get me wrong - I love hearts as much as the next girl - but I just wanted something a bit different. Since I love all things Victorian, I decided to seek out an antique padlock from the time period.

This one seemed perfect! It's kind of a stylized heart - with the narrower bottom and the rounded part at the top of each side - but it's not too obvious at first glance. I like to think of it as a "key to your heart"-type piece. It would make a great gift for a girlfriend, Christmas, or Valentine's Day.

To find your own padlock pendant, search on Etsy or Ebay!




I fell in love with the tiny door over the keyhole. It has a crown and the letters V.R. (Victoria Regina, or Queen Victoria) etched on it, and "patent" is etched on either side of the hole underneath. They're simple details, but they give the piece a lot of history and charm. I wonder what this was used for! Was it used by the Royal Household?



I tied it onto a piece of bright red ribbon. I thought it would be a nice change from a chain, as this one would require a very thick and chunky one so as not to break. Not quite my style, so I went with this. You could also use some kind of cording, like satin or leather!

I also left the slightly-rusty part around the top. If you find a lock with more rust, just file or sandpaper it off, wipe with a damp cloth, and then seal with Rustoleum (or something similar) to prevent further rusting.


Here's the keyhole underneath. I don't know if I could find a replacement key, but as I have no intention of using this as a lock, it's not important.

I think I'll wear this with the little door slightly ajar, so that you can see all the details of this fascinating little lock at one glance. It's a pretty versatile pendant - you can wear it with jeans and a leather jacket to add some sweetness and softness , or you can go boho and pair it with a breezy, gauzy summer dress. You could also put it on a shorter cord or chain and wear it as a bracelet.

How would you wear this? I'd love to hear your ideas.

The Marvelous, Handpainted Vintage Photo Album of Madame B

These charming, hand-painted album pages are the work of the formerly mysterious Madame B. The collection is currently on display at The Art Institute of Chicago, who deduced the unknown artist's identity based on the initial on the first page and information from the photographs:

"All of the evidence, including photographs, portraits, and writing, seems to indicate that B refers to Marie-Blanche-Hennelle Fournier, known as Blanche (1831–1906), the second wife of the diplomat Hugues-Marie-Henri Fournier (1821–1898). A career diplomat from a young age, Fournier was posted in Stockholm from 1862 to 1872, the period from which many of the album’s Swedish photographs date. He was later stationed in Rome, and the pages toward the end of the album feature pictures of Italian rulers and sites. Fournier eventually settled down in France, where this remarkable album found its way to a Tours bookseller and, ultimately, to the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago."

See more of her lovely, detailed pages here!

Victorian Love Tokens

Lately I've been really interested in paper ephemera from the Victorian era, especially love tokens! They're often covered with lush, bright flowers and gilded scrollwork. Though mere scraps of paper, such ornamentation elevates them and turns them into treasured keepsakes.

In such an electronics- and internet-centric world, wouldn't it be nice if we took the time to create and send a love note to someone special (whether it's a partner, mother, or grandmother) instead of just zipping off an email or text?

(Images from the always lovely Victoriana.)

Victorian Puzzle Purse Valentine

I've always been fascinated by antique or vintage valentines, hand-drawn and created with so much love. So this year, inspired by this tutorial, I decided to make my own Victorian Puzzle Purse!

For the calligraphy, I used a hawk tip (left) for the words and a globe tip (right) for the drawings. I think the globe is easier to control for fine lines, while the hawk tip makes handwriting look charmingly imperfect and vintage. For paper, I used plain parchment. For a more antique feel, you could soak the paper in tea til it reaches the desired hue. This can make the paper more delicate, however, and cause tears. Handle gently!

Here's the front of the valentine. I made a scalloped-edged blob with red watercolor paint, and let it dry. Then I added petals using the globe tip, and added leaves. Then I finished with the first line from the Robert Burns poem "A Red, Red Rose".

Make sure you let the ink dry thoroughly before moving on to the next layer!

Close-up detail of the rose. You'll notice my lines aren't perfect (especially when it comes to the lettering). Don't think yours has to be flawless! The imperfections add charm and reinforce the handmade look.

The second layer, decorated with a center heart and the second line from the poem.

The inside! Add whatever sentiments you like. You could also add another stanza from the poem. I chose to go with a simple yet heartfelt "I love you" and another rose.

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day!