In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Jessica's Starter Earring

Here it is – my “starter” earring.  This gold and sapphire stud was the one I had installed in my ears at Claire’s Boutique in the Saginaw Fashion Square Mall, sometime around 1990.  A starter earring is a stud that is thicker than most earrings to help keep your ear hole opened up.  They punch it through your ear with a little gun after rubbing alcohol on the ear lobe.  You have to keep it in your ear for six weeks, twisting and turning it every day and cleaning the area with peroxide.

Interestingly, I gave the other earring to my high school boyfriend, Corey Sundquist.  He used to wear it on the pocket of his flannel shirts while we were dating.  I’m guessing it has long since gone into the trash heap since we broke up in 1995 when I went to college.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rose Pin

This pretty red rose brooch pin was given to me during my senior year of High School by my good friend, Deidra (Eickholt, Penny) Moitzheim.  It’s about three inches tall and is gold plated.

I tried wearing it a few times but it’s too large and heavy to fit nicely on most sweaters.  I’ve kept it in my jewelry box and enjoyed looking at it all these years.  It’s a nice reminder of our friendship.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rock from the Park

This rock was picked up at a park in Saginaw, Michigan by my best friend, Jennifer (Strachan) Peck.  She knew I liked rocks and she happened across this shiny piece, so she picked it up and gave it to me the next time she saw me.  That was back in the summer of 1989.

It has chunks of quartz that shimmer in the light.  There’s no particular reason that I kept it – I just liked it.  Jennie gave it to me so it’s a symbol of our friendship.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Ring Monster From Aunt Colleen

My Aunt Colleen (Cole) Zana made this little ceramic ring holder.  I received it as a gift in 1983.  My sister Kathleen has it’s sibling – a matching red one.  I really treasure this fragile little piece of art.  My Aunt Colleen made it – and I LOVE it because of that!

For years, my sister used hers to store her rings at the sink when she did the dishes.  Mine has held little treasures over the years but I never used it for ring storage.  I keep him stored in a clear display box so it doesn’t get dusty or broken.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Rainbow Caterpillar

Rainbow Caterpillar

Meet Mr. Rainbow Caterpillar.  Mom made him out of rainbow yarn, a pair of googly eyes and a top hat for a nose.  He has magnets glued on his back so he sticks to the refrigerator.

I previously talked about my mother’s craft projects, such as the Jessica Cross-Stitch Magnet and the Golf Ball Dog, which she sold at the school art fairs.  This is another one of those little projects.

I keep him stored safely away because my cats like to chew on him.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

My Prom Garter

Corey and Jessica, HHS Prom 1995

Well lookie what we have here!  This one is a treasure, for sure.  It is significant on several levels.

First of all, what is it? This is my garter belt from my High School Senior Prom, worn on the big night in May 1995.  My date for the evening at the Heritage High School prom was my boyfriend, Corey Sundquist.

Why is it significant?  It has a Black Rose.  That was my nickname in high school.  I instantly fell in love with this garter and HAD to have it.  I bought it at the mall a few weeks before prom and wore it under my prom dress.

Incidentally, my hunter green velvet prom dress is also a family treasure.  It’s stored in my closet.  I had it handmade by a local tailor in Saginaw, Michigan.  I picked out the fabric at Jo-Ann’s and picked out the pattern, and commissioned the tailor to make it for me.  I wanted a dress that wasn’t like anybody else’s dress, and that’s precisely what I got.  I felt like a princess in that dress.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Pottery made by Kathleen Cole (1992)

This is another treasure, hidden away in my kitchen cupboard.  It looks like any other small piece of pottery, but this one is special.  This one was handmade by my sister, Kathleen Cole, in 1992.

Pottery made by Kathleen Cole (1992)

I bet she probably forgot that she gave it to me.  I treasure it, and always will.  I have used it for a candy dish now and then, but generally I keep it safe in the closet.  Someday I hope to pass it down to her children.  Unfortunately she has three children and there is only one bowl, so we might have to roll the die to see who gets it.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Jessica's Stocking Bear Pin

This little bear pin is one of my greatest treasures from my childhood.  He is really small – only about an inch tall.  He was pinned onto the white top fuzzy part of my Christmas stocking.  My sister had a similar pin on her stocking.  I think it might have been a mouse, or perhaps a bear with a different fur color.  I don’t know if she still has it or not.

Jessica's Stocking Bear Pin

I loved waking up on Christmas morning to be greeted by this little bear on my stocking.  He was my way of knowing that the stocking was mine and mine alone.  We didn’t have names on our stockings, just this little pin to designate whose was whose.

I still have the original stocking which is stored with our Christmas items, but I removed him to keep him inside the house so he doesn’t get destroyed in the Arizona heat.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Pewter Sceptre

Pewter Dragon Pendant

These two treasures were among my favorite things in High School.  I went through a really strong pewter and crystal phase when I was hanging out with the wrong crowd of kids after school.  I wore one of these pendants every day during 10th grade and into 11th grade. These pendants saw a lot of sneaky youthful activities and dozens of mosh pits.  Oh, the stories they could tell you!

My favorite was the sceptre with the crystal ball for the top.  Unfortunately, the reason I stopped wearing it was because the pewter piece that the chain hung around broke off because I wore it out.  At that time, I picked up the dragon holding the crystal ball and wore it through the end of my rebellious phase.

I absolutely love these pendants.  They are two of my favorite treasures.  For me, they symbolize my youth better than most of my treasures do.

In an effort to document my family treasures which cannot be scanned in, I am publishing this series of pictures as part of the Treasure Chest Thursday theme at Geneabloggers.  Someday in the future, I hope to shed some light on these treasures for my family who might inherit them.  What were they for?  Who did they come from? Why were they considered treasures?  Let’s find out.

Opalescent Rock Pendant

I purchased this opalescent pendant made from a rock at the mall when I was in High School.  I was going through a rock loving phase and I liked how it shined in the light.  There’s nothing much more to this.  I wore it a few times but mostly I just liked to look at it.  Simple as that!