I had a little bit different project than painting for this week. Back in the 60’s-70’s I had two charm bracelets started for me, one silver and one gold toned. It was the thing to do back then and I had charms I was given and charms I bought. Some I know the origin of and some I have no idea why I have.
But you know, I haven’t looked at, much less worn, the bracelets in over 4 decades. I decided that something useful might done with them. No one I knew was interested in them as wearable bracelets, so I got the bright idea to take the charms off and make some zipper pull fobs from them.
I went to the box store and got some lobster clips to attach to the charms and started the project. Some were more difficult than others to add the clips to. I don’t really have the proper equipment to separate the coil on the split rings so I had to use my thumb nails. After doing over a dozen, all I can say is ouch, and I’m not finished yet. Two to go, one silver and one gold toned. I hope what thumb nails I have left will be able to handle it.
I have a quick question for anyone out there who might help me identify these last two charms. As you can see, the gold one is architectural in its decoration, with a Parthenon style building on one side and a lighthouse or silo with a wheel shaped object behind and water in front on the other side. I have absolutely no idea where I got it, just a thought that I might have bought it on my high school senior trip to Washington DC, way back when. I can’t imagine buying it any later than the early 70’s and there is nothing else I can connect it to.
The silver one should be more straight forward. It is obviously some city landmark but I can’t place it. My first thought (and the thought of anyone I have asked) was the space needle in Seattle. However, the space needle top is more like a flying saucer rather than the ball here. I thought about the Montreal Expo too, but no go there either. And the Epcot center in Florida is set lower to the ground.
As an aside, our internet has been out since yesterday. Talk about withdrawal and then trying to catch up. It’s been a busy afternoon.
Aha!! One mystery solved. The silver one is the sun sphere from the 1982 Knoxville TN World’s Fair. We were there!
As for the gold one, it is definitely the Parthenon. I have found several charms almost exactly like the front side, but nothing with the reverse. I must have gotten it either in DC on the high school trip or at Centennial Park, Nashville TN, in the 90’s where there is a reproduction of the Greek Parthenon. A google image search hasn’t turned up anything yet, but I’ll keep looking. I’ll just keep it in my personal stash right now.