Uranium Glass Jewelry by StoryShaped Studios

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Uranium Glass Jewelry by StoryShaped Studios Uranium glass jewelry design - Vintage & antique uranium glass jewelry - Vintage jewelry restoration

If you are local to Longmont, Colorado then come see me at the Food Hall this evening!Yes I know I complain and complain...
10/17/2026

If you are local to Longmont, Colorado then come see me at the Food Hall this evening!

Yes I know I complain and complain about in-person events 🤣 But this is a Halloween event and local to me and the booth was only $35. Also I still have all of my stuff from the convention packed in my car, so I don't have to haul s**t out of my studio. I'm more curious than anything how an event like this will go. I did $2k in sales at the convention so I'm feeling optimistic.

Let's talk about African trade beads! ✨️✨️✨️Trade beads were made in the 19th and 20th centuries in Bohemia, modern day ...
10/16/2026

Let's talk about African trade beads! ✨️✨️✨️

Trade beads were made in the 19th and 20th centuries in Bohemia, modern day Czech Republic. European merchants used these to trade in Africa, most notably Ethiopia and Mali, for prized goods such as gold, ivory, palm oil, and spices.

In some east and west African tribes, glass beads were prized by tribal leaders because they signified wealth and power. Vaseline glass beads in particular were regarded as spiritual items because of their striking color in sunlight. They were used as protection amulets and and in spiritual rituals.

These can be dated by how they were made. The green ones here are later 19th century as they were made with a mold and have the mold seam. But the yellow vaseline ones are among the oldest ever made, dated to the 1850s. They were done by making a glass tube, cutting off chunks, and faceting each one by hand. That's why each one looks different. They then used a mandrel to punch a hole through, and you can tell because one side of the hole is narrower than the other.

These are wonderful historical artifacts and an amazing part of uranium glass history. I have the strands in my shop but I also have individual beads for sale if you want a tiny piece of the history. On my ebay and in the New in October section of my Etsy shop, see "Links" at the top of my page.

I'm glad there was no polite company around me when I saw this at the convention because I lost my s**t and many swear w...
10/15/2026

I'm glad there was no polite company around me when I saw this at the convention because I lost my s**t and many swear words and hyperventilating were had 🤣

This is an early Victorian vaseline tantalus liquor cabinet. A tantalus is a cabinet that locks while letting the beautiful bottles and glass still be displayed. This is to keep servants and children from accessing the liquor. It is called a tantalus in reference to the temptations of Tantalus in Greek mythology.

It has beautiful Boulle inlay which is a French technique using tortoiseshell, ivory, and metal details. It's an 18-piece set, and one of the most extraordinary pieces of vaseline glass I've personally ever seen.

Uranium glass turtle beads! 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢I absolutely love finding animal beads, and pressed glass shape beads in general. Paint...
10/14/2026

Uranium glass turtle beads! 🐢🐢🐢🐢🐢

I absolutely love finding animal beads, and pressed glass shape beads in general. Painted themed pressed glass beads are a lot more difficult to come by than the more simple beads. These turtles are a great size and so cute! I always appreciate the way the painted ones look under the blacklight.

Now available in my Etsy and eBay, in the New in October section of my Etsy shop, shops uner "Links" at the top of my page 💚

10/14/2026

The 2026 Vaseline Glass Convention in Wichita, Kansas

New dice beads! 💚 These are a reproduction of antique beads 😍I actually saw the original antique beads, and these are a ...
10/13/2026

New dice beads! 💚 These are a reproduction of antique beads 😍

I actually saw the original antique beads, and these are a perfect match but WAY cheaper. I love to find the more unusual styles of beads, especially the ones that are painted because they look so cool under the blacklight. I still don't know the technique they use to get the paint on the beads.

Beads are now in the shop, in the New in October, link to my shop at the top of my page under "Links"

I had an AMAZING time at the Vaseline Glass Collector's Convention! And my Emerald City won for Best Single Piece!It was...
10/12/2026

I had an AMAZING time at the Vaseline Glass Collector's Convention! And my Emerald City won for Best Single Piece!

It was a lot of work and a lot of driving to and from Wichita, but absolutely worth it. I learned so much and everyone there was so lovely. The displays were incredible. I can't believe I waited so long to attend. And my presentation went great even though I finished it a half hour before 😅 I'll post it when I receive the copy of the recording.

I really recommend folks in the hobby join the club. It's been an incredible resource. Many of the folks there have been collecting for more than 40 years.

I will be posting about the convention all week so stay tuned!

I have to give an hour presentation on vaseline glass jewelry tomorrow and I am super duper not done with it 😆I was very...
10/08/2026

I have to give an hour presentation on vaseline glass jewelry tomorrow and I am super duper not done with it 😆

I was very sick for a whole entire month and I am behind on all the things, including this. I'm just glad I'm finally well. The presentation is going to be what it's going to be, which may me a bit awkward but definitely awesome.

I am working at the hotel bar with my old-fashioned cocktail so cheers to vaseline glass 💛

The difference between night and day on my vaseline table 🤣 This is why I tell people the blacklight is cool but ultimat...
10/08/2026

The difference between night and day on my vaseline table 🤣 This is why I tell people the blacklight is cool but ultimately doesn't matter, especially those who are like "BUT IT ONLY WORKS WITH A BLACKLIGHT." It doesn't. There is UV spectrum in sunlight and this isn't even direct sunlight. I walk down the street wearing my jewelry and it stops people in their tracks. I've had people yell at me that they like my necklace across the damn street. They used uranium in glass for a reason, and this is the reason. The colors are magnificent and no gemstone in the world can do what this does.

Side note - I don't typically have only one color of uranium glass jewelry on my table but I'm at a vaseline glass convention so that's the focus. It's pretty cool seeing it all one color.

I made it to Wichita! Stay tuned because I'm going to be posting some really cool stuff over the next few days 💛💛💛
10/07/2026

I made it to Wichita! Stay tuned because I'm going to be posting some really cool stuff over the next few days 💛💛💛

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