Remember playing marbles as a kid? We all had a prized collection we kept in an old cigar box, pouch or other “sacred” space. In neighborhoods everywhere, playing marbles was a serious business – especially when playing for keepsies. That meant, as agreed upon when drawing the chalk circle on as flat a section of pavement or grass as possible, you knew going in that if you lost your marble(s), and it was one coveted by others in the marbles gang, chances were slim to none you’d ever get it back.

Over the decades, as we grew up, those once prized marbles were getting dusty in the attics of our childhood homes, perhaps even (perish the thought) tossed out like yesterday’s news by our parents after we flew the nest. So, who would’ve thought that one day marbles would make a comeback, not as a game piece, but as the stars of a jewelry line?

A Tuscon-based company Got All Your Marbles? has a line of jewelry featuring marbles in rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings .. and, best of all, each piece of jewelry comes with a bag of marbles to suit your mood on any given day! Metalsmith William Skiles created it in 1999. Since then, he and wife Lisa Stotska have been making sure people can see the line without having to travel to Tucson. They can attend craft shows and pop-up tent shows, like the one the couple will be doing in Boothbay Harbor Aug. 7 at the Meadow Mall.

Susan Brackett of Boothbay Harbor Framers & Gallery has carried the Got All Your Marbles? line for 10 years. “I met Lisa on a buying trip in New York City and really liked the idea – and the jewelry,” Brackett said. “I’m always looking for new items made in the U.S. by small companies.”

Right now Brackett carries the pendants and earrings in 925 silver and has some of the silver plated bronze options. The rings also come in sterling silver plated in 14 carat gold. 

Marbles are in five sizes: itty bitty - 10mm, pee wee - 12mm, fancy - 14mm, player - 16mm and the whopper at 25mm. The marbles are held in place with a tension mechanism Skiles created. He was awarded three patents on the three variations of the mechanism used in the jewelry line. There are a variety of silver or bronze silver plated pendants, from the classic Chloe and Athena styles to novel styles including a hot air balloon, octopus, horse and flower.

Glass marbles aren’t the only colorful option for the Got All Your Marbles? jewelry and key chains. The novel company also offers semiprecious stones including tiger’s eye, adventurine, lavender or fuchsia jade, rose quartz, obsidian, malachite, howlite, hematite, blue lace agate … the list goes on. Faux pearls and opals are also options.

And the charm marbles … dazzling! There’s one that looks like a disco ball for all the disco fans out there; the Olivia dot charm looks like a silver soccer ball, gold Klimt (just think of the artist); the Marie rose – a charming charm of Murano glass, swirling blue mist with a pink rose and gold accenting streamers - and an 8 Ball (think children’s toy or billiards) and pink breast cancer ribbon (all profits from this one are donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York City; there’s a wish marble locket. 

Curious about more options? You should be! Here are two things you can do right now: visit www.gotallyourmarbles.com, stop by Boothbay Harbor Framers and try on a pendant or two. Sorry,the earrings you’ll just have to hold up to your ears …

Wish you could see the line up close and personal? You can. Visit the Got Your Marbles? pop-up tent in the Meadow Mall on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Lisa and William will be there with a selection that will blow your mind. And, best of all …  they’re all for keepsies!