Dreaming of Spring

Last week I added two new pieces to my shop that have me seriously longing for warmer weather.  I think it's that gorgeous blue of the Amazonite stone featured in both necklaces that making me a bit impatient for the spring and summer sunshine just lingering over the horizon.  This stone, which at first glance seems to be a Turquoise look alike, is quite lovely and has an interesting lore behind it.  

Ankara Necklace

Capri Bobble Necklace

Amazonite can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was employed in jewelry designs, inlays and ornamental carvings.  It is said to have been named after Amazon women warriors and thus is known as the stone of courage.  Some say that the Amazon river itself is reflected in this blue-green stone. Amazonite is also said to enhance creative expression, sooth nerves and improve self-worth.  And perhaps my favorite is that it is also known as the hope stone as it inspires confidence and hope.  Just looking it, I find hope for the warmer days to come.  :)

This stone also has a personal connection to me.  It reminds me of the waters of Capri which is why the Capri Bobble Necklace is named so.  In particular, it recalls a trip Dan and I made a few years back to that gorgeous island in the Tyrrhenian Sea.  We travelled there in the winter, January to be exact, while I was living in Italy.  During these chillier days the island seems barren- we honestly felt as though we were the only two people exploring it.  I really wouldn't have had it any other way- some of our best memories were made on that little island.  

I'm looking forward to being transported to warmer weather on Friday (mentally, any how) when I meet up with my mom for a trip to the Philadelphia International Flower Show.  This year's Hawaiian Islands theme promises a tropical experience.  This will be my first year attending and I'm sure I won't be disappointed.  

I plan to snap lots of photos and I'll be sure to share them with you all next week!  

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new work: focus on color

"Color is joy.  One does not think joy.  One is carried by it." -Ernest Haas

LE MER COLOR SHIFT NECKLACE: faceted blue agate + solid, raw brass beads + vintage brass chain + $45*

REIMS PENDANT: mystic purple drusy + hand wrapped in oxidized brass wire + vintage brass curb chain + $36*

*Necklaces will be linked to the shop in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned!

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Art Deco Inspired Wedding Jewelry

First off, allow me to apologize for what seems to be the abandonment of my blog!  I've been seriously slacking with my posting this summer.  I vow to change this.  Secondly, my apologizes for this photo heavy post.  Hopefully it will be worth it.

The following set of jewelry was created for a June wedding that took place on a farm in rural Pennsylvania.  The bride desired a romantic, vintage aesthetic but for the most part gave me full artistic reign (thanks Katie!).  The color palette of sapphire and lime green was chosen by the bride to reflect her bridal party colors.  I chose to work in brass to quietly emphasize the vintage aesthetic and designed the necklaces as multi-strand pieces to stand out against her bridesmaids' simple, sleeveless sapphire blue dresses.  

B.O.B. Robot Necklace

This funny little guy's name is B.O.B.  He starred in the cult film, The Black Hole (1979).  Though I have never seen the movie, there was no denying that this little bot needed to be made into a necklace.  I adorned the vintage charm with a double vintage brass chain, aqua candy jade, carnelian heishi, and a cobalt blue faceted crystal and packaged him up as a gift for a dear friend's birthday.  I'm not quite sure why, but every time I see a cartoon robot, I usually think of her.  So, here you have it: a B.O.B. (noble robot assistant to Dr. Hans Reinhardt of the USS Cygnus) Necklace.  From what I've read, this character has a southern drawl.  Excellent.

 

The stones are meant to hover below B.O.B. as if they were planets, stars, or his very own little galaxy. 

 

B.O.B.'s close up.

Bunny Rabbit Necklaces

Here are a few photos of some Easter themed necklaces I made for Dan's three nieces.  I had a hand full of adorable little vintage bunny rabbit charms in my stash so I decided to put them to good use.  I adorned the wee bunnies with wasabi hued Czech glass flowers, fuchsia candy jade faceted rounds, and ivory seed pearls.  I love them and secretly want one for myself...  good thing I have one more bunny charm! :)

Freshwater Pearl and Turquoise Necklace and Earrings

I've been wanting to share this creation with you for quite sometime now but I had to wait until the recipient received it, as it was a birthday gift and I didn't want to ruin the surprise.  Dan's mom commissioned this necklace and earring set as a gift for her daughter-in-law's 40th birthday.  As she described her desired palette to me, it became evident that the colors of the sea were her true inspiration. 

The result is a set that I am very, very happy with.  It's quite different than anything I've done before, especially because it incorporates so many pearls.  I am not one to wear pearls but I think this necklace has changed my mind.  I hope to make more, in different color schemes and media- perhaps incorporating brass, gold vermeil, or wood. 

 

This multi-strand necklace features a mélange of colorful pearls and semi-precious stones echoing the warmth of the sea. Freshwater pearls, Amazonite, Rutilated Quartz, and Turqouise are suspended from a pair of silver cones handmade by the Karen Hill Tribe of northern Thailand.

     

Labradorite and Gold Vermeil Necklace

Hello readers.  I haven't had a chance to work on new work for my etsy shop (hopefully to open in the near future *fingers crossed*) but I have been busy with a few custom orders which I am very fortunate for. 

This necklace was commissioned for my boyfriend's sister for her birthday.  I'm not sure why, but when I thought of what I wanted to do her for her, I could not get Labradorite out of my head.

 

Finally, photos

Today, I finally got around to taking photos of my work for my Etsy shop.  I had hoped to take them outside, in natural lighting, but had to opt for my living room instead since the outdoor light wasn't ideal.  This multi-strand necklace consists of seven of my polymer clay beads, shell beads, vintage brass chain and vintage brass beads.

A new necklace

Here is another necklace I recently finished.  One of my favorites, it is a double stranded necklace composed of handcrafted polymer clay beads and vintage brass components.  The brass spacer beads came from an amazing brass necklace made in the 1970's that I picked up at an antique market in July.  I love them so much.  They've incorporated quite well into my new work and I will be sad when they are all used up.

The polymer clay beads were featured in a previous post as they basked in the sun after a final dip in the glaze.

Again, I promise to take more professional photos rather than using my Hipstamatic app and my iPhone :) But I must admit, the Hipstamatic photos seem to have captured the warmth of the brass rather well.

More to come! Be well dear readers.

A New Necklace

I thought I'd share the necklace that I made Saturday.  Literally 45 minutes before I was to head out the door for my friend's birthday evening.  

I'm fairly certain Dan was less than pleased when he realized what I was doing, after witnessing me furiously stringing bead after bead.  

Dan: "You plan on wearing that tonight?"  

Me: "Yup."  

Dan: "You realize we are leaving here in 30 minutes." 

Me: "Yup"  

Dan: "You're nuts"  

Me: "I realize this."

It was at this point in the conversation that I pointed out to him that if he helped me string the beads on I could finish getting ready and we could pop out the door on time.  And you know what?  He obliged.  He's good like that.  

See all those tiny black seed beads?  Yup, that's Dan's good work.  He usually helps me string my necklaces together and I love him for that.  It's been a while since I've made a new piece of jewelry so he could have been a little rusty but I think he did just fine.

 

The necklace is composed of dyed Green Quartz round beads, faceted Red Jasper briolettes and Miyuki Delica matte black seed beads.  I used an old clasp that I had in my supplies but I plan on making a new one for this out of hammered sterling silver or copper wire.