SUMMER SALE - 35% OFF!

35% OFF Coupon Code Sale - must enter code JULYSALE to receive your discount, at the ETSY store. New pieces coming for Fall - store clearout!

Sea and Sky

It's raining heavily today after thunderstorms last evening, so I thought I'd post some new pretties that evoke the elements of summer. I bought these wonderful lampwork beads last year but only recently found the beautiful enameled Vintaj clasps. I have been looking for unusual clasps and these, which I have in yummy colors and will use on future bracelets, are a focal element on their own.

Head over to the shops on Etsy and Artfire to check them out!

New Scarabs and Shiny Pretties

I said I wouldn't, but I can't help myself. I made a bevy of necklaces and earrings last weekend and am listing them in the shops at Etsy and Artfire over the weekend. (see sidebar at left for links) Scarab lovers will be relieved to know that there are new peacock and magenta choices to choose from, as well a s a couple of other novelties. Here's a group shot!

All Buttoned Up Market

Do you love buttons? Have a button fetish? Then check out this fab market, All Buttoned Up, at the new 1000 Markets. There are so many clever and appealing items here using vintage and new buttons - for the home, to wear, cards and paper goods - you must check it out if you love buttons as much as I do.

I joined 1000 Markets this spring - it's a beautiful site for shopping handmade. I don't do enough promotion for them, and I'm trying to fix that. A bunch of us sellers have items with free shipping this month, connected with an Amazon promotion, so check out my shop and others. They take Amazon Payments, not Paypal, but doesn't everyone buy from Amazon these days? It's US-only, so overseas folk will have to buy from my Etsy shop, but many pieces from OTT on Etsy are on 1KM.

IKM is juried, which means that shops are vetted for quality and handmade standards. You won't see any resellers there!

TWILIGHT Time

As usual, I'm a little late to this partay.

I didn't get into Harry Potter until after the fourth book came out.

I discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series in 2006, 15 years after the first book was published.

I saw the movie "Twilight" a week or so ago and have been intermittently listening to Book One on the iPod, trying to understand the mania for it. I'm not there yet, but I'm hoping it'll happen for me. Seeing sweet and slightly thick Cedric Diggory as a vampire was rather traumatic.

I was determined to make some Twilight-themed jewelry that avoids copyright infringement, which means no logos or visuals from the book or movie. I trod a fine line with some of my Richard Armitage worship widgets that used his likeness, and decided to avoid it this time. Instead I'm just making some pieces with a line or two from the books (well, that's a fine line also). It's just for fun, and I'm trying not to copy what I've seen on Etsy and elsewhere, using charms and beads that are already in stock.




The first piece is an ornate medley of both literal and suggestive charms hanging from a necklace frame. It's theatrical and over the top (heh) but it was fun to put together.

The other three necklaces are lockets of varying sorts with text under resin and a bead/charm embellishment.












These necklaces and bracelet are available in my shop - some are not yet listed but will be in a couple of days. Check the "New This Week" section and after that, they'll be in a section all their own. :)

Spotlight: Steampunk the Catherinette Way

There's a Steampunk jewelry shop on Etsy called Catherinette Rings, that deserves mention on this blog. Until today, I assumed that Catherinette Rings was a woman, but it's a team, consisting of Catherine and Daniel Proulx of Montreal, Canada - he's one of the rare Men of Etsy. Daniel is the creator of the Steampunk section of their shop, which also features colorful, lighter-themed and colored rings and bracelets. I spotted the Steampunk rings last year in Etsy Treasuries, on the Etsy Front Page, and on Flickr. He has a blog as well, which makes for interesting reading, and *giveaways*. His jewelry is a marvel of craftmanship, texture, sensual color and variety - not only rings, but necklaces, bracelets and earrings are available for the lover of Steam and Unusual jewelry. The rings look organic - I almost expect them to start buzzing and whirring, and for the jewel "eye" to light up. I'm not a metalsmith, but those coils look awfully perfect to my eye and hard to achieve without lots of practice. I've chosen my faves of his current collection for this blog post. The jewelry is made from various metals like brass and copper, with glass, lampwork glass, metal and gemstone beads.

These beautiful pictures are the property of Daniel Proulx.

Stunning necklaces here: Relic circle necklace, Labradorite pendant, Smoky Quartz clock gear necklace, Mysterious Amber Bead Necklace. Hard to pick a favorite, but I am drawn to the Smoky Quartz because of the interesting textures.

I am in love with the bracelet on the left! The large central gear is a great metal color and the arrangement of the stones, beads and curved wire is so dynamic. In the center are some wonderfully understated earrings that say "Steampunk" so quietly that they will go with practically any style of jewelry already in your collection. The last bracelet features some wonderful lampwork glass beads that happily remind me of vanilla fudge swirled ice cream. The pattern works perfectly with the aesthetic - it's not a bead that I would associate with Steampunk, but it works!

Ahhh...the rings. Hard to choose my favorite...aren't they all gorgeous? The amber bead with the clock gears at center bottom row is just spectacular and if I won the lottery, that's what I would buy, yet I am also drawn to the serenity of its Moonstone sister next door, as well as the reptile eye ring in the upper left. Perverse!