New Scarab Necklaces

I've had these for ages, and took advantage of yesterday's steady rainy weather to stay inside and make some necklaces. I should try some earrings, though they may be too heavy.

Each necklace is usually different, depending on what chain and coordinating beads I have on hand. I love those tiny teal iridescent glass rondelles and hand-wrapped a rosary style chain for that necklace.

The bright blue is a new color variation that one of my suppliers had in stock. It doesn't have the vitrail finish, but its iridescence, hard to capture in pictures, is so mystical! I am also working on a few more - a new ultramarine blue with a different filigree, which isn't quite ready yet.

These blue beauties will all be in the shop very soon, keeping the others company!

Brand New - Art Deco Elegance

I found these flat oval glass cabochons recently and while I have not the skill to set them in a sterling silver bezel, I wrapped one in a filigree stamping and admire its quiet opulence.

The glass oval is coated with silver and the play of pattern and texture is quite compelling. Note the layers of ribs, flowers and studs along the border. It doesn't need much else other than a novelty chain and closure.

What do you think?

New in the Shops - Blue and Red Love!

Red is the Color of Love

I saw these glass beads at a bead show last fall and am beguiled by the combination of translucency and opacity. Plus, the color is an amazingly deep shade of red, so it's perfect as a gift for Valentine's Day, which is almost upon us. It's also great for those of us who adore the color red and who need no holiday to give us an excuse to indulge ourselves.

On Etsy and Artfire.

Winter Sugar

Brand new earrings for a snowy, wintry week! I found these glass beads last year in a tiny bead shop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan - they're coated with silver and dusted with colorful glass "confetti". Embellished with sterling silver bead caps, hanging on elegant handmade copper earwires. Check them out on Etsy or Artfire.

FRONT PAGE!

It doesn't happen often...but I am on the Front Page of Etsy right now, and it's prime time on the West Coast! The keyword is "romantic", and I'm happy that one of my new locket necklaces was chosen.

Fuzzy Balls

I've had these needle felted wool balls for three years now; they've lain in a drawer while I puzzled over what to do with them. The colors are so bright that they're great for summer and spring as well as fall, so I got them out today and made them into earrings with sterling silver findings. They're little hits of strong color that are so cheerful and playful. At my Etsy shop.

Fit for a Queen

I apologize for another jewelry promo, but I'm about to start a job and things always get crazy just beforehand, so I am at a loss for interesting tidbits to post about. We also had a birthday party for my Dad this weekend, which was lots of fun. He's 93 years young!

I re-configured a necklace that I was never happy with to make this new one, still entitled The Queen's Necklace. The new focal is a ginormous smoke gray chandelier crystal, enhanced by a vintage leaf pearl and rhinestone brooch, Czech glass beads, chandelier octagon crystals and other vintage glass beads in shades of lavender, cream and smoke. It's weighty and important, perfect for a special night's embellishment. Everywhere I turn, chunky necklaces with huge bling are still the rage, even more so than last season, and today on the streets I passed many wonderful, big necklaces worn by adventurous women, which is most heartening. So far our summer in New York City has been tolerable as weather goes, so it's not too hot to wear some impressive neck decor.

Oh, SNAP!

I've had this idea for a while and finally last night got my snap box out of the supply closet and found that I had enough of these big whopper poppers to spare to make some jewelry. I love (sewing) hardware, and have always found the designs of these snaps interesting.

I made three - one in black with the huge size (almost an inch), one in silver, and a graduated silver style, which is OOAK as I am now out of the intermediate size. I test-drove them all and they're lightweight and comfortable.

They'll be in my Etsy shop today, and at 1000 Markets.

Happy Fourth of July!

Wishing everyone a happy, fun and safe holiday weekend. In the NE we have had tons of rain and humidity, but hopefully the weather will cooperate so that a non-soggy fourth can be enjoyed by all.

These holidays make me think of hot dogs, cookouts, sunburns, and bugs. I have no pix of the aforementioned, but bugs I have, so let's hear it for summer bugs! These are the best kind - they won't bite and leave any itchies.

My signature piece - Egyptian Revival Scarab Necklace

Verdigris Butterfly and Teal Freshwater Pearl Necklace

Purple Blue Scarab Necklace

Pink Butterfly and Sterling Silver Necklace

Dragonfly Chandelier Crystal Necklace

Simple Pink Purple Scarab Necklace

Cicada Necklace

Colorful Fiesta Glass Dragonfly Necklace

Verdigris Butterfly and Freshwater Pearl Bracelet

Grand Cicada Necklace