Earrings Preview

I spent yesterday putting together these new Spring colors gemstone and sterling silver earrings - don't you love the fresh colors? 

On Tuesday I formed the silver frames in the studio and yesterday, while the wind howled and rain poured down, I had the fun of playing with my colorful stones. Chalcedony, quartz, carnelian, rubilite, blue topaz quartz, green amethyst and plum faceted quartz, druzy, and solar quartz sparkled despite the overcast weather. 

The chalcedony drops are re-listed after the first pair sold, and the rest will appear over the next week. 

Moonglow Mania

I'm finally getting around to using the gorgeous lucite moonglow beads I purchased a few months ago, intending to create a line of fun summer jewelry. I was a little delayed as I started taking a class in metalsmithing, after threatening to do so for years. I'm having a great time practicing new techniques at home and thrilled at the idea of creating pieces from scratch. I have a wonderful teacher and plan to take other classes offered so I can realize some of the ideas that have been kicking around for some time.

Back to the moonglow - here are two necklaces and a handful of earrings that I made quite recently. I shaped and hammered the earwires myself - pretty basic, but I think the shape works well with the strong lucite beads.

I will be taking a much-needed break for a few days, so if you stop by the shops, you will see that we are on vacation until next weekend, but we'll be back to business on Saturday, July (already?) 7.

A Happy Fourth of July to you all - have fun and be safe. The firecrackers have been going off nightly in my neck of the woods, so I hope the local kids are being careful and get through the holiday with no loss of digits!

New in the Shop

Two more Czech glass button necklaces...these buttons are much larger than the ones I usually work with, at about 1.5 inches wide. The Buddha Necklace is a translucent ruby red with gold and silver luster, on a a brass rolo chain dotted with bronze glass drop beads. The Green Mermaid features brass stampings, iridescent firepolished and smoke lucite beads on antique brass chain.




Some months ago I purchased some Czech Glass buttons and finally am making them into necklaces. This one is especially apt for fall, with its fiery orange color. Gold luster tulips are so shiny and add wondrous sparkle. Wrapped in filigree and hanging on a brass chain. Already sold!!



I re-discovered these glass disc beads that I'd bought a couple of years ago on Etsy, and was playing with them idly, coming up with color combinations. I've made bracelets and necklaces with them before, but decided not to get too complicated this time, as no two beads are exactly alike, and they're fun and colorful slung together on a chain. The texture is smooth yet also rough, and I like the odd fleck here and there.







Swimming Pool, Spearmint, Creamsicle, Racing Colors and Halloween Necklaces are brand new and available in the shop.

Friends Who Promote!

My neighbor, Ruby, is wearing two of my (her) fish necklaces that she's so crazy about. Makes sense, since I got the fishies from her! Ruby adores color and is amazingly crafty herself - she knits, sews and has a great eye for good design. Ruby walks around with my cards when she wears my stuff and helps me to promote this new line. We love Ruby!!!

Go Fish!

I have neglected this blog terribly, and feel as if I am committing a Sin of Marketing as a result. I've had a busy Spring, worked on a commercial and fashion shoot, dealt with some special commissions, and tended to my home and family life. I'm also trying to save some time for myself to just read or sleep - if you knew me, you'd know just how radical an idea that is.

I have had some new ideas for jewelry germinating, and finally got around to making necklaces from the plastic fishing lures that fell into my lap, courtesy some fantastic neighbors who fish. I've thought about what beads to use and spotted some vintage moonglow lucite beads, that I've never really gotten into, that suddenly seemed to be the solution. They come in all manner of shapes and sizes, and are so playful and innocent. A small horde of purchased moonglow and assorted other beads from my stash later, I had a nice colorful pile of candy to play with, and had fun making some new ones. I posted a few months ago about the convertible necklace - shorter necklace-bracelet that was my first effort. (Scroll down the page a ways.)

I'm happy with how these three new ones turned out; one is listed at Etsy and the others will be up later this week.

Gone Fishin'

A friend and neighbor brought home a trove of these vintage fishing lures. I don't know how vintage they are, or where they were made, but they're not new, and were part of a display in a fishing supply store on Long Island. I washed my lure booty and wondered how I'd use my fish stash in a necklace. Several months later, I made this, the first version. It's fantastic for summer in all of its hot, tropical, colorful goodness, combined with hammered copper rings, dyed coral beads, jade, chrysoprase, Peking and Czech glass beads.

The BEST PART of this piece is that it's CONVERTIBLE! Yep, it detaches to make a shorter necklace (from 32 to 24 inches) and bracelet - so you have complete versatility. It's the first piece that I've made that can do this, and I think it makes it even more interesting. It's so perfect for summer, on a hot summer night at a party, with a colorful and flirty outfit....

A Spot of Color In The Deep Midwinter

I happened to visit the Treasury on Etsy a minute before it opened again...there were over 1000 people waiting and watching. A box popped up and I went for it. There are almost 1000 treasuries - far too many for any but the obsessed to look through, but I like mine, culled from my favorites and a few searches. I hope that you'll check out the amazing shops in this list!

Beijo Flor
Lusitania
Sandra Healey
Lupin
Gaye Abandon - I own 2 of her armies!
Meristem
Vermont Fairies
Jennifer Morris Beads
KThurm
Feltasy
Miss Ruby Sue
Madlight13 (alternate)

Happy New Year!

It's the last day of this bizarre and often difficult year, but it has been a great one for me as far as creativity is concerned. I had a wonderful year on Etsy, selling three times as many pieces in this year as I did in my first year and a half. Had it not been for the economy, I would have exceeded my revised goals for the year, I'm sure. I've learned a lot and have some new plans for 2009, and have to thank my wonderful customers, friends and especially family for their support and encouragement. I want to thank my Dad, who has been my staunchest supporter and advisor. Thank you Dad - you are not on-line, but I want the people to know how much I appreciate your wisdom and love.



I just made these earrings and they're bright and festive for the New Year. It's snowing lightly again in NYC this morning, which dusts everything with gentle optimism, and I wish everyone a Happy New Year celebration, whether out at a party or cozy at home, surrounded with people or alone in reflection. It's a New Year, an uncertain one, to be sure, but I hope it will be filled with unexpected blessings!