End the End

I wanted to be sure to include some shots of the amazing mugs available from ceramicist Syd Torchio. These were eye catching in the extreme and I found myself drawn to them again and again as I worked my sale shifts. I imagine that each mug (thrown and then decorated) took hours to make, so it deserves its 15 minutes of fame here in my blog:







Happy New Year's Eve to you all!

CELEBRATE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME (as of 6.18 AM central standard time)!

And I don't look a day over 29.

Fourth Tier of the Display Case

And, the 4th tier. This year, I sold a number of turquoise and/or chalk turquoise pieces. I grouped them into a display for opening night.
On the left, a chalk turquoise and red freeform coral necklace. In front of the neckform, I placed a bracelet display with 2 pieces on it: a turquoise/silver/coral bracelet and a chalk turquoise/turquoise/copper bracelet (which matched a necklace also displayed in the case).
Here's a close up of the items on the right side of the display:

I made up another patina-type green/copper necklace and 2 pairs of matching (but different) earrings. Both pairs of earrings and the patina necklace, as well as at least 1 of the bracelets, sold on opening night, and everything displayed here sold by the end of the sale. (I really like the earrings on the right.)

Merry Merry Happy Happy

HAPPY CRAFTY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE, and to all, a good night!

Third Tier of the Display Case

And, another shot of the display case. On the left, I've taken rhodonite and obsidian beads and paired them with a large rhodonite free-from pendant. On the right is a necklace that I've made for myself, too. It features bamboo coral, along with chalk turquoise and olive jade (the center stone). This is an unusual piece; you either love it or you hate it. Luckily for me, someone loved it on the opening night of the sale!

As always, click on the photo for a better look at the jewelry.

Second Tier of the Display Case

Under the top of the case, we have on the left a coin pearl and aquamarine necklace with a matching pair of earrings. On the right, another pearl necklace: peacock-colored pearls with lavendar milk glass beads and amethyst rondelles. To the right of the purple necklace is a pair of white flat button pearl earrings. I really love these and have some close ups I'll post when I finally get my feet under me again.

Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Top Tier of the Display Case

I want to share some close-up shots of the display case you've already seen. This case has seen a lot of turnover, but these shots were taken on the opening night of the sale. A number of pieces were purchased and the spots left empty were replaced by other items.

On the top of the case we have on the left a New Jade, Amazonite and sterling silver necklace, with matching earrings, with an oriental theme. On the right, we have a Matrix Jasper, Obsidian, Snowflake Obsidian and sterling silver necklace.

The green necklace sold very early, and the black necklace sold later in the sale. The earrings sold somewhere in the middle necessitating my making another, similar, necklace to match them so that they weren't just orphans.

Click to enlarge the photo.

Sale Display Photos

Finally, a few photos of the sale. Thank you for your patience! Despite low sales, this year's UCAL Holiday Sale has been a lot of work. It's kept me busy for 2 weeks now, and I'm going to be working this weekend as well---even though the sale ends on Friday! Yes, you heard right. We're extending the sale. What fun!

So, this year, like last year, I had 2 areas in which to set up work. I grouped pieces together by material. Here, the sterling silver and glass jewelry:
and here, the sterling silver, pewter, copper, and natural stone jewelry:

I don't love the first display, to be frank. It looks unprofessional to me. But the case is lovely and I really like displaying my wares there. I have more photos to share in the coming days. Wish me luck as this sale continues. My sanity is at stake.

Please Note: If you click on these 2 photos, you'll get larger versions that show off my work in a way you can actually see!

Remember Isidra Nolasco?

Do you remember my having blogged about Isidra Nolasco, an entrepreneur with a jewelry business in the Dominican Republic? Her group of 5 women solicited a loan from members of Kiva.org in the amount of $1475.00 back in July. I just received a message today from Kiva that Isidra and her group have now successfully paid back 50%of their loan. They pay back $245.83 each month to Kiva lenders. I have now received 50% of my initial loan back, as well. I'm not entirely sure that they are on time with their payments--there might be a lag time between when the loan closes and the 6-month payment period begins, but either way, it was no skin off my nose to be a lender, and I'm now being steadily repaid, and I can only imagine how helpful this loan was to Isidra Nolasco and her group in Santo Domingo.

I really love the spirit of Kiva. We're not giving out charity, we're supporting business people. Here's what another of Isidra's lenders, Paul, says about his involvement:

What an incredible way to link people from around the world. Everyone needs help in making their business ideas a reality. I feel privileged to help all these courageous entrepreneurs. Hear hear, Paul!

BIG Diamond

Back in September (on my mother's birthday!), this ridiculously large diamond was mined in a place called Lesotho, Africa. Both the color and the clarity of the stone are considered "outstanding," and it weights in at a very impressive 478 carats.
An article I read at the time said that a similarly sized stone (with lower color and clarity marks) sold for almost $12 million dollars US.

Unfortunately, for the impoverished people of the African continent, sitting atop such treasures won't help them. I struggle with loving the mining and working and collecting of stones and knowing that many stones are "blood stones" or "conflict stones" (used to finance African civil wars). It's a dirty business, indeed.

On a happier note, for a time, my Uncle, Aunt and their 3 children lived in Lesotho. In a house made out of diamonds. Ok, not really. But they did live there!

Shameless Self-Importance

Here's the actual message I got yesterday:

Hey sweetie!

Tom just gave me an FYI that you might want to replenish your stock of
wares. You have sold several of your high end pieces. There are 3 bare neck
displays, 4-6 earring spots, (I sold two pairs of earrings today!), and I
think that 2 bracelets were sold.

-JJ



So, I brought over another gemstone necklace and a pair of matching earrings, various glass earrings, a sputnik bracelet and a cloisonne pendant on a satin cord. Photos forthcoming--I'm having trouble with my internet connection at home, so bear with me please!

YAY

You know what makes me happy? Getting a message at the office from someone at the sale telling me I need to restock, because several of my displays are already empty!

I need to get home right after work and become a crafty little beaver again!

First Sale!

F to the Y I:

I think that my first sale of Saturday's craft show was the peacock pearl, amethyst and milk glass necklace that I blogged about a few entries ago. I also sold the chalk turquoise and copper necklace and bracelet set that I blogged about more than a few entries ago, as well as a pair of matching earrings I have yet to blog about. And also the coral, chalk turquoise and serpentine necklace I made.

My dsl at home is broken, which won't allow me to post photos saved to my laptop, but never fear--I will post them as soon as I am able!

Peach Stick and Cognac Faceted Pearl and Sterling Silver Necklace

I don't think I've ever blogged about this beautiful necklace I made for last year's University City Arts League Sale.



It pairs natural peach stick and potato pearls with faceted pearls in a rich cognac hue for a dainty, elegant look.


A few of these photos are new, but most are old. I remember trying to shoot this piece before last year's sale at about 2 am. I just snapped a few more shots in preparation for posting this at Etsy.

The necklace is finished with peach potato pearls and a sterling silver lobsterclaw clasp.
The necklace sold early in the sale, as I recall, and I think it commanded the highest price of any piece I've ever made.
Unfortunately, someone else bought the matching earrings before the necklace sold. And I can't blame the buyer--I only charged $8 for them, and they're sterling silver and real pearls.



In person, these pearls glow. They have a beautiful, soft, golden luster.

The 3 shapes of pearl add texture to the necklace.

And now, I've talked myself into wishing I'd kept enough materials to make myself one, too!


Price: $50.

Buy Local!

Tomorrow beginneth the University City Arts League holiday craft show and sale. I don't know if our e-card will display correctly here but I'm slapping it up anyway.



I sent out an evite of my own to friends and family far and near. In it, I wrote: The economy is terrible and everyone is broke, so come and fiddle while Rome burns!

I hope to see you fiddling Saturday, and for the next 2 weeks.

Peacock Pearl, Amethyst and Lavendar Milk Glass Necklace

How much do I love this necklace?
A lot. As in A LOT a lot.

Last Christmas, when I was in Chicago, I found these beautiful faceted briolette beads. They're a beautiful lavendar, and made from milk glass (which is exactly what it sounds like: milky glass). They measure 12mm top to bottom.



I've mixed the briolettes with faceted amethyst rondelles and with head/top-drilled 9mm peacock freshwater pearls.

I chose peacock pearls with lots of lilac, purple and lavendar color.
Because the tops (not the centers) of the pearls are drilled, the pearls do not lie flat. This '1 up and 1 down' effect gives the necklace a lot of texture and movement.

This necklace runs 18 inches in length.

Price: $36

Bye Bye Birdie

You know I make my own gift boxes, right? Or maybe I should say I decorate my own gift boxes. This is the newest design in my decoratin' arsenal: a little birdie on a twig. He's actually really, really cute.

Decorating 200 boxes is...somewhat less than cute, though...

I've Sold a Strand of Pelosi-esque Pearls!

(but to a Republican!)

Here's another golden oldie. I did take some new photos of this necklace, but here are a few old ones, too:



And the new shots:

You may notice that the necklaces in the photos are not the same. The order of the pearls is not identical, but the overall feel is the same. I actually like the newer necklace better--I ended up with 2 similar colors at the worn-in-front clasp the first time I made this design. This time, I have paired a white pearl with a black pearl and I prefer the contrast.

Sterling silver, pewter and Swarovski crystal pearls in 6 shades from white to jet black.

And like with everything I've been posting lately, I need to go and slap this baby up on Etsy!
Y