It Isn't Easy Being Green

3 Coins in the Fountain Bracelet in Forest.






My neighbor Anne bought 3 bracelets from me recently. The rainbow coin piece I posted about earlier was the first of the 3.





This bracelet, in greens, is the second.



It was fun trying to photograph this piece differently. I ended up using a juice glass, turning it over, and slipping the bracelet over the bottom.






Price: $22.

Flag Festival Press Release

For those of you who would like to read the official press release about the upcoming festival, please click here!

Flag Fest 2009

Why am I so excited about Betsy Ross? A few different reasons. I love the Betsy Ross house. It's always a stop on the tour I give visitors to Philadelphia. It's fun, it's instructive, it's centrally located and it has a beautiful courtyard with a fountain full of cats (carved sculptures) that I've always liked.



Plus, there's seating in the beautiful courtyard, because touring is hard, tiring work. I always enjoy sitting a spell. And, the Betsy Ross house only costs a few dollars to enter, which I find supremely reasonable. History is not cheap, people.





But right now, I'm most excited about the Betsy Ross house because of Flag Festival 2009. This is a 2-day celebration for Old Glory, held over June 13th and 14th (Sat-Sun), for the national Flag Day holiday (yes, there is a Flag Day!).

The theme this year is "A Turn of the Century Celebration" and there will be instructive displays and Victorian crafts, as well as 10c Midway games for kids, food, music and all manner of other fine infotainment. Let me give you some idea of the delights to be sampled during Flag Festival's Victorian-style street festival:

Hot dogs
Teddy Roosevelt (back from the grave, ostensibly)
Apple pie
High-wheel bicycles
Hot dogs
Organ grinder WITH his monkey
and, hot dogs

You know, I'm not a big hot dog fan, but somehow, when I'm outside in the sun and air, there's nothing I love more than a hot dog. I'm assuming these are not Victorian hot dogs, but I make no promises.

So, what else will you find at Flag Festival 2009? Me. That's right, Jericas Jewelry has been accepted as one of the vendors selling her wares at the street fair. I don't make Victorian-era crafts (though I could, as I do like that style), but I think that there will be a mix of historical styles for sale at vendor crafting tables. I'm hoping we have a good turn out and lovely, sunny weather.

I'm going to be asking all of my friends to help me and pitch in as the show gets closer, so please keep me in mind! I will need your help!

Betsy Ross

So, what do these lovely photos of Betsy Ross...




...her house...



...and an American flag mean?



Stay tuned!

Tulips on Etsy

Another Etsy listing!
This time, it's a 3 Coins in the Fountain Collection necklace in the Tulip color palette.


These photos would probably be better used when Spring eventually ...springs, but I feel like a pick-me-up today, so here you go!



A big thanks to a special 3-week old who kindly sent Pilar and I flowers last week (when she was just 2 weeks old). These colors reminded me of the bouquet, and I'll have to post new photos later this week.

Ooh--and to highlight that 'spring break' feeling, I just heard my class tonight was cancelled! Woot!

Price: $38.

Cobalt Coin Drop and Sterling Silver Earrings.

A colleague (and friend) of mine came over the other day looking for a pair of earrings for his Mom's birthday.




He ended up choosing these Coin drop earrings in cobalt blue.



His Mom's birthday is today, Sunday, and I hope she likes them.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Mom of Colleague Friend Lady!

Happy Valentine's Day from Jericas Jewelry!

Nothing more Valentine-y than red hearts, right?




These earrings match the other millefiore heart earrings I have in cobalt blue and aqua blue.



The flowers of the millefiore (thousand flowers) design come in all different colors.



I've finally gotten some photos which show the light coming through these glass beads. The sun lights up the individual flower designs, giving the bead a sort of stained glass effect. All metals are sterling silver.



Maybe I'll wear these when I go out on Saturday night!

Price: $10.

Murano Blown Glass Necklaces

I have just one shot of the Murano bead neck-cable necklaces that I mentioned in my last update. It's a bit hard to see them, but I have 3 layered onto this display. They are cobalt blue, red and aqua. All 3 have black and gold stripes. I think they are great pieces and make a statement when worn. Very simple, with just 1 pop of color at the center of the throat. I tried keeping the price low, even though these beads cost several dollars apiece. Not only are they hand blown, but they have to make it here in one piece, all the way from an island off of Venice. They sold well.

Price: $14.

Murano Black Stripe Blown Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings

And now for something completely different. I bought these really cool blown-glass beads from the island of Murano (Italy) last fall, but I bought them sight unseen.



I'd intended to make them into neckwear by slipping each bead onto a steel neck cable.



This method worked for a number of them, and I'll show you photos in my next blog update.



But for these black-striped clear glass beads, the center hole was not large enough. Luckily for me, I'd bought 2 of them, anticipating that I might have the fit issue, and I was able to put these onto sterling silver eye pins and make a pair of earrings out of them!



And clearly someone must've liked the end result, because these sold within 24 hours of me bringing them to the Holiday sale.


Price: $16.

Rainbow Czech Glass and Sterling Silver Bracelet

Is there a Pride month? I suppose it might be May/June, when various cities around the country have Pride Parades and other activities. Those can be such a good time, I'm telling you! I'm not part of the target demographic, but who doesn't like a parade? No one, that's who!



One of the great things about my 3 Coins in the Fountain bracelets is that they require 7 beads for the average wearer.


And how many colors are there in a rainbow? Yup, 7. ROY G. BIV (though the v (violet) doesn't show up too well in these pix, it's a very nice dark purple.


So it made perfect sense to make a Rainbow Coin bracelet. It's a departure from my usual color palettes, but that's what makes it fun. And, of course, if you're just a fan of Mork from Ork and his rainbow suspenders, you can wear it too!


I've made this one for a friend of mine and will be handing it over next week.

Price: $22.

Winner!

Congratulations to Katie of Sew Nasty (a name I LOVE, by the way) for winning the Jericas Jewelry earring giveway! I'll be sending a pair of my earrings to her in Lancaster, Pa., tomorrow. Wear them in good health, Katie.

Swirled Glass Teardrop Earrings

I'm finally getting through some older photos, taken before last year's Holiday Sale held at the University City Arts League. And, by the way, I have yet to be paid for my sales back in December. Let us hope my check is truly 'in the mail.'



I found these great little glass drops at a store near my parents' house in the Chicago suburbs.



They are just over a 1/2 in. in length, and a kind of pinky-red and a aqua blue.



I knew that all I'd need to do was open french ear wire loops, and slide the drops on, and sometimes, it's really lovely to be able to make something so simply. I do like to challenge myself as a crafter, but when you're gearing up for a sale, and you need to fill your displays, I've always found it smart to make a mix of more and less labor-intensive items.



Price: $10/pair

New Mod Earrings

I've been working a bit more with the 3 Coins in the Fountain palette in Mod.
I already have a pair of black coin earrings with white dangles, so this time, I reversed both the look and the color scheme of the original earrings.
These feature opaque white coins that are double hinged with a black bead, for maximum swing.
All metals are sterling silver. Matching necklace (pictured) and bracelet are available.



Price: $10.