Cranberry Pearl and Garnet Earrings

This year, I've been really busy working with pearls. I made this sweet pair of earrings using baroque cranberry-colored pearls topped by small, roughly faceted garnets.



Very simple, very cute.

Price: $8.
(See? I really do try to keep my prices very reasonable).

Black Lip Shell Necklace

And, the necklace. I've used Black Lip shell flat discs and strung them together with thick sterling silver wire. This necklace looks striking when worn, but far less striking when hanging on a neck form. It's not quite a choker, but it hugs the neck a bit like a collar.


Price: $30.

Lip Shell Bracelet

Continuing on with my suite of shell jewelry, we have this bracelet.




I used head-drilled (i.e., drilled at the top, not in the middle) slivers of oval-shaped shell.





For a clasp, I used a hammered pewter oval-shaped clasp to mirror the shape of the beads.




I really love this bracelet, and if I were a bracelet-wearin' girl, I'd be have it on right now.













Price: $18.

Mother of Pearl Earrings

Things have been going fairly well at my Holiday Sale. Yay. And, I'm busy making a necklace and a pair of earrings right now, so I thought I'd take a short blog break.



I've made a suite of jewelry featuring shell and sterling silver. I have a necklace, a bracelet and a pair of earrings. They aren't exact matches for one another, but they 'go,' which is how I prefer it.



I ran over to check my inventory, and saw that these Mother of Pearl shell earrings had already sold. They were very simple--just the large discs and sterling silver findings.

Price: $10.

Camo Stone Necklace

So, take a look at this olive drab and black stone. It's a kind of jasper and it's been named Camo Stone because it looks like the camouflage pattern of US Military fatigues.

 

Please consider this necklace my contribution to the war effort.

 

 

I used large chunks of camo stone jasper, and added olive jade in between them to pick up the olive green in the stone. At the back, I added a few onyx beads and then I called it a day!

It's sitting in my glass display case at the Arts League right this very second, iffn' you're innarested.

Price: $34

Guest Blogger!

I've asked one of my best friends to share her recent work with you all. I'll let her take over from here:


I am Jennifer's friend, Angie. We met several years ago at her UCAL Craft Sale. So this month is our anniversary. She asked me to take pictures of my recent spurt of design activity. I used to make jewelry many (in the 80's) years ago, but got out of the habit. Jennifer has been a very positive influence on me with her bright and cheery design sense. It's taken awhile but I have been inspired to make things again and it is fun, but I am clearly out of practice.

These are two prototypes for the earrings I plan to make. I am working with chunky stones and shiny flower-related findings--something that fulfills both of my passions, as I am also a gardener.

The earrings with the gold vermeil findings (22kt gold over sterling silver) are a green fluorite with an aurora borealis (AB) coating on top, over a chunk of labradorite with the same coating. Usually these stone are paired with silver, but I am digging the warmth of the gold pair with these stones and definitely the AB coating.



The pair below, with the sterling findings, features a dyed stone. It is called ruby moonstone. I just love it. On top of that pair is a couple of Swarovski bicones for fun. My ultimate view of this earring is to pair the moonstones with a gorgeous AB-coated carnelian with the vermeil findings. Yum!








Thanks so much Angie! Good luck with your continued progress with your designs.

Aventurine, Amazonite and New Jade Necklace

 

The big sale is underway, and I'm very glad to report that a number of my pieces have already walked out the door. Most were paid for. But one... well--I'd better get paid for it one way or the other, but I'm not going to freak out yet.

 

This is a very simple sterling silver and stone necklace that I made last year, but wasn't able to sell.

 

It features a carved aventurine focal green bead, mixed with amazonite ovals and new jade (serpentine stone) rounds.

 

Maybe this year will be its lucky year?

Price: $32.

Amethyst and Peacock Pearl Necklace

The sale opened last night and thankfully for most everyone involved, we had a nice opening. This was the first of 2: one for the Board and one for the general public. So tonight, the public will be making its way through our doors. Or at least I hope it will. Come one, come all!




I managed to snap photos of most of the items I put into my display case earlier this week, on one of the only sunny days we've had all week! This is an amethyst and peacock head-drilled pearl necklace.



I used 7-8mm round amethysts, and interspersed them with interesting drop-shaped freshwater pearls. When I bought the strand of pearls I used, I was surprised to find that some of the pearls had points, not rounded edges. I was scratching my head, trying to figure out a way to make those work--but I needn't have worried! I used the unique pearls as drops for a chevron-type design.




Cute, no?




Price: $34

My Etsy shop

Button Ad

So, what's the ad for? Well, I just placed this ad on the Regretsy website for 1 week starting today. Or...yesterday? I don't know.

Take a look

Keep in mind that the site, and the ad, are not entirely safe for work. But if you like Etsy, you're going to LOVE Regretsy.

MY ETSY SHOP