Jericas Jewelry

Uh Oh Emerald

2012-01-29T17:35:00.001-05:00

I'm going to copy and paste a story I just found when I tried to follow up with the auctioning off of that massive emerald I blogged about a few days ago:

By Evan Duggan

The man claiming to have the world’s largest cut emerald has been arrested in Kelowna, B.C., in connection to allegations of multiple fraud offences that took place in Ontario.

Regan Reaney claims the massive green crystal, which he bought recently in India, is a 57,500 carat emerald worth at least $1.15 million. His massive gem was set to be auctioned off Saturday through Western Star Auctions in Kelowna. He hoped to earn seven-figures for it at the auction.

The auctioning off of Reaney’s gem went on as planned, but it didn’t sell, said Barb Johns of Western Star Auctions.

She declined to comment further on the matter.

UH OH.

Blown Glass Globe Earrings

2012-01-28T12:39:00.004-05:00

How great are these cool blown glass spherical globe-shaped beads?

I found the beads at a craft shop near Chicago. They came in an aqua blue, a rich red, a plum and a amber yellow. I added some beaded rope-look pewter findings on top of the globes to finish them off, and then hooked them to sterling earwires. The globes are just under an inch in diameter.

People responded well to them and were happy to pay the $14 asking price.

Cranberry Pearl and Garnet Matched Set

2012-01-22T12:09:00.007-05:00

I've been working with pearls again for the last few months, and I came up with this pearl and garnet necklace with matching earrings. The pearls are top-drilled baroque coin pearls dyed a beautiful cranberry color. I've spaced them out using roughly faceted garnets.

The matching earrings use the same garnet beads, along with sterling spacers and potato-shaped (i.e., round, but not perfectly spherical) cranberry colored pearls.

These types of earrings usually sell pretty well for me; they're sweet and the price is right.

Necklace: $38 (I think...)
Earrings: $10

Green Glass Toggle Bracelet

2012-01-21T23:44:00.001-05:00

This is a braclet made of decorated green glass beads. The color of the glass reminds me of bottle glass.

I don't know that I can call these Venetian Wedding Cake beads.

My understanding of those beads is that they're more highly decorated with 3-D glass (lampworked with a torch). Still, I think the details are very pretty.

Someone else thought so, too, as this bracelet sold quickly during the sale.

Price $16.

Doorstopper of a Stone

2012-01-19T20:52:00.004-05:00

Look
At
That
Giant
Emerald!

Ok, so it's not exactly an emerald the way we generall think about emeralds. Apparently, this 57,500 carat, 25 lbs., beauty is enhanced (dyed) green beryl. Now, beryl is, indeed, the mineral that emerald comes from (emerald is a rare form of beryl) but not all beryl is rare or valuable. If this stone is actually enhanced green beryl, then it's a kind of "emerald light" as I understand it. But, it's suspected to be white beryl, dyed a strong green, and not green beryl, or traditional emerald.

Which may be just as well...how'd you ever make this thing into a ring?

Art Glass Toggle Bracelet

2012-01-15T14:33:00.004-05:00

And here's the delightful matching bracelet, of course!

I used the same art glass beads, and paired them with silvery-clear smaller spacer beads.

A silver-plated toggle finishes the look.

Price $16

Art Glass Earrings

2012-01-15T11:55:00.003-05:00

I bought a number of these beads and made a set of earrings and bracelet with them.

I love the color that streaks through the clear glass--the patterning makes me think of the designer Missoni and the primary colors make me think of the artist Mondrian.

I picked out the royal blue swirl in the glass and highlighted it with a small royal blue bicone also made of glass. The headpins and earwire are sterling silver

Love them!

Price: $10.

Bronze Glass Disc Bracelet

2012-01-13T23:36:00.005-05:00

I'm going to post photos of all of the bracelets I made for the last holiday sale here, mostly because my blog is my source of record. I like knowing what I made when, what I offered when, and what I sold, when. And for how much!

This bracelet sold quickly, which was great. The glass is a rich bronze color and I guess brown is still popular, eh?

Price: $16.

Light Up 2012!

2012-01-04T21:02:00.004-05:00

This holiday season, I strung Christmas lights up (outside) for the very first time in my life!

This is the way the lights look reflected in my neighbor's window.

It was very exciting and, in its own way, a crafty endeavor. Here are some shots of the icicle lights on my balcony.

I had to wrap the 2 strings around the stone finials a number of times because I really couldn't gauge the amount of cord I needed. Back and forth, back and forth. It took 18 feet of lights and I think it looks beautiful. How it's gonna look when I start taking it down I cannot say...

Meow!

2011-12-30T12:45:00.003-05:00

How cute? Kitty cat earrings--clear aqua and opaque green glass, on sterling silver pins and earwires. Someone bought both pairs at once, so I'm sure it was a very kitty Christmas in Philadelphia.

Price: $10.

Merry Christmas To All!

2011-12-25T06:54:00.000-05:00

Sending best wishes for a joyous Christmas from my house to yours!

Red Lampworked Bead Bracelet

2011-12-23T11:25:00.000-05:00

I don't know why this bracelet didn't sell, but it didn't... Red is one of the "it" colors right now, or it WILL be, someone tells me, so maybe this bracelet will have its day in the near future.

What I especially like is that the red beads actually have a bit of pink in there, too. Kind of Valentines-y, now that I think of it.

Price: $16

Black and White Glass Bracelets

2011-12-18T14:03:00.001-05:00

Black and white.

Not too much more to say.

The bracelet with the lumpier beads was purchased; the other was not.

Price: $16 for each.

Aqua Lampworked Bracelet

2011-12-14T23:18:00.005-05:00

I really love these lampworked beads. A glassblower I met last night asked me if I'd made them and I had to tell her: no. If I had, I would need to charge $50 for these necklaces (more?) instead of the $16-18 I'm charging. It's a labor intensive process to make beads, people. Pricey, too, as a result.

I bought the beads at a Chicago-area craft shop last year during the Christmas/New Year holidays. I'm sure I bought at least 8 different types of beads...

Price: $18.

Green and Gold Bracelets

2011-12-14T22:56:00.008-05:00

More bracelets from my winter 2011 collection of jewelry:

Both are very simple and feature rounded discs of glass. I love these golden-hued beads; they have an aurora borealis coating that's gorgeous.

I also had some matte silvery green beads that I strung with matte black beads.

Both bracelets feature toggle clasps.

Price: Gold $16. Green $14.

Blue Glass Disc Bracelet

2011-12-13T23:28:00.004-05:00

This year, I bought a bunch of silver-plated toggle clasps and decided to make an equally big bunch of beaded bracelets. And yes, 'bunch of' is a technical term.

I love these blue beads--they have silver foil cores. The beads are big--about an inch in diameter. I mixed a rich aqua with an ice blue. I think toggles make the bracelet more fun.

Price: $16.

City Kitty Auction Piece--SOLD!

2011-12-06T20:24:00.003-05:00

This item was posted on the auction site for my local cat rescue organization today and it sold about 9 minutes later. I didn't even get to see it featured! I'm kind of bummed. I mean, I'm glad that the kitties can benefit, of course, but I wanted to see how the auction works from the inside.

The 'Buy it Now!' price was set at $50 and I guess someone ...bought it now! It went so quickly, that I'm still not sure someone didn't hit the wrong key (buy versus bid?), but we'll see.

The Arts League Sale Has Begun!

2011-12-04T13:04:00.003-05:00

Oh my. The sale in my neighborhood opened on Friday night; we had another grand opening on Saturday night. I attended both nights and while I absolutely did make some wonderful sales, the nights were a bit slow. Perhaps it's too early in the season for people to want to shop? It didn't help that West Philadelphia has another craft sale going on this weekend only 5 blocks away.

In any case, I worked up a collection of glass bracelets this year. I used lampworked glass beads and put them together in interesting color combinations. I finished them with silver-plated toggle clasps.

This color palette is red-based, with orange and white and a bit of blue. Cool!

Price: $18.

Peach Pearl and Sterling Silver Necklace

2011-12-01T20:47:00.004-05:00

Pearl and Italian Sterling Silver necklace. The pearls, separated by lengths of fine chain, are genuine freshwater pearls, 8mm in size, and a beautiful natural peach color (orange, in honor of a recently saved kitty from the mean streets of West Philadelphia!). The necklace measures 18 inches and has a sterling spring ring clasp. It's a donation for a local auction.

Are these photos moody, or what? I shot them quick-quick at work today, on a black binder, under an ugly desk lamp. Beggars, choosers, right?

Fingers Crossed!

2011-11-15T19:15:00.003-05:00

Well, this beauty sold at auction for 10.9 million smackers yesterday. To whom? I don't know! It was a mysterious phone bid!

So maybe, just maybe, I'll wake up to this baby on Christmas morning!

Recycled Chain Greyscale Necklace

2011-11-07T21:01:00.005-05:00

More of the recycled jewelry I've been working on (not recently, I have to admit).

I made this long necklace (wrapped twice) with gunmetal chain from other projects. The links and patterns are all different, which gives the necklace a lot of texture.

I worked in a palette of white, silver, grey and black--greyscale, if you will.

I incorporated: real freshwater pearls, coin pearls, Swarovski crystal pearls, fire-polished faceted crystals and antiqued silver metal beads.

I love it. And I really do need to dig it out and start wearing it!

Christmas List

2011-10-30T10:20:00.009-04:00

So it may be 2 months before Christmas, but that doesn't mean I can't look for gifts for myself, right?

I'm asking Santa for a pair of sterling silver hoop earrings; thick, about an inch in diameter, with a snap-lock bag.

I like this pair a lot:

These are cute:

And, if I'm a VERY good girl, maybe these:

(1 carat of diamonds! Gorgeous)

Copper Feather Necklace

2011-10-22T10:42:00.007-04:00

Jamie was also kind enough to try on my copper feather necklace during our photo session. I think it looks great with her blue-green shirt.

I've already posted here in my blog about this particular piece, so I won't bore you all again. I have to say--it's a great necklace. I know that's a bit smarmy to say, but allow me that, just the once!

Long Recycled Chain Earrings

2011-10-19T22:23:00.009-04:00

I asked the lovely Jamie to model a new pair of earrings for me the other weekend (when we finally had some sun!)

I used 2 lengths of gunmetal grey chain that incorporates large oval-shaped links. The links are textured (twisted like a wrought-iron fence).

It took some playing to get the overall look right...I'm happy with it, but it honestly cost me about 2 hours of my time. Can you believe that? You should. The creative process is sometimes laborious and because I was working with chain I already had, I really had to jury rig some things together.

The earrings are approximately 3 inches long and hang from gunmetal grey ear wires.

"The Gates"

2011-10-14T23:41:00.006-04:00

Did you catch any episodes of the TV show The Gates? It played on ABC during the summer of 2010. It was another version of the "we live in a nice town and everything is fine but wait...is that a witch? And a vampire?"--type of show that's so popular now. The gates themselves were those around the gated community in which the main family in the story lived.

I never watched the show, but thanks to It's A Wrap in Burbank, I was able to pick up a pair of earrings from the wardrobe department!

Silvertone metal with cute pink faceted plastic beads. I get lots of compliments on them. Not bad for $7!

Certainly on My Christmas List

2011-10-08T13:21:00.003-04:00

I have to tell you all, I think this stone is breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. Normally, yellow is not my favorite color, but this last year has seen me embracing the sunny color. And, of course, I'm crazy about gemstones. So, if you put the 2 together, you get this:

What's not to love? Absolutely nothing, that's what.

This diamond is big enough for a name (I love those!). It's called the Sun-Drop diamond and it weighs 110.3 carats (just love that last 30 points of weight). It's cut into a fancy pear shape (the largest yellow pear-shape in the world) and was mined in South Africa in 2010.

It's being auctioned by Sotheby's and the price could go as high as $15 million dollars. The color saturation is rich and natural, and the clarity, set at VVS1 (very very slight inclusions, none of which are visible to the naked eye) is amazing.

I love you, Sun-Drop, I love you.

It's a Wrap Earrings

2011-09-22T19:23:00.005-04:00

Some shots of this great pair of earrings that I got a few weeks back in California.

It can be hard to photograph beads that have an aurora borealis coating (that shiny golden color that flashes on the surface of some stones and beads), and that seems to be true here.

These earrings have a little gold 'web' with a crystal in the middle and then 3 long dangles made of indigo-colored crystals. Lots of sparkle.

They were purchased for the TV show As The World Turns. If memory serves me correctly, ASWT has been cancelled after many, many years, and so many items are making their way to It's a Wrap right now.

How Can You Rob the Titanic?!

2011-09-20T13:08:00.004-04:00

So, sadly, a necklace recovered from the bottom of the ocean during the salvage operation that investigated the wreck of the Titanic has been stolen from an amusement park in Denmark.

A number of salvaged items are being shown at this park and the necklace went missing without a single alarm going off. Tsk, tsk.

It's doubtful it could be sold, as it's 'famous' in its way, but that doesn't put it past someone just keeping it and wearing it.

In truth, I don't think it looks like too much:

I suspect it's the lore that's made it both interesting and valuable. It's gold plated (a very cheap process), with a number of chains gathered together, and looks to have a small focal bead with smaller beads on either side. That's it!

It was owned by first-class passenger Eleanor Wildener of Philadelphia. She survived the sinking of her ship that cold night in April 1912.

I can only imagine how many other beautiful pieces of jewelry are hanging out there with the fishies...I might have to go pick up some used SCUBA equipment!

A Few More Bridesmaids Shots

2011-09-14T22:12:00.005-04:00

My friend Martha shared a few more photos of her wedding attendants wearing Jericas Jewelry braclets and necklaces! I'm posting them here for posterity. Everyone looks beautiful and happy. What a gorgeous place Beltane Ranch is!

It's A Wrap!

2011-09-08T23:08:00.002-04:00

As I write this entry, Tropical Storm Lee's effects are still being felt on the East Coast. We've had rain for days and will continue to have more for the next few days. It's muggy and grey outside.

But I'm not depressed. You know why? BECAUSE I GOT TO SHOP AT IT'S A WRAP WHILE I WAS IN CALIFORNIA LAST WEEKEND!

What's It's a Wrap? Check it out! It's a great thrift store that features items from the film and TV industries in Hollywood! I call it Second-Hand Hollywood and I love it!

I'm going to take some photos of my loot and post them over teh weekend. All I can say is that this store was MADE for me. It's cheap, interesting and unique. It's everything I love, with jewelry thrown in on top!

More later, once I unpack my suitcase.

Goodnight, Irene!

2011-08-29T21:57:00.002-04:00

How many times has that phrase been used lately, eh?

Anyway, I thought I'd share with you all the hasty job I did dragging all of my plants in from the balcony just after the rain started.

I think I have 20 pots lined up on the living room floor, including a long planter with bell peppers growing (at the far left).

I just put them back a few minutes ago. With yesterday's wind, I didn't want anything to take off and sail away!

COME ON, IRENE

2011-08-28T04:18:00.002-04:00

I think Philadelphia has turned into a tropical island! Oy. Be safe, East Coasters!

A New Direction in Retail

2011-08-27T15:58:00.003-04:00

I'm linking to SA VA today-it's a local clothing and accessory boutique in Center City Philadelphia. The owner takes ethical and locally-made clothing seriously. She has a production facility located near the shop and produces almost all of the boutique's stock there. Her clothing is made in America, by people making a legal wage. Many fabrics are organic and she supports a fair trade agenda.

I can't say that my new motivation for repurposed jewelry is on the same scale as a shop like SA VA, but I definitely hope the owner is willing to give me some feedback on my work.

I hope to finish more pieces this weekend (thanks Hurricane Irene!) and then take some photos with real, live models! More to come.

Adventures in Oxidation

2011-08-23T17:54:00.000-04:00

Um...eww.

Let me ask you something: does the photo below look like it features a ring of sterling silver wire propped up on a plastic box next to five mashed up boiled eggs in the shell?

If you said 'yes,' you're right and just be glad you're not here to smell it as well as look at it.

I've been working on using some old lengths of chain and orphan beads of all types to create new looks. I have some gunmetal chains and needed to connect them using sterling wire. But gunmetal and gleaming silver don't go, so I wanted to intentionally tarnish sterling wire to match (ain't it always the way? If you want it shiny, it'll tarnish, if you want it tarnished, it's shiny!).

You can oxidize silver quickly by using liver of sulphur, but I remember reading years ago that you can also just use the sulphur naturally available in boiled eggs!

So I boiled up a bunch of eggs a bit too old to eat (hence the 'ew!') and put them in with a coil of wire and then put a lid on top of the whole shebang and left it overnight in the fridge.

And voila! I have to say, it worked pretty well, and now I'm ready to see if it's a good match with the gunmetal chain I have. Now, if only I could find that darned chain...

Dark Copper Necklace

2011-08-21T04:56:00.007-04:00

So, here's the first piece of 'recycled' jewelry I want to share. I had some old lengths of chain in a dark copper color (I suspect it's base metal with a weathered copper plating). I also had this cool necklace made of lengths of chain with dangles attached. I'm not thrilled with the photos so I apologize in advance. Because of the drape of this piece, I think I need a live model.

And that's where we get back to the: are they leaves or are they feathers? debate. What do you think?

The chain with all of the dangles is broken in a few places, but luckily, the necklace was long enough so that I still have lots of sections to work with.

At first, I was only going to use one length of the dangle chain and suspend it from the plainer chain; I tried this and it just didn't do much for me, maybe because the chains were similar in size and so there was no focal impact for the center of the necklace.

I chewed on this one for a while and then thought: if 1 layer isn't enough, try 2! And just like that, it came into being. "Very lush" is the way my friend Kay referred to it. I like that.

I had to buy the jump rings (connectors) and toggle clasp new, as the original pieces didn't yield anything I could use, but the other items came from my stash of existing materials and jewelry.

I think this necklace would look great with a teal green or turquoise blue shirt. It's approximately 19 inches long which makes it very versatile.

What's Old Is New Again.

2011-08-20T16:42:00.003-04:00

Is it a feather? Is it a leaf? I... don't know! But more about that in a minute.

So, you'll remember that I mentioned I wanted to start experimenting with the odds and ends of things I've collected over the years. These are bits and bobs, as the British say, that I have acquired in drips and drabs: things from garage sales or thrift stores, things given to me by others (usually in some state of disrepair and just about ready for the garbage can), and now and then, something left over from another project.

Old, broken costume jewelry can be a lot of fun. What looks like garbage to one person can be a treasure to another. Or, if you're not careful and don't have a final design in mind, it can just end up as ...more garbage.

And so that's the goal that I've set for myself as I recycle old pieces, repurpose others and try my best to use up things that already exist so that I'm not constantly buying new materials that mean, in turn, that producers need to produce more to fill consumer needs. Don't get me wrong--I like jewelry. It's fun to have new things. But sometimes, new things can come from old things. And isn't that great?

It's going to be a challenge, I know. To recycle used material isn't hard, but to do it in a way that is still stylistically relevant (the sort of item that you'd like regardless of its origins) is not an easy task. Fashion is new school, but I'm using old school materials.

Fingers crossed! I just finished a new necklace yesterday, and am just about to photograph it. Check back shortly for its first viewing (and to find out if it's a feather or a leaf!)

New Laptop!

2011-08-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

I finally replaced my 1,000-year-old laptop and I'm quite excited. I got an HP Pavilion dv7t, with a 17.3 inch screen. It's massive, but relatively light compared to my old machine (which was smaller). I've unfortunately had to send it back already for a repair, but it was all covered by the warranty I have, so I just decided to roll with the punches! It's been a tough few months at Casa Jericas Jewelry, but I'm ready to explore what my new computer offers!

Bridesmaids in Their Necklaces

2011-08-04T13:22:00.002-04:00

Rarely have I seen wedding photos that displayed a wedding as lovely looking as that of Brian and Martha (I know Martha from our weekly craft night).

A friend snapped a photo of a few of Martha's bridesmaids in their grey chiffon dresses, wearing their wedding necklaces.

Take a look, and thanks to Joanne who attended the wedding and snapped the photo for me.

Reuse, Recycle, REDESIGN?

2011-08-03T23:38:00.002-04:00

Beads I already own. Pieces salvaged from yard sales and flea markets. Components reclaimed from existing finished bracelets and necklaces.

I have an idea in my head involving turquoise and coral and existing lengths of varied chain...

stay tuned!

Pearl, Amethyst and Crystal Bracelet

2011-07-29T10:03:00.001-04:00

I made about a kazillion things for my friend Joanne to take with her to Norway (and what an awful thing happened there a week ago! It's all really very tragic). She had me make 3 matching braclets from some 'found' pearls I had.

I mixed peacock purple pearls with some lumpy silver reclaimed pearls (things I find at garage sales and flea markets, or 'rescued' from...ok, I'll say it, UGLY pieces already made that I find, etc.), amethyst and crystal.

I find certain colors difficult to photograph, and that's true for this shade of purple, but I love how the sun hit a facet of the mauve crystal rondelle I used to give this bracelet some bling!

Keep your eyes peeled...I'm thinking of trying to start a collection made from pre-existing pieces, things I've been given, things I've found, things people have collected for me from thrift shops allover!

Peach, Ivory and Pink Pearl Bracelet

2011-07-26T21:51:00.000-04:00

My neighbor and friend Joanne recently spent several weeks in Norway seeing relatives she hadn't seen in some time. She didn't want to show up to the reunion empty-handed, so she and her brother brought gifts for all. She was kind enough to buy lots of my pieces to give away. She designed a few herself, and together we came up with this tri-color pearl bracelet.

I had enough beads to make just one of these, so someone has a one-of-a-kind bracelet. I used large (about 10mm long) natural, undyed peach, ivory and pink rice freshwater pearls. I added in a bit of shine with small sterling silver beads.

So now, I've got my jewelry in Denmark and Norway--anyone in Finland or Sweden interested in making a purchase...?

More Dainty Cats

2011-07-23T21:25:00.000-04:00

I stocked up on cat doo-dads for the fundraiser I'm doind this month, but so far...no dice. I've priced the earrings really well (all well under $10), so that's a disappointment.

I bought these cat charms in antiqued silver-plated pewter, antiqued copper-plated pewter and antiqued brass-plated pewter.

Price: $6.25 (and 30% goes to the kitties in need!)

Tiptoe Through the Non-Tulips

2011-07-19T23:09:00.006-04:00

A few more photos of something that inspires me during the summer; gardening (even in little pots) gets the creative juices flowing, don't you think?

Theme this year: PINK (and nothing but).

I have impatiens, vinca, petunias, begonias, geraniums and a giant mandevilla plant.

I'm also growing basil, bell peppers and strawberries.

The Blue and the Gray

2011-07-17T23:24:00.003-04:00

Next weekend, my craft-club friend Martha is getting married. She hired me to make bridesmaid jewelry, and I finally have a few shots of the bracelets and necklaces.

I LOVE these large toggles made of sterling silver. I think the circle goes so well with the round beads. Unfortunately, they're currently running something like $7 apiece now, and there's just no way to fold that kind of cost into my existing pricing scheme.

But I think round toggles are really just perfect with this design...

The Getty Museum

2011-07-12T17:14:00.003-04:00

Just a break from our regular broadcasting to share a few snapshots of my trip to the Getty Museum outside of Los Angeles. This is proof that even when I'm not sitting at my craft table I'm still keeping my creative skills sharp!

Entrance pavillion

Front steps

Inner sculpture courtyard

Rear elevation overlooking back garden

Back garden

Another Treasury on Etsy

2011-07-07T18:44:00.001-04:00

You know, I've been lucky enough to have Etsy users include my work in the composites they assemble in hopes of making the entry page of the entire Etsy site.

(my work: the antiqued gold cat earrings)

That said, none of these composites have ever actually made the front page...

But that's OK. It's nice just to be nominated, right?

p.s.: does it surprise anyone that a librarian does a fantastic job of assigning keywords to her Etsy listings so that they're easily findable??

Surprise!

2011-07-05T15:49:00.000-04:00

Yup. It's probably pretty easy to pick out my work by now, isn't it?

What Is It With the Cupcakes?

2011-07-03T15:42:00.000-04:00

I'm not going to get into all of the questions that I have about cupcakes right now; I'm really just here to post some screenshots (thanks, Susan!) from Etsy.

An Etsy user created a Treasury featuring--you guessed it, cupcakes.

See if you can pick out my work. We'll talk about it next time I see you.

Antiqued Gold Cat Earrings

2011-07-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Not a surprise that I made the same earrings in gold.

I have to say, I think I prefer the gold to the silver.

Price: $7.50.

July is City Kitties Fundraiser Month

2011-06-28T21:55:00.004-04:00

For the 3rd year, I'm donating 30% of my Etsy profits to charity. I'm currently selling both glass jewelry as well as metal jewelry featuring cats.

These cute little earrings feature a sassy patterned cat with a curly tail. The charm measures 19mm, or 3/4 in, long, and swings from a simple silver-plated earwire. The cats are made of pewter that has been plated in silver and antiqued for a slightly patinated finish. They have a folk-art feel and are perfect for cat lovers.

Price: $7.50

Pistachio Necklace

2011-06-22T17:52:00.003-04:00

Another donated auction piece: Pistachio Necklace.

I used khaki-colored baroque pearls, mixed with a few smaller pistachio potato pearls, and then added in 18 genuine peridot stones.

All metals are sterling silver.

Deelish!

Cotton Candy Necklace

2011-05-30T18:48:00.005-04:00

Here's another pearl necklace that I donated to the recent art auction.

I combined Barbie pink freshwater potato pearls with slightly smaller hot pink freshwater potato pearls. In between, I added beautifully faceted pink crystal rondelles.

My friend Joanne actually helped me design this necklace; I was at her place for craft night and I just couldn't get the pattern right and she made some suggestions that turned out great.

Another friend walked out of the auction with it. I'm lucky to have good friends!

Cold, Hard Cash

2011-05-27T13:49:00.002-04:00

Just found out that the City Kitties benefit from the other week netted the cat rescue organization $4,700. I know they will put that money to very, very good use. Here's a shot of Slinky-Winky, an adoptable one-eyed cat that the team helped off the streets recently.

$131 Bucks

2011-05-16T14:27:00.004-04:00

So, how much did my donated jewelry make for City Kitties? 131 smackaroonies! I'm really pleased that each of my 6 pieces moved out the door. It's wonderful to have one of those 'more than the sum of its parts' situations, isn't it? All of the 'shoppers' did more than those donating could do, and everyone together did much more than City Kitties could do. So it was a win-win-win.

And special thanks to friends Joanne and Jamie, who bid (and won) 2 of my necklaces. I swear that I tried to get them not to, but they were sweethearts who bid anyway. I'll post shots later this week.

For now, here's a photo (not mine, Kyle Cassidy's) of one of the rooms of the many-roomed auction. You can see the mounted art on the walls, as well as some of the tables on which smaller pieces were placed.

And right in the middle, you can see me! I'm wearing a light green shirt and carrying my hot pink bag!

Orange Sherbet Necklace

2011-05-07T15:07:00.003-04:00

The last time I went to a vendor show, it was for a very specific purpose: to find materials I could use to make donations for the City Kitties Art Auction.

I found these pearls first:

They're head-drilled (i.e., at the top) rice pearls. I like using them because, being head-drilled, they fan out on either side of a center line, giving the piece a lot of visual interest.

The tangerine color made me think of orange sherbet, hence the name.

It can be difficult to price items for an auction. I did put reserves on all of the pieces I made, because I used real pearls and sterling silver. I couldn't let it walk about the door for a buck. Things may not sell at much over the reserve, and that's OK. I hope this necklace makes some bidder very happy!

Reserve price: $15.

Calling All Artists

2011-05-05T11:52:00.006-04:00

This is the first year that I am participating in the City Kitties Art Auction. Having seen photos of the event, I assumed only wall art was on offer. In fact, the organizers also have a table of work of other types.

I've created 5 necklaces and 1 bracelet and have packaged them up for display. Each item has a tag indicating materials used, and I've placed it into a bag with my contact information inside.

The event is held the evening of Friday the 13th (!) of May. I plan to attend. I'll share some photos of the work as well as the event, so check back.

Check it out!

I Hope You Didn't Take That Bet!

2011-04-30T13:06:00.000-04:00

The Russian Fringe it was NOT!

It was Queen Elizabeth's Cartier tiara, originally given to her by her own Mother, upon her 18th birthday. The Queen Mum received it from her husband George (of The King's Speech fame) who bought it in 1936.

Kate (now, Princess Catherine) also wore a pair of diamond earrings, a gift from her parents, that were designed by jeweler Robinson Pelham. Their design was inspired by the Coat of Arms just bestowed upon the middle-class Middletons, which features 3 acorns. Mighty oaks grow from tiny acorns (get it?) and are popular in West Berkshire, where the family lives. The gold design in the middle of the crest represents mother Carole Middleton's maiden name, Goldsmith. The crest is split down the middle--again, another get it? moment.

Surrey with the [Russian] Fringe on Top?

2011-04-28T22:41:00.005-04:00

So, I fully admit that I am planning on watching England's royal wedding tomorrow morning (very, very early!) before work. We still don't know who is designing Kate Middleton's dress nor do we know what sort of jewelry she might be wearing (though we Do know that her wedding ring will be made out of gold mined in Wales. The nugget has been in the family for over 80 years and other royal bands have been made of the stuff; the Queen gave William some of it after he'd announced his engagement).

But I hear bets are being taken on the George III tiara featuring into tomorrow's wedding.

Ooh, just LOOK at that baby. It's gorgeous. And you can see why it's been nicknamed the Russian Fringe Tiara. The Queen herself wore this headpiece for her own wedding in 1947.

That said, it's a bit ... formal for Kate, I feel. Now, of course this is a royal wedding and Kate will eventually replace the current Queen, so it's not like it's Dick and Jane eloping to the Bahamas, but I just feel like the tiara is so ... rigid. Kind of old fashioned, I guess. Even moreso than all of the other decades- and centuries-old pieces of jewelry in the family.

Here's a shot of the tiara being worn by Queen Victoria.

I'm reconsidering--if Kate's been given the chance to wear something that Queen Victoria wore, she should snap it up like nobody's business!

If you're getting up early to watch the wedding, have a scone and think of me!

Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings ... Pt. 3

2011-04-24T11:30:00.008-04:00

Here are more shots of the glass bead earrings I made last year.

I needed something on which to hang them in order to get a shot; unfortunately this glass candle holder, which I love, is a lime green that distorts everything.

Much of these beads are clear, but end up looking green.

These teardrop- and marquis-shaped beads have green, red/yellow, black or pink cores of glass.

The petal-shaped glass beads are orange, black and white, with a golden outline.

I also made more of the lemon/lime/orange sherbet earrings that I love.

And finally, I bought some cool new irridescent smoky grey leaf-shaped beads. They're very eye catching. I paired them with matching round beads.

All findings are sterling silver.

Price:
All earings: $10

Metal and Sterling Silver Earrings ... Pt. 2

2011-04-16T18:19:00.000-04:00

I had a collection of these neat little metal discs with blue and green designs on them, covered by resin.

The looked great once I suspended them on sterling oval jump rings.

I added sterling silver earwires and they were good to go.

It's always great to have pieces you can put together quickly to balance out some of the labor intensive pieces you make.

Price: $10

Metal and Sterling Silver Earrings ... Pt. 1

2011-04-10T19:59:00.001-04:00

And here are a few shots of the metal earrings I made at the end of last year.

Again with the birds!

(N.B. these are photographed on a colored background)

And these are the cutest little pewter teapots:

And look--the lid of the pot even opens.

Price:
Bird earrings: $10
Teapot earrings: $12
(both sold)

Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings ... Pt. 2

2011-04-10T18:22:00.009-04:00

I finally got around to using some of my cool millefiore (Italian for 'thousand flowers) glass stations.

I particularly like the big discs above, but these little hearts are sweet, too.

And finally, these big blue hearts.

Price:
Discs: $10
Red hearts: $8
Blue hearts: 10
(at least I think that's what they were...And frankly, those are excellent prices for those gorgeous beads. You'd pay a lot more someplace else, and we both know it!)

Glass and Sterling Silver Earrings ... Pt. 1

2011-04-09T14:44:00.007-04:00

And continuing on with my plan of showcasing items made at the end of last year, I have lots and lots of glass (etc.) and sterling silver earrings to share.

I tried something new and instead of using hooks, I used small silver hoops to dangle little pendants from. Doing so gave the finished piece a different look and also elminated a bit of the work (often a good thing when you're under a deadline).

So, above, is a pair heart-shaped glass earrings hanging from 1 inch silver hoops, already priced and tagged for market, as it were!

Above is a pair of rectangular aqua, white and cobalt glass earrings hanging from 3/4 inch silver hoops.

Price:
Heart earrings: $10
Rectangular earrings: $8
(both sold)

Bronze Glass and Sterling Silver Bracelet

2011-04-02T17:48:00.003-04:00

I'm finally going to go back and show you all what I worked up for last year's holiday sale. I really like to document designs and prices from year to year, so bear with me!

This is a bracelet I made out of some very large (an inch or slightly larger in diameter) glass beads with bronze foil inside.

The color is fantastic; very rich and metallic. I used small glass matte black rounds to separate the larger puffed-coin beads.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $16.

Obligatory Pilar Pix

2011-03-30T21:56:00.004-04:00

Pilar turned 16 last month; here are a few photos of her big girl birthday party!

Intergem

2011-03-21T12:59:00.002-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, I attened the International Gem and Jewelry show in Wilmington, Delaware with friends.

I have to say that while this was my favorite show last year, it was a disappointment this time 'round. Many of the vendors were from India, which limited the breadth of the offerings (as they all have very similar wares) and the prices were high, with no one offering deals or discounts for cash (vs. credit card) payments. Finally, the vendor that I went to see, who was listed as participating in the show, was not there.

Overall, not much to write home (or blog) about.

Chalk Turquoise, Turquoise, Red Cinnabar and Coral Necklace

2011-03-13T12:15:00.012-04:00

I love this necklace. The colors really pop. The chalk turquoise is Tiffany box blue, and harkens back to the exquisite turquoise that comes out of the Sleeping Beauty Mines in Arizona.

The red focal bead is carved cinnabar and the small round beads are coral.

I've mixed the large round chalk turquoise beads with the coral and then, under the large (40mm) cinnabar bead, I've added 3 dangles of genuine turquoise.

It's a bold piece, yes, but will look especially great with open-necked tops in the summer. I firmly believe that bright, bold things go well with strong sunlight. All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $40 (and, sold)

Grey Chiffon

2011-03-10T17:55:00.002-05:00

My friend Martha told me she read my blog and sent along a few photos of the dresses I mentioned her bridesmaids will be wearing. Here you go! Now everyone can see what we're working with.

A Summer Wedding

2011-03-04T14:41:00.007-05:00

No, NO! Not me. A friend of mine from my weekly Crazy Lady Kraft Club is getting married this summer and she asked me to make the jewelry for her bridesmaids!

It's always so nice to be asked ("I do!") and I think we'll have fun creating something that's a little bit her style and a little bit my style.

Her attendants will be wearing beautiful, simple dresses in grey chiffon (I know, I know--but they're really elegant and pretty and will look striking).

We're thinking about using my coin beads in a beautiful medium-blue color for necklaces and earrings:

She said she wants modern-looking jewelry, and I think this will fit the bill.

Tips Gleaned

2011-02-26T12:21:00.002-05:00

So, we had 4 different speakers over 2 days who talked to us about the basics of wholesaling, salesmanship (I wish there were a gender neutral version of that word), press kits and portfolios, funding a business and pricing our work.

Some of the information wasn't necessarily over my head, but it was over what I think I'll need in my life. I don't see myself ever quitting my day job, so I won't need to massage my craft business to make a living off of it, and that gives me certain freedoms. The artists on the trade show floor were hustling and many admitted, in private conversations, that the economy was still terrible, that they were working very hard for not much of a payoff and that finances were still touch and go. We all know I'm too much of a control freak for that.

Still, the workshop gave me lots of tips that I had no idea about and would never have guessed and has gotten me to start thinking about my own work differently. I had a consultation with the HEAD of the body that puts on BMAC, which was pretty amazing, let me tell you, and she gave me some feedback that pleased me. She said I had an eye for putting colors together and that I knew what it meant to produce 'a line,' which put me far ahead of other people. Then she suggested a number of ways I could increase my price point. She could see my work differently than I had been able to, and that sort of information is invaluable. When I asked her to suggest some numbers (prices) she suggested I go down on the floor and find work similar to mine and see what those prices were. Duh--what a smart idea, and one I hadn't thought of before! So I stayed late the second day and went back on the floor and did just that.

I'm now even thinking about how I could LOWER my price point to accomodate a possible wholesaling opportunity that a friend suggested I look into.

Overall, I would highly recommend the experience to anyone wanting to learn more about sales, pricing and wholesaling.

2 Days of Work, No Days of Shopping

2011-02-20T22:29:00.005-05:00

So, my title above is a play on the fact that I spent all weekend at a 2-day workshop and looking at an entire showroom of crafts that I couldn't buy. And let me tell you--the work was amazing and it's probably for the best that I didn't have my wallet.

I saw Chihuly-quality sculptural glass, hand-cast resin jewelry, colorful knit socks and gorgeous ceramic platters. It was overwhelming to the eye.

So where was I? I was at BMAC--the Buyers Market of American Craft. It's a trade show that American artists can be part of that showcases their wares to buyers who make purchases for retail stores. And who are the buyers? Lots of museum shops, boutiques, etc. All of the artists are wholesalers who sell their products to others who then sell them to the public.

I attended a group of workshops as part of the Visiting Artists Program of the Arts Business Institute. Along with 2 days of programming, I got to walk the show floor for an hour on Saturday and again on Sunday. The artists I talked to were so open, so nice, and so helpful that I really was impressed with the entire organization.

More tomorrow--it's time for a nap!

A Treat for Valentine's Day

2011-02-12T11:46:00.005-05:00

I can't believe my good luck--I got a beautiful necklace for Valentine's Day and I got to open the box it came in early! And...since it came in a little blue box, it was very exciting indeed.

My lovely boyfriend bought me an Elsa Peretti open heart charm on a delicate silver chain. I have decided not to wear it until Valentine's Day proper. I have to admit that I really like heart-shaped jewelry for the message it represents.

Wherever you are, I hope you have a good Feb. 14th! Share the love and pass the chcolate.

Turquoise and Red Howlite Necklace

2011-02-05T12:47:00.006-05:00

I saw these great howlite pendant beads at a craft store at the end of last year, and knew I wanted to combine them with some turquoise I've had lying around for a very long time.

Howlite is a natural stone, but it's generally an opaque white. It is dyed many other colors (blues, reds, greens, etc.) and can add a pop of color that will stand in for a much more expensive stone, which helps me keep prices down.

The focal bead is approximately 40mm from top to bottom, and it's suspended from 2 lengths of vibrant turquoise chips. Using chips, versus polished beads, is another way of keeping prices down, and I actually do like the rough look. After all, stones come out of the ground.

I've randomly added in some Southwestern looking pewter spacer beads that I got from my boyfriend, of all people.

I've used a sterling silver clasp and beads at the ends of the turquoise strands.

Price: $34.

500th Post and Another Etsy Treasury Appearance

2011-02-02T17:22:00.004-05:00

Yes, one of my pieces of jewelry has made it into another Etsy Treasury. And it's a necklace that's been featured before. When people collect images to assemble a treasury (i.e., an attempt to create the entry page for Etsy for a day) they are searching by keyword according to some theme (a certain color, shape, etc.). And you know who is great at assigning subjects to something? Librarians. So there you go, all of my pursuits are really coming together, now!

Voila:

(and big thanks to Mel for helping me take a screen shot to post)

Crazyhorse Stone and Mahogany Obsidian Necklace

2011-01-30T01:41:00.000-05:00

I loved this pendant, but didn't love the overall piece. Is it ok to say that?

The flat oval pendant is made of crazyhorse stone, a kind of limestone. The tan/siena pattern is natural and makes each piece unique. I like that it's a matte stone, not a glossy one.

I paired it with 4x6mm stone rectangular-cube beads, separated by small mahogany obsidian rounds.

I honestly think that mahogany obsidian is one of the coolest names out there for a stone. Obsidian is cool to begin with, but then you add in mahogany? AWESOME.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $32. And, luckily for me, it was better liked by a shopper than by me!

Still More Snow!

2011-01-27T11:41:00.003-05:00

It's been hard to craft because Philly has gotten even more snow and sleet. Last night, during the snow, and sleet, and wind (all at the same time, mind you), an electrical storm started up. Flashes of lightning, claps of thunder. It was very, very weird and I've never experienced anything quite like it.

Sadly, work is still chugging along, so no SNOW DAY! for me. Many city bus routes aren't running and my boss was not able to get into the city (he takes the train, so perhaps that's not running either). Seems unfair that people still have to come to work when public transit isn't running, but ...

Anyway, I wanted to share this great shot with you all. Remember these steps? Rocky ran up them and when it snows (a lot), people can sled down them!

Black Agate and Smoky Quartz Necklace

2011-01-23T11:38:00.005-05:00

I love the beads in this necklace. They're big, solid chunks of tumbled black agate.

The striations of color banded through these beads make them really interesting to look at.

I separated the black agate with small rounds of smoky quartz and finished the entire piece with a pewter clasp.

Price: $36 (and sold, during our holiday sale, to another vendor in the sale)

Combination Taco Bell and Pizza Hut!

2011-01-20T11:57:00.005-05:00

Do you know that awful song that, once in your head, doesn't leave? "I'm at the Taco Bell. I'm at the Pizza Hut. I'm at the combination Taco Bell and Pizza Hut."

My boyfriend jokes that, since we both have December birthdays, we don't want "combination Taco Bell and Pizza Hut" presents (i.e., one present for both holidays).

I agree.

And yet this year, we each got the other a combination gift. I got him some photo editing software (he's a photographer) and he got me this lovely necklace. It's a sterling silver starfish pendant by Italian designer Elsa Peretti.

So cute!

Graduated Agate Rondelle Necklace

2011-01-15T01:19:00.001-05:00

I sold this great necklace at the Arts League sale, and I'm glad I got to take photos of it before it went out the door.

I used fat 'donut'-shaped rondelles in various types/shades of agate. It's a graduated necklace, with the largest bead being about 16mm in diameter and the smallest about 8 or 9mm.

I am always amazed at the colors that nature can put together. All of these beads are earth tones, generally speaking, but there's tremendous variation from 1 to the other.

They're fantastically polished and very shiny.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $36

Etsy Treasury

2011-01-12T04:28:00.000-05:00

An Etsy user just used one of my pieces (my Bullseye Glass and Sterling Silver necklace) in a Treasury, which is an attempt at assembling the image that will be used on Etsy's entry page. Like the other Treasuries of which I've been a part, I don't think this one made it to the front page, but as they say, it's always nice to be nominated! Can you pick out my piece in the photo above?

Cherry Quartz, Rose Quartz and Pearl Necklace

2011-01-09T21:59:00.010-05:00

I find Cherry Quartz to be a very interesting "stone." It's actually glass that has had an element added that colors it and allows it to be faceted more like a stone than a piece of glass. The resulting color, although called "cherry," is more of a watermelon color, to me.

I took a small facted pendant in the shape of an axe blade, and combined it with Cherry Quartz rounds.

I then added small Rose Quartz hearts and rounds, as well as ivory pearls.

In these photos, because the Rose Quartz beads are so pale, the pearls look yellowish, which is unfortunate, because in real life, they're ivory and beautiful.

It's a sweet necklace in shades of pink and ivory.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $26.

Crafting Resolutions

2011-01-02T15:03:00.004-05:00

I'm not a big resolution maker--because my birthday falls at the end of December, I've already been thinking about the upcoming year...I don't need to overdo it.

But when I was visiting family a week ago, I bought some big flat-backed glass pebbles and I am determined to finally make magnets this year!

The magnets above aren't mine...but I liked them! Birds are still all the rage right now; I blame Twitter.

Anyway, that's my 'resolution,' if I want to call it that. What about yours?

Almost 2011

2010-12-31T20:27:00.003-05:00

Here's wishing everyone a great 2011--hope you don some Happy New Year beads and paint the town red!

SNOW SNOW SNOW

2010-12-26T13:21:00.004-05:00

OH NO! Looks like Philly is having snow! Pilar will have to fend for herself at home while I alter my travel plans.

That said, my mom loved her pearl necklace and I'm glad I made it for her while staffing the UCAL sale. Fingers crossed that I get out when I need to!

And The Sale Ends...

2010-12-22T21:44:00.003-05:00

...it was not, sadly, my best sale. But, it was good in that I challenged myself and I think I made a bunch of lovely pieces even if they didn't all find new homes. I'm certainly very thankful to the customers who expressed interest and those who carried through and bought something. I hope they wear their jewelry in good health!

ps: a necklace that I really liked, and that I was sure would sell, didn't... and that's ok, but I will enjoy wearing it myself!

Asian-Inspired Cinnabar and Onyx Necklace

2010-12-18T08:37:00.001-05:00

This piece is SO outside of my normal range, but it was fun envisioning something new. I used a brass asian gate as a focal piece.

Because it made such a statement, I used a simple color scheme to complement it: black and red.

The black beads are onyx and the red beads are carved cinnabar (which is in keeping with the asian theme). The clasp is this adorable brass leaf toggle shape.

Unfortunately the sun was TOO bright on the day I took these photos and so you can't see the richness of the colors of the materials. It's a different look for me, but I think it worked out well.

Price: $32.

Carved Autumn Jasper and Tumbled Peridot Necklace

2010-12-15T01:22:00.004-05:00

I didn't think this necklace would turn out to be much. I couldn't quite 'see' it in my mind.

I paired flower-shaped carved beads of Autumn Jasper with tumbled chips of bright green Peridot.

The peridot picked up the greens in the Autumn Jasper, which is a beautiful stone full of oranges and greens. I'd never worked with these flower shapes before.
The beads are approximately 15mm in diameter and the necklace is about 19 inches long. All metals are sterling silver.

In the end, I really liked how it turned out. And so did someone else, as it sold during the first night of the Holiday Sale!

Price: $34.

Maybe 8 is My Magic Number!

2010-12-12T13:28:00.002-05:00

Well, all 3 of those elasticized pearl bracelets have sold already! Two went the first night of the sale (the members' preview) and the last sold yesterday, just before the sale officially opened!

When I came in at 5.30 to drop off more items (prior to the 6 pm opening), a woman was already shopping. She very kindly bought 8 of my pieces, which was quite a boon. She said a few times that my prices were so low, and I'm glad she thought so. In response to this economy, I worked hard at keeping prices low, and even dropping the prices of a few types of items from years past. That took some doing, but I just felt like it was worth it for the customer.

Unfortunately, I've made at least 1 mistake...when I added up how much the materials cost me for a certain necklace, I realized I'd undercut myself too severely. Live and learn!

Freshwater Pearl and Crystal Stretch Bracelets

2010-12-09T10:12:00.000-05:00

Some time ago, I took a class in making these bracelets.

We used head-drilled freshwater pearls and crystals and strung them on elastic.

I will admit I didn't get good at connecting the elastic to itself. I had to have the instructor help each and every time.

I couldn't replicate these if I tried, now. And I wouldn't want to try, either!

But they're cute.

I've used peaches and pinks on the bracelet on the left, metallic browns and bronzes in the middle, and peacock-shaded pearls on the bracelet to the right.

Price: $16.

Autumnal Metallic Pearl Necklace

2010-12-07T22:59:00.001-05:00

These little 6mm rice pearls made a great, dainty necklace.

I mixed metallic bronzes,coppers, golds and platinum with peacock and aubergine.

The overall effect is very autumnal.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $20.

Red Aventurine, Red Agate and Freshwater Pearl Necklace.

2010-12-06T10:25:00.001-05:00

I love, love, love this necklace and am tempted to keep it. It's small and sweet and made with natural gemstones in warm, earth tones.

The small round beads are red agate, and feature much more variation in color than my camera could capture. They may look like I've mixed different stones, but I assure you that they all came from the same strand.

I've mixed them with small ivory freshwater pearls, and separated each bead with tiny glass spacers in amber, champagne and metallic bronze.

The focal pendant, a red aventurine flower, measures just over 1 inch in width.
It measures 19 inches in length with a sterling silver lobsterclaw clasp.

Price: $32

Baroque Metallic Pearl Necklace

2010-12-05T10:18:00.005-05:00

This year, as always, I've been working with pearls as the Holiday Sale approaches.

This necklace features baroque pearls, about 7-8mm in size, in a variety of metallics--platinum, silver, bronze, etc.

It measures 17.5 inches. All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $22.

The Sun Setting Over Catalina Island

2010-12-02T21:46:00.001-05:00

It turned cold here yesterday. Very, very cold. Well, not by Chicago standards, but still chilly enough to make me not enjoy the walk to the gym at all.

So let me share a shot I took from Laguna, CA of the sun setting over Catalina.

Lovely.

Bronzeite and Goldstone Necklace

2010-11-27T15:56:00.004-05:00

Last week, I made a necklace using goldstone (a beautiful metallic siena brown stone) and bronzeite (a rich brown stone with flashes of copper and gold). It's a perfect combination for the Autumn.

I believe that bronzeite is a mineral called magnesium iron silicate.

I absolutely love that this big, heavy slab is faceted in a cushion cut. The cutting brings out the flashes of metallic needles and also gives this focal bead more interest.

As with all metallic stones, it's hard to capture the flash and shine with a camera, especially on a cloudy day. But I think the small round goldstone beads show a reasonable amount of sparkle in these shots.

All metals are sterling silver.

Price: $40

Pink Diamonds on a Black Friday

2010-11-26T18:22:00.002-05:00

Dear Santa, please bring me this:

It's only $9,000. And there's FREE SHIPPING!

(hope none of you got trampled at the WalMart today!)

Onyx, Coral and Zebra Jasper Necklace

2010-11-20T12:57:00.007-05:00

So, here's the most recent thing on which I've been working.

It's a necklace made with 8mm round, shiny black onyx beads, separated with small 3mm red coral rounds.

The focal bead is a large, flat oval of zebra jasper, so titled because ... well, you can figure it out!

All metals are sterling silver.

I like it, and I'll be sorry to part with it if it sells in the sale.

Price: $TBD

Black and White and Red All Over?

2010-11-18T23:44:00.002-05:00

Remember that old riddle? I never got it when I was a kid, but I laughed and pretended I did. And then, when I realized what it meant, I just thought it was kind of ... dumb.

But anyway, here's a teaser for something I've been working on. More details to come!

I'm Getting Married!

2010-11-17T16:30:00.006-05:00

Well, Ok, no I'm not, but Kate Middleton and Prince William are! And why do I care? For the engagement ring, of course!

It turns out that Wills gave his fiance his mother's ring. It's an oval 18 ct. blue sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds, set in yellow gold.

Diana chose the ring herself, after she accepted Charles' proposal. It was an item from the Garrard Jewellers catalog and available to anyone with $65,000 (in 1981 dollars) in his or her pocket.

And now, it's on Kate's hand. My mother, by the way, thinks this was a mistake. The ring represents a miserable, failed marriage with lots of heartache. Maybe the ring should've marked a fresh start and been created just for Kate? I don't know.

Either way, I know I'll be waking up early in the morning to catch the eventual wedding. I'm not the biggest royalty buff out there, but it'll still be worth a look!

How Cute is This Room?

2010-11-14T20:47:00.001-05:00

This is the room I stayed at in Alexandria, VA, the other weekend. How cute is it?! And my new hot pink patent leather Coach bag goes perfectly.

I'm in love.

Youtube Video

2010-11-09T16:50:00.003-05:00

I just remembered that at last year's Arts League Sale, someone took photos and then compiled them into a slideshow-type video for Youtube. Here's the link below. No audio component, just nice photos of nice work!

Take a look at what we had to offer!