Oak Leaf and Acorns

Recently listed in my etsy shop, this necklace is one-of-a-kind. I drew an oak leaf outline on copper sheet, sawed it out, textured it with a leaf pattern and oxidized it to highlight the pattern. The center rib is oxidized brass that I riveted (with handmade rivets) to the leaf. It looked a bit lonely, so I added some brass acorns dangling alongside.

The leaf is fairly large, so it needed a long chain for visual balance. You can see some more photos of it here.

A New Necklace for a New Year

The first new item in my etsy shop for 2012 is a stunner, if I do say so myself.  I started with a circle I fused from fine silver wire.  After hammering it for texture, I started to add dangles of white keshi pearls and pink tourmaline.  It sat like that for a week or more before I decided how to complete the necklace.  Once I found that gorgeous ruby briolette, the necklace came together pretty quickly.

To see the necklace from some other angles, click on the photo.  It will take you directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Artbeads - Winter Enchantment

I was invited to take part in Artbeads winter blogging program.  The theme this time around is Winter Enchantment.  While the possibilities with this theme are endless, it said "white, white, white" to me.  That's pretty much all I see out my window this time of year.

Artbeads is chock full of of items that suited my needs.  I started with a 30 mm (can you say huge?) Swarovski Navette drop, from the Pendant category on their website.  I also selected Snow Jade beads in both 4mm and 6mm.  These are from the Gemstone category.  While I wasn't really sure what my final necklace would look like, some ideas were forming in my mind.

I used lots of 20 gauge sterling silver wire to suspend the pendant.  While 20 gauge may seem heavy, the size of this pendant really required a substantial "support" mechanism.  It looked completely out of balance with lighter gauge wire.

I created clusters of 4 mm snow jade and 4 mm faceted Czech glass beads (from my stash) to dress up the necklace.  I finished with a series of 6 mm snow jade rounds, which lead to lengths of sterling chain.  At the very end is a hook clasp (also from my stash) with an extender.

Isn't that pendant striking?  Forgive the photos -- I always have the most trouble with white and clear jewelry items.  The next photo gives you an idea of the clasp and extender.

  And here's Marilyn modeling the necklace for you:

All of these components were a pleasure to work with.  Some of the snow jade beads were chipped around the hole, but this is not uncommon with stone beads.  The crystal pendant was securely packaged to avoid any damage in the shipping process.  Once again, Artbeads has satisfied my beady needs!



Disclosure: Artbeads invited me to join their blogging community. I receive these products free of charge in return for honest reviews. I have not been paid for doing this.

New Necklace : White on White

I suppose being surrounded by the white stuff inspired me to make a very white necklace.  The focal point is a beautiful moonstone briolette.  Part of the chain consists of white freshwater pearls securely wired together.  The remainder is oval rolo style chain (my favorite, but generally more expensive that regular cable link chain).  Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Ever since I've started using the "auto" feature on my too-complicated-for-me digital camera, my results have improved dramatically.  Imagine that.  I decided that I didn't have anything to prove, so I calmly switched to auto and I felt an immediate sense of relief.  Apparently, my camera is smarter than I am.  And I'm ok with that.

Textured Copper Necklaces

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We had a bunch of new snow, which was great because it covered up all of that nasty ice!  Plus the house smelled great all day and we had a nice quiet dinner -- just the two of us.  Perfection.

OK -- BACK TO WORK!

Recently added to my etsy shop, these two necklaces are made from copper sheet that I cut, filed, hammered and patinated.  This first one is pretty simple, so I added the 3 metallic burgundy glass beads in front, for a little accent.

Next up, a similar copper panel.  This time I used my alphabet stamps to add the word peace along the lower right hand side.  A simple yet important message.

These necklaces are super affordable and will really appeal to a wide range of ages.  You can go directly to the listings in my etsy shop by clicking on the photos.  Don't forget to use coupon code NOV2010DISCOUNT to get 15% off your entire order!

New! Concave Cut Whiskey Quartz Briolettes

This is a cut one does not see very often.  I did a search on etsy, and only 32 pairs of earrings showed up -- a minor miracle!

The color of these whiskey quartz stones is warm and rich. It's sort of a cross between, well, whiskey, Dijon mustard and honey.  Sounds like a fine marinade to me. hehe

And the matching necklace ...

Click the photos to go directly to the listings in my etsy shop.

Carnivale Necklace

No, I was not experimenting with hallucinogenic drugs the day I made this necklace.  I realize that the color combination is a bit wild for me, but I LOVE IT!

Hot pink chalcedony, golden honey colored chalcedony and bright orange carnelian.  It looks like candy at a carnival!  Click the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Artbeads for Autumn ... Focus on Botswana Agate

If you remember from this post, I had a strand of Botswana Agate briolettes that I had not yet decided how to use.  Well, I've been busy matching them up into pairs for earrings.  The color and pattern differences proved difficult to work with, but I like a good bead-y challenge.  I managed to find several pairs of briolettes for this selection of earrings.  These Botswana Agates can be found on Artbeads website, in the Gemstone category.

This pair features a set of circles I fused from fine silver wire, then textured.  The earwires are handmade by me.  I kind of like the way the stripes in the beads are going different ways.

I found some large barrel shaped Botswana Agate beads in my stash that complemented the briolettes from Artbeads beautifully for this next pair.

For this pair, I suspended a short section of chain from the earwires and added a moonstone rondelle dangle from each link.  The peach and gray of the moonstone seemed to match this pair of agates perfectly.

This last pair is similar to the first pair, but the earwires, which I made, are a very different style.














Now I am left with a bunch of unmatched briolettes that will be part of necklaces such as this one, where the agate has been teamed with a peach moonstone briolette and a peachy coin pearl.

I really enjoyed working with these stones.  The holes were generous in size and I found enough pairs to make several pairs of earrings.  This is always more tricky than it looks when you first get a strand of any gemstone briolettes.  I actually enjoy the task of making pairs.  It allows me to fondle beads :)

Disclosure: Artbeads invited me to join their blogging community. I receive these products free of charge in return for honest reviews. I have not been paid for doing this.

Purple and Gold

I don't often work with gold filled, mainly because of the expense.  But this trio of stones seemed to need gold, as opposed to silver.  The three stones are:  a marquis shaped briolette of deep, dark purple, a crystal quartz briolette of unmatched clarity and a wonderfully mottled moss amethyst.

Click on the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Autumn Inspired Jewelry

I recently listed these two new items in my etsy shop.  This first item is a pair of earrings whose main components are antiqued brass leaves.  I like the way the leaves have a slight indentation down the center -- perfect for adding a bead dangle.  In this case, I chose little triangular shaped green glass beads.

This next necklace features a beautifully bold marquis cut carnelian briolette.  You all know how much I love this shape.  The coin pearl next to it has been in my collection for a long time.  It seems to tone down the bright orange of the carnelian just the right amount.

I guess I've been feeling the chill of autumn.  These new additions to my etsy shop certainly reflect the colors and feeling of the season.

New in the Shop! Whiskey Quartz and Freshwater Pearls

Remember this post?  This new necklace is one that I did after I completed that post, but it is the same style.  I started with a large whiskey quartz briolette and used a combination of copper freshwater pearls and chain to complete the necklace.

I think it turned out beautiful and it was difficult to simply NOT keep it for myself!  I love these warm colors. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Brass Charms and Pendants from Artbeads

I was invited to be part of Artbeads Summer Blogging Fun and what fun it is!  I selected some really cute floral charms and one very unique pendant to create some summery necklace and earring sets.

To see their huge selection of charms: Artbeads Charms, and pendants: Artbeads Pendants.

This first necklace and earring set features outline style flower charms that are very fun to work with.  They have a convenient hole at the top, but you can also dangle drops off of each of the petals, if you want to.

The square panel on which the outline flower charm rests provides a perfect backdrop and continues with the floral theme. The matching earrings (below) are pretty cute, if I must say so myself!

Continuing with the flower theme, I selected this folded fan pendant mainly because it has lots of loops at the bottom to hang drops.  Plus, I have never seen one like it and the uniqueness appeals to me.  I chose glass beads from my stash to dangle and used a different set of beads in the same colorways to include in the chain.

At the bottom of the brass fan, I suspended another wonderful flower charm.  This one is solid and has a very different look than the outline one.  And the matching earrings:

One more pair of earrings featuring detailed brass leaf pendants and white freshwater pearls, because pearls are always in season!

Disclosure: Artbeads invited me to join their blogging community. I receive these products free of charge in return for honest reviews. I have not been paid for doing this

New Necklace . Soft Colors

These three understated stones work well together.  There isn't one trying to get all the attention.  This is because they all low on the saturation scale.  Harmony, for sure.

From left to right: moss aquamarine, rose quartz, lemon quartz.  All of the metal is oxidized sterling silver.  This lovely necklace is for sale in my etsy shop.   Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Simply Labradorite

I say simply labradorite because, well, it is a very simple necklace.  Labradorite is one of those stones that can stand so well on its own.  Sometimes I like to embellish it with a small stone that complements its inherent blue flash, but this time, I decided to leave it be.

Photographing labradorite has always proved difficult for me.  Even when I can clearly see the flash in the viewfinder, it isn't always visible in the digital image.  This photo captures it pretty well.  Yes, I made this exact same necklace for myself, mainly because it seems to go with almost everything I wear!

If you simply must have this necklace, click on the photo to go directly to the listing in my etsy shop.

Carved Mother of Pearl

I have a wide variety of mother-of-pearl pendants and have used them in all sorts of necklaces.  For this special piece, I wrapped the pendant with antiqued brass filigree and added a bunch of beads and a little "wish" charm above.

This lovely necklace is for sale in my etsy shop.

Busy as a Bee Necklace

While shopping at Artbeads, I found this really cute brass bee charm.  Charms are not usually my favorite thing, but I was taken by this little guy and added a few to my order. The flower shaped filigree is a new piece for me too.  I like the way they work together.

Of course, all of the glass beads I selected had to be yellow and black.  What else could I possibly use to accompany a bee?

I recently listed this cute necklace in my etsy shop.  Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Large Brown Pearl

The pearl I selected for this necklace is large and a deep, chocolate brown.  It is hanging from the center of one of my messy wire wrapped elements (aka, twisted tornado).  It's a fairly simple design, that takes quite a bit of sterling silver wire to complete.

You can click on the photo to go directly to the listing.  There is a matching pair of earrings too -- a separate listing.

Mandarin Garnets . Circle . Necklace

I recently listed this new necklace in my etsy shop.  It features a cascade of orange-y mandarin garnets at the bottom and a larger one a bit higher up.

I fused the circle from find silver and textured it with a geometric pattern.  If you look real closely, you can see that I used the letter "E" from a metal stamping set I purchased from Evies Tool Emporium.

Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

A New Pearl Mix Necklace

I love making these pearl-mix necklaces.  I spend lots of quality time selecting just the right combination of pearls for each necklace.  Me and my pearls -- a match made in heaven.  Hehe.

For this necklace, I selected peach irregular rounds, green coins and green pyramid-like pearls.  Next came a creamy beige roundish pearl followed by a cocoa brown square pearl.  Once the selection of 5 different pearls (yes, it's always 5) is made, I play with the arrangement.  The pattern I select will continue all around the necklace.  In this case, it goes on for 16 inches.

Click the photo to go to the listing in my etsy shop to see the whole necklace.

Freeform Beadwork Necklace

I received a call a few weeks ago from a customer who had purchased one of my freeform beaded necklaces at the Half Moon Creek Gallery -- we're talking 3 or 4 years ago!  His wife loves it so much, he wanted to surprise her with another one, in a different color scheme.  Would I make one??

I replied hell, no "I may have something in my inventory that would suit your needs."  He doesn't have to know that this "new" one is equal in age to the one he purchased so long ago, right?

To make a long story short, here's the necklace.  I met him in Anchorage today (I do a lot of business at the coffee shop in the Barnes & Noble!).  He took the necklace, I took the cash.  I headed straight to the shoe store, if you must know.

In the center of the focal part of the necklace is a highly polished shard of fossilized walrus ivory.  I purchased a whole bunch of these beauties from a local native man who has connections on St. Paul Island.  I drill several holes in them to secure the beadwork.  Well, I used to.  I don't think I have much patience for this type of work anymore.