Creative Muse

My creative muse was here for an extended visit last week and I shamelessly took advantage of her presence. I made a series of earrings that I'm exceptionally pleased with. The more difficult part was the photo shoot, but that went surprisingly well also.

If you read my previous post, you can see that the view from my work area this time of year is composed of much white -- ice and snow. This pair of earrings exemplifies what I was feeling as I gazed out that window.

You all know that I have a serious problem with collecting pearls. These are probably the most luxurious ones I've ever purchased. They measure a generous 11 mm across. The luster is spectacular and there is a hint of pink when the light hits them from a certain angle.

Sigh.

Artisan Beaders - Secret Santa Gifts

The street team I belong to on etsy, Artisan Beaders, decided it would be fun to exchange gifts this holiday season. I received the most gorgeous bracelet from Deb of Crysallis Creations. She used a generous number of tiny seed pearls, some beautiful turquoise beads, amethyst and a lovely faceted cubic zirconia in a pale peach color. I adore this bracelet with all of its intricate wire wrapping. Thank you Deb for being such a great partner and friend!

White Pearls

I can't think of a more classic item for a woman to have in her jewelry collection than white pearls. These earrings take that classic concept in a different direction. For these earrings, I started with pinkish-white keshi pearls that I neatly wrapped with sterling silver wire. I then suspended them from sterling silver earwires that I forged myself.

All of the silver has been oxidized and then tumbled it for that shiny steel gray finish that I love.

These earrings are for sale in my etsy shop.

New Lariat Style Necklace

Starting with sterling silver rolo chain, I created this lariat necklace. I love rolo chain for it's sturdiness -- it can carry substantial designs, using large pearls and stones. I oxidized the chain and the other silver components, then tumbled them for this highly polished steel gray finish.

I created the textured circle by fusing a length of fine silver wire and then hammering the resulting circle. It acts as one part of the toggle closure and the stick pearl acts as the other part. The pearls I selected for this necklace begin with a deep midnight blue, transitioning to a paler blue and then gray, and finishing with stark white. The asymmetrical aspect of the necklace has huge appeal and really works with this style.

This necklace is available for sale in my etsy store.

Cascading Lilac Quartz

My new line of oxidized and mostly asymmetrical necklaces is providing me with plenty of opportunity to use some of my lovely finds from the Tucson gem shows. Here, I feature lilac quartz in 2 shapes -- flat faceted rectangles and faceted briolettes. Accompanying them are some freshwater pearls in a complementary shade of lavender.

Available for sale in my etsy shop.

Clusters!

I recently created a series of pendants using some of my larger beads. Finding new ways to use these larger components has been a challenge for me. Here are the latest creations in this voyage of discovery.

I love the minty blue-green of amazonite. This large bead is top-drilled and is softly faceted. The cluster above is made up of freshwater pearls, Peruvian opals, apatite rounds and white cupped keshi pearls.
The deep pink stone is a sapphire --- yes, they come in many colors besides blue. I have topped it with golden freshwater pearls, garnets, smooth ruby rondelles and citrine rondelles. The red and gold color combination has a regal feel.

A New Line of Necklaces

I made a bunch of fine silver loops (rings? circles?) the other day of varying diameters. Using different hammers, I gave them texture and made some earrings. The larger diameter rings were just too big for earrings so I made some necklaces, with the rings as focal points. Here are two of them. I love the rolo chain I used. I think it's my new favorite: it's substantial without being too heavy. I oxidized all of the silver and tumbled it. This results in a steel gray, sleek and modern finish. I'm also loving the gray handmade paper I used as the backdrop for these photos.

Both of these pieces are for sale in my etsy shop.

Vanilla & Chocolate

Large chocolate colored freshwater pearls are teamed with faceted white pearls and deep, dark peacock pearls to create this necklace of pure elegance. All of those yummy pearls are separated by highly textured Bali silver beads in this substantial necklace. It is finished with a sterling silver lobster clasp.

Necklace length is 18 1/2" (47 cm). The matching earrings (included in the price) are 7/8" (2.3 cm) from the bottom of the sterling silver earwire.

Aqua Blues Necklace

One of my newest creations uses the free-form wire wrapping technique I learned in a class last year with Nina Bagley. I put together an eclectic cluster of beads to feature as the "pendant" part of this necklace. Included are chrysocolla, amazonite, abalone, crystal, freshwater pearls and a glass leaf. All in the ocean inspired colors of aqua blue and green. All of the silver is sterling and I oxidized it for a slightly distressed look. I've added one small turquoise bead at the clasp end for a finished look to the necklace.

etsyBEAD Theme of the Week, Sunday's Best

This week's theme is wide open to interpretation. I've selected 3 of my most elegant pieces to put on sale this week.

The first is a necklace from my collection of pearl mix pieces. These are so versatile and each necklace is different from the next. I've also selected a classy pair of earrings featuring faceted smoky quartz teardrops and freshwater pearls. Lastly, a necklace and earring set of amethysts, keshi pearls and some big sterling silver saucer-like beads.

These items are on sale in my etsy shop through March 1!

Tucson -- Part II

As promised, here's another batch of pictures from my bead buying trip to Tucson. The first photo contains my most extravagant purchase: faceted cubes of London Blue Topaz. There are also some beautiful gray quartz, garnet and pink amethyst briolettes.

The next two photos show a portion of my freshwater pearl purchases. I love coin shaped pearls and faceted pearls. Look at those lovely deep burgundy faceted pearls. They look like ripe berries. I can envision them with some garnets and lots of silver beads. Tomorrow I'll post a few more pictures -- chains and some silver. Stay tuned!

Coppery Bronze Pearl Earrings and Necklace

I just love the colors in these pearls. They are at once copper, bronze and brown with a little touch of olive green. I've used different shapes of pearls and this adds a nice texture to the necklace. I've been making this style necklace for a while, but only recently started doing them in a mono-chromatic color scheme.

Freshwater pearls are my favorite materials to work with. They come in so many colors, shapes and sizes. The design possibilities are endless -- at least I hope they are!


I created these earrings to complement the necklace. I find that
many customers like the ease of a "ready made" ensemble.

etsyBEAD Theme of the Week - Bunches of Color

For the week of September 16-22, the etsyBEAD Street Team has selected the weekly theme "Bunches of Color". Many of the team members offer special pricing on items that fit the theme.

I have selected a pair of earrings, a necklace and a necklace/earring set for this week's theme.

The pink and brown cluster set is one of my favorites. I used plenty of rose quartz, freshwater pearls and smoky quartz for this elegant necklace and earring set.















These golden bunches earrings are just plain fun! The focal bead is a faceted freshwater pearl and the drops are pearls and crystals.