Pineapple Quartz

I am bringing back yellow-I think it is underrated. It looks summery but then I paired it with a chocolate brown sweater and WOW! It's chunky without being too heavy. All of the wrapped links are handmade-no jump rings here! All made with sterling silver, pineapple quartz, fresh water pearls, and topaz Swarovski. The chain is long enough so you can wear it as short or as long as you like. Look at my older post called Barbara Jean. That's when I first used the pineapple quartz-in the commissioned piece for a dear friend. Here comes the sun!

Crystals with Twinkles Jewelry Event

Thanks to everyone who came to our First Annual Jewelry Event! We had a great time and we know all of you did as well just from overhearing the excited chatter around the jewelry tables. My Bunco girls were there as well as other friends who finally got to see what I have been up to this year. I was introduced to Marilyn's lovely friends who were modeling their past gifts from her. What a friend! Both of us took in special orders which delights us to no end. To see more of her pieces from the party visit www.arielsglamourie.com. We are looking forward to doing a spring event, so check back often.

'Tis the season for fun giveaways

I cannot remember how I came across this blog for giveaways, but it is the perfect season for it (especially in this economy). Plus, this is a great way to venture out of your blog comfort zone and see what else is out there. Such a smart marketing tool as well. Now, go enter those giveaways!
www.bloggiveaways.blogspot.com

Bloggy Blog Designz is having ANOTHER Holiday Giveaway!!! Last week every entrant won something, so they decided to do it all over again! They are giving away blog designs and all kinds of goodies. Plus ALL entrants will receive 20%off their purchase through the end of the year! Be sure to check out their website for more information, or to enter yourself. Take a look at their portfolio and packages to see what you want for Christmas ;) With 6 giveaways this week, who knows whats in store for next week?

The first 5 entrants will receive a $10 giftcard. The giveaway will close on Dec. 13th, so be sure to have your posts done and comments left by midnight! Good Luck to everyone! We are so excited. Merry (early) Christmas!

Party Time

I have been staying up very late for several nights preparing for our Crystals with Twinkles and Sparkly White Wine Handcrafted Jewelry Event this Sunday, December 6th at the home of Ariels Glamourie in Paradise Valley, Arizona. This is our first jewelry show so wish us lots of success. These are some of the pieces I completed. The first, Rapture, is a choker style necklace with Swarovski crystals, Czech crystals and flower jade on tarnish free silver wire and sterling silver hook clasp. The second picture is of 3 pendants (L to R) Suwannee (Chinese crystals, opal, Swarovski crystals, and moonstone with silver wire on a pearlized leather cord), Glorious (freshwater pearls, flower jade, and Chinese crystals with copper wire on a copper colored leather cord), and Jolie Madam (freshwater pearls, Chinese crystals, Swarovski crystals, and strawberry quartz with vintage bronze wire on a chocolate brown leather cord). The third picture is a sterling silver wrapped ring called Cloud 9 with Czech crystals, prehnite chips and freshwater pearls. The ring was a commissioned piece so it is already sold, sorry, I just couldn't help but show it off. Thanks for looking.

Coral Sea

Tomato red coral!

Thanks to my friend and mentor, Marilyn of Ariel's Glamourie, for this idea. We brainstormed on reworking my antique turquoise necklace handed down from my in-laws and we ended up designing the coral to be twisted around the turquoise for a real statement necklace. (I will post a picture of the final piece). We literally both had our hands on this project. One strung while the other picked out the beads. I really like the chunkiness (wait until I wear the two together!)-it does get noticed. I think we have enough left over for a bracelet, if you are interested, as well as the smaller coral for earrings.

Food As Inspiration

This summer was the absolute best in about 20 years! I cannot tolerate extreme heat and wonder why I have made Phoenix home for that long (I only wonder in the summer). Living in the Pacific Northwest, specifically Hillsboro, Oregon, awakened many passions. Not only did my sweet husband and I finally get to live together after 2 years of seeing each other every other weekend due to his out of state job, I had a bountiful and beautiful garden. I have always been interested in living off the land and have striven to make things from scratch whenever possible. I was closer to my dream! Moreover, living outside of the city we were surrounded by more nature and farmland than had we chosen to live in Portland. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, now that we are back in Phoenix, I really miss those Farmers Markets! I can't look at fruits and vegetables the same anymore. Previously, buying them was a duty for a healthy lifestyle, now I lust after them and their myriad colors and shapes dance in front of my eyes! I have been back almost a week and my meals seem ho-hum. I am digressing. The photos...the zucchini and tomato are from my garden and the plum galette (which I made three times because it was so incredibly well-received...thank you Food & Wine mag.) was made using the organic plums from my friend's gigantic backyard tree. So, I ate my way through 6 wonderful months in Oregon and I remain happy and inspired!

I am on a roll! This new pendant is 'Atlanta Bound' as I completed it on a recent flight to visit family in... Atlanta! For the Florida woman sitting across from me waiting to board our flight, this is the one you so kindly complimented me on. It was a nice reminder that I should get blog cards made to pass along instead of writing it on a scrap piece of paper both of us were looking for. There are various crystals in this pendant with a large enough bale that you can interchange with any type of necklace. (Click on the picture for a close-up view). I love the combination of brown with blue tones and a hint of silver.

Less than 2 months and we move back to Phoenix after a beautiful and adventurous summer in Oregon. I have seen more deer in the last several months than I have my entire life. Farmers Markets are a weekly event for me and I know I will miss this the most. I am such a Foodie! I have managed to fit jewelry making into my activities, thankfully!

Introducing Barbara Jean. This bracelet was a birthday gift to my friend Barbara who picked out the beads. I had to add the earrings because I couldn't stop at the bracelet! She loves the set and gets compliments every time she wears it. These earrings, made with freshwater pearls and citrine on sterling silver hooks are so light weight you won't feel them. The bracelet also contains pineapple quartz finished with a sterling silver slide bar clasp. I welcome your comments and jewelry orders!

These pendants are eye catching and fun to make. This one was made with various shades of green Czech crystals on copper wire. The matching earrings are very light weight and have a green crystal drop. They can be worn with any color but I love to wear this set with black, brown and purple. It's called Beginners Luck because it is the first piece of jewelry I made and I received so many compliments!

Surrounded with Inspiration

Does anyone else experience guilt when it has been a while since your last blog? It does make me laugh at myself. I think it's because my new creations are screaming, "Get me out there! I want to be seen!" (No, I did not actually hear them say that!). A few pieces were modified and the rest were inspirations. As you can see, I am really into Carnelian and the reddish brown tones. Let me know if you like them as well as the other pieces. Also, look forward to berry colors. I have been off berry picking right down the street from where I live in Hillsboro, Oregon and the colors (and the flavors) are beautiful and inspiring...black raspberries, loganberries, tayberries, blueberries, currants, and blackberries!!!

The ring is a new creation I call Carnelian Starburst. This was my first ring attempt and I love the idea just not the amount of time involved. The original bangle was made more rigid-it still has give to it to slide on and can be molded to how you like to wear it. Until I find a suitable hand model you are subjected to mine!

I have gotten many compliments on this pendant. In my Carnelian search I found a variety of teardrops-each is unique. In addition, there's Carnelian chips and red jasper on a copper coated leather strap. I like the pendant with a hook at the top so you can interchange it with your favorite necklace. This will also look striking on a silver wire necklace-dare to be different.

Showing Off

We spent a wonderful weekend in Laguna Niguel, CA over Memorial weekend attending our friend's college graduation. The weather was perfect for sitting outdoors. We also did a lot of flying and waiting at the airport. I came prepared with spice bottles full of beautiful beads and had fun passing the time. Several women came up to me to observe and ask questions. I highly suggest this to other jewelry makers or crafters. Public places are great for marketing your craft. As long as you plan ahead and pack just what you need (security might confiscate sharp tools!) you can keep busy while waiting or driving in the car. I finished 2 bracelets and started on another darling necklace full of my favorite color for summer-aquamarine! The copper bracelet is full of carnelians and two types of pearls. The vintage brown wire with strawberry quartz, rhodadrosite, Swarovski crystals and pink peruvian opals is for my good friend Karen. Both bracelets just slide on. The necklace...I have to keep one of them! Let me know what you think (and how many you want!!)xoxo

As good friends often do, they share. So, I owe this first blog to my good friend, the most amazing artist I know, Karen (follow her at valentinestudio123.blogspot.com) for sharing the world of blogging with me as well as for opening my creative attic.