Showing posts with label Bohemian Earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bohemian Earth. Show all posts

Monday, December 31, 2012

The Fortune Collection

What follows is a long overdue post about one of the most fun, challenging, and meaningful collections I've made sine the inception of Bohemian Earth...
 
 

The Fortune Collection


In mid-October this year, ten days after I became ABD, I completed the Fortune Collection. I created four pieces for four very special women: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Joanne Gabbin, and Nikki Giovanni. The occasion, Sheer Good Fortune, was for Toni Morrison, but was a celebration for what these women and others like them have done, are doing, and will continue to do, that is, create more beauty in the world through creation, cultivation, and circulation of the creative written word. 

Necklace with freshwater pearls, amazonite, sterling silver& garnet with garnet & copper coated pyrite drop

I give special thanks to L. Lamar Wilson, author of the forthcoming poetry collection, Sacrilegion. Without Lamar, this jewelry series would not have existed. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to help shape his vision into material form.

With gratitude, I share my vision in the statement that follows...

* * *
The Collection in Morning Light
My Statement:


I have designed these four pieces especially for Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Joanne Gabbin, and Nikki Giovanni by the loving request of Lamar Wilson. Lamar envisioned four pieces that would unite four women who share a passion for written and spoken word, be it poetry, fiction, or nonfiction and then left me to my creative whim. I’ve named each piece Fortune followed by the initials of the woman for whom it is designed in recognition of the Sheer Good Fortune event in honor of Toni Morrison and to capture the spirit of such an auspicious gathering of so many people who love and appreciate the art of carefully crafted language.


Detail of necklace in warm light
 Amazonite, freshwater pearls, garnet, and copper coated pyrite are present in each piece of jewelry. Sterling silver, copper, and rainbow-torched copper unite the colors of the gemstones and reveals my love for mixing materials. Early on, Lamar and I decided sterling silver would be a good metal to tie the pieces together. The copper came later; its presence reflects my love for the warmth and richness of the metal, and for the way it patinas with age but can easily be made like new again. In the beginning, I knew that garnet would be a chief stone in each piece because of its many beneficial properties. Garnet aids a number of physical ailments, protects bones and joints, imparts a sense of clam while providing adrenal support, inspirits courage and creativity, and aids passion and intuition. After a few preliminary sketches for these pieces, I had a vivid dream in which amazonite and pyrite were prominently featured, so I knew that these two stones would be included in the design. Amazonite calms, encourages happiness and good health, and, perhaps, most important, it is a stone associated with writing and communication. Pyrite is an all-around protective stone that helps with dream work and dream recall; it is also known for inspiring creativity and imparting good fortune. Associated with spirituality, feminine energy, the heart, and protection during travels, the four freshwater pearls in each piece also represent the unity of and the love shared between the four women. Each pearl is differently hued and shaped, lovely and iridescent. Copper is another material that aids communication and circulation, soothes joints, enables channeling, and imparts a bit of luck; silver adds more protection and increases the properties of the gemstones. 

Bracelet with freshwater pearls, amazonite, sterling silver, & garnet
Finally, I created each piece with positive intention, love, and joy. I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to share my vision with you all, just as the body of crafted language you all have birthed, nurtured, and empowered has helped shaped the vision and purpose of my own life.

With love,
Jameela F. Dallis 




Detail of bracelet clasp: hand formed & hammered rainbow copper; garnet & copper coated pyrite drop



Aquamarine drop on necklace for Maya Angelou (Aries Birthstone)
Turquoise drop on necklace for Toni Morrison (Aquarius Birthstone)



























I look forward to creating more commissioned pieces and collections in the future!

One last piece for the year and...

Hi everyone,

Here's one last piece for the year, Intention II, and a few pictures of a piece, Malkia, that sold before I could update the blog entry here. I'm posting about Malkia because I'd like to make a few similar necklaces over the next year. So, even through Malkia is one-of-a-kind, there are a few similar designs in the works...


featuring black agate, black obsidian, raw unpolished and polished amber, turquoise, brass

I created Intention II for the New Year's Eve party I'm attending tonight. I'm wearing a lacy black  dress and was in need of an elegant black necklace to wear with it; thus, Intention II was born! I'll post more about the stones, etc on Etsy, or perhaps here on this blog this week.

 

Amber....


 Turquoise...











 * * * 
Malkia (Queen) - SOLD
featuring howlite, pyrite, espresso wood, copper

From the original Etsy listing:

Malkia is the Swahili word for "queen," and there is something definitely queenly about this one-of-a-kind piece. I'm in love with the bright richly veined howlite next to the deep espresso brown wood.  The faceted pyrite rondelles nestled between the six howlite slabs adds a touch or glamour to the composition.

Malkia is 14 1/2" -16" long.  It can be worn as a choker or looser since there is a 2" extender chain, which I've fashioned from heavy gauge solid copper wire. I hand-formed, hammered, and polished the solid copper organically shaped clasp. The largest howlite slab i about 1 1/2" by 1 1/4"; the wood beads are 3/4" tall.

Howlite is known for aiding dream retention, self-awareness, creativity, and calming an overactive mind. It helps dispel anger and insomnia, and is a good influence on those who procrastinate.  Pyrite is grounding, encourages positivity and the release of old emotional baggage. It is also a protective and enhances one's creativity, intelligence, memory, and psychic development. It is associated with the crown, third eye, and solar plexus chakras and the astrological signs Gemini and Virgo.


I'll have two more posts today!
Cheers!
Jameela

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Five New Listings..! My (Almost) Penultimate Post of 2012

Hi everyone!

Below you'll find the links to five newly listed items. I'll be completing their details this week, but I thought I'd post them before the new year begins. I have one more end-of-the-year post planned for tomorrow, so stay tuned for more!

Cheers!
Jameela

Three new ready-to-ship listings:

O'Keeffe I
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119114898/okeeffe-i-watermelon-quartz-turquoise

Lydia
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119115636/vintage-kuchi-coin-pendant-white


Trade Necklace I
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119116884/african-powder-glass-beads-ghana

Two new made-to-order listings:


Danielle's Earrings
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119117872/danielles-earrings-vintage-lucite-czech


Intention I
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119120211/intention-i-amazonite-peruvian-pyrite

Friday, November 23, 2012

New Items, Raw Showcase Update, & Small Business Saturday

At my RAW Artist Pre-Showcase Photoshoot
 Hi everyone,

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday! My life as a grad student continues to take precedence over updating this blog! But, if you're a fan on Facebook, you know that I've posted a few items over the last month and that I had a wonderful time at the Raw Artists' Showcase back in October. Tomorrow, 11/24, is Small Business Saturday, but but please remember to support small businesses year-round! As ya'll know, I'm a one-lady outfit: I imagine, design, create, photograph, and write about every item you'll find in my Etsy shop in the midst of my life as a graduate student.

 So, here's what's new:

Descanso

Pele

Starry Night

Memento

Abiquiu

Hi-Fidelity


Two items that may look familiar, but they've been revamped a little bit:

Lillian II

Red Flowers in Snow

Here are a few shots from Provocations, the RAW Artists Showcase held at Solas in Raleigh, NC back in October:

With Thanks to Berkowitz Photography
With Thanks to Berkowitz Photography
With Thanks to Heather Branstetter
With Thanks to Heather Branstetter
With Thanks to Berkowitz Photography
With Thanks to Berkowitz Photography

Here are a few quick pics of items that sold at the RAW showcase:

KASSANDRA



NEVADA FIELDS
 

MIDNIGHT STORM


And one more from the photoshoot:

My Raw Profile - Picture by Berkowitz Photography


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Alex: OOAK Unisex Necklace

Here's Alex! 

I made this necklace for my RAW artists showcase. There are a few more new pieces coming this week.


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Raw Artists' Showcase // Provocations @ Solas in Raleigh on 10/3/2012

 
Hi everyone,

It's been a while since my last post, but I've been quite busy writing my dissertation prospectus (which I will defend on 10/5) and preparing for my first RAW: Natural Born Artist's Showcase. I have a number of pieces planned to make between now and then (and beyond!). So, if you need to update your jewelry wardrobe or are thinking ahead to the winter holiday season, you may want to drop by the RAW Showcase // PROVOCATIONS from7-11pm at Solas in Raleigh on Wednesday, October 3, 2012. The showcase will also feature live music, a fashion show, studio and performance artists, and so much more.

So, come join me for an awesome night of local and underground talent! You can support me by purchasing a $10 ticket in my name (see below).

Links galore:
If you're on Facebook, you can RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/events/281622288610475/
Just remember that If you're planning to attend, please buy a $10 ticket by 9/30/12!
Direct link to tickets for my showcase: http://www.rawartists.org/raleigh/provocations/?artist=73895
(The last day to buy tickets for $10 & support me is September 30, 2012; they're $15 on the day of the showcase) 

If you buy a ticket, let me know, and I'll email you a special thank you code for use at the showcase and/or for future use at my Etsy shop, Bohemianearth.etsy.com. (Just me know in person at the showcase and use the code at my Etsy shop.)

(The last day to buy tickets for $10 & support me is September 30, 2012; they're $15 on the day of the showcase)

You can buy a ticket in my name even if you can't attend. And doing so can help another friend get in the show for free. If you do this, let me know, and I'll email you a special thank you code for use at my Etsy shop, Bohemianearth.etsy.com.

A few more details:
-Time: 7-11pm 
-Solas Raleigh is located at 419 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh
                   -There's a parking garage across the street, parking on side streets, and valet.
-Cocktail Attire
                   -I'm looking forward to this...
-I'll be accepting cash and all major credit cards.
-See the event flyer and learn about all the other amazing artists here: http://www.rawartists.org/raleigh/provocations
                  
More about RAW:
http://www.rawartists.org/about/what-is-raw
&
http://www.facebook.com/rawnaturalbornartists


Many thanks in advance for your support! I'll have a lot of new pieces along with my full Bohemian Earth Etsy line. 

Much love,
Jameela






Thursday, August 23, 2012

Five New One-of-a-Kind Pieces...

I've made five new pieces over the last two weeks... enjoy!

I've posted five new pieces on Etsy today.  Four of them are inspired by water (despite the bright happy greens!). In these latest pieces, I've tried to find harmony between the extravagant and the minimal while some pieces are definitely more simple than their chunky counterparts. Yet, each piece makes a statement, and each pieces is absolutely one-of-a-kind.  Perhaps you'll see something you like...

ADRIANNA

SUMMER RAINS I AND II

PETITE MER

MALKIA

Friday, August 10, 2012

New for August.

A few new pieces for the steamy month of August...

Midnight at the Beach
 
Vintage Lucite, Shell, Wood, Agate & Brass

Vintage Lucite, Shell, & Brass

Another angle...
















More information on Etsy; click the links above.


 

* * * * * 


P R O V E N C E .

Regal, elegant, yet modern and understated...  

Yellow Mustard Jade, Faceted Lapis Lazuli, Blue Goldstone

Heavenly drape.

Antiqued Copper accents add a touch of rustic flair.

Available on Etsy.