Showing posts with label Cinnabar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cinnabar. Show all posts

Sunday, July 3, 2011

*SOLD* Napoli Bracelet: Jasper & Cinnabar

In daylight.
I made this bracelet to match my Napoli necklace, which sold at my launch (you can see it here).  But I think it makes a statement on its own.


Named for the Italian city of Naples, this bracelet echoes the colors in Naples' flag.  The bracelet features oval red and green jasper beads that are a rich hunter greenish-black and steel gray with spots of green and small hints of red throughout.  This bracelet is perfect for gem and mineral lovers.  Each bead is unique and changes color in different lighting, which makes this bracelet truly unique.  A carved red cinnabar flower nestled between two golden beads and a golden flower clasp complete this elegant design. 


This OOAK bracelet is 8 ¼" long including the clasp.  It fits up to a 7 ¼" wrist or arm.  You can buy it here on Etsy!

With a bright flash in low light.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Frida in Marrakech: Red Cinnabar Flowers & Morocco-Inspired Drops

 I loved photographing these earrings in the late morning light!


When I completed this design, two things came to mind: Frida Kahlo and Morocco.  "Frida in Marrakech" is the marriage of two realms I love.  I use the term "realm" because Frida Kahlo is a realm--her life and art exude dynamism, passion, and  prove too much to be contained by any one thing. 

  

So, all of my Frida Kahlo inspired designs will feature Frida "in", "with", or "and" something or somewhere.  I've never been to Morocco, but I've been seduced by the country's art and many aspects of its rich culture--it is definitely a realm of its own. 

Here, I present to you Frida in Marrakech.  These earrings feature carved red cinnabar flowers and Moroccan-inspired silver etched acrylic drops hung on platinum-over-copper  kidney wires.  They are medium weight and measure 3 3/8" long and 1 1/8"at their  widest point.

 
By the way, I'm not sure if Frida Kahlo actually spent any time in Morocco, but there is a fabulous guestroom named for her at the Casa Taos in Marrakech.  (See it here.) I must go there one day!


 I've made two pairs, so these are limited edition.

 

Sunday, June 26, 2011

A Gathering of *SOLD* Pieces

All of the pieces featured in this post sold at my line launch back in May, but I thought I'd share pictures and a few details about each one to showcase the kind of designs I love to make.  These are all one-of-a-kind pieces, but similar sister designs may make their way to my Etsy site in the future.  Enjoy!

The EarthLandSea Necklace
 This necklace features  turquoise jasper coin beads, blue mosaic turquoise rondelles, a one-of-a-kind clay bead, African bone beads, gold-plated spacers, and a gold tone toggle clasp.  The colors are a meeting of earth, land, and sea.  I seriously love this necklace!    I'm glad it has a beautiful friend to wear it!

Moroccan Lantern Earrings
 I intended these earrings to be limited edition, but supplier problems rendered them one-of-a-kind.  These earrings feature purple acrylic beads with a contemporary (yet reminiscent of Moroccan) design.  Antiqued copper floral beads and tiny purple seed beads complete the design.  You may see a similar design soon, but these are the only ones for now!

Napoli Necklace
 

Named for the Italian city of Naples, this choker echoes the colors in Naples' flag.  The necklace features oval red and green jasper beads that are a rich hunter greenish-black and steel gray with spots of green and red throughout.  Each bead is different, making this necklace truly unique.  Carved red cinnabar flowers and a golden flower clasp complete this elegant design. 
This necklace has a matching bracelet that I will post for sale on Etsy soon!

Teagan Bracelet
 

I take the time to name all of my pieces and choose names that reflect a piece's spirit.  I named this bracelet featuring blue-green mosaic turquoise and an antiqued copper focal bead "Teagan" because of its flecks of rich teal.  So, I hoped to capture the color I loved in this bracelet within its name.  I may make copies of this bracelet, but because each hank differs in coloration, each bracelet will ultimately be one-of-a-kind.

The Lucky Find
 
 

I love this bracelet!  It gets its name from the antique curio shop in Cristina GarcĂ­a's novel Monkey Hunting.  This bracelet features a carved black lucky cinnabar fish of Asian design, frosted yellow fire agate rondelles (that change color in water), lava rounds, silver-plated spacers, and an awesome Tibetan silver lucky fish clasp.  As with Teagan, I may make copies of this bracelet (because I seriously love it).  But, as I said above, each hank of stone differs in coloration, so each bracelet will ultimately be one-of-a-kind. 

Twilight Bracelet
 
 

I love lapis lazuli and I love the dynamic energy of this bracelet.  This bracelet features lapis lazuli stick beads of varying sizes accented with silver-plated spacers and completed by a Tibetan silver toggle clasp.  As with Teagan and The Lucky Find, I may make other bracelets in this style, but, to risk sounding like a broken record, each hank of stone differs in shape and coloration, so each bracelet will ultimately be one-of-a-kind. 
Look for more lapis lazuli items on Etsy soon!

Blue Empress Necklace
 

*SOLD* Fire Priestess Bracelet: Red Cinnabar & Antiqued Copper


I love the rich colors in this bracelet.  I've paired antiqued copper beads, with intricate floral detail, and rich, red cinnabar beads to create a fiery design.  (A fire priestess, or fire sign, wouldn't leave home without it!)



I bought the smaller cinnabar beads about five years ago and never incorporated them into a design.  These oval beads feature a deeply carved floral pattern, are 5/8" wide and 1/2" tall.  I placed them temporarily in a few arrangements, but never felt I had the right combination of elements.  Everything changed when I paired the beads with the large circular focal piece and this one-of-a-kind piece was born. 



The focal red cinnabar bead has a floral wreath pattern and a carved center with an Asian design.  This piece measures 1 1/8" in diameter.  The antiqued copper beads create balance and  daisy spacers add drama and interest. 





By the way, in Chinese and other East Asian cultures, red has long been associated with luck and happiness, so wearing this bracelet can only be good for you!


Clasped, this bracelet measures 7 ½".  From both ends of the toggle clasp, it measures 9".  This lightweight bracelet will work best for medium to large wrists.  For reference, though, it looks great on my 6" wrist.




Thursday, June 16, 2011

*SOLD* Green Empress Necklace: Mosaic Turquoise, Cinnabar, & Hematite


Clasp detail.
This necklace is the second in my Empress collection, a collection composed of pieces that make the wearer feel beautiful, creative, and courageous (read about the first one here).
 
I love the color green and the mosaic turquoise that composes this necklace has a beautiful range of green, from light to dark, with a hint of blue turquoise.  The focal piece of the necklace is an asymmetrically positioned black cinnabar bead with a small hematite rondelle on each side.  Hematite also terminates each end of this necklace that closes with a Tibetan silver lucky fish clasp. 

I like adding hematite to jewelry because of its well known grounding and balancing properties.  In our busy world, it's easy to become distracted from what really matters in our lives.  In addition to the properties mentioned above, hematite is also a wonderful stone for teachers and others for whom public speaking is a daily activity, as it imparts courage, self-control, and at the same time, relieves stress.  Read more about hematite here: http://gemstone-dictionary.com/hematite.php


This necklace drapes beautifully and is of moderate weight.  It measures 19" and its largest bead, the cinnabar, is an inch in diameter.  The clasp is new and secure, so the spring mechanism may seem stiff when you first use it.  After time, it will loosen while remaining secure.

Buy this necklace here on Etsy!

*SOLD* Blue Empress Necklace: Naga Pendant, Mosaic Blue Turquoise & Cinnabar

 I sold this necklace at my line launch, but thought I'd share a little about it here.  

This necklace is the first in my Empress collection, a collection composed of pieces that make the wearer feel beautiful, creative, and courageous.

The centerpiece of this one-of-a-kind necklace is a handcrafted pendant made by the Naga craftspeople.  The Naga tribal peoples live in Northeastern India.

Blue mosaic turquoise, black cinnabar, and hematite complete the necklace and compliment its cool tones.


The necklaces closes with a Tibetan style silver toggle clasp.  I added a silver leaf charm to the end of the necklace for a touch of fun and distinctiveness.


Read about the second necklace in this collection, "Green Empress," here.
Buy "Green Empress" here on Etsy.

Monday, May 23, 2011

*SOLD* White Lotus in Golden Bloom Earrings



You'll feel lovely wearing these white carved cinnabar and iridescent green freshwater pearl earrings.  Hung on gold plated copper ear wires, and finished with deep purple seed beads, these earrings are lightweight and measure 2" long and 3/4" at their widest point.   Limited edition, lead and nickel free.  Buy them here!

*This type of white cinnabar has been hard to come by, so this design may not return until late fall!*

*SOLD* White Lotus in Silver Lavender Earrings





You'll feel lovely wearing these white carved cinnabar and lilac stone earrings.  Lilac stone is a variety of quartz that is new to the mineral market.  Also called lavender stone, these beads are a graceful blend of grey and light and dark lavender hues.  Hung on platinum plated copper ear wires, these earrings are lightweight and measure 2" long and 3/4" at their widest point. Buy them at my Etsy store!  As always, lead and nickel free.

*This type of white cinnabar has been hard to come by, so this design may not return until late fall!*