A Comprehensive Update

Hi everyone,

I arrived in North Carolina eight years ago today. Wow. So much has happened in those eight years. I completed my PhD in English this May, so now I have more time to devote to creating (before I begin teaching at an area university for at least one year).

I've completed a number of custom pieces and I've sold a few pieces since my last post. I'll share a few photos here below. In general, I've wanted this blog to serve as a digital portfolio for my jewelry work. Many of my designs are one-of-a-kind or have limited runs due to available materials. However, if you find something you love that I've sold, or you'd like me to create a custom piece for you, please do let me know. In some cases I can create something similar to what I've sold, and I've made pieces tailored to customer's desires. You can contact me by sending me a conversation on Etsy or by emailing me at bohemianearthetsy@gmail.com.

I also have one new listing I've posted today--a necklace I've named Coraline with its materials (pink coral) and a dear old friend, Cora Kammer, in mind. I think she would have loved this piece.
 

In love and beauty,
Jameela

Coraline

Agate, Coral, Wood, Brass, Quartz, Czech & Indonesian Glass, Vulcanite, Copper

 

1974

"1974" - A custom birthday present for a customer's friend of over 41 years - Sold

Green Empress II

Green Empress II - Aventurine, Sesame Jasper, Amazonite, and Solid Copper - Sold

Detail of Green Empress II - Aventurine, Sesame Jasper, and Solid Copper

 

Viola Verde I

Turquoise, Amethyst, Baltic Amber, Jasper, Shell, Solid Copper - Sold

      

Azure

Custom Clip-on Hubei Turquoise Earrings - Sold

New earrings I'll be posting in the coming weeks...

Long Overdue Update!

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted because I'm nearing the end of my dissertation and PhD program and most of my time has been devoted to writing, revising, and researching. My free time has been devoted to trying to have a little fun! I'm still designing things, I just need to finish some pieces and post them for sale.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures :-)
 -Jameela


Last October 2014, I created this lovely piece for my Spanish client, Florencia:

Materials used:
Necklace:
-Faceted and Smooth Amazonite (Amazonite is wonderful for writing and communication. It has a calming effect.)
-Faceted Peruvian Pyrite (mirror finish; Pyrite brings good luck!)
-Faceted Pyrite (can be polished)
-Faceted Larkvite
-Red Coral (Coral is a great protective stone.)
-Pink Coral
-Pink Coral Buddha (reconstituted)
-Square Hematite (silver mirror finish; Hematite is great for grounding!)
-White Jade
-White Shell Discs
-Delica seed beads

 Pendant:
-Aquamarine silk thread
-Faceted Ocean Jasper (Ocean Jasper is a protection stone.)
-Red Coral
-Square Hematite (silver mirror finish)
-Pink Coral
-White Shell
-Black/Deep Green Tourmaline (Another great protective stone!)
-Sterling Silver Pins
-Silver Filled Pin
-Delica seed beads

The length is mid-chest: 58.5cm or about 29cm per side
The silver pewter clasp adds 3.5cm to the length

Frida in Socorro: One of a kind!

Frida in Socorro: 

First in a Series of Frida Kahlo Inspired Necklaces

Perfect with a range of colors!

Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists and I've been planning this series for over a year.  It took me about that long to collect the materials necessary to bring life to my dreams.  Expect a few more Frida Kahlo inspired pieces as summer 2012 progresses.  There may also be a pair of earrings or bracelet in the works as well.

Featuring Coral, Turquoise, Jasper and More...

On a life-size bust.

Find out more on Etsy.

Kathmandu Dreams III

...Kathmandu Dreams III

I think "Kathmandu Dreams III" is just lovely and the combination of yellow, blue, and red exudes sunshine and warmth. It is the third necklace in my Kathmandu Dreams series.

The focal point of this necklace is the solid brass pendant, which features coral, resin, and turquoise inlay. The pendant, which was designed and handmade by a Nepalese artisan, invokes a horseshoe shape finished by a dramatic flourish of red coral and blue turquoise.

 One set of handmade Nepalese yellow resin beads echo the resin in the pendent and bring a sense of unity to the design. Coin shaped blue Val Verde turquoise with lovely matrices, faceted deep red coral complete, and tiny handmade solid brass beads complete this necklace.

Turquoise is a powerful healing stone that can help wearers with meditation, balance, and communication. It is also a protective stone that enhances love, friendship, and loyalty. Coral brings peace, settles emotions, and protects against depression. It also helps with intuition and visualization (source: www.thatcrystalsite.com).

Including the artisan-crafted solid brass clasp, this moderately lightweight necklace is an impressive 22" long, or matinee length. The pendant is 3 1/2" long by 2" wide. The resin beads are 1 1/2" by 1/2".

Available on Etsy!

Latest Custom Pieces

Two custom pieces I completed today!

"Lauren" Earrings

 

When I finished these earrings, I said, "They are very Lauren!"  So, I named them after her (and hope she feels the same!). 

 

Faceted turquoise, lovely cut natural garnet, and silver-line chocolate Delica® seed beads compose these simple, yet dramatic, earrings.  Turquoise is a powerful healing stone that can help wearers with meditation, balance, and communication.  It is associated with Taurus and Aquarius.  Turquoise is a protective stone that enhances love, friendship, and loyalty.  Garnet is also a stone associated with healing and health and is believed to increase creative powers and encourage action.  It has been known as a stone of devotion and stimulates the base and crown Chakras, which helps energy flow positively.  Garnet is associated with Scorpio and Aquarius.

"Apolloneia" Earrings

These earrings make me think of the warmth of the sun.  So, I named them Apolloneia, which is a female variant of the Greek god Apollo's name.  Apollo is the god of the sun, music, poetry, and light and knowledge among other things. 

Wood beads from Indonesia, natural white coral, and gold textured wavy discs on top of ornate headpins compose these elegant earrings.  The wood beads, from Indonesia, are handcrafted, which means that each one is slightly different, but they all have a starry night-like patten.  Coral is known for its ability to bring internal peace, settle emotions, and aids intuition, visualization, and the circulatory and nervous systems. Coral is associated with the sun sign Libra.

Second piece featured in an Etsy Treasury....

Wow!  I'm very happy to have another item featured 

in a beautiful Etsy treasury!  

View the treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTQxOTIzNTd8NTAzMDY4NTIz/love-all-things-asian

Buy the bracelet: http://www.etsy.com/listing/78619117/treasury-item-green-empress-bracelet

See the original blog post: http://bohemianearth.blogspot.com/2011/07/green-empress-bracelet-green-cinnabar.html

Treasury Item! Green Empress Bracelet: Green Cinnabar, Natural Seeds, Coral, and Pyrite

Lately, I've been in love with making bracelets.

The Green Empress Bracelet draws on the Empress collection's aim to make the wearer of each piece feel beautiful, creative, and courageous (read about the first one here and the second one here).  I love how the natural materials in this bracelet come together to create a distinct and elegant piece.

This one-of-a-kind bracelet features six green cinnabar beads, which are carved with an Asian design, three natural seeds, which have been coated to protect their striking beauty, a large white coral globe, and three pyrite rondelles I've polished to a nice luminosity.  Two TierraCast Turkish-style gold rondelles frame the largest of the seeds, which is a lovely shade of golden mustard.  There are other hints of gold in this bracelet including the three textured brass discs nestled between the coral globe and chunky seed. 

For those who enjoy stone lore, Pyrite, also known as Fool's Gold, is grounding, encourages positivity and the release of old emotional baggage.  It is also a protective and enhances one's "intelligence, mental stability, logic, analysis, creativity, memory, and psychic development" (source here).  Pyrite is associated with the sun signs Gemini and Virgo.  Coral is known for its ability to bring internal peace, settle emotions, and aids intuition, visualization, and the circulatory and nervous systems (source here).  Coral is associated with the sun sign Libra.

This bracelet is 8 1/4" long and will fit up to a 6 1/2" wrist (6 3/4" is a tight squeeze) .  Please  note that the coral is white with a spongey surface.  If dirt gets into the crevices of the coral globe, you can clean the globe by gently blotting with water and very mild soap (if necessary).

Buy this bracelet here on Etsy!

Update 7/28/11: This is the second Bohemian Earth item featured in an Etsy treasury! See the treasury here!

Coming Soon...

While I wait on a few more materials to arrive for my high-end collection, I've been working on a necklace featuring white magnesite, blue turquoise, amber, and pyrite along with a bracelet featuring green cinnabar, mustard colored natural seeds, and white coral.

I'm really excited about these pieces.  The bracelet is right-on for fall, which is only a few months away, and the colors and design will make this piece one-of-a-kind and a piece one can wear for seasons and years to come.  The necklace has a southwest feel with a bit of an edge--I'm saving further details until it's complete.

I'm also designing a few silver-toned earrings that will most likely feature chunky, organic-looking silver pieces and dramatic rustic silver drops. These earrings will be substantial and statement-making (I may have to make a copy for myself!).

More than one of these pieces should be ready and posted here and on Etsy by the end of this week... I'm looking forward to completing them and their subsequent unveiling!

Update 8/7/11:  See the fall colors bracelet and the chunky earrings that evolved into another bracelet here and here.  I'll finish and re-envision the other items this week!

Kathmandu Dreams I Necklace

Elegant, yet dramatic, "Kathmandu Dreams I" is the first necklace in my Kathmandu Dreams series.  The focal point of this necklace is the solid brass pendant with intricate lotus flower detail and turquoise and coral inlay, which was designed and handmade by a Nepalese artisan.  Free-form green turquoise beads, handcrafted reconstituted blue turquoise beads, faceted and square cut brick red jasper beads, and Tierracast gold plated pewter Turkish and  smooth rondelles complete this one-of-a-kind necklace. 

The free-form green turquoise beads, which are a lovely blend of viridian and blue inflections, have a beautiful, rich matrix.  The handcrafted blue reconstituted turquoise beads are unique and echo the texture of the pendant.  Both varieties of turquoise coupled with the rich, red jasper, and Tierracast beads create harmony with the Nepalese pendant, which rests on a piece of starry, midnight blue goldstone. 

Slightly over 1 ¾" by 2 ½" (including the bail), the pendant weighs about a 1/2 lb.  This necklace is of light to moderate weight with 19 1/2" of stones and is 21" with the antiqued gold flower toggle clasp.

Buy it here on Etsy!