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!

*SOLD* Lillian III Earrings: Amethyst & Lilac Stone Inspired by Thai Water Lilies

I love my Lillian I earrings, so I decided to make a similar pair that is also  one-of-a-kind.   These lightweight earrings are full of movement and the purple and gold--the colors of the Thai Water Lilies that inspired my Lillian Collection.   

These earrings feature deep purple to violet amethyst chips and Delica®, glass, silver-lined chocolate seed beads, which are secured by a gold tube bead on gold-over-brass teardrop hoops.  A golden faceted bead, heavily plated with 22 karat gold, a lilac stone, and a precious Delica® seed bead complete the drop that dances below the amethyst. 

This third version of Lillian earrings will compliment the Lillian I or Lillian II necklaces well.  Lillian III earrings come with ear nuts so you can wear them fastened through the first or second ring, for a touch of elegance, or unfastened, for a more contemporary look (e.g. see images above and below).  They are approximately 2" long fastened or unfastened (including the 3/4" drop).

 Buy them here on Etsy.

See the matching necklace here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74705511/lillian-i-necklace-faceted-amethyst
and here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76404970/lillian-ii-necklace-amethyst-naga
And more earrings in the Lillian series here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/74889161/lillian-i-earrings-amethyst-lilac-stone
and here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76405838/lillian-ii-earrings-vintage-lucite-lilac
See the Lillian bracelet here: http://www.etsy.com/listing/77650266/lillian-bracelet-yellow-jade-amethyst

Search Lillian on this blog's search feature to view pieces from the collection.

Updated photos of Sage Collection

Enjoy!

Buy them on Etsy:  Sage Earrings, Sage Necklace

Seethe original blog posts here and here.

New Pictures!

Those who know me well know that I have a touch of perfectionism, so I've been retaking pictures of a lot of my pieces and experimenting with lighting, camera settings, and angles.  My goal is to reproduce their colors and texture as accurately as I am able.  So, here are a few new shots I've uploaded to my Etsy listings.  

Click on the captions below the images to go to the Etsy listings.

White Lotus in Golden Bloom

Rustic Golden Leaves

Rustic Golden Leaves

Frida y Estrellas

Kathmandu Dreams I

Kathmandu Dreams I

Kathmandu Dreams I

Stormy Neptune

Princess of the Skies

White Lotus in Silver Lavender

White Lotus in Silver Lavender

Lillian I

And for fun, here are a few shots that I've touched up and manipulated in an (awesome) free photo editor:

Princess of the Skies

Princess of the Skies

Kathmandu Dreams I

Maldives Earrings: Highly Textured Coconut Wood

I love the texture and rich, dark brown color of these coconut wood earrings.  I've named these earrings "Maldives," which is an island nation in the Indian ocean, because the coconut palm is the nation's national tree.  These earrings are perfect for pairing with summer maxi dresses, the beach, and will complete any bohemian inspired ensemble. 

Buy a pair on Etsy today!

These are a limited edition design with three pairs available. The earrings are light to moderate weight and are approximately 2 1/4" long by 1 3/8" wide.

Mint Tea I & II: Green Turquoise & Silver Leaves

Mint Tea I and II are the same design, but one pair has a heavier matrix than the other, making them both one-of-a-kind finished pieces.  I love the way the light plays on the wood surface while showcasing the beautiful turquoise and silver pairing.

The turquoise in Mint Tea I has a heavier matrix.

With a hint of sunlight...

These earrings are elegant, bohemian, and contemporary all at once.  They feature light green turquoise stones and silver leaf drops, and they remind me of how I feel when I enjoy cool mint tea on a warm summer morning.  They also have a slight southwestern flair.  Mint I and II are lightweight, 2 ½" long, and hang on silver-over-brass french hook wires.

The turquoise in Mint Tea II has a lighter, more diffuse matrix.

  

In soft morning light...

Please note that the turquoise is somewhat lighter and softer in person than the images above portray.  The image below best represents the true shade. 

Mint Tea I on left & Mint Tea II on right

Buy Mint Tea I here on Etsy!
Buy Mint Tea II here on Etsy!

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.

 

Buy them here on Etsy.

Liam Necklace: Brown Mosaic Turquoise and Goldstone for Gene

I'm thankful to Gene for inspiring me to create this necklace and I'm humbled that he's happy with the result!  

When I accepted the challenge of designing my first decidedly masculine necklace, I thought of a long strand of brown turquoise that I'd been unable to successfully incorporate into any previous designs.  I thought the beads were beautiful, but I was at a design stalemate.  So, thanks to a friendly suggestion, "Liam" was born. 

I've named this necklace Liam, an Irish name meaning "strong-willed warrior," mostly because I've liked the name for some time, but I also think the name suits the necklace's energetic properties.  Liam is 21 3/8" and features brown mosaic turquoise, brown goldstone, and an antiqued copper lobster clasp.   I've loved copper-rich goldstone since I discovered it about six years ago in Albuquerque.  Goldstone is known for its ability to clear one's chakras, to help one find courage and strength, and to fill one with light and love (source here).  And because it is copper-rich, goldstone will naturally help ground a restless spirit and help enhance non-verbal communication (source here).

Each piece of mosaic turquoise is unique and quite beautiful.  Mosaic turquoise is a blend of turquoise and magnesite.  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 (source here).  Magnesite helps open the third eye and crown chakras and helps dissolves blockages that bind one to the past (source here).  So, altogether, this necklace will enable a sense of calm and enhance intuition and communication while increasing one's courage and strength.

By the way, this necklace has 92 stones in all, which according to this site is "very auspicious."  Cheers to you, Gene!

See more pictures in the previous post here.

Preliminary shots of new men's necklace

Here are a few preliminary shots of my first ever men's necklace featuring 

brown mosaic turquoise, goldstone, and an antiqued copper lobster clasp.

The colors are somewhat more muted in person

 

The goldstone and brown mosaic turquoise seem fit for the antiqued copper clasp

And one with some photo manipulation

I'll post more information (and think of a name for it) soon!

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 García'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

 

Read the story behind the Blue Empress necklace here.

Check out items for sale at my Etsy shop!