*SOLD* Pink Lantern Earrings - OOAK Pink Jade, Blue Goldstone, & Kuan Yin Carms

These one-of-a-kind earrings are fun, bright, and lively.  They feature two sided antique bronze Kwan Yin (Guanyin, Kuan Yin) charms with pink jade and blue goldstone dangles.  Kwan Yin is the Bodhisattva of compassion and is believed to hear the cries of the world; on the back of this quarter-sized piece is the yin yang symbol.  The deep midnight blue goldstone looks almost black, and its flecks of copper bring even more movement and glamour to these eye-catching earrings. 

These look amazing with hot pink, black, and white accents.

According to BestCrystals.com, Pink jade promotes,"Harmony, peace, fidelity, confidence [and is] a wonderful dream stone," which I think is fitting paired with Kwan Yin.  These moderate weight earrings are 3 1/8" long total.  The charms and dangles measure 2 1/8" alone.  

 Get them here on Etsy!

These earrings were inspired by The Rachel necklace! 

Read about it here and buy the necklace here.

Lillian Bracelet Featured in an Etsy Treasury!

Lillian, one of my favorite bracelets!

 

 

Buy the bracelet here.

View the treasury here.

Read the original blog post here.

 

Maggie Goes to the Cinna-bar Necklace & Maggie Bracelet - OOAK

The Maggie Collection

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Maggie Goes to the Cinna-bar Necklace

I had a lot of fun designing and making this necklace and bracelet set.  The pieces naturally go together but will also stand alone and make a statement.  The name "Maggie" affectionately refers to each piece's high magnesite content.  The necklace is striking, substantial, and one-of-a-kind.  Three large Asian-style black cinnabar beads add weight and interest to the composition of white and pink magnesite with heavy matrices.  A carved black lucky cinnabar fish, silver accent beads, and Tibetan silver lucky fish clasp complete the fun, chunky necklace.   All together, the necklace marries the Southwestern U.S. with Asian influences and makes what I'd call an "east meets west" piece.  The main colors, white, pink, and black, will look amazing dressed up with a solid black, white, or pink strapless column dress or dressed down with a classic white t-shirt and jeans. The necklace measures 20" long and is of moderate weight.

More about Magnesite:

Magnesite has the same crystal structure as calcite, which is similar in texture and hardness to marble and turquoise.  In gem lore, magnesite is known for its ability to calm, bring emotional balance, open wearers up to "higher realms and states of consciousness," and get them in touch with themselves beyond veils of perceptions.  It is also believed to clear blockages and hang-ups over the past and open the third eye and crown chakras, which bolsters psychic abilities and promotes bliss (source here).

Maggie Bracelet

Like the Maggie necklace, this bracelet is one-of-a-kind and statement making.  The combination of hot pink, white, and black makes both pieces versatile and wearable with many other colors.  Both pieces draw from the Southwest and the turquoise in the bracelet brings this influence (subtly) to the forefront.  I've had the turquoise for many years along with the faceted hematite beside it--it's like the pieces were waiting for each other and this bracelet's composition--they work very well together.  The black carved agate flower echos the detail of the carved cinnabar fish in the Maggie Necklace, yet sets the bracelet a part and lets it stand on its own.  The bracelet is 8 1/2" long, will fit up to a 7" wrist comfortably, and closes with a Tibetan silver toggle clasp.

 Buy the necklace here on Etsy. 

Buy the bracelet here on Etsy.

Desert Fire: Orange Agate, White Magnesite, & Turquoise Blue - OOAK Bold Southwestern Statement Necklace

Bold. Vibrant. One of a Kind.

This one-of-a-kind necklace is bold, vibrant, and statement making.  It features seven free-form agate slices separated by goldstone.  White magnesite and  hand-cut carnelian add interest to the design and echo the colors in the agate slices.  Pops of turquoise blue and antique copper complete the design.
 

The orange agate slices are striking and each stone is unique.  The white magnesite has a heavy brown matrix and looks amazing next to the rich orange carnelian chunks.




   

This necklace is of substantial weight and will bring a touch of Southwestern glamour, while evoking the colors of a stunning desert landscape, to your decollete.
 



Agate is a protective stone and increases courage and self-esteem.  Carnelian is also a courage stone and it opens one's heart, and brings joy into one's life.  With the calming properties of magnesite, this necklace has a nice, energetic balance (source here).

The blue turquoise chips add contrast to the necklace.  I've had these blue chips for a long time, and only a limited amount remain.  They are a rich turquoise blue and may be either natural turquoise or dyed howlite.
 


The necklace closes with an antique copper lobster clasp and can be adjusted from 21" to 23".  "Desert Fire" is a versatile matinee length and will look great for evening, office, or casual wear.  There is a replica Ottoman coin charm at the end of the extender, which brings a touch of the East to this Southwestern infused necklace.

Buy Desert Fire at my Etsy shop!

*SOLD* Amazonite, Vermeil, and Mother of Pearl Necklace: Kathrina - OOAK

Kathrina: Elegant and bohemian...

"Kathrina" is the first necklace in my high-end collection featuring vermeil, amazonite, and a mother of pearl stone encased in a 22 karat gold plated brass pendant.  This one-of-a-kind necklace is both classic and bohemian as its design combines an elegant shade of aquamarine blue with matte gold components with  organic textures.  The name Kathrina, a variant of the Greek name Katherine, means "pure," which I feel is apropos.

Each faceted amazonite stone is a natural pastel shade of aqua blue and is separated by a piece of faceted vermeil.  There are over thirty pieces of vermeil, 22 karat gold plated sterling silver, in this exquisite necklace.

 

The focal piece of this necklace is a mother of pearl stone in a beautiful 22 karat matte gold plated brass pendant.  Three matte gold plated brass drops add interest and movement to the centerpiece.  The mother of pearl is a lovely opalescent white and looks stunning set against the matte gold frame.  The pendant is 2 1/8" wide and 2" long from top of bail to end of drops.

 

Two organically textured 22 karat gold plated brass tubes echo and compliment the textured bail of the mother of pearl pendant.

Near the ends of the necklace are two 22 karat matte gold plated brass cones with floral scalloping and a lightly textured motif.  Tiny white shell beads terminate each side of the necklace and add balance to the design.

The necklace ranges from 20 5/8" to 22 1/2" long.  At 22", or matinee length,  it is versatile for office, evening, and casual wear.  And, worn at it's shortest length, it would look lovely with a v-neck or sweetheart neckline wedding gown.  Kathrina closes with a vintage-style lobster clasp (see the first three images of this post for details).

For those interested in the necklace's metaphysical properties, the combination of mother of pearl, amazonite, and gold make this necklace perfect for increasing intuition and creativity.  In addition to the latter properties, Amazonite is associated with the throat chakra, which helps communication and understanding.  Mother of Pearl, also known for its ability to increase one's intuition and psychic abilities, is associated with the heart chakra.  Because this necklace has a high gold content, it is important to note that gold holds and therefore increases the energies of the other stones in the necklace (source here) . 

You can buy this necklace here at my Etsy shop !

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!

Bohemian Engagement I: OOAK Necklace w/ Guanyin Coin, Picture Jasper, Sesame Jasper, Agate, Olivine Jade, and Palmwood Beads

 This necklace was a spontaneous creation.  I originally planned to design a bracelet, but a necklace soon evolved out of the materials I wanted to use together.  I've been experimenting with white backgrounds and lighting, and I think the combination of the two elements was perfect for this one-of-a-kind piece.  Because I enjoyed making this piece so much, I plan to make a few more that incorporate a bohemian palette. 

This necklace is both minimal and bohemian.  And, despite it's neutral palette, it is full of texture and pattern.  The necklace will make a statement with its various natural materials and eye-catching focal piece.

 

The necklace is reversible as the antique bronze Guanyin (Kwan Yin) centerpiece and replica Chinese dynasty coin are double-sided.  Guanyin is the Bodhisattva of compassion and is believed to observe or hear the cries of the world; on the back of this quarter-sized centerpiece is the yin yang symbol.   The dynasty coin, which is penny-sized, bring luck with a dragon on one side and Chinese characters on the other. 

Three picture jasper stones on one side of the necklace feature rich browns and creamy lattes, and tell a story of their own making them perfect for encouraging creativity and awareness.  (Above on the right.)  On the other side, a picture jasper stone accompanies an olivine jade stone and two white shell beads. (Above on the left.)

Two striking saucer-shaped palmwood and  water buffalo horn inlay beads, handpainted and polished by Filipino craftspeople are on each side of the necklace.  These horn used in these beads is a by-product, which makes these beautiful beads a sustainable result.  One of these beads is grouped with an olivine jade stone  and two carnelian colored agate stones with white bands (olivine is perfect for drawing luck and money).

Near the focal piece are two sesame jasper (also known as kiwi jasper) stones.  One stands alone and another is paired with white shell and a fluted, iris brown iridescent Preciosa Czech pressed glass bead.  Near the spring clasp of the necklace is a grouping of olivine and agate that will draw interest to the back of the wearer's neck.  This necklace looks amazing both coming and going!

This necklace is lightweight and measures 23 ¼" from end-to-end.  The pendant is 2" long and is about an inch wide at its widest point.  The chain is gold-plated iron that is nickel and lead free.  The chain has a beautiful soft, yet luminous, luster.  You can buy "Bohemian Engagement I" here on Etsy!

See this necklace for another design featuring Gwanyin : http://www.etsy.com/listing/75461379/sage-necklace-jasper-pyrite-statement

Love minimalism?  See this necklace: http://www.etsy.com/listing/76702162/desert-pearls-i-ii-necklaces-turquoise

*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.