New Pieces! Meet Santa Rosa...

Head over to my Etsy shop to learn more about this new set!  Here are a few pictures:

Here on Etsy!

Here on Etsy!

Believe Bracelet - Upcycled- Reinvented

I loved photographing this bracelet.  The soft colors and texture are captured perfectly!

This bracelet is my first "reinvented" piece. Almost all of its components are from a vintage necklace at least 20 years old. The original necklace was in near perfect condition and had little to no signs of wear. The only problem was that the design was quite outdated.

The focal pieces was the foundation of the design.

This one-of-a-kind bracelet is composed around a vintage, sapphire blue Lucite and brass focal piece. This piece was not original to the necklace and is old new stock in perfect condition. The lovely and realistic faux components, lustrous pearls, tiger's eye, and faceted smokey quartz, create a classic feel to this bracelet, which would be a perfect Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, or Kwanzaa present for a mom, beloved mother-in-law, or cherished grandmother. It also make a great piece for holiday dinners and parties.

I love the soft effect here.

(In fact, the pieces are so realistic, the seller I purchased the original necklace from said she couldn't say for sure if the tiger's eye and smokey quartz were real or faux!)

This bracelet looks nothing like the original necklace, which had red Lucite accents and dated gold links.

The clasp, extender chain, and wire wrap detail are all vintage pieces in amazing condition. The "believe" charm and rhinestone detail near the clasp are new components that capture the spirit of this piece that I envision as believing in the potential to create and reinvent beauty in the world.

The charm adds a touch of newness to old beauty.

 

Buy it here on Etsy!

*SOLD* The Rachel - OOAK Pink Jade Necklace with Lucite & Vintage Lucite, Ceramic, and Antique Bronze Globes

 

I have a bad habit.  I love to make pieces that become instant favorites!  This necklace, The Rachel, named for my best friend who suggested the basic color scheme, is one of those instant favorites.  It is bohemian, one-of-a-kind, and full of color and texture.  If you don't like to receive compliments, or have pieces that you can wear  with a host of colors and for almost any occasion, then this isn't the necklace for you!  But, if you do love to hear, "Where did you get that?" or "Wow, what a necklace!" then The Rachel is definitely a Bohemian Earth design you should seriously consider (and, you'll know that you are the only person wearing this one-of-a-kind piece)! 

Many materials went into this necklace's design.  It features hot pink jade gemstones, six black and gold Lucite globes, two vintage faceted aged gold Lucite beads from Turkey with an amazing pattern, four ceramic globes with beautiful greens, browns, and a touch of turquoise blue, and two antiqued brass Bali style beads, which make Earthy, tribal, and bohemian centerpieces.  Antique bronze discs are interspersed in the front third of the necklace and two sparkly blue goldstone beads, an adjustable clasp, and an antique bronze Kwan Yin charm with pink jade and blue goldstone dangle complete the necklace.

The necklace looks great with a range of colors from black to white to pink and even yellow.  This is due to its many hues that are enhanced even more by light.  When I bought the ceramic globes in New Mexico years ago, I loved their color along with their pattern and texture.  I use these globes sparingly and I think this design wouldn't be complete without them!  The black and gold Lucite balls are textured and pick up the color of the centerpieces and vintage beads.  Wow.  I really love this design, and I know you will also!

Looks amazing with so many colors!

The is necklace is of moderate weight and measures 18 1/4" at its shortest length to 19 1/4" at its longest length.  The largest globes are just under an inch in diameter.  The dangle near the clasp is about 1 1/2" long and the Kwan Yin charm is the size of a quarter.

Detail of centerpieces

Detail of clasp and Kwan Yin charm dangle

Detail of lower 1/3

Love Love Love!!!

 Buy The Rachel here on Etsy.

See the earrings this necklace inspired here and buy them here on Etsy.

My Stormy Neptune earrings also go well with this necklace.  Read about them here and buy them on Etsy.

New necklace and bracelet preview!

Here are a couple of preview shots of my two new designs.  

Lillian Bracelet

Taos Sunshine Necklace

I'll post them for sale on Etsy tomorrow.

Updated photos of Sage Collection

Enjoy!

Buy them on Etsy:  Sage Earrings, Sage Necklace

Seethe original blog posts here and here.

Autumn Moss: OOAK Russian Serpentine & Antique Copper Necklace

This necklace is a redesign.  Originally, it was named "Moss" and consisted of the Russian serpentine stones and two antiqued copper globes (the latter are absent from the present design).  I photographed it many times and was simply unhappy with the results.  I thought that the necklace needed something more in order to photograph well, since pictures are what buyers' decisions are largely based on.  The Russian serpentine is quite lovely and I wanted to pair it with something that showcased the beauty of the stones.  I am happy with the redesigned necklace with its antiqued copper accents and faceted firepolished Czech glass beads in a rich copper brown.

The name "Autumn Moss" endeavors to capture the beautiful greens and browns in this one-of-a-kind necklace of Russian serpentine, firepolished Czech beads, and antique copper accents.  The serpentine is an olive-pistachio green with a beautiful matrix of forest and hunter green--very lovely. 

On the end of each piece of serpentine is an antique copper flower cap and between each pair of flower caps is a faceted, firepolished Czech glass bead in an rich shade of iridescent coppery brown.  These "Crystal Picasso" Czech beads capture and reflect light beautifully. 

The focal point of the necklace is an antique copper barrel with a floral filigree design.  Four Czech firepolished beads frame the barrel and reveal its elegant design.








"Autumn Moss" closes with an antique copper toggle and bar clasp with its own intricate design.  The necklace is 22", or matinee length, which is a versatile length for office, evening, and casual wear.  And, it is ½" wide at its widest points.



 For lovers of gemstone lore:
Associated with Aries, serpentine acts as a catalyst for joy, increases clarity, and enhances cellular growth while activating Kundalini energy.  It is also known for its ability to attract love and money and helps us become attuned and open to nature spirits and the Earth's serpent energy (hence its name!).  Read more about serpentine here: http://www.thatcrystalsite.com/guide/properties-glossary.php?init=s

 These pictures taken in low light with bright flash reveal the strikingly beautiful nature of serpentine.

 

  Buy "Autumn Moss" here on Etsy!

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

*SOLD* Silk Road Earrings I and II: Turquoise Jasper & Chinese Coins - Treasury Item!

Silk Road I in daylight

This design is one of my favorites, and because each Turquoise Jasper stone is unique, each pair is one-of-a-kind.  The great amount of detail on each stone proved challenging to photograph, so these really look amazing in person.

Backside of Silk Road I in daylight

These earrings share their name with the famous trade routes that connected the Eastern and Western worlds for nearly 3,000 years.  Some of these routes, both overland and maritime, are still used today.






These  earrings feature turquoise jasper coin-shaped beads that have a panoply of colors including rich browns, greens, bright teals, creamy yellows, and sandy tans.  Each piece of jasper is different and I've matched similar pieces in each of the two pairs I've made.  Silk Road I has brighter green and teal based hues while Silk Road II has more of a desert oasis feel with more brown and sand tones.

Silk Road I in low light with bright flash

Silk Road II in daylight

Double-sided antique bronze replica Chinese dynasty coins dangle below the jasper stones.  The dynasty coins, which are penny-sized, bring luck with a dragon on one side and Chinese characters on the other.
 

Backside of Silk Road II in daylight

Tiny African bone beads sit atop the jasper stones and add texture and an organic feeling to each pair of earrings.  I only have a limited number of these bone beads left, so I use them in designs sparingly.  I think they complete these earrings and tie together the different tones in the jasper stones and the tone of the gold-over-brass french hooks with the antique bronze coins.

Silk Road I in low light with bright flash

These earrings are moderate weight, 3" long, and 1" at their widest point.  You can buy Silk Road I and Silk Road II here on Etsy.


Update 8/7/11: The 1st version of these earrings are in an Etsy treasury!  The 2nd version of these earrings have SOLD!