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

News and New for Summer 2014!

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I've posted, but I've had a creative couple of weeks (in the midst of teaching a summer composition class five days a week!).

This spurt of creativity has been brewing for a while. Even though I haven't been actively creating and listing items in my Etsy shop, I'm always picking up materials and making notes for designs. The key is finding the time, and because I wear many hats, I have to make time. And I'm learning that making time for what I love (feeding my creative heart) is very important.

Intention I

Okay, back to the story. This spurt of creativity has been brewing and exploded into four new pieces (and one is nearly complete) due to a customer query.  A customer from Spain messaged me about a few of my pieces (Intention I, O'Keeffe I, and Desert Fire) and wanted to know about shipping terms and my general suggestions about what would suit her best based on her preferences and coloration.

O'Keeffe I

Desert Fire

Well, we messaged back and forth for days. The time change and my daily teaching schedule (coupled with her own busy schedule) made the process take longer than average. Yet, I wanted to make her happy. I wanted her to have the perfect piece.

 So, last Friday, I'd been thinking about her favorite colors, her preferred length, and what she'd told me about her complexion and coloring. Then, I got to work and Florencia en Verano (named for my lovely customer) was born.
 

In morning light

These colors are so lovely!

The next morning, she sent me pictures of herself and told me she'd settled on Intention I if I could change of clasp color to silver. Of course I would, I answered, but then I told her about my mad night-into-morning of design and creation, sent her pictures of the necklace I'd just completed with her in mind, and hoped that she would love it.


She did.

Florencia en Verano

Detail of rare yellow Czech disc African trade beads

Detail of the carnelian stones framed by coral

Detail of coral, Mykonos silver-finished ceramic beads, and Amazonite

And then she asked me to make a pair of earrings to compliment her overall style. So, I promised to make her two pairs and let her decide to take one or both. Thus, the Cherimoya and Watermelon earrings entered the world. She chose the Cherimoya pair, as I had a feeling she would, and now I'm waiting to hear of the necklace and earrings' arrival in Spain. I hope she loves it all even more in person.















 So, both the Cherimoya and Watermelon earrings are limited edition and are available. Florencia en Verano is one-of-a-kind, but I can always make similar pieces based on my available materials. I'm also open to creating commissioned pieces with materials of your choice (just tell me what you'd like, and if I don't have it, I'll buy it and we can negotiate a budget).

Now I'd like to share Farmers' Market I and a preview of another necklace on its way...

Farmers' Market I: Yellow Agate, White Magnesite, Frosted Fire Agate, Teal and Gold Wood

On the way: A necklace featuring a 1974 Indian Coin from the Kuchi Tribespeople

And, here's a custom piece I made for a customer last April featuring pink and green agate and jade and radraksha seeds.

Featuring some of my favorite faceted pink agate.

The radraksha seeds are often used in Buddhist prayer beads.

Thank you all for reading and following my journey in jewelry making!

-Jameela

The Fortune Collection

What follows is a long overdue post about one of the most fun, challenging, and meaningful collections I've made sine the inception of Bohemian Earth...
 
 

The Fortune Collection

In mid-October this year, ten days after I became ABD, I completed the Fortune Collection. I created four pieces for four very special women: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Joanne Gabbin, and Nikki Giovanni. The occasion, Sheer Good Fortune, was for Toni Morrison, but was a celebration for what these women and others like them have done, are doing, and will continue to do, that is, create more beauty in the world through creation, cultivation, and circulation of the creative written word. 

Necklace with freshwater pearls, amazonite, sterling silver& garnet with garnet & copper coated pyrite drop

I give special thanks to L. Lamar Wilson, author of the forthcoming poetry collection, Sacrilegion. Without Lamar, this jewelry series would not have existed. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to help shape his vision into material form.

With gratitude, I share my vision in the statement that follows...

* * *

The Collection in Morning Light

My Statement:

I have designed these four pieces especially for Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Joanne Gabbin, and Nikki Giovanni by the loving request of Lamar Wilson. Lamar envisioned four pieces that would unite four women who share a passion for written and spoken word, be it poetry, fiction, or nonfiction and then left me to my creative whim. I’ve named each piece Fortune followed by the initials of the woman for whom it is designed in recognition of the Sheer Good Fortune event in honor of Toni Morrison and to capture the spirit of such an auspicious gathering of so many people who love and appreciate the art of carefully crafted language.

Detail of necklace in warm light

 Amazonite, freshwater pearls, garnet, and copper coated pyrite are present in each piece of jewelry. Sterling silver, copper, and rainbow-torched copper unite the colors of the gemstones and reveals my love for mixing materials. Early on, Lamar and I decided sterling silver would be a good metal to tie the pieces together. The copper came later; its presence reflects my love for the warmth and richness of the metal, and for the way it patinas with age but can easily be made like new again. In the beginning, I knew that garnet would be a chief stone in each piece because of its many beneficial properties. Garnet aids a number of physical ailments, protects bones and joints, imparts a sense of clam while providing adrenal support, inspirits courage and creativity, and aids passion and intuition. After a few preliminary sketches for these pieces, I had a vivid dream in which amazonite and pyrite were prominently featured, so I knew that these two stones would be included in the design. Amazonite calms, encourages happiness and good health, and, perhaps, most important, it is a stone associated with writing and communication. Pyrite is an all-around protective stone that helps with dream work and dream recall; it is also known for inspiring creativity and imparting good fortune. Associated with spirituality, feminine energy, the heart, and protection during travels, the four freshwater pearls in each piece also represent the unity of and the love shared between the four women. Each pearl is differently hued and shaped, lovely and iridescent. Copper is another material that aids communication and circulation, soothes joints, enables channeling, and imparts a bit of luck; silver adds more protection and increases the properties of the gemstones. 

Bracelet with freshwater pearls, amazonite, sterling silver, & garnet

Finally, I created each piece with positive intention, love, and joy. I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to share my vision with you all, just as the body of crafted language you all have birthed, nurtured, and empowered has helped shaped the vision and purpose of my own life.

With love,

Jameela F. Dallis 

Detail of bracelet clasp: hand formed & hammered rainbow copper; garnet & copper coated pyrite drop

Aquamarine drop on necklace for Maya Angelou (Aries Birthstone)

Turquoise drop on necklace for Toni Morrison (Aquarius Birthstone)

I look forward to creating more commissioned pieces and collections in the future!

Five New Listings..! My (Almost) Penultimate Post of 2012

Hi everyone!

Below you'll find the links to five newly listed items. I'll be completing their details this week, but I thought I'd post them before the new year begins. I have one more end-of-the-year post planned for tomorrow, so stay tuned for more!

Cheers!
Jameela

Three new ready-to-ship listings:

O'Keeffe I

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119114898/okeeffe-i-watermelon-quartz-turquoise

Lydia

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119115636/vintage-kuchi-coin-pendant-white

Trade Necklace I

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119116884/african-powder-glass-beads-ghana

Two new made-to-order listings:

Danielle's Earrings

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119117872/danielles-earrings-vintage-lucite-czech

Intention I

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119120211/intention-i-amazonite-peruvian-pyrite