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

Under the Pink Earrings for Rachel

There earrings are custom made for my best friend, Rachel...

These earrings, named for Tori Amos's 1994 album "Under the Pink,"  feature moonstone, rose quartz, magnesite, sterling silver and sterling silver enameled wire, and platinum plated earwires.

Stone properties:
Associated with the heart chakra and the signs Aries, Taurus, Virgo, and Libra, rose quartz is a stone of "unconditional love."  It encourages all forms of love including self-love, self-confidence, and romantic love.  It also brings forgiveness and gentleness, tolerance and acceptance, and increased receptivity to colors, sounds, art, music, and poetry.  Rose quartz helps boost creativity and is calming, reducing stress, clears anger, resentment, guilt, fear, and jealously.  It is truly an amazing stone!

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).

Moonstone is known for its ability to calm, relive stress, encourage inner growth, intuition, success, and good fortune in both love and business endeavors. It is also June's birthstone and associated with the astrological signs Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio.

Alexandros: Custom Piece for Gene

When Gene asked me to create a masculine bracelet with a rainbow colored beads, I knew the design process would be challenging and rewarding.  I've never made a man's bracelet before and I had to think of a rainbow-based design that wasn't evocative of Skittles--I needed to create an understated and handsome, pride bracelet.  So, I'm happy to present, Alexandros.

I had a lot of fun designing and making this bracelet.  The highlights of the bracelet are the leather cording and  handmade ceramic beads--both are made by Mykonos in Mykonos, Greece.  The company has long been known for the quality of its ceramic beads and leather products. 

The bracelet has earth-toned and bright toned beads in every color of the rainbow framed by five gunmetal black beads on each side.  The two beads near the clasp are special additions to the bracelet: one lovely brown reminds me of my client, Gene, (his hair and warm personality) and the other bead is deep brown, almost black, the color of rich soil that symbolizes the loyalty, respect, and nurturing we all need to get along in the world.  I know that may seem like a lot for one bead to symbolize, but I think it compliments the pride the rainbow beads convey.

The clasp is a bead I've had since my Albuquerque days.  It's a brass colored bead with some patina on it already.  I believe it is a metalized ceramic bead, and the design is reminiscent of Celtic, Turkish, or North African designs.  I only bought four of these beads, so it's a very special addition to this custom bracelet.

Thank you again for the challenge, Gene!

"Alexandros" is Greek in origin and means "defending men" or "defender of men."

Río de Rosas: Custom Necklace

One more custom order to complete a full week!

Río de Rosas, or River of Roses, is a special one-of-a-kind custom necklace featuring 251 beads plus a beautifully faceted rose quartz briolette.  Well over half of the beads used in this necklace are 1X1mm or less, so stringing this necklace was an intense effort!

Perfectly symmetrical, each side of the necklace has 47 iridescent iris blue Delica® glass seed beads, 10 turquoise rounds, 20 blue turquoise and blue howlite chips, 20 rose quartz chips, 23 pieces of tiny hand-faceted Karen Hill Tribe silver beads (which are at least 97% pure silver), and four rose quartz rondelles.  Three tiny iris blue seed beads complete the rhodium-plated clasp and closure for an added personal touch.  Adding flourish and interest to the rose quartz briolette is a swag of turquoise beads on sterling silver hardware, upcycled from a pair of earrings I no longer wear.  I love how the colors interact in this little space and throughout the necklace, and I hope its future owner will love it too!

closeup of seed beads & Hill Tribe silver

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.  Silver draws out negative energy and encourages non-judgement and self-approval.  Like turquoise, howlite is useful for communication and helps with memory, learning, facilitating awareness and emotional expression.  Linked with Gemini and the crown chakra, howlite helps alleviate stress while eliminating procrastination.

close up of rose quartz briolette and turquoise swag

 Associated with the heart chakra and the signs Aries, Taurus, Virgo, and Libra, rose quartz is a stone of "unconditional love."  It encourages all forms of love including self-love, self-confidence, and romantic love.  It also brings forgiveness and gentleness, tolerance and acceptance, and increased receptivity to colors, sounds, art, music, and poetry.  Rose quartz helps boost creativity and is calming, reducing stress, clears anger, resentment, guilt, fear, and jealously.  It is truly an amazing stone!

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.

River's Way Bracelet: Custom Order

A custom order with an inspired, yet spontaneous, design...

River's Way

The owner of this bracelet gave me free reign with a design, and because she is a dear friend, I wanted it to be unique, very wearable, and reflective of her personality.  I thought my Teagan bracelet would be a nice foundation to base this new design on because of it's versatility and color scheme (blue is the owner's favorite color).  

 

This bracelet, of an intentional asymmetrical design, features blue-green mosaic turquoise, turquoise blue chips, a gunmetal wire globe, and a lucky fish charm near the Tibetan silver toggle clasp.  Asymmetrical placements intrigue me because I feel they they add movement and liveliness to designs..  When I completed this bracelet, the first image that came to mind was the movement of a bright blue river flowing through a vibrant. fertile landscape; thus, "River's Way" was born. 

 

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.  Find out more about Turquoise here.   The blue turquoise chips add color and dimension to the off centered focal point of the bracelet.  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 lucky fish charm (the only one I have) is suspended by an iris blue stream of Delica seed beads, which adds uniqueness and a touch of youthfulness to the design.


For more one of a kind bracelet designs, see these listings on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80301573/white-pink-magnesite-turquoise-black
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78619117/green-empress-bracelet-green-cinnabar
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77650266/lillian-bracelet-yellow-jade-amethyst

Illuminated Twilight Bracelet: Custom Order

A very special custom order.... 

Illuminated Twilight

The owner of the original Twilight bracelet was in a serious car accident, and sadly lost the bracelet to what we believe was the force of the airbag's impact.  Thankfully, she survived the accident with no serious injuries and was able to salvage a few pieces from original bracelet from the wreckage of her totaled vehicle.  She wanted me to incorporate pieces from the original bracelet into a new design and "Illuminated Twilight" was born.

Deep blue with flecks of gold pyrite, Lapis is known for its  protective, stress relieving, and peace enhancing qualities.  It also encourages self-awareness, self-expression, and one's sense of confidence (source here).  The green shell stimulates "intuition, sensitivity, imagination and adaptability" along with providing "insight into decision-making [and] cooperation between the self and others, as well as within the self"(source here).  A Tibetan silver toggle clasp and two dangles made with Preciosa pressed Czech glass in an iridescent purple complete the new design.  A lot of love and energy went into this design and we are both happy with the result!

If you're interested in a similar design, check out my 13/20 bracelet.

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.

Pink Fire: Gale's Custom Order

   

I loved designing this custom necklace for Gale.  She wanted something that would match her summery pink strapless dress.  When she told what she wanted--something very pink, chunky, funky,  and one of a kind--I immediately thought of agate.  In the finished piece, four faceted, free-form pink agate stones compose the centerpiece of the necklace.  Agate comes in a variety of colors and its striations and inclusions make each piece truly unique.  (See detail on the left below.) 

Metaphysically, agate is powerful stone.  According to BestCrystals.com, agate "balances ying-yang energy, stabilizes the aura, facilitates discernment, imparts strength and courage, opens one to innate creative talents."  Gale also wanted the necklace to highlight the light pink and white of the dress, so I thought column shaped pink striped fire agate stones would add balance and further interest to the finished design.  Like the other agate stones, each piece has its own distinctive inclusions and matrix pattern.  

Detail of rose pink jade and pink fire agate

More detail of free-form pink agate and rose jade

To create a sense of dimension and difference, I chose round faceted rose pink jade, which ultimately enhances the necklace's metaphysical properties.  BestCrystals.com tells us that jade promotes,"Harmony, peace, fidelity, confidence [and is] a wonderful dream stone."

Silver accents finish the necklace and compliment its cool pink tone.  The silver toggle clasp is Tibetan style, and the two white pearl shell beads that terminate the necklace stimulate "intuition, sensitivity, imagination and adaptability" along with providing "insight into decision-making [and]cooperation between the self and others"(CharmsofLight.com).

Detail of white pearl shell and clasp

 

Many thanks to Gale for the opportunity to design this one-of-a-kind piece!

 

For reference, the necklace measures 18 3/4" long.