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

More Southwestern Dreams

Introducing...

Cactus Pear One-of-a-Kind Earrings 

and 

Nevada Fields Limited Edition Earrings

These earrings are both a touch Southwestern, yet not your traditional turquoise and silver earrings.  Read all about them on Etsy here and here!

I imagine Frida Kahlo may have worn these...

Thinking of Nevada wildflowers...

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!

Princess of the Skies Necklace: Turquoise, Magnesite, and TierraCast

 
I wanted this necklace to reflect the endless blue skies of the southwest USA while maintaining a bohemian feel.  I restrung this necklace more than once in order to get the length and aesthetic unity just right. I hope the wearer of this necklace feels like a princess who is connected with the natural minerals of the earth and the expansive and varied blues of the skies.

Description:
While designing this necklace, I wanted to imbue the finished piece with a classic, yet bohemian, one-of-a-kind quality, and I believe that the "Princess of the Skies'" mixture of materials, shapes, and textures have fulfilled my intention.

The centerpiece of this necklace is a 1 ¼" wide by ¾" long sky blue turquoise pendant with a beautiful matrix on each side, which makes this necklace reversible.  TierraCast silver plated pewter Turkish and  smooth rondelles are interspersed between blue turquoise beads, handcrafted reconstituted blue turquoise beads, and sky blue faceted magnesite nuggets with distinctive matrices.

This one-of-a-kind necklace is light to moderate weight and 16 ¾" long.

Check out this entry on Turquoise: http://www.shimmerlings.com/gemstones/turquoise.htm.  Turquoise is truly a powerful stone!


Buy "Princess of the Skies" here on Etsy!