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

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!

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.

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!

Badria: OOAK Elegant Afghani Tribal Necklace

Introducing...

Badria

"Moon-like"

"Badria is an Afghan name that means "moon-like," and the enchanting light and dark qualities of this necklace are evocative of the moon.

The first focal point of this one-of-a-kind necklace is the elegant Afghan artisan-crafted black onyx pendant.  The pendant was made in a traditional way by melting down coins and doing all filigree and inlay work by hand.  The pendant, including the dangles, measures 2 1/2" by 2 3/4."    Framing the pendant are twelve faceted sterling silver beads resting between faceted black onyx beads.

 

Next, the eye is drawn to two more Afghan metal beads with intricate open filigree work are framed by two shiny pyrite beads.  Because of their handmade nature, each bead is different, yet full of human-touched warmth and character.

 

Finally, on each side of the necklace near its end are two ruttilated quartz beads framed by pyrite and Karen Hill Tribe hand woven silver beads, which are at least 97% pure silver.  Near the necklace's simple, yet elegant, Bali sterling silver clasp are two more pyrite beads resting between faceted black onyx that add unity and elegance to the design.  Badria measures 22" long and the bust in in the second picture is life-size.

 

About the stones:
Onyx allows us to let go, relax, and flow with the natural energies.  It also helps relieve stress, balance our emotions and gives us the strength to persevere.  It is associated with the crown and heart chakras and with the astrological signs Cancer and Aquarius.

Rutile intensifies the properties of its host stone, so rutilated quartz enhances quartz's properties of bringing focus, clarity, and stimulating positive thoughts.  It is associated with the heart and third eye chakras and the astrological signs Leo and Capricorn.

Pyrite is grounding, encourages positivity and the release of old emotional baggage. It is also a protective and enhances one's creativity, intelligence, memory, and psychic development.  It is associated with the crown, third eye, and solar plexus chakras and the astrological signs Gemini and Virgo.

Silver draws out negative energy and encourages non-judgement and self-approval  (source: www.thatcrystalsite.com).

Buy Badria on Etsy!

Mavi: OOAK Turkoman Tribal Necklace

Introducing...

MAVI

a one-of-a-kind statement necklace 

  

On a life-size bust

Mavi is the Turkish word for the color blue, and the lapis lazuli in this necklace is a deep blue with a hint of shimmer from flecks of naturally occurring pyrite.  Lapis is known for its  protective, stress relieving, and peace enhancing qualities.  It also encourages self-awareness, self-expression, and enhances one's sense of confidence.  The lapis is enough to turn heads, but all together with its large Turkoman artisan crafted focal pendant and accent beads, this one-of-a-kind necklace is a truly a statement piece. 

The Turkoman tribal peoples live in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.  They make beautiful beads and pendants with semiprecious stone inlay using traditional practices by melting down old coins and hand designing each bead .  And because of their handmade nature, each bead is different, yet full of human-touched warmth and character. 

 

 

  

The focal piece of "Mavi" is a large 1 1/2" by 1 5/16" Turkoman artisan crafted goldwashed pendant.  A starry blue goldstone tube rests between the pendant's bails.  Although new construction, the pendant is crafted in an old, Afghani style.  

The jade is multicolored with shades of red, green, and golden hues.

Two smaller Turkoman artisan-crafted Afghani style beads with deep blue lapis lazuli inlay (slightly under an inch in size) are framed between two hand carved jade beads.




Jade helps one connect to her inner self.  It brings joy, protection, peace, healing, and balance.  Pyrite 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."

Near the ends of the necklace are two more Turkoman artisan-crafted Afghani style tribal beads with floral detail.   

 

This necklace closes with a simple, yet elegant Bali sterling silver clasp.  I've designed the open part of the clasp hook to face upward, as I think this position is more secure while still being pleasing to the eye. 

Buy "Mavi" on Etsy!

 

In low light with no flash.  You can also see the blue goldstone tube that supports the pendant.