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!

Maldives Earrings: Highly Textured Coconut Wood

I love the texture and rich, dark brown color of these coconut wood earrings.  I've named these earrings "Maldives," which is an island nation in the Indian ocean, because the coconut palm is the nation's national tree.  These earrings are perfect for pairing with summer maxi dresses, the beach, and will complete any bohemian inspired ensemble. 

Buy a pair on Etsy today!

These are a limited edition design with three pairs available. The earrings are light to moderate weight and are approximately 2 1/4" long by 1 3/8" wide.

*SOLD* Napoli Bracelet: Jasper & Cinnabar

In daylight.

I made this bracelet to match my Napoli necklace, which sold at my launch (you can see it here).  But I think it makes a statement on its own.

Named for the Italian city of Naples, this bracelet echoes the colors in Naples' flag.  The bracelet features oval red and green jasper beads that are a rich hunter greenish-black and steel gray with spots of green and small hints of red throughout.  This bracelet is perfect for gem and mineral lovers.  Each bead is unique and changes color in different lighting, which makes this bracelet truly unique.  A carved red cinnabar flower nestled between two golden beads and a golden flower clasp complete this elegant design. 

This OOAK bracelet is 8 ¼" long including the clasp.  It fits up to a 7 ¼" wrist or arm.  You can buy it here on Etsy!

With a bright flash in low light.

*SOLD* Iridescence - 13/20 Collection Bracelet #1: Green Shell & Hematite

"Iridescence" is the first piece of what I imagine will be a small collection of bracelets and lightweight necklaces suitable for dancing.  To learn more about the 13/20 Collection, see this post.

This bracelet was crafted with the concept of "Natural Time" or "Our Organic State," the second principle of Nia Dance's 52 Principles, in mind.  Thirteen pieces of hematite represent and support the body's 13 joints and 20 spiked pieces of iridescent green shell represent and support the body's 20 digits.  This bracelet is lightweight and perfect for dancing (it will look amazing as you and others catch glimpses of it in motion). 

I chose the materials for this first 13/20 bracelet carefully.  I wanted materials that supported the 13 joints and digits and found that Hematite and shell would work well together both energetically and aesthetically.  Hematite is known for its grounding and protective properties and it is also believed to impart "courage, strength, endurance and vitality," all of which are important for dancing and healthy joint function.  Hematite also supports balance between the body, spirit, and mind while focusing energy and providing balance between "the ethereal nervous system and the physical nervous system."  Furthermore, Hematite is believed to help regenerate bodily tissue, the absorption of iron, and treats leg cramps, and aids spinal alignment and fractures (source here).

For the 20 stones that represent the body's digits, I wanted to use a natural material that was stimulating in order to encourage a kinesthetic, material connection with one's environment.  I think shell is perfect for this task as it 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).

This bracelet is 6 ¾" long, fits a wrist or arm up to 6 ¾", and closes with a Tibetan silver toggle clasp.

Buy it here on Etsy! 

Mint Tea I & II: Green Turquoise & Silver Leaves

Mint Tea I and II are the same design, but one pair has a heavier matrix than the other, making them both one-of-a-kind finished pieces.  I love the way the light plays on the wood surface while showcasing the beautiful turquoise and silver pairing.

The turquoise in Mint Tea I has a heavier matrix.

With a hint of sunlight...

These earrings are elegant, bohemian, and contemporary all at once.  They feature light green turquoise stones and silver leaf drops, and they remind me of how I feel when I enjoy cool mint tea on a warm summer morning.  They also have a slight southwestern flair.  Mint I and II are lightweight, 2 ½" long, and hang on silver-over-brass french hook wires.

The turquoise in Mint Tea II has a lighter, more diffuse matrix.

  

In soft morning light...

Please note that the turquoise is somewhat lighter and softer in person than the images above portray.  The image below best represents the true shade. 

Mint Tea I on left & Mint Tea II on right

Buy Mint Tea I here on Etsy!
Buy Mint Tea II here on Etsy!

Frida in Marrakech: Red Cinnabar Flowers & Morocco-Inspired Drops

 I loved photographing these earrings in the late morning light!

When I completed this design, two things came to mind: Frida Kahlo and Morocco.  "Frida in Marrakech" is the marriage of two realms I love.  I use the term "realm" because Frida Kahlo is a realm--her life and art exude dynamism, passion, and  prove too much to be contained by any one thing. 

  

So, all of my Frida Kahlo inspired designs will feature Frida "in", "with", or "and" something or somewhere.  I've never been to Morocco, but I've been seduced by the country's art and many aspects of its rich culture--it is definitely a realm of its own. 

Here, I present to you Frida in Marrakech.  These earrings feature carved red cinnabar flowers and Moroccan-inspired silver etched acrylic drops hung on platinum-over-copper  kidney wires.  They are medium weight and measure 3 3/8" long and 1 1/8"at their  widest point.

 

By the way, I'm not sure if Frida Kahlo actually spent any time in Morocco, but there is a fabulous guestroom named for her at the Casa Taos in Marrakech.  (See it here.) I must go there one day!

 I've made two pairs, so these are limited edition.

 

Buy them here on Etsy.