d'Olivia Jewelry and More

Jade Buddha Head

2012-01-31T12:49:00.001-05:00

I picked up a strand of antique jade Buddha head beads at a bead show a while back. I liked them, but then had a difficult time deciding what to do with them. They are a bit large and heavy, so they don't lend themselves to earrings.

I eventually made a necklace with one bead as a pendant, using organza ribbon. I think I was in a "ribbon phase" at the time. I combined it with some pewter beads.

The bead is also too large and awkward for bracelets. I might attempt a different design with chain or cord. I don't want it to be paired with anything heavy, because then it would make for a really heavy necklace. I'll continue to muse over this for a while. I still really like the beads.

White Pearls on Antiqued Brass Chain

2012-01-24T11:41:00.000-05:00

I made this necklace some time ago. The chain is brass, with an antiqued finish. It has a "rough" look to it. I thought it would display the soft sheen of pearls nicely.

I like putting opposites together. The matte brown of the brass is nice with pearls.

Black and Gold Pendant on Twisted Cord

2012-01-17T17:31:00.000-05:00

This necklace was an experiment in using thick braided cord. I made a pendant from a large acrylic bead and gold plated pewter bead caps. The cord is black intertwined with gold metallic thread.

The trick was getting the correct size for the endings. The cord is probably 4mm thick and was from a fabric store, rather than a beading store. It all ended up well, and I think it looks rather Elizabethan.

Ruby Red Three Strand Necklace

2012-01-10T21:01:00.000-05:00

I was thinking about Valentine's Day coming up, which led me to thinking about red. So I collected many red beads, round, oval, faceted, in several shades of ruby red and made a nice three strand necklace.

This has a nice rich look to it. I like the pewter clasp and end bars, too.

Blue Mother of Pearl Bracelet

2012-01-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

I like the colored mother of pearl nuggets quite a bit. These are in a pretty aqua color.

I've paired them with pastel aqua crystal pearls, and then accented them with chocolate brown seed beads.

Ruby Baroque Crystal

2011-12-27T14:59:00.000-05:00

These pieces have a very simple design so the focus is on the crystals. This is Swarovski's "baroque" pendant in the color "ruby", which has more of a blue undertone than a real ruby.

The pendant has many facets and a rippled edge around the bottom and sides.

I used the smaller sized pendants to make matching earrings. I can't seem to find these pendants in a lot of colors, but I do like this "ruby" color.

Farewell to Autumn

2011-12-20T16:55:00.000-05:00

We are losing the autumn colors now, and changing into a black and white palette. I've seen a lot of gray in the skies lately, so I thought I'd bring out some photos from only a few weeks ago.

Chalk Turquoise with Bamboo Coral Jewelry Set

2011-12-14T17:39:00.000-05:00

These chalk turquoise nuggets have an irregular shape and lean towards the green side of turquoise. I paired them with bamboo coral, which are shaped like gem chips. I like turquoise and coral together.

Also in the mix are labradorite rondelles and swarovski vitrail bicones. Then I made some earrings to match.

Large Green Pearls with Golden Accents

2011-12-06T13:10:00.001-05:00

These crystal pearls are described as "evergreen" and they are indeed the color of pine trees. I added some gold plated pewter beads and caps to the necklace.

If you look closely, you will see I've used Miyuki Delicas in translucent amethyst with an AB coating. I think the sheer purple sets off the opaque luster of the green pearls nicely.

Black Filigree Beaded Brooches

2011-12-01T10:49:00.001-05:00

A while back, I found these black enameled filigree disks. I'm not always sure if I'm using a component in the manner it was intended, but then again, I'm not sure if it really matters. I made several brooches with these little filigrees. The first photo shows the brooch with fuchsia rhinestones and cream pearls.

This one was done with all green.

White and red. When I used seed beads rather than perfectly round beads, you can see the thread a little more.

This last one has a red beaded center and heart shaped rhinestones. I think I'd like this one for Valentine's Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:03:00.001-05:00

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy your turkey and tofurkey. May you have even more things to be thankful for in the years to come. And if you are thinking about shopping :) be sure to check out my Etsy Shop and use the coupon code THANKS2011 to get 15% off everything in my shop from now through the end of Cyber Monday on 11/28/2011. If you shop there, you won't have to stay outside all night in a tent waiting to get in, and everything is made in the USA (by me). Enjoy!

Double Strand Cream Pearl Necklace

2011-11-23T13:56:00.001-05:00

I'm always a fan of pearl beads, and creamy white pearls are a classic. Here I've taken creamy white 12mm glass pearl beads from Auntie's Beads and strung them into a double strand necklace. Each strand has a similar, but different, pattern. I like the color of the metallic gold iris bugle beads that provide a nice foil to the cream color of the pearls.

Carved Jade with Carnelian

2011-11-16T17:54:00.001-05:00

I picked up carved antique jade beads and faceted carnelian briolettes at two different occasions at two different shops. It took me a while to decide what to do with them, but you see I have put them together into earrings.

I like these two colors together -- the brown and the orange. I also think the shapes of square and teardrop look nice together also.

Colors of Autumn

2011-11-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

I find myself staring at the colors of trees lately. Fiery reds, golden yellow, greenish bronze, such a lovely combination of colors. West Goshen Park is a wonderful park for a walk, and there are some very nice colors there now. I took these photos on the cloudless day after our Halloween snow. I think the color of the sky looks like someone painted it. You should be able to see the full sized photos if you click on them.

The sun is much lower now, and I often see it peeking through the tree leaves. This tree has a lovely shade of burgundy in it. I have to enjoy my autumn walks now as it will soon be too cold to venture out for many activities. Happy Fall, everyone!

Collage Bracelet

2011-11-03T12:05:00.000-04:00

This was interesting and different for me. The metal framework of the bracelet came as one piece. I was accustomed to purchasing individual bezels, and assembling them myself, but I wanted to experiment with this one. Then, instead of pouring resin into the bezels, I purchased clear resin domes. These must have been made in a mold. If I poured the resin myself straight into the bezels, I would not get such high domes. I created my own "scrapbook paper" digitally using shades of ivory, plum and turquoise. I prefer making my own as compared to finding something I like at the craft store.

Although I am pleased with the way it looks, I don't think I'll go with the bezel bracelet blank again. It is a much more costly finding than using the individual bezel blanks, and the resin domes are costly also. When one is making items for resale, one has to think of the non-crafting buyer, who might not understand the cost of supplies. I definitely plan to continue making my own scrapbook paper. I like using my own colors and designs. I never seem to find anything I like at the craft store. And since I make it digitally, I know I can always print more, and not worry about the store running out of stock.

Gilders Paste Color Comparison

2011-10-27T12:20:00.000-04:00

Gilders Paste is a wonderful little thing. I currently have a selection of four of their metallic colors. I would like to have all of their colors, but cannot find the rationalization for such a thing on my budget right now. Something to aim for! It is a type of color rub. You will see from my close ups that it is not really a full opaque coating but is more of an accent color. These comparisons were done on coral colored baked polymer clay.

This is gilders paste in "gold". I needed 2 coats to get this level of opacity. It is pictured next to a gold plated toggle.

This is "antique gold". It has more copper and less yellow in it than my antique gold jewelry findings.

This is "copper". You can see it is more the color of antique copper than shiny new copper.

This is silver. This had an odd texture. The other ones are like a hard cake of shoe polish. This is more souffle-like. It got everywhere on my desk with its fluffiness. I don't know if all the silvers are like that, or I got an odd container of gilders paste here. It is pretty though, with a color a bit darker than the silver plated toggle shown next to it.

I haven't found these in any bricks and mortar stores, but some internet stores will sell these. One great place to buy them is B'sue Boutiques. Her shipping is reasonable and very speedy. She also included a couple little candies in my order, their photo is not available due to reasons I don't care to mention. Ah, they were gone too soon! :-)

The Best Bunny Day Ever!

2011-10-18T20:48:00.000-04:00

A couple of days ago, the weather was manic-depressive -- it rained, it hailed, it was cloudy, and the sun came out for little bits of time. All day, I noticed a bunny outside, parked under a large bush. He was protected from all the bad weather. He just sat there all day, munching on the grass. I thought, he must be having a great day. Just chilling all day, protected from the hail and rain, munching on his favorite snack. He was there from morning 'till dusk. Of course, I had to photograph him, Photoshop him, and then finally, Warhol him.

Clay Key Fobs

2011-10-04T15:22:00.000-04:00

I've just realized I cannot say "clay key fob" three times quickly. I should probably name these something else, but yes, these are key fobs made from polymer clay.

I've combined abstract colors of clay, and then stamped them. I liked the way the colors streak together. I had recently made some other projects with carefully thought out color recipes that I developed, which somehow led me to the "not blended" look that I've used here.

I don't really expect anyone to carry their fob on their finger ("clay key fob finger"), but I couldn't find a better prop than my "hand".

Teal Pearls with Lampwork

2011-09-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

Still thinking of fall colors, I used teal pearls with lampwork beads in two shades of blue in this necklace.

I used black seed beads to pick up the black swirl in the lampwork beads, and to darken the overall look of the design.

The necklace makes me think of the different colors of blue in the sky immediately preceding the twilight hours. But then, the teal pearls also make me think of Philadelphia Eagles green, which is also a teal color. I don't think I would wear this with a football jersey, though you could if you wanted to. :)

Orange Sea Glass with Golden Pearls

2011-09-22T09:50:00.000-04:00

This is a design with sea glass. Sea glass is so pretty. It is usually matte with a touch of transparency. I thought of autumn colors, and used orange sea glass beads in this necklace. I added golden freshwater pearls, and other touches of glass and gold.

This would be a nice look for fall, don't you think?

Brown Lampwork Focal

2011-09-15T12:10:00.000-04:00

I thought this brown lampwork bead was really nice. It has a foiled core, and splashes of color, such as yellow, green and red. I placed it on golden crinkle wire, which is permanently crinkled stainless steel flexible wire, and set it off with green, red, and yellow beads which echo the color splashes. It is a nice clean look which brings the eye immediately to the focal bead.

Goodnight Irene

2011-08-29T17:51:00.000-04:00

Last week started with an earthquake and ended with hurricane, floods, and tornadoes. I'd rather not have another week like that, thank you very much.

These are photos of Chester Creek, much higher than usual, much browner than usual. We miraculously escaped any real damage at our home, but I wish I could say the same for others that needed to evacuate, or lost their homes, and in some cases, lost loved ones. Glorious weather can bring us such joy, but weather can also be so cruel.

The above is not actually Chester Creek at all, just some land nearby that only looks like a creek at the moment.

I don't remember what this tree looked like before the storm, so this may not all be from the hurricane. I'm calling it "yoga tree", because I would like to be so flexible that I could bend in this position. If you click upon it, you should be able to see more details of the contortionist tree.

Violet in Chains

2011-08-23T13:37:00.001-04:00

Violet matte pinched ovals, violet charms, violet chain. Violet much? I added almond colored pearls to the mix. I think this has an updated Victorian look to it. Pretty much all the components are from the Cousin Corp. , a brand sold in local craft stores. They've recently come out with some new charms and pendants, which have piqued my curiosity. I've found the widest selection of this brand at my local A. C. Moore store.

This necklace took a couple of tries. I originally thought I would put the charms and pendant directly on the chain, but it didn't sit right. Then I changed my tactics, and made the main necklace with the charms and pendant as the center focal, and strung the matte pinched ovals with pearls on either side. I then attached two strands of their violet chain to the clasp area. That seemed to work out much better.

Blue Glitter Resin Pendant

2011-08-19T11:47:00.000-04:00

Here I've used a heart frame purchased from Auntie's Beads. It is quite deep and lends itself to some dimensional work. Along with Ice Resin, I used both microbead glitter and flakey glitter in a similar blue shade, and then stuck in a brassy golden key charm. The surface texture is bumpy, you can feel the glitter and charm in 3d.

You can see the depth of the frame more clearly here.

I wanted the resin pendant to be the main attraction here, so I strung various complimentary seed beads for the strand. If you look closely (or click for closeup), you will see I used Miyuki 5/0 triangles in a matte bronze from Red Panda Beads. I like to have several different shapes, sizes, textures, and colors in my designs, and when I discovered her triangle beads, I was thrilled! I'll definitely be heading back for more of those.

Resin Peonies

2011-08-12T18:44:00.000-04:00

I recently purchased a mold from Mold Muse on Etsy. It is a large peony shape, and I have been experimenting in making some resin shapes from it. Above I used a black color with iridescent glitter.

This is the mold. You can see how crisp the details are. Once cured, the resin pops out instantly.

Here I made the peony in a sheer golden color.

Then I accented the petal edges with gilders paste.

Here is a peony using microbead glitter first, then some colored resin, and some clear resin after that.

This one has golden microbead glitter, some blackish resin, combined with sheer golden resin.
I haven't used the peonies in anything yet, but I think they might be good for a necklace focal, or perhaps used in a hair fascinator. I'm definitely interested in getting some more of these molds. I have made some of my own molds in silicone putty, but they don't have this kind of clarity. I believe these molds may be used with other media, including chocolates (yum!), so if you are feeling artsy too, you might want to check out their shop.

Turquoise Necklace with Square Focals

2011-08-06T18:56:00.000-04:00

I made this necklace some time ago for my personal collection. The focal beads are puffed squares of a turquoise composite, purchased at Aunties Beads. I've used glass beads in complimentary colors of turquoise, tan, and silver to complete the necklace. This is one of my favorite pieces and I wear it often.

Gift Package

2011-07-26T15:41:00.000-04:00

I recently created a set of jewelry for dear friends. I used several metallic colors: gold, silver, copper, antique brass.

A silver barrette (acrylic and firepolished beads).

I used oval "Hope" beads, and round beads that had the sun on one side and the moon on the other.

Blue Floral Ceramic Double Strand Necklace

2011-07-07T12:21:00.000-04:00

Here I've used large ceramic round beads that are almost a dark aqua in color with a black floral motif painted on them. I have glass beads in blue and complimentary colors on the main strand, and then small black beads on that secondary strand, which also weaves through the focal beads. It gives a "scalloped" look to the design.

I'm calling this a double strand necklace rather than a two strand necklace, although I'm not sure if I'm using those terms correctly, or if there is a universal understanding of those terms.

Red White and Blue Crocheted Bracelet

2011-07-01T11:06:00.000-04:00

It is almost Independence Day, so here is a red white and blue design. It looks a bit scrunchy in the above photo.

I crocheted red beading wire, which makes the design look scrunchy until it's on your wrist. I had these beads that were blue stars with little rhinestones. I originally thought they would be weightier, but once I purchased and opened the package, I realized they were quite lightweight, and really wouldn't work as charms.

I also had some red beading wire, for which I had no purpose either. Therefore, I combined them all into this lacy stretch sort of bracelet. The ends are attached to ribbon endings, and then into a button clasp.

Blingy Beaded Brooch

2011-06-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

Can you say that title three times quickly? I cannot. This is a circle pin on which I sewed fire polished crystals in a color called "crystal marea", and its definition eludes me. It is a little gold, a little silver, a little copper, and heaven knows what else. I used up almost the entire pack of beads on this because I wanted them to be thick and clustered. This is the sort of piece which you just stare at and mumble "ooh pretty". Here is a close up photo of the beads.

Pink Heart Earrings with Painted Flowers

2011-06-16T18:54:00.000-04:00

I'm always interested in sampling different beads. These are heart-shaped glass beads. A floral pattern is painted on them. They look to be hand painted. I don't think I could do such a good job at painting flowers on beads. With such a nice pattern on them, I didn't add much else to the earrings in order to keep the focus on the pretty beads.

The Beneficiary of the Strawberry Patch

2011-06-10T12:25:00.000-04:00

Can you see who is enjoying the strawberries? I hope he likes them roasted -- our recent heatwave has roasted and fried everything in the garden.

"May I have them with cream please?" he inquires. He is satisfied that this is a "pick your own" crop.

Framed Glitter Pins

2011-05-31T20:28:00.000-04:00

I made some brooches using resin, various types of glitter, and rhinestones. I used purchased metal frames. Resin can be used in a lot of different ways. With these brooches, I used a monochromatic color scheme and decided the interest would be in the various shapes and textures. I used fine glitter, microbead glitter, flakey glitter, and flatback rhinestones. I still need to determine the best way to photograph these. I had them pinned to a jewelry roll, but I think there must be a better way.

New Coupon Code

2011-05-26T15:30:00.000-04:00

Just a quick FYI -- I just put up a coupon code for free shipping from my Etsy shop. This is the first time I have used this application from Etsy. The code is FSMEMORIALDAY2011. If it doesn't work, let me know. If it does work, shop early and shop often! It is good through Monday, May30th, at midnight.

A Bouquet of Iris

2011-05-25T19:54:00.000-04:00

Our iris garden is in full swing. It is brief, yet beautiful, like so many things. Quite a few of our irises fell over due to their weight, so Allen made this bouquet. He is my resident flower arranger. The photo, like others on my blog, will enlarge if you click on it.

White Pearl Barrettes

2011-05-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

I'm a big fan of glass pearls, and white pearls are a classic. This is a nice barrette for a classic look or a bridal look. I also made them in a small size.

I've been fairly happy with the hairpiece I purchased from Ulta. It was on clearance, and then I had a coupon. I have no idea how one actually uses it on their head, but it is useful for my photography in that you can see how the hair ornaments look on hair. I originally had it strung up on a necklace display, but then found a styrofoam head at Sally's Beauty supply. One must roam and shop!

Brown Purple Hair Fascinator with Flower and Feathers

2011-05-11T20:33:00.000-04:00

A fascinator is somewhere between a barrette and a hat. At least, that's how I describe it. They have become more popular lately. I have made a few and plan to make more. I need to use some different vendors, which has been a research task.

This piece is mostly in neutrals, but it needed a bit of a "punch", so I added a blue/purple feather to the other brown tones.

Working on the fascinators brings back pleasant memories of my great aunt Leila, who owned a millinery store in Santa Cruz, California. She might be pleased to know the netting is back in style now also! I remember playing in her store and looking at all those colorful hats!

Flowers for Mother's Day

2011-05-08T10:51:00.000-04:00

Here are some garden photos of flowers, just in time for Mother's Day! I hope everyone enjoys this Sunday, mom status or otherwise.

I don't know the name of the red tulip. I believe the pink tulip is a Menton, and the white tulip is a Diane.

Honeysuckle Pink Pearl Necklace

2011-04-26T16:39:00.000-04:00

In keeping with the supposed color of the year, honeysuckle pink, I found these pretty glass pearls in my stash, and paired them with shell beads and metalized plastic beads. For some reason, the vendor was calling these pearls "cranberry", although these would make for some sickly looking cranberries. It is a great color for a spring or summer necklace, however! I am enjoying the metalized plastic beads also, although I'd like to learn more about them. They look like pewter or antique silver, but have a lighter weight. Very interesting!

The little seed beads you see are a plummy chocolate color, and yes, most things make me think of food.

Heart of Clay - Polymer

2011-04-19T12:41:00.000-04:00

I started working with polymer clay a little bit, right before my accident. Here is a necklace with a clay heart pendant. I used green and brown colors, and accented it with glitter and a ribbon.

I put a little glaze on it to give it a sheen. Then I strung it with a seed bead pattern that picks up the colors in the heart.

And THEN, added the antiqued bronze chain.

In that fanciful time of my imagination, when I have time for all things, I will get back to making some more clay items.

Crystal Link Bracelets

2011-04-12T14:50:00.000-04:00

I had to try these Swarovski crystal links when I saw them at Fusion Beads . I made bracelets with peridot green, siam (think garnet), aquamarine blue, and padparascha pink.

The padparascha color is a fairly close dupe to the "color of the year" pink hyacinth. Padparascha is supposed to be the color of a certain type of pink sapphire, however, which is pink with a hint of orange. It is really pretty!

Azalea Pink

2011-02-10T11:45:00.000-05:00

With all the snow and cold weather we are having here, I haven't seen much garden color. Frankly, I haven't seen my garden at all, since it is all under something white! Our indoor azalea is doing me the favor of blooming, so I am enjoying its color now. It looks a lot like the "color of the year", which has been deemed to be "honeysuckle pink". I have never grown pink honeysuckle but I would like to do so. For now, I will be satisfied with this small azalea plant.

Garnet Red Barrettes

2011-02-01T18:31:00.000-05:00

I purchased some barrette backings a while back, and then couldn't decide what to do with them. I tried gluing ribbon, which failed. I tried gluing glitter, oh that didn't look right. I thought large flatbacks or buttons might look strange. Then I made a section of bead weave, which, after many different attempts, came out just right. So it reminds me of the story of Goldilocks, who kept trying things and saying "this one's too hot, this one's too cold" until she came across the right combination.

If you are a beadweaver, you will see that I used the right angle weave. I originally tried Miyuki 6's, and they just flippity flopped. When I used these 6mm druks, it all seemed to work out nicely.

I plan to try out some other beads, like glass pearls, fire polished rounds, or maybe some 4mm druks. Then I might venture out into a peyote stitch with the smaller seed beads to see how that works. But don't hold your breath on me fiddling with a complicated stitch pattern and the tinier seed beads! Oh no! To paraphrase Dr. McCoy from StarTrek, "Jim, I'm a beader not a weaver!"

Blue Opalite

2011-01-28T11:49:00.000-05:00

According to the Rings and Things website, Opalite is a manmade quartz, and is also known as moonstone quartz, opalized quartz, or sea opal. I wonder how one goes about making a new quartz?

Their description reads with words like "ghostly" and "shimmery". I think I'd rather go with shimmery. I'm not too keen on the ghostly look. From the pictures, it looks like a pretty opal blue color with a rainbow effect. I think I'd like to try these sometime. I'll bet it looks really nice with pewter or antique silver findings. Because this is a "cool" color, I'd probably end up accenting it with smaller beads in a warm color like brown or topaz. Have you used opalite yet?

Red Panda Beads: d'Olivia Jewelry

2011-01-25T15:25:00.000-05:00

Red Panda Beads: d'Olivia Jewelry: " Tuesday's Treat :) Diane is the owner of d'Olivia Jewelry. She has an etsy store where she sells her jewelry creations.&nbsp..."

Black and White Lampwork Bracelet

2011-01-21T10:18:00.000-05:00

I always like a black and white color pallette, so here I go again! I've used flat shell disc beads with rondelle lampwork beads. The rondelles have a black and creamy white swirl pattern that is encased in clear glass which gives it some nice depth. I bought these lampwork beads some time ago before I improved my record-keeping skills, so now I have no idea where they were purchased and cannot buy any more of them. Ah, I wish I had more! (a common complaint from me)

Pearl Color Comparison - Browns and Tans

2011-01-13T11:37:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of colored glass pearls, and I have always found a great selection at Auntie's Beads . I am always curious how the colors will look in real life, despite reading their descriptive names and looking at the web site photos. Today I'm doing a color comparison for some of their pearls in brown and tan shades. This may help the prospective buyer, or just some eye candy for the rest of you!

First, of course, would be pearls with the name of chocolate. Who can't resist that? These have a nice milk chocolate color and look positively scrumptious!

Next is the Vintage Rose. Although there is a small bit of pink or mauve in this color, it is dusty and muted enough that I am including it in the "tan" category. This is a very pretty color and could really be outstanding in a vintage-inspired design.

The next two are the problem children. Not that I don't love them, and they certainly are beautiful! It's just that I would give them different names. These are the pearls with the name of "Champagne."

I have never drunk champagne that color. If anything, it looks like sherry. There is definitely a golden tan color here. Pretty, but champagne? Here is a necklace with the SHERRY colored pearls.

Next are the Golden Bronze pearls. I will not go so far as to say these look like they could be called champagne, no I will not say it.

The Golden Bronze are not nearly as golden as the Champagne. Actually, I would rename the Golden Bronze as Almondine, since they are closer to the color of Marconi almonds.

The photo above shows all four colors together so you can see the comparison. The smallest are the "Champagne". Next smallest is the "Vintage Rose". These all look wonderfully pearly and have a weight similar to a genuine pearl. Colored glass pearls are great because they have such a uniformity and usually have a slightly bigger hole for stringing than the ones nature made. I can't wait to use more of these in my designs!

Sleeping Garden

2011-01-05T13:34:00.000-05:00

It's January, it's cold, there's a bit of snow out. The garden does not look like much right now.

I'm spending my time on indoor activities at this time of year. It's nice to take a break from gardening for a bit. Before I know it, I'll be planting vegetables again, and shaking my fists at the darn rabbits!

Pink and Red Hearts Charm Bracelet

2010-12-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

I recently got these red and pink heart charms, and was really pleased with their look. They are about 5/8" long and was concerned that they might be too big for a charm bracelet, but you can see it turned out nicely. Of course, it is not subtle, but then I don't do a lot of "subtle".

Pearly Stars with Lampwork Stripes

2010-12-22T11:21:00.000-05:00

These grey stars are made from shell, and the oval beads are lampwork glass with stripes in white and grey-ish black. I made a necklace, bracelet, and earrings in this style. The accent beads are seed beads from Red Panda Beads. I really like the color-lined clear beads from Miyuki. I like the way they can echo a main color from the piece without having a too strong appearance.

Brown Shell Earrings

2010-12-15T19:26:00.000-05:00

I used large flat discs of brown shell for these earrings, and added a dangle of red glass and brown metallic crystal on the bottom. I think this is a nice color combination, especially for the fall and winter.

Aqua Sea Glass with Shell Sticks

2010-12-07T11:56:00.000-05:00

Sea glass is so pretty. It is translucent and matte. In these pieces I've used large round aqua sea glass with iridescent aqua shell sticks. I've used patterns of various shades, sizes, and shapes of smaller glass beads to accompany the larger beads.

Earrings to match, also!

Antiqued Brass Chain with Crackle Glass

2010-11-30T21:54:00.000-05:00

I really like crackle glass beads, although I can't always find it. It is round smooth glass beads in which you can see crackles, like ice. I believe it is made using temperature changes which make the crackles appear. In these pieces, I've used icy white, teal, and sunny yellow crackle beads.

I also like the "antiqued" colors of metal, such as antiqued silver, antiqued copper, and in this case antiqued brass, er, antiqued gold, er, oh what is it? Depending on where you buy it, sometimes antiqued brass looks like antiqued gold, and of course there is a vintage brass which is known by a similar brand name. Some stores sell something called gunmetal, which may or may not look like gunmetal grey, but sometimes looks like antiqued brass. Ah! I lost the tag to this bulk chain, so I do not know what the vendor was calling this. It was more golden than vintage brass, but browner than antiqued gold.

Anyway, it was pretty, whatever it is called.

Black Friday Sale

2010-11-24T22:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! The time of year for eating and shopping (but then, when isn't it?). I have put everything in my Etsy shop on sale, at 10% off. The items will read "Black Friday Sale" in their description with the reduced price. Some items may not read that way, which means they fell off the "Etsy on Sale" application boat, a story with which I shall not bore you. Nevertheless, if the items are not showing the 10% discount, I shall merely credit back the discount to the purchaser. There is undoubtedly a less confusing way to communicate this, but I am feeling fatigued. And, I am still adding items to my shop. The sale will continue on to Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Sloppy Sunday, and Cyber Monday. I made up the Sloppy Sunday name, as I'm not sure if it has a handle yet. Keep checking the shop! I must have added at least 20 more earrings in the past 48 hours, I have about another dozen bracelets to add, and haven't even checked out the necklace inventory updates.

You Can Never Have Too Much Blue

2010-11-21T17:48:00.000-05:00

You might remember my post on this necklace back in the Spring. I bought more of the same beads and made coordinating earrings and bracelets. The clasp and connectors are pewter, which I think looks really nice with these blue beads. These pieces always make me think of running water.

Coral Nuggets on Gunmetal Chain

2010-11-16T11:29:00.000-05:00

These are coral nuggets that I have put on a gunmetal chain. The color of gunmetal is somewhere between silver and black. I made the round connectors from stainless steel wire. It was my first endeavor with stainless steel wire, which is quite stiffer than other wires I have used. The color of the wire is greyer, or darker, than silver wire, so I thought it would match the gunmetal chain.

Things Thursday

2010-11-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

The latest catalog supplement for Rings and Things shows many nice items. The first one to catch my eye was this Red Creek Jasper. Above you see them in large puffed ovals. I love the warm colors of brick, green, and grey, and the way they have those stripes or hash marks. I think these would look great paired with silver or gunmetal colored wire. Small transparent olive crystals would make great spacer beads. These beads also come in other interesting shapes, too.

Yellow Turquoise Not

2010-11-02T10:26:00.000-04:00

This necklace features various types of jasper, shell, and glass. The focal stones are labeled as "yellow turquoise", so that is what I am calling them. However, yellow turquoise is not turquoise that is yellow. Apparently, it is a type of jasper. Who comes up with these names?

I've used an antiqued silver S-clasp on this necklace. I don't usually use these, since it makes me wonder why there need to be two hooks on either end, when only one would do. Between that and wondering why they call it yellow turquoise, oh my! On the other hand, I basically design upon the "ooh pretty!" rationale, so this fits the bill.

Turquoise, Brass, Shells, the Works!

2010-10-28T21:00:00.000-04:00

This is a three strand necklace with a spiral focal. I would say what I used, but then what didn't I use! This took some time to make, and my better half kept walking by my studio door hearing me doing a lot of mumbling and grumbling. Trying to get the strands to fall exactly right was the most difficult part. I used chain and findings in an antique brass color. Natural shells in nugget and teardrop form are there, plus puffed ovals of turquoise magnesite and round glass in capri blue.

These round capri beads are from Rings and Things. They have a nice weight, and are a color deeper than cobalt and lighter than navy. I am a big fan of glass beads -- you can never have too many!

The puffed ovals are turquoise magnesite, another item from Rings and Things. This color looks so nice with the dark color of antiqued brass.

This necklace is somewhat OTT for my taste, although I have no one to blame but myself. Do you prefer the more simpler looks, or the larger pieces with many components?

Mango Got Mail

2010-10-21T11:52:00.000-04:00

A while ago I won a contest at Happy Mango Beads and received a gift certificate to their shop! They had so many lovely beads, it took me a while to choose. Above you see my mango exulting in the receipt of my mail package from them finally.

I purchased three items, all which were new to me.

These are called Melon Orange Bamboo Coral Nugget Beads 12-18mm. I believe they are showing their color accurately in the picture, and I would describe this color as persimmon, rather than orange. These are cylindrical irregular nuggets with striations and marks in colors of bone and charcoal. These will look nice with many colors, including silver, navy and pastel yellow.

Next is the Brecciated Jasper Oval Tabular Beads 16mm. I've tried to get the color just right, but unsuccessfully. This color is somewhere between brick red and warm brown. They are nicely polished and have charcoal grey marks on them. I might pair this up with paler colors of blue or lilac.

Then finally we have the purple howlite round tabular 18mm. What a great purple! These are in the shape of giant M&M's. Leave it to me to fantasize about chocolate while sorting beads. Perhaps I will combine these with silver and transparent olive? Who knows. I usually collect what I think is pretty, and then there is quite a design gestation period. I'll get there eventually.

The last picture shows the Mango draped in beads, relishing the thought of creating new jewelry designs. Cheers to all!

October Iris

2010-10-16T15:41:00.000-04:00

No one told these iris that it is October! It is fine by me. Much of the garden is beginning to slumber off into its winter sleep, but it was nice to find these lovely irises blooming.

I have a bit of lettuce still growing. This should be a tasty treat. The planters on either side were also planted with lettuce seeds, but nothing sprouted. I believe my seeds became too old. I need to spring for some new seeds next year.

Connecticut Craft Show

2010-10-08T10:28:00.000-04:00

There was an Artisan Marketplace during Homecoming Weekend at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. I drove up from Philly in pouring rain and fog, but the next day was beautiful. We were set up outside one of the University's newer buildings.

I sold many items, and had even more compliments on my work. It is so nice, since I design and craft in my solitary workshop. I thought I would post some of the more interesting comments here.

A little boy to his mother: "Mom, this looks just like King Kong!". My new advertising slogan -- "Wear this on your next night on the town in the Big Apple -- while you shinny up the side of the Empire State Building."

Woman to her daughter, loudly: "If you wear these and shake your head, they will slice your neck to ribbons!" Hmm. There have been no reports of fatalities from customers. Apparently, these earrings may resemble a Ginsu knife? New advertising slogan: "It slices, it dices, and also accessorizes your ensemble!" (n.b. there are no sharp edges on these).

This necklace was my most expensive one showing that day and it received many looks and favorable comments. But one woman looked quizzical and wanted to point out perhaps an error on my part. I'm not quite sure how to describe her demeanor. She said "What is that?" My answer, "It is agate." Her feathers became even more ruffled and exclaimed "It doesn't come naturally like that!" My reply, "That is correct. It is dyed and fired. I often use dyed gemstones, pearls, and shells in my work. I believe it often enhances the appearance." Dyeing adds color and firing enhances the color. Stones from the earth are also polished and drilled. They also don't dig them up already on a wire with a clasp. Frankly, I need a bit of dyeing and enhancing myself to look presentable!

Scarlet and White

2010-09-29T17:41:00.000-04:00

I wanted to design something with scarlet and white, the school colors of the University of Hartford. I will be there this weekend at Homecoming with a craft booth. I am an alumna of the university, getting my graduate degree there back in 19(mumble mumble). I always like a coil bracelet, since there is never any problem with a clasp. So I have used pressed glass, lampwork, crystal, and seed beads in different variations of red and white to make these coil bracelets. I think they turned out nicely. Although I am not looking forward to the long drive, it should be a nice day Saturday in Connecticut, and the University has a very attractive campus in Bloomfield, just on the outskirts of Hartford proper.

Ceramic & Quartz

2010-09-22T10:08:00.000-04:00

These square ceramic beads are in muted shades of gold and rose. I added spheres of smoky quartz to them and used golden earwires. I added an angular twist to the end of the wires. I like how these turned out, however I can't for the life of me remember where I bought the ceramic beads. *sigh*

Candy Corn Colored Earrings

2010-09-14T14:17:00.000-04:00

I've made these dangle earrings with colored shell discs. The design is based on the color of candy corn, which is so popular in the fall. I tried these earrings first with a ball and coil style earhook. I didn't like that, and then I put them on a kidney wire. I didn't care for that look either. Feeling like Goldilocks now, I made simple earhooks out of some German wire, and those I finally liked.

Happy Labor Day!

2010-09-04T10:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Labor Day to one and all. We are approaching the end of summer, and the vegetable garden has done its job and looks like it has worn itself out! We had so much heat and humidity this year, it made some of my plants tire out, and then others grew into a jungle. Every season is a unique experience.

My Etsy Shop is celebrating Labor Day by having a sale. Everything in my shop is 10% off through September 6. Please use the coupon code LABOR10@10 in the comments section of your order, and the discount will be refunded to you via PayPal.

Pewter Filigree Earrings

2010-08-31T13:03:00.000-04:00

I've used these filigree chandelier findings to create some nice chandelier dangle earrings in various color combinations.

Red and Green Agate Beads

2010-08-23T08:00:00.002-04:00

These are large puffed coins of polished agate in colors of red, green and brown. Each bead is over 1-3/4" in diameter, which is a significant size and therefore weight. These were acquired at one of the regional shows of Rings and Things. Rings and Things has an Internet store and also travels nationally to do local bead shows. They have a large selection of jewelry supplies and excellent customer service, so I do recommend this store.

Normally, I prefer glass over gemstone, and lightweight over heavy, but these really piqued my interest. I first decided to use them in a necklace only, as I believe they were too heavy for earrings and too awkward to put in a bracelet. Then I had to determine how many beads in a necklace. I thought about one center focal bead, or possibly two beads each up by the collarbone area, but settled on three beads in the center. The necklace needed to be short enough for the large beads to lie flat, so I chose 22". Anything longer and the beads would dangle in such a way that wouldn't display their great color and natural design.

It didn't take me long to decide the beads would go on wire rather than beading wire. I didn't want to have any qualms about wondering if the beading wire would break after a customer gets it home. I used sterling silver wire for the beads, and then strung five strands of seed beads on each side, using medium beading wire. That gives it enough strength to hold up the three beads. Then I finished it with a sterling silver hook clasp.

Pottery Beads

2010-08-13T10:45:00.000-04:00

This is my first time using pottery beads. These blue beads have a roughhewn look to them, and they had a large uneven hole. I wanted to limit any abrasiveness so I used an orange suede cord for its strength and durability, and also knotted the beads in place to limit their movement. Beads sliding back and forth can cause the stringing material to abrade.

The upper part of the necklace is an antiqued silverplated chain. I didn't like the idea of having these large beads up against the neck. I also like to limit the amount of heavy beads in a necklace.

Friday's Magical Dragonfly

2010-08-06T15:19:00.000-04:00

This little guy posed for me in the garden. It seems he was staring right at me. He is so beautiful he almost looks magical to me.

May you all have a magically wonderful weekend! Cheers!

Happy Mango is Happy

2010-08-02T09:51:00.005-04:00

Happy Mango Beads is a bead store in Colorado. They have a cute website and sell many interesting beads. They have had a shout-out on their Facebook page for blog reviews, and I am happy to oblige. These first pictures are of their resin bicone beads. These are a spring green, a pea green, and have a milky opacity. I used these in this necklace.

They also have these large bicones in blue. Again, they have a milky opacity with a matte finish. I would call this somewhere between aqua and turquoise. Both of these bicones have holes large enough to hold two strands of beading wire I believe.

Next are some resin wheels in a dark brick brown color. These are unusual because they have a center drilled hole. If they were drilled top to bottom, they would string in a flat way, which of course is fine, but I wanted something that would jut out three dimensionally. And I wanted it big, but light. You'll see the necklace below.

I was looking for the contrast of the chunky wheels on the thin (yet sturdy) beading wire.

Next up is Snowflake Obsidian in nugget form. When I first glanced at this, it appeared to be black and white, but actually it is black and gray. We are most familiar with black obsidian, a type of volcanic glass. My first thought is that this would look good with other black and gray beads, along with some silver, for a classic look. For an updated look, it could be paired with some neon colored beads, such as orange, yellow, or green. Just below that are lava beads in tabular form. These are polished and irregular. Lava beads always have that pock-marked look to them. Isn't it nice that both these beads come from volcanoes? Volcanoes are so destructive, yet still produce something lovely.

Last but not least is the Happy Mango itself. Alright, it is just a mango from my kitchen. I have surrounded it with the beads from Happy Mango Beads. The mango looks like it had a wild all-nighter, but don't worry. It has no regrets, just some lovely foggy memories!

Black and White Leaves

2010-07-28T18:22:00.000-04:00

I really like the color combination of black and white. It is so classic. Here I have made a chain bracelet with black and white resin leaf charms and matching earrings. I am still trying to hone my photography skills. I photographed the bracelet on an ivory background, and then used a grey background for the earrings. I am wondering if I should have used a more contrasting background, such as red. The jewelry looks much better in person than in the photo, which is not much solace when one is selling on the internet.

The leaf charms have a nice dangle movement to them. I don't know of any naturally occurring black or white leaves, do you?

Etsy Craft Party in Philadelphia

2010-07-24T14:57:00.001-04:00

There was a wonderful party/meeting last month for local Philadelphia-area crafters who sell on Etsy. It was held at the Midwives Collective, who were nice enough to share their space with us. It was so nice to meet other creative types.

Directly above is a photo of one of the artworks on display at the Collective. Unfortunately, my photography skills could not capture the art well, but it is a very interesting gallery!

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Sparkly Blues with Twisted Fluted Golden Beads

2010-07-18T14:06:00.000-04:00

I've used aqua blue and midnight blue beads in this two strand necklace. The large twisted fluted gold beads are a type of metallic acrylic and are nicely lightweight. Yes, I prefer lighter weight jewelry. The discs are carnelian-colored resin. Overall, it is quite a sparkly and dressy look. I made a hook and eye closure for the necklace.

Blue and Green Floating Necklace

2010-07-11T13:36:00.000-04:00

I like using the exposed crinkle wire. These beads are "floating" on double strands. I've used larger foil lined beads that are puffed coins in cobalt with black stripes. They are combined with cornflower and aqua blue beads, and green beads that have a yellow or olive tint to them. This color combination makes me think of the sea. If you stare at the rolling waves
for a bit, you can see many shades of blue and green. I've finished the necklace with a pewter hook and eye clasp. You can find it in my Etsy shop here.

The Loss of a Good Friend

2010-07-10T12:54:00.000-04:00

I lost a dear friend to cancer this past week. The last time we had visited was in August of 2008. I had moved quite a ways away from her ten years ago, so our visits had been infrequent, but always enjoyable. I still have to go through my low-tech photos of her, which will be in a box somewhere in the house. I have these pictures in my pc. We went to a Chihuly exhibit and a dahlia display that summer. I have great memories of our friendship and our many trips together, to Maine, to New York and once even to Scotland. She was a wonderful woman!

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T12:51:00.000-04:00

A happy 4th of July to one and all! I've posted a picture of me clutching strands of beads that have as yet to make it into a project design. I meant to do some red, white, and blue designs, but it's always one thing and then the other. I should probably start up the Halloween designs now, and perhaps I'll finish something in time!

For my non-USA readers, happy whatever day! You can still celebrate our day by eating a lot of food, preferably ribs, corn, watermelon and blueberries (that's what I'm doing!). I'll be sure to celebrate your holidays too, just tell me what to eat! :)

Safari Jasper and Friends

2010-06-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

I have made a necklace and bracelet set using nuggets of safari jasper with goldstone and deep blue beads. These colors all work nicely together, and end with a decorative pewter toggle clasp.

I know some designers like to make a piece either ALL gemstone, ALL glass, or ALL acrylic, but I tend to mix it up a bit. I'm looking at the colors, shapes, and textures really. Another important factor is the actual weight. I want the piece to be practical to wear, and sometimes a strand of nothing but huge chunky gemstones can be quite heavy. I always use high quality beading wire with good strength and size, but I never want to stress the wire so completely that I cannot be sure it will stand up over multiple wearings for my customers.

Cobalt Blue Puffed Discs with Sherbet Colored Crystals

2010-06-17T14:29:00.000-04:00

I have made a necklace and earrings using these wonderful glass beads. The cobalt blue puffed discs are a lovely medium to dark blue and have a matte surface. I've accented them with fire polished orange crystals and small round coral beads. The pink and the orange are creamy colors and remind me of sherbet, which may mean I am hungry.

Animal House

2010-05-28T12:12:00.000-04:00

I've made some dog earrings, cat earrings, and cat bracelets, so I though I would combine them in a post. I need to find some other animals so I may incorporate them into jewelry, also! When I first made the dog earrings, I wasn't so sure if it would work out well. As it turned out, the first pair went into my private jewelry stash because I liked them so much.

Here is the black cat charm bracelet and its matching earrings.

Here are the silver pewter earrings. The striped tabby is a clip-on, and the solid cat is on a french hook. These darn cats never seem to photograph that well, no matter how many attempts I give it.

Perhaps later I will do something with turtles or birds? I have a lot of favorite animals. What are yours?

Memorial Day Sale! 10% Off!

2010-05-21T14:04:00.000-04:00

If you are already a Facebook Fan, you will already know this! I am having a sale through May 31, 2010, in my Etsy Shop. After you check out with the items you'd like to purchases, convo, email, message me with the code 10%May2010. I'll send you a revised invoice with 10% of the item price. Then you can go ahead and pay through PayPal however you like. Hurry, it's over when May is over!

Hand Knotted Waxed Cotton in Navy, Tan, Turquoise

2010-05-19T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is probably going to be a OOAK (one of a kind) since I don't think I can find some of these beads again. I used two strands of navy waxed cotton. I like the weight of this thread, although it limits me to using beads with a larger hole. I seriously considered adding this to my personal jewelry stash, but right now it is for sale in my Etsy Shop. I think I'll be using this navy waxed cotton again. It's a great combination with anything denim.

Current Garden Photos

2010-05-14T14:46:00.000-04:00

I decided it was time to post some more garden photos. Here is our earliest peony and the pink lilac that smells so sweet.

And here is our Beverly Sills iris. It is as pretty as her singing!

Last, but not least (except in physical stature) is the little toad that came out to watch me put compost in the tomato patch. He was the same color as the dirt, so I was concerned I might step on him. He "supervised" my gardening, and I believe I even heard him say "you missed a spot with the compost". Or perhaps not :)

Violet, Red, and Coral Necklace

2010-05-07T11:20:00.000-04:00

I don't know if I should call this a two strand necklace, or one and a half strand. The main strand is obviously made with large violet resin bicones, separated by aurora borealis crystal roundelles, violet metallic fire polished beads, and violet cream seed beads. The second, or perhaps secondary, strand is crocheted beading wire (Soft Flex) in red with coral seed beads. Both strands end up in silver cones and a sterling toggle clasp.

Black and Gold Necklace and Earring Set

2010-05-01T17:41:00.000-04:00

It took me a while to decide what to do with these large black and gold foil lampwork beads. I believe they were described as "pendants", but I didn't let that stop me from using them not as pendants. I used a smaller black glass pearl as the pendant, or more of a "dangly drop". The rest of the necklace uses gold plated pewter bead caps and toggle clasp, black glass pearls, and black rondelle spacers with an aurora borealis finish. I made earrings to match. I am experimenting with earring displays, none of them to my liking as yet. You will note in the picture of the earring pair that one looks shorter than the other. Actually, it is the way they are tilted. This particular display doesn't leave much room for the back of the hook. I have another display which is too short for a longer earring. I am beginning to feel a bit like Goldilocks, who often found things just a little off.

Spring Green and Blue Aqua Crystals on Silver Chain

2010-04-27T11:43:00.001-04:00

This is an "endless" necklace, one without a clasp. It is designed to put on over your head, and is helpful to those who have problems maneuvering a clasp. Between the chain links are crystal and glass beads of green, blue, and white. The colors are light and crisp.

Turquoise, Violet, and Champagne Cream Necklace with Pendant

2010-04-24T13:00:00.000-04:00

This necklace is a bit OTT in comparison to my other designs, but then I do like variety. This is a double-strand necklace, although it is operating more like a single strand. You can see that the main strand uses light and dark champagne cream seed beads, and then uses a few lampworked beads that are violet with turquoise. The secondary strand uses turquoise beading wire (manufactured by Soft Flex) and metallic firepolished violet beads.

I wove the pendant from mostly the same beads that are in the necklace, using a thin gauge silver wire. I made a simple hook and eye clasp with a few turquoise seed beads to finish the necklace. I don't think I ever go anywhere glam enough to wear this, although I suppose other people do!

Photography Setup Exposed!

2010-04-20T13:55:00.000-04:00

Who says people don't use their formal dining rooms any more?

A few readers have asked about my jewelry photography. It is really important to have a nice picture of a piece in order to inspire someone to buy it off the internet. I had many unsuccessful attempts at photography until I finally used this set up. I had to bite the bullet and buy special lamps and a light-box. I also purchased some jewelry displays for necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. In addition, I've been learning which fabrics are best for the backdrops. I keep trying to improve. It certainly took a lot of patience at first, since I had to keep redoing the photos. Hopefully, now, the photos do justice to my jewelry pieces.

You can see my jewelry photos on this blog, and in my Etsy shop at d'Olivia Jewelry.

Grey Beads on Knotted Silver Lame Cord

2010-04-17T11:25:00.000-04:00

Silver lame (lah-may) cord is hand knotted with pretty glass gray beads. This is a triple strand necklace and looks airy and delicate. It is very lightweight. The shortest strand is about 19" long. It is finished with a magnetic clasp.
I wish I knew how to make an accent aigu here. Calling my jewelry lame is not my intention.

I like the looks of this lam-e cord, and I didn't know it existed until I saw it in the store. Although it is slender, it is still difficult to thread it through the beads. It is not stiff, it is more like the silk knotting thread that I also use. On the other hand, it doesn't work well with a needle. I eventually discovered a way to get it done, which I may leave as a workshop secret. I bought large spools of both silver and gold cord, so I have plenty to use up!

Some people have asked me where my jewelry is sold. There are links on this blog page itself, but here is the link to my Etsy store d'Olivia Jewelry. You can make it as a bookmark favorite, and there is even a link in the right hand column of the store page where you can "Subscribe to shop feed".

Current Garden Photos

2010-04-15T14:59:00.000-04:00

Since things are blooming nicely again, I thought I would share some pictures. If you haven't tried it, you can click on the picture to see the larger version. Also, depending on your computer settings, you may be able to right-click on the picture and use it as your desktop wallpaper. I often use my garden pictures for wallpaper.

Above is creeping phlox, which seems to be more couch potato phlox in my garden. It does little creeping. To the above right are some daffodils, and the name escapes me. They have white petals, a pinky-peach middle and yellow stamens. Sounds like a good color combination for a Spring necklace!

Below are some tiny flowers, which comes under the heading "did I plant these?". It is possible they are weeds, but just as possible they are from some seeds I planted last year. I have been known to identify flowers as weeds and rip them out, and then leave weeds alone for too long, wondering if it is really a flower. If you can identify the flower/weed below, leave a comment!

Pearls on Gold Lame Cord with Magnetic Clasp

2010-04-14T21:48:00.000-04:00

Gold lame (lah-may) cord is hand knotted with pretty pearl beads that have a rainbow finish. These beads are highly reflective. This is a triple strand necklace and looks airy and delicate. It is very lightweight. The shortest strand is about 21" long. It is finished with a magnetic clasp. I used acrylic beads that have an aurora borealis pearl finish. The necklace seems luxurious, and it is very easy to wear and to take on and off.

Pale Pink Pearls with Puffed Silver Heart

2010-04-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

This has a nice romantic look to it. These are glass pearls strung with silver pewter beads. The necklace focal is a filigree puffed heart. I also made matching earrings. I prefer glass pearls to the natural ones because I think they will hold up better. With real pearls, they always say no hairspray, no perfume, no lotion, etc. Those are too many rules for me. I always treat my jewelry carefully, but I'm not keen on a long list of rules. If you've ever seen the many collections of glass pearls, oh my! So many beads, so little time!

Many Colors 7 Crystal Chakra Silver Chain Necklace

2010-04-12T18:35:00.000-04:00

This is a delicate 20" sterling silver chain with a spring ring clasp. Its pendant has seven crystals all lined up in a vertical row. Red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, dark blue, and purple. According to the chakra concept, these are forces that govern your body and soul and are identified with the specific color. If you are not into chakras, you can just enjoy this as a colorful necklace that will match just about anything in your wardrobe!

The Garden in Early Springtime

2010-04-12T14:21:00.000-04:00

The pussy willows bloomed a little while back, and here are some pictures! We have 3 varieties. One of them is a black pussy willow that grows on a reddish brown stem, and the other two have silvery gray catkins. One of them has jumbo sized catkins. I no longer remember the actual names of these species, but it is always so nice to see them each Spring!

Colors of Amber with Silver Pewter

2010-04-11T12:09:00.001-04:00

I really like the orangey-gold color of amber. This necklace uses amber resin beads that look like they have occlusions. The focal beads are ceramic in the shape of a parallelogram or trapezoid. My geometry days are long behind me, so I won't claim absolute accuracy in the naming of this shape. Each bead was purchased in a different store, since I can never seem to be satisfied in putting together a necklace easily with items all from the same place. The seed beads have a unique duochrome effect, and are there to help add lightness and flexibility to the necklace. I'm not big on the heavy chunky necklaces that feel stiff around the neck.

Black Organza Ribbon Beaded Bracelet

2010-04-04T08:00:00.001-04:00

This is a very pretty bracelet using 3 strands of organza ribbon. Black and white beads are strung on the ribbon and it is finished off with a silver magnetic clasp.

Violet and Black Beaded Crochet Bracelet

2010-04-01T08:00:00.002-04:00

This bracelet has violet purple and black beads on two types of crocheted stringing material. I used a violet pearl cotton and also black beading wire for the crochet. I believe the bead crochet is fairly new to popular beading. I have many afghans, scarves, caps, and slippers in my past and was interested to see its surge in popularity. I believe these fashions stay out of style long enough for me to lose things, for instance my old crochet hooks and my yarn stash. No doubt I will find them once they are no longer a la mode. I had to buy new crochet hooks for this.

Silver and Red Dangly Charm Bracelet

2010-03-30T08:00:00.002-04:00

This is a pretty silver chain with silver and red dangles. It is closed with a button style clasp. The larger dangle is a silver sphere studded with carnelian cabochons. The smaller dangles are pressed glass red flower beads with a stardust bead on top. Pretty to look at and fun to wear!

Mixed Turquoise Glass Bead Coil Bracelet

2010-03-28T13:26:00.000-04:00

Different colors and shapes of turquoise glass and crystal look beautiful on this coil bracelet. There is a teardrop dangle at the end.

Baseball Coil Bracelet

2010-03-25T19:54:00.000-04:00

This is a coil bracelet in white and dark blue with an antiqued silver baseball charm. It is that time of year after all. For the bracelet above, I had the New York Yankees in mind. However, this would work for any team whose colors are dark blue and white, including your favorite little league or minor league team.

This second bracelet is in red and white with blue. I had my own Philadelphia Phillies in mind when I designed this, but it would be suitable for the many teams that use red, white, and blue in their uniforms.