And the Beet Goes On...

Beets made a double appearance on my dinner table tonight - beet-asiago gnocchi for dinner and chocolate-beet cake for dessert - so it's no surprise I gravitated to some beet-colored druzy nuggets when I sat down to make some jewelry this evening.

Druzy quartz is a thin layer of quartz crystals covering the surface of a host stone.  A good example of druzy is the layer of crystals inside the cavity of a geode.  These, I believe, are agate and are not naturally this color.  But I love them.

Don't worry, I have more of these nuggets, but this piece is mine, all mine!  Beet-colored druzy nuggets are handwired with sterling silver and three different shades of recycled red glass to form this one-of-a-kind necklace.

Whimsical Candy Necklaces

A couple of the lampwork beads reminded me of candy...so I whipped up some candy confection pendants that hang on sterling silver chains.

For the peppermint swirl necklace, click here.

For the orange taffy necklace, click here.

Whimsical Pink Posies

The floral lampwork beads contain lots of depth and multiple shades of pink - like an entire posy on your ears.

Pale pink recycled glass rounds, pink crystals, fuschia jade (dyed) and chalcedony (dyed) are handwired with a pink floral lampwork bead to form these one-of-a-kind earrings. They swing from sterling silver earwires.

Click here to purchase these earrings on etsy.

Whimsical Orangesicle Earrings

I found some fantastic lampwork beads and am using them for some fun pieces! 

These orange and white lampwork beads remind me of the 50-50 popsicle bars from when I was a kid.  Not sure they still make those, but I love the orange and white color combination. 

I paired the lampwork beads with a large orange nugget of recycled glass, a tangerine-colored crystal, and a small rose quartz round.  All are handwired with sterling silver to make these one-of-a-kind whimsical earrings and hang from sterling silver earwires.

Click here to purchase these earrings through my etsy store.

Bacchus II Lariat

To the Greeks he was Dionysus.  To the Romans he was Bacchus.  To both cultures, he was the god of wine and intoxication. 

I created a wine-themed lariat for York School's fundraising gala on March 5th, 2011; I liked it so much I decided to make a similar piece for sale with slightly different gems and glass pieces.

This Bacchus lariat features a hefty sterling silver grape cluster on one strand and Bacchus's face on a grape leaf on the other, recycled glass in deep red and black, garnets, and hematite are handwired with sterling silver complete this one-of-a-kind piece.  Click here to purchase this piece on etsy.

Beautiful Briolettes

Briolette-cut gemstones resemble a drop of falling water.  Graceful.  Simple.  Bold.  I recently acquired a a few briolettes.  To highlight the beauty of the gems I created some very simple necklaces. 

The lower necklace in the photo to the right is a 15-carat smooth polished amethyst handwired with textured sterling silver bits and hanging from a sterling silver chain.

The raspberry colored gem is a 22-carat heart briolette, also, handwired with textured sterling silver bits and a faceted garnet hangs from a sterling silver chain.

I also have a smaller tanzanite briolette, but need to get a smaller gauge sterling wire to finish that one.

I haven't had a chance to list these for sale on etsy yet, but I will this weekend.

Bacchus Lariat for York School's Auction Gala

To the Greeks he was Dionysus.  To the Romans he was Bacchus.  To both cultures, he was the god of wine and intoxication. 

I created this wine-themed lariat for York School's fundraising gala on March 5th, 2011.

With a hefty sterling silver grape cluster on one strand and Bacchus's face on a grape leaf on the other, recycled glass in two shades of red, garnets, and sterling silver beads are handwired with sterling silver complete this one-of-a-kind piece.

For more information about the York School event, click here.

CHEERing for a Cause

It's fundraising event season around the Monterey Peninsula and, as always, I donate to a few causes that are close to my heart.  My boys' school and my alma mater top the list, but I've donated pieces to other local auctions as well. 

This year, I'm working on a few wine-themed pieces that feature sterling silver grapes and some luscious cabernet-colored recycled glass. 

Here's the choker and earring set that's going to the International School of Monterey's auction gala in March.  Click here for more information about the event.

Cin Cin Choker and Earring Set: a hefty sterling grape cluster hangs at the center of the choker. Recycled cabernet-colored glass, sterling silver, and garnets are all handwired to complete this one-of-a-kind choker.  Recycled cabernet colored glass and garnets are handwired with sterling silver and hang from sterling French wires to match the choker.

Glorious Ginkgo Lariat II

As soon as I posted the last Glorious Ginkgo Lariat, a friend emailed and wanted to buy it.  So, I pulled my listing off etsy.  But I had a few more sterling ginkgo leaves, so I made a similar, though completely unique, piece.

I just listed the second Glorious Ginkgo Lariat for sale at ecochicdesigns.etsy.com.

Fascinating Facts About the Ginkgo Biloba

• Ginkgo biloba is known as a "living fossil tree". This tree's genetic line spans the Mesozoic era back to the Triassic period. Closely related species are thought to have existed for over 200 million years.
• There are no native ginkgoes living in the wild. All wild trees were wiped out hundreds of thousands of years ago but human intervention has saved the modern tree.
• Several ginkgoes were the only living survivors of an atomic bomb blast dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

From the Sea: Urchin Earrings

I've had these sterling silver urchin beads hidden away, waiting for inspiration.  And I finally decided this evening - earrings!

So, I made them, photographed them, and listed them on etsy for sale.  Almost as quickly as I had listed them, two friends contacted me to purchase the earrings.  I've pulled the listings from etsy.  But I do have a few more urchin beads...so look for other pairs soon.

Sea urchins are often called pincushions of the sea because of their hard globe-shaped bodies, armed with bristle-like spines that look like toothpicks. They live in shallow waters and carry small rocks, pieces of shells, kelp, and anemones on their back for shade and camouflage. Tubes with suction cups move within the spines, like dancing feet. The suctioned tube feet are used for moving about, trapping food, and protection. They use their small pinchers for defense and for clutching food. Sea urchins are intimidating grazers, gobbling up whole kelp beds in their paths.

Could sea urchins have discovered the fountain of youth? They are among the longest living animals on earth. They can live and reproduce for two hundred years or more.

FUN FACTS:

• Sea urchins are able to clone themselves.
• A sea urchin has no brain. Instead it has a nerve ring, used to power its tube feet.
• All sea urchins have five continuously growing teeth; useful feeding tools. They use their teeth for scraping algae, their favorite food, off of rocks.

Glorious Ginkgo Lariat

I'm not sure if it's the unseasonably warm weather, but I have Springtime greenery on my mind.  So, I'm digging into my sterling silver leaf charms and making a line of "Fabulous Foliage" pieces. 

I just listed the Glorious Ginkgo Lariat for sale at ecochicdesigns.etsy.com.  **UPDATE: almost as soon as I posted this, a friend contacted me to purchase this, so I've pulled the item from etsy.**

Fascinating Facts About the Ginkgo Biloba

• Ginkgo biloba is known as a "living fossil tree". This tree's genetic line spans the Mesozoic era back to the Triassic period. Closely related species are thought to have existed for over 200 million years.
• There are no native ginkgoes living in the wild. All wild trees were wiped out hundreds of thousands of years ago but human intervention has saved the modern tree.
• Several ginkgoes were the only living survivors of an atomic bomb blast dropped on Hiroshima, Japan.

To Heal a Broken Heart...

I'm not sure how much credence I give to the healing powers of crystals, but, I figure, it's worth a shot.  And, perhaps, if you believe strongly enough, it will work.

Rose quartz, a pale pink crystal, is an excellent heart-healing gemstone. It purports to be a natural remedy that can be used for treating any issue that needs emotional healing, carrying a gentle, soothing energy and giving comfort to anyone whose heart has been wounded.

Last September one of my husband's cousins committed suicide.  Twenty-nine years old.  And as hard as it's been on the entire family, two hearts are particularly broken - those of Sam's mom and his sister.  I wanted to create pieces for them that fosters peace and lets them know that they have our thoughts and prayers...always.

For Jessica...a sterling silver prayer box is at the center of this piece.  Rose quartz, grey moonstone, and recycled glass are all handwired to form this one-of-a-kind necklace.

Crafty Challenge: The Lucky Oak

For my friend Iris, I created this claspless necklace.

In Celtic lore, carrying an acorn in your pocket brings good luck and placing an oak leaf on your windowsill protects the entire household.

Sterling silver oak leaf and acorn charms, labradorite rounds, and recycled glass are handwired to the ends of a sterling silver chain that wrap around the neck. Intertwine the ends and you have a unique necklace!

Peanuts, Peas, and Princess Monkey Beans

Celebrating bellies...

 I love the names pregnant women call their burgeoning bellies: peanut, pea, Princess Monkey Bean. I think I just called Riley "ball;" and Dylan, as the second child, probably didn't have a name at all!

This necklace - with a sterling silver peanut charm - is an early birthday present for my cousin and her 'Peanut Bartoli.'

Recycled rootbeer glass, chocolate jade, recycled yellow glass, and sterling silver all handwired to make this one-of-a-kind necklace.

A Crafty Challenge

I rarely succumb to online chain letters, but something about this crafty challenge grabbed me: "I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment. However, to be eligible, you must repost this status, offering the same thing to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011!" So, I got my five and went to work.
Additionally, I wanted to make the piece relevant to the person and I was determined to use beads and findings that I already had on-hand. 

For a newly engaged friend, I created the Lusty Lariat: a sterling silver chili charm, recycled red glass, and red jade all handwired with sterling silver.  Along with the necklace I sent her my advice for a happy marriage - to always keep it spicy!

"Because we're tree-huggers..."

When we were at the Pinnacles National Monument yesterday, my eight-year-old said that he had an idea for a family portrait. 

"I just need to find the right tree, Mommy."  He stopped when we reached this one.  "Okay, this is perfect!" 

Then he orchestrated who stood where and what we were doing: hugging the tree.

"Riley, why are we hugging a tree?"

"Because we're tree-huggers...and because we love nature!"

Fair enough.

Eco-Chick Creates EcoChic Designs

Eco-Chick...I never really considered myself an eco-chick, but right after I got married, we drove to meet my in-laws at Marine World. Stepping out of the car, I looked at the sign, in horror, and demanded: Is this the place where they keep orcas in captivity?!? My brother-in-law chuckled and nudged my husband, asking, "Did you marry a Greenie, Jake?" I suppose he did.

I've published articles about marine conservation; I diligently instill the Greenie tenets of reduce, reuse, recycle in my two wild boys; but it is my passion for jewelry that spawned this venture.

Pairing my love for changing necklaces with every outfit with my desire to be a change in the world, I created EcoChic - a line of handmade sterling jewelry featuring recycled glass.

I use recycled glass beads that are produced as part of the International Free trade movement, ensuring that artisans involved in the manufacturing process of an item are paid a fair, living wage and are provided with good working conditions. Fair Trade also guarantees production with neither slave wages nor child exploitation.

I want people to feel good about their jewelry and urge people to make compassionate, eco-friendly choices as often as possible. Even the smallest changes make a big difference; baby steps are the key.

Enjoy my pieces,
Camilla
Eco-Chick of EcoChic Designs
(tree-hugging, jewelry-loving designer)