Wings of Sunshine Necklace and Earring Set

A friend of mine, who is very active with fundraising for leukemia and lymphona research through Team in Training, asked me to create some jewelry for her to raffle off. I drew inspiration from this quotation by Jeffrey Glassberg, the author of several books about butterflies: 

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life.  And everyone deserves a little sunshine."

Faceted milky chrysoprase, blue chalcedony nuggets, rough prehnite barrels, smooth prehnite nuggets, and green aventurine teardrops are handwired with sterling silver to form this one-of-a-kind necklace. A hefty hammered butterfly is the focal point of the piece. Matching earrings feature pink amethyst rondelles, sterling silver butterflies, milky chrysoprase and hang from sterling silver French wires.

Just Smurfy

I love to barter, especially when it's for something that I absolutely can not do. I can NOT sew. So, Pia made us Smurf hats and I made her a Smurf necklace!

A sterling Smurf-gnome is handwired with bright blue agate, faceted blue onyx nuggets, blue chalcedony, smooth recycled blue glass, and milky aquamarines to form this one-of-a-kind necklace.

Enjoy, P!

Kazuri Beads

Years ago a friend invited me to a Kazuri bead party. Click here to read the whole story about Kazuri beads. The short version: these are made by women in Kenya, giving them gainful employment through a marketable handicraft. Kazuri, in Swahili, means "small and beautiful."

I picked up several great beads that evening, but I held onto them, waiting for inspiration. I finally used one in a pendant that a customer saw at the TREAT YOURSELF craft faire yesterday. But she didn't want a pendant, she wanted earrings. Luckily, I had a matching bead at home.

So, I handwired the Kazuri beads with hematite to create these beauties. Hope she likes them.

A Successful Show

My first jewelry show was a success. Three hours. Only one sale. But I did get a commission for earrings and another commission for four necklaces. And I met ten other local artists. What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Do you MOO? I do.

A blogger-gal I know who always seems to have her crafty fingers on the pulse of what's new and hip introduced me to MOO a few years ago. I have ordered all of my business cards and jewelry tags from them ever since. If you don't MOO, you should. Awesome quality and top-notch customer service. Check out their website.

Here are the new cards I just ordered because we're switching internet providers and I'm losing my sbc email address. Boo. Still, it's an excuse to get some cute new cards.

Chocolate Bracelets

Do you remember those candy bracelets from when you were a kid? I loved those. I don't know if I liked that candy; I kinda doubt that...it looks like chalk. Or if I just like the idea of wearing something that you could also eat. I've always loved dual-functioning things. Whatever the case may be, I created a grown up version, except that you don't actually eat these.

Totally unique bracelets are handwired with sterling silver and close with a hefty Hill Tribe sterling hook and eye clasp. These one-of-a-kind pieces have all the shades of chocolate - from tiger's eye to smoky quartz and bronzite to recycled rootbeer glass beads.

I'll be displaying these pieces and more at the TREAT YOURSELF Craft Faire. Saturday, August 6th. 2-5pm. Casanova Oakknoll Community Center. 735 Ramona Avenue, Monterey.

If you're local to Monterey, stop by.

Sweet Inspirations

With our move half done - we are officially out of our old house thanks to my rockstar husband - I can begin to focus on the TREAT YOURSELF event I have this weekend. Three days to get ready. Ouch. I just hope I can find everything in the stacks of boxes littering my new home. TREAT YOURSELF is a local craft faire that features artisans peddling their wares, paired with a sweet treat. Shopping and sweets, what more could you want?

And since I'm also prepping for the class I'm teaching this trimester about chocolate, I looked no further than my chocolate stash for some sweet inspiration. The colors on the Vosges Black Pearl Bar screamed "Pick me, pick me!" And so, I did.

I'll be displaying pieces in all shades of chocolate with some spicy wasabi in there. Here's a green amethyst briolette handwired with recycled green glass and sterling silver to create a one-of-a-kind necklace.

If you're local, I hope you will stop by the TREAT YOURSELF Craft Faire. Saturday, August 6th. 2-5pm. Casanova Oakknoll Community Center. 735 Ramona Avenue, Monterey.

"Forever Tied" - Wedding Love Knot Bracelet

I created this bracelet for my cousin's bridal shower that, unfortunately, I didn't get to attend because we had a back-to-school swim party for the boys' school. But my mom played courier and M got this...a one-of-a-kind bracelet, featuring three sterling silver love knots (one for the past, one for the present, and one for the future) and lapis purple freshwater pearls that match the bridesmaids' dresses.