The Heart of the Matter {Earrings-of-the-Month}

I think my aversion to Valentines’ Day must be thawing because I actually found inspiration in those chalky candy conversation hearts. The messages have been updated; ‘text me’ read one. Whaaat?!!? But I was drawn to the colors and decided to make some EcoChic Designs earrings in those same cheerful hues. I hope my subscribers enjoy these playful, one-of-a-kind earrings made especially with each one of them in mind.

This set is made from glass hearts, vintage glass beads, orange aventurine, handblown glass beads, pale amethyst, and prehnite. They'll be in the mail this week.

Gemstones for Healing: TEAM GRAMMA

Right now I have two women in my life who are fighting for their lives. One is battling breast cancer and the other recently discovered that she has a growth on her liver.

Years ago my mom had done a lot of reading into gemstones for healing. I don't know if it helps. But, my attitude: it can't hurt.

Here are some pieces I made for TEAM GRAMMA. Amethyst provides protection and cleansing while smoky quartz teaches that there is light in the dark and provides courage. All are hand-wired with sterling silver and have upcycled sterling findings such as links, chain, and clasps.

Pieces for TEAM LAURA are coming soon. Stay tuned.

Earring Therapy

I received this text from one of my earrings-of-the-month subscribers. Made my day!

"I just opened my stormy skies package. I'm home sick with a cold today and was instantly cheered up by the sight of my pretty new earrings. Thank you, Doctor." 

Ha!

Happy to help. That's a new one...earring therapy. I love it!

Stormy Skies and Peaceful Puddles

I’ve been thinking about rain, or rather about the lack of rain we’re experiencing here on California’s central coast. We need rain. We need water. Badly. So, I was inspired to make some pieces this month – earrings that will do a virtual rain dance, swinging and swaying on ear lobes this month – that I’m calling Stormy Skies and Peaceful Puddles.

This month’s EcoChic Designs earrings-of-the-month pieces are created in shades of blue, grey, and white, using upcycled sterling silver chain, blue labradorite coins and briolettes, moonstone briolettes and faceted rondelles, kyanite pillows, aquamarine rondelles, clear quartz rondelles, and navy blue potato pearls.

Photos to come...I know I'm tardy already.

Enjoy and hope for rain!

Rain

by Shel Silverstein

I opened my eyes

And looked up at the rain,

And it dripped in my head

And flowed into my brain,

And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,

I walk very slow,

I can't do a handstand--

I might overflow,

So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said—

I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.

Tree Bling {Earrings of the Month}

I love Christmas trees. While not everyone celebrates, I think that everyone can appreciate the beauty of a tree decked out in all its holiday glory. The role of the fir tree in mid-winter celebrations pre-dates Christian times when the tree symbolized nature's triumph over the season’s gloomy darkness. The fir tree also symbolized protection – its thick fir boughs graciously protected delicate birds and provided shelter to other animals in the dense Bavarian forests.

Inspired by glass ornaments, shimmering by candlelight, I have created this month’s pieces with handblown glass beads from an artisan in Rhode Island. Happy holidays!!

Just a few interesting symbols you might find on Christmas trees...

Birds are considered a universal symbol of happiness and joy and are regarded by many to be a necessity on the Christmas tree. Because bird ornaments were difficult to create, few glassblowing families in Germany specialized in the making of these special pieces. Birds represent messengers of love and are the harbingers of good things to come.

Oranges have always been considered a very special treat at Christmas time. Costly and scarce during the winter months many years ago, oranges were highly appreciated and were quite a delicacy. Santa would often leave one of these sweet fruits in the toe of a stocking of good little boys and girls as a delightful reward. Oranges were among the first figural glass ornaments produced.

Acorns have long been thought to be good luck symbols in Germany where oak trees are considered sacred. Acorns are also believed to represent the rebirth of life as witnessed by the coming of the Christ child. Early German Christmas trees were laden with cones, cookies and nuts, most notably the acorn, to commemorate this gift of life and luck. This tradition is celebrated today with the glass acorn ornament.

The Color of Gratitude {Earrings-of-the-Month}

THANK YOU! With the holiday season looming, I started to think about how to represent abundance or gratitude. What colors meant 'thank you'? I wondered. I read that brown symbolized stability, reliability, and approachability. And being the color of dirt it's also associated with all things natural and organic. I love that.

In flower symbolism, dark pink roses mean 'thank you.' So, I created pieces this month with those two colors in mind. To me, brown + pink = the color of gratitude

My November 2013 EcoChic Designs' earrings-of-the-month selection feature smoky quartz, smoky topaz, garnet, pink moonstone, hot pink chalcedony, and bronzite. I'm very grateful for my subscribers support of handmade. Thank you.

Camilla's Pumpkin Patch {Earrings-of-the-Month}

I love pumpkins. No, I don't mean love as in a casual crush. I mean love as in full-blown-lusty-obsession love. I love pumpkins. I once ate so many pumpkins one season that I had an allergic reaction to it. Dead serious. So, I've curtailed my pumpkin creations in recent years and have turned to making jewelry that reminds me of a pumpkin patch instead.

This month's pieces include light carnelian nuggets, dark carved carnelian, recycled orange glass, orange aventurine,and more - all hand-wired with sterling silver to create one-of-a-kind pieces for my subscribers' lobes during October. I hope they like them.