Shameless promotional post!

As most of you know I've been doing an article every Monday on baytoday.ca...a local online newspaper.  I've tried to make the post interesting and informative, but I've decided it is now time for a promo post...hence the title of this post...the following is the article on baytoday.ca.

I think it is time I did a shameless promotional post…one that is just about my jewelry, not in relation to something else.

I’ve not shown a great deal of what I’ve been up to in the past two months so thought it was time to show a few photos.  I like the Picasso collage tool and have made a few collages in the past…I thought since I can’t post photos in the actual post on baytoday.ca, but have to have separate pages for each photo, I would do a new collage along with an oldie and a bit newer one.  The oldie is to show where I’ve been and the new collages are to show where I’m going!

The older collage shows Swarovski crystals, pearls, glass, and some silver, primarily as findings, showcasing lots of color and sparkle, much is still current today.   At that time, I was new at the jewelry design business but was looking to the future towards one day working with sterling silver, making my own ear wires, pendants, earrings, cuffs, bracelets, setting stones in bezels, etc…all working with silver.  I didn’t know anything about working with silver but knew where I wanted to go… I could learn!

The newer collage, #2, is showing pearls and Swarovski crystals, for a bride’s foot jewelry, gemstones, and glass, but primarily silver pieces…by this time silver had become my focus.  Four years ago I took a 5 day course on working with silver…loved it, reaffirming my direction.  Since that time I’ve accumulated many tools, some traditional, some I’ve made do with…they did the job.  I’ve made many mistakes but tried to learn from the mistakes.  I’m stubborn, I prefer to do it once… I don’t like to experiment with copper then duplicate in silver, so my mistakes can be costly!!!

The third photo shows the present, I’m in a comfortable place with my pieces…working with “scrap” silver, making earrings and pendants…this is enjoyable as I never know what the end result will be until the piece is, in my mind finished.  I enjoy that aspect of working with my scrap silver, it really allows for the creativity to come through.   I strive to ensure whatever I do has a rugged, rustic, classy, artistic feel to it…I want my work to look hand crafted…the last thing I want is for what I do to look like it came from a traditional jewelry store!  The jewelry store look a good thing…just not what I’m about.

 I encourage custom orders, I don’t mind someone bringing me a photo and asking to have something like it…I’m always happy to do my “version” of what it is they want…but…I would never copy a piece!  Inspiration is a “good thing”, as long as it is used as just that!  

Like any artist I have my moments when the creativity is just not there…when this happens I try to do other things…I enjoy taking photos, making greeting cards, attempting to paint, none of which I’m good at but find pleasurable at times...all the while awaiting the return of my jewelry creativity!   I’ve always said, when it stops being fun it is time to move on!  I’m still here…

Send any comments or suggestions to hjcote11@gmail.com or leave a message on my blog…

Cheers

My version of recycling silver!

This has been a difficult year with the price of silver...it is now up to $29.37 an oz. I guess I shouldn't complain gold is $1,381.50 an oz....a considerable difference, but then it is relevant to each designers metal of choice and customer preference!

Yesterday a blogging friend, Pearl, from The Beading Gem's Journal, did a post on the price of silver and an interesting alternative...silver filled wire. I'm sure most of you are familiar with gold filled as I was but that was the first time I'd hear of silver filled wire...take a peak at her post it is very informative. I checked around for information to see if I could find any more information but haven't been successful so far...I'll keep looking and will post when I find info on this product.

The Blob!
recycled sterling silver and fine silver wire

I've been keeping an eye on the price of silver since the summer and have been somewhat frustrated with the rise in the cost of silver... so as you may have noticed in a previous posts I showed a pair of circle earrings to which I soldered scrap sterling silver pieces...I've been making earrings, pendants & rings since the fall and have found them to be well received.

Hand cut argentium silver, with soldered scrap silver!

Customers like the originality of each piece as well as the idea they are recycling silver. I've also been using larger pieces of scrap silver and soldering them together to make pendants...I don't have any photos but when I do I'll post them.

Triple Pair!
Argentium silver with soldered scrap silver.

Enjoy your weekend...
Cheers

Featured in IndieNorth.com

Just wanted to let everyone know about a great Canadian blog, indienorth.com...in fact the blog is run from North Bay by a fellow residence, Beth Smith, who calls herself the "Thing Finder in Chief". We haven't met but maybe someday...

I found the blog quit by accident through another blog I was visiting, imagine not being aware of something so great in my own city. Once I introduced myself so to speak, Beth offered to feature me in one of her Saturday Jewelry posts...take a look, the post was up January 9th...click below to be taken to the post...

The focus of the blog is showcasing independent Canadian designers, focusing on, but does not limited to those who work from home. You will see designers of all kinds, from those who make hats, purses, toys, soaps, artists, glass bead, jewelry, to earth friendly products and everything else in between...simply a wonderful place to visit. So grab a coffee, & take a few minutes to check out indienorth.com it is a great place to spend some time!

Thank you Beth...

Cheers

Flash back...1960's & 1970's

Does anyone remember the oh so popular "Mood Rings"??? They were the "in thing" in both the 60's and 70's...
I had one, long gone now though...the color of the stone would change, supposedly according to the persons mood! Of course we know the color change is due to the wearers body temperature fluctuation but then our body temperature does change with our moods...besides the idea of the color changing with our mood was more fun!!

In the fall I came across a new generation of "mood beads", purchased a few strands and made necklace, a couple of bracelets and rings, customers loved them. The necklace was particularly interesting because when the customer tried it on we saw a whole range of colors, as the beads don't all touch the body to the same degree. After all this time people still enjoy the idea of the beads changing color on their body...they are fun!! I've just made a few more bracelets and though I would share a few photos of the color changes.

This bracelet shows colors ranging from dark to medium brown to a tiny bit of yellow and green in the bead front left...

This is the same bracelet after I held in in the palm of my had for 10 seconds or so...you can see a nice rich cobalt blue...although the one bead front/left is showing a slight bit of green...

The man behind the idea of Mood Rings is Marvin Wernick, who in the 60's happened to watch a doctor friend use a heat sensitive liquid crystal plastic strip which was developed to take children's temperatures easily. At the time Marvin was a jewelry maker and saw great possibilities for this product. He made rings using a this product but unfortunately he didn't patent the idea and another fellow used the idea and made millions!

Look at all the colors here...dark green, teal, brown, a rusty shade...
The next two photos show the same bracelet...you can see the lovely cobalt blue in the center which is were I held the bracelet...the ends remain the dark green with a touch of brown...



This is a different bracelet but again we have dark/medium brown, dark/medium green, rusty brown...
Of course the gorgeous cobalt after I held in my closed fist...
A different view so you could see the teal, and green shades where I didn't have it in my hand...
I'm sure you want to know what the colors are supposed to mean, here you are...


Hope you enjoyed the walk down memory lane...
Cheers

Taking Pictures Outside!!

I'm a vendor at a market every Saturday rain or shine until October... this past Saturday was warm and sunny so I decided to try my hand at taking a few photos outside. I've been having a great deal of trouble taking pictures that I'm happy with... I've been told outside provides the best lighting. I have a great little camera, a Sony SuperShot DSC-W8O... that isn't my problem,...a part of my problems is the lighting. I purchased a "light box" but I just received it so I haven't had a chance to see how I do with it. I attempted to make a light box but lets just say my artistic talent lies elsewhere!

These pieces I'm posting today are a small sample of what I've been working on in the last couple of weeks...these are different from my fall and winter pieces...light and funfor the summer as we change our jewelry type with the season!

This piece is made with stunning tourmaline rondelles, wire wrapped around a sterling silver pendant, hanging from a sterling silver chain...

The colors are good but I've not yet managed to capture the sparkle of the gems...could be more crisp and clear!

This next piece is a gold plated fancy ball chain, with a lab created quartz briolette which has been wire wrapped with gold plated wire, along with a summery starfish! The color is good on this photo!

I enjoy making ear wires...something different than the traditional ear wires!
These are stunning Labradorite rondelles hanging from handmade sterling silver wires...again I haven't managed to capture the sparkle of the gem!

How about stars and a lightening bolt in sterling silver?

What woman wouldn't like a simple pair of pearls on a fancy sterling silver wire...dress up or down!

I've begun to work with gold filled wire recently, which I enjoy...completely different feel to it compared to sterling silver wire. I've paired these handmade wires with pretty Kyanite gems... while the earrings color is good, the back ground is a little blue!

These earrings are made from one piece of gold filled wire...delicate swirls ending in the ear wire! I have a pair of these in silver which I wear all the time!

These next three pieces I made from sterling silver sheet hanging from a leather cord...cut, polished and tumbled.

Simple but fun pieces for the summer! My first Dog Tag 001!

I love what this one says..."live, love, laugh"...I plan to make more of these with different sayings/words.

Can't forget three summer favorites... such fun pieces... each one making their own statement!
A beautiful green brass butterfly hanging from vermeile chains...which is gold plating over sterling silver.

A lovely brass dragonfly, hanging from vermeile chains!

Not to be left out is the ever popular brass octopus, hanging from leather cords!

I've been trying my hand at wire wrapping pendants in the last couple of weeks... which have been well received. I make them in both gold filled and sterling silver, naturally these are one of a kind as making two identical is not likely...here are three chokers I took pictures of on Saturday...
The first two are gold filled wire, hanging on a leather cored...

This one is sterling silver wire, with a delicate white pearl, hanging from a leather cord...I often add a pearl or a gem as I feel it adds a little something special!

This trendy necklace is made with interesting green/blue/gold glass rectangles spaced with brass ovals, finished with a brass toggle!

For the most part I feel the pieces look reasonably crisp and clear, the back grounds are somewhat gray or a touch of blue...while I'm not completely happy with the results I see improvement, which is what I was hoping for ...if I have time next Saturday I'll take more, possibly with a different back ground color...after I took these on Saturday I read a post that was asking for input on background colors...most of the people polled preferred colored of some kind over white...let me know what you think??? I would appreciate knowing your thoughts!
Cheers

Xue-Originals

Her name is Xue…it is pronounced as “Sch-ue” and it means snow, which she loves…imagine that since she was born and raised on a sunny tropical island …Xue Juan is her name in Mandarin (the official language of the Chinese) her combination of Chinese characters means a type of snow flower…such a pretty name!!!

This red pendant (above)is one of Xue's handcrafted polymer pendants the Chinese characters "ai" means "Love"

Xue is a talented eclectic artist, who happens to be a friend of mine…she lives in Tokyo with her husband of 14 years and two children. The first thing I felt about Xue was her kindness towards others… we've never met but words speak for themselves!

She is a self-taught artist with more than 20 years experience in advertising, graphic design, theme parties, cartoon illustrations, paper sculpture, mosaic art and jewelry design. Her designs and interest come from life experiences… living in and traveling to many amazing locations. Xue explains that she is motivated by her daily exposure to both the Western and Asian cultures in her mixed Chinese and European family.

She has spent the past 17 years living in Shanghai, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and now Tokyo.

Even though all that moving and relocating could be a little unsettling with each move, came more inspiration (and Xue explains more ways on how to unpack fast…with kids, you also learn quickly, to ask for the washroom in various languages) She is a stay at home mom who also volunteers for artistic projects in her children’s school…Xue always wore her handcrafted jewelry to school and it wasn’t long before people were asking her about her wonderful pieces… and that is how she started making jewelry for others.

Xue Originals consist of bracelets, brooches earrings, lariat, and necklaces all handcrafted individually and carefully in her home. The lovely necklace to the right features Xue's wonderful polymer clay beads done in black, white and gray.

Lovely blue and green polymer beads handcrafted by Xue are the focal for the earrings above.

Dramatic black and gold is used in the focal polymer beads for the earrings on the right.

Her logo has been her identity for decades…it is both her logo and seal…she uses this seal to stamp on things that she has made such as illustrations, and 2D work. A friend hand-carved this seal as a farewell gift for her when she worked in Shanghai years ago. In Japan where she now lives it is sufficient to use a carved seal in lieu of a hand signature…but Xue chooses not to do that.

When traveling she visits local craft/bead shops and like myself buys more than she can keep up with. She enjoys creating jewelry pieces with colorful glass beads and does amazing polymer clay pendants. She often has a blast making beads with her children.

Blue is one of my favorite colors...just love this polymer clay pendant made by Xue.
Her website can be found at http://xue-orinignals.com/, in her world of Asian and European heritage she writes about everyday life where ever she finds herself living at the time, she writes about snow, about her children, her creations and about friends…her wonderful husband of 14 years did both Xue’s website and Etsy shop http://www.xueoriginals.etsy.com/ for her because in her words “getting started and all that technical stuff boggles me”.
Even though her Etsy shop and website are relatively new her talent has allowed her to be featured 3 times in Etsy treasuries…Xue claims those opportunities were made possible only because of the kind people on Etsy, maybe so but I also thing she was featured because her work is uniquely beautiful!!!

An orange handcrafted polymer clay pendant with gold speckles adorned by pretty pink flowers






Xue's latest work...aluminum card holders, for everything from business cards, photos, credit cards, personal cards...they will keep everything handy

I'm a Scholar, top left

Linda Floats,

top right

It's Spring,

bottom right

Genie in a Tea Pot,

bottom left

Along the same lines is her compact... every woman need a compact!

Dragon flies, brown compact

Azure Dreams, blue compact

Stop by Xue-Originals, either her Etsy store or her web site…I know she would love to have you visit!!!

Jewels,Jewels,Jewels!!!

Here are a few of my latest pieces...







Red Aventurine
Citrine
Tiger glass
gold filled fingings






Amazonite
Aventurine pendant
Sterling silver beads
Sterling silver findings





Sponge Coral
Sterling silver



Enough for now...I will be posting Aprils "Birthstone" shortly...hopefuly later this evening...*Diamonds*...such a fascinating subject!!!

~My Plans For This Site~

~Would you like to be featured on this blog?~

When I started this blog site I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with it...I knew it wasn't going to be a personal blog... I wanted it to be concerning/relevant to my jewelry design company. After taking sometime to think things over I've decided what I will do with this blog.

My plan is to use this spot to promote "Azure Islands Designs, other Etys artists, as well as any artist that happens to find this blog and from time to time offer "How To" segments...featuring issues that I want to learn as well as segments featuring all kinds of "guest" artists that are willing to promote their own craft...what ever that may be!

In the next few weeks I will be gathering artists and their information/photos to feature here, along with "How To" informational ideas from artists who would like to pass along their ideas and thoughts. I hope to make this an interesting, exciting, enjoyable place where artists of all mediums will frequent often!

My request to you....

*Anyone interested in being featured in this blog, as an artist or as a "How To" artistic informational feature please contact me at heather@azure-islands.com *Thanks...cheers Heather

Now that I'm here...

I've decided to do a feature on another Etsy shop... therosecottage.etys.com


"The Rose Cottage"
This wonderful shop is a beautiful as its name implies...offering items done in

"Shabby Rose Cottage"

Aren't these the cutest!!! If only I had a granddaughter!!

Vintage items

A lovely cup of tea??

Greeting Cards

The perfect card for that special friend!

Hand Knit

A stunning shade of green...perfect for those cold winter days!

She also has a wonderful treasury found here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=25076 I know she loves doing treasurys so watch for many more done by therosecottage

A talented woman...stop by, I know she would love to have you visit and you never know what you may find in her wonderful shop!

Enjoy...Cheers Heather