Pearls, Pearls & Pearls

I'm a huge fan of pearls, traditional cream or white, yes, but I just love the multi- colored pearls available...last fall I did a post including Artbeads.com pearls and Pantone 2010 Fall Colors in the same sentence. It was very exciting to look over the "new" colors such as Endive, Golden Glow, Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Purple Orchid, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Oyster Gray, to name a few...aren't they delicious names?



It is funny because as soon as I saw all the gorgeous colors I decided to look for pearls that would be in the same family...while I didn't find all the colors in one strand I found enough to satisfy myself.
You might remember I chose two gorgeous strands of multi-colored pearls along with a delicate sterling silver hook clasp and leaf link. Below is a better look at the beautiful silver items.
I new right away what I wanted to make...something simple, elegant and classy!

...there are 6 strands of pearls at the front, light but still substantial in appearance, I'm always conscious of weight when it comes to a necklace...I attached the strands with sterling silver ends...on one side, the leaf link and the other the hook clasp situated so both should be visible when the necklace is worn; I try not to hide such beautiful clasps and connectors when ever possible...the back is a solid strand of pearls.
(Please excuse the lighting in the photo below it's a bit bright)

I was trying to show something of the back of the piece, while still showing the front...rather hard with this necklace...below a close up of the clasp.
I loved these pearls so much I ended up buying more and made myself a triple strand necklace...I wear it constantly!

Many thanks to Artbeads.com.
Enjoy the weekend!

Cheers

*FTC compliance disclosure* the products attributed to Artbeads.com in this post where provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to these products are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received for the comments.

ArtBeads Pearls & Pantone colors!

Don't you just love pearls...they are one of my favorite beads...classy and elegant but fun when you want them to be...truly versatile! I've done a single strand of graduated pearls to a multi strand long necklace and everything in between. Take a look at what I've got this time from ArtBeads.com ...the most gorgeous multicolored strand of pearls...two actually...the colors are so vibrant!


I was sent the Pantone color report for fall 2010 and the first page shows all the exciting new colors for fall...check out them out they are definitly colors I would choose personally!

After looking through the report I chose these two strands of pearls from ArtBeads.com...while I couldn't get something close to the Lipstick Red or the Golden Glow I thought this strand was complementary to the rest of the stunning colors!!!

I also chose a sterling silver leaf link and an elegant sterling silver hook and eye clasp...these are delicate but still a nice substantial weight to them, perfect for pearls.

As soon as I saw the pearls I knew exactly what I wanted to make...something classy & elegant but fun...

Thanks Artbeads.com for for being a great place to shop! So important for someone like myself who must rely on the internet!!!

Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers


*FTC compliance disclosure* the products attributed to Artbeads.com in this post where provided as a promotional gift by Artbeads.com in relation to the blogging program. My comments pertaining to these products are my personal opinion, no compensation has been received for the comments.

Behind!!!!!!

Hello everyone...I seem to find myself way behind in my blogging! Since I returned from Florida I've been concentrating on preparing for my show this weekend. It seems everything else has taken a back seat...and I do mean everything else.

Below is a crocheted freshwater and sterling silver bracelet...my first attempt! I rather enjoyed it as I used to crochet and knit ... my goodness is has to be 20 years ago...wow sounds like a long time ago. I loved knitting the "Fair Isle" patterned sweaters for my daughter and myself. So this was fun to do...a mix of colors so it can be worn with just about anything.

This ring is made from chalk turquoise, (dyed & stabilized) and argentium silver. Perfect summer addition...

This piece I'm sure the jewelry artists will recognize...the herringbone weave, the stone is carnelian, this is my second attempt, it takes considerable practice! At least is does for me.
Last is a simple circle ring in gold filled wire...made by me but the design was from a tutorial by Delia Stone, at the Tutorial Shop.etsy.com
That's it for now...I expect to get back to visiting the first of next week!
Cheers

I'll be away!

I'm going to be away until March 11th, with little possibility of internet access...therefore my visiting/commenting will most likely be non existent until after March 11th.

I leave you with a look at a few pieces of my spring collection...I have a show March 27th, 28th and 29th for which I've begun preparing.


The necklace above a wonderful combo of amazonite and amethyst, all findings are sterling silver and the wire is sterling silver coated! I do have matching earrings, in fact two different styles but I forgot to take their photo...

Again we have the amazonite stone spaced with sterling silver beads, all findings are sterling silver for this lovely bracelet. I love this color, will have to add it to my favorites list.

One of my favorite gemstones, amethyst spaced with purple jasper and sterling silver beads, the pendant is purple jasper as well! Shads of purple will be hot this spring!!!


Of course we have the matching earrings...I've learned my lesson, when making gemstone necklaces there must also be a pair of earrings to match, they sell as a set. I'm not one to wear matching earrings and necklace but many women are!


Here is my first attempt at a wire wrapped pearl pendant...I was surprised to find out it is much harder to do than it looks!!! :0)

Love these...now I wouldn't wear them because I wear much simpler jewelry myself but I do like the way these turned out!


This is eye catching... onyx and amozonite stones, while the focal is a beautiful lampwork bead necklace, all sterling silver findings...I like to do contrast such as these...makes a nice statement I think!

The matching earrings...


This necklace is very light weight wood beads spaced with tiny amber round beads, findings are copper. Wood will be big again this year.


Here we have two completely different styles of earrings, of which one pair will go with the necklace...there is also a matching bracelet.
There you have it for now...see you March 12th.
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

Its Friday!!!

Good morning... someone said something to me yesterday that made me stop and think about how I post on my blog...

Erin, from "jewellery by erin", told me she stops by every morning to see if I've added anything new!!! That statement was an eye opener for me...my goal for this blog has always been to increase traffic to the point where I have regular visitors leaving me comments on a regular basis, a tremendous goal but I like to reach.

I enjoy writing, unfortunately, it takes me such a long time as I'm one of those people who will rewrite something five times before I like how it sounds...having said that my plan was to try to write interesting and informative posts which will keep people returning ...

Now I realize I have a long way to go but having regular readers is what I'm working towards...don't get me wrong, it is great to have people "stop & drop" I do the same thing(I also have blogs that I visit on a daily basis to see if there is something new posted) but Erin visiting me daily to see if I've posted something new, this is a huge deal for me, if I have one regular maybe there are more out there who don't stop to comment!!

Which brings me to my point...I know, I know, I'm so very long winded when I have something to say...which is... I realize I'm going to have to be much better at posting more often if I want to keep/attract more regular viewers. I will work on it!! :0)

FYI...I'm now working on my "Birthstone of the Month" (pearls) feature, it should be ready in a few days, there is so much information to go through, as I try to give interesting and informative information without getting too technical.

I've begun working with sterling silver and gold filled wire as well as sheet silver...making ear wires, earrings, and pendants so far. I've made myself two rings a silver and a gold but I haven't made any for customers yet...I'm enjoying the process as it is very satisfying and will eventually get into the soldering as I have all the tools waiting for me!

As soon as I take photos of I'll put them on the site. I'm not a great photographer so I put off taking the pictures as I'm never satisfied with the results. I have a huge inventory of completed pieces to photograph and get on my Etsy store as it is looking very barren at the moment!

Enjoy your weekend!
Cheers

How about a pair of earrings?

Smokey Quartz, Swarovski crystals, sterling silver findings and ear wires

Freshwater Pearls and Swarovksi crystals,sterling silver findings and ear wires

Lab created Aqua quartz, sterling silver findings and ear wires