Something different!

For the past two years I've had an ad on a local online newspaper, Baytoday and recently I was asked if I would consider doing articles on Baytoday from my blog.   After careful consideration, as this would require one post a week, I agreed to see how it would work out for myself as well as Baytoday.

Every Monday there will be a new post...some you may have seen before along...many new posts.

Below is my introduction article for Baytoday ...

 I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself...my name is Heather Cote, I'm a North Bay artisan who's been creating jewelry since October of 2006.  In the beginning my concentration was beading using semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystals, and pearls; eventually being drawn to sterling, argentium and fine silver wire and sheet, which are my favorite mediums to work with.

I've been a vendor at the North Bay Farmers' Market since 2007, where you can find me Saturday, from the end of May to the end of October, 8:30 to 1:00, rain or shine!  Besides being a vendor I'm the Buskers Coordinator for the Market.  We are booked this season but I can put your name on a cancellation list...or there is always next season!

Photo taken by Heather Cote, North Bay Farmers' Market

From the end of June to the beginning of September on Fridays you will find me at the Rosseau Farmers' Market, 9:00 to 2:00, rain or shine! 

Photo Courtesy of Charlene Neill, Rosseau Farmers' Market

I began blogging in January, 2008, primarily as a way to promote my jewelry business, Azure Accessories.  Since then 215 posts have been completed, with topics ranging from my jewelry designs, supplies I've used, tips, shows I'm participating in, the North Bay Farmers' Market, Rosseau Farmers' Market, other artisans of interest and the Birthstone of the Month, all of which you can expect to see in the coming posts.  Something new I would like to include is the healing aspects of crystals and semi-precious stones.

I would like to offer the opportunity for readers to ask any questions or pass along topics you would like to see discussed regarding jewelry, stones, silver etc...if I don't have the answer I will do the research and present my findings in a post.  Feel free to leave a message...

Watch for a new post every Monday...

Cheers 

hjcote11@gmail.com

www.azure-islands.com

Facebook 

Broken Heart...

NOTE:  After reading the comments on this post I realized I forgot to mention the reason I make the "Broken Hearts"...so for those who aren't aware of why I make them...

Heart disease is prevalent in my family, my father, both grandmothers, my paternal grandfather, died from heart disease, one of my twin brothers had a major heart attach at the young age of 43...he is good now but my other two brothers have high blood pressure. I decided to do my small part to help the cause, so when I make anything with a heart I give a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation...the "Broken Heart" is my signature piece for this foundation...each and every one I make is made with love!   

It's that time of year again...Valentine's Day is just  around the corner...

Here is one of my Broken Hearts... all hearts are hand cut, then cut in half and mended.  This one as you can see has been hammered with two different textures for a bit of detail.    I used to mend the each heart with rings but the last few times I've used sterling silver wire...I rather like the difference...the wire makes the heart more sturdy, less floppy.    The heart previouse to this one was mended with a 26g wire but I wasn't completely happy with it so this one is mended with 20g argentium silver wire...it does take a bit of pulling but I think the outcome is nicer and cleaner looking...I even added a little curly cue on the right hand side!

This particular heart can be found at Soul Sisters on Oak Street, here in North Bay!

Enjoy your day!
Cheers

Pretty red...

I'm not much of a "red" person but I like this color of red...it is what I like to call a "blue red".

This is actually marble that has been dyed...I've placed it in a sterling silver bezel, to which I've soldered a U shaped sterling silver bail to the back. Very simple, but eye catching I think!

A matching pair of earrings to compliment the dyed marble pendant.

The stones are set in a sterling silver bezel to which I've soldered sterling silver ear wire.

I rather like this style of earring as it has it's own safety feature...


Cheers

Gorgeous give away...

A blogging friend, Heather Pyle, from "My Muse, Aquariart" is having a fantastic

"2012 Celebration Giveaway"

in honor of her 2nd year blogging anniversary!

Heather is giving away these gorgeous fingerless gloves she made.
This is what she has to say about them...

"I assure you they are stretchy, stylish, soft and luxurious

made with Berroco Lustra

a 50% Peruvian wool/ 50%Tencel (Rayon) blend yarn."

Grape Lacy Knitted Fingerless Gloves by Aquariart

Love these...I often wear a pair when I'm on the computer in the winter, (not this year though, much warmer winter) as my right hand in particular gets cold!

Stop by Heather's blog and enter to win!

Good luck!

Cheers

note: photo/info courtesy of http://aquariart-chocoholic.blogspot.com/

Here it comes...2012...whether you are ready or not!

glitter-graphics.com


I can't believe it is that time of year again...another year has come and gone! It really is true..."the older you get the faster times seems to pass!
~~~
I would like to extend sincere wishes for health, happiness, prosperity and peace to my wonderful customers, family and friends in the coming year!


Happy New Year!
Cheers

For you...

I would like to extend warm wishes to all, for a safe, happy, healthy holiday...may you spend it with those you love!

Peace * Love * Hope

Cheers

Something different

When I go to shows/markets I try to come up with something for the younger crowd...such as... stretchy ringed bracelets, leather cord bracelets, age appropriate pendants, or earrings... something simple, while in their price range!

This year I chose feathers for my last few shows and the teenagers liked them...the gorgeous rich jewel colors drew attention!

Cobalt blue feathers with pearls dangles...

Gorgeous purple feathers with dyed jade dangle...

I'm not a fan of green but I've been drawn to it more and more recently...nice rich green with dyed turquoise dangle...

These are dyed Guinea feathers ...they have been sanitized and the color is permanent, in case you were wondering!

Cheers

Circles, folding, different!

Below is a variation of one of my earrings styles that I often make... large, small, medium, with a stone, or without, sideways or facing forward like these! They are an everyday "go to" kind of earring made from fine silver ...as you can see this pair have onyx dangles which jazzes them up a bit!

Two of the fold forming cuffs...

If you are one of those people who prefers consistency these earrings are not for you...I had a number of the turquoise stones that sorta, kinda matched at least in comparison to these two and then there are these two stones, which as hard as I looked I couldn't see them matching in any way. I thought about doing two pendants but then I decide...these would make great earrings because they don't match...I'm a huge fan of the matrix and color difference so I really love these stones.

It was settled, I soldered the bezel to the brushed sterling silver rectangles and set the stones!


Enjoy the day...
Cheers