New Necklace : White on White

I suppose being surrounded by the white stuff inspired me to make a very white necklace.  The focal point is a beautiful moonstone briolette.  Part of the chain consists of white freshwater pearls securely wired together.  The remainder is oval rolo style chain (my favorite, but generally more expensive that regular cable link chain).  Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Ever since I've started using the "auto" feature on my too-complicated-for-me digital camera, my results have improved dramatically.  Imagine that.  I decided that I didn't have anything to prove, so I calmly switched to auto and I felt an immediate sense of relief.  Apparently, my camera is smarter than I am.  And I'm ok with that.

Big Moonstone Briolette

When I bought this strand of really large white moonstone briolettes, I envisioned a series of necklaces.  Surely they were too large for earrings.  I was wrong.  Yes, they make a bold pair of earrings, but they're definitely NOT too big.

The stones have a nice blue flash to them, when viewed at certain angles, yet they are neutral enough to wear everyday.  They are for sale in my etsy shop.

Classy and Classic

These brand new earrings in my etsy shop are petite, but quite special. I started with little plump briolettes of smoky quartz. Above them, I added a loose cluster of white keshi pearls. The color combination of cocoa brown and creamy white is so elegant.

I always hang these type of super-special earrings from leverback earwires for maximum security. Plus, I think they add a bit of formality to the look.

These earrings are great for a party and equally perfect for every day wear. They are for sale in my etsy shop. Click on the photo to go directly to the listing.

Remember, free shipping continues through year end!

Champagne and Cream

I listed this necklace and earring set in my etsy shop yesterday. Truth be told, it isn't new. I realize this may be shocking to some of you, but I made this necklace about 2 years ago. I had displayed it at a show or two and when it didn't sell, I tucked it away.

You see, I liked it so much, I thought I might keep it for myself. Recently, I had a dose of reality and realized that I will never wear this necklace. I never go anywhere that I might need something quite as elegant as this. Such is my life in the north woods.

Click on the photo to see the necklace from other angles and to see the matching earrings.

Textured Silver and a Pearl

This simple necklace is one that I would wear as often as I could. If I was into naming my pieces, this would be called the "Vicki Necklace". This elongated silver bead is embossed with a pattern of overlapping fans. Next to it I added a rectangular white pearl. Together they hang from an oxidized sterling silver chain. That's it. That's usually enough for me.

This go-with-everything necklace is for sale in my etsy shop. Clicking on the photo will take you directly to the listing.

Simple Necklaces

Remember this post? How about this post? Well, I decided I like the look of a single drop so much, that I've made some necklaces along the same lines. I made a big batch of them, but so far have only listed this one in my etsy shop.

I chose one of my favorite pearls to feature in this necklace. It's big, it's got lots of luster and it bumpy! What more could I ask for?




Click on the photo to go directly to the listing and see the necklace from some other angles.

Silvery Gray Pearls

These earrings are so simple, yet so striking. I started with silvery gray keshi stick shaped pearls. I put them on handmade oxidized sterling silver head pins. Then I attached them to matching earwires and voila, a perfect pair of earrings for everyday wear.

These types of pearls are purchased in temporarily strung strands, like most other pearls. (The really expensive ones are sold individually.) When I cut the strands to start working with them, it's always interesting to see if there are any 2 that are similar enough to make a pair! When looking at round or roundish pearls on temporary strands, it's easier to see if the pearls are uniform in size and shape. These stick pearls are much more difficult to judge.

These are the last 2 pearls of this color that make an acceptable pair. Sigh.

Black and White . Earrings

One of my new purchases from Tucson was a strand of rutilated quartz briolettes. Searching the strand for perfect pairs with which to make earrings is both fun and frustrating. The two brios that went into creating these earrings are perfectly matched (yay!).

I've topped them with tiny beads of black spinel and slightly larger beads of quartz crystal. The black and clear (and white?) color combination is stark and striking.

They hang from sterling silver leverback earwires.

Custom Bracelet

I started on a custom order today for a woven bracelet. The lovely customer wants to purchase these earrings. She ordered a bracelet to match. After several convos between us, she decided on a bracelet of the style shown below, utilizing the keshi pearls and some of the silver beads.

I chose a vintage mother-of-pearl button for the closure, as I felt that would be a nice complement to the pearls in the earrings.
The base of the bracelet is modified right-angle-weave. The photo on the left shows a simple right-angle-weave using pearly white glass seed beads. The photo on the right shows the variation on the stitch. This variation provides for a wider base upon which to attach the many short fringe elements that will come next.

Creative Muse

My creative muse was here for an extended visit last week and I shamelessly took advantage of her presence. I made a series of earrings that I'm exceptionally pleased with. The more difficult part was the photo shoot, but that went surprisingly well also.

If you read my previous post, you can see that the view from my work area this time of year is composed of much white -- ice and snow. This pair of earrings exemplifies what I was feeling as I gazed out that window.

You all know that I have a serious problem with collecting pearls. These are probably the most luxurious ones I've ever purchased. They measure a generous 11 mm across. The luster is spectacular and there is a hint of pink when the light hits them from a certain angle.

Sigh.

The Palest of Pinks

A tight cluster of tiny white keshi pearls sits atop a magnificent faceted teardrop of pink quartz. These teardrops are such a pale pink that they only look good with other pale colors or white. Any dark additions just overwhelm these little beauties.

These soft, feminine earrings would be perfect for a special Valentine's Day. They are available in my etsy shop. Click the photo to go directly to the listing!

Two New Pairs of Earrings

Faceted briolettes and keshi pearls ... there's something about the combination that works well for me. This first pair features longish amethyst briolettes that I have topped with a cluster of peacock colored keshi pearls. I like to put these types of earrings on leverback earwires for the security offered by such findings.

The second pair of earrings has a more delicate look. I started with shorter and plumper gray quartz briolettes, which are actually a very blue gray. Topping these is a loose cluster of very small white keshi pearls.

Recently, I changed the background color for some of my photographs. I had been using handmade papers, then for a short time switched to a very white background. Those photos seemed boring to me. Now, I'm trying out this charcoal gray colored paper. I quite like the look.

Don't forget to sign up for my etsy shop newsletter to be informed about specials and sales. The sign up form is to the right.

Artisan Beaders Giveaway Continues!

We've come up to the last giveaway of the year! Thanks so much to all who participated. The Artisan Beaders appreciate every visit and every comment!


Today, we have a beautiful pair of earrings to give away, courtesy of Donna at Creative Treasures by Donna. They feature freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, and sterling silver findings, and measure 1 5/8th inches long. These are so lovely because they are versatile - perfect to carry you from day to night!


How to enter to win:

Visit Donna's shop, then leave a comment on the Artisan Beaders blog* with a link to your favorite item. We will be picking the winner** on Friday, January 2nd, at 5:00pm EST, so you have until then to leave a comment. The winner will be announced shortly after, so make sure you check back Friday night. Thanks for playing!


* If you don't have a Blogger account, please leave your email address or a way to contact you if you win.
** Winning name will be randomly chosen by using Random.org.

Wilma ... Again?

You see, I have a weakness for pearls. Apparently large, white ones. These are a bit different in that they are quite bumpy.

I've added them to the bottom of my hand forged sterling silver earwires, which have been oxidized and tumbled. I love the steel gray looking finish that results.

Visit my etsy shop to see more photos of these and lots of other jewelry.

Wilma Flintstone Strikes Again!

As many of you know, I love freshwater pearls. I've been hoarding these large lovelies -- don't they remind you of Wilma Flintstone's necklace? -- and using them ever so slowly, for fear of running out. I know, it's crazy, but I hear it's not an uncommon behavior among beaders.

These are large, white and quite irregularly shaped. Here, I've suspended them from earwires I forged from 20 ga sterling silver wire.

They are for sale in my etsy shop.

White Pearls

I can't think of a more classic item for a woman to have in her jewelry collection than white pearls. These earrings take that classic concept in a different direction. For these earrings, I started with pinkish-white keshi pearls that I neatly wrapped with sterling silver wire. I then suspended them from sterling silver earwires that I forged myself.

All of the silver has been oxidized and then tumbled it for that shiny steel gray finish that I love.

These earrings are for sale in my etsy shop.

New Lariat Style Necklace

Starting with sterling silver rolo chain, I created this lariat necklace. I love rolo chain for it's sturdiness -- it can carry substantial designs, using large pearls and stones. I oxidized the chain and the other silver components, then tumbled them for this highly polished steel gray finish.

I created the textured circle by fusing a length of fine silver wire and then hammering the resulting circle. It acts as one part of the toggle closure and the stick pearl acts as the other part. The pearls I selected for this necklace begin with a deep midnight blue, transitioning to a paler blue and then gray, and finishing with stark white. The asymmetrical aspect of the necklace has huge appeal and really works with this style.

This necklace is available for sale in my etsy store.