Jewelry sets

Over the last month, I have had my jewelry in craft shows and on sale in a Christmas pop-up store for local artists.  You will never guess what is selling the best....jewelry sets.  Almost all of my necklaces and bracelets that were packaged together with a pair of earrings has sold.  I am not sure if it the $5 off given when I sell something together as a set or if it is that people like buying sets in general.  It makes sense.  Most people do match their accessory pieces unless you are like me and have a hodge podge of pieces that you throw together and try to make it all work.  SOme people are so good at that.  I am not, which is why I decided that jewelry sets are the way to go.  Below, check out my latest set designs and let me know what you think....

set retails for $30

set retails for $30

set retails for $25

set retails for $30

My new beads....

My latest design incorporates these really fun beads that I purchased from Fire Mountain Gems.  I had been seeing a lot of the jewelry in stores using these beads so I wanted to see what I could come up with and I am pretty pleased with the results.  I combined sterling silver chain on half the necklace and beading wire on the rest.  I strung the new foil lined grey coin beads I had purchased with some Swarovski pearl in grey and Swarovski crystal in amethyst and here is the result:

I love this necklace.  I love that is is oversized, but not overwhelming.  I paired this with a light brown sweater and it looked great.  I am thinking I need to make some earrings to match....maybe the amethyst crystal with the grey foil lined bead on a single headpin?  What do you think?  I would love to get your suggestions.

Snowflakes

Have you noticed how early the stores put out Christmas decorations?  It is insane!  But I realized, sometimes you need a little extra time to get everything done you need to for the holiday which is why I wanted to share with you my Swarovski crystal snowflake ornaments now.  These beautiful snowflakes come in 2 different sizes, Small (3" across) and Large (4.5" across).  All snowflakes are made with Swarovski crystal and can be custom made to order in the color of your choice.  Some people like to use their birthstone, while others like more traditional Christmas colors.  My favorite is air blue opal shown below.  It just reminds me of a true snowflake.  Check out my designs below.  Please comment and leave me color suggestions.  I would love to hear from you....

Large Size

Large Size

If you would like to order any of the designs, please leave me a comment with your e-mail address and I will get in touch with you.  I am hoping to have them up on Etsy very soon.  Small snowflakes are $15, Large snowflakes are $18.

Two strands are better than one

My new design lately has been double stranded necklaces.  I had been working alot with chain and wire recently so I wanted to try something different.  Last night, I sat down and created the following sterling silver, double stranded illusion necklace.  The design is simple.  I used only 2 types of beads along the illussion cord, a diamond shaped metallic gray bead and 6mm crystal clear Swarovski crystals.  I joined the 2 necklaces at the back with jump rings and added a lobster claw clasp.  I just love the colors and the look of the design.  It is a perfect accessory for a work outfit and could be paired with a cute dress for evenings and special occassions.
Check it out and let me know what you think....

Here is the matching earrings as well....

Speaking of special occassions, please note, this design can be custom made with your specifications, making it perfect for weddings and bridal party gifts.

Wire wrapping

A few weeks ago I was shopping at the Loft (a favorite of mine) and whenever I am in there I always take a look at their jewelry.  On this particular trip I saw these earrings that used crystal rondelles where each crystal was connected to the next using wire wrapping.  I decided to try my hand at it and I think the result was pretty successful.  Made with all sterling silver findings and 6mm golden shadow Swarovski crystal rondelles.  I added a picture of the Loft pair at the bottom.  How do mine stack up?  Let me know what you think? 

The Loft version

I am thinking of trying to make them in purple next.  Purple is my favorite fall color.  Would you wear this style?  Please comment and let me know.

Hurricane Irene

So hurricane Irene swept into NJ and created all sorts of havoc and leading the President to declare it a disaster area!  We were forunate to have no damage, but we did not have power for 5 days. It was nice not having TV, but tough not having any lights.  : )
Despite that "minor" set back, I was able to create a piece as promised working by the natural light coming into my kitchen during the day.  It is a double stranded sterling silver necklace with sea foam green nuggets.  The nuggets are linked together with sterling silver wire and attached to the sterling silver link chain.

I truly love this piece. I think it would do create with a strapless LBD or to work with a crisp white button down.  What would you wear it with?  Take a look and let me know what you think!!

Crazy week....and custom designs

This week has been a crazy one...first, I experienced my first earthquake...and now,we are bracing for Hurricane Irene which is tearing up the east coast and is headed right for where I live.  So, what is one to do when you there is a hurricane on the horizon??  If you are me, you make jewelry!!

Check out my latest custom design for my beautiful sister Lori.  Lori wanted something in sterling silver that was not too long, not too big, and could be worn with alot of different colors and outfits.  Here is what I came up with...do you think I was successful in meeting all of her requirements?

Let me know what you think....and for everyone on the east coast this weekend....be safe...

Owls

Recently, everywhere I go I am seeing owls.  It is a craze that has definitely been catching on.  And I have to admit, I am getting caught up in it.  I recently purchased an owl wallflower from Bath and Body Works which I am super excited about.  Owl pillows, owl blankets, owling (have you heard of this???) and of course, owl inspired jewelry.  Not wanting to be left behind in this latest trend, I decided to create my very own owl design. 

My idea for my first owl-inspired design....a simple necklace pendant.  Pairing a small green leaf and a golden bicone with my brown glass owl bead, resulted in this super simple design that I think can be worn with almost anything.  Check it out and let me know what you think.

To show you how versatile the necklace is, here is a picture of me wearing it.  I have accessorized  my black shirt dress with the nacklace and a few other brown key pieces to bring it all together.  Check it out and let me know what you think....



What other owl designs would you like to see?? 

Feathers....the new trend??

Recently, my husband's teenage daughter told me that feather earrings were the "in" thing, although I believe she said...."they are cool, yeah!".  It is funny, because when I was a kid back in the 80's, they were the in thing then too.  Anyone remember feathers attached to leather cord that you would clip into your hair?  I don't know about you, but I loved them!!!  It is truly funny how trends always seem to make a comeback. 

Anyway, she told me that I should make some earrings with feathers so I decided to give it a try.  Because they are so trendy I decided to make them low cost by using surigical steel earwires and silver plated crimps.  That way, I could retail them for $5, a bargain for any fashion forward teenager!!  : )

Here are a couple samples of what I came up with.  I am thinking of trying to recreate the hair clip idea because I am sucker for that 80's fad....let me know what you think.  Would you wear this trend?  If you are a parent or tweenager/teenagers, would they wear the trend.  Please provie feedback.  I would love to hear from you.

 

Earrings that make you say....

For me, these earrings make me say wow!  I love them.  I just love the green and the blue together.  It makes me want to hop on a plane and go somewhere tropical.  Made with peridot and indicolite Swarovski crystal, these are a perfect summer accessory.  Dress up that little LBD for that summer wedding....or add a little pop of color to your work day outfit.  They are very versatile.  Long enough to wear for a night on the town, but not too long that you couldn't wear them everyday!  Check them out and see what you think...

For some reason, I feel like I should be sipping on a pina colada when I look at these.  Am I crazy?  Does anyone else feel that way?  Tell me what you think of one of my latest creations!!

My latest creation

Over the last few weeks, I have felt a little uninspired and not even a little bit creative.  It was terrible.  I was starting to feel that my creativity had dried up which is not a good thing for someone that makes jewelry and relies on creativity to inspire designs.  That is why I was so relieved when last night at last I once again had some new ideas popping into my head.  Thank God! 

In my boxes of beads, I discovered this brown glass bead with varying levels of color throughout the bead.  It is beautiful.  I had forgotten about it because I had gotten it right before I had gone away on vacation.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to create something with it.  That something ended up being 2 pairs of sterling silver earrings.  I am so pleased with them, I am tempted to keep them for myself.  : )  I used the brown bead as a focal point in both pieces and accented it with gold bicones, Swarovski crystals in smoked topaz and golden shadow and also bronze Swarovski pearls. 

Here are the designs, let me know what you think:

Holiday earrings....

So, as promised, here are the earrings that I have been working on for my order to the Historic Hudson Valley.  I sent the package today!  Yippee.  I can not wait to see them in store!  Let me know what you think.  Would you wear these holiday inspired pieces? 

Santa hats

Christmas trees

Snowmen

Pumpkins

Witch hats

Candy Corn

Missing in action....

So, I just wanted to post an apology to everyone following my blog for being missing in action the last few weeks.  I have been on vacation and also working on my holiday order for the Historic Hudson Valley musuem store at Washington Irving's Sunnyside in Tarrytown, NY (http://www.hudsonvalley.org/content/view/13/43/).  They host some pretty amazing events at Halloween which are a must see and my earrings are going to be a part of that.  They ordered 72 holiday earrings from me for both Christmas and Halloween.  I am really excited about this.  As soon the order is complete, I will get pictures up on here to share with you all. 

Here is a few pictures from my holiday line that will not be seen in store to hold you over. 

More to follow....Thanks for being patient!!

Birthstones

Birthstones....they are the perfect way to make any gift that much more special, especially in jewelry.  A few weeks back, I was asked to design a bracelet for my step-mom's niece using her birthstone.  She wanted to give it as a gift for her birthday coming up in July.  She had seen another red bracelt I had done using a sterling silver heart and was hoping I could do something similar.  Not wanting to do the exact same thing, I decided to use ruby Swarovski hearts and I couldn't have been more pleased with the result.

Take a look and let me know what you think. What is your birthstone?  Do you love it or hate it?  Would you wear a design that uses your birthstone?  Let me know.