New Blue Jewelry

I couldn't even choose another color if I tried to right now. 

Blue is satisfying me in every way,

emotionally and creatively.

Abalone Drop Necklace

Crescent Jasper Necklace

Lift Off Earrings

Blue African Glass Necklace

Bohemian Style Jewelry

Welcome to my

Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry Blog Celebration Weekend Post!

I am excited to share with you a new publication ....

Interest has swayed to a looser time, a wild feeling, a step-out-of-your-corset-into-your-patch-work-skirt kinda mood.

And the jewelry to go with it?

Oh yes, I felt that mood swing. 

Bohemian Inspired Jewelry

by

Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel

This book is F.U.N. 

Imaginative. Textural, with materials that you can't stop fingering.

Several projects in this book have inspired a new twist in design for me and I am eager for it to get to you also. 

Purchase a copy now and maybe by summer's end you could  have 50 days worth of accessories to compliment your  bohemian wardrobe!
I'm not even kidding, this book is packed with
50 different designs! 

Here is my start;

I practiced lark's head knots, overhand knots and half hitch knots to complete these earrings;

Copper Antiquity Earrings by Erin Siegel 
(design instructions in the book Bohemian Inspired Jewelry) 
This led to lark's head knots with various pieces of metal I had laying around and left over pieces of waxed linen;

Rain Garden Necklace
A forged sterling frame features a patinated piece of copper metal clay and Czech glass bead fringe. 

A Fools Urn Necklace
Just tell me you can estimate how much cording you would use for this piece,
that pre-measured, inside knowledge alone is worth the book.

Earrings inspired by Lorelei's design "Flying through Hoops" have been fun to mix up with the unique feature of using leather as hanging bales for special beads & links;

Cerise Squared Earrings
(design instructions in the book)

The next projects I'm going to tackle will be "Unfolding" by Maire Dodd (she uses linen to create "roots"!) and "Garden Graces" by Lorelei Eurto (Kimono Cord! How rock star is that!?!)
I hope you will join me in creating your own versions of the leather, ribbon and cord designs Erin and Lorelei have complied for us here.

   

Both the E-book (how much do you need instant gratification?) and the BEAUTIFUL (as in, every glorious printed page has a design element that I love) print publication are on sale right now;

So go here for your print edition;

Bohemian Inspired Jewelry Print Edition 2012

on sale for $13.77

and visit here for the immediate download;

Bohemian Inspired Jewelry E-Book

on sale for $10.77

Wait! Before you leave to buy and create with your hands, Erin and Lorelei have set up a way to win 2 necklaces featured in the book and a copy of the book by creating Polyvore style boards showing us how you would wear one of the necklaces!

(If you're unfamiliar with the Polyvore site, just think of it in the same way you made clipped magazine collages when you were younger, it's just online now.)

So please visit here to get involved in this fashionable challenge ;

POLYVORE CHALLENGE 

Check out the rest of the celebration weekend by visiting these links;
Kicking it off: Beadingdaily.com
Meet the authors: Lorelei Eurto and Erin Segel
Say howdy to the book contributors: Denise Yezbak Moore, Mary Jane Dodd, Michelle Mach, and Tracy Statler
Then join us for the blog party with:

Amanda Davie - Articulations of Amanda Davie

Amy Freeland - Copper Diem

Andrew Thornton - The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton

Barbara Bechtel - Second Surf   

Beth Hemmila - Hint Jewelry      

Erin Prais-Hintz  - Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere

Gaea Cannaday - Gaea Handmade          

Heather Powers - Art Bead Scene            

Heather Trudeau - The Peacock Fairy     

Kathleen Lange Klik - Modern Nature Studio

Keirsten Giles - Cerebral Dilettante         

Kristie Roeder - Artisan Clay       

Lori Anderson - Pretty Things    
Margot Potter - Margot Potter: live handmade 
Melanie Brooks - Earthenwood Studio  
Pearl Blay - The Beading Gem's Journal 
Rebecca Anderson  - Song Beads             
Rebekah Payne  - TreeWingsStudio          
Sally Russick - The Studio Sublime            
Shannon Chomanczuk- For My Sweet Daughter               
Shannon LeVart - Miss Fickle Media 
Staci Smith - Staci Smith Jewelry               
Stacie Florer - Soul to Substance         
Susan Kennedy - Sue Beads
 

Thank you for visiting and I hope you are inspired this weekend, I'll be here, wearing my new earrings!

Shannon  

   

 

Copper Ring Drops

 

Well now, I couldn't just have sterling and brass, could I?

Remember these?

I renamed them Rain Chains because I wasn't as sad anymore and I like this suggestion by

Carol D. of Dillman's Dallies 

Maybe I will make some real rain chains when I have a house!?!

The copper will patina beautifully after repeated moisture and heat cycles!

Until then, I have these to enjoy!

Copper Ring Drops

Named by Miss Lana Kinney on facebook.

Are you my friend on facebook?

If not, how come? I'm super friendly and share lots of good info annnnnd you're gonna like my friends!

Oh Yeah! Here are some copper chain sections you can get straight to embellishing on;
Interlocking Hammered Copper Chain Segments

Copper Clay Impression Rings

So what do you do if you have spent hours upon hours on a new product that just simply won't cooperate with you?

The only successful torch firings out of 50 pieces.

You send it to one of your awesome more experienced friends who'll figure it out for you.

Being in a network of supportive friends is vital to your success in forward momentum for your work.

I had been working with Hadar Jacobson's copper clay for a several months and had very little luck torch firing the base metal clays.

Instead of risking any more of the copper clay cabs I had created and dried, I sent them to Claire of

 Still Point Works .

Who kindly fired them and scrubbed them for me and then shipped them back to me in a pouch that made them sound like a pirates treasure of coins.

(Thank you, My Wonderful Friend) 

It was exciting to open them and I wished I'd been of sound mind to photograph and share their arrival with you.

 

Finally, I had my metal cabochons of pure alloys that allowed me to tumble (to work harden them and burnish the surface for patina application), solder them to bases of contrasting sterling, heat them and apply layers of patina, mica powder and lacquer in way that gave a jewel like sparkle to the rustic, warm glow of the metal.

I am more than pleased with the results and I am so glad I am learning how to ask for help.

Black Shard Link Earrings

So I am all into earrings lately, but they have to be dramatic, no doubt a desperate attempt at attention, but at least I do not have neck folds in the way of the longer styles now.

Cheap and swingy. 

;)

The faceted glass has one side coated in hematite and the other side reflects it as a foiled back stone. The weird side to side hole bothered me at first until I contrasted with a bright sterling wrap in the middle of heavily patina-ted black brass links with a crescent hammer texture laid on.

Yes, this is just what I feel like wearing!

All urban and sharp. 

(Next I will take the subway all by myself.)

Teardrops

Teardrops.

16 gauge sterling, interlocking in 15mm hammered and tumble polished chain segments, wire-wrapped with 7mm Mystic Iolite and hung from handmade sterling ear wires. All metal is lacquered to protect it's bright finish and make for more comfortable wear.

The song that accompanied me during construction;

Wouldn't it be awesome if I could just communicate through music? I wouldn't have to think of the right words, I could just hum my feelings.

:)

There is a certain elegance to winter, a rhythm that moves on as it should, in spite of our man made lives attempting to dominate the nature around us. Its relentless cold fits what is inside right now.

Nina

SHE KNOWS.

So as I listened to her you tube mix, I pounded these out and lacquered them with a touch of chestnut patina and mica.

And I wear them for all my soul sisters.

Sea Grass Earrings

I had no idea that others would like these as much as they have and it pleases me to no end that I keep selling out of sea grass components!

 When things finally settled down, I took the opportunity to create a set of 4 for myself and design what was hanging around in my mind. Hazy but at least the start of an idea.

Here's the result;

Tiny antiqued copper bead caps sandwich matte, English cut clear beads, suspended from hammered copper ear wires and tassels made from fine brass chain, verdigris sea grass and clear quartz teardrops.

They are kinda out there, but something about them appealed to my sea goddess like mentality.

(delusions of grandeur)

If only I had the neck to pull off a pair of 5 inchers!

Anyway, if you like the earrings they are available here;
Sea Grass Earrings

But if you want to make your own version of sea grass earrings, you can buy the verdigris set of 4 here;
Sea Grass Patina Copper Bars.

Moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Ugh, I can't help it. Every time I say Moo Cards, I have to moo.

But more interesting and not so disturbing are my new moo cards;

Very, very pleased.

Nice rounded corners, thick satin paper, crisp images of the jewelry I am most proud of.

Next up is postcards to send out to my homey's!

My Shell Talisman

I braided a lot in January.

All my favorite colors of Irish linen with little bits of pressed and molded precious metal silver.

Knotted securely onto a hammered sterling hook clasp in a choker style. 

This is the one I put on;

Before I even had the money together to move to the sea! 

I haven't taken it off since January.

It has showered with me every day, had perfume sprayed on it, sweated with me, survived several trips to the ocean and other various vigorous activities.

And I sleep with it on.

I am completely impressed with it's durability. 

The linen has simply softened, and where the metal rubs against it, it has not even begun to show signs of wear,  the hook stays closed, the silver secure. 

I forget it is on.

So this is good news for our active gals.

A personal talisman necklace that goes where ever you go and keeps up with everything you do.

Available through the slevart shop here.

Ear Posties

How fun!

Creating tiny fine and sterling silver bits of metal, measuring and cutting 1/2" posts, filing them clenched between my thumb and first finger so the end is flat and able to be joined to the metal back. Cutting them off and starting over when the heat melted them and they slumped over, trying desperately to hold still while I held the post up in pliers and concentrated the tiny flame on the join.

Success!

Pickling, tumbling, dipping in the antiquing and brushing with steel wool for that matte glow I adore in silver.

A pair to wear while sleeping is my goal.

I love making rings.

Heavy, blackened, organic and free form with surprising elements.

Elements one wouldn't expect to be treated so royally as to be set in silver.

 An ordinary shell like so many millions of others. 

An imperfect mold of wood grain. 

A melted piece of cracked glass.

Way back when I was first making metal jewelry, I tried so hard to be perfect.

Learning about the different metals, what they do with different temperatures of heat, how to make ends meet seamlessly, how to envision the completed item from the blackened, crusty thing you were working on.

And then it happened. The perfect set of rings!

I was instantly bored.

They sit in my jewelry box, as a testament that I could. But I don't wanna.

I wanna make stuff that I can't stop looking at. Stuff that is undeniably handmade. 

Hand Wrought.

I want my stuff to look damaged and asymmetrical.

Dredged up from the sea or dug up from a forgotten time, changed by the depth and heat and moisture of the earth.

When I look at the ancient ear rings from Roman times, their ring is crooked, uneven with varying thicknesses from hammering by hand with hand made tools. Time gave it character and nicks and gauges.

Ancient Roman Ring

I want that for my work.

I want the flaws to symbolize the beauty in being works of progress.
Souls with potential. 

I want the woman who wears my jewelry to feel empowered by its character, when she sees it on her finger to feel self satisfaction, when she hears it clink against her pen, computer keyboard  or cocktail to feel control.

I want her to gesture wildly while she talks so she can see how the ring moves with her hand. Watch it catch the attention of the listener so she can boldly state her opinion or knowledge.

I do not want the weight of the metal to be a status symbol but rather the weight of self awareness.

I hope this makes sense to some of you. I know it doesn't to some and that's okay too.
Jewelry has the gaudy right to simply be pretty without heavy analysis or symbolism. 

I was trying to explain to my neighbor what sort of jewelry I like to make and I used words like encrusted, ancient, used, chewed up. He replied "That doesn't sound very appealing."

Which made me laugh because he is right.

But it is a heck of a lot more freeing to create with abandon rather than try to produce something a machine can make in mere minutes.

Skirt Hoop Jewelry

photo used with permission

  The above photo is by flikr user yorktown road. It is a macro shot of antique skirt hoops with a lace ribbon fragment attaching the steel band hoops. It instantly inspired me as I saw a stack of bangles with fabric remnants attached to them. I quickly set about creating a few sets and the necklace and earring ideas followed right along. This was quite awhile ago and they have been at Belle Armoire for some time, but I recently received news from editor, Ms. Crabtree that they were accepted for publishing!

Yay for validation!

 

So let me show some of the other pieces in this collection that shows my mushy, romantic side.  I'm undecided as to whether they are going into the slevart store (where things seem to languish, unseen and unworn by the woman they were meant for) or off to a store they may have better luck selling at.

Tattered Lace on Hammered Copper Bangles 

 

 

Rubies with Black Silk on Hammered Copper Bangles

 

2" Hoops with Black Tulle & Pink Freshwater Pearl

Pink Tulle wrapped onto a Forged Brass Link

     And many more you can view here; Skirt Hoop Jewelry Album

The thing is with bangles, they give you such a feminine feeling when worn; the metallic jingle, the way the metal slides up and down your arm as a caress, the glimmer against your skin. It makes you take notice of yourself, no matter how you are dressed. I like that about this jewelry.  

Newly Made. Newly Listed.

Yes, sometimes I try to sell jewelry.

Falls Enchantment

Blue Lotus

Golden Peridot Ginkgo

Mighty Oak

Utopia

Hey. You. I want to talk to you.

(gratuity shot of jewelry)

 

You fascinating woman, you.

You oh so kindly come by my blog and humor me with responses to my nonsensical ramblings, post a comment and then.... what?

noreply-comment@blogger.com.

I have words to share with you and they are stuck here in my head now. 

Pearls of wisdom and profound thought that cannot be shared by coming back here and posting another comment on my own comment section.

They must be responded to personally.

You can help me with this.

Open your blog dashboard in a separate window and click the 'edit profile' tab under your name right next to your profile picture.

Scroll down and look for 'show my email address' under Privacy.

Click that so that when you leave a comment, I can reply by email privately and continue on the conversation.

And yes, it will remain private. What kind of blogger do you think I am? 

It will be fun. I promise.

Time to Consign

I shot a few pixs of the kitchen where I have taken over every available inch of table top/counter space to create my goal of 100 pieces to send off to one of my favorite handmade markets.

Here is the kitchen table;

I am working with a plethora of hammered ear wires.

(That is a feel good word to say; Plethora. It rolls off the tongue.)  

Here is a close up of antiqued sterling silver;

And the counter island where the completed pieces go to get ready for presentation;

 My mama cut a ton of pretty paper tags for me and I got lost in choosing the perfect one for each piece of jewelry. I named this collection Ancient Treasures. I was in a hurry and lacking creative vocabulary.

The timing is awful, I have so many orders to work on right now and shipping is running about 3 days but it felt really, really, REALLY good to just sit down and make jewelry.

I wish you were here. I have to listen to Mike go on and on about football.

I can clear off a space of about 1 square foot, but you can use all my tools.