New Products for Holiday Show

I've been busy the past few weeks getting ready for a 2 day holiday show here in town. I was challenged to come up with some designs that would allow the local children to buy for family and friends, without spending too much. The challenge was low cost, quick to make in quantity and yet absolutely COOL!

Here's a sneak preview (show is on Thursday and Friday this week)of some of the handmade products. I like them so well that I plan on adding some similar items to the website!

Just click the thumbnails to see a bigger picture!













As you can see there's pirate skull crossbones, mermaids, snowflakes, recycled soda pop can charm pendants, guitar pick earrings and more!

Have a Creepy Halloween!

There are some strange characters in my neighborhood.
A gnarly pirate that likes his jewelry, a suspicious security guard and an old pegleg pirate trying to trip everyone.

Trick or Treat!

Click on the pictures to see the creepy details!

Antique and Vintage Button Bracelets

There is something so special about buttons. Maybe you have to be a button person to understand. Anyway, here are some bracelets I made - mostly today - from vintage and antique buttons. I'll have them on the site soon for sale. Thanks to my sister Patty, who is the Queen of Buttons!


Carved Brown Bakelite Button Bracelet



Carved Applejuice and TEAL Bakelite Button Bracelet



Antique China Buttons Bracelet Pink and Green CUTE!



Silver Amethyst Antique Button Bracelet



Antique Gold Button Bracelet Sorry, this one I'm keeping for myself! I LOVE it too much to let it go!



Antique Flower Buttons Jade Bead Bracelet

Autumn Colors are Coming to the Beach










Kirby

Oak Leaves

Pretty clouds today.


Is it the surface of the moon?
No, just a closeup of the earth,
wet sand with shellfish air holes.

Walk on the beach Sandy Hook NJ 9/27/05.
These colors will change soon as Autumn comes.



I bet most people don't realize that there is cactus in New Jersey.



Sunshine on the water - like an abstract painting.

I've been walking on the beach at Sandy Hook most mornings, with my dog, Kirby (a 5 month old LabraDoodle). It's such an inspirational part of my day. I don't know what people do, who don't live near the water. I'm sure there's something equivalent, but beyond me. Anyway, I thought, maybe I'll try to share images of the walks here with my friends. The Fall is coming and it always changes the colors of the beach in subtle and wonderful ways. Maybe you will see that, as we go through the next few months. Along the way, we'll see a few distinct influences on my jewelry, I'm sure.

These are thumbnail images to save loadtime, but you can click on them to enlarge.

Here is a classic sunny beach image take on 9/23/05 at Sandy Hook.


Two shots showing an overcast sky on the bayside, Sandy Hook 9/26/05.



Kirby on the Bayside.


Textures on the beach. A fascinating found object - I was just thinking
of Japanese Mokume Cane techniques for clay when I saw this.




Kirby on the backporch - resting after his walk on the beach.

Here is what I am excited about this week. Big, big chunks of natural red coral, combined with six strands of peacock pearls. I put them together with a very secure clasp, to create a mermaid bracelet. It's big, bold, and really comfortable.

Can't you just see it on her wrist?

Spring Training

Today I watched the 2005 New York Yankees as they played their first exhibition game in Spring Training. I love watching the Yankees. They play to win and they do it with class. Isn't that what we all should be doing?
Here is the necklace I wore today. I made it last Spring in time for Opening Day. It always draws stares on the subway!

Hearts and Chains and Locks - Valentine Jewelry Making

On the weekend before Valentines day, I can always count on at least a few hopeless souls, wandering into the shop at the end of the day, a desperate look in his eyes. Searching for a gift for his Valentine.

I wanted to bring some special things in to the shop this weekend, especially for a gift.

Well, I ended up only making half, or less than half, of what I planned. But it was fun. First, I started with a stash of old cast-iron lockplates I have. They are the perfect size for a pendant. Since they are a keyhole, they seemed to be half of a toggle clasp. Just need a key for the other half, right? Well, they didn't work quite right as a clasp, but I do enjoy the look, but I created a bracelet anyway.




Then I needed some earrings to go with it.



I made a few other things with the keys.




I really wanted that keyhole as a pendant, at the base of the throat. I played with some beads and found two glass hearts to hold it on either side. I used French silver wire to cover the stringing wire that would have been exposed there. I found a combination of mostly black onyx and glass beads, with a few fun red and white. The back half of the necklace is two strands of matte seed beads. I LOVE this. I might just have to wear it on Valentine's Day, if I don't sell it before that.

My pictures don't ever do justice to the sunlight on glass or gemstones.

While I was searching for beads for the above necklace, I designed another necklace. That's always happens. I loved these little red glass hearts. They are almost spooky, they are so blood like - red with an orange tinge. And the sun shines beautiful in them. I came across these blue large hole beads that match them in hue. Since they all fit on a black rubber cord, All I had to do was add another key in the center.


There are several other themes I had hoped to cover this week. But I've run out of a week! I did manage to get one more bracelet created, that I have thought about for almost a year! I bought this carved coral carp in February of last year, from my good friend who sells in a gallery next to mine. I can't wait to show her, I found a home for it, amongst some natural jade beads that I had also bought from her, and big fake pearls.


Hope everyone has a special Valentine's day.