Pirate Secret Treasure Map Ring EBSQ 3D Show Entry - Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry

Sometimes I think that it is in learning and embracing my limitations rather than my skills, that I am able to create my best work.

Here is a story about my latest creation.

My son loves pirates and rings. He has several replicas of Captain Jack Sparrow's beautiful rings. One boring day I offered to try to make him a ring. We looked through some books, hoping to find something within my abilities. We came across a picture of Steve Midgett's $100 dollar ring. Hmm.. I don't want to use a $100 bill to make a ring, I said. What else is made of paper, but could be recognized for what it is, even when folded so small? A map!, we both yelled at the same time! A treasure map, like a pirates, like the rolls of extra wallpaper we have behind the basement door! This is how found object art jewelry is made!

I then needed a way to create a connection that would be both comfortable, as it's pressed against the finger, but also completely removable, so the map could be unfolded. I can imagine the pirate removing the ring and undoing it, by candlelight. Perhaps there's a secret message or love poem written on the reverse? Or a picture of a key?

I tried several different methods but none were quite right. My connection solution was finally realized when I found a tiny earrings stud of malachite that has lost it's mate. I snipped the post, filed the end and used a comfortable plastic earring back to secure. It is just right and is very secure.

I singed the edges of the map, for a dramatic final touch. The map can be unfolded and then refolded and connected. Currently entered into the EBSQ 3D paper show.

The ring is on the Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry from Lobster Lu here.

Water Lily Water Nymph Art Glass Sterling Silver Necklace - Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry



Happy St. Patrick's Day - Top of the Mornin'

I just wanted to share something green with you this morning. This necklace makes me think of the fairys and the little people that I heard stories about when I was young.

I happened upon these incredible green rondelle beads that remind me of lily pads. I think the main attraction to waterlilys is the play of sunlight on the water and the lilypads. A single yellow glass flower bead looks up from each side, like waterlilies looking up at the sun. The seedbead strand plays with sunlight in the same manner as the other beads. Some glass leaf beads are also used. Sterling silver lobster claw clasp holds necklace securely. Length 19 inches.


You can click here to purchase. Or take a look at other items on the site.

Give Live Love Cola Tie Tack Lapel Pin Upcycled - Amethyst Lobster Unique Jewelry



Give a hand! I just wanted to make sure you see what I just added to the site. These tie tacks or lapel pins are VERY limited edition. They are recycled from limited editon Christmas soda cans. So, when they're gone, they're gone. There is a glued tie tack pin on the back, with a secure clasp. There are no sharp edges, these are formed to a soft foam backing during the cutting process. Measure 1 3/4 inches tall.

I've also made them on a stick pin. I'll be adding those to the site soon. Let me know if you need more than one or two, because I'm afraid they might run out quickly.

Santa was on those cans too! But you'll have to wait until next Christmas season to see what I did with Santa!

Now, why am I talking about Santa! It's almost St. Patrick's Day!
Get out the green! (And the beer!)

eclectic-elements In Adorn

Adorn Magazine The Crafty Girl's Guide to Embellishing Life, is so fun! So glad my friend Sam got a mention in it. Her jewelry is the funkiest! Cool!

The Artisan Connection: Etsy can't seem to decide what to do and issues another version of their "Constitution"

I really feel for the independant artists who have to rely on mall type websites to sell online. Places like Etsy start as small start-ups. The artists must change their business plans based on the whims of the owners.

I wish everyone would just support Indie (independant) website owners. Then there would be no need for those malls.

art for housewives

Check out the cool site art for housewives.
They linked to my recycled can earrings today. There are LOADS of cool links on there!

ETSY is ICKY

What a shame, the owners of Etsy are acting very unprofessional and are forcing some wonderful people to remove their products from the site, simply because they have changed their minds. To top it off, the site is so buggy the system goes down every time they try to fix traffic counters.

Click Here
to find out where your favourite etsy shop has gone now.

Copper Jewelry - a Different Style

Recently I added several earrings to the site, utilizing new copper findings. Most of my work is done with sterling silver, so this is a new adventure for me. I feel like an artist that has literally added a new color to her palette. It's very inspiring.

I am simply in love with these earrings. I wear my own pair of them all the time. The teal blue faceted window glass peeking from beneath the scalloped copper edges reminds me of the backgrounds in paintings by Da Vinci, Raphael and other Renaissance painters. Amazing that a simple pair of earrings can bring such pleasure, but these do. Maybe that's why we wear jewelry.

Antiqued Copper Blue Window Beaded Earrings


The same findings go equally well with a totally different set of beads. They are made from Japanese Artistic Stone Jasper. I like the organic style and mystery of these beads.
Copper Artistic Stone Jasper Handmade Beaded Artisan Earrings


I also used the same copper findings with large faceted Picture Jasper Beads. They are the essence of the current popular Handmade Beaded Artisan Jewelry. Picture Jasper comes in several colors and I offer them all with the copper findings.

Copper Picture Jasper Handmade Beaded Artisan Earrings Custom Color


By the way, copper does not contain nickel. Nickel is the element in jewelry that causes the most allergic reactions. Copper and sterling silver do not contain nickel. I have an allergic reaction to nickel, but I can wear these copper findings (and sterling silver) without a problem. These copper earrings are also lighter in weight than they may appear, as the metal beads are hollow.

You can purchase any of the items by clicking on their pictures and visiting my website. Feel free to request other gemstones or beads with copper findings.

Many jewelry artists are now using copper in their pieces. Here's a wonderful pair of earrings using copper filigree from my friend Sam at Eclectic Elements.

What is Lobster Lu doing this week?

Lobster Lu is

Entering Art Jewelry Contests - I'm finding these to be a fun motivation to force myself to try new techniques and designs. I work well with freedom within a defined concept. The inspiration is seeping into all my new designs. You'll see soon!

Redesigning the Website - This is an ongoing challenge. But I have some ideas to make the navigation easier and the jewelry more front and center to you. I'm really excited, actually. Hopefully I'll be able to carry this out soon within the next few weeks.

Creating a Spring - Summer 2007 Line for all the Collections. I find that jewelry falls into seasons, just like fashion. I aim to release a Spring Summer Line before March and then a Fall - Winter Line in late September. Meanwhile, I'll add more items to the site frequently.

Preparing for Monthly Limited Edition Jewelry Designs. These should begin this year in February. This will be a way for me to offer items specially geared towards each month's special days - holidays and birthdays, special events, etc. The items will only be available for that month, so it will be fun and refreshing for all of us.

Is that enough? Well, there's more! But I will spare you the details.

What do you think of these ideas? I welcome your comments.

Always and Forever - romantic punk Valentine's gift earrings

I'm starting to think about Valentine's Day. I think the pair of earrings above are so romantic and punk at the same time. Just perfect for a really unique woman.

They are made of Mixed metals, copper, brass and sterling. Red glass heart charms and black agate beads. Sterling silver ear wires. You can buy them for $14.99 by clicking here.

Earrings really are the perfect gift. As long as a woman's ears are pierced, you don't need to know sizes with earrings.

I'm going to try to make some special earrings for Valentine gifts and put them on the website soon. Until then, I think the Always and Forever Earrings are the perfect Valentine's gift.

This bracelet is a sampler of materials I often use. It includes a plastic guitar pick, a stainless steel snap, a vintage Indian head wooden nickel, threaded with sterling silver wire and embellished with a flower made of ocean jasper faceted briolette beads, a charm made from an American Express magnet, mixed metal rivets and jumprings. The clasp is a silver metal magnet. I made this bracelet for the EBSQ Art Jewelry Show Contest, although I've made others similar, I had to be sure to add wood, stone and metal to this piece. It was a fun challenge and I plan on making more with these elements.

Since each piece is unique, I will be allowing for customization in the bracelets. I think this is a great way to incorporate little tiny treasures that we all hold onto and never know how to keep them close to us. Like a quilt made of fabric scraps from our childhood clothes can trigger such precious memories, I think a sampler of found objects bracelet can do the same.

Let me know if you have a "scrap" of the past to put into a custom bracelet.

I currently have this bracelet on HOLD status, because I'd like to see if it places in the contest, before I set the price! I'll also have a custom bracelet listing soon in The Chelsea Collection at Amethyst Lobster. Click here for the page of this particular bracelet, titled Found Object Wood, Stone Metal Bracelet.

I HEART IKE
Today's Inspiration - Common Postage Stamps
Found Object Art Jewelry Earrings


This is what I like to do - challenge myself to create jewelry from the commonest materials. Some call it trashion. Some call it found object art. They also call it recycling and upcycling.

My challenge today was to use postage stamps. I took a big bag of saved, used stamps and sorted through them. I kept throwing Ike (President Eisenhower) into a bigger and bigger pile. He was the commonest of the batch I had. So - he deserves a glass heart. His campaign motto was I LIKE IKE. But these days, I think he'd get a heart instead.

These earrings are double-sided. There is Ike in mulberry, which matches the dangling heart. And there is the dark side of Ike - a deep gray. These are laminated and the holes are hand riveted. The charm adds some weight, but they are light. I love the way they flutter, showing both sides of Ike.

I really enjoyed making these. They'll be added to the Chelsea Collection soon. There are so many other stamps I could use. Do you have a special request? Let me know - these are easy to customize. If I don't have the stamps, you can send them to me - on the outside of the envelope!

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