Get a Jump on Holiday Shopping

...and save 10%.

Etsy has now introduced coupons on the site and now through Black Friday and Cyber Monday, I am offering a 10% discount on all of my jewelry to encourage my lovely clients to place orders early! Enter the coupon code: "HolidayJump10" in the coupon box during checkout to receive the discount now through midnight Cyber Monday, November 29th.

Glittering Ice Frosted Hoops

Gem Weave Hoops

Blue Topaz Sunburst Weave with Keshi Clusters

Etsy doings

I'm working on a few more elaborate pairs of earrings for the festive season of parties and events coming up. Two of each so I can send a pair to a boutique in NYC...

All present and accounted for in my shop...

...and, I wish I did more sewing or I may just have to find a purely decorative way to display these amazing pin cushions and sachets from namolio... love....

square pincushion

and round with a flower!

Halloween Bouquet

I don't often incorporate orange into my decor, but went with the spirit of the weekend... store bought green mums and peachy orange tulips with sprigs of lace leaf maple from the garden and some lacey green plant from the woods. It's better than candy!

A smattering of branches and vines on my bench

Little branchy, vine-y "findings" I created today to wrap around some stones...

I'll be using one of them in a necklace with this beauty below...


I've been holding on to this 60 carat silver needled quartz since I returned from Tucson last February!

I'll post the finished pics when the piece is done... I still have a lot of filing and shaping of the branch pieces to do.

Special Edition Birthstone Earrings

My birthday is in September, and to that end I decided to create a pair of special edition flower earrings featuring my birthstone--blue sapphire.

I've been holding onto these sapphires for some time--waiting for a special project. They really are beautiful, high quality stones. I couldn't wrap them in anything less than solid 18 karat gold and wove the flowers with care--these stones are more petite than those I usually work with and weaving these flowers took some patience! Below each six-petal flower I've dangled a gorgeous concave cut of rock crystal quartz.

These little beauties are available now in my etsy shop! Happy September!

Rings for Riley...

My two oldest have been sent off to college (boy and girl twins!). And despite our very efficient packing and moving of them into their respective dorm rooms, a few items were left behind. So immediately after returning from Syracuse and Los Angeles I packed up boxes for each of them with the missing items and a few goodies thrown in for good measure.

As I considered what to send to my daughter Riley, a fun idea came to me. Riley adores fashion--has a wardrobe to die for that includes loads of jewelry (go figure?). I decided that with each care package I'd include a big, blingy cocktail ring or two for her and document them here.

The first two are simple wire wrapped rings with large focals and vermeil beads wrapped at the base. I don't think she reads my neglected blog, so I don't think I'm spoiling the surprise...




Enjoy girlie!

And the Winner Is...

It was the simplest of systems. I wrote the names on slips of paper, placed them in a cardboard box, shook them around--and had my daughter draw a name...

The wonderful Liron of Lirola on etsy is the recipient of my "Hearts Dressed in Pearls" necklace (original drawing post here.) Please check out her shop--her clothing is beautiful! Liron, I will wrap your Valentine up and get it in the mail to you tomorrow!

Thank you to all who participated and visited my blog--many of you for the first time and many who are already followers of my etsy shop. It has been very gratifying to read your kind words.

On a separate topic, I traveled to Tucson this past week to re-supply. I put together a rather "valentine-y" collection of stones I purchased and cannot wait to use! This is the first time I've shopped for cabochons to bezel set and incorporate with my flower and vine wire work and it was a thrill! So many wonderful lapidary artists... Over the coming week I will put together more stone collections and snap some pics--so exciting to have new material to work with!

Select Items Marked down in the Etsy Shop!

I've been busy working on new designs for the coming year and in less than two weeks I'll be traveling to Tucson to shop for new gems, so....

I really need to make room. I've marked down select items in my etsy shop 25%. Check the On Sale section. If you've had your eye on a piece--this may be your chance. Below is a preview of some of the pieces marked down.

Fuss Creations for the New Year, Client Inspirations and a Slow Cooked Meal...

I'm making a concerted effort to round out the Fuss Collections and get my creations into more stores and boutiques this year. One addition to my collections came from one of you! A client recently ordered my "This cloud not only has a silver lining" necklace with the smaller silver berries hoops and asked about a gold fill version. I've offered the golden berries hoops for some time, but just added a "Golden Cloud" necklace today.

Golden Cloud Necklace

Another client had previously ordered my simple pearl flower drop earrings in gold fill (I am currently out and waiting to restock the pearls when I travel to Tucson Feb 3-5). She requested one of my favorite flower necklaces with clusters of pearls to either side rather than gray moonstone--I think the result is perfectly lovely! She is wearing it to her wedding which is always especially meaningful to me! She is going to send pictures this summer and maybe I'll ger her permission to post them here.


After remaking some pieces for one of my local boutiques, I couldn't resist photographing the jewels in a grouping.

I think these photos will work well in promotional mailings that I'll send out this year.


And I'll close with a tasty eyeful. I snagged a Williams Sonoma Slow Cooking book from my parent's house a few months back and have started trying out some of the recipes. With the kids' varied sports schedules, it is fairly rare that we are all home at the same time for dinner. So a meal that can simmer and stay warm for anyone to grab when they are able is ideal. My first dish attempt was Chicken Korma--delish! It is recommended to be served with rice, but I put out some couscous. And I myself, ate it alone like a soup or stew---amazing! I plan to add more onions and maybe diced bell peppers next time to add more veggies.

Chicken Korma, Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Slow Cooking

This is a shot during the first phase, combining the spices and onions and getting them all nicely aromatic in a saucepan before adding to the crock pot with chicken broth, tomato sauce and chicken. The last step was my favorite--during the last 15 minutes of cooking you add a slurry of buttermilk and crushed pecans to thicken.

And keep the entries coming for my Valentine Giveaway! Post a comment here to be entered:

Valentine Giveaway!

Valentine Giveaway...

Fuss Hearts are back!

These "gem wrapped" hearts were one of my first jewelry successes--and I am bringing them back for 2010.
Sterling Silver, Blue topaz, peridot and prehnite...

Silver vines, rainbow moonstone and aquamarine...

...and Tourmaline and tanzanite!


...and I'm giving this one away!

A Heart Dressed in Pearls, just like the one in my store, will be given away by random drawing. Just leave a comment on this blog post and your name will be entered. Sunday, February 7th I will draw a name so that I can ship the necklace out first thing Monday by priority mail and hopefully your valentine from me to you will arrive by the 14th!