Simplicity

Simplicity. 

Sometimes all you need is a hint of color.

Spring by cindybeads featuring a mint nail polish

Aqua glazed ceramic balls by Cindy's Art & Soul, wrapped in fine silver wire, dangling from hand forged sterling silver ear wires with tiny, faceted Amazonite stones. 

Available at ArtandSoulJewelry.com

2014 Has Left the Building

As we bid farewell to 2014 today, I'm reminded of the importance of making a memorable exit. Preferably a graceful one, although we all know that sometimes that isn't the case ;)

Creatively, this year has been my most thrilling yet. I've been humbled time and time again by the kindness and friendship I've encountered from souls all across the globe. The sharing of personal journeys, compassion during painful times, and inappropriate hilarity over silly stupid stuff. And all from just jewelry! I'm not talking about tackling world hunger or making peace between warring nations - simply putting beauty into the hands of individuals, one by one, piece by piece. 



So while I sometimes feel petty and materialistic for being so obsessive over jewelry, I quickly remind myself that it's about so much more than bead hoarding or shnazzy techniques or the biggest bling. The happiness you bring to others' lives is immeasurably priceless. Because in the end, this life is all we have, and love is the only thing that matters.

Well now that I've gotten all philosophical and misty-eyed, let me get back to my original thought about leaving with a bang. 

This pair of earrings is 100% party and will have people remembering you for all the right reasons. I dare anyone to make yummier lampwork glass headpins than my dear, dear friend Kim of NuminosityBeads. This sleek drippy slate gray pair has been dotted with gemmy confetti, crowned with a stack of crusty Roman glass discs, and wire wrapped for a slinky yet playful silhouette. 

So on that note, Happy Wednesday and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Calling all mermaids!

My hubby and I were recently on one of our road trips (yay!) and of course, we were blessed to see some beautiful scenery all along the way. This always inspires me :)

I always enjoy taking the ferry to cross from Vancouver Island to go to the main land. 

I love the sight of the ocean, the water, the sailboats, the whales, etc... 

Sometimes, I wish I could be a mermaid :)

So, of course, I was itching to get back to my bench and make some sea glass jewelry!

I made a few necklaces and I found a couple of chunks of glass that went well together,

enough to make this cute pair of earrings:

I love that they sort of match, but not fully match.

I added some cute sterling silver fish charms that I found in my stash,

purchased many years ago from FMG. 

(they were links originally,  but I removed the bottom rings to turn them into charms instead)

I wrapped them up to a pair of large rings and suspended them from

one of my pairs of handmade ear wires.

You can find these earrings HERE as well as other sea glass jewelry on my website.

Thanks for having a look!

Nathalie Lesage, Metalsmith/Jewelry Artist

http://www.NathalieLesageJewelry.com

She's a Beautiful Beast

Seems like quite a few of us have been dreaming of lounging in the sunny summer heat and dipping our toes into a deep blue pool of water. Well, can you blame us? After a couple of tame years, this winter has been a brutal one. Mother Nature, we get it, you're a beautiful beast. 




For those of you lucky enough to live near a body of water and for those of us who are stuck just dreaming about it, here's some cool blue aqua watery eye candy for you - cascading tiers of ancient crusty Roman glass shards plus a kiss of lampwork glass at the bottom courtesy of NuminosityBeads.
 



I've been playing around with this new design and like the fluidity of it. Each linked glass disc is free to move and sway independent of the stack. Very serpentine, very eyecatching. Plus, those of you who know me are familiar with my love affair with Roman glass. These babies have it all. 









Wishing everyone some sunshine, some warmer weather, and pretty ears (natch!) <3

Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

Poseidon's Garden

Poseidon's Garden

These colors remind me of Caribbean waters.

View of Caribbean Ocean from Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island,
Courtesy Wikipedia Creative Commons

For these earrings, I started with a pair of my copper tulip caps, and gave them an aged blue-green patina. They made me think of blooms from a deep-sea garden! I chose gemstones in the same hues--I just love the way this aqua chalcedony glows, and the sea green aventurine nuggets match the patina on my tulip caps so perfectly. I dotted the earwires with Czech glass in a matching aquamarine blue.

I would pair them with a gown worthy of Amphitrite (especially if she was guest-starring on Downton Abbey--this dress is so Lady Sybil):

Amphitrite by lunebijoux featuring a chiffon dress

You can see more at my Etsy shop HERE.

Peace Signs

I have a thing for peace signs and I love wearing them, be it a t-shirt, a scarf or a pair of earrings...they are always "in" with me. I made this pair last night using Bubby & McGurk head pins, Czech glass and Magnesite beads. The Irish waxed linen cord is from Ornamentea.

Here's a casual outfit that would look great with my earrings....

Stroll on the Beach by kristyabner featuring a maxi dress

 

 

You can find these earrings here on my website.

Thanks and have a great holiday weekend,

Kristy Abner

Kristy's Kreations  

Leafy Love

There are still a few dark, damp and deeply scared leaves clinging to the trees. Just a few more days remain before the branches release their finery and their knotty fingers reach forlornly to the cold gray sky.

These brass leaf earrings with their embossed veins and their new spring green and aqua color remind me to appreciate the color of green when it returns in the spring. Until then, I am grateful that I get to wear cozy sweaters and earthy hues that can be punctuated by pops of bright color.

I don't have the occasion to dress up that often, but when I do I like to wear classic styles with just a touch of quirk. I would pair these earrings with a brilliant green top that would stand out in the gray days ahead paired with a tweedy pencil skirt. And I am so glad that I never got rid of my leopard print pumps as they are back in style with a vengeance. 

Coral is the perfect foil to all this bright green and makes the green a neutral with its in-your-face-kapow color.

I can be fine with the coming winter as long as I can surprise even myself with these escapees from the Crayola factory.

Of course, I am usually wearing jeans, a t-shirt and cardigan and a pair of flats. But if I were to dress up, this is what I would choose to release my inner goddess.

What outfit would tell your story?

Erin Prais-Hintz invites you to go on a journey of inspiration at her blog Treasures Found :: Inspiration is Everywhere. You can view a gallery of her work and purchase your special wearable art treasure at http://www.tesoritrovati.com/ or find her line of 'Simple Truths' pendants in her Etsy shop.

Hopeful Mermaid Love

Mermaid Love

The beads in these earrings make me think of clear green seawater and frothy sea foam, and there's something mysterious and wistful about those little heart padlocks--perhaps from a sunken treasure chest, with a lonely mermaid's trousseau inside? Even the beadcaps make me think of seaweed....Maybe these would be put aside for a mermaid's wedding day.

Of course I picture them with a mermaid-y sea green gown,

Gown by Jack Guisso, from Dolce magazine

 and a mermaid headdress. 

By Thyme2Dream on ArtFire

Stop by and visit my Etsy shop if you'd like to see more!