Farewell Post by Cindy's Art & Soul; Words, Emotions and Jewelry ...

I recently read an article/comment that indicated words don't have a place in jewelry.

I will go out on a limb here and say they do. For me, they definitely do. How about you?

Words have power and wearing them is a way of tapping into that power. Others will read it and they too can be influenced by the positive energy you choose to bring to life.

To breathe it in to absorb the positive nature of all that they hold...

I have used words, positive affirmations and power symbols on my beads and in my jewelry since the beginning. For more on this story I invite you to read my personal blog here: http://cindypack.blogspot.com

Courage & Strength. Rune Earrings. Sold.

Thing is... the written word, be it direct or symbolic (such as runes) can reach us on some deep level that we may not even realize when it happens.

 This is why you see words in my jewelry. 

If a word holds power for you, wear it!

With all the hate flying around lately, I find myself wanting to put the word LOVE everywhere. To stamp out the meanness/madness. 

And so it is that I bring you my recent inspirational earrings with LOVE. 

As I mentioned, this is my farewell post. It has been great fun writing for the blog and being a part of this talented group. Now It's time for me to move on to my next adventure, wherever that may be. 

You may catch my personal blog at:
http://cindypack.blogspot.com/

Connect with me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cindysartandsoul/ 

or on Instagram,  https://www.instagram.com/cindysartandsoul/
 
Or get my newsletter here:
 Cindy's Art and Soul Newsletter Sign up

See you later!
be kind. and wear your words!

  
 

 

Through the Looking Glass - Cindy's Art & Soul

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again."
— Lewis Carroll (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass) 

Look closely you'll see water bubbling under the ice... cold, inspiring, sparkling icy water that used to feed the tiny birds that would flock to our yard in the summer months. Now still. 

Inspiring all things shiny and bright...

Wings of Hope.

Fine silver nugget earrings featuring winged hearts. 

 Newly listed at www.artandsouljewelry.com

 

Winter Blues. Cindy's Art & Soul.

Star Spangled Woman Stone Earrings

Star Spangled Woman was the title to a piece of art I once entered into a juried art show here in town. I think I won, or got second place... but I like the title so I am stealing it for this set!

Like most women in my field I have a lot of irons in the fire and a stack of things to do each day. Writing for the EE blog is one of my favorite "jobs" I do twice a month. Struggling to keep up this week and posting late today with a very short (and sweet?) post!

These earrings were just born yesterday. Originally with more beads and much longer. I decided they were going to be too heavy. I snipped, snipped the wire into the recycled silver bowl and "revamped" them into this shorter set. It's a hard thing to do. To clip that wire... but sometime it's for the best. I am proud of my work and cannot put forth something I am unhappy with. So, it's all good!


Created with natural found stones from WA state, Pacific Coast beaches, thick gauge pure (.999) silver wire, silver nugget star charms and over sized silver-nugget ear wires of .925 sterling silver.


Love this set, love how they came together, the rustic look, the stars (I love star motifs!) and the shape of the stones couldn't be more perfect.


Do you like this set? What strikes you if anything about their look? Love to hear what you think, good bad or ugly!

much peace and blessings...

 P.S. Earrings will be up and available later today...

Rustic Hearts Aquamarine Gemstone Earrings

Rustic copper hearts with a dotted hammered texture. Paired with green Aquamarine gemstones and fine silver hoops.  

  My shop has been pretty bare for many weeks now. I have been down and out with migraine headaches. 

Yesterday was one of the only days I've been able to work in what feels like ages. My creative side has been starving for this time. Craving the torch and hammer!

It feels amazing to be able to make jewelry again.

Just listed today... 

These and matching accessories 

available at Art and Soul Jewelry

Peace, 

The Wild Child

These earrings were inspired and created to match a necklace I recently made, using similar components and beads. The inspiration necklace included a beautiful artisan lampwork focal I picked up in a tiny little (The best kind!!) bead shop in AZ last year. Really nice workman ship. I love buying artist's beads. Knowing that I can contribute to someone elses art while feeding my own creative needs is the most rewarding experience for me.






The artisan lampwork bead has shades of black and gray and a bit of a lavender hue as well. 

I played off the colors of the bead by adding in some lavender jasper (from Alexanders Bead Bazaar- Seattle, WA) along with some gray labradorite, white African glass and finally some handcrafted ceramic beads (Cindy's Art & Soul) in shades of gray.

Wild Child by cindybeads featuring nars cosmetics

Black stone, Periwinkle Jasper and Handcrafted Ceramic Earrings by Art & Soul Jewelry

With the earrings I had to get creative since I didn't have the large focal to work with - I chose some small (found) black stones. The stones were hand picked from the beach here in WA - just last week! I drilled them and wrapped them with fine silver wire - adding in the lavender Jasper and handcrafted ceramic beads by Cindy's Art & Soul. The ear wires are hand crafted, sterling silver.

You can find these earrings along with the matching necklace at www.ArtAndSoulJewelry.com
If you are looking for ceramic beads - there's a small collection there for those as well. And more coming next week! (ya!)

Peace & Blessings,

Winters Cold Beauty

I managed to get a quick walk in today despite the rain. I paused at the end of the lake to view all the bare trees, the gray sky and the dark cold looking water. 

Molly at Lake Sacajawea 12/17/2015

I flashed back to the beauty of fall for a moment. Remembering just a short time ago how colorful everything was and the lake appeared blue from the reflection of clear sky above. 

Lake Sacajawea 11/08/2015

But even in the cold, gray winter there is still beauty if you look and appreciate it for what it is. A time to look inward. A time to rest and renew. How would we appreciate the light if that was all we had? It's good to have dark days. They remind us that we are humane and make us appreciate the warm ones even more. 

So... my jewelry work has been in darker shades of blue. In sparkling whites and crystals that remind me of decorative lights all over the cities now. 

One of my most recent creations, a pair of simple dangle earrings. Handmade ear wires of sterling silver along with .999 fine silver rings adding some character. Beads are Montana blue Czech glass and Blue and White Spinel gemstones below. 

Available at Art & Soul Jewelry. 

Do you enjoy winter? Is is cold where you live? I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on Winter. 

Peace, 

 

Grounded In Blue

My last post, two weeks ago talked about color and inspiration from those colors. We (artists and humans in general) can be attracted to a color(s) and not even realize we are. Drawn to it over and over again. Choosing things, clothes, furnishings, throw pillows even from those color sets. Do you have some that come to mind? 

For me it's BLUE. And I wouldn't say it's my favorite color. I don't think as adults we really have ONE favorite color. However we can still be drawn to it and choose it more than others. Yes? 

my California vacation, 2013

 When I am at the beach, at the ocean, I am grounded. I wonder if maybe this is why I keep coming back to these colors. They inspire that feeling of being grounded. 

At home. At peace. 

So then once you realize this color has a hold on your attention, you begin seeing it everywhere. And that's where I am at. 

This morning I thought about my blog post and what I would write. A particular artist came to mind and her music videos. Iammiamiwhoami Because in my minds eye I suddenly realized that all her videos are filmed at the ocean and beach. The color set I've been drawn to....

sold

So I went back to look and noticed there's a link in the title image To Whom It May Concern. I clicked through, and it's a Nordic Clothing line. Fantastic! More of my colors! I encourage you to take a look and see if you are pulled in too. There are some beautiful prints for sale as well here.

I have been inspired to create a new jewelry collection in this line of colors, entitled Winter At The Beach. It's in the budding stages still but growing quickly. It's such a small collection I am not really advertising it yet. However, you can see the collection here: http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/collections/winter-at-the-beach  More will be added in later today December 8th. 

My my most recent creation: 

Hammered nugget charms created from bits of recycled .999 fine silver, handmade ceramic beads (by Cindy's Art & Soul) with a sand glaze, stormy BLUE Spectrolite gemstones, wrapped in fine silver wire. Ear wires are hand forged sterling silver with hammered ball ends. Available at Art and Soul Jewelry.

What colors are you drawn to? Do you get stuck on a color and wear it all the time? Share it with us. 

Peace~

 

One Last Summer Fling

One thing leads to another...
This set was born of a happy accident as are many of my designs. I intend to do one thing and something else happens... and it's all good!

We are somewhere between summer and fall here in WA. And If I had to choose I'd say these earrings are summer. Shiny silver, bright green Peridot and royal blue Iolite stones say "Farewell to summer" with one last summer fling. 

Available at Art & Soul Jewelry.
peace & blessings,

Textured Bronze Earrings by Cindy's Art & Soul

Textured Bronze Earrings by Cindy's Art & Soul

Textured Bronze Earrings By Cindy's Art & Soul

 Hand cut and forged bronze with a light embossed fabric texture with Labradorite stone dangles, wrapped in sterling silver. Hand forged sterling silver ear wires. Available at Art & Soul Jewelry.

The Sun Goddess

Yesterday marked the longest day of the year for those of us in the Northern hemisphere. I've been consumed with honoring the solstice and the sun for weeks. Working long hours to complete a new Sun themed collection for my store.

Originally I was just thinking -- Sun images... 

But then I pulled out my Citrine stones and new they were the perfect feature for this Sun collection. 

I ended up using a mix of the imagery and yellow stones, along with handmade ceramic, Czech glass, Bali Silver and Hill Tribe Silver beads. 

My last post post talked about "riffing" on an idea and this is another form of that process.

Being inspired by an idea, an image or a feeling and then bringing that to life through your jewelry - such a wonderful feeling - and then to have it completed and be able to look back on your creations. Very fulfilling.

And I already have my next collection planned! 

Sun inspired earrings featuring Citrine gemstones... 

http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/collections/solstice-celestial-collection

http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/products/citrine-gemstone-earrings-silver-sun-flower

http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/products/citrine-stone-earrings-w-bali-silver-sun-queen

http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/products/large-fine-silver-hoops-citrine-sun-goddess

http://www.artandsouljewelry.com/products/citrine-smoky-quartz-earrings-sun-maiden

 

Happy Summer Solstice!