Courage Of Winter

 "But winter darkness has a positive side to it. As we gather to celebrate the first turn from winter to spring, we are invited to recognize and honor the beauty in the often unwanted season of winter. Let us invite our hearts to be glad for the courage winter proclaims. Let us be grateful for the wisdom winter brings in teaching us about the need for withdrawal as an essential part of renewal. Let us also encourage our spirits as Earth prepares to come forth from this time of withdrawal into a season filled with light." from The Circle Of Life by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr. 

We've just passed the Winter Solstice and the days will be getting longer now in the Northern Hemisphere. The trees are bare, and still I am drawn to the colors of the forests. The deep green and rich browns catch my attention everywhere I look. 

These earrings are my courage of winter, my gratitude for the wisdom and my retreat from the light.

Handmade embossed copper charms have fine silver stamped rivets with tiny spirals. Paired with green African Opal stones and handmade ceramic beads by Cindy's Art & Soul. Wrapped in sterling silver, dangling from sterling silver ear wires.

Available at WWW.ArtandSoulJewelry.COM

☮ Cindy

Rustic Silver Flowers with Ruby Spinel

A few posts back I posed the question - what do you pick out first the jewelry or the outfit? I got mixed responses. My conclusion? It is totally an individual choice! Same goes for earrings and necklaces, I suppose. You find one you like and try to match another piece to it, yes? 

These earrings actually came after the necklace. And the necklace became something completely different than what I started from. 

Either way, I am very pleased with the end result. 

Again, these components came together like magnets! You may have experienced this yourself.. you get on a roll and light bulbs start going off in your head like explosions of inspiration!

The charms are sterling silver disks that went through he rolling mill, pressed with bits of flower rick-rack. The flowers left a lovely embossed impression on the silver. It reminds me of rustic tin... although I hesitate to compare sterling to tin.

They are framed in fine silver hoops that were hammered with a dotted texture. 

And then finally adorned with ruby and pale rose colored Spinel gemstones. Absolutely a gorgeous array of colors in these little faceted stones. I can hardly believe they lasted in my bead drawer as long as they did!

I was able to achieve a nice big loop on my ear wires so it almost looks like a tiny hoop. 

Farewell summer... hello autumn... Rustic Silver Flower Earrings. 

☮ Cindy 

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Everyone ready for Spring, raise your hand!

Even though we are barely half way through winter, I am ready.  The weather on the east coast has been crazy...below freezing one day with snow and ice, then over 60 degrees the next!  My poor spring plants won't know what to think!

Now, you would think that if I am so into the upcoming Spring-dom, I would have created light and springy earrings, wouldn't you! Well, I would wear them with something that fits the bill...similar to this!  You know, I can't post these fun outfits without including some kickin' boots, right? And this minty green will make you feel all  springy, even if there is still snow and ice knocking at your door!

minty fresh by melismatic featuring western leather boots

I embossed copper strips in my Big Shot, then punch holes wherever I felt the spirit lead.  I ruffled the edges a bit, formed them into hoops, and added sterling earwires.  The bits of green you see are  left over from a layer of patina I added, but didn't like.  I don't mind the residual, however!

These and more of my eclectic jewelry can be found in my etsy shop!

Melissa Meman

Melismatic Art Jewelry

Art. Life. Love.

Peach Medallions

On my Santa list was a rolling mill...let's face it, a rolling mill has been on my list for a while.  Unfortunately, Santa has not been in the position to gift this hefty (weight and price) machine yet.

This year, though, he and I settled on a compromise...a Sizzix Big Shot!  I found it on sale at Amazon and told him if he wasn't going to add it to my Christmas list, I was going to get it for my self...it mysteriously ended up under the tree!  It didn't come with any embossing folders or dies, so I ventured out to Michael's and found a couple to get my feet wet with.  I think I like it!!

My first attempt!...embossed copper medallions, embellished with antiqued peachy Czech glass beads from ArteBella Surplus, sterling and copper earwires.

Here's a pretty peach grouping from Polyvore.com they would be great with!  Add your favorite comfortable jeans and boots and you are good to go...perfect for that transition from winter to spring!

Peachy by melismatic featuring silk shawls

Melissa Meman

Melismatic Art Jewelry

Art. Life. Love.

Sand and Surf

When I remembered today was my day to post here at EE, I thought I was going to create some festive holiday-themed earrings using these new embossed morsels I made (more on my blog later), embellishing them with the traditional red, green and gold. 

After sorting through my artisan glass box, however,  I spied these beauties by KreationsbyKaren that were sitting there, waiting to be loved, and all of a sudden, those baroque-looking swirls embossed in my components were huge waves, curling and crashing onto a sandy beach, spewing seafoam and leaving lots of little colorful shells and ocean "stuff" in their wake.

I used silver and copper with these and left the copper bright and shiny! Sorry for my ugly claw in the photo..sometimes holding them is the only way to get them to hang straight!

via Pinterest.com

Find these and more of my eclectic handcrafted jewelry at my shops...Melismatic Art Jewelry and Etsy.  Psst...Everything in my etsy shop is 20% off for entire month of December...coupon code HOLIDAY :)

Autumn Tapestry

I love me some acorns! Such potential within. Does anyone else get excited that fall is just around the corner? It is my favorite time of year. The way the colors explode into a dazzling natural array of shades is gorgeous. Wear this cozy ensemble with suede skirt, burgundy sweater, tall riding boots, yummy scarf, ultra-hip bag (look at the key closure!) and of course, top it all off with these perfect Autumn Tapestry earrings to welcome in the season.

Hello September by erin-prais-hintz

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 new line of 'Simple Truths' in her Etsy shop.

eaturing leather boots

Embossed Treasures!

When you are on a roll, just go with it! I was so inspired by my little metal blanks the other day, that I just went with it and created a whole series of these Embossed Treasures! I love making things change from what they originally were, so the inspiration was not lacking!

 You just never know where imagination will take you! I was making these awhile ago and had stopped. Not sure why, but it was nice to revisit and start again! I will be able to fill my shop with these beauties and hopefully send them away to their new homes soon.

Have a look in my Etsy shop for the whole series! I hope to finish all the different ones I started soon and so keep coming back to take a look! You never know what you will find!!


Thanks so much for stopping by!


Marie
You can also find me on my BLOG and on FACEBOOK