"Jewelry Affaire" Premier issue!

A brand new magazine "Jewelry Affaire" just arrived in my mail box today. I am honored to have a few of my SteamPunk influenced pieces in this issue. I am also very pleased with the photos of my work in this magazine. There is so much unique jewelry in this issue, not to mention all the beautiful photography. I like that most of the photos are rather large so that you can clearly see a lot of the detail in the pieces. I look forward to sitting down and savouring each and every page of this publication!

"Cloth, Paper, Scissors" Charm swap

The September / October issue of "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" has posted the results of the "Charm and be charmed" swap. They have chosen one of my charms to be included in the article "Beguiling Baubles". The top photo of this blog post shows my "home" charm and below that, the other charms that I sent.

Michigan Renaissance Festival

And so begins another season at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. I can't believe it, but this is our 17 year there ... where does the time go?! We are off to another slow start, but hopefully things will pick up as the season progresses. The first 2 weekends are historically very slow.

We have made a new display unit to hang on the front of the building that will house our "Fairy Eggs"... Delightful little necklaces with a fairy, trinkets and quote all encased in glass. In a rush to get things ready for opening day the necklaces were rather hastily hung inside the cabinet. It will be spruced up further. I plan to put some leaves and lacy, feathery type fabric along the inside edges of the case, that will add some intrigue and soften the look up a bit. The fairy imagery was made by my late father and was part of an old display unit he had made for me years ago.

"Helping Hand"

I made up a few of these SteamPunk inspired necklaces using some of my clay pieces today. I am calling it "Helping Hand" as I made it in mind as a gift for someone that has helped me out quite a bit lately. I made up several so that I could pick out the best one for giving. They are all basically the same but still have slight variations. I don't think anyone else could really pick out the differences, but I can. These were a lot of fun to make. I wish that I was able to have gotten better photographs, but I had a lot of difficulty with the photos and my patience gave out. One of the necklaces is available in my ETSY shop. Photo enlarges to show detail.

Mermaid and Doll photos

Just having a bit of fun with mermaid and doll photos. I thought they looked rather interesting all put together. Photo enlarges to show detail.

"On Crystal Wings" Steam Punk inspired

I have made a little time to work on a few Steam Punk inspired necklaces before getting VERY serious about make stock for the quickly approaching Renaissance Festival. The necklace shown above is available on my ETSY site. SOLD

Voyage Vessels - published!

The new issue (Summer 2009) of Belle Armoire Jewelry has come out and I am honored to have a few photos of my Vessels in it. They are beautifully photographed.

"Sweet Memories"

Another new Vessel design. Just listed in my ETSY shop. Photos enlarge to see detail.

100th ETSY sale !

Well, it has taken awhile, but I finally made my 100th ETSY sale. I'm pretty excited! I'm still trying to figure out all the ins and outs, but seem to be getting the hang of it. Now between my Website and ETSY I am rather pleased with the sales of my Vessels and other "parts" I have somewhat recently added to the mix.

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The quote in this egg reads "Ex ovo omnia" Latin for "Everything from the egg" Inside the egg floats a small key among the tiny stars with clear and gold glass spheres. Size of the egg is 1 1/8" X 1 3/4" Approx. 3/4" deep.

*Link to my ETSY site*

Charms

Today I'm catching up on a few commitments I have made. These are for a charm swap. The one pictured above is a portable time machine with tiny golden glass spheres in the copper wrapped glass tube. It also has a working spinner and is just under 1 1/2" long. The one below is shown from the front and the back. Both sides of the charm are glass and it's 1 3/8" in diameter. Photos enlarge.

A hiding place

I was able to get a few more of these metal purses. I look forward to making more of the purse necklaces and incorporating more beading in them. I have an outstanding order for more of the silver ones, but apparently the machinery to make them is broken. I have been waiting for weeks and was only able to get a few of the silver ones. Now I am getting nervous that I won't be able to get them anymore, so I bought several gold tone ones as well. I have some beautiful beads that should work well with the gold. A couple of these purse necklaces have been listed in my ETSY shop along with "parts" that I use to make my Vessels. I have been having so many requests for the parts for various mixed media applications that I decided to go ahead and list some. Curious what people will make with them.

"Her Silent Way"

Much to my delight, I ran across this delicate little metal purse and of course it had to be made into a necklace. This tiny purse is approximately 1 ½’ X 1 ½". The perfect size for tucking a small note or concealing a written secret. Made with milky glass beads and fresh water pearls. It certainly is a unique piece finished with that vintage patina we are all so fond of. The necklace can be adjusted from 20"- 24". It has just been added to my ETSY shop. I will see if there is an interest in this and if so I will expand on the idea. SOLD

Portable Time Machine

I have been thinking how convenient it would be to have my own personal time machine. Really could help me out with how busy I have been. However, I can't seem to get it to work quite right yet. I'm thinking if I had a bit more background in Quantum Physics it could be very beneficial at this time ... another one of those things in life you think you'll never need to know and then it turns out you really do in the long run. 2 1/2" long X 3/4" at the widest part and of course the arrows really spin.

Fairy eggs!

I just finished up these little Fairy eggs and have to admit I am pretty excited about them, they are just so enchanting and magical. If you enlarge the above image you can get a better look at the tiny fairy captured inside. She is floating among tiny silver stars with clear and golden glass spheres. The quote reads "Give her wings so that she may fly". The egg is 5/8" X 1 1/4" and about 1/2" thick. This will be my new item for the Michigan Renaissance Festival for the up coming season. What fun these will be in all different colors! They will be available in my ETSY shop and on the website (after I am able to rework some areas on the website first).

New Vessels in the making

The egg shown above has just been added to my ETSY shop. The quote inside reads "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings" by William Blake. This egg has wings and inside contains a bird with tiny gold and glass spheres. The metal has a gun metal finish and the 20" chain has a lobster claw closure. Size of the egg is 1 1/8" X 1 3/4" Approx. 3/4" deep.

I have been working on a new series of vessels for a few days. In the past I have felt a little limited working with a realistic color palette for the eggs. I have decided to start a selection of fantasy eggs ... these will be Fairy eggs. They will be available in a wide variety of colors complete with a tiny fairy inside. I should have those available in a few days.

Skull necklace

I just finished up some new Reliquary necklaces. This is the first skull Vessel I have made available. The quote inside is taken from a 16th century epitaph that reads "What you are now, I once was. And you will be what I am now". Inside are tiny clear and gold glass spheres, metallic stars, a bone and a key metal charm. The skull measures 1 1/8" X 1 3/4" and is approximately 3/4" deep.

A new item in the ETSY shop

I have added a new item to my ETSY store. It's a small speckled egg with the quote "Adorn me with wings so that I may fly". Inside is a small bird charm with tiny clear and gold stars and spheres. The size of this egg is 5/8" X 1 3/8" and approx. 3/4" deep. I took this photo with an old bird nest that I have saved from several years ago. It was found in our Christmas tree with an empty egg shell in it, very similar to the ones shown. I'll slowly start adding new items now that The Renaissance Festival is drawing to a close and I have more time to concentrate on the Vessels.

Mermaid necklace

Well, I must admit I am pretty excited about these little mermaids. I am very pleased with the way they turned out. And I just love these glass beads. Absolutely the perfect greenish blue color .... they look like the essence of seawater captured in glass. I will make a up a few more of these for festival this weekend and then I hope to start on some of the baby mermaids. I am having far too much fun with this. This mermaid is 3/4" wide and 3" tall.

Working on Doll necklaces

I am working hard on making a few doll necklaces for the Renaissance Festival beginning this weekend. I still have a lot of last minute details to take care of, but am hoping I can also make up a few mermaid pieces. I have some out right delicious elements to work in with the mermaids so I can't wait to begin work on those. I am hoping I'll have a chance to put one of them in my ETSY shop today.

A successful firing of doll parts

About 2 months ago I fired several doll parts in my small kiln which just never came up to the proper temperature, so the parts were unusable. Finally I have gotten around to pouring more parts and have filled up the big kiln for a successful firing. This is the first piece I have made using the doll parts and I am pretty excited about it. There are several different types of little dolls and 2 different styles of mermaids. I just can't wait to start on those. My sister has sent me wonderful sea glass from the

Australian coast to work in with the mermaids and today I went out and bought fresh water pearls to match the sea glass. Just can't wait to get started on those! I am hoping I can have a few ready to bring out to the opening weekend of Festival ... which is this coming weekend. The doll only (not including "Wings") is 1/2" X 1 3/4".