Something old................

I just finished this pretty bracelet, using some fabulous vintage glass and rhinestone buttons, that were made in West Germany during the 1950's. These beads took my breath away when I first saw them, and I knew I had to design something very special with these  intricately detailed buttons. So taking my cue from the beautiful white buttons themselves, I decided to create something, that  a bride could wear on her wedding day.. I added in vintage crystals for more sparkle, some freshwater pearls and based it all on a beautiful sterling silver chain. I think this would be stunning any bride on her wedding day, but especially beautiful on a winter bride, with all that sparkle and  icy white color! Definitely one of a kind, and it takes care of the "something old" part! This is one of the pieces that will be for sale in my booth at the Beyond Artisan Marketplace, next month.

Pin It

Fall Equinox

My brass and glass bracelet is currently in an Etsy treasury curated by VirtuosityClay!  Check out the fabulous hand crafted items for  Fall.


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c9d09f82df76d91b2a2a84e/fall-equinox?index=0

Pin It

Lapis Lazuli- the other September birthstone

Most people know that the birthstone of September is the gorgeous Sapphire gemstone. However, there is usually a lesser known, alternative birthstone for each month as well. Those born in September, are lucky to have the rich blue stone, lapis lazuli, as the other stone that signifies their month of birth. Lapis, is also somewhat more affordable than genuine sapphires! A weird sounding name, lapis means stone, and lazuli means blue...pretty straightforward! It is known to be a stone of protection and enlightenment, releases stress, and brings deep inner peace. 

Apparently, lapis enhances psychic abilities, 
aids in the contact of spiritual guardians, and helps in spiritual awareness too! The deep indigo colored stone, was a favorite of ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, and was  worn by royalty.

The Egyptians ground up lapis lazuli into a powder, which was then used as a pigment in paint and  as a form of blue eyeshadow!  The cosmetic of choice for Cleopatra...back in the day! 

Pin It

Fall

Fall has definitely arrived, in my part of the world! We have seen 2 light snowfalls in the last week, and temperatures are  a lot cooler. I look out my window and see spruce trees dusted in white, poplar trees shedding their golden leaves, and everything  covered in a subtle, misty fog. The squirrels are still running about like little psychotic maniacs, trying to stock up on food supplies before winter arrives, and the young deer, are losing their spotted coats and have grown significantly. Probably from eating all my plants!
  Fall always signifies a busy time for those of us in the arts and craft world, with upcoming Christmas shows and events just mere weeks away. I am still busy creating my Vintage Collection, for several upcoming events, and also have a couple of custom orders on my plate, as well as  hunting  for special treasures to incorporate into my jewelry. Over the past 4 days, I came down with some kind of flu/ cold  that has set me back  a few days as well. Oh, dear, lots of catching up to do!  Here is one of my newest bracelets, that features this gorgeous, vintage, sparkling rhinestone clasp and vintage silver Swarovski crystals...very classy!

Pin It

New Jewels

I finally managed in getting around to photographing some of my new designs for Fall. Today I am featuring

some of the new necklace designs that will be available for purchase at the various shows that I will be involved in staring in October. As mentioned before, there is some retro glamor  in these new pieces, in which I have combined and re purposed  vintage beads, chain and components with  new beads and chains. In this first double strand necklace, I have combined a fabulous glitzy rhinestone clasp, with vintage blue glass "robins egg " beads, which were manufactured by the Swarovski bead company. These are mixed in with new faux pearls and sterling silver chain pieces, to give a somewhat reinvented look.

Check out this clasp!

This next necklace, above, is made from brand new faceted glass beads with sterling chain, and I have incorporated some very pretty vintage  ivory  colored faux pearls  into the mix. Down below is one that I am very excited about, that features a gorgeous brooch probably from the 50's-60's, that has a new life as a pendant on this vintage copper and brass chain. The chain needed some work and I replaced all the old jump rings with  brand new ones.  I love the warm colors of this piece! This necklace can be worn long, or doubled up as shown on the mannequin, for a shorter look.

 This last necklace below, is in shades of teal, blue and purple.  Once again, I took a beautiful,  rhinestone clasp, and made it the focal of this necklace. Vintage flower shaped Swarovski crystals, adorn the neck line vintage, and new faux pearls, and dichroic glass beads, wired to modern  sterling silver chains, cascade down the front. Tres elegant!

Pin It

TaDaaaa................................ PHOTOS!!!!!!!

So I finally managed to get my photos to appear! Yippeeee! So here are my new tags and earring cards, as previously mentioned, along with a couple of new items that went off to the new art gallery opening this month in  Olds, Alberta. Enjoy!

 

Pin It

Fall and Winter Collections 2010

For this upcoming season, I have been inspired by the designs and styles of the 1950's and 1960's era. I am working on two distinctive collections.  The first style, I call Retro Funk, and is everyday casual costume jewelry, with a 1960's Mod  look. I am incorporating  fun and unusual vintage lucite beads, with chunky brass and copper and silver beads and chain. The second one is Vintage Glam....... quite glitzy,  Hollywood inspired  but with a modern edge. Think of your Grandmothers sparkly, rhinestone jewels that have seen better days, and imagine creating a similar  new design that will work with todays fashions!  I have used rhinestones, crystals, and pearls, with some fabulous, rare, vintage findings to create some fabulous contemporary pieces that will look great over the Christmas Holiday season....and even look wonderful when worn casually with jeans. Mix it up!! 

 So once again I hope to post photos for you soon, however I still cannot upload pictures to this blog. I believe that it is due to the MAJOR trouble we are having with our  satellite internet service provider, and our speeds currently being very slow. My husband has spent countless hours talking to these people, and service does not seem to be in their vocabulary!  What happened to the good old days, when someone would come out to your home and fix your problem??? Anyhow...who knows when that will be back to normal, it is a very SLOW process! So keep checking my  Hotrocks Facebook page  for photos, as I seem to have better luck uploading images there. Pin It