Artisans' Collective Part 8

Gah! What a crazy week.

Gardens to start, weeds to pull,

wholesale orders to fill, and not one moment to blog?

My sincerest apologies.

Here's the very last introductions

of Team Artisans Collective.

1. Uncorked

2. White Earth Studio

3. Wool and Water

4. Wren Willow

I am thrilled to be part of this team whose members

hail from all parts of the globe and are dedicated to handmade goodness!

Heart in a Box

I've been waiting to share this.

You see, it was a wedding gift commission and

I believe the bride reads my blog on occasion.

Now, the wedding has come and gone.

I'm free to share these photos of the piece

that I created for the

lovely couple.

Hand fabricated nickel silver domed heart

approximately 9x6 inches.

Hammered in wood depressions to create

the hollowness.

Planished on a metal stake

to even out the surface.

Left intentionally marred and discolored.

The bride used the paisley paper

in her wedding invitations.

Her clever sister sent some extras

sheets to me.

Key hole allows a glimpse to a

vintage skeleton key mounted behind

the heart.

Nickel silver rivets and a roller print escutcheon

add to the vintage impression.

Personalized with the bride and groom's names

and the date.

Artisans' Collective Part 7

This is the second to the last installment of the Artisans Collective introductions.

1. Stitchface

2. Studio Beerhorst

3. Swept from the Sea

4. Terry Graziano

5. The BeadAerie

6. The Silly BooDilly

7. Tickled Pink Knits

8. tinahdee

9. Tiny Toadstool

When the Sun Shines

Some weeks are easier to blog than others.

This has been a particularly crazy week.

1. 2 custom orders

2. A few gigantic consignment orders needed in May

3. Mr Quench is home on vacation

4. Lots of projects outdoors (gardens to be started, raised beds to be built)

5. Lovely weather...why blog when there is sun to be had?

6. Grays to be colored (doing that now).

So, this entries merely shares

2 Etsy Front Page appearances that both happened today.

Mysterious, I say. Both on the same day?

However, I'll take the limelight, thank you!

New Work

butterfly pendant

eyelet hoops

bubbly hoops

a smoky gray diamond pendant

All items will arrive in my shop this week.

Thank goodness for April vacation.

The hubby is home and I can

get loads done!

The End of a Collection

Once upon a time,

I fancied myself a contemporary art jeweler.

I designed and created one of a kind jewelry that

incorporated nickel silver, 18k,

and sparkly gemstones.

The juxtaposition between nickel and gold

inspired this jeweler to no end. And taming nickel silver

into these hollow domed shapes

excited my inner bench jeweler.

Dubbed the Armor Collection,

the work mirrored my life back then.

A recent customer remarked that

her earrings were fit for

a 'urban warrior'.

The time has come. The collection's golden years

are here. I have created a special section

in my Etsy shop for these pieces.

With the purchase of an Armor piece, customers

will receive a 30.00 gift certificate

good towards a future purchase in my shop.

Offer will end on June 30th, 2010.

Artisans' Collective Part 6

This awesome team is a big one!

Here's the next installment

of intros!

1. Poodlebreath

2. Raw Art Letter Press

3. Ruth Shively

4. Sharon Clancy Designs

5. Shecological

6. Sigmosaics

7. Silly Boo Dilly

8. Simply Hue Designs

9. Soria Moria

New Toys

sapphire, apatite, topaz, & tourmaline sparklers

vintage watch crystals

more porcelain cabs (sorry about the bad light)

I really don't have the time

to sit down and

design new work or

even create new branches for an

existing collection.

But, I try.

I have big plans for these

watch crystals.

And the porcelain pieces

will eventually find their way into

pendants, necklaces,

and brooches.

The gemstones? More color for the

Dot Collection!

Artisans' Collective Part 5

The introductions continue with...

1. Bliss in a Teacup

2. HARE and DRUM

3. Julie Garland

4. Love Artworks

5. melfitz

6. Olala Design

7. Portland Beanie Company

8. Pearson Maron

9. Penquin and Fish

10. Piano Bench Designs

11. Polarity

12. Pom Love

Just the Bee's Knees

New pendant in my shop today!

Another porcelain cabochon from

Magpie Pottery!

Vintage new/old stock buttons

from the 1930s riveted onto

a sterling base with hand pierced

bees.

I Heart Rubies

Rubies are perhaps my favoritest

(not a word, but I'm using it just the same)

precious gem.

Steeped in metaphysical and folk lore, rubies are said to strengthen

the emotional and phsyical heart,

aid heart ailments,

and supply wisdom when needed.

Do I believe all those fantastic claims?

Maybe.

I simply adore ruby for its rich red color.

This new pendant will show up in my shop

sometime this weekend.