Copper Duo

My autumn-themed earrings project is published in Bead magazine, issue 33, October/November 2011.

Copper Duo earrings are basically composed of two types of materials: copper findings and Swarovski crystals. But there's a slight twist in color tones of the findings. Bright copper-colored rings are used to accentuate the other antique-looking copper elements. Show them together with the shines of Swarovski crystals, you'll get a fabulous pair of dangles for your ears!

Ring A Ring...

o' copper,
a pocket full of earrings...

I happened to have a lot of copper rings and connectors in slightly different copper color tones: bright reddish brown and dark antique one. As brown is usually associated with fall season which is coming near, all I could think of was to mix them up for pairs of earrings.

Disney Wedding Jewelry | Dresses Bridal Gowns

There are several outstanding collections of bridal jewelry to meet the needs of different people. One of the most beautiful collections of bridal jewelry winter. The winters are very cold and snowy. To capture the mood and the essence of the winter season, jewelry is essentially designed on the theme snow flakes. One of the most popular winter wedding jewelry is the Swarovski bridal jewelry. Swarovski jewelry gives a shimmering effect as the crystals tend to shimmer and shine in the light. Apart from these, you can even go ivory beads or traditional offering endless choices.

People have a wide variety of jewelry to complement a summer wedding. Summer weddings are usually less formal and a casual affair. Bridal Jewelry summer is thus very lightweight and easy to carry. The soft colors soft pastel colors are used for jewelry design in the summer as the bride would not want to decorate something that is too heavy and flashy. glass beads and colored stones are the perfect choice for summer bridal jewelry. One of the most innovative pieces of jewelry bridal jewelry is the flower that can be decorated for a spring wedding. Spring is a beautiful time as it marks the arrival of the flowering season. There are various flowers such as roses, lilies, daisies, etc that can be used to make flower jewelry looks absolutely stunning and elegant. Flower jewelry can be designed in bright, vibrant colors to accentuate the femininity of the bride.

Lost and Broken

That’s right. I’ve lost one piece of my earrings – possibly it was dropped when I was running errands. Then I’ve found one glass disc of my necklace broken when I was about to store it. The necklace is one of my projects published in a US special issue magazine Creative Jewelry 2010.

One of the must-have features I seek from lampwork beads is colors. Rare (no longer produced) color types, odd color combinations, colors that make beads precious. When no one seems to be interested in that kind of colors, I might be the one who would feel the opposite. I think it’s great if I can make jewelry with special beads because this would make the wearer feel special, too; feel different (in a positive way) from the crowd. Even if I don’t turn them into jewelry, it would be still good as I have one-of-a-kind beads that not many people may have.

The earring’s floral round bead has luscious, creamy, caramel-like orange base. I don’t know the name of this color and I don’t know if it resulted from a mixture of two glass colors or came from a single color glass rod. To me, the color base is not ordinary and is rarely found on the market. Or maybe I miss to spot it when it’s available? Anyway, when I purchased the beads, I decided they weren’t for share. I turned them into earrings for myself.

The colors of the lampwork discs are interestingly unusual. The combination doesn’t follow general guide on color mixes and is not my favorite palettes either, and yet I bought the whole set of the discs simply because I was sort of challenged to make their colors noticeable. I knew I could get the most pleasing arrangement of colors for eyes to see by putting each disc on the right place, and I proved it right. The discs made their way to Creative Jewelry 2010 as a Funky Wonky Necklace.

With one bead gone and one broken, I still don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of existing beads.

Autumnal Flavour

These pieces were made to cherish the current season. Copper and topaz colors are the highlights.

Fall Party

Again… I have another project published in Stringing magazine, issue Fall 2010.


These earrings appear on one of the mag’s earrings gallery pages and I think the design is pretty straightfoward to reflect the characteristics of fall. The colors bear earthy warm tones in copper/brown, orange and yellow (not really shown in the photo) with a little drop of pink. The leaves are the ultimate sign of what normally happens in this season: leaves turn orange/red/yellow/brown and start to fall from trees.


Initially, the earrings were intended to be worn together with this necklace. Only because I didn’t have flower charms or beads that might go well with the flower-motif lampwork beads, I used leaf charms as my last resort. This minor discrepancy was I thought acceptable because leaves and flowers shared the same theme: plants. So when both earrings and necklace were worn, they would still look in harmony.

By the way, if you take a closer look at the necklace, it actually has a rich color combo. Gold, bronze, orange, yellow, copper, red, brown and pink. Perfect for a party in fall!

Luxe Feelings

It’s always a pleasure to work with beautiful materials.


I’ve recently made some new designs with lampwork beads, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver, and this time I’ve felt a tremendous thrill to see the results. They’re full of blings and glams giving such luxe feelings to the wearers.


Many times people come to me and say that it’s sometimes difficult to find the right clothes to go with jewelry pieces I make. Well, the simplest and best thing to do is to choose soft plain fabric in a single color. To start with, try blouses, shirts or dresses in black and white as they’d be great with any colors. Or pick one color that’s similar to the colors of the jewelry for another option. Try also clothes in one color hue like blue, brown, purple, green, etc, that would coordinate nicely with the overall color combination of the jewelry. These are a few easy ways that I’ve tried for myself and worked wonderfully when it comes to choosing what to wear (clothes and jewelry); so I think they might work magic with you, too. Feel free to try!


Click here to see other designs. Some are sets and some necklaces.

Best Eternal Pearl Jewelry for Brides

Bride pearl jewelry has always been a fantastic and inseparable complement for brides in their special occasions. The symbol of eternal love and purity makes it ideal pearl jewelry for brides. Yes, there’s no better match for a stunning white dress of satin, lace or tulle than the sparkle of bride pearl jewelry gracing the neck, hand, ears and wrists of beautiful brides.

Shecy Pearl Jewelry is the ultimate destination for brides to grab the favorite bride pearl jewelry. We make great effort to select the most classic and popular pearl jewelry styles and hope they will fully fit your style and budget. You can find a wide range of dazzling and affordable bride pearl jewelry here that includes pearl necklace, ring, earrings, pendant and pearl jewelry set. No matter you want a vintage and simple style wedding ring or a complete set of matching bride pearl jewelry, they are all available at Shecy Pearl Jewelry. We are always pleased to do you a service and hope you can enjoy your bride pearl jewelry shopping trip here.

Chain & Metal Style

Chain and metal style is getting more popular. I’ve seen many fabulous designs using layers of chain and mix of metals from copper, brass, bronze, pewter and gunmetal. These non-precious metal types are favoured for their economical price and thus making them ideal subtitutes to gold and silver. Their colors ranging from brown to yellow to grey tones also add special charm to jewelry pieces.

I started to mix metal components last year when making a pair of earrings to match the Earth Dance bracelet. I needed to see how the design would look like if I attached copper pin dangles to vermeil ear wires. I avoided non-sterling silver type for the ear wires to prevent myself from getting allergic.

My first tryout wasn’t up to my expectation but I was pleased to learn that mixing brown and gold colors would lead to an acceptable result. So I moved on to another earring project featuring caramel-like colored lampwork beads. I had tried vermeil headpins to hang the beads but felt their colors didn’t really blend. Brown copper pins looked better to hang them and I let the gold touch shine from the vermeil lever-back earring wires.

Since then I’ve done more chain and metal experiments in my work. If you check out my Flickr gallery, there are a few bracelet designs that explore variety of copper findings (Ivory Swirls, Potpourri, Romantic Bloom). Other designs use more of sterling silver in different finishes: bright, light oxidized and dark oxidized. I admit sterling silver is still my preference and the different finishes of sterling silver give me wider possibility to create quality wearable pieces.

The Right Pearls in Different Ages

Girls in their twenties like buds, pure and beautiful. A single pearl or a light chic pearl necklace are their best jewels. Clean and simple drop or round pearls are the most suitable for young skins, which can make younger girls to be more silken and pretty.


Thirty females are gradually to their maturity. a strand of pearls in small sizes is a wise choice. Round pearls in the size of 6mm will let them looks more feminine in nobility. If wearing a pair of earrings in the same size and shape at the same time, the delicate and gentle temperament will added immediately.


When in the middle age in forties, a necklace with 10mm white pearls is a necessary that can enhance your grace and modesty and also can best show your taste. Meanwhile, pearls are good for beauty care that can bright skin. Wearing pearl necklace in two layers is also appropriate either in formal dressing or just match with a sweater.


People in their fifties are leader a steady life with a moderate mood, a strand necklace with more than 10mm round pearls are the one in their jewel box. The pearls have calm effect that let fifties women seems more noble and venerable. It is also a graceful and novel way to wearing a white pearl necklace with a black one.

Shecy Pearls Needs Your PowerReviews

For your confidence in purchasing at Shecy Pearls, we set up a faster and easier platform with PowerReviews Express, began operating on June.1, 2010, to stengthen customers' information exchanges. To go with the online consumers' passion in user-generated content, PowerReviews creates the internet's most innovative and comprehensive provider of customer reviews, which will help our customers to pick up the most appropriate products from Shecy Pearls' variety of pearls.

Through these easy-to-scan reviews and peer feedbacks, new consumers will get more objective knowledge about Shecy Pearls, which will enhance their confidence and trust since these products opinions are described by customers themselves. Previous purchasers' reviews are the most convincing references on others decision-making, and will help us improve our products and service as well. Those regular customers will also benefit from others' voice in their next purchasing experience.

To write your review through PowerReviews,

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Blossoming Dressing with Perfect Pearls

As the temperature increasing gradually, the season of blossoming skirts is coming again. As you put on your colorful and stylish fashion, do you find that you still need another special jewelry to shine your passion under the hot sunshine?

Pearls are know as the most classical elegant jewelry that born to women. It is a wild matching with most styles that no matter who can find one that best fitting to. Pearl is one of the must in a woman's jewel box. It is shinning in parties and weddings, while it can best glistening with women's colorful dressing. The pearl choker or long opera necklace, cocktail ring or engagement ring, stud or hook, multi-strand or corolla pearl bracelet, bail or designed pearl pendant, no matter which styles that you can make yourself a changing girl with them.

It has nothing with the styles, lady style, wild style or sport style, business wear, bobtail or casual cloths, just try pearl jewels in single or mix matching, you can easily match a riot of colors in different styles. It is a wonderful idea to choose a pearl as your dressing accompany, and just blossoming yourself in this passion summer.

Topaz Jewelry Photos

Changeable Earrings

Try this: changeable earrings. One earring findings for more than one earring dangle. Does it sound interesting?


This is not a new idea but it’s a smart way to wear earrings. I’m pretty happy to have found the leverback sterling silver ear wires that are specially designed for changeable dangles. Simply slide a dangle onto a piece of ear wire and clip its leverback (a closure attached to a curve ear wire) to secure. Quick and easy!

In general, flower motif beads appeal to anyone especially those who just begin to appreciate lampwork glass beads. Thus I’ve made several dangles featuring many kinds of flowers created by various lampwork bead artists. Since I intended them for everyday wear, their designs are pretty basic as shown in the next photo. Sure it’s always possible to make dangles with more delicate and more elaborate designs for the changeable earring style.


And here’s another thing. Changeable earrings are great as a gift. I usually put one set of ear wires and two dangle pairs in a beautifully-presented box for any occasion from birthday to friendship to farewell (and any other dear moments). Who wouldn’t be pleased to receive two pairs of lovely dangles in a single package?

Jewelry Art Awards 2009 of Jewelry Artist Magazine

The 2009 Jewelry Arts Awards

Jewelry Artist magazine's annual competition yields 10 outstanding winners

Pins & Brooches

Naomi Sarna
First Place, Pins/Brooches
(Also Best of Competition)
FIRST WAVE
32mm x 23mm. 18K gold, Chinese freshwater pearl, VS diamonds, Montana sapphires, Contra-luz opals, Imperial topaz. Handmade lost-wax gold setting surrounding pegged and epoxy-set pearl. All stones are pave set with bright-cut finishing. Photo: Azad. sarna.naomi@gmail.com, naomisarnadesigns.com

Naomi Sarna
Second Place, Pins/Brooches
JUBILANT HEART. 38.5mm x 43.3 mm. 87.5 carat rose quartz, 18K gold, VS diamonds, Montana sapphire, Impreial topaz, Contra-luz opal. Lost-wax carved and gold-cast setting. Photo: Azad. sarna.naomi@gmail.com, naomisarnadesigns.com

Bracelets

Genevieve Yang
First Place, Bracelets
MOON PHASES CUFF. 2.0" x 2.5" x 1.75". Fine silver, sterling silver edge, and 24K gold. Spray of flush set VS F plus diamonds, Hand fabricated, forged, roller embossed, keumboo, flush setting. Photo: Hap Sakwa. genevieve@genevieveyang.com, www.genevieveyang.com

Alex Maryaskin
Second Place, Bracelets
UNTITLED. 8". 14K yellow gold, Australian opal, and diamonds. Filigree work, scroll work, and spiral and granulation detail. Photo: Ralph Gabriner. 757-596-0481, www.artoffiligree.com

Earrings

Nanz Aalund
First Place, Earrings
NAUTILUS EARRINGS
33mm x 5mm x 26mm each earring. 22K gold and epoxy resin. Corrugated 22K gold is spiraled with epoxy resin cast into the spiral. Fabricated ear clip. Photo: Doug Yaple. nanz@nanzaalund.com, www.nanzaalund.com

Pendants/Necklaces

Marie Scarpa
First Place, Pendants/Necklaces
TWENTY ONE. 3.25" x 3" x 5". 20-gauge Argentium sheet, 3mm Argentium heavy walled tubing, 12-gauge round Argentium wire, 36-gauge 3½% platinum silver wire, 34-gauge 18K yellow gold wire, 7mm 1.51 carat whirlpool cut citrine, 2.5mm round faceted black spinels, 4.5 round white freshwater pearls. Fabrication including sawing and soldering, hand weaving, stone setting and hand polishing, and texturing. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 707-765-6558, www.mariescarpadesigns.com.

Melissa Pedersen
Second Place, Pendants/Necklaces
CELEBRATION SPROUT NECKLACE. 25cm x 15cm x 3cm. Sterling silver, Argentium silver, 3mm fresh water pearls. Hand carved wax, lost wax casting, fused, constructed, and soldered. Photo by the artist. info@melissapedersen.com, www.melissapedersen.com.

Miscellaneous Jewelry

Jeffrey Appling
First Place, Miscellaneous Jewelry
BROKEN CIRCLE. 17" and 10mm. Sterling silver, 14K white gold, 14K yellow gold plate, 13mm faceted triangular black spinel, 2.0mm black diamonds, and 2mm colorless diamonds. Black rubber neoprene. Carved, cast, fabricated, flush set and tension set. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 760-322-2883, www.JeffreyAppling.com.

Robin Antonsen
Second Place, Miscellaneous Jewelry
OBJECT. 6". Sterling silver hair pin. Constructed, rolling mill, hydraulic press, and patina. Photo by the artist. brightshadow@cheerful.com.

Rings

Jeffrey Appling
First Place, Rings
SURFER RINGS. 15mm x 21mm x 29mm. Silver and copper with paint pigment cross-linked into the upper metal molecules, 2mm diamonds, 7.5mm freshwater cultured pearls. Carved, cast, tension set, flush set, baked. Photo: Hap Sakwa. 760-322-2883, www.JeffreyAppling.com.


L. Sue Szabo
Second Place, Rings
SWAY. 1.5" L x 0.375" W 1" D. Sterling silver, 4 carat pink sapphires, 0.33 carat burmese ruby. Hand fabricated, tube settings for gems. Photo: Ericka Crissman/Wired Images. www.lsueszabo.com

For information on entering your jewelry in the next competition, click here!

source : jewelryartistmagazine.com

Everyday Wear Earrings

Start your day with a bit of sweetness in your ears!


Wear a simple pair of artisan work earrings and find out what other people would say when they talk to you and inevitably take a glimpse at your ears. The chances are (a) they’ll find your earrings interesting and get curious of what they are; once they ask questions about the materials of the earrings, you’d probably be excited to give them the answers and possibly end up in a friendly chat about many other topics (I can tell you this because I get into this kind of situation many times even with total strangers!); or (b) they don’t give much thought on how you look or what you wear; in this case, you just stay cool and feel confident that you look fabulous with the earrings you have in your ears.


Seriously, artisan beads bear their own uniqueness. Each artist has his/her own artistic taste and skills, and the beads that come from the artist’s hands represent his/her style. Thus, no two beads are exactly the same. The one-of-a-kind quality of the beads that gracefully hang in your ears add charms to your look.


These earrings are made for everyday wear. They’re pretty basic and light. I’ve also made a few more simple designs with flower lampwork beads, metalic lampwork beads and freshwater pearls. Check them out in my Flickr gallery!

QVC, Smithsonian partnering on jewelry line

April 09, 2010 Washington--In what may seem like an unusual pairing, multichannel retailer QVC is teaming up with the Smithsonian Institute to create a line of fashion jewelry inspired by the museum's collection of iconic pieces.

In a news release issued Friday, the Washington, D.C.-based Smithsonian, the world's largest museum and research complex, announced it was entering into a licensing agreement with QVC to offer a jewelry collection based on objects in the National Gem and Mineral Collection, which is part of the National Museum of Natural History. The QVC-Smithsonian collection is expected to launch this fall.

The National Gem and Mineral Collection contains more than 375,000 individual specimens, and counts among its ranks world-famous pieces such as the blue Hope Diamond and the Marie Antoinette Earrings, as well as a research and mineral collection used by scientists around the world, the release states.

The line with QVC will include earrings, rings, bracelets, pins and brooches, as well as replicas of pieces in the museum's collection.

read all

Bright Warm Days!

I realize I haven’t put much attention to my blog and Flickr gallery lately. I did update them but not as many times as I’d expected. My mood to do any jewelry-related stuff seemed to be set in frequent silent mode during this year’s winter. Seeing snowy ground and lack-of-sunshine sky in the wintry chill for more than three months was distressing enough. Rather than immersed myself in jewelry work, I opted to cook or read or play with my kids. Thank heaven the winter is now over! It’s been a wonderful warmer weather for the last three weeks and I feel I’ve got my creative spirits back. There are a few new designs completed since days have turned bright and hopefully soon I’ll post them on my blog and Flickr.

When All Eyes See...

What you wear.




See more of past earrings designs in here.

Hello 2010!

Happy New Year 2010 everyone!

How fast time has flown since my last post in 2009. December last year was really a busy time for me. I moved to a new place and hurried up to get things organized hoping that I could feel a home-sweet-home atmosphere within a week or two. Boy, I was wrong! There were always issues that I had to handle with great patience and that left me with no chance to update my blog until today.

Besides having a new place to live in, December 2009 also marked publication of my first earrings project in a British magazine Bead issue 19, December 2009/January 2010. The earrings showcase wonderful artisan lampwork glass beads made by Lorna Prime and paired with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver findings. When I made them, I ensured that all elements would get noticed and the design is simple enough even for a beginner to follow. Better get a copy to prove it!