So as I was doing a little FB housekeeping, weeding through my photo albums yesterday, I thought why not share some photos of recent (and other) jewelry projects of mine...?
Why not, indeed...so here you go:
The style these days leans to the big chunky beaded stuff, but that has never really appealed to me. I prefer to do more delicate, simple pieces.
These are from my Twilight-inspired Halloween efforts:
I really liked working with the dark gunmetal chain and charms for a change. And the little blood-red Czech glass drops are a nice, if macabre, touch, yes?
I took a try at real beading a while back and came up with this pressed glass lei:
In the process, I discovered that beading is a bit of a pain, even if the result is lovely.
In my travels, I'm always looking for little bead stores...I like the boutique-y ones better than the big warehouse kind, because I find unique things to inspire and enjoy. The giant stores are overwhelming and I end up buying nothing. Like when we were in Beijing last summer and found floor after floor of beady business in the silk market. Spent nary a yuan.
But I can drop $100 on a vendor at a trade show without blinking. This is NOT a cheap hobby.
I came across some suede cuffs in a bead store in Agoura Hills CA a couple of years ago and made a pink ribbon watchband to go with the pink ribbon memory wire bracelet that I was inspired to do by an article in Bead and Button magazine:
My latest passion has been working with small, but authentic, semiprecious stones and silver charms I bought from HipChick, a vendor at last year's Whole Bead Show here in Honolulu.
I don't sell my stuff, but I do make things as gifts for special people in my life. Sometimes they even wear them. That always makes me smile, because when I'm making a gift, I choose my components very specifically and design the piece for that person...with a little whimsy. So if you are the recipient of one of my pieces, know that as I am crafting it, I am thinking of you every step of the way.
Like these earrings -- designed for my DIL - a busy mother of 3. The silver shows the swirl of activity she's swept into each day, balanced by the lapis stones. Lapis brings peace to the wearer.
These two necklaces were Christmas gifts for my nieces. The back of the charm on the black leather reads "only the heart really knows" and the back of the charm on the silver chain with the bird reads "I sing because I'm happy". Suited the spirits of each of them perfectly.
Of course, my best "customer" is ... ME!! Here is a piece I made for myself with HipChick components -- a necklace that symbolizes the love of my life. My birthstone is garnet, his is emerald and together we are pearl. Awwwww...
I really like being able to craft a little something to go with what I'm wearing. That was the genesis of these earrings:
I really enjoy doing this, but it comes in fits and starts. Last year I took a notion to make my Christmas gifts, so I had to start in the summer. I got a bit burnt out by the time I was finished -- some designs just don't work out and I have to start over.
It may be a while before I crank back up again. But I have drawers full of bits and pieces awaiting my next inspiration!
11 comments:
pearl, Yay new blog post!
i love how you match your art to the person who you are gifting. How you matched your DIL with those earrings and their meaning. Those are do beautiful!
I like delicate less showy jewelry and what you have made me reflect my style very much and i've already told you how often i wear your art.
It's obvious you have the person in mind when you are creating.
Do you have a special room for working on your jewelry and beading or do you have to put it all away?
We live in a small place and I used to really want to learn to tie my own flies for flyfishing but having to clear out everything from the dining table after tying them was a chore.
Thanks jo! You will never know how much it pleases me to know that you actually wear my stuff. You even had on those pearl earrings in one of the photos Brian posted on FB. I got the biggest grin when I noticed that!!
I've reached the point that I don't want to make stuff for family members any more because with one exception (my niece Sammy) no one wears it. I get the distince impression that their reaction on opening is generally "Oh great, another piece of homemade crap."
But I still enjoy creating...it just gets hard to put your heart into something that will get it stomped on in the end.
But as long as I have folks like you and eque around to enjoy it, I'll keep cranking it out!!
The "end table" by my TV chair is actually a 3-drawer storage unit, and I use the adjacent buffet unit for my supplies and tools as well. Then I have a little lap tray that holds my stuff and I do it while I watch TV...I have a special halogen lamp that gives me super lighting.
Same thing for my cross-stitch stuff...a hobby I've neglected lo these many years, but will pick up again someday.
Especially now that my opthamologist has prescribed close-work (magnifyign) glasses for me. They are amazing!!
I do have a gorgeous armoire type piece of furniture in my home office across from the computer that holds all my scrapbooking miscellania. That's a hobby that is just too big and unwieldy for lap work.
Lovely stuff Pearl!
Thanks, doll! You were my inspiration -- I always enjoy seeing your latest gorgeous knit work on your blog.
All those pieces are gorgeous, pearl! I love my peace necklace. I especially like to wear it when I feel a need for calm in my day. It helps me to invoke a sense of inner strength to combat stress and anxiety.
I can't understand why your family doesn't appreciate them. Their loss.
i agree eque. it is their loss.
I have never been very confident in knowing how to accessorize so i don't change it up too often and i don't buy jewelry for myself very often.
What i like tends to be rather un-flashy, but artsy, organic, and noticeable. And pearl, what you have made me are indeed a part of my signature jewelry. I get nice comments about those pearl earrings and my Hope necklace.
I don't always know what photos Brian puts up so i am happy to know that you can actually see where i am wearing what you have made me so you do know i love it and i'm not just saying it.
(I deleted the last post simply because I remembered that I wanted to add more. . .)
Your jewelry continues to be beautiful, Pearl. I love the pink cancer survivor bracelet that you made for me!
The silver earrings with the lapis stones are gorgeous. I am very fond of lapis; I used to know about the meanings of stones, but have forgotten a lot of the 'stone lore' that I used to know.
Lynnie, i am always so glad when someone posts why a comment was deleted! Brings me back to Gumbo days if i don't know! LOL.
Gorgeous - just gorgeous!!
Pearl you such a uniquely multi-talented person.
Thanks, gritsy!
What I am is very fortunate.
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