The Busy season...

Here we are again, with the holiday season fast approaching! Every year it appears far too quickly. I've been busy making jewelry but I confess that I haven't been remembering to document my new work. I tried taking photos last weekend but my hands were too shaky and all my photos ended up blurry! I've posted some here anyways, because these are the only photos I have.

This winter has been all about using up left over inventory and supplies I purchased last year that sat in my drawer for the summer. I haven't done any craft fairs for the past couple of years, but this winter I'm doing two. The first was the Maternal Creations fair that took place yesterday. My reasons for doing this event were not to sell lots of jewelry, but to meet and connect with other "crafty" moms. I met some lovely women yesterday, which made the entire event well worth while. It also got me inspired to haul out my sewing machine and get sewing again! The other Craft fair is an event I am organizing myself for my office. I've invited about 15 other crafty women to take part in a lunch hour craft fair at my work. I'm really looking forward to this one (as well as being a bit nervous) because I'm the one organizing it. I doubt it will be a "dud" but there is always that little tiny fear of failure when you're the one hosting something!

and the bride wore...white & black!

Hello - I'm back!

I've taken a long break from making jewelry, but something always calls me back. This time it was a request to make some bridal jewelry for a co-worker. It's a somewhat unconventional combination for a bride, however I think it will look stunning! The dress is white with black embroidered flowers and the bride will have her dark chestnut hair in a 1920's bobbed wave.

She really wanted black Swarovski crystals and I suggested that a few pearls thrown in would keep it from looking too "goth". I'm happy with the end result and I think she is too!

I've plans to re-open my Etsy Jewelry store at the end of May and will be posting more pics of my progress as I move into production. I'm looking forward to sitting myself back down at my work table and bending wire again. I really miss this creative outlet when I don't have any projects on the go!

"Feelin" the Green

These are not new earrings, I made them back before Christmas - but they have become my new favorites. It's funny that I'm not too attached to most of the items I design and make. I think it's because for me, the thrill is in the "figuring" it all out, and putting it all together. Once that's complete I'm on to the next idea. However, for some reason I just couldn't part with these earrings. I think it's the bright "appleness" of the colour. Many people have asked if they are jade because the colour is similar. The stone is called Chrysoprase. I think it belongs to the Chalcedony family...

Sadly, I have run out of stones now. I made 3 pairs of earrings and sold two. These stones were especially nice because they were drilled the long way, which I think looks nice in a "danlgly" style of jewelry.

Tektite Black Moldavite Meteor!?

Well - that was the name description of the focal bead for this necklace..... I think it looks like lava myself.

This necklace is a hand linked gold filled chain with alternating gold stardust beads, labradorite, onynx and freshwater pearls. I'm trying hard to improve my photography shots. Ultimately I know I need a light box to achieve this. In the meantime I was fairly happy with how this picture turned out.

Back to Blue

It doesn't take long for me to gravitate back into the blue gemstones. A couple of pieces I'm loving right now are these cluster earrings of Peruvian Opals and this front toggle closure necklace with a stunning faceted marquis Aqua Chalcedony. I suspect some lucky person will receive these for Christmas!

Geodes & Gemstones

These are a couple of fun and easy necklaces to make. I found these cool Geode slices in my travels on the internet and had to have them. I've paired them with double chain necklaces and a faceted gemstone of sage amethyst to add a bit of interest and movement to the necklaces.

I also did matching hoop earrings. That's all for this week! I should have a few more items to post next weekend....

cheers, Jodi

Olive I'm in love

In my goal to showcase some jewelry in new colour palettes I've switched into the Olive tones. This necklace is a collaboration of smoky green quartz and Grossular Green Mali garnets. I love how these earthy greens look with gold!

Looking at my jewelry one might think I'm a very elegant and classy kinda gal. The truth couldn't be more different! My daily uniform is strictly jeans & T shirts. I've never owned a pair of heals and rarely remember my makeup! It's curious that I love designing such exquisite high end jewelry. I really do love designing it and get a total thrill to see it on other people. It's just that I'm not my own muse. For myself I wear very little jewelry and when I do it's small and subtle. Ironic?

A lot of designers design for themselves, but I'm not one of them. I love designing specific styles for people I know. Some of my friends are very classic and elegant and others are edgy and off beat. I enjoy the challenge of interpreting their different personal styles and designing pieces specifically for them! That is my favorite part of designing jewelry.

I thought it would be fun to include a photo of my "studio" which is really just a small computer desk in the corner of my bedroom. Try as I might to keep it tidy and organized it just explodes into what you see pictured here every time I sit down to make something...