A Hint of Autumn...

Its already starting to feel a bit like my favorite time of year, Fall, here in Vermont. Some of the trees are beginning to change color and the air is cooler. In anticipation of this season, I'm posting one of my new necklaces, in a suitably autumnal palette of reds, oranges and yellows. Even the cascade of dangles below remind me a bit of leaves falling...

Monarch Necklace:

The butterfly is made of silk and real gold threads and has coral, onyx, garnet and Swarovski crystals on the wings. The body features a large nugget of carnelian for the thorax, with onyx beads on either side. The antennae are made of vintage bugle beads, gold plated seed beads and tipped with amber and Swarvoski crystals.

I linked the chain and tassels by hand using 14k gold-filled wires and an assortment of onyx, coral, garnet, citrine, carnelian and Swarovski crystal beads.

This one-of-a-kind necklace is headed for the Frog Hollow Gallery in Burlington, VT. Visit my Etsy shop for other winged designs.

Behind the Scenes...

I just couldn't resist posting this photo of a work in progress in my studio...a pair of custom earrings for a woman in France. They are inspired by the pendant motif of my Trianon Necklace (see below) and I am really happy with how they are turning out!

Etsy Spotlight

A new group of jewelry is now available in my Etsy shop. Below I spotlight the

Tudor Rose Bracelet:

Inspiration:

As the name suggests, this bracelet was heavily inspired by Renaissance craftsmanship. The lusciously beaded roses are reminiscent of the embroidery and gold work on the cuffs of gloves that I have seen from that era.

Technique:

The pattern for the roses is an adaptation of a traditional Irish lace motif and was worked in three different colors of silk and cotton thread. The hundreds of beads dotted throughout the design are all of vintage origin, and in the center of each flower nestles a vintage rhinestone. I worked the outer petals with metallic gold threads in a dainty edging. The two motifs on either side of the central rose were worked in the same manner, but leaving off one row of petals. The last two motifs are more stylized with gold thread dotted with coral beads.

I stitched together all of the motifs by hand and lined the back of the design with rose-colored sik moire. The large vermeil toggle clasp is attached with two links of Swarovski crystals. The finishing touch is a hand-embroidered label, my way of "signing" my designs.

Like all of my jewelry, the Tudor Rose bracelet is one-of-a-kind, with a history and future all its own...