My Creative Space...

I just realized I never showed any pictures of my studio after I rearranged, so I thought I would start off this week's Creative Space post with a peek at some of the changes...

{A nearly panoramic view of one wall of my studio}

I put up a new shelf on the wall with the parasol to display my collection of Oriental dolls and tea tins. The bookcase to the left used to be on that wall, but I moved it--along with another shelf...oh yes, and Courtney the mannequin got a new dress, a lovely beaded one of coral chiffon...

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And on my desk (which I've purposefully left out of the photos as it has already reverted back to it's usual untidy, mounded state! ) is this new necklace design...

I've been perusing my personal jewelry making reference library, especially this book (which is full of lovely Art Nouveau examples), thinking a lot about how I can apply some of the principles and effects of silversmithing to my lace techniques...

It's really stretching me, making me think differently about how I approach my designs...this piece is a result of some sketches I did recently, and as you can see it's much more three dimensional. I'm playing around with layering different components of lace onto a woven base...crocheting instead of sawing and cutting, stitching it together instead of soldering...This is probably one of my most elaborate designs to date--when it's all finished it will have a long, dramatic, opera length chain...

To see what other bloggers are working on in their creative spaces this week, be sure to visit Kirsty's blog!

xo,

Assorted News from the Studio...

First, my Frida Bracelet was a finalist in the Dia de Los Muertos Etsy voter and is now featured in the Member's Choice Gift Guide . A big thanks to everyone who voted for it!

And then, I spotted my newest creation, my

SVETLANA Brooch , in the Wedding Attire Gift Guide --

This is the second lacy brooch I've made recently--this time inspired by snowflakes and a wintry color palette...

It features vintage rhinestones and seed beads, AA rainbow moonstone and quartz crystal rondelles and freshwater pearls woven with real silver threads for a sparkly, ice princess look--perfect for a winter bride or to dress up a sweater this holiday season!

And in other Etsy news, I made a new Treasury spotlighting some subtly radiant finds...

MOONGLOW: 

It features the work of:

ThisYearsGirl, JennifermorrisPhoto, Bonzie 

PamelaAngus, Swanbones, AliciaBock

StellaPesci, Plumevine, RosyRevolver

AmourSansAnguish, ValiantStudios, Local Wisdom

(and to see the alternates, be sure to click here to my flickr page!)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. We're having a downpour here, so I've been spending the day working on some new intricate necklaces in my newly cleaned up studio!

xo,

Shopping List Saturday...

...has returned after a brief hiatus! This week's edition is suitably Fall inspired...

It features Autumnal items by these talented Etsy artists:

♠ Casting Back Ring by RosyRevolver 

♠ Tea for Two Jacket by StudioApparel 

♠ Seven Ways to Wear Dress with Shawl Collar by Lirola 

♠ Aurora Adventurer Beanie by WindyDays 

Be sure to visit FancyPicnic's blog for a complete list of other Shopping List Saturday participants!

Have a great weekend :)

My Creative Space...

First, a quick thank you to everyone who cast their vote for my Frida Bracelet in the Etsy Dia de Los Muertos Voter. Voting is still going on until the 19th, so if you haven't voted yet, you still can by following this link!

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Today for My Creative Space, I'm featuring a peek into the evolution of a pair of earrings that I finished just this afternoon, 

the DUCHESSE Earrings ...

The earrings have gone through several incarnations until arriving in their current form. It all started with a pair of large aqua chalcedony briolettes that I ordered recently with the intention of using in a pair of earrings...

With these as my focal point, I pulled together a complimentary mixture of beads in a similar soothing, serene and watery color palette...

My initial inspiration was to make earrings that resembled something a mermaid might wear, as the chalcedony reminded me of a clear blue ocean. 

Below you can see my {somewhat awkward!} first attempt...

 I was experimenting with diamond shape lace motifs, but I wasn't quite happy with how they turned out, so I decided to start over, creating a more graceful scalloped oval shape...

I was originally planning on keeping the white freshwater pearls in the design...then serendipitously, I noticed a little loose mauve pearl on my bead tray while I was working and realized it was just the thing the earrings needed! I quickly switched all the white pearls for soft, mysterious pink ones..

The introduction of the mauve into the color scheme suddenly transformed the earrings from a mermaid fantasy, into something I could easily envision in the court of Versailles. Their dramatic and whimsical quality made me think of the Duchesse de Polignac , a favorite of Marie Antoinette's, who was witty and beautiful. In another interesting synchronicity, when I searched her name online I discovered this portrait which I had never seen before...

The colors of the outfit she is wearing are nearly identical to that of the earrings! I put a good deal of thought into naming my pieces--I always like to weave little stories (such as who might have worn a design and where) while I'm working--so this was a fun discovery! Perhaps I wasn't too far off base envisioning these being worn by the Duchesse :)

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To see what other artists and craftspeople are working on in their Creative Spaces, be sure to visit Kootooyoo's blog by following this link.

I'll be back this weekend with the latest installment of Shopping List Saturday!

xo,

Nominated for the Etsy Members' Choice Poll...

I just found out a little while ago that my Frida Bracelet was selected for

 the Etsy Dia de Los Muertos Members' Choice Poll !

Items were chosen that capture the spirit (no pun intended) of the Day of the Dead,  Frida Kahlo, and Mexico. Etsy members are given the opportunity to vote for their favorite item and the winner gets featured in an article on Etsy's blog and in  a special Gift Guide! You can visit here to vote for your favorite:

 Dia de Los Muertos Members' Choice Poll

Muchas gracias!

PS-- The voting ends at 10:00 AM (EST) on October 19th!

My Creative Space...

This week I've been working on a custom order for a bride-to-be. She fell in love with my Océane Earrings and wanted a matching brooch to wear on her pale coffee-colored wedding dress. I loved the idea and set to work trying to create a brooch that complimented the earrings, yet was larger and bolder...

{Océane Parure, surrounded by tools of the trade }

The nearly completed parure (or "set") can be seen above, with the original inspiration--the earrings--on the right. This is the first brooch I've made using a lace motif and I was quite happy with the results--I plan on making more of these! I think they would be great to dress up a coat or sweater, or a simple wedding gown...

Another view of completed set...

A close-up of the Océane  Brooch, handcrafted with my signature lace of real silver threads, and adorned with vintage seed beads, pale pink freshwater pearls, and a large vintage rhinestone in the center...

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To see what other artists and craftspeople are working on in their Creative Spaces, be sure to visit Kootooyoo's blog !

Autumnal Inspiration...

The leaves are turning, the light is changing, and the air is getting cooler...Fall, my favorite season, is finally here! 

{Two Hearts}

 I always feel a burst of inspiration this time of year, it must be the intense colors that the trees adorn themselves in...

{Costume Design by Leon Bakst, designer for the Ballet Russe}

Right now I'm also inspired by old Russia: the Ballet Russe, the Russian Court during Catherine the Great and the Romanovs, the sparkling jewels and that hint of the exotic...

Here is one of my newest designs,

the ANYA Necklace 

A delicate and graceful lace pendant of real gold threads, adorned with tiny beaded points and AA grade quartz crystal briolettes...a gold filled chain dotted with handmade links of AA quartz crystal and rainbow moonstone rondelles...

now in my Etsy Shop!

HAPPY FALL!

ps: thank you for all of your nice comments about the new blog layout! I'm so glad you like it :)