Liberty---Free Earrings For Lucky Winner!

Occasionally I like to give a piece of jewelry away online.  And I do like using special occaisions as inspiration. 

As corny as this may sound, I am a person that loves the 4th of July.  I cry when the national anthem is When  I think of what our Founding Fathers went thru to get this great country started it truely humbles me. 

 To me, Liberty is our greatest gift.  For me, these earrings were easy to concieve, and fun.   Whoever wins them, I hope you enjoy wearing them as much as I did making them!

You may also view them at my ArtFire Studio

TO WIN:

Leave a comment here, or go back to my facebook page where I have posted this and leave a comment there.  You may also comment in both places to increase your chances of winning.  Winner will be chose on June 30th 2011 by random drawing.   You will recieve your earrings no later than July 4th.

All About Pearls

The elegant pearl brings to the June-born its qualities of modesty and purity. Its simple form belies the shimmering color just under the surface. Like its wearer, it is understated but undeniably precious.

June is the pearl birthstone month and is also associated with the 3rd, 12th and 30th wedding anniversaries. Pearls were considered tears of the Gods in ancient times because they were rare. Anyone lucky enough to possess one was granted magical properties of protection, love and abundance.

Oysters are the main producers of pearl birthstones and are created inside the shell over a period of years.

The process begins when a small foreign object such as a large grain of sand, finds its way into the shell and acts as an irritant. The oyster begins to cover the object with a protective secretion called nacre (a chemical compound) in layers and the result is the pearl as we know it.

In today's world, most pearls are cultivated by man.   I don't have a problem with that, and I also use glass and crystal pearls in many of my jewelry creations.  I particularly like high quality crystalized pearls such as Swarvoski, which is why I always list this detail when I use them.  However, the pearls in the photo are coin pearls, natural but cultivated. They are know for their uniform size and their extra-lovely pearly sheen.  I adore using them, and particularly like how they show up when displayed against a blank.  These are texturize base metal, with sterling wires.

They are available with several other pearl listings, at my studio @ Artfire and I will continue to post pearly offering through-out the month of June.  Please come by and take a look, and thanks for your time!

Blue---Musings on A Series



R. to L. from top left corner: Family Tree, Empire ,(Necklace), Funky Chunky, Crystal Blue Persuasion, Venetian (necklace)  Capri, Empire Earrings, Empire Bracelet, Venetian Earrings, Something Blue, Lake Helen (earrings), Lake Helen (bracelet), Regency, Avalina Blue and White (2) and Cobalt & Sterling.



Blue: one of my favorite colors.  Blue/green, probably my favorite color combination when it is done right.  I find these colors very soothing to look at. And very exciting to work with.

This is the largest series I have EVER done, with 16 pieces.  Because my design mind works ahead of the present, I was ready to this to be over about 1/2 way thru.  In my mind I was already on my next series. 

However, once I would get going, I became very engrossed.  The more engrossed I became, the more creative I was.

I bought these glass baubles a few months ago, with no idea what I was going to do with them!  But they turned out great!

Likewise, I'd had these tiny glass tear drops for a while and was not quite sure how I was going to use them.    The earrings are really graceful and beautiful.  And I love the brushed metal  beads in the bracelet.

I found these bold, cobalt glass cut tear drops, and the colour was too phenomenal to pass on.  They matched the blue and white round porcelain beads I'd had on had for sometime, and I knew I needed to  put them together somehow. 

When I found these acrylic crystals, I was sure I had stumbled on the most beautiful shade of blue ever.  Not a clue as to what to do with them at that time.  I just liked them!  But I love the way they turned out!

I had such a huge conclomerations of beads after working on this project I did not want to be left with alot of loose ends.  And what is a 16 piece collection without one of my famous charm bracelets?  That is how "Family Tree" was concieved. 

 Not about to bore you with blow by blow on each piece, just picked out a few of my faves.  All are available for viewing and purchase at Juxta-Pose on Artfire.

Thanks for stopping by!

Brave Heart

I could easily called this midnight heart.  Or 'Heart of the Ocean'....these are deep, deep blue Swarovski crystal hearts, and oh so beautiful.  I decided to set them with the Celtic flat metal beads, as well as the unpolished lapis chips, which gave them an almost masculine feel.  Wanted to femsky it up with Swarovski crystal bicones, and blue and clear lamp worked glass beads, as well as the  toggle heart closure on the necklace.   



Earrings $12.00, Necklace (matinee length 23") is $20.00,
bracelet is $14.00.

 'Brave Heart' is a mixed metaphor.  The heart is such a feminine symbol, but being brave is such a masculine characteristic. Here we have it all together in this jewelry set.



Earrings on large kidney wires



Bracelet with floral toggle closure



Detail

These items are not yet posted on my Artfire site, please contact me thru email or facebook if you  are interested in  purchase.

Thanks for stopping by!

Marta

Amethyst Hearts

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Amethyst, the birthstone for February.  Coinciding with Valentine's Day.  Results in a fabulous jewelry!



Heart Pendant On Necklace is Swarovski's Amethyst Heart, 17mm



Necklace is matinee length, about 23 inches



Bracelet is about 7.5 inches with 10 mm Swarovski Amethyst Heart



This series also features polished amethyst chips, Swarovski bicones (4 mm amethyst) and brushed metal discs

Detail

Earrings $12:00, Necklace $20.00, Bracelet $14.00

These are not yet posted to my Artfire Studio, so if you are interested in purchase, please email me or  contact me thru Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by!

 Marta

Promotion***'Unchain My Heart***Freebie

Promotion=Freebie!

Yes, I'm giving this away, just in time for Valentine's Day.   

Necklace is approximately 20" long, plus the puffy lamp worked glass pendant, which is about 2" long and 1 3/4" wide.

Materials: Czech glass, plated toggle clasp, metal-frame hearts, frosted glass round white beads, organza ribbon, black nickel oval jump rings, art-metal chain link, and lamp work glass pendant.

This is a random drawing:  here is how to win.  There are several ways to enter to maximize your chances.  You may enter multiple times, if you follow these rules:

1. Enter a comment on this blog.  Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win.
2. Enter a comment on my facebook page.  If we are not friends already, feel free to 'friend' me in order to leave comment!
3. Bump my facebook posting and share with all your friends!
4. If you refer this promo, either on my blog or on my facebook page to a friend, and THEY enter, you get your name in the hat one more time.  But they must post either on my blog or on my facebook post and use your name *************************************************************************

There are endless ways to get your name in the drawing many times!

  Contest open until February 10, 2011.  On that day I will draw, and I will either deliver this beauty to you personally or put it in the mail.  This is a wonderful piece of jewelry, and I am looking forward to someone enjoying it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Marta





Georgia On My Mind

 I know.  So cliche.  But we just did an event at work which we originally called "The Golden Isles of Georgia".  ( Someone above us came behind and bastardized the name of our event, and so it did not end up being called that, unfortunately.  The event was awesome, however!)  The Golden Isles are one of America's best kept secrets, and if you ever get the chance to experience this area, you should take full advantage.

 Of course, all this inspired some jewelry.  A charm bracelet ($12.00) and earrings ($10.00)  All hand-strung Czech glass.  The earrings on large copper kidney wires, the bracelet is adjustable copper linkes with a toggle closure.

 Golden Isles of Georgia

Take a look.  It's a magical place where pirates used to roam (Blackbeard Island) and dolphins still swim wild.  Not to mention the sea turtles, whales, manatees and wild horses.

Then, there is the other Georgia.  The one we have been experiencing lately.  I named this series "Georgia Ice", since we were an ice box for an entire week.  After the snow fell, of course.

Hand-strung Czech glass charms on antique brass.  The bracelet is loaded.  Adjustable, w/toggle clasp ($14.00) 

 Earrings are pressed Czech glass leaf and tiny golden seed beads on antique brass angled wire ($10.00)



earrings are clear and look different on blue background

 None of these are listed yet on my website, so if you are interested in purchase, please contact me on my facebook page or through this blog or my email. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Marta