'Autumn Tideline'
$325.00
'Autumn Tideline' is created around the stunning lampwork beads of four studio glass artists. From the glossy, encased tidepool lentil beads in which the tidepool is as if captured in a moment, standing still under the thick, elegant glass. Other lampwork beads include beautiful cream colored donuts detailed with clear scrolls along with beautiful textured discs. These glass-art beads help to paint a seascape wonder of a day spent on the water or at the beach browsing along the tideline which is a virtual treasure chest when the sea offers up her bounty, leaving all colors of shells, grasses & kelp, beach glass and driftwood along the tideline. Gemstones include handsome, large faceted citrine nuggets, small Baroque pearls, faceted aquamarine rondelles, sea-blue amethyst faceted rondelles, Mexican opal rondelles and clear quartz faceted rondelles. A Swarovski star is silvery along with a plethera of sterling silver beads, spacers, rings, bedcaps and a tube-bead which add artisan-texture to the 2 strand bracelet design, providing beautiful contrast to the studio-made glass beads, creating an heirloom design that will transcend trend & time. A hand-cast sterling silver toggle clasp completes 'Autumn Tideline' which measures exactly 7.5 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
'Carnevale!
$475.00
'Carnevale, II' is gallery-calibre 2-strand wrap bracelet made entirely of studio lampwork beads, gemstones, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. One of my more LUXE designs, this is a complex bracelet design in the 'spirit' genre; a complex design invoking the rich, ancient, colorful & beloved tradition of 'Carnevale,II' in Italy. On my first ever trip to Italy to attend a conference, I took the train after the event from Milano to Florence. Staying in a beautiful, but old hotel housed in the upper floors of an ancient building overlooking the River Arno and a few doors down from the Uffizi Museum, I was given the room used in the film, 'A Room with View.' The owner of the hotel (3rd or 4th generation in the same family) took me to my room himself and as he threw open the green shutters, just like in the movie, he pronounced, 'A Room with a View!' as, gasping, I beheld the River Arno and the Ponte Vecchio, feeling like I was in a beautiful dream as that film had captured my soul. However, I was so new to Florence (and had planned my trip in such haste), I had no idea that as it was February, it would also be the beginning of Carnevale. I wandered out from my dreamy hotel into the streets one warm, sultry February night and was swept up in folds of time, of centuries upon centuries once folded neatly, one onto the other - it was as if the sultry winds off the river were suddenly shaking the boundaries of time into the wild, warm air as all the creases blurred; the neat outlines which had divided time into years, decades and centuries became all but a beautiful and confused blur. I felt like I was spinning as I beheld the masked & costumed people from the Medieval time, out-and-about, making merry, singing, laughing, drinking under the golden lights of old temples, marketplaces and the great Duomo. It seemed like I wandered for hours, as if in a dream throughout the lanes and side-streets of Firenze until I felt quite lost, only to walk on and find myself miraculously back in front of my hotel. It is a night I will never forget where time, as we understand it, fell apart at the seams and I experienced one of the richest, most curious nights of my life. This bracelet, 'Carnevale, II,' honors and is named after just such a night in Florence, Italy at Carnival time and my memories of the colorful, regal, velvet fabrics of costumed Italians enjoying one last blitz before settling down for its somber opposite, Lent.
This piece, as with other recent designs, is dripping with top-flight artisan lampwork beads (by 5 different artists both here and abroad) and components. Starting with the bright focal beads of the piece are two large, textured, colorful red/orange beads, brightly textured with dots, spots and raised portals along with gold leaf & wild, modern blooms. Other lampwork include two square 'tile' shaped beads with raised decorations done in lilac and muted orange along with a complimentary round bead in similar shades of purples, oranges and reds. Several organic discs of glass in aqua, cream, blue and orange punctuate the design along with luxe faceted aquamarine rondelles, a stunning pink amethyst nugget, sterling silver beads, rings, spacers and beadcaps.
"Carnavale, II" is completed with an elegant etched sterling silver toggle clasp and measures 8" in length. Please note that this style of bracelet (a wrap, 2 strand design) is meant to be worn rather loosely. Resizing at purchase & prior to shipping is done at no extra charge. Subsequence re-sizings will incur a fee of $50 to cover time, materials and return postage.
'Dreamscape'
$375.00
As I worked on this piece last night, I kept seeing images of my many road trips along California's famous Highway 1. The lulling sea enroute to Big Sur where the surf moves in and out so slowly and lyrically that one almost expects mermaids to come from the soft waves. And Fitzgerald Marine Park, where I have stood at sunset on Christmas Eve, marveling in the bounty of the lush tidepools, filled with sea critters. One of my all-time favorite Christmas Eve memories. And strolling the promenade of Pacific Grove and the multitude of sea lions and otters just there - in the surf and then stopping for a nap in the sunshine at a pull-out and seeing whales breaching in the distance while my baby boy napped with me. It is this ribbon of Highway 1 which delivers up these incredible experiences, time and again. From Carmel to Malibu and Santa Barbara in-between, I wonder if there is a more beautiful stretch of highway.
'Dreamscape' is created around the stunning lampwork beads of four studio glass artists. From the encased & softly etched Batik round lampwork beads done with a turquoise base or core to the lampwork discs in fresh, sea colors of teal, turquoise and lime green, these glass art beads help to paint a seascape wonder of a day on the water. Organic lampwork encased cobalt beads are hand-formed and look like tidepools. Gemstones include stunning disc beads from the famous Sleeping Beauty Turquoise mine in Arizona. This mine is now closed and traditionally was sacred turquoise stone resource for the neighboring Navajo people in their own jewelry designs. Creamy Baroque pearls add elegance along with faceted & cut quartz, iolite, aquamarine, blue-fire moonstone and apatite gemstones which add subtle color and texture to the 2 strand bracelet design, providing beautiful contrast to the studio-made glass beads. The sterling silver round wave connector is handmade by me using the Lost Wax Casting technique. A cornucopia of solid sterling silver beads, rings, bead caps, spacers & findings finish 'Dreamscape' into a heirloom design that will transcend trend & time. A hand-cast sterling silver toggle clasp completes 'Dreamscape' which measures exactly 8 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
'Of Fables & Folklore'
$425
'Of Fables & Folklore', as with others in my LUXE collection, is awash in top-flight artisan lampwork beads (by 9 different artists located both here and abroad), sterling silver beads & components including beautiful Bali & Thai Hilltribe silver beads and an ornate Victorian styled Bali sterling silver toggle clasp. Central to the design, inherent in 'Of Fables & Folklore,' is a sumptuous floral focal bead by a gifted artist from abroad. It reminds me of the embroidery in the pretty ribbons of the Tudor age and of all the ribboned ornate costumes of the day. The sculptural companion beads include bright handcrafted strawberries, detailed leaves in two shades of green, two delicate lavender blossoms; lovely large lampwork rounds done in a tartan pattern in the colors of red, orange, peach and purple. Two enchanting, smaller rounds done in clear with an encased core of orange add wonderful depth and texture with their surface gently scrolled in lavender and dots of bright red. A variety of smaller and organic lampwork rounds dangle down around the main strand. Other beads include glass furnace beads in violet; elegant & luminous Baroque pearls, chalcedony briolettes and Swarovski crystal butterflies in a lovely shade of teal. Two sterling silver Bali beads are capped in silver bead caps making them look like small nuts. A sterling silver berry-shaped bead finishes the strand at the large toggle end along with a substantial handwrought sterling ring. Large faceted nuggets of pink aquamarine work well as backdrop for the colorful ensemble of lampwork beads. Other sterling silver include two small hand-cast shields that rest under organic encased purple beads. 'Of Fables and Folklore,' measures just a tad over 9 inches. A 7.5 - 7.75 inch wrist fits this 9.25 inch bracelet ought to fit well without being too tight and with just the right amount of slack to make it comfortable. "Of Fables & Folklore" can be re-sized at no additional fees as this is a relatively straightforward task to complete. One resizing upon purchase is included in the price, however should subsequent adjustments be required, an additional fee of $50 to cover postage, time & materials will be charged.
'Ocean Within'
$375.00
'Mermaids ... Ocean Within' is created around the stunning encased lamp work lentil beads of an encased tide pool. Gemstones include stunning disc beads from the famous Sleeping Beauty Turquoise mine in Arizona. This mine is now closed and traditionally was sacred turquoise stone resource for the neighboring Navajo people in their own jewelry designs. Beautifully cut green amethyst from Brazil add elegance along with faceted & cut aquamarine and apatite gemstones which add subtle color and texture to the 2 strand bracelet design, providing beautiful contrast to the studio-made glass beads. I use one of my connectors from my new-found SS casting work - a stunning, bright solid sterling mermaid design. A cornucopia of solid sterling silver rings spacers & findings finish 'Mermaids - Ocean Within' into a heirloom design that will transcend trend & time. A hand-cast sterling silver toggle clasp completes the piece which measures about 6.25 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
'Champagne & Angels'
$375
The muse behind 'Champagne and Angels' is the stunning focal bead which is at once both richly golden, creamy feathers caught under thick, encased glass; gentle petals of angel's wings stilled for all time. I have been holding onto this bead for a very long time and last night I was finally able to *see* the design it belonged to ...
Done in bridal shades of cream, white, clear, silver and gold, it is like a sumptuous stroke of Renaissance landscape all in two lines of beads. I once attended a wedding up in Vancouver, B.C. where my father was chosen to give the toast to the happy couple. Dad was an elegant speaker, but his talk centered around a line of glossy, cream-colored nautical rope which he slowly tied into beautiful knot for all to see. Dad had been at sea as First Officer aboard the Union Steamships out of Vancouver, B.C. since he was 15 years old and knew all the nautical knots along with the skill of navigating by the stars. At the wedding, Dad tied a 'Lover's knot' as he gently spoke about the endurance and strength of a well-tied knot and its parallel with a well-suited couple. I remembered this story as I designed 'Of Champagne and Angels' ... seeking the subtle, elegant colors of silk & satin while also remembering the knot symbology. Marriage can either be a safe & rewarding haven. Or it can be a challenging tangled knot where faith and stamina are the most necessary friends. Hence, the gorgeous tangled white sterling wire knot. At once modern and chic as it is fantastical and original, this bright silver knot is an actual bead design from Thailand's gifted Karen Hilltribe people. I like the juxtiposition of the angelic, winged focal bead along with this tangled knot bead. It seems to me to be the fairest nod to reality in the twenty-first century.
'Of Champagne & Angels' is created around a combination of beautiful gemstones and stunning lampwork beads of at least four, maybe five studio glass artists. The focus of the bracelet is the rich, glossy golden bead with gentle wings and golden threads encased under clear glass. Partner lampwork beads include organic rounds, discs, donut shaped beads with sterling silver droplets etched into the surface. A variety of freshwater pearls are scattered throughout the design along with clear quartz and Ametrine faceted rondelle beads. A whole cornucopia of sterling silver beads, components, beadcaps, rings, spacers and findings litter the piece bringing sparkle and shine throughout. Two bright sterling round 'winter berry' beads by the Hilltribe people of Thailand add richness along with a grand, creamy Baroque pearl and another pearl which is carefully embedded with cubic zirconia stones in a circle that goes around the pearl. A simple Swarovski charm made with sterling and cubic zirconia form a plus (&) symbol which dangles off of sterling chain at the toggle's end. The handsome sterling toggle is handcrafted using the Lost Wax casting technique. An simple 'hammered' sterling silver toggle clasp completes the bracelet which measures just a bit shy of @ 8" inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
'Bloomsbury, III'
$475
'Bloomsbury III' is a three-strand wrap bracelet of lampwork, sterling and stones/gems all done in shades of black, white, grey and a shading of champagne along with the deep silver shine of handcrafted and ornate sterling silver findings & components.
For a piece so loaded in unique lampwork glass, I drew upon the talents of six esteemed glass artists located both here and abroad. You will find a plethora of shapes and sizes of lampwork (glass beads made individually by torch and glass rod in a studio setting & kiln-annealed for durability). Some beads are textured in shapes including discs, rondelles, rounds; some with encased florals or cores and others textured, like sand. Along with such a rich variety of lampwork glass beads, you will also find companion gems including exquisitely faceted light apricot and black cubic zirconia teardrops; amertrine rondelles; blue-fire-flash moonstone rondelles; faceted agate briolettes; cream & ivory Baroque pearls which, together, create a combination that is at once captivating, elegant and reminiscent of a bygone time. The ensemble of studio artisan glass beads include a very complex encased grey floral round (peppered with cubic zirconia, looking as if a dainty bloom were caught, petal-by-petal, frozen in the center of a glass orb; a beautiful black & white chrysanthemum round; an elegant clear lentil with surface black scroll and a sister-lentil, but done in polka dots on the surface. Other lampwork include discs in greys, black with polka dots & iridescent pearl & clear discs. Taken together with the opulent sterling silver (beadcaps, daisy spacers, rings & Bali silver beads), in particular the exclusive, solid sterling long, ornate sterling scroll tube bead along with stunning furnace glass beads by esteemed artist, David Christensen, 'Bloomsbury III' is a solid LUXE piece of wearable art. In a wrap design, the three strands create an endless effect of luscious chaos. Lots of Swarovski crystal beads & components pepper the background of the design, in particular the Swarovski sterling & clear rounds (looking like small disco balls) & rondelles. 'Bloomsbury III' is a stand-alone design perhaps best worn with small pearl or diamond stud earrings for the the most striking effect with any couture ensemble.
"Bloomsbury III" measures 8.5 inches in length. The wrap-design is meant to be worn more loosely than other bracelet designs. Because of the complexity of this design, 'Bloomsbury III' cannot be resized, however I can offer an option for a custom order of a very similar design. While it will not duplicate "Bloomsbury III" exactly, due to the one-of-a-kind nature of every bead and sterling component, I can get awfully close. Please inquire. And...thank you again for stopping by whitetidelinedesigns on Etsy!
'Mud Ponies & Wild Horses'
$475
Nine individual lampwork artists are used in the beadwork of 'Mud Ponies, Wild Horses...' - from the USA, Europe and the U.K. Done in colors of gold, sand, taupe and peppered with violet, cabernet, amber and cream, the piece includes especially fetching beads by a European artist whose signature design are beads with glass portals protruding from the bead's surface, like perfect half-orbs. You will also find the following wondrous sculpted lampwork beads: an acorn, two blackberries and a raspberry, adding to the feel of harvest colors of the wide, open and fertile countryside where wild horses roam. The many stones and gemstones in the composition include the following:
1. Blue-flash fire moonstone, 2. Faceted iolite & aquamarine nuggets, 3. Moss blue iolite faceted rondelles, 4. Creamy Baroque pearls, 5. Faceted purple amethyst rondelles, 6. Light blue aquamarine rondelles. Other beads include an esteemed Austrian Swarovski round crystal slider, micro-faceted Swarovski rounds, bicones & rondelles along with Swarovski fancy sterling-plated pave crystal rondelles which adds that unexpected glamorous accent in the midst of earthy splendor of semi-precious gemstones. Sterling silver braided rings, plain rings, avant gard sterling shields/spacers, bead caps all work together to complete 'Mud Ponies, Wild Horses...' with a modern, sterling toggle clasp, also made by an esteemed silversmith.
'Mud Ponies, Wild Horses & the White Buffalo, II' measures 8 to 8.5 inches in length strands and is meant to be worn somewhat loosely. One length is a touch longer than the other allowing the looser strand to move or tangle just a bit in concert with the main strand.
Carmel Beach
$375.00
'Carmel Beach' is comprised of three top-flight glass bead artists. The three large, round blue & orange swirl bumpy beads are by renowned Australian artist, Nellie Mae. When she entered the US market, she was little known and her bead prices were pricey, but nowhere near what she is able to fetch for them today. I was very fortunate to collect 5 or 6 sets of her work. Also, after a year or so of creating lampwork sets of beads, she has all but abandoned that style and is now almost exclusively making Pandora lampwork beads, fetching up to $40 or more for one bead. It is no mistake, however, since her work is so original and mesmerizing. You won't find lampwork beads like the ones she creates. As I used to say of Nellie Mae's work, you start to work with them and soon the beads are telling the story and not the other way around. These three lampwork beads by her are the rolling sea, the generous curl of waves and the color of sunset on Carmel Beach on a clear, sultry evening. She uses shades of blue, turquoise with curls of bronze sparkles and then sensual whisps of orange and cream. The very depth of the colors beneath the glass is intriguing. You can look on forever and deeper and deeper.
The companion\/accenting beads are by two artists whose work I adore and work with most every week. Melanie of GlassValley made the bumpy and swirl blue (with a hint of encased green) beads. Stefanie of the studio, A Shot of Glass, creates her signature hibiscus in a custom order for me of light and ice blue on clear. Heather of BeadIntrigue creates her gorgeous, 3D petaled flowers and D. Jean Vainio makes her esteemed clay roses in a sheer and gold trim combination. Truly LUXE.
Tumbled into this oceanic, sunset composition are the following beads and stones:
* Stunning, faceted, ice-blue aquarmarine brioletes
* Clear, faceted quartz rondelles
* Elegant furnace beads by esteemed glass artist, Penrose in a variety of shade of blue\/teal
* Swarovski cystal rondelles, bicones & cubes
* Two gold vermeil (22K gold over 937 sterling silver) from Thailands Hilltribe artisans
* Sterling coil wrap beads by Thailand's Hilltribe artisans
* Bali silver daisy spacers
* A magnificent sterling sea turtle charm
* A handsome sterling sand-dollar charm
* Hilltribe sterling silver droplet beads
'Carmel Beach' is finished with an ornate, sterling, filigree toggle clasp and measures 8.5 inches in length. The length can be adjusted at no additional charge.
Mermaid at Seal Cove
$475
"Mermaid Cove at Rockaway Beach," is a two-strand wrap-bracelet of lampwork, sterling and gemstone done in shades of blue, lime green, periwinkle, turquoise and peppered with cobalt, clear and dripping with the deep silver shine of handcrafted and ornate sterling silver findings and components. 'Mermaid Cove' is full of unique studio glass beads made by the talents of five esteemed glass artists located both here and abroad. You will find a plethera of shapes and sizes of lampwork (glass beads made by torch/glass rod in a studio setting & kiln-annealed for durability). Some beads are textured in shapes including discs, rondelles, rounds & a tube bead with some beads encased over a colored core & embedded with sterling and others, etched like beach glass. Along with such a rich variety of lampwork glass beads, you will also find companion gems including faceted aquamarine and quartz rondelles, cream-colored Baroque pearls, blue-fire flash moonstone rondelles, micro-faceted iolite beads all of which, taken together, create a combination that is at once captivating and elegant. The ensemble of artisan glass beads includes a focal etched blue and green/cobalt etched lentil bead textured like beach glass. Two elegant clear rounds, one encased in white and one encased in blue are infused with actual sterling silver droplets, buried deep within the glass, making for a dreamlike wave effect, as if caught under glass. Lampwork discs & an organic round punctuate the design along with Swarovski sterling & crystal rondelles, thick SS rings, Bali silver beads & bead caps and a variety of shapes and sizes of Swarovski crystals including sterling silver rondelles embedded with small clear and colored crystals. The most powerful focal point of the bracelet, however, is the elegant sterling silver hand-cast sailboat button-bead at the center of one strand. This solid, sterling bead is sumptuous and mesmerizing and is made by hand, using the old wax technique. A beautiful vintage, SS mermaid charm along with a SS rowboat & Swarovski encrusted sterling flip-flop charm completes the design along with a sterling Bali silver toggle clasp. The whole bracelet composition reminds me of the strong winds & wild waves of the Pacific crashing against the cliff walls, like on those days with Grandma at 'Mermaid Cove at Rockaway Beach' beside the breakwater and the husks of old prohibition buildings in that small corner on the west coast. "Mermaid Cove at Rockaway Beach" measures 8.5 inches and can be resized upon purchase. Subsequent re-sizings will incur a modest fee to cover materials and postage.
Daisy Days
$325
"Daisy Days" is another of my newer designs from my Simple Luxe Collection. This piece is a lampwork, gemstone 'wrap' or three-strand bracelet. That is, three strands of lampwork, stones, gems, white & regular sterling (925) and some lovely sterling charms including: a small rogue handmade 'DAISY' charm created by a local gifted artist using the old-wax casting technique. The same metalsmith also completed the dainty rouge-daisy toggle clasp made of solid sterling. Stunning pure white, clear & red/white studio lampwork beads (*at least 12 individual lampwork beads) were created by six esteemed lampwork artists living here and abroad and make up 'Daisy Days.'
The piece is punctuated with AAA faceted quartz nuggets, freshwater Baroque & button, red furnace heart beads by the esteemed furnace glass artist Christensen, a large faceted chunky moonstone nugget and slim rondelles which flashes blue in just the right light and lots of white sterling findings, clear, red, opaque Swarovski crystal beads, sterling silver beads and accents. 'Daisy Days' is an elegant landscape of cascading beads for the season of unfolding green and color spots as gardens around the country start to offer up early blooms, preparing for an abundant, happy growing season (non-GMO seeds, of course). 'Daisy Days' measures 8.25 inches and can be re-sized upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee to cover materials and postage.
Oslo Harbor
$375
'Oslo Harbor' is a cornicopia of lovely, earthy stone and beads by some of the most talented lampwork bead artists I have worked with ~ you will find the alarmingly exquisite forest watercolor beads by an artist known for her blending of colors which look like fresh raindrops on a watercolor which has not quite dried. In these lentils you can actually see the water drops blending the beautiful colors of purple, green and blue on a white canvas. This is why these rank among my favorite lampwork beads of all-time as it is an effect those of us who dabble in watercolor painting always try to achieve without going too far. Other lampwork include a single scroll round in cobalt and baby blue lines along with two etched green, blue & cobalt lentils. Beautiful purple 3D lampwork flowers and the extraordinary cobalt lampwork cubes add a perfect dimension to this snapshot of forest and sea of the ancient kingdom of Norway.
In composing 'Oslo Harbor,' I built the design in colors around the lampwork beads using semi-precious gemstones and freshwater button pearls. You will find:
* Stunning steel-blue faceted quartz briolettes
* AAA faceted quartz rondelles
* Faceted AAA cubic zirconia teardrops in forest green
* Elegant faceted green amethyst shapes
* High lustre freshwater button pearls in lacey vermeil gold beadcaps
* Royal blue & black striped furnace glass beads by Penrose
* A variety of Swarovski crystals in cubes, rondelles, bicones
* A variety of vermeil gold (22K gold over .997 sterling silver) findings, spacers & bumpy beads
* Two large vermeil gold starfish charms
"Oslo Harbor, II " is completed with a round gold vermeil Bali toggle clasp and measures a tad over 8 inches. This can be resized at no additional cost upon purchase. Subsequent resizings will incur a modest fee to cover materials and postage.
Kandersteg
$375
Creating 'Kandersteg' reminded me of a very old woman on that winter's trip to Kandersteg, who wandered dressed in a thick, worn coat into the lobby of the Victorian Hotel, put down her heavy backpack and started to yodel! She had carte-blanche to wander into the lobby in mid-morning to surprise guests with the sounds & color of an authentic Swiss mountain woman with a voice to reach the peaks! The juxtaposition of the old, worn woman in the midst of the silk, satin & linen lobby was wonderful especially when she sang and was herself, the most beautiful thing in the room.
The sterling silver work in 'Kandersteg' includes handcrafted sterling charms and a toggle by a local silversmith who works with the old wax technique of casting metals. The whole effect of 'Kandersteg' makes for a striking accent to any outfit ensemble - from a simple Little Black Dress to a pair of jeans and a linen sweater. Sure to attract attention, 'Kandersteg' offers weight and comfort of the glorious shades of light, silver and white only found in high snowy places in winter times.
"Kandersteg" measures about 8.5 inches in length. The wrap design is meant to be worn more loosely than other bracelet designs. Because of the complexity of this design, 'Kandersteg' cannot be resized, however I offer an option for a custom order of a very similar design. While it will not duplicate "Kandersteg" due to the one-of-a-kind nature of every bead and sterling component, I can get awfully close.
Love Letters
$325.00
This one is called 'Love Letters' and though I think 'love' is rarely black and white or cut-and-dried, the black and white theme of the piece reminds me of the days of the past, when love letters written by hand, were sent in the mail or by courier or by wire and telegraph. The same 'old' days of black and white in film and photograph, each image carefully rendered, positioned and caught, like a fleeting dragonfly. I remember my own 'love letters,' one in particular from a tall, handsome neighbor I had named, "Adonis.' I was smitten with him (or more accurately, with his amazing garage which was beautifully organized with canoes, skiis, camping gear, a backpack). I remember after returning from a trip abroad to explore the lake district & fjords of Chile and on to the Antarctic peninsula, returning home and finding a letter from him, written on stationary with watercolor salmon fish, saying he wanted to get to know me better. My knees almost buckled, in the rain, at my mail-box, that dark November afternoon. I was so newly smitten, I forgot my 'new' Greek God, the expedition leader on board the 'World Discoverer.' Anyway...I digress. 'Love Letters' - is a reminder of a rich past which still endures...in email or text message. Alas. From my last boyfriend, I have a stack of precious email print-outs. Hardly the same, but still words of love. And I suppose that is all the really matters. "Love Letters' incorporates the lampwork beads of several international glass artists, spanning from the USA to England and on to Israel!
The central set of lampwork beads are by a recent 'find' - an American artist whose signature style is what I call 'mystic portals,' beads encased with a thick layer of glass, with interesting portals of glass peppering the bead surface along with interesting scrolls & ribbons - narrow lines of glass, snaking around the perimeter. Her bead designs inspire idea after idea in their whimsy and perfection. This set is black, white & clear which is paired with companion lampwork by a wonderful English artist who makes these wonderful 'bubble' lampwork beads - transparent glass over a core of black and cluttered with bubbles of shadow & glass. Extraordinary work and so mysterious and strange. More companion lampwork beads used to create, 'Love Letters,' include:
* Black & white 3D flowers in different sizes and by two different artists
* Black, white & clear polka dot disc lampwork beads
* Etched black & clear polka dot round minis
* Small, clear lampwork ice cubes
Perhaps most amazing to me of the beads, findings and stones used in 'Love Letters,' are the mesmerizing, blue-fire flash AAA quality moonstone. I have used over a dozen of these stones throughout the bracelet for that unexpected flash of blue as the bracelet shifts in the daylight. It is a beautiful surprise to see Mother Nature's own 'bling.' If you notice a blue flash in the photos above, it is the moonstone.
You will also find black onyx stone faceted briolettes, clear, faceted quartz cubes, freshwater coin pearls, solid sterling silver triangles & stars from Thailand's Hilltribe silversmiths along with a charming hammered white sterling puffy heart. Bali silver beads punctuate the bracelet throughout. The focal point of 'Love Letters,' is two sterling letter charms and two small heart 'rings' at the bracelet ends. Along with the toggle clasp, these sterling hearts are made by the lost wax technique of silver-work and are by an American artist.
'Love Letters' measures 7.5 inches in length and can be adjusted to most any bracelet length for no additional fee, aside from return postage.
'Love Letters' is a luxe winter holiday piece - for all the holiday parties, for 'Puttin' on the Ritz' and taking the town by storm, in heels and a 'little black dress,' and with the man of your beloved letters on your arm, spelling out the beauty & love of all ages.
Storm at Sechelt
$375
The seaside town of Sechelt is a traditionally a fuel-stop enroute to Earl's Cove, the second ferrry terminal on Highway 101 North in B.C., Canada. Normally, on our trip north to 'camp' (Savary Island), it is a jam to be first off the first ferry, hitting the road, going to the max allowed speed limit, taking all the old-timer secret short-cuts just to get that much closer to Earl's Cove, an hour away, where we catch the final ferry in our race north, on the Sunshine Coast. We have been making the journey since I was five years old, most every summer, as we drove north from the S.F. Bay Area to our summer cabin in Canada. But Sechelt, aside from being an understated Sausalito, CA or Newport, OR is also a town that opens, exposed, to a wilder stretch of the inland passage (Georgia Strait) between B.C.'s mainland and the length of Vancouver Island. As such, when a southwester blows in, the seas can be especially tempestuous and wild, causing many a small vessel to toss about like a small toy, especially if boats are caught off-guard or if the weather arrives ahead of schedule. Such was the case when my newly married parents took their classic cabin-cruiser, the Graycine out for an overnight trip in the 'honeymoon' years before having children. The storm on this particular weekend was wicked, wild and the boat's engine suddenly quit, its engine engulfed with 'drink' and utterly disengaged from power. There was no fixing it, especially in the dangerous high seas. Even the radio had quit and darkness was upon them. My mother, a city-girl and land-lover, quietly wept in the galley as my strong & able father attached the dingy to the bow and started rowing his new wife and the Graycine through the pouring rain, high winds and the fierce, high waves ... until at last they reached the breakwater at the small marina in Sechelt. It is a story my mom liked to tell every other year as we passed through Sechelt, stopping to gas-up at the only gas station in town. Such, is the muse and backstory to 'Storm at Sechelt.'
'Storm at Sechelt' is a gallery-calibre 3-strand wrap bracelet made entirely of studio lampwork beads, gemstones, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver. Another LUXE design, this is a complex bracelet design in the 'spirit' genre; a complex design invoking the wild moving, alive energy of a wicked-good storm and all that means in terms of life and dancing with death when mariners are caught unprepared. Only those who know how to be one with the sea and weather can hope to ride out such a storm, much less save a damsel in distress.
This piece, as with others of my LUXE collection, is awash in top-flight artisan lampwork beads (by 8 different artists both here and abroad) and components. Starting with the magnificent tidepool-under-tempestuous-waves bead as the focal point around which all the other beads unify to make a piece of living sculptural jewelry. The German artist responsible for the tidepool focal is especially gifted at creating beads as microcosms of a greater whole - whether it is a pond, a meadow, a forest or a tidepool. She is able to capture the spirit of being alive in her work with molten glass and we are all the better for it. Companion beads include the work of another gifted glass artist and her interpretation of stormy seas under a skeleton sun overhead of the storm. Other lampwork of note is a textured round bead with glass portals popping out as pods which is done in a light mint green, cream, light bronze and clear, like an abstract anemone of a tidepool. You will also find several textured, small organic encased rounds, other rounds etched like beach glass and sand-colored beads with dimples and lines of sterling silver. Among my favorite second-string lampwork are the round, smooth white beads with tiny drops of bright sterling silver embedded deep within the still, cold glass. These beautifully created lampwork beads are so elegant that using them in any design automatically sets the whole piece in a league of its own. "Storm at Sechelt" incorporates lots of lovely, sensual and edgy precious and semi-precious gemstones which include: Blue-fire flash moonstone rondelles, chips of aqua colored apatite in two shades, one more transparent and the other, a more milky shade of aqua. Creamy colored keishi pearls and Baroque pearls capped in white sterling beadcaps lend elegance and depth to 'Storm at Sechelt' along with smooth, large faceted nuggets of clear quartz. Blue-fire laboradite flashes in small coin beads, adding the perfect contrasting color to a sea under siege from the winds and storm above. Over 50 sterling silver braided, plain rings & beadcaps, wavy silver discs, daisy spacers pepper the three strands, providing that bright, silver flash in the midst of so much color - much like the silver-on-the-sea on a too sunny day at the sea when the light is almost blinding as it comes off the water. Three solid sterling charms complete 'Storm at Sechelt' and include a detailed lighthouse and its keeper's cottage, a schooner under sail and a wee sea turtle who hangs on a bright sterling chain at the junction of the three strands. 'Storm at Sechelt' is finished with a sterling silver lobster clasp and receptacle set and measures just under 9 inches in length. Because of the dynamics of the 3-strand wrap design, with three strands parallel to each other in close proximity, the measurement must take into account certain bulk of the beads (though not heavy weight, thankfully). My 7 inch wrist fits this 8.75 inch bracelet perfectly without being too tight and with just the right amount of slack to make it comfortable.
Sundance Wild Horses
$225.00
'Sundance' is created around a combination of beautiful gemstones and stunning lampwork beads of three studio glass artists. The focus of the bracelet are the rich, earth colors made especially beautiful by a stunning & varied array of Mexican fire opals, Baltic amber in two shades, freshwater & small, creamy Baroque pearls, clear faceted quartz rondelles amidst a plethora of sterling silver beads, caps, rings and beadcaps. Central to the composition is the sterling silver connector of two running horses, handcrafted by me. When I worked with the beads and colors, my mind kept turning to the brief time I spent in Utah and near Park City where I went to watch my Norwegian niece ski in the U.S. Nationals. Though it was winter, it was a light snowfall in the area and I could see the beautiful colors of the stone, the red, grey, taupe and cream landscape. It was easy to imagine what autumn in the area must look like and I think I have captured that valley in 'Sundance,' which is an heirloom design that will transcend trend & time. An ornate square sterling silver toggle clasp completes the bracelet which measures @ 8" inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
Victoria
$325
"Victoria" is named for the sterling silver, antique 3 pence coin/charm included in this bracelet design. It is an actual coin from the Victorian and Edwardian periods in England. The coin features Queen Victoria on one side and I use it as a charm in this design along with another antique charm of a carriage lamp - the sort of lamps you would find at each side of a horse-drawn carriage door. A bright sterling rose charm done by the famous Karen Hilltribe silver artists of Thailand adds to the floral display of the design which includes a sculpted pale pink tulip, a pink sculptured peony, an amazing encased pink blossom under thick clear glass and a smooth etched daisy-on-pink-swirl lampwork button shaped bead.
The pink floral theme of the bracelet recalls the beautiful and charming neighborhood, gardens and parks of Virginia Woolf's Bloomsbury district in London. Virginia and Thomas Woolf lived and wrote in their London home in the early 20th century. Although her life was complex and crippled by depression and emotional stress, Virginia lived in a lovely, peaceful pocket of London where she enjoyed the intellectual companionship of a circle of writers, artists, family and friends.
'Victoria' is a two-strand bracelet made with curated studio lampwork glass beads, sterling and gems all done in shades of white, clear and pink and dripping with the bright silver shine of handcrafted and ornate sterling findings, charms and components. For a piece so loaded in handcrafted lampwork beads, I drew upon the talents of several esteemed glass artists located both here and abroad. You will find a plethora of shapes and sizes of lampwork, some squares, some slices, rondelles, rounds, encased, etched, hollow and textured. You will find over 12 hand-torched lampwork beads made by 7 different artists. Along with so much .925 sterling silver and lampwork beads, you will find luminous Baroque pearls capped in sterling beadcaps along with faceted pink amethyst nuggets, a clear iolite (stone of the Vikings)briolette, Blue-Fire Flash moonstone discs and rondelles, faceted pink cubic zirconia teardrops, Swarovski rondelles with crystal imbedded in sterling adding points of elegance throughout. You will find a Swarovski cube, faceted rounds, bicones in a variety of sizes, button pearls, bright sterling wavy beadcaps and chubby glass furnace cane beads done by the esteemed glass artist David Christensen. A beautifully ornate solid sterling silver tube bead provides a LUXE focal point and whose folds of sterling texture add depth to the floral theme of the bracelet. Several other SS rings, beads and components finish 'Victoria' which closes with an ornate sterling silver floral toggle-clasp which has Victorian style.
'Victoria' measures 8.5 inches in length and can be resized at no additional charge. Subsequent re-sizings will incur a $25 fee plus the cost of return shipping.
Gatsby
$325
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote prolifically of his time, his era and 'the lost generation' of his peers and their excesses. While he seemed to prefer the company of the elite of Paris' intelligencia which included the likes of T.S. Eliot, Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklais, Ezra Pound, Hemingway, Picasso & Matisse (ie. 'the charmed circle'), he was also a proud son of the east coast and was a star around which celebrity & the monied elite flocked, making for endless material upon which to rest his writing pen. 'The Great Gatsby' was cherished reading on a high school syllabus, made especially poignant as the Redford/Farrow version of the film came out some time in those days. While I have not seen the newer version of the film, the actual writing, its imagery and scenes from the former film filled my mind as I worked with such plush, gilded, yet edgy studio glass work.
The main focal bead has encased angel wings held perfectly still under a deep slab of glass, rounded into an oblong shape. 'Gatsby' is a two strand wrap design which is gilded with gold (actual 24K gold-leaf glass), sparkles of solid sterling dripping amidst clear and champagne stone, glass, Baroque pearls, cubic zirconia and organic lampwork done by 6 other lampwork artists, all brought together for 'Gatsby.' You will find faceted cubic zirconia in the shades of clear, light lavender & apricot teardrops, blue fire moonstone, Keishi pearls, pink Amethyst faceted nuggets, gold vermeil (22K over .937 SS) droplets, sterling rings by a silversmith, along with lots of sterling beadcaps, rings, spacers and other sterling shapes and surprises. Three sterling charms suggest the opulence of Gatsby's era - a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket, a candelabra and a two-winged bi-plane.
An ornate, SS Victorian toggle finishes 'Gatsby' which measures @ 8.5 inches in length & can be resized with no additional charge. Should you prefer the dangle-style characteristic of many of my signature style bracelet, I can add dangles for an additional fee and depending upon the type of bead & components used. Please convo me for options.
Mermaid Garden
$325.00
'Mermaid Garden' is a break-out design after several months on hiatus from my beading design work. During my time away from the studio, I have delved, headlong, into the other and old worldly dimension of Old Wax Metal Casting technique ~ learning to use molten sterling silver, wax & fire to form sterling silver shapes & findings. It is fitting to me that I use one of my handmade connectors from my new-found SS casting work - a stunning, bright solid .925 SS mermaid design.
'Mermaid Garden' is created around stunning bright and colorful lampwork discs, rounds and sculptural flower beads. A small Swarovski crystal flip-flop adds a bit of sparkly charm to the design, lest our Mermaid might like to step onto the beach. A cornucopia of solid sterling silver rings spacers & findings finish 'Mermaid Garden' into an heirloom design that transcends trend & time. A solid sterling silver toggle clasp in the shape of a flower completes 'Mermaid Garden' which measures about 8.5 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
Daisies & Tulips
$325
'Daisies & Tulips' is a break-out design after several months on hiatus from my beading design work. During my time away from the studio, I have delved, headlong, into the other and old worldly dimension of Old Wax Metal Casting technique ~ learning to use molten sterling silver, wax & fire to form sterling silver shapes & findings. I'm happy to be working with lovely bright Spring colors out-the-gate!
'Daisies & Tulips' is created around stunning bright and colorful sculputural lampwork flower beads (daisies and tulips) and including elegant barrels, organic rounds, deep purple discs and a gorgeous edgy focal bead which sets the theme of the design. A small Swarovski crystal star adds a bit of sparkly charm to the design. A cornucopia of solid sterling silver rings spacers & findings finish 'Daisies & Tulips' into an heirloom design that transcends trend & time. An ornate solid sterling silver toggle clasp completes 'Daisies & Tulips' which measures about 8 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
Garden Faerie Queen
$375
'Garden Faerie Queen' is a break-out design after several months on hiatus from my beading design work. During my time away from the studio, I have delved, headlong, into the other and old worldly dimension of Old Wax Metal Casting technique ~ learning to use molten sterling silver, wax & fire to form sterling silver shapes & findings. I'm happy to be working with a lovely bright, solid sterling silver Art Nouveau Faerie with vibrant Spring colors out-the-gate!
'Garden Faerie Queen' is created around the handcrafted sterling faerie connector in the midst of happy, bright, colorful sculptural lampwork flower beads including a stunning pair of glossy, detailed orange, pink & lilac round lampwork created with decorative & elegant scroll designs plus smaller encased organic round lampwork beads & discs. A pair of gorgeous, clear, faceted AAA Citrine nuggets (the gemstone of abundance) and a cornucopia of solid sterling silver rings, spacers & findings finish 'Garden Faerie Queen,' an heirloom design that transcends trend & time. An ornate solid sterling silver toggle clasp completes the piece which measures about 8.5 inches and can be resized at no additional charge upon purchase. Subsequent sizings will incur a modest fee for time, materials and postage.
Dragonfly Dream
145.00
High Tide Dragonfly
$145.00
Jumping Frog Lilypad
$175.00
Concentric Circles
$65.00
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