Where Do You Find Inspiration?

 Last spring my husband and I spent a month in La Quinta, near Palm Springs and I took advantage of all the beautiful window shopping available in the area.  One of my favorite  pieces of eye candy was a stunning bracelet in the design studio of Denise Roberge.  Her workshop is on the premises of her showroon and as I understand it , she personally picks all the gemstone and all her designs are hand forged and cast in pure 22k gold.  She's an incredible artist and her jewelry is a work of art.  My mother has collected some of her work over the years and the pieces are timeless classics.  The bracelet I fell in love with had three humongous barrel shaped tourmalines set in rich heavy yellow gold--a piece worthy of an Etruscan princess, with a price tag to match.   I wish I had a picture of that gorgeous bracelet to share, so you could drool over it with me, but alas I don't. (at the bottom of the page I will post one of her stunning designs so you can see what I mean by stunning art)

I've thought about that piece ever since, so when I came across a strand of large carved flourite beads I knew I wanted to try them in a bracelet.  These might be the prettiest colors of flourite beads I've ever seen--one is aquamarine, another a teal blue (almost the color of blue tourmaline) and the third bead is the same rich aquamarine color with amethyst color in one corner.  I don't think I would have thought that size of bead was suitable for a bracelet without my 'inspiration piece'.  Of course what I did  has nothing in common with the original inspiration except perhaps that I used three large stones.  I have to say thank you though for putting the seed of inspiration in my head and giving me the courage to plunge ahead with a new idea.

I combined the stones with hammered gold vermeil toggle clasp and a single hammered vermeil bead and linked them together with goldfilled chain.  The bracelet is easy to wear and flexible and I really love the way it looks on the wrist. To give you an idea of the size of the stones--they weigh over 42 carats per gemstone,  and each stone is almost an inch long, and the yummy colors, oh my!  Now I'm off to try another idea--there's inspiration everywhere.


This is not the piece that inspired me, but the same designer--this piece would inspire anyone.  Gorgeous to the max!

Not more Knots!!!

Something different--a knotted necklace that is close to choker length with a pendant centerpiece. I've used a beautiful agate slab with green copper colored druzy edging combined with peacock pearls--it's a yummy combination and looks great on. All knotted on #8 weight silk cord.

Yes, I'm afraid so--seems I'm knot crazy (not crazy?!?) these days. Since we're still wandering around in limbo, knotting supplies take up a minimum of space. I find knotting therapeutic--giving me an outlet for my creativity.
This is my first try at earrings knotted on silk cord. These wonderful mother of pearl nuggets seemed to lend themselves perfectly to the dangle-y style.
Ohhh...a triple length (51") coin pearl necklace that can be worn long, doubled or even tripled for three great looks. The color didn't come thru so well in this picture, but they are a soft minty green with an irridescent/opalescent quality that catches the light beautifully.
Next I tried a triple strand necklace with the lovely natural mother of pearl nuggets that glow and shimmer with the swarovski crystals that cushion each stone. Shortest strand is 16", the longest is 20". I love this look.
Black Onyx ovals cushioned with black diamond swarovski bicones can be worn as a single long 36" strand or doubled for a dramatic statement .
I should have brightened this photo a little more--this little double strand bracelet is such wonderful colors--lime, navy, bronze and peacock opalescent coin and mid-sized fresh water pearls are knotted for a light and breezy bracelet you will barely know is there.

Lots of variety and experimentation keep me a happy gal.

Working hard....or hardly working.....

In spite of the fact that I continue to be a mostly 'absentee landlord' of this blog space...and contrary to the popular opinion that I have fallen off the face of the earth...I'm back for another hit and miss update. After 7 weeks tending to my mother as she recovered from her pelvic fractures, I continued my 'time out' while I joined my husband in the Palm Springs area where he has been working on a project for the past several weeks.
I brought along a smattering of my jewelry supplies, in case the mood struck me, but without a good camera and some motivation they stayed packed away in their suitcase--until I heard from Judy Carlson of Jujee beads with an invitation to participate again this spring in her Scuba Show at Long Beach. Intrigued, I agreed to try my hand after an all too long layoff...wondering if I still remembered what to do and how to do it.
Thanks to a pandora's box full of inspiring lampwork, I've been crazily creating for the last 10 days or so and having so much fun, I'm really sorry to be finished and ready to ship the finished designs back to her.
I'd almost forgotten how much I love playing with my little treasures. As you can see, I still don't have my best camera or editing program to show off my little designs to their best advantage...
but I still wanted to share with you a sample of my handiwork and say, I'm not finished forever. Although at the price of sterling silver these days, I'm mighty glad to have a sizable stash to draw from...and wondering how to ever restock when I run out! Everything here is off in the mail tomorrow.
and that's a good thing. We are leaving the desert the end of the week, so it's time to clean up, pack up and leave for the next adventure.
Here's hoping it doesn't take me so long to dig out my suitcase full of goodies again...but no promises, just taking it one day at a time.....

Slabs are Fab....

Have you seen any slabs that you you think are fab??? Here's what I did with mine!

I seem to have developed a love affair with slabs...not sure what sent me off in this direction, but I'm guessing it was a shopping trip where I casually looked at the jewelry cases. Several designers are using agate slabs this fall and so I had to try my hand at a couple of designs of my own. Love the size, love the shapes and love the variety--of color, veining and the edges of some of the stones....so at the Intergem show I had to try some....on etsy I had to buy some more. I'm not really into the dyed pieces I've seen in fuschia's and purples and turquoise, but I do love the natural colors and this set was just irresistable. Deep brown translucent slabs that look like really rich brown smokey quartz with gorgeous veining and even more wonderful edges---copper colored green crystals, iron combined with other minerals--diopside crystals that make these simply gorgeous.

Here's the stone I chose for the centerpiece of my necklace, wirewrapped together with nicely sized 12mm 18k electroplated gold on copper chain for an elegant compliment.

Since I wanted the length to be a bit adjustable and wanted to preserve the symmetry of the design, I used goldfilled lobster claw clasps on two sides of the last slab, so that depending on how you connect them the necklace goes from 21" to 23" for your perfect length.

All that glitters...

A couple of weeks ago I was at an Intergem show and I always love to stop by the India vendors booths to admire their beautiful and intricate gold jewelry and findings. I absolutely fell in love with a necklace I saw with turquoise and angel skin coral set in gorgeous 18k gold. Alas, it was beyond my budget. There was nothing to do but make my own little treasure with that fabulous color combination. So here's my simple interpretation in a charm bracelet with the coral and turquoise on a nice sized gold chain with 12mm links. I wish I was a good hand model and you'd see how very delightful this little treasure is on the wrist--light and ary, elegant but casual. It pleases me...

GOLDEN SUNSET

Last night we had another glorious sunset. The clouds were building up for a rainstorm, but it cleared up just enough to give us a spectacular showstopping sunset over the pacific ocean. As the evening progressed we snuggled in front of our cozy fireplace to watch and listen as the rain came down in buckets. There's a chill in the air this morning, but a song in my heart.

This lovely agate and quartz slab necklace is my homage to the glorious golden sunsets that have been setting my heart a flutter recently. Held together with goldfilled wirewrapped gold plated chain and a simple vermeil clasp, it makes quite a statement . I love the golden edges on the stones--just like the sunsets drench the clouds in golden lining.

Here's the flip side of my lovely agate slabs with even more of the golden 'lining' showing thru--wear it either way--it's a beauty however you look at it!

Endless Summer

Well, with warm sunshiny days and beautiful sunsets like this, it did seem like summer was endless last week at our cozy little beach cottage! We woke up to a drizzly rain and foamy surf this morning, so maybe we will have a little autumn after all.

Inspired by my 'window to the sea' I just had to put together a little homage to the beach with one of my delightful lampwork beads by Vickie Miller, some turquoise stones and a little bit of silver. More coming sooon...my workbench is calling.....

Trying to keep my promises...

Well, I did say I'd post some jewelry today and yes, I have gotten rather busy..first off a simple pair of earrings in sterling silver and onyx for pierced ears. I've had these beautiful woven sterling earwires for quite some time and could never decide how to use them...I think I was trying to make them too busy. They just needed a simple gemstone drop..that's what I decided anyway.

This bracelet is a remake of one I made several years ago with some of Jena Fulcher's lovely beads. It had broken some time ago during a show and I put it away where it lay forgotten and forlorn. So back together again with only a few small adjustments and I'm happy to put it back in my inventory. If no one wants it, I'll have it to wear myself, since I love this color combination....

Here's another old favorite that I redesigned with a set of some of my favorites from Gayle Hood of Graciebeads. I adore these beads and when they didn't sell awhile back I put them away to redo and just finally got around to it. I love the sterling and brass beads I used with these interesting original beads and I might just keep these for myself too...do you get the idea I love bright colors...you got it!

Once upon a time I got a lovely large set of beads from Melanie Moertel that I've rationed out a few at a time. I think I made two other bracelets from this set and this is the third and final edition. They seem perfect for this fall's fashions--so much brown and opulent detail on detail...pattern on pattern fashion, like a Turkish spice market. I've combined them with oxidized sterling silver and a stunning custom clasp from Donna Millard, I'm very happy with the way it turned out.

The pink coral bracelet below is my 'version' of a gemstone charm bracelet. I've used pale sponge coral beads combined with a sterling silver and angelskin coral charm and sterling toggle clasp.

It felt really nice this week to reacquaint myself with my gemstones, and lampwork and silver, oh my! Pandora's box...I'm baaaaaaaaaaack!

Sooo...Are you Curious????

Here are the fruits of my labor yesterday--after playing and playing and playing again with the limited stash I had, this is the neckace I made from the beads in the picture I posted yesterday. I was going for something quite long--36" long in fact that was playful and modern. I wanted more artisan lampwork, but I just had to make do with little accents I had. So cinnabar, Bali sterling silver and onyx had to fill in the gaps. Wouldn't it be fun someday to give a half dozen designers the exact same supplies and see what we all come up with. I'm sure there wouldn't be a similar piece in the bunch. That is the really fun thing about jewelry design to me. There is no right or wrong and you can let your own muse sing, as much or as little as you like. Life is like that really, we all have the right to choose our path and wouldn't it be boring if we were all exactly the same??? I certainly think so!

Who said "The world is so full of a number of things, I think we should all be as happy as kings!" Find something to be grateful for today! My list is overflowing.

Let's Start Out the Month with a Splash! A Grand Opening Drawing!!! And Sale!!!

Would you like to win this bracelet??? Read today's post to find out how you can enter the lottery for this free bracelet:

It's been a little lonely here, since closing my aol journal in October. I'm not sure if I lost alot of my subscribers to that journal because they lost my link or if I just don't hear from as many of you lately. I know that from October to January I'm really busy and there wasn't much going on here, but now I'm full speed ahead and so I'm going to consider this week my Grand Re-opening of a new blog to feature all my jewelry designs. I'll also be including some design tips and news along the way. There will be a new post everyday this week (that will keep me busy!) So from February 1st thru the 8th--let's celebrate!!!! Stop by and help me chase away the winter blues!

LET'S CELEBRATE WITH A SALE AND A GIVE-AWAY!!! First for the SALE--purchase one item at full price and the second item of equal or lesser value will be half-off all this week--that's right, your second item will be 50% off--so enjoy shopping. Click the Available Now Gallery to your right and see a description of what's available and the pricing. This is only for purchases from the webblog, not my etsy store--you have to come here to look and buy. Email me at rspv@aol.com with the name of the pieces you want to purchase and I'll send you a paypal invoice for the correct amount. Do remember that everything is one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. Free first class shipping in the U.S., Canada, and Europe too!!! Paypal and U.S. money orders are the only payments accepted.

Now for the GIVE-AWAY---as I've said it's been too, too quiet over here...so I'm having a drawing for this lovely rose quart bracelet I've designed to give to one lucky winner! Here's what you have to do to qualify for a chance to win. Everytime you post on my blog this week in the comments section (just shout out and let me know you're here--only nice stuff please! haha) you'll be entered to win. If you also subscribe to my blog (that means you'll get updates everytime I post) you'll get an additional chance to win. Next Monday---February 8 I'll have my daughter draw a name out of the bowl full of entries and I'll post the winner here on the blog. If you're the lucky one, contact me with your shipping info and off your new bracelet goes straightaway to you!

It's the middle of winter and we just need something to warm us up...so come on over and join in the fun!

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Well, let's see--I've had this hammered sterling heart I purchased from artist Alicia Abla for the longest time and just never knew how to use it, but this year, I think I've got it! I wraped it with goldfilled wire and gemstones for a beautiful pendant on a sterling chain, also with goldfilled wirewrapped gemstones. I'm really happy with the way it turned out--not too formal, but definitely beautiful. How can you go wrong when a necklace is loaded with rich amethyst, fanta spessertite, carnelian, spinel, garnets, champaign citrine and beautiful natural rubies!!!! The colors are outstanding and you're going to love it around your neck. The chain part of the necklace is a little over 18" with the pendant adding an additional 1 1/2". Let Me Call You Sweetheart sold, thank you. What's not to love!

Romancing the Stones

In a departure from my artisan lampwork designs, I just worked with gemstones and pearls in this newest bracelet. I love the way this piece is constructed. I used a fine goldfilled chain and wirewrapped what seemed like endless fresh water pearls, prasiolite (green amethyst) and lemon citrine gemstones with vermeil ball pins. Three large fancy cut prasiolite gemstones are also featured as endcaps and a charm with the 22k gold vermeil toggle clasp. I used various hues of greens in the various shaped freshwater pearls--coin, keishi and round pearls from almost seed-pearl size of 3mm to the larger 8mm pearls to give interest and variety. I really enjoy working with these materials--I'm hoping to give a feminine elegance to my gemstone designs that will give you a timeless treasure. 'Romancing the Stones' $144.00 can be easily sized just right for you, from 7 1/2" to 8", or with additional tweeking, I can do a little more or less with the length for your perfect fit!

Look for more gemstone designs in the near future--I'm thinking elegance and romance!

Three New Valentine Bracelets To Share...

Three more new bracelets to share today...definitely in a romantic/Valentine's mode with lots of florals and feminine colors and just a little saucy. The Heart of Africa $94.00 in black and white with just a touch of pink and tangerine. Let Me Call you Sweetheart $84.00 features encase floral lentils in spring green and pink. Midnight Lace $77.00 in tan, black and white with beautiful encase florals and etched whitehearts.

Of course all the bracelets have only sterling silver components and artisan lampwork by various artists--Jena Fulcher, Kimberly Lynn, Corina Tettinger and Melanie Egan if I remember correctly. Natural gemstone charms finish off each piece.

Have A Heart

Well, I held onto this little stash of beads for awhile. Love the 'Lily Pulitzer' colors of spring green and pink. I think it's because they remind so much of my garden in the back yard with all the pink roses that I love. Two artist's beads contributed to this design--Jena Fulcher and Barbara Gorko. They both have a way with florals that I love. Have A Heart $81.00 has only applied florals--little rosettes and forget-me-nots on transparent and opaque bases with some rubino encase with the green dots for a little pop. These are so delicate and well done that I love the feminine look you get while mixing them with the other lampwork and silver in this piece. I take great pleasure in choosing just the right silver pieces to compliment the lampwork---I hope you can feel the love that goes into every design.

Today's a great day to express your appreciation to someone you care about. There are so many people around us that make life better. Reach out with a hug, a smile or a thank you and brighten someone else's day...and make your own better for the doing!

Arabian Nights

Well, this bangle feels very exotic to me with its quintet of slender sterling bangles all tied together with a quartet of charms--an amethyst gemstone encrusted 18mm sterling Bali bead (eight 6mm X 4mm faceted stones! ) and the additional 8mm carnelian and 12mm amethyst briolettes, as well as one more granulated sterling Bali bead to complete the grouping of charms. The Arabian Nights $73.00 color combination is beautiful and dramatic and this design will add a pop of color to any outfit as well and just a hint of exotic romance.

Daughter, Emily, is off to New York City this evening to visit with her college roommate for the long weekend. What's wrong with this picture??? She's leaving sunshine-y 80 degree Southern California for a few days in biting 20 degree cold and snow...what is that girl thinking!!!! Bhrrrrrrrh! Hope she enjoys her trip to winter! lol

...Looking Forward to Spring

Well, I'm finally ready to play with my beads again and this is the result of today's efforts! I love these little hand-carved ametrine leaves, with their verigated color from amethyst to pale amber. Then I paired them with keishi petal pearls that were doubled and wired onto the bracelet with lovely vermeil head pins to mimic delicate white flowers. The petite vermeil clasp has a lovely pink lavendar colored ruby gemstone that compliments the ametrine perfectly and this delicious confection is ready for your wrist. It would be perfect for a bride or an afternoon tea in springtime. I'm looking forward to spring already in my minds eye and this is just the thing to get you in the mood as well! Available for $113.00