Something new and oh so perfect for Mother's Day or the bride who wears blush.  Palest pink rose quartz lariat necklace.  Finished with gold vermeil flowers for a beautiful design you'll wear all summer long.

Well, here's something new--check out my new website to see my latest designs.
Hope you'll stop by and let me know what you think of the design! 

Rickie Voges Design

Still working on a whole new line-up of designs to replenish my etsy store after my big clearance is over on June 1.  In the meantime, stop by my etsy store for 50% off of everything for the next two weeks--May 17 thru June 1.  Use coupon code NIFTY50 at checkout for your special pricing on all purchases over $25.

So here's a sneak peak at some of my newest designs, not in the shop until June...for more information on my new work, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rickie-Voges-Designs/452535968112078

 Lovely double strand chrysoprase and sterling silver necklace with a pendant focal featuring a hand forged bezel and artisan lampwork cabochon by Catherine Ondrey.

 Whimsical little frog from the torch of Corina Tettinger (Corinabeads), combines with small intricate beads from the torch of Ama Nishi (ChaChaBeads) and all sterling silver for a summer time bracelet that is sunshine bright! 


 Lovely tourmalines and sterling silver necklace with a fabulous artisan lampwork focal by Manuela Wutschke and a cascade of tourmaline gemstone teardrops--sweetly old fashioned.

 This stunning hollow blown art glass urchin by Lori Lochner is the centerpiece of a stunning necklace on a rose quartz strand with 22k gold vermeil nautilus, starfish and sand dollar toggle clasp.

Every now and then I check in here and realize blogging regularly isn't my 'thing'.  I don't give it up entirely, but my posts are so random that I'm pretty much talking to myself!  :-)  That's okay, at least it gives me a record looking back at when I'm actually designing (at intervals that are becoming further and further apart).  This week I got the 'jewelry bug' again.  Some of my lampwork artist friends are luring me back with stunning beads that make my fingers itch--Julie Wong Sontag, Lori Lochner, Tiffany McCoy and two new to me, Russian artists--  Anastasiya Krylova, and Polina.  I also have some new bronze and brass findings from a wonderful designer==Anna Chernykh.  The Russian artists seem to be blossoming in profusion recently and I could spend hours admiring their work at the Russian 'Esty' site--Masters.ru.  We'll see if I can keep the muse alive long enough to bring some of my ideas to fruition of if the muse will fizzle and sputter along.  Here's a sample of what I'm working on... You can see more on my facebook page--  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rickie-Voges-Designs/452535968112078  or my etsy store www.rickitic.etsy.com   It's all Tiffany today, but I'm working on something with Lori's and Julie's beads that I hope will be ready for prime time soon! 

Necklace with artisan lampwork by Tiffany McCoy, bronze findings by Anna Chernykh, Afghan lapis lazuli heishi and Arizona turquoise.

 Bracelet featuring artisan lampwork by Tiffany McCoy with rough cut Amazonite slice wheel beads and 22k gold vermeil.

  Copper bracelet featuring lampwork by Tiffany McCoy and my own hand forged link with a pearl and Swarovski charm. 

A Little Project..a Little Reward

Between projects here at home, I found a little time to play with some of my beautiful artisan lampwork beads in my stash.  I've been hoarding the last few beads from a set I purchased from Manuela Wutschke several years back and finally decided it was time to put them in a design--turns our I actually had enough to make two bracelets--can't decide which I love best, so I just finished both of them. 

One has beautiful carved black agate or jade or onyx beads (not sure what the stone is, but the carving is lovely).  I combined the lampwork, black beads and sterling silver with a finishing touch--a tassel that I made myself with beads and chain...  I'm not sure why, but these beads remind me of exotic koy fish--I love the dramatic color combination.

 
Now here is the second bracelet---these beads were very interesting to me--the detail on one reminds me of a music staff--like a fragment of some lost symphony.  I know, quite the imagination, eh?  I combined these three beautiful lampwork beads with a lovely carved black bead and a Hill Tribe silver heart and clasp. 

 

I'm off to sort thru some 'artifacts' of my own, or in other words, cleaning out my closet, in an attempt to purge what needs to go an what to hoard a little longer.  :-)  

And the Winner is....

Drumroll please!!!  The winner of the drawing is Elizabeth!!!  PM me your email and address on facebook. 

I've decided that I want to send a small runner-up gift to the other commenters, so let me know your email addresses via a private message on facebook or an email so I can send you a little THANK YOU as well!  :-)

Beautiful Fall Colors

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year.  I love the cooling day, chilly mornings and changing color of the trees and grasses.  It's like Mother Nature washes everything in brilliant sunshine before going on holiday for the winter--going out in a blaze of glory.  Fall color takes a little longer to get here in Southern California--it seems to come in fits and starts, wrestling with summer in a fight that inevitably will arrive, despite the protestations. Last Spring I bought some gorgeous lampwork beads from artist Carey OHalloran--the colors are my perfect ode to fall, so they inspired me to put them into two beautiful necklaces a few weeks ago...which one do you prefer--or would you wear them together--layered for a dramatic song of autumn.

 

THERE ARE ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT TO COMMENT ON MY BLOG TO BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING FOR A FREE BRACELET...HURRY UP AND ENTER!!!!