Couture Collection

I'm very excited to share the start of my new more dramatic "couture collection" I'm bringing my designs in this direction now, because it's what I enjoy making most. All pieces are absolutely one of a kind, created with an eye on current trends and vintage sensibility.

Rebecca

a modern vintage style bracelet, with a gorgeous vintage golden coppery filigree centerpiece, smokey quartz beads, aqua faceted glass briolette and champagne cubic zirconia briolette. available here featured in two beautiful Treasuries:

La Belle Collage

Wow, it's been too long since I've blogged! I've finally opened up the new shop I've been wanting to create. I named it La Belle Collage, the sister shop to La Belle Savage. I make digital fusion collages, available currently printed out on lovely glossy paper. I plan to expand into making tins and magnets as well.
available HERE

today's featured seller-The Mint Wagner Gallery

I met this wonderful fellow jewelry artist through my supply shop on Etsy. She has always been the kindest person, with a true appreciation for the product and the story behind it. The beads that she incorporates into some of her lovely creations come directly from my stash of vintage brass beads that I inherited from my Grandmother, who worked for the Vogue jewelry company from the 1940s through the 60s. Shown on the pieces here are the textured gold brass rondelles and beads.


here is an excerpt from her profile on Etsy:
About Me and my Jewelry:
"My name is Melissa and I am a woman who loves opposites: Light/Dark, Organic/Industrial, Ancient/Modern - and the best thing about these opposites is when they come together in the middle, co-mingling and creating interest and support for one another. It is like magic and it is what I strive for when I design jewelry."
here are some of her other beautiful designs:

here is her SHOP
here is my supply shop
thanks Melissa! happy creating to all....

indiespotting

It's been a little while since I've posted....I've been busy trying to figure out some advertising.... The Etsy forums are a great source and I've been pursuing some tips I've discovered on them. A good place is www.craftcult.com which costs $15 for a side bar ad, but there are alot of great places to get noticed for free... there's this really cool site called myshoppingconnection.com that has a whole Indie finds section, where you can submit a piece for them to display. Today I got the notice that "the magic garden" has been featured :) Where do you advertise? (here's the link)

merlot charmer

an amalgamation of vintage and new charms, re-purposed elements, sparkling rhinestones, Swarovski crystal, glass jewels and more... I love the deep merlot color of the rose at the center, from which the design is based on. I'm experimenting with new backgrounds for my pictures. I think I like the richness of these better. necklace available here

the magic garden

This necklace was so fun to make, just lots of playing around with flowers! In the center is a very special vintage re-purposed filigree leaf brooch with emerald rhinestones, and it's surrounded by vintage copper and gold metal flowers layered together and set on filigrees. Crystal octagon chandelier connector beads create lovely accents. available here

queen victoria at the disco

What would Queen Victoria wear to the disco? Hmmmmm, I'm not sure but I could see her in this! Fun and unique while remaining elegant, this new piece incorporates lovely black, antiqued brass, chandelier prisms and vintage sparkle....it is available here

rings & things

Well, things have been a bit slow in my shop, but at least things are better in the country! Congratulations President Obama! I have some fun things to share today. I posted lots of new rings, all between $11.50 and $12.00...

In other news, some of my pieces have been featured in some great Etsy Treasuries and blogs(click on images)...
champagne dragonfly earrings

coral rose ring (I love this darling pink collage in Glitter and Rhinestones blog!)

ivory bloom necklace

{featured song today is "Do I Do" by Stevie Wonder!}

ivory bloom

I have been wanting to experiment with using ribbons in my jewelry for quite a long time. I found this lovely satin edged ivory organza ribbon and combined it with a bold vintage ivory carved lucite rose and a "disco" ball faceted Swarovski crystal bead. available here I bought tons of black ribbon as well, I have some asymmetrical designs in mind coming up with those...

adorned- long asymmetrical style necklace

Created with purely vintage components, it is a pretty yet funky statement piece of jewelry. several strands of antiqued silver chains in different textures and sized combine with awesome turquoise glass and silver connectors, flanked by a cut crystal pendant, white floral carved cabochon on silver filigree, a side closing rhinestone clasp from the 40's and a sparkling strand of faceted Swarovski crystal to complete the look. it is available here
let me know you found it in my blog and I will include a free pair of earrings!

a modern romance- new necklace

I've had this gorgeous really rare vintage art nouveau carved glass pendant for a while... I finally created something romantic with it...
I attached it to a beautiful silver cherub stamping, and added strands of Swarovski crystal, vintage rhinestone rondelles, vintage glass pearls and gunmetal chain in an asymmetrical style. available here

ms.dietrich-my new fave

Inspired by the one and only Marlene Dietrich... this necklace incorporates a gorgeous vintage filigree tie clip which I've turned into a pendant, and attached a pearl and rhinestone encrusted drop. The chain is also vintage, and measures 25 1/2 inches. I love the long style, it would work nicely with a white button up man's top or even an elegant black dress....

icicles

Blue Winter by Robert Francis~
Winter uses all the blues there are.
One shade of blue for water, one for ice,
Another blue for shadows over snow.
The clear or cloudy sky uses blue twice-
Both different blues. And hills row after row
Are colored blue according to how for.
You know the bluejay's double-blur device
Shows best when there are no green leaves to show.
And Sirius is a winterbluegreen star.
_______________________________
I took pictures of icicles today and manipulated in photoshop (clickable for the full experience)...

yo te amo

....newly listed vintage laced multi-chain charm bracelet, featuring an awesome "yo te amo" charm made from 1950s vintage tooling and a sweet little etched bird charm. there are layers of different sized and textured chains, burgundy and sienna colored rectangular glass connectors and vintage champagne glass pearls. this bracelet can be purchased here

mirrored images

I'm a tiny bit obsessed with mirroring photographs I take in Photoshop :P These were all taken in my backyard and then mirrored and manipulated. You can find me on flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/labellesavage/ so feel free to visit me there or add me as a contact!

~bells & trumpets~

Newly listed! Beautiful bell and trumpet flower vintage style layered earrings. Prices range from $12.00-$15.00 as part of my new shop promotion, and shipping is only 1 dollar in the US. You can find them at my new shop, www.earringemporium.etsy.com

champagne dragonfly~necklace and earrings

I love this new set! I used champagne color cubic zirconia faceted teardrops and beautiful detailed dragonfly charms. A vintage ivory rose is added to the necklace along with asymmetrical accents of copper beads and delicate antiqued brass link chain. I've listed them in my shop seperately, as not everyone likes sets, but I'm hoping someone loves them enough to buy them together. I'm experimenting with a new photo background of grunge style handwriting. I think I like it as it adds to the vintage feel of my jewelry. What do you think?

using props in jewelry photography

Not that i'm an expert, but I thought I'd share my recent discovery of how cool it can be to include props in photographing your jewelry designs. I made this ring using a vintage flower cabochon and copper filigree ring base. I was thinking of how to showcase it in the best way and my mind stumbled across this pretty teacup... I decided to try it out with the ring on my finger. I took it on my front porch after it rained which makes for a good lighting situation, and you can see the wet wood in the background. I'm excited about the outcome and about trying out more options in the near future. sophia ring available HERE

my top etsy picks! first edition!

Welcome to the first edition of my TOP ETSY PICKS! I'm going to start posting every week or so to feature my favorite items/gift ideas. Support handmade! Click on the image to see a larger view.

these are the shops featured in order of appearance from left to right, all clickable:
www.JoannasPhotography.etsy.com
www.sweetheartsinner.etsy.com
www.lindylou2.etsy.com
www.toybreaker.etsy.com
www.stevester.etsy.com
www.carambatack.etsy.com
www.redrubyrose.etsy.com
www.frostingcouture.etsy.com
www.whatyoumacallits.etsy.com
www.PrettyRaccoon.etsy.com
www.ArtsNcharms.etsy.com
www.fromthehipcreations.etsy.com
www.BindMe.etsy.com
www.ItsAllAboutThePrint.etsy.com
www.dreamy1.etsy.com
www.JacqleenBleu.etsy.com