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.

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....

new

~aquamarine~
It's an asymmetrical style necklace made with... of course... vintage re-purposed embellishments. The fantastic aquamarine and rhinestone focal on the side is an earring my Mom picked up for me at a yardsale. The chains and rhinestone beads(1940s) are from my Grandmother's stash. I added aqua pearls, silver czech crystal beads with sterling silver caps, an aqua and silver handmade Murano glass bead and a shimmering vitrial jewel cabochon surrounded by silver "roping".

my babies are leaving the nest....

Aha! For those of you who are artists, you may know that some of your pieces feel like your babies... yesterday I sold two more of my nicest necklaces, to the lovely buyer of Couture Charms. Now, I better get to work making more!

nouveau pearls

I've had this beautiful art nouveau style silver stamping for so long... I finally decided to add some simple pearls to compliment it in an elegant way. It's an asymmetrical piece, so the focus is on the side...which is my favorite style these days! It's 21 inches long, with pearls that are handwrapped together, going all the way up around the neck.

appletini!

Sometimes things are created more easily than others... this piece kind of made itself! I named it Appletini because I can just imagine some trendy chica wearing it with her cocktail dress during cocktail hour :) The gold swirl beads and textured chain come from my Grandmother's stash of beads from the days when she worked for the Vogue jewelry company in the 50s. I like the chunky architecture of it.

mad about mocha

I was asked recently to do a custom order...there was a set in my shop with vintage celluloid ivory roses and portrait cameos. She wanted the roses a MOCHA color. I searched and searched all the sources I could think of, and finally broke down and asked a fantastic fellow seller and friend of mine on Etsy (MataHariJewelry) how on earth I could find them...as the only ones vaguely close to what I needed were in Italy and would cost me about half what I would end up charging.
She told me that she had JUST been experimenting with dyeing the roses with RIT powder dye, and showed me the gorgeous outcome of her coral roses.
I decided to give it a go, using Cocoa Brown dye, and a little patience... after a few tries I was able to get the right shade for my customer, and now I am obsessed with dyeing everything mocha! I don't know what will happen when I get my hands on more colors...the possibilities are endless.