Put Some Bling on that thing!

Rosi of berrybeads from Long Island, NY enjoys making items that are both functional and pretty. One of her specialties is her beaded badge-holders which she constructs from glass, base metal bead spacers, and sometimes gemstone beads strung on 26 pound capacity beading wire that is double-crimped to keep the item you purchase secure.

If you remember the ‘60s the style will look very familiar to you; seed beads interspersed with larger glass beads in a kind of boho look.

If you’ve got a cell phone or mp3 player then you don’t have to be rich to add some bling to that thing! Cute and fun stuff is waiting for you. Go and get some of these accessories, and take a few home for friends and family while you’re at it.

She also offers decorative zipper pulls;

Butterfly Bling Zipper Pull - $4.50
Measures 1.25 inches (about 5.5 cm) long including the clip and is fashioned from glass beads and silver base metal

cell phone charms;

Heart Charm Cell Phone Bling - $4.50
Decoration for a cell phone or mp3 player; Glass beads with silver color base metal spacers and a sterling silver heart charm. This piece measures 1 3/4 inches (4.2 cm) without the 2” cell phone leash.

as well as regular fashion jewelry, all priced at $25.00 and under;

Fishy Earrings - $8.00
Funky abstract fish earrings formed by hand using silver artistic wire; 3 inches (8cm) from the top of the ear wire, and hung with a stone bead.

Copper n' Stone Necklace - $25.00
19 inch long ID badge lanyard made with 18 mm stone beads and copper wire bent in the shape of swirled hearts.

To see more bling go to;
http://berrybeads.etsy.com

Read the artist’s blog here;

http://blog.berrybeady.com

See More cserpent!

Green Gurty Beaded Spider - $13.50
Made as a pendant or pin, she measures 2" (5.1 cm) by 2 1/4" (5.7 cm). She'll be flattened when she ships so you'll have to shape her up when she arrives. The large bead on her hind end may possibly be 100 years old and is definitely Vintage.

Susan of cserpent makes artisan jewelry and other beaded items using sterling silver, lampwork, gold-filled and some other varieties of beads. Her Etsy store carries interesting things such as cell phone charms, beaded pens (like the one you see above), bookmarks, and wine charms.

Red Clay Bangle Bracelet - Artisan Lampwork, Poppy Jasper and Sterling Silver - $45.00
A lampwork focal bead by Carol Colgan, red with ivory swirls, sterling silver beads, faceted poppy jasper beads, and stamped sterling silver tubes. It measures 6 1/4" (15.9 cm) on a bracelet sizer and should fit a 5 3/4" (14.6 cm) wrist.

The name of her Etsy online store came from when she and her husband went on a scuba diving trip and he nicknamed her sea serpent because that’s what she reminded her of, as she was tall and thin.

Both husband and mother contribute in some way to her jewelry-making and share her interest in it. Her mother also collects beads, and her husband bought her the stamp she uses for all her cards with her business name on it.

Susan started making jewelry when she was on a soccer team and a teammate invited her to take a wire-wrapping class with her. She made a bracelet and then went on to make a watchband from an idea sparked by one she saw in a magazine, and from then on she began to get more and more interested in making jewelry. As her work drew the interest of friends and family, she soon decided to start selling it to the public.

Pink Parade - Artisan Lampwork and Sterling Silver Bracelet - $111.00
Made with pink lampwork beads by UK glass artist sarahb119, large white freshwater pearls, Czech glass leaves, flowers, faceted rounds and rondelles, ruby round beads, crystal quartz pumpkins and LOTS of sterling silver. 7 1/2" (19 cm) on a bracelet sizer and should fit a 7" (17.8 cm) wrist, but can adjust size if needed.


Wild Pen - Lime/Orange/Blue Lampwork Beaded Pen - $41.00
Pen with Pewter, Silver, (and Lampwork beads made by Geoff Porter) on the upper part. The dangles include Czech glass, murano, cats’ eye, green aventurine, blue quartz, seed and other miscellaneous beads. It measures 6.25" (15.9 cm) in length.

Susan belongs to several Etsy Street Teams; CCCOE (California Crafters Club on Etsy), JET (Jewelry on Etsy), etsyBEAD (bead lovers of all sorts), BeadHive (started on Ebay and has now joined Etsy a group of jewelry artisans who all use high quality components to create artisan quality jewelry) and TBO (Tranquil Beading Oasis).

If you put JET or JHS in the comments section when you buy an item your shipping is FREE!!!

To see more cserpent, go to:
http://cserpent.etsy.com

To read more about the artist and her activities, go to her blog:
http://cserpentDesigns.blogspot.com

Quenching Your Thirst For Color

Lemon cream BUTTON BRACELET - $5.00
made with 5 yellow and 4 white plastic buttons and measures about 7.25" with the clasp.

Amanda, owner of Ulixis and a Biology and Pharmacology Student at McMaster University is currently working on her thesis at Janssen lab doing video microscopy on smooth muscle cell-migration.

She has enjoyed art in a variety of forms all her life; drawing, wreaths, doll-making, and currently makes books and jewelry. Perhaps her interest in science on a cellular level is what spurred her to create these button bracelets which are her specialty. There is something very biological-looking about these components linked together in a long chain, but equally notable are the colors she chooses, reminiscent of juicy and luscious fruits and deserts. One can imagine while looking at these, bright and tangy lemon, tart lime, exquisitely sweet and mellow cataloup, crisp white coconut, and the deep succulent cherry.

Using both round and triangular buttons Amanda creates simple yet attractive geometric designs. The proportionally large metal jump rings really add interest to her pieces, standing up in contrast to the flat discs and making them more three dimensional.

Her prices are an excellent bargain; all button bracelets only $5.00 each!

Lime Sorbet BUTTON BRACELET - $5.00
Approx. 8" long. Made of 5 light green and 4 creamy yellow plastic buttons. The dangle consists of: various green glass seed beads; a faceted green bead; and a square faceted green bead flanked by creamy yellow seed beads.


Raving Red BUTTON BRACELET - $5.00
About 7" long. Made with 3 large cherry red, 2 orange-red and 2 red triangle buttons. The dangle consists of: a bow-tie shaped red plastic bead; two pearls separated by a red seed bead; and various red and pearl seed beads.


Fruit Salad BUTTON BRACELET - $5.00
About 7" long. Made with 2 lemon yellow triangles, 2 lime green triangles, 2 cantaloupe orange large round and 1 red triangle buttons. The dangle consists of: a large yellow plastic bicone; a green plastic bicone with a green glass seed bead; and various red and orange seed beads.

Her bracelets can be re-sized if needed, and she is willing to do custom orders. She does not give refunds, but should a piece need repair she'll repair it at no charge.

The artist is also offering free Gift-wrapping for the holidays. If this is to be a gift just let her know. In addition to contacting her through Etsy, Amanda can also be reached at ulixis.crafts@gmail.com with questions or comments. Please let her know where you heard about her.

Check out the rest of her creations on Etsy:
http://Ulixis.etsy.com

And read her blog: http://ulixis.blogspot.com

Art As Universal Language

Nera Blums Sterling Silver Earrings - $22.50
Flower post earrings, 1 cm - .5 inch wide with black oxidized stamen

Catherine Marche of Kalicat Designs has am extensive background in graphic arts and graduated from the University of Orléans (FRANCE) in 1990 in Mathematics and Physics, Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, Conservatoire National de Musique, from 1990-91 the University of Vermillion (USA), graduated in Computer Sciences and Music, 98-2000 Central St Martins College of Art and Design, Etching - Photoshop and web design.

In the year 2000 she went on to study at Putney School of Arts, Screenprinting, then in 2001 at Artichoke Studios - Lithography, Bankside Gallery – Linocut, in 2003 learned Book Illustration at the Chelsea School of Arts, then learned Adobe Illustrator in 2003, and studied Fashion Illustration at the London College of Fashion in 2005.

She worked for 10 years as an IT consultant, and then went on to become a Fashion Illustrator, putting to work a lot of the skills she had previously learned.

Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Paris, in 1967, then growing up in several countries, Catherine learned to speak several languages. She often changed schools as often as 3 times a year. Her ability to adapt to many different environments came in handy later in life.

"I grew up in several countries as my Dad was in the airforce.
I went to kindergarten in Germany, then Primary school in Germany, Africa and back to France. I love the fact it made me bilingual and have a real easiness learning new foreign languages. I also speak English, Spanish, a bit of Dutch and Creole and am learning Japanese. I stil have a love of travelling and discovering new cultures. I studied in the USA and noe live in London UK."

Catherine has a love of colors, feels she may be influenced by Die Brucke artists like Otto Mueller. "I also love Dali, Picasso and am crazy for Nikki de St Phalle and Louise Bourgois, "she remarks. "I have also collected a few African artefacts and sculptures made of wood which are a delight to my senses."

Her parents were very permissive and went further than most to nurture the artistic qualities in their child. "As a child, my parents "gave me" free expression on my walls, which still have some murals to these days and my brothers and I also had a few notebooks where we could write and draw everything we wanted. My parents always encouraged all artistic expression and allowed me to learn music. I have a degree in music and still paint, illustrated, play the pianio, and the saxophone."

In addition to having worked as an IT consultant she has worked as an interpreter, a model, a translator, a math teacher, a private tutor, an arts teacher at various times during her life.

Now she doesn't exhibit as much as she used to since her children have been born but in addition to making jewelry she currently paints, does Fashion design, and designs wedding invitations.

Some of her work is still on display in a museum in Tayali (Zambia).

She sites among the disadvantages of being a jewelry artist in the UK; the cost of living being so high there making it hard to compete with US prices, and the advantages being that she lives in a hub of creative people and that people there have very eclectic tastes in art.

"I really like The Penland book of Jewelry which showcases unusual jewelry and techniques.Visits to the Victoria and Albert Museum and estate auctions are also very inspirational."

She recommends to other artists to make what they feel like making and not necessarily what they think will sell or what others do.

If you look at her catherinemarche.com site gallery http://www.catherinemarche.com/gallery.html you will see just how varied her work is and how many ways she’s been able to put it to use! Her drawing/painting styles range from a whimsical, stylized gesture drawing impressionistic style,

Lola plumes rouges - Price: £220 - US$ 350
inks on paper

to quite classic, formal paintings and drawings of nudes

Naomi
Crayon on Paper
Size: 20 x 30 cm.


Sleeping Beauty - Price: $ 450.00 - £300
Acrylic on Paper
Dimensions: 20" x 28"

and portaits of people that are hightly realistic;

Nour
Oil on Canvas
24" x 18",
commission
Private collection


La Lectrice - The reader - £450 - $670 - 680€
Huile sur bois - Oil on wood
53 x 60 cms - 21" x 24"

Catherine has had a number of corporate clients for her illustrations, and her work has been in private museum collections in France, UK, USA, West Indies, Netherlands, and Spain, and represented in galleries in France, and in the US (Pennsylvania, and Florida).

Her work has appeared in magazines, on TV, and she has retained high-profile clients such as L’Oreal.

Her jewelry includes anything from simple beaded designs to traditional precision metal fabrication.

"I've Always been crazy for jewelry, always will be" says Catherine. "I had about 60 pairs of earrings as a teenager, which was when I started making my own jewels. I have designed and commissioned several pieces in sterling silver, 18K gold, and platinum, including my engagement ring and wedding ring. Becoming a jeweller was just a normal extension of my artistic expression. (Catherine is going 3D)." It is quite interesting that so many jewelry artists started out in 2 dimensional art and feel compelled to translate their work into 3-D form although they may continue drawing and painting or alternate between both artforms. I have heard this from a number of people and I myself have always felt a need to have things be 3-dimensional. There is a sense of completeness you just don't quite get from a flat canvas or paper.

Catherine once was looking through a fashion magazine after one of her children was born and her husband asked her what she'd like as a present to celebrate the birth. She came across the picture of a gorgeous emerald-cut Rubellite ring by the exclusive Boucheron Jewellers. Not having any idea how much it cost, her husband took her over there, they got it out of the vault and when it came time to pay for it the clerk informed them it would be $440,000. Her husband looked as though he might faint any minute, and she told the man showing it to them that this was "a bit over" their "budget," returning the ring to it's secure fortress behind thick steel doors.

Some of her nicest pieces are these that I have included here.

These Blum Blum earrings are her best-sellers.

Blum Blum sterling silver Stud Earrings - $32.00
Solid sterling handcrafted pair of earrings delivered with sterling silver earposts, in an organza pouch.

This ring has an anticlastic look, with a substantial width, and subtly textured surface; graceful but with a very nice weightiness.

Large Sterling Silver Ring - $49.50
Adjustable, formed ring with hammered finish (one size fits all)

This bracelet on the other-hand makes use of its wispiness and contrasting negative space to capitalize on its lightness. With just one ring in 18 Karat gold amongst the sterling silver loops, its delicate understatement is what makes this piece work.

Loopy - 18K gold and Sterling Silver Bracelet - $495
Solid 18K yellow gold and Sterling Silver BraceletEach loopy link has been forged and fabricated by hand. Bracelet measures approx. 7”.

This piece with round Jade beads spilling in a bunch from the center of a large-link sterling chain, fittingly named Green Peas Delight really is delightful! The beads seem to cascade from it like a lively waterfall.

Green Peas Delight Jade and sterling Silver Bracelet - $50.00
Sterling silver chain with 7 jade beads resembling peas, approx length 7", or 19 cm.

Surprisingly, Catherine says that her most successful venue has been on Etsy, then shows and Open Studios second and third.

Look for more of her work at VIX Emporium in Philadelphia.

Techniques she would like to learn are Pave' , Repousse, and Chasing.

When asked what her plans are to present her work to holiday shoppers she said, "I have already done 1 Christmas market, did an open studio today, and will do another one next week; http://www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk/events/open-studios/fairs/hidden-art-members-at-hothouse

Her plans long-term for her business are to create new collections, be commissioned by fashion houses to design their collections, and she would like her jewelry to be liked by many, and to adorn many more.

For more beautiful work available, or to place a custom order, go to:
http://kalicat.etsy.com
and
http://www.catherinemarche.com

and in the UK: http://www.tuggle.co.uk/index.php?cPath=210_237&osCsid=40722d1de3c1240bbc9a00d0b1938b4b
and in Europe: http://www.dawanda.com/

To learn more about the artist, read her blog: http://kalicatdesigns.blogspot.com

and her reviews on other artists:
http://honeyandsweets.blogspot.com/

A Tender Strength

Eek A Spider - $24.00
Made of white waxed linen “wedding knot” macramé; measures 22 inches (56cm) long. It features one 25mm snowflake obsidian donut and one 8mm Snowflake Obsidian bead to represent the spider. Includes twelve 6mm Tourmalinated Quartz beads, and twelve 3mm Snowflake Obsidian beads.

Kirsten of earthcharms makes jewelry intended to have a positive effect upon the wearer. When you peruse her Etsy store you will notice that each piece in her shop has a little statement underneath about the metaphysical properties of the stones used in the design; even the numerology behind them.

Her specialty is macramé using waxed linen cord, incorporating natural gemstone beads, and she uses a lot of Hematite, Prehnite, and Fluorite, each of these gemstones having a special meaning.

My favorite pieces of hers are the elaborately knotted chokers which have a lovely, lacy style and very polished and elegant upscale look yet without any hint of pretentiousness. One can look at the work and sense the path each hand has taken from beginning to end of the making imprinted upon the finished piece. Unlike a lot of the macramé you see out there her ends are nice and neat and inconspicuous, and they have a svelte braided taper as they transition from the body of the piece to the beaded closure, graceful as the neck of a swan.

I have always had a special place in my heart for buds on branches, and the way she places her beads on the cord reminds me of the way a bud nestles ever so gently to its stalk. It looks deceptively fragile, yet is quite firmly attached. Many of her descriptions touch on the concept of centeredness and staying or becoming grounded, and this is a recurrent theme in her work. Perhaps the symbolism of the beads perched seemingly precariously on their stem is a metaphor for the delicate balancing act between reaching out to take a risk for positive change while at the same time being cautious not to lose her footing in the process of her forays out into an uncertain world. We are sometimes stronger than we know. Should catastrophe befall us and we are tested, we often discover that another day passes and we wake up intact the following morning, surprised maybe, but relieved and a little proud for not having “fallen off our tree” so to speak, despite the killing frost.

Polarity - Prehnite and Hematite choker - $22.00
Twenty two 6mm Prehnite beads and 6 hematite beads macramed onto waxed cotton;
19 inches / 48 cm long, with a hoop and Prehnite nugget closure.

Deep Sea - choker with Hematite and Quartz - $24.00
Made with blue waxed linen and measures a total of 26 inches long, so it may also be draped along the collar bones. It features one 2.5 cm hematite donut, eight 6mm hematite round beads, and twelve 8mm quartz cubes.


Insight - earrings with Prehnite and Fluorite - $12.00
These earrings hang about 3/4 an inch (2cm) from their surgical steel French hooks.

For a gift your loved ones will really appreciate, go to her online store:
http://earthcharms.etsy.com

and to read more about the artist and her current news, take a look through her blog:
http://www.earth-charms.blogspot.com

Branding, Brazilian Style

Isa Style Pastel Necklace - $334.00
Triple-strand with more than 180 carefully chosen beads: Jablonex glass beads,Vintage crystal, mother of pearl, murano style glass beads, swarovski rondelles and bicone beads, Cloissones, Venetian square silver beads, gold-plated clasp. Measures:
1st strand- 42 cm2nd strand- 45 cm3rd strand- 50 cm

Contasbrasil, a multi-pronged network of online stores, and a more recently added boutique, is owned by two sisters from the city of Curbita, capital of the state of PARANÁ, in the south of Brazil. Suzy Wortberg and Bebê de Soares, and a third artist, Suzy’s best friend Ana Paula Vilas Boas (creator of The Waterfall Necklaces) make jewelry for the enterprise. The most recent addition to the close-knit group was Sandra Fukelmann with her unique doll bags after Suzy shared a stand with her at the fair CPD in Düsseldorf.

Suzy makes the following, just to name a few: Santinha-Pastel Colour, Beads Allerei, Chanel Lovers, Isa Style Pastel, BlacknBlack, Green/Lavender Fields. Bebê's makes Shades of (all of them), Onyx and Nude, and Volcano.

Bebê made the necklace called I Love Pearls.

On November, 15th, 2007 Suzy opened their new brick and mortar store in Cologne. While she was taking care of the renovation of the shop, her sister Bebê was busily promoting it on the web. To make her new shop a "must visit" when tourists come to Cologne, Suzy decorated the walls with coconut shells and the fabric that they use as a bag for their necklaces (called chita). Now that the majority of the preliminary work is completed Suzy hopes to have more time to network.

Currently the new store sells only ContasBrasil jewelry and Doll bags, and until now has been the only store in Germany to carry them.

It all happened a bit more than two years ago” says Suzy. “I was already living in Germany for 13 years with my husband and daughter, and had finished my ballet Dancing career. As a Christmas present, I got a beautiful necklace from my best friend Ana Vilas Boas, who lives in Brazil. She is an Architect and we’d danced ballet together. It was a piece made by her. She had never done jewelry before, but just for fun, started to make some and give them to her friends. I was fascinated by her talent! I asked her to make 4 other pieces so maybe I could show them to my friends in Germany.”

Back home in Germany Suzy looked at her jewelry box, took some pieces that were broken and some others that she was a bit tired of wearing, carefully chose some of the beads, and decided to give it a try herself. She created her first necklace and once she started she was captivated by this new excitement she felt as the beads were strung onto the nylon thread (the only thread she knew to use at that time.That very first necklace she made was similar to the necklace Beads Allerei, and the very first one she ever sold! After that, she began selling Ana Paula's work with hers.

Then came the name of the shop, Contas, which is an old Portuguese name for all kinds of beads, and the logo. She described how she wanted it to look and her husband drew it. Bebê was then an actress, living in Sao Paulo at that time (actually she was in Germany before Suzy moved there, and then moved with her German husband and kids for 6 years in Brazil). After 4 months of selling very well but mostly to friends and family, someone told Suzy she should try a fashion fair.

“Bebê, who was then moving back to Cologne helped me a lot” said Suzy, “ because she could buy beads and Brazilian stones for the collection in Brazil and also look for someone that could make our folders, banners, etc for the fair. Here in Germany it can be immensely expensive!” Bebê got so involved with everything that even she began to make some necklaces. A bit embarrassed, she told Suzy she would like to send some pictures of her work. “I couldn't believe my eyes” Suzy exclaimed, “especially when I saw them (come to) life! And that's how everything happened...”

Bebê and Suzy currently live in Cologne but they fly once or twice a year to Brazil where their large family lives.

ContasBrasil became a full time job for Suzy. Bebê started rehearsing for a new theater play a month ago, but still manages to make wonderful pieces for the new shop. She is continuing to promote the shop on the web, and plans to keep making jewelry for Contas.

Ana Paula still works as an Architect in Brazil but never stopped creating her beauties for the business.

After the fair, Bebê’ and Suzy placed work in 15 shops in Germany. After that Suzy set her sights on opening her own shop. “Four shops are still selling our work, and now that my big dream became reality, I can plan the fairs again.”

Suzy remembers an early experience with a particularly promising and interested customer.

“My very first client at the fair was someone from Japan. I was very impressed by that. In the end we never managed to make big business with them because we make everything ourselves and the pieces are unique. So it became impossible to fulfill the expectations of the Japanese...But this shop now is my big success! I have to say thanks to Bebê’s perseverance; whenever some technical problem would appear, she was immediately looking on (the) internet for a solution, better material, new methods; our work improved a lot!

I think my mother's perfectionism in her work (she has a ballet school in Brazil) and my father's great communication talent to people (he is an Ophthalmologist) were somehow a big influence to the quality of work we are delivering. We experience a great amount of positive feedback not only because of the beauty of our jewelry, but also the way we transmit what is behind this work; our Brazilian identity.”

The most expensive piece they’ve sold was one of Bebê's necklaces, a very exquisite design, with a big yellow Agate, Brazilian seeds, Lapis Lazuli, and Swarovski crystal. The buyer was so enchanted by the piece that price was no object!

Although up until now ContasBrasil has only produced beaded jewelry, Suzy and Bebê plan to learn soldering to expand their repertoire of techniques.

In preparation for the coming holiday season Bebê is making X-Large necklaces, Ana Paula, the Pernambuco Collection (Pernambuco is a State in Northeast Brazil, very warm and colorful, where she spent her last Holidays), and Suzy is busy working with metals and stones.


BluesnBlues Waterfall - $58.00
A lovely Murano style Millifiori central bead and different blue beads, tons of wood, glass, acrylic and crystal beads.


Murano Style Bead 24mm X 14mm - $8.00
Turquoise color with large holes that run through the middle, top to bottom. 35% OFF


FLOR DOLL BAG- $218.00
Tall: 20cm/7.90 inches Wide: 27 cm/10.60 inches

ContasBrasil has done a great job of selling its exotic cultual image, a growing practice in business once frowned-upon but now recognized as a very savvy and effective marketing practice. It is a beautiful example of how diversity can be an assett rather than a liability, a perfect way to celebrate a heritage and a means through which to educate the public on the value of preserving culture in modern society.

Be sure to check out both of their online Etsy stores:
http://contasbrasil.etsy.com
http://contascoeln.etsy.com/

Their other website:
www.contasbrasil.de

and to learn more about what they’re doing, take a look at her blog:
http://contaskoeln.blogspot.com/

Offerings to the Gods

Dina Cuomo of Elektrajewelry has worked with stones for over 10 years and loves working with 18 or 24 Kt. gold vermeil because of her Greek heritage and her travels to that country which have made a strong impression upon her. She also works with sterling silver, and recently brought back some Murano glass beads from Greece over the summer. She will be making more of these designs available in the near future.

One of my favorites of hers is Multicolored Tourmaline Bracelet with colors ranging from a rootbeer brown to a yellow-green, bali sterling silver clasp, and nugget spacer beads with facets that reflect the light and mimic the faceting on the gemstones used.

Her Sunstone and Turquoise necklace similarly gives off a warm glow, but in this one, the Turquoise adds contrast between cool and warm, lending another layer of interest.

Purple Passion has big, smooth organic chunks of tumbled Amethyst, a bali focal bead, and lemon opalite. This piece reminds me of fruit juice with its rich, velvety colors.

Pictured at top is Dina’s Carnelian Candy necklace. I first thought the metal was vermeil but then read in the description that it uses brass chain. It has a very elegant design, and the Carnelian rectangles have such a glow from inside. Note the luxurious length!

Until recently, being a fulltime teacher and mother prevented her from pursuing this full-time, but Dina has now launched her business full-force. She currently lives in Goldens Bridge, New York. To see her whole collection go to her Etsy store at:
http://Elektrajewelry.etsy.com

and to learn more about the artist, read her blog at:
http://elektrajewelry.blogspot.com/

That’s One-Of-A-Kind- That’s Headley!

A look around Ginny Headley-Maserang’s Etsy store will tell you that each piece she makes is a new beginning. Although the San Antonio, Texas native does have a discernable Southwestern flavor to her designs it is not the clichéd Southwestern style jewelry you see so much of around the web and in stores. Rather than the predominant traditional Turquoise and Coral often used in this style of jewelry, Ginny uses a lot of green, pale blue, and earth toned natural stones, particularly Serpentine, Amazonite, and Aventurine. Some of her pieces also use metal buttons as toggles, and a variety of glass beads, and in addition to the gemstone beads she also likes big, funky beads from Africa.

Most notable are her wire-woven pieces using sterling silver wire to create a bail as in this piece, Nereid Sacred Heart Necklace, which uses Abalone, Mother of Pearl, Aventurine, Seaweed Quartz, and Glass in its multiple strands and sterling silver cones and toggle.

Another very lovely necklace is a cross with interwoven garnet chips and Hill Tribes silver (which is at least 97% pure).

Ginny’s jewelry business is stress relief from her “day job” as a public health consultant in infectious disease and emergency preparedness. If you love to shop online for refreshing new and original jewelry, skip the stress of the mall this holiday season and go to http://thatsheadley.etsy.com/ and don’t forget to see her blog at http://thatsheadley.blogspot.com/