Showing posts with label handcrafted. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handcrafted. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

MY NEW FAVORITE GEMSTONE!


The Uniquely All-American Gem ...
Oregon Sunstone!



Oregon Sunstone is found only in the remote South Central Grasslands

Collectors and jewelry lovers from all over the world are fast becoming aware of this uniquely American gemstone.  This is really, really unusual material. There's nothing like it available anywhere else in the world, and I can't get enough of the unique metallic glitter that comes from the patterns of copper inside of this gem.

And don't get me started on how transparent it is!

Oregon Sunstone and Silver Double Strand Bracelet

Peachy-pink, pale with a lot of schiller, this bracelet has a beautiful soft ethereal look to it.  It's gorgeous . . . it glows! It's next to impossible to capture the beauty of this gemstone with a camera ...
 
Unique to Sunstone from Oregon is the schiller phenomenon, caused by the millions of microscopic copper bits found in each stone. The schiller phenomenon makes the Sunstone appear to glow as if it had it's own internal light source, and creates a beautiful shimmer effect inside the stone.  These gems, also known as 'Red Labradorite', formed in lava flows that cover much of southeastern Oregon. Inside the lava flow is a matrix where the colored sunstones are found.

Spectacular stones in rare Dichroic Green, Reds and Pinks (Sold)

These stones are, when cut, some of the most beautiful gems around!

They are only found in one area of Oregon that is very remote. Colors of the stone vary from clear, champagne, yellow, light pink, salmon, orange, and red to blue-green. Intense red and blue-green are the colors that are most rare. Sometimes, when viewed from different angles, as many as three colors will show within one stone.  It's a luminous gemstone with fine grained coppery shiller which allows for transparency in the stone yet still produces the phenomenon of aventurescence or "glitter".   Some are bichroic and dichroic color-change stones - which produce different colors under different lights and at different angles.

 
See this bracelet at jQ jewelry designs on Etsy

Oregon Sunstone  is not enhanced in any way like many other gemstones. There is no use of chemicals, irradiation, heat-treating, or oiling of any kind. What you get is exactly as the stone exists in nature, simply beautiful. 

Sunstone is the official Oregon State Gemstone. It is also an ancient gem and has been discovered in Viking burial mounds. The Vikings thought it was a talisman for navigation.


Petite nuggets paired with large sterling silver earwires

In the rugged high desert of south central Oregon, embedded in ancient volcanic lava under the sage brush and grass . . .


 
 
. . . lies Oregon Sunstone
 
 
 




 



I love working with nuggets drilled in both directions, and this is the finest Oregon Sunstone
I've had the pleasure of seeing ... all the gorgeous rare colors. It's unlikely I'll be working with the strand you see above anytime soon ۞ bargain-priced at only $795!!!



I'm always on the lookout for interesting material While this example is not top of the line, I
love the speckled stones. Very unique and I've never run across anything like it before.


Oregon Sunstone ... An All-American Beauty









Tuesday, March 1, 2011

MY LOVE AFFAIR . . . .

. . . with PROMOTIONAL FRENZY TEAM TREASURIES !!!


More Than Honeysuckle   ~   Curator: Lbtoyas

In my humble opinion, no discussion of Promotional Frenzy Team Treasuries, or any Etsy Treasury for that matter, would make any sense at all without mention of the lady I so fondly refer to as The Treasury Diva ... LbToyos!  Lourdes is very creative and has a special eye for color and form. Her appearance on Page One of the Treasury is about as close to a sure thing as you can get!  I'm a big fan ... and you may view her wonderful Treasury Collections and decide for yourself!  Her 'More Than Honeysuckle' is one of my recent favorites and is a tribute to Pantone's Color of the Year.

Now don't get me wrong, there is plenty of Treasury talent on this Team!  Below are just a few of the wonderful Collections brought to you by several of our members last week. Although I'd love to show you all of the Treasuries put forth by our members, this is just a smattering of the Collections that have made it to page one, slot one.

For a look at all the Treasuries tagged with 'Promotional Frenzy' you may click this link.


Birds of a Feather Flock Together   ~   Curator: Galla15

Everything is Blue   ~   Curator: HogansHandiwork

Spring Romance   ~   Curator: SeaFlowerStudios

Light and Breezy   ~   Curator: GlitterbirdGlamour

A Breath of Fresh Air   ~   Curator: jQjewelrydesigns
And so my Love Affair continues . . . 
                                                                           

                                              . . .and there's plenty of Love to go around!





Wednesday, September 8, 2010

LET'S GET IN THOSE APPLICATIONS!


Applying for the 2011 Spring/Summer Shows


Even though it's a good eight months away, the deadline to apply is only a week away for one of my favorite art festivals.  It's definitely time to be thinking about the  2011 season.  We all know that there is high demand to be included in certain juried art festivals in each of our areas - the ones that are in great locations and pull in the largest numbers of visitors who come to buy!

Festivals with all-day crowds like this are popular with Artists

In the Atlanta are there is a great deal of competiontion to get in four particular Spring and Summer events, and the competition among those who create handmade jewelry is especially tough.  It's a real accomplishment to go through the jurying process and get that acceptance letter. 

In this area, the best of the best is considered to be the Dogwood Festival.  It is one of the largest and most diverse juried art festivals in the country.  More than 250 artists from around the country exhibit in 12 categories.  It has been in existence for 75 years.


April 15 - 17, 2011    The deadline to apply was October 22, 2010





Setup begins very early in the morning the day before the event

The Dunwoody Art Festival will be in its second year and is taking place Mothers Day weekend.
This show is just around the corner from me and had a lot of success last year.  Some very talented jewelers, as well as artists from the South in diverse categories such as painting, glass, clay, wood, photography, leather, metal and mixed media.  The dealdline to apply is only a week away.

Mothers Day weekend, May7 & 8, 2011

The Decatur Arts Festival is one of my favorites and takes place before it gets very hot in Atlanta.  Decatur is a sophisticated 'small town' that is artsy and quite charming.  The city sponsers many interesting events throughout the year.  This show is also jutied with many applicants hoping to be included in this successful show.  People definitely come to buy!

May 21 & 22, 2011

Beautiful Decatur home
Charming restaurant in the center of Decatur

The city sponsers many concerts and events

Virginia-Highland has a yearly show that takes place in early June and the temperatures are almost always quite hot!  This show isn't as large as the others, but is always fun.  This area is quirky and many interesting people come to this art fair.  Attendance is good as are sales.


Virginia-Highland is known for diverse shops that support indie artisans


This years show will be June 4-8 . . .  It is a wonderful area!


This time of the year is always hectic.  I'm trying to get a lot of stock made for the Fall season, as well as the Holidays which will be here before we know it!  The deadlines for all the Spring and Summer festival applications have a way of creeping up on me.  I'm always surprised when I realize I have a whole bunch of paperwork to do and a very short time to do it!  Most of the time I wish I had a robot or something waiting in the wings to take care of it for me . . .

Ahhhh, a dream come true!

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Free Handcrafted Jewelry Giveaway!!


Free Handmade Jewelry Give-Away!!

Eclectic Jewelry Artisans will be holding a drawing on the Summer Solstice - June 21st.

Your eyes do not deceive!

Free handmade jewelry and surprise gifts, will be given away to three lucky winners on June 21st – the Summer Solstice. No purchase is necessary. All you need to do is sign up for our mailing list to be entered into the drawing.

Visit EEJA.org and click on “Mailing List”.
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