collected:

i'm attempting to change things up a bit around here & the first change is to have a weekly date with you here, to share the things i've been interested in every thursday. 

Victorians:iI love this tumblr: fyeahvictorians. it's filled with photographs, advertisements, paintings etc etc from one of my favorite eras.

8 tracks: this site is reinventing the art of the mix tape. users upload digital 'mix tapes' that are free to listen to. lately i've been joined at the rib to users schkelly, & one of my favorite online friends: ghoul next door. perfect for when you're sick to death of your ipod and need new music. 

Magic Boots: it's nearly october & i've been digging all the boots in stores now. as a year round boot girl i always look forward to this season & these claw boots by gee wa wa are by far my current favorites.

Shadow Selves: currently on my to-read list once i've plowed through 'the children's hospital' is Conjunctions # 54, a special issue of our 'shadow selves' filled with stories and poems that meditate on our inner and outer selves. 

Justice: tomorrow night at johalla projects gallery in chicago, Wild Card, a group show featuring 21 artists interpretations of the tarot opens. the show includes artists such as heather gabel, alexis mackenzie and me! wish i could be there & hope to share pictures soon.

xo

*feautred: 'milky zone system' photo.

Jewelry Highlights from Paris and Milan

Jewelry hunting at last year's spring ready-to-wear collections was like shooting fish in a barrel. Everywhere you looked there were huge statement necklaces, boatloads of bangles and lots of layered links.

This year? The runway shine is as dull as a Michael Bolton quickstep.

HOWEVER - there are two noteworthy designers that used the jewel to make their lines pop: Giorgio Armani in Milan and Zac Posen in Paris (his show wrapped just hours ago). Observe...

Armani's Spring Ready-to-Wear collection was all about midnight madness. The navy night sky in Africa was Mr. Armani's inspiration, according to Style.com - and the jewelry he chose echoed the sentiment beautifully (I'm digging out my midnight sapphires as we speak...).

Zac Posen's line was more flirty, feathered and flapperish - with mesh jewelry styles that scream "Industrial Maven meets Prohibition Chic". Bravo.

With the Parisian pret-a-porter extravaganza just underway, some of my favorite designers are still on the calendar - Dior/Galliano, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier. Will they bejewel their beauties? Stay tuned...

My Double Life...

First of all, I would like to say that I am thrilled to be a part of this group with an amazing group of artists. I am looking forward to see all of the possibilities that can happen with our new blog and website.

Hmmmmm...a double life....Well...It's not really all that juicy...just wanted to get your attention ;o).

You won't see it in the upcoming movie of the week or a new reality show (although there was a time in my life that I think I could have made millions during the years I was raising teenagers), but my double life today is pretty common in the world of jewelry.

I have been a special education teacher for 26 years which means I'm no spring chicken anymore!  Although I really do love my job and feel very fortunate to have some special friends that I work with, I do hope to retire one day.  It's the hope that my husband Bill, also a teacher and artist and I can retire and spend the golden years creating with clay.  He is a wood-fire potter and I am a ceramic bead artist.  I love creating with clay.  I love clay because there are so many choices in terms of shapes, size, styles and glazes that makes this form of creating something I don't think I will ever tire of. 

Okay...I'm going to cut myself off here since I need some material for my next post ;o)

Here are some beads that are a definite favorite.  There is a little story that goes along with these....

The above pictures are the original Lacey Beads....made right from the little artist herself!!!

My granddaughters...Lacey and Chloe

One day approx. 1.5 years ago when my then 2 year old adorable granddaughter Lacey was starting to show an interest in bead making, I tried to teach her to roll a little ball.  Each time I rolled one and tried to get her to do the same by putting it in front of her, she poked her little finger in it.  I'd say, "Look Honey, Watch Nonnie...."

I'd roll again....She would poke again...

This went on until we had about 50 or so squished beads.  I decided that it was her design so I would make the most of it even though it wasn't the plan.  I had so many of them that I decided to put a bunch aside for her to glaze in primary colors and glaze the rest with some adult colors.  Well, I listed my first group on Etsy and they sold in less that 2 hours!!!  Yay, Lacey!  Lacey beads have been re-created many, many times since.

Lacey Beads today... A replication of the original :O)

Cooper-Hewitt Museum's People's Design Award

My really great husband, Eric, a University of North Texas design prof, nominated my braille alphabet bracelet for a Cooper-Hewitt Museum People's Design Award. I would be thrilled to make it to finals - it would mean more awareness of braille, and be pretty cool, to boot!

So, if you would, take a moment to go to this link and vote; it's a vote for braille literacy awareness!

I'll be taking a couple of jewelry classes this weekend that will, I'm sure, boost my creative juices, giving me the impetus for designing in a few new directions with new materials. Look for some fun new pieces in the next couple of weeks!

Thanks so much and best to you!

If you're interested in purchasing a braille alphabet bracelet, here's a handy buy me button!

Braille Alphabet Bracelet: $47.50

Momma DSK's Birthday Special!

Hey everyone : )

Today is my Mom's Birthday! Happy Birthday Mom! I wanted to put two of her favorite DSK Pieces on my blog post today. Her two favorite pieces have always included the Swarovski Moonlight Crystal Heart. She always wears my crystal pieces whenever she goes to the casino, or on vacation.

My Mom & Aunt believe crystals bring luck, and you're never supposed to give away your lucky crystal if it has already brought you luck. My Aunt says never give away your luck! There's also a superstition that you're not supposed to tap someone on the shoulder or lean on someone's shoulder while they're gambling. haha I love my Mom & Aunt, they're so fun with all their weird little superstitions.

I can't help but believe them too sometimes!


Pretty Princess
.925 Sterling Silver Heart Link Necklace
Crystallized Swarovski Rose & Moonlight Hearts
Available in 16" (40cm) and 18" (45cm) Chain Lengths
Now with Engraved Sterling DSK Tag ^_^

Pretty Princess

16" (40cm) $45.00 18" (45cm) $50.00

Bubbi's Moonlight Heart Necklace
*One of everyone's favorite Necklaces*
.925 Sterling Silver Crystallized Swarovski
Crystallized Swarovski
Available 16" and 18" Chain Length
Now with Engraved Sterling DSK Tag ^_^

Bubbi's Moonlight Heart Necklace

16" (40cm) $50.00 18" (45cm) $55.00

Jen wearing the Bubbi Moonlight Necklace.
Congratulations on 4,000 friends & followers on your blog Jen! ^_^
Visit Jen here: www.frmheadtotoe.com

I felt it was appropriate to bring back my "Mom" Necklace
I had this on special for our last Mother's Day, and I'm still offering it today at the sale price. Buy it for yourself, or gift it. :)
For Mom
18" Sterling Silver Heart Link Necklace
Crystallized Swarovski
$25

Moonlight LOVE Necklace
.925 Sterling Silver
Crystallized Swarovski
Available in 16" and 18"
On Sale

Moonlight LOVE Necklace

16" (40cm) $40.00 18" (45cm) $45.00

An Artist in Dreamland ...

Hi, I’m Barbara Lewis and a member of this great group of artists at Love My Art Jewelry. I have a question for you. How does one go from being an Apparel Design college major to earning a degree in Ceramics to being a torch-fired enamel artist with a jewelry book on the way? Who the heck knows … but it’s been one heck of a ride.

Today I’m writing to you from the Hyatt Hotel in Cincinnati, OH, which will be my home base for the next week or so while I go through my photo shoot at North Light Books. Last December I got the crazy idea, with the encouragement of friends, like Mary Jane Dodd, to submit a book concept to North Light on torch-fired enamel jewelry. Lo and behold, on March 5, I got the good news from Tonia Davenport, Acquisitions Editor, that it was accepted! Now what?!!!

Next came several months of fumbling around in the studio, trying to get momentum, writing how-to’s as I made things. How-to’s were sent, projects were sent … and here I am … at a time and place I thought would never arrive. Below are some small close-ups of some of the projects for the book. I hope you see something you like. Please stay tuned to LMAJ for the continuing adventures of an artist in dreamland. I'd also like to invite you to visit my blog: http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/ or my website: http://www.paintingwithfireartwear.com/. And, you can also join me, and over five hundred of my closest friends, at www.paintingwithfire.ning.com if you want to learn more about torch-fired enamel.

Christina Applegate Designs Jewelry

 

Celebrity jewelry designers are a dime a dozen these days, but I'm happy to report Christina Applegate is flexing her creative muscles for a cause other than the status of her own bank account. 

People reports the pregnant Samantha Who? star is assisting designer, Alex Woo to create a pendant necklace to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month and raise money for her Right Action for Women foundation.  A breast cancer survivor, herself, Applegate was honored to be a part of the process.

“This piece reminds me so much of the roses I made out of ribbons for my friends and family while in the hospital,” Christina told People. “I am so grateful to Alex for creating such a beautiful piece to benefit Right Action for Women. Proceeds from the necklace will help women at high risk for breast cancer get the screenings and testing they need to beat this disease.”

The tree and branches within the pendant–offered in both silver ($198) and gold ($998)–are designed to signify balance, peace, harmony and the curves of a woman. The seven leaves represent each day of the week, reminding women to live everyday to the fullest.


Interested in joining the fight - and looking fabulous while you're at it? Visit alexwoo.com to purchase the tree necklace just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness month in October.

Love My Art Jewelry...

Who are we now and what is our hope for the future?

I will start off by sharing our slogan:

CREATING HANDMADE WITH HANDMADE

Without going into too much and risk droning on and on, I think that our slogan speaks for itself. We are bead, component and jewelry artists with a goal of bringing recognition to the unique quality of creating handmade jewelry using all handmade components. Owning a piece of jewelry that has been created by an individual artist or a piece that has been created by the artist using components created by many artists creates a personal connection each and every time it is worn. It is also the kind of piece that makes someone stop and ask, "Where did you get that? I have never seen anything like it before..."

And why haven't they seen anything just like this before?

The following pics don't actually go together, but I just grabbed them for a visual....So...here goes...

You take some copper beads that look something like this...

Use some methods that you can learn from one of our members, Barbara Lewis, to turn them

 into something like this...

And in the end, you create a beautiful one of a kind piece that could look like this......

Now that's original!!!

Or....how about creating with a few different pieces of art (created by other handmade bead/component artists) and taking some beads that look something like this...

Use some of your own methods or a combination of other artist work (findings, metalsmithed components, etc.)  and create something like this one created by Kelli Pope...

Now that's what we call Creating Handmade with Handmade!

What is our hope for the future? 

 It is one of bringing recognition to the unique qualities of jewelry using all or mostly all handmade components in your creations... or...  If you are someone who loves jewelry, but doesn't particularly like to make your own, then our hope is that you will recognize the uniqueness of wearing something that has been created from all handmade.

Name Your Own Pink Diamond

Pink diamonds always give us jewelry hounds the shivers (in a good way), and when one this big goes on the auction block? We're talking 'commotion'.

According to Luxist, a rare 10.11 carat orangy-pink diamond is causing a stir up in Canada and with good reason: it's the most expensive diamond ever auctioned in the great land of the maple leaf. The pink gem  is estimated to bring in $2.5 million US and comes from the world-renowned Argyle mine in Australia (the producer of most of the world's pink diamonds).

And the best part in my book? Whoever grabs the gem on October 3rd will get the honor of "naming" the stone for the record books.  What would you name it if it came into your grubby little hands, jewelry hounds?

I'm thinking: "The Pink Parker"... "The Parker Pink"..."Laura Parker's Pink Perfection" "Can't Touch This Perfect Pink Parker Purchase"....Ok. Quitting while I'm ahead...(too late?)

Can't get enough pink? Neither can Jennifer Garner. Check out Jewelry.com's fashion recap of her perfect Pink Party this weekend!

LMAJ MONDAY GIVEAWAY...

Welcome to Love My Art Jewelry, a new blog, a new website and a new concept in your jewelry designs.  During the week we will go into a little more about the concept behind our group, but in the meantime, how about a giveaway?  These gorgeous earrings were donated by one of our members Kelli Pope.  They could be yours if you just follow a few simple steps.  We will be offering give aways the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month.  We hope that you will join us in our venture.

  Here is all that you need to do:

BLOG OWNERS:

Leave a comment on your own blog about the give away and then let us know by following us and leaving a comment letting us know where you left mentioned our giveaway.

NO BLOG OF YOUR OWN:

If you don't have a blog, please sign our guest book on the Love My Art Jewelry Website and let us know what you like about creating handmade with handmade.  If you haven't yet created with this thought in mind, please let us know what you like about the idea.  

Then, stop back here and let us know that you signed the guestbook.

A random winner will be chosen from the

Love My Art Jewelry BLOG POST Comments on Monday, October 3rd.

Our next Giveaway (porcelain beads) will be Monday, October 11th

Thanks for creating handmade with handmade!

Ceramic beads by MaryAnn Carroll, Pewter Birds by Mamacita Bead Works and Sterling Silver wirework by Kelli Pope.

DSK's Everything Bracelets, September 24, 2010

*I know this might seem a bit over the top, but I had this idea & I really wanted to put it out there* *Maybe I just have too many Disney movies on my Netflix Queue!*

"Royal Princess Everything Bracelet"
DSK's One of a Kind Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Charms
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Autumn's Amber Crystal Bracelet
DSK's One of a Kind Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Seahorse Charm
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Starfish, Seahorse & Pearls
DSK's One of a Kind Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Seahorse Charm
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Violets are Blue
DSK's One of a Kind Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
.925 Sterling Silver Key
Antique Silver Lock Charm
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Fancy Autumn Bracelet
DSK's One of a Kind Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
.925 Sterling Silver Key
Antique Silver Lock Charm
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Starfish DSK Lux Bracelet
7" Bracelet
.925 Sterling Silver Starfish Clasp
Crystallized Swarovski
One of a Kind
*sold*
*Note: This clasp is a bit tricky to master, you may need someone to help you put it on ^_^*

Introducing my new collection: DSK^^Squared

This new silver-plated chain was handmade in South Korea.
I love how dimensional it is!
I only wish it could be made in Sterling Silver. As most of you know, I'm a Sterling Silver super fan!

Let me know your thoughts, and if I should continue to make this style bracelet or similar.
As of right now, these two bracelets are One of a Kind.
The clasp, tag & crystal attachments are all in Sterling.

DSK Squared AB Bracelet
7" Hand-made Silver-plated Chain Bracelet
Crystallized Swarovski
Sterling Silver Clasp, DSK Tag, and Crystal Attachments
One of a Kind
*sold*

DSK Squared Crystal Clear Bracelet
7" Hand-made Silver-plated Chain Bracelet
Crystallized Swarovski
Sterling Silver Clasp, DSK Tag, and Crystal Attachments
One of a Kind
*sold*

***I will be accepting "made to order" orders for the DSK Squared Bracelets in Silver. Feel free to e-mail me at dskjewelry@gmail.com
Subject Title: DSK Squared

Thank you!***

Dainty Titanic Blue Heart Bracelet
Crystallized Swarovski
.925 Sterling Silver Heart Link Bracelet
$20

***More bracelets are currently being added***
I just want to post this up for those who want to shop now.
Thank you for the support in visiting today ^_~

***"I love you Vanda" -Richard***
^_^

"Flowers & "leafy" Hearts" ;)
7" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

Flower Crystal Charm Bracelet
7" .925 Italian Sterling Silver
Crystallized Swarovski
*sold*

DSK Squared Gold-plated Bracelet
14K Gold-filled clasp, and crystal attachments
Crystallized Swarovski
Bracelet measures 7"
*SOLD*
$50

Pristine Crystal Heart Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Sterling Silver
Crystallized Swarovski
Engraved Sterling DSK Tag

A preview of my new chains
From left, 14k Gold-Filled Round Chain, Square Gold-Plated Chain, 14k Gold-Filled Diamond Chain.

I can't wait to cut them up and create. As you can probably tell, I'm still obsessed with making bracelets. I think I'll continue to post bracelets for the next week or two. I have some new ideas for necklaces, and I'm also working with my production manager on finishing up those custom heart link chains. ^_^ Lots of fun stuff on the way. I appreciate your visit, and I appreciate your support in my "DSK" jewelry range.

x
o
x
o

Now to share with you one of my first double chained necklaces!
Well, it's actually a two in one. I've attached a clasp where you can wear the piece at 16" and 18" layered. But if you unhook the clasp you achieve a full stranded necklace ^_^
I strategically placed my logo charm so you can find the clasp easier when you want to wear it in it's doubled up version. Ahh, it's hard to explain, but for whoever owns this, you will understand when you have it in your hands. I'm so glad I finally this necklace. I usually shy from a long necklace, and I don't know why! I just get stuck in my ways. But I'm definitely branching out. The necklace is in total 34" (85 cm) in length. Handmade .925 Sterling Silver Round Link Chain. Crystallized Swarovski Teardrops in Moonlight & Pearls in Cream. I wrapped the pearls onto the necklace with Sterling Silver as well.

My engraved sterling silver "DSK Jewelry" Charm

Wear it as a double chain necklace, 16" & 18"
or as a 34" chain necklace. : ) Very versatile.

Stephanie's Necklace
16"/18" = 34" .925 Sterling Silver Necklace
Crystallized Swarovski Teardrops
Sterling Silver Wrapped Crystallized Swarovski Pearls
One of a Kind
*the value is within the quality of the 34" .925 Sterling Chain*
*sold*

Thanks for looking!