"Kiss Me Butterfly"DSK Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Sterling Silver Heart Link
Engraved Silver DSK Tag
Swarovski Crystals
*One of a Kind*
$75Thank you J!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
[SOLD] Everything Bracelet: "Kiss Me Butterfly"
"Kiss Me Butterfly"DSK Everything Bracelet
7 1/4" .925 Sterling Silver Heart Link
Engraved Silver DSK Tag
Swarovski Crystals
*One of a Kind*
$75Thank you J!
welcome
mary jane dodd
malachite azurite
each month, our very generous readers/supporters donate their wares to our artspark... recently, i was contacted by laura and karl hansen of cabbing rough... she offered to donate to our group every month so that you very lucky people (who need only submit to the artspark challenge) might win one of the beautiful stones they will provide....
think of the techniques you can start learning to use them - prong setting, tab setting, making bezels of beads or metal, wire wrapping...
cabbing rough has a blog, etsy shop and flickr group... their family was even featured in the etsy blog... for this truly is a family business... you can follow all of the links to learn more...
i asked laura to share a bit about cabbing rough so that we could bring people to the name...
My husband Karl and I work together cutting our stones, it started as a hobby but we now work full time from home. We have 4 children Dylan (12) Tyler (11) Molly (6) and Charlie (4). Our kids are the center of our world. They are all very involved with what we do as well - rocks are fascinating to kids! Especially our daughter Molly, she can cab a rock herself with almost no help, and can identify more stones than most adult collectors!
Karl and I are both completely self taught. In fact, we tried cutting our first rocks with a tile saw because we did not have the money for lapidary equipment. It was just about 6 years ago I ran into a 92 year old man at a flea market that sold us our first grinder and saw for $90.
Cutting stones is the greatest job I have ever had. It's amazing to be able to take something that looks like nothing, cut it open and find the amazing colors and patterns that are possible. I love the thought that the rock I just cut may have sat for a millions of years in one spot. A dinosaur could have stepped on the rock I cut this morning!
So we take rocks and cut them to look beautiful, then send them all over the world to become something amazing by some of the most talented artists. When I work on a rock, I often imagine a finished jewelry design for it. My favorite part of my job is too see our stone in a finished piece of jewelry.
We sell our stones on etsy. My mom actually pushed us into etsy about a year and a half ago. We never thought there would be any market for our hobby. Since then we have cut and sold over 3000 stones through the marketplace. And through etsy I have made so many very good friends.
there is even an article on how to cut a rock on their blog...
dinosaur bone
so welcome laura and karl to our little village... and many thanks to you for your generosity...
august's artspark theme will be announced shortly - be on the look out for cabbing rough's beautiful donation for the month...
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Gold Earrings
Large White Swarovski Pearl & 14K Gold-filled Earrings*Dangles about 3 inches*
$18
Finest Crystal 14K Gold-filled Earrings$15
[SOLD] Everything Bracelet: "Summer Shores"
"Summer Shores"DSK Everything Bracelet
7" .925 Sterling Silver Heart Link
Engraved DSK Tag
Swarovski Crystals
*One of a Kind*
$75
Summer Neklace: "Marine Anchor!"
"Marine Anchor"16" (40cm) .925 Sterling Silver Necklace
Engraved Silver DSK Tag
Swarovski Crystals
$35
You Decide.....
by MaryAnn Carroll
The other day I needed some wire to complete a project so I ran off to a local chain supply store. I got what I needed, but while there, I decided to browse the bead aisles and check out the latest commercial supplies and the prices. I'll be honest, my main focus was ceramic.
I came upon some new styles that I hadn't seen before. I then checked out the price.... YUP! less than mine. Not as much as I expected though.... I looked at where they were made..... YUP! looks like it must be a factory that mass produces. I wanted to take a picture with my phone, but thought that might be
My guess is that there is a good chance that they were created under less than satisfactory conditions and that they would not be held to the standard that the majority of handmade bead artists hold themselves to.
For example, is there lead?
You certainly do not see a list of ingredients when you are buying beads. There are certain chemicals that have been proven to be dangerous to your health. Another great part about buying handmade is that you not only have a right to ask artists who create handmade if they are creating their product with that in mind, but that you can easily contact the artist as well. It would be pretty difficult to trace down the products that I was looking at and find the answers to those kinds of questions.
Then....
...there is quality. I don't know about you, but if I'm making a piece, I want it to look like the Queen of England would wear it to the royal wedding.... hmmmmmm......
Well.... okay.... that is a
slight exaggeration......
...maybe just the young granddaughter of the Queen when she wants to be sportin' some style in her casual attire.
Back before I learned the differences in beads, I purchased many, many, many, many, many and even many more commercial beads than any one person should have. I went into my studio and dug through my stash. I thought that putting them side by side might be the best way to ask,
"What differences are so obvious that they just knocked you in the face, dropping you from your chair, leaving you to crawl painfully back up to the computer and say,
"Where the heck have I been?"
As for where they originated.....
....The commercial beads on the left are from unknown places.
Those on the right, however, are from (top to bottom)
Once you have recovered from your fall..... You know.... the one that you had just a couple of minutes ago..... feel free to add your thoughts about the beauty of handmade.
....and what kind of person would I be if I didn't say.......
~thank-you for creating/buying handmade with handmade~
Friday, July 29, 2011
Summer Starfish Swarovski Pendants
Swarovski Crystal Starfish PendantsSterling Silver
Silk, Crystal AB, and Topaz
Set of 3 for $20
freaky fridays.
my wristbones throb over these new pieces by favorite favorite kelly tunstall for her new 'my girl friday' project which features one of her odd, signature ladies wearing designer clothing / accessories every friday.
yes please.
xo
Swarovski Crystal Stud Earrings!
Fuchsia Swarovski ButterfliesSterling Silver Posts & Backing
$15
Violet Swarovski FlowersSterling Silver Posts & Backing
$15
Siam Red Swarovski ButterfliesSterling Silver Posts & Backing
$15
Lil AB Star Swarovski Earrings
Jonquil Yellow Swarovski EarringsSterling Silver Post & Backing
SOLD
Thank you all so much for your interest in my jewelry. I will try to make more stud earrings and post them on here. I know for sure I will be making some Rose Flower Swarovski Earrings, and Sapphire Star stud earrings. If you'd like to reserve either of those, please e-mail me (Steph) dskjewelry@gmail.com
Have a great evening!