Admiring Art Jewelry

by Cindy on February 11, 2009

Here’s the latest issue of one of my all time favorite magazines.  The Belle Armoire Jewelry Winter ’09 issue has been out for some time now and it’s been in the back of my mind to write a post about it.  This issue is jam-packed full of stunning creations.  Pieces that are so unique you’re sure you never saw them anywhere before.  There were several projects that I’m planning on trying (and will eventually show here), and one that caught my fancy was an article on pendants by Jessica Moreau-Berry. 

Jessica’s pendants feature polymer bezels that contained vintage ephemera within.  I had never seen a frame to showcasing old photographs or papers made with polymer clay…something that I could actually make!  This drew me in, as I had recently made figures with the clay with my son for a diorama project for school.  I contacted Jes to inquire about some of the project tools and boy was she every so sweet.  Her Etsy shop, Junque Revival,  is full of one of a kind treasures that incorporate vintage pieces in to her jewelry design.  I was thrilled when I saw my favorite necklace from her article for sale in her shop.  This one struck a chord with me with that sweet black and white photo of an unknown boy with the simple word “Joy”.  Would you believe Jes even lengthened the necklace from 15″ to 27″ for me so I could wear it long.

Even though I love to create jewelry, I still like to collect a piece here and there from other jewelry designers.  I admire jewelry that is so entirely different than what I could ever dream up …and the care that went in to creating it.  I’m hoping one of these days I’ll make my own polymer pendant necklace.  I know, my list is growing…so many new things to try and so little time!

Stop by Junque Revival to see one of Jes’ latest creations, “From Dr. Zhivago with Love”.

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25 Things

by Cindy on February 9, 2009

The 25 Things list has gone around the blog scene for some time.  Recently I’ve been tagged on Facebook (thanks Andrea, Anne, Cheryl, Madeline and Brian!).  Rather than tagging more people, I thought I’d share a little more about me right here.  This is not anything deep and philosophical, just random tid bits about me.  The most important part of me can be summed up in the picture right here (sorry Randy, you’re included even if you’re not in this photo!).  But if you want to know even more, read on! 🙂
25 Things
 
1.  I met my husband on my 21st birthday.  I saw him the weekend before at a Navy game….guess who introduced themselves first?
 
2.  I was fortunate to attend mass with Pope John Paul II twice, once in 1980 as a kid in Guam.  The second time was in Rome in 2000.
 
3.  I’ve eaten Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough since college.  Gosh, I’m admitting that?!
 
4.  We have a vintage Scotty planter collection.  I love Scotties although we’ve never had one!  When we go antiquing, Randy and I have a game of who will find a Scotty planter first.  Or a pie safe.
 
5.  I love old pie safes and we have two.  When we were first married and living in Monterey, we found the absolute perfect pie safe with beautiful punched tins.  We’ve always regretted not buying it.   It even had a little mouse hole in one of the top drawers.
 
6.  Speaking of mice, I had a pet rat in college.  Actually, my Dad ended up taking care of it for me since I was in a dorm.  The rat was from one of my psychology classes and I rescued him after the course was over.
 
7.  I try to befriend “new” people, as I know what it’s like to be the new one in a group.  My Dad was in the Navy and we moved every couple of years growing up.
 
8.  I’ve tried so many crafts, I’m crazy about learning new things…like basket weaving, cake decorating, stained glass…and eventually jewelry.  I was afraid my interest in jewelry would be another phase but thankfully I was wrong!  I’ve enjoyed it more and more each year. 
 
9.  I used to think using a refrigerated pie crust was cheating, but now I use the frozen ones because I can’t let that stop me from making pie!
 
10. I was born in Japan.  It saddens me that there are relatives there that I would love to see but cannot.
 
11.  I’ve always collected things…sea glass, the drawings my Dad sketched on our lunch bags, stickers, you name it…
As an adult, it’s more like Transferware, Ironstone, and Southern Living Christmas cookbooks.  I like Junior League cookbooks too.  In fact, I like to read cookbooks, especially the dessert section!
 
12.  My Grandmother made the best apple dumplings.  I’ve never tasted anything that comes close.
 
13.  My favorite color used to be pink.  I even decorated my locker in pink and gray, my favorite color scheme at that time.  Now my favorite color is blue.  I’m still love the blue/brown color scheme.
 
14.  I’m dreaming of a studio space with tiny twinkling lights, vintage odds and ends, chipped antiques scattered throughout.  Creamy whites and very shabby chic.
 
15.  When I found out I was having my second boy, one of the playgroup Moms told me “God gives you what you need”.   Now I have 4boys.  Hmm, I wonder what the message is?
 
16.  As a girl scout, we visited the set of “Happy Days” (a favorite along with “Laverne and Shirley”).  Would you believe we all lined up to give Henry Winkler a kiss!   My ideal was always Richie Cunningham!
 
17.  I try to live without regrets but do have a few.  A relatively minor one was mentioned in #5.
 
18.  I’ve lived in CA 3 different times in my life (as well as 4 different countries).

 

19.  I love to bake but I’m not the best at cooking…I would rather my husband cook any day!   Some of his specialties are chili, pumpkin pancakes, salmon cakes, Thanksgiving dinner (gravy!), and even Japanese food like Gyoza
 
20.  If we had a daughter, we would have probably named her McKenna Rose.  (McKenna from “Somewhere in Time”, and Rose after my Grandmother.
 
21.  Kind gestures go a long way with me.
 
22.  I’m painfully sentimental.   I pretty much keep it all.  Now with kids, it is SO hard to throw their work away.  One time I asked another parent what she did with all of the schoolwork they bring home and was horrified when she said she put it in the “vertical filing bin”.
 
23.  My favorite M&M color used to be those tan ones….do you even remember those?
 
24.  I’ve subjected my kids to 80’s music so much that now they can recognize it…my 4 year old will even ask, “Can you put in the 80’s CD?”
 
25.  I never forget a friend.
 
 
 
 

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Saturday Show and Tell

by Cindy on February 7, 2009

‘Sure glad it’s the weekend again.  This week flew by, even though there were no holidays or snow days for the first time in a few weeks.  I’ve been spoiled lately with the short weeks.

Here and there I worked on a few new pieces that been wire wrapped, oxidized, polished, tumbled, and photographed.  So much goes on behind the scenes before a single piece of jewelry shows up here on the blog.  First up is a green pendant necklace.  This necklace features simple lampwork discs by the popular Etsy artist, Blue Seraphim.  If you wear a necklace like this one on St. Patrick’s day, you’ll be covered.  It’s for those that say they love the color green…I know you’re out there (it’s actually one of my son’s favorite colors).

And by the way, when I named this one “Shades of Green” (such an obvious choice), I couldn’t help but remember our Disney trip last summer.  That was the name of the Armed Forces resort where we stayed.

I know I rarely make earrings.  Lately my first love is to make necklaces, bracelets and then earrings – in that order.  So I challenged myself to just go for it and make a few pairs.  Finding motivation was easy with this first pair…there was a tutorial in the Summer Preview ’08 issue of Step by Step Wire by Faith Oriold that I’ve been wanting to try.  Here are my simple swirl earrings that she shared, minus the extra stone dangle.

The next couple of earrings feature cherry quartz and onyx beads:

Thanks for stopping by and have a GREAT weekend! 🙂

 

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