A Peacock in Paradise: A Statement Necklace

I know, I was supposed to post pieces inspired by Project Runway. But I had inspiration coming from a different place: Pinterest.

Source: sal-vaje.tumblr.com via Nissa on Pinterest

Peacocks are the symbol of luxury, royalty, and everything expensive.  So I took that concept and designed

a necklace that embodied the rich hues of green and blue with bronze and gold. I have also entered this piece

in the FireMountainGem Summer Inspiration Contest.  It would be great to win it, the prize is a library full of 

inspiration and techniques. 

Each component took between an hour to two hours to complete so approximately 10 hours give or take.  

There was so much trial and error with this piece in regards to the size and techniques used to create the 

center piece as well as the beaded beads.  I am in absolute LOVE with the beaded beads!  I told my mom 

that before I sold this piece I wanted to wear it at least once. But she told me that was unprofessional and to

make myself a new one. Oh the agony I don't think I have the patience to make ANOTHER one of these,

This is going into my One of a Kind Piece collection.  Although, I still need to make a bracelet and a pair of

 earrings to go with this but that will come a bit later.  I have decided that I will make myself a unique one of 

a kind necklace, maybe not as glamorous as this one but slightly sophisticated and bold and neutral.   

Bridal Line Dilemma

I've been stuck recently on how I should approach my bridal line. It's frustrating creatively since there have been so many ideas jumping inside my head. Finally I've decided that there will be two distinct styles: modern and traditional. Depending on how you see your self on your wedding day there will be a special piece just for you.

Chain wrapped Crystal Necklace
18"

Chain wrapped Chunky Necklace
18"

Freshwater pearls multi-strand Necklace
18"

Necklace Length

It's hard to imagine necklace lengths when they are written in inches, I found the following photo on Pinterest which sums up necklace lengths:

Simplicity Necklaces and Bracelets

Blue Gemstone Necklace
18"
Silver Plated

Fresh Water Pearl Necklace
18"
Silver Plated

Blue Gemstone Bracelet
7"
Silver Plated

Delicate Swarovski Crystal Necklace

3mm Swarovski Crystals

Links are Hand made using 28g

Vintage Bronze Wire

Necklace Length 18"

Fall Break!! Green Aventurine Necklace

Thank God my college starts a week earlier in August so that we can have fall break in October.  I think I would have died of exhaustion if I didn't have fall break.  Along with catching up with classes, I'm also catching up with my jewelry and blogging.  Hopefully this week I'll have made ample jewelry to get me through a couple of weeks of blog posts. 

Green Lace Stones
Green Aventurine  Briolette
18"

Grey Flower Necklace

Bead Embroidered Flower
Blue Lace Agate
Swarovski Crystals
Glass Pearls

Ruby Delight

I've had these made for a while now but was unable to photograph them.  Today was my opportunity to photograph, I think they came out pretty good.  I'm still learning the tricks of photographing jewelry.  I'll get there!

Ruby Delight Necklace

Ruby Delight Bracelet

Oh, on a side note, classes start tomorrow, that's why I've been MIA for the past few weeks.  I've been trying to get my schedule together.  It still hasn't.  I seriously hate scheduling.  I don't know if I'm gonna make it out alive tomorrow!

New Toy...

I just went out and bought my Nikon Coolpix S6100!! I'm super excited and I can't wait to shoot some of my jewelry pieces.  I think this will motivate me to finish painting my desk so I can finally set up my photo station!  Here's a test photo I just shot with no natural light the colors are just AWESOME!

Smokey Quartz Pendent

This was a piece I made for myself. Simple. Elegant. Beautiful.  Just in time for fall. I might add to this since it seems a bit plain.

On a side note tomorrow is Bead Fest! I'm so excited I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.  Even though I tell myself that I'm on a budget and that I'm only going to be looking for specific things, I know that in the past it hasn't worked out like I have planned.  I always find those beads that I just can't live without! Hopefully, I'll be a bit more prepared this time around.

Pearl Pendent

Fresh Water Pearl Pendent

I decided that I needed to make some easy to wear pieces to replace the ones I've sold at the boutique.  I've started that adventure with the above fresh water pearl pendent. 

My Extravagant Expensive Beads

As you all are aware I am a bead fanatic and the International Gem and Jewelry Show was my heaven.  I spent all my money unfortunately, but I got awesome stuff. The most expensive set of beads that I got were quartz teardrops.  The moment I saw them I fell in love...literally. Before I bought them I tried to find something similar for less, but the ones I found were apparently garnet and immensely more expensive. So I went back to the previous stall and I bought my loves. 

Quartz Teardrops, Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski Pearls
Earring height: 1.5 inches
*SOLD*
Pendent height: 1.5 inches; Chain Length: 18 inches
*SOLD*

I made a matching set of earrings and a pendent necklace. I am absolutely in love with these and I'm planning on make myself some.  These are for the jewelry event that I'm partaking in.

Jewelry Event!!!!!

I am super excited about this jewelry event at Maridadi Couture! This is the big break I've been waiting for all my life! I was offered to participate a couple of weeks ago, hence, I've been MIA from my life.  Basically all I've been doing with my time is going to class and making jewelry.  I've come pretty far but sill have a ways to go. I was pretty flattered that they chose my pieces to go on the flyer. Some of the other pieces that will be available are:

Sterling Silver, Chinese Crystals
*Reserved*

Brass Rings, Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski Pearls
$30

Swarovski Crystals
$40

I'm still working on prices and as soon as I am done I will update.

Inventory Cleanout

A lot of the beads and old jewelry that have been laying around for a while beckoned me to produce new and modern pieces.

I had an old necklace that I had not worn in ages, so I decided to take it apart.  I loved the vintage feel of the links and I used them to make this bracelet. All the random links, chain, and crystals that I had laying around went into making a multi strand necklace. Some of the pearls that I had left over I coordinated with some multicolored crystals to make a necklace.