Chasing Away the Winter Blues

With a mid-January chill in the air, and the festivities of the holidays behind us, many people find themselves experiencing a bit of the winter blues, myself included.

To combat this, I dreamt up some pretty new treasures this week with just a hint of spring in their step...

Butterflies, birds and flowers take center stage

with accents of moss, robin's egg and turquoise.

I also added one more Valetine-themed piece for good measure, this cameo and heart bracelet...

which is a perfect segue for me to remind everyone to please enter my earring give-away contest!

One lucky winner will receive these ruby heart earrings! To enter, simply share my blog with someone you love and comment here by letting me know whom you chose and why you love them. Drawing will be held on February 5, with the winner announced no later than February 7.

Thank you all for stopping by, and here's hoping your winter blues have been officially chased away! :)

Winter Creativity

How is everyone's week going? Many of my internet friends have been experiencing snow storms this week, and even our weather in California has turned very cold. To combat the winter humdrums, I've been keeping cozy indoors on my days off from work to 'play' in the studio. A new batch of gemstones which just arrived from India has also helped to keep the creative juices flowing. :)

This necklace features ocean-blue flourite stones and a finger rosary relic pendant. I added an image cut from a vintage prayer card and some old lace to the interior.





I love these oxidized cross pendants and paired this one with Art Deco findings, lemon zircon and tiger's eye.





Inspired by the Edwardian-era necklaces I've been spying on the PBS series Downton Abbey, this necklace reminds me of the passage of time, with its drops of floral vine, vintage watch faces and Victorian mourning pendant.





Finally, this sweet necklace puts me in the mood for a nautical vacation. Who couldn't use a little 'resort' wear right about now?




All of these pieces are currently available in my Etsy shoppe. Please let me know how you're dealing with the cold winter weather. :)

Dark Beauty

Those of you who know me also know that I love pastels and white, white, white furniture, clothing - you name it! But this time of year, I thought it more appropriate to honour the dark winter months with some deeper colours and, yes, even black. These more somber tones somehow lend a seriousness to my new jewelry that I don't think is the normal emotion my pieces impart, but it seems like a refreshing change. At least for now.

The focal point of this piece is a beautiful black metal Victorian mourning locket from France. You don't come across these every day!


I accented it with part of an enamel guilloche bracelet, old book chain and gemstones in sparkling peridot and ruby and lemon zircon - the colours subtly echo the holiday season.




This next necklace features a brass Art Nouveau frame pendant into which I secured an image cut from a vintage prayer card. A silvertone cross and rosary connector and brown marbled glass rosary beads contribute to the neutral palette.






For something a bit more whimsical, these goldtone guitar earrings will bring out your inner rock star! I encircled them with darkly colourful gemstones including rubies, sapphires, pyrite, touramline and apatite. Yummy!




These designs are much more are currently avaialble in my Etsy shoppe. Thank you for stopping by! :)