Bone Earrings

I made a cute little pair of bone post earrings out of sterling silver wire. I have a bone bracelet in the works and then I think that will be it as far as Halloween and Day of the Dead designs go. I prob should have made some sugar skull designs. Come to think of it, I have a sterling sugar skull already stamped that's been floating around my bench for months. I think the bone bracelet may have just turned into a bone necklace to accompany the sugar skull!! :)

These beauties can be found in my Etsy shop.

It started with...

this custom order:








The design belongs to my client, I was just the monkey that made it.
This piece has a long and dramatic history and I don't go for drama. I love this necklace who was very nearly rejected, but had a happy ending after all.

The same time I started the custom orders I took a length of sterling sheet and sawed out three more crescent moons.







Sterling silver and Rainbowmoonstone








Sterling silver and labradorite








Rainbowmoonstone and lapis

I really enjoyed creating this little series! All these necklaces can be found in my Etsy shop. Http://amynicolejewelry.etsy.com

Bones

I've been wanting to fabricate some bones for ages now and finally got around to giving it a go.








Sterling silver bones handmade from heavy gauge round wire. You can find these bone necklaces in my Etsy shop!

Wagon Wheels

I've had the idea of Wagon Wheels floating around in my head for a long time.  Wagon Wheels in metal, Wagon Wheels in leather.  When I was on vacation, we passed a street called Wagon Wheel every time we returned to my Aunt and Uncle's house.   I'd smile a little to myself every time we passed by.  Yes, I get it.  I'll make some Wagon Wheels...  ;-)

I got a super cool new metal stamp the other day.  And I went to stamping....

Spokey Dokey ~ Solid Sterling

Spokey Dokey ~ with Chrysoprase

Strawberry Swing ~ Pink Tourmaline and Sterling

The swing earrings started out as Wagon Wheels, but I had a little mishap with one that forced me to change directions.  Sometimes things work out for the better when such things happen.  Will you just look at that Pink Tourmaline?  Gorgeous!  And even though they are large, they aren't too heavy.

So if anyone asks you how you're feeling, and you're sporting a pair of Wagon Wheels, you can say, "Why I'm just spokey dokey!"  Get it?  Spokey Dokey?  Ha!  Never mind... my husband always says that I'm the only one that finds my jokes funny!  :-)

If you are interested in any of these earrings, email me at amymarez@yahoo.com

Happy Spring!

Well, as usual, I over estimated the amount of things I can get done given the amount of time I have in the work shop...  Just started prepping enamels today.  I'm going to try wet pack enameling and see what happens!  I'm in the mood to do some experimentation. 

Of course I have myself distracted by bits and pieces on my bench that are just begging to be put to use! ;-)  Bright spring colors! 

Sterling silver imprinted with a swirly heart pattern, chrysoprase, lab ruby with a genuine ruby briolettte!  I am in love with these bright colors!  Inspired by the Salvia I found blooming in our yard when we came home from Nevada.

Welcome Spring! :-)

Charmed, I'm sure...

I just added a few new charms to The Charm Shoppe .   Some lovely labradorite, and fresh water pearls.  All in silver.  But my very favorite one, a new Moonflower.  I just finished it last night inspired by some components I had already made laying around on my bench.

Little faceted Peridot as hanging leaves, hand stamped and formed flower, and the most amazing moonstone I've seen!  It glows like a light.

Have the happiest of weekends my friends!  TGIF!!!  :-)

Serenity..

Whew!  I barely made it with my contribution to this month's birthstone.  Aquamarine!! 

Aquamarine is Beryl, common, and found all over the world.  References to Aquamarine date back to the beginning of written record.  Sailors carried Aquamarine to aid in safe sea voyages, and there are legends of mermaids with tails of Aquamarine.  It is the birthstone for the month of March as well as the stone for the astrological signs of Pisces and Scorpio.

	I have named these sterling silver and Aquamarine earrings Serenity.  The pale blue is calming.  And I myself am looking to find serenity. The design is similar to other swing earrings I've made, but a little longer than usual and loaded up with faceted rondelles of Aquamarine.    And I just love the imprint on the flower.  If you look closely,  they're little butterflies!  :-) Next up, I need to make six itty bitty bezels for another pair of Aquamarine earrings!  Have a happy day all! Oh!! I almost forgot.  In the back ground you'll see a sprig from our Carolina Jasmine in the front yard.  Oh... I wish we had smellovision so you could enjoy the sweet, sweet scent of these beauties! Listed in my online store.  Click here.

Charmed, I'm sure...

~Estrella~Sterling, Citrine, Apatite

 

 

~Marietta~Sterling Silver, Amethyst

~Minette~Sterling Silver

I have added a new section to my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmyNicoles?section_id=11149215

Of course I have big plans to load the new section with charms galore, and time permitting, I will.  This section is in the infant phase right now.  I plan on adding other chain options for necklaces, and some bracelet options. 

I enjoy making these little works of art, and it is also gives my clientele a more affordable option than some of the pieces I've been making lately. 

I do have to giggle to myself a little when I name these charms.  I read a lot of historical books, mainly about royalty and I love all the high falootin names the ladies had.  So, since sometimes naming my work doesn't come easily to me, I am naming them the first name that pops into my head. 

HeeHee.  Minette was the nick name for the sister of King Charles II of England.  Marietta, I believe was the name of one of Marie Antoinette's sisters, and Estrella?  Well, citrine and apatite together remind me of the stars....

Stay tuned for more history lessons.  One high falootin name at a time ;-) 

Crocus Earrings

More Amethyst!  These cabs I had the pleasure of hand picking.  I think I've told you before how much I love the very dark Amethyst, and boy are these ever dark purple!  I had a devil of a time capturing the fact that they are indeed purple.

 I decided to make these post earrings.  Beginning with that fabulous pop of purple and ending in a tail that reminds me a bit of the tail on a kite, not that I look at them...

 Here you can see the purple in the cabs pretty well...

 Each little square has been lightly textured on both sides and domed.  Attached are faceted Amethyst and hand cut peridot beads. 

I am so ready for Spring.  A sure fire sign that Spring is near is when the Crocus blooms in all it's purple and green glory. 

Available in my online shop!  http://amynicole.bigcartel.com/product/amethyst-peridot-and-sterling-silver-post-earrings

Sweet Dreams...

The other day I was at a local rock shop buying beads and cabs, and while perusing the wares, I overheard a conversation that had me giggling a little to myself.

There was this woman asking to see all the Amethyst that the shop had behind the counter.  And asking all kinds of questions.  I just thought, eh, newbie...and kept looking.

Then I heard her asking the salesperson to educate her on Amethyst.  The bead lady just gave her this weird look, while the customer continued to prattle on about the "powers" of Amethyst.

The whole time the bead lady is listening somewhat patiently, and when the customer doesn't seem to be getting the response she's looking for, she finally leans in and says "Did you know that these rocks just aren't pretty to look at?  Did you know that they have....powers?"

At this point I can't help the ear to ear grin spreading across my face, and I just about laughed right out loud when the bead lady says, " I know that there are people who believe they do. "

Now,  a comment like that would have shut me right up, but not this lady.  She kept going on and on.  Turned out she is having trouble sleeping, and her chiropractor recommended that she start sleeping with Amethyst.   Claims that he sleeps with several around him and sleeps really well.  So that sent this lady on the hunt for Amethyst.

And like I said, she kept going on and on.  She further embellished by telling the bead lady that she wasn't into "new age" stuff, that she was a Christian.  But since learning that Amethyst has such powers, she is starting to think that God didn't just give us gems to adorn ourselves with because of their beauty.  Maybe He gave them to us so we could benefit from their power.....

                                    :-)

Now, I don't know if wearing these earrings will really give you Sweet Dreams or not, but it sure couldn't hurt.  And you'd look fabulous doing it!

Listed in my online store:  http://amynicole.bigcartel.com/product/sterling-silver-and-amethyst-heart-earrings

Summertime Love...

I know I'm jumping the gun a bit since this is only the first week of February and we are looking at several months before the summertime weather will be here, but there has always been the feeling of summertime for me when I work with these colors.

Turquoise and Citrine.  Ahhhhhh...... :-)    The color of these cabs are just the perfect shade of greeny blue turquoise.  All metal components are hand made by me, out of sterling and fine silver. 

These earrings are available in my store!  http://amynicole.bigcartel.com/product/sterling-silver-turquoise-heart-and-citrine-earrings