Upcoming Wedding

Filed under: Glass Beads, Handmade Jewelry, Uncategorized

Well, I haven’t written too much and I haven’t had a ton of time to even make a lot of new pieces. I am getting married on August 1st, and there is still so much to do that I feel like it’s never going to get finished in time. I’ll post a separate blog on that fiasco later!

I did make this bracelet and called it “Something Blue”. I thought that I might wear it on my own wedding day. I still might, I am not sure. Nevertheless the bracelet is beautiful, and I think anyone would be happy to own it. It is made of the same great quality materials that I always use; Swarovski Crystal and Freshwater pearls along with Bali and Sterling silvers. Keep in mind that this bracelet, should you want one for yourself, can be customized with any color pearl, and various colors of crystal in these graphite and butterfly shapes.

I did have some time a few weeks ago to complete some new pieces with beads that I had waiting to be used. The photographs aren’t the best, as I have procrastinated on purchasing a really good lighting system. I don’t seem to be very good at juggling being a mommy of 2, a wife-to-be, a poker player, and jewelry maker all at the same time. I’ll get it together one of these days. It’s a goal of mine! Anyway here is a piece from the “Breakfast at Bella’s” collection that I had started. In this collection I used handmade glass beads from Laurie Whitney of Mermaid Glass. Here is one of the newer pieces. It is a Cupcake and Doughnut set and it’s accented with Swarovski crystal bicone beads and sterling silver. The chain was cut and assembled by me so the length is completely customizable.

The next piece is something I just love, although the picture surely own reflect it’s beauty. This I call the “Grand Slam”. It is a very solid sterling silver rolo bracelet with toggle clasp, and on it several delicious charms accented in sterling silver and Hill Tribes silver dangle delicately, and just tempt your taste buds! You’ll find a complete breakfast of bacon and eggs along with a short stack of syrup smothered pancakes.

Tags: cupcake, doughnut, earrings, Glass Beads, Hill Tribes Silver, Necklace, sterling silver, swar

Beaded Jewelry Design

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry

I am often asked how I get my inspiration. Beaded jewelry design is like any other art form–inspiration can come from almost anywhere.

One source of inspiration is the work of other designers, such as David Yurman. From his Bijoux collection, I like his use of asymmetry, in which the two sides of a necklace do not quite match. I also like the way he combines textured and smooth links in his chains. And I especially like the way he showcases special beads in his jewelry design.

Bijoux Necklace

My finished design is quite different from Yurman’s. But, you can see the combination of textured and smooth in the sterling and Hill Tribes silver, the asymmetry in the use of jade on one side of my central bead and pearl on the other, and the way I made the Grade A yellow/blue tiger-eye bead the focal point, setting it off with Swarovski® crystal rondelles.

Yellow/Blue Tiger Eye with Jade, crystal pearl and Hill Tribes silver

My beaded jewelry design often is inspired by nature. For example, I’ve interpreted the color of the sea, the sky and the coral reefs around Caribbean islands in this ring. The turquoise ranges from blue in the nuggets to blue-green in the smooth beads.

The coral is actually from Swarovski® — crystal coral-colored beads. I choose not to use real coral in my beaded jewelry design, because reefs are usually endangered habitats.

handmade components on Sterling ring

Another source of inspiration for beaded jewelry design comes from the beads themselves. When I look at a wonderful lampworked bead or a millefiori bead from Italy, I can draw inspiration from its colors and texture. I ask myself whether it calls for gold or silver findings and accents. What colors will bring out this or that color within the bead? Should I use a similar or a contrasting shade in my design?

Life itself inspires my beaded jewelry design, as in the Mommy bracelet I am designing to celebrate the coming birth of my second child. In fact, my jewelry design business began with my first child, Isabella Rose. She continues to be the wellspring of my creative spirit.

One of the things I love best about beaded jewelry design is using a variety of carefully chosen materials to create wearable art. If my designs never see the inside of a museum that’s OK, as long as my creations are eye catching and wearable!

If you have questions about beaded jewelry design, please ask. I’ll be happy to answer in this blog.

Ciao
Mariealena

Tags: coral, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, Hill Tribes Silver, jade, pearls, sterling silver, Swarovski, Swarovski Crystals, turquoise

Hill Tribes Silver

Filed under: Handmade Jewelry

Hill Tribes Silver and Swarovski Crystal Ring

My local PBS station recently aired a travelogue about Thailand’s Golden Triangle. As Rudy Maxa visited various Hill Tribes villages, I waited for him to show them making the silver beads I love so much.

If he showed it, I missed it.

But, I was inspired to learn more about the people who make Hill Tribes silver beads. There are seven main tribes and over a dozen smaller ones. They each have their own language, religion, culture, dances and costumes. Some come from Tibet, some from southern China, and some from as far away as Micronesia in the Pacific. They live in southern China, Burma, Laos and Vietnam, in mountainous regions.

The Hill Tribe people best known in the United States are the Hmong, who helped our fighting men during the war in Vietnam. Many of them have settled in the United States.

In Thailand, Hill Tribes such as the Karen have been able to maintain their lifestyle of subsistence agriculture and their animist religions. Most Hill Tribes silver beads imported to the United States are made by Karen craftsmen. Like all Thai silver, their beads have a higher silver content (95-99%)┬а than sterling (92.5%). The higher silver content means the metal is softer, easier to shape using their centuries-old traditional methods.

The Yao are among the best silversmiths. Raising opium poppies was their main source of income, but, because the Thai government has a program of destroying the poppy fields, they are now turning to other crops and other sources of income. The women do exquisite cross-stitch embroidery. I want a pair of their loose-fitting black trousers covered in brilliant stitchery. But I want Yao beads even more!

By far the most exotic-looking are the long-necked Paduang women, who add silver neck rings that gradually stretch their necks.

In Thailand, the government fears new migration of tribal people from neighboring countries, and does not grant citizenship to Hill Tribes people, though at least one tribe has lived there longer than the Thai themselves.

The Hill Tribes have been supplementing their traditional slash and burn agriculture with opium production. With the government crackdown, the lack of educational opportunities and without the benefit of citizenship, many Hill Tribes people live in dire poverty.

The sale of silver beads, pendants and findings is a source of much-needed income that enables them to continue their traditional lifestyle.

These are some of the ways I have used Hill Tribes beads recently…

Hill Tribes rope tube bracelet with Tanzanite Swarovski crystals

Hill Tribes decorative tube bead necklace with Swarovski Crystal

Tags: Bracelet, Handmade Beaded Jewelry, Hill Tribes Silver, Necklace, Ring, Swarovski Crystals, Tanzanite