Custom Design - Olivia's Autumn Friend

Olivia Octopus has been a very busy girl, so she's having friends lend a hand. Silliness, I know. Seriously, though, Olivia is very popular.

A client ordered an Olivia, but wanted some green in there to give more of an Autumnal feel, so, I have made the original Olivia, but also added some butter jade chunks and red Quartz chunks to the gems she holds in one of her arms. The accent up on the chain now has, instead of garned and a large freshwater pearl, the addition of a chunk of butter jade as well, swinging from a large jump ring.

So, to recap, for those who have not seen the original Olivia, we have an aged brass octopus with an arm dripping with red quartz, celestial larimar, butter jade, a large white freshwater pearl, garnet, copper Czech seed beads and a siam-colored faceted swarovski crystal briolette. The necklace itself comes in a about 24". Obviously, this one is sold, but I put it here to show what is possible. You can have your own Olivia -- I have her in aged brass, antiqued brass, antiqued silver over brass and a brass with a verdigris patina. You want certain gems or just certain colors, it's all possible. Just contact us and we'll make it happen.

Art Nouveau Tulip Earrings

Another bit of brass that's been hanging around waiting for attention.

The lines of these tulips is sensual and intricate, evoking the Art Nouveau period of art and design -- a favorite.

The pilstils in these are made from delicate copper wire, and they hold tanzanite swarovskis, lavender milk swarovskis, little baby bell strawberry milk flowers and copper beads. They hang on hoops, and are 3 3/4" from stem to stern (the tulips themselves are about an inch long), but we also offer the option of having them on brass leverbacks, or long brass kidney wires. We also have some tulips that are a bit darker and in silvertone, too. They sell for $26.50

This pair is sold, but there's plenty more, so if you'd like a pair just contact us and we'll make it happen.

Demure Dragonfly

She's a bit demure, but she carries a tail full of jewels and has a sweet little smiling face, too.

This necklace made from a vintage mold has a graceful pose with a 2 1/4 inch wing span. From her gracefully curved tail she trails, from left to right: a moonstone tooth, held aloft by a copper headpin with a rosy head. Next to that is a gorgeous and hard to find purple moonstone with lovely blue fire (it's very difficult to photograph the fire, but you can see it in the photo to the right), a white freshwater pearl, copper Czech glass seed beads, and a beautiful simplicity cut 6mm golden shadow swarovski (it has beautiful little flicks and striations of gold inside) crystal holding up another moonstone tooth that's finished off with another rosey copper headpin. The longest drop (1 5/8") is made from a helix-cut 8mm purple velvet swarovski, a large iridescent purple and two small copper, Czech beads, supporting a little brass orchid. Lastly is simply a iridescent mauve freshwater potato pearl and a little copper Czech bead. All of these are wrapped with copper wire.

Up the necklace, on the opposite side of her treasures, is another puple moonstone, another pearl, and a danglie supporting a 4mm tanzanite swarovski crystal and a 7mm labradorite briolette. You can see its blue fire in the photo. It's a beautiful little stone. Some truly stunning lovelies are in this necklace: moonstone (and purple, no less!), labradorite, pearls and crystals. Can't go wrong with those.

While I can reproduce this necklace, in some ways it's a one-of-a-kind in that these stones vary and no two are exactly alike. I would venture a guess that you'll not see anyone else selling one just like it -- unless they copy Adorn Me's design, of course ;).

The last photo is horrid, but it gives you an idea of how the necklace is designed and how it lays.

The necklace has 23" of antiqued brass chain for a total length of 26 1/2". This can be sized up or down, according to your needs, and it closes with a lobster claw clasp. It's ready for a home at $37.00

Gifts of love

Pairs of mated swallows are monogamous, and these sweet little antiqued brass swallows bringing gifts of love. And quite a heavy load for these little guys, too.

I really love the critters, so here are some more to add to the other cute little creatures in the Adorn Me stock of jewels.

The swallows are hung from antiqued brass lever back ear wires and each swallow carries a lovely cluster made from a sparkly quartz crystal stick with some lovely inclusions, a pale pink glass briolette, a 6mm round sodalite bead, various kinds and colors of Czech glass beads, from copper to teal (including a lovely fire-polished variety), celestial larimar and 6mm fuchsia bicone swarovski crystals. As you can see from the closeup, these earrings are loaded with good things.

The last photo is not a great one, but it good just so you can see the lay of the land when it comes to seeing the whole earrings. They're nice and swingy and catch the light beautifully and are a total length, including the ear wires, of 2.5 inches. They are great for daytime or evening and sell for $27.50

Olivia II, The Silver Version

Olivia in Silver and Aqua
This new Olivia is antiqued silver over brass, and she is just as saucy and charming as the original.

I'm disappointed enough in my inability to capture this Olivia Octopus in her entirety to start with the treasures she gathered from the ocean floor. She still holds a nice, big cultured freshwater pearl, and some lovely little celestial larimars, a sprinkling of little hematite seed beads and little Czech glass copper seed beads, but also some fantastic golden shadow swarovski crystals (which are clear and have little gold striations running through them, though they aren't photographing well), a 6mm top-drilled simplicity cut swarovski, and a juicy 14mm aqua cosmic-cut swarovski crystal.

She is put together with antiqued silver over brass findings has a lobster clasp, and will be just as long as you'd like her to be (though, keep in mind, if she runs much over 20-24", there will be a small fee for the extra chain).

As a whimsical touch, up and to Olivia's left, just out of her reach and safe from harm, is a little dolphin charm hanging from one of those big, lovely pearls, a couple of celestial larimars and a little hematite bead.

Ms. Olivia II sells for $35.00.

I also have the makings for the original Olivia, where you can choose the metal colors and the colors of the stones used. Contact Adorn Me if you're interested.

More Abundant Goddesses

Caramel Venus
These gals don't last long. The first one is still available; the second one, taken, though, as always I will duplicate, as faithfully as possible, for those who are in need. ;)

This first sugar druzy agate goddess is made up of shades of caramel browns, very light and medium brown, with a sterling silver-wrapped belly bracelet and a sterling wire wrapped pendant bail. On the bail is a nice squarish chunk of firey moonstone. She hangs from a chocolate brown faux suede cord, finished with sterling connectors. The cord isn't cut yet, as I like for people to be happy with their purchases and not have their pendants too long or too short, so if you decide you want Caramel Venus for yourself, you'll need to contact Adorn Me with the length of cord you desire.

Around her waist, on the belly bracelet, is a little moonstone chip and a four little 4mm labradorite stones. Labradorite is one of my favorite stones. It has a quality that's a little like opal, a little like abalone, but much more subtle. Often, labradorite has a kind of brown/grayish non-descript color until the light hits them and then you see little bits of fire here and there. And she has a nicely sized sugar druzy.

She is 2 3/8" from the top of the silver bail to the bottom of her rounded belly. She costs $25.50.

Another beautiful Ebony
Before she was sold, the other goddess was an ebony sugar druzy agate with gray striations here and there.

Again, I used the jet Czech glass coin disc beads, but this time, evenly spaced with little 4mm quartz crystal rondelles with a diamond-like sparkle and blue fire. There are four slightly larger stones near the middle, coin beads, that have little gray striations that rather match the striations surrounding her beautiful sugar druzy, though they're really difficult to see in the photo. She has little hematite seed beads in-between each bead, and some clear glass Czech seed beads with black centers right where the pendant bail hangs. At the sterling silver S-clasp dangles more hematite, a quartz crystal bead, a tibetian silver butterfly and a jet swarovski rivioli.

On her belly bracelet is strung more hematite beads and one of the quartz crystal rondelles.

She is 23 1/4" long and cost $60. A matching pair of earrings was included.

Again, if you like this one, contact me and let me know, and while I cannot match these OOAK little Abundant Venus goddesses, I have some black ones I can use to make you something just as gorgeous.

With all those arms, a girl's gotta have some jewelry

Two new pieces today. I've had them here for a while and decided to finally try what I'd been seeing with the octopus from the moment I decided to buy her.

Olivia
The first piece is a sweet octopus named Olivia. She has scooped up some treasures from the sea and they trail from one of her arms. She is just over 2" wide, and 3 3/4" tall, from her head to the bottom of the siam swarovski crystal drop. The finish on her is hand-aged and buffed to a nice, deep lustre. The semi-precious jewels that hang from are a large, creamy cultured freshwater pearl, two 4mm labradorite rounds, two 4mm celestial larimar rounds, two garnet nuggets and the siam swarovski, all accented with little copper glass Czech beads. The chain is antiqued brass and is accented with another large pearl, a couple more garnet nuggets and two little copper Czech beads.

This necklace has no length, as you get to decide how long you want it to be when you order it. You get the first 20" of chain free; after that, it will be $ 0.35 extra per inch. This way, it's made to fit you perfectly and either fit like a semi-choker, with the drops in your cleavage, or as a long pendant. The cost for this item is $34.00. Update: The lovely Olivia has been sold and will be going to a very good home! I will have more for sale soon, though, so if you love her and must have her, I can make more. Drop me a line if you need Olivia. :)

Vintage Lily
Next up is a pair of brass earrings based upon a pair of 20mm vintage brass lilies. I gave them a unusual cant so the front can be seen from the front, instead the best part facing downwards.

The inside off these are polished brass that really shines, and as you can see is an excellent reflective surface for the deep tanzanite 6x8 Czech glass flower cup beads, the 4x6mm Czech glass baby bell flowers (in milky strawberry), and the 8mm pale amethyst crystal rivoli swarovskis that hang front and center.

While these earrings are not OOAK, in that I will be making more (though they will likely vary in some ways), they are uniquely my own design. Adding beads to the ear wires is another custom touch, that by using the gold-rose faux metallic and two-tone glass Czech beads on the leverback earwires, they have a bit more sparkle and glow. I've been doing this sort of thing for a while, both as a different way of creating decorative ear wires, and also as a way to do something unique that can be customized for each pair of earrings. you do have to mind that they can come off when putting on and removing the earrings, so I will include some extra beads, just in case. These earrings are rather dainty in some ways, as each earring is only 1.5" long earwire tip to flowery bottom. They even make a charming little tinkling sound when you shake your head. The pair sells for $13.50.

A Whole New Batch of Crazy.

Guess I'm on an earrings kick.


This batch is dominated by an agate called Crazy Lace. You can see why just looking at the photos.

This pair of earrings are all about texture and complimentary colors. Their focal stones are made of 18mm coin disc beads. They are very swingy, which I love. Note the little blue area that appears to have depth; it actually does. It has what looks like little pool of blue water in it. The little danglies are made of little 4mm celestial larimar rounds, carnelian disc beads, light orange agate chips, copper glass seed beads and 4mm swarovski bicone crystals in aqua, teal and aurora borealis. All metal is sterling silver. They measure 1 3/4" at the drop and are $26.

A bit about Crazy Lace Agate.

Crazy Lace Agate: Crazy lace agate, also known as Mexican agate, is an attractive, white, opaque stone, patterned like a beautiful, multicolored paisley cloth. It is a cryptocrystalline quartz, found in Mexico.

In ancient times, this agate was worn to placate the gods, and to give courage. It will sharpen your sight, help the eyes, illuminate your mind, allow you to be more eloquent and give vitality. It keeps the wearer well-balanced and serious. Lace agate strengthens the Sun in its wearer, and improves the ego and self-esteem. It gives you a feeling of consolation despite the hardships of life. It has been considered symbolical of the third eye, and the symbol of the spiritual love of good. It helps to banish fear. It is a good general healing stone. (Source: Truth about Crystal Healing, by Phyllis Galde)

I'm not sure how much I believe in the healing power of crystals and stones, but I always find the history interesting and figure it can't hurt. One of the things I love about this stone is its variety of pattern, and the paisley of which Galde speaks.

This next set is also crazy lace agate, but they are purple and are 18x13mm rectangles. They have been paired with 14mm turquoise ovals, little silver rounds and turquoise glass seed beads. Beneath them swing amethyst nuggets, 4mm lavendar opal bicone swarovski crystals, as well as aqua and aurora borealis bicone swarovskis, and little seed beads of various colors. All metal is sterling silver. These are about 2 1/4" from the top of the drop to the bottom and are also very swingy. They cost $29.00.

Here is another pair that is somewhat similar in look to the aforementioned. Again, purple crazy lace agate, but this time with turquoise rondelles of a more blue turquoise than the previous pair. These are also adorned with little silver beads, various colors of seed beads, and various 4mm bicone swarovskis in aqua, lavendar opal, aqua, aurora borealis (AB) and tanzanite. These, too, have amethyst nuggets, but they are more spikey and are striped. They have great swing and really pick up and reflect, and refract, the light. These are reserved for a special someone, as is the matching pendant.

The matching pendant features a 40mm purple crazy lace agate (which is slightly more pink than the earrings, but it's hard to get these things to match perfectly). It will hang on a silk cord with sterling silver connectors.
Hanging from the focal bead, which is treated just as the earrings are, with turquoise-colored glass beads and little silver rounds, are a cluster of 4mm lavendar opal, aqua, AB and tanzanite swarovskis, seed beads, an amethyst spike that isn't showing up very well and an 3mm top-drilled AB swarovski crystal drop.

This pendant, like the matching earrings, are NFS -- BUT, unless a piece is intentionally one of a kind, I am happy to accept special orders duplicating past pieces that have been purchased by clients. Just drop me a line.

Ruby Zoisite

Also known as anyolite, ruby zoisite is the natural combination of ruby and zoisite crystals in a single specimen. Zoisite, the same mineral as tanzanite, provides an earthy green and black color while ruby lends pink and red highlights. Ruby-zoisite is usually shaped as cabochons or carved into decorative shapes, including animals and religious icons.

Ruby-zoisite was first discovered in 1954 in Tanzania. The name anyolite goes back to the word for green" in the native language of the Massai.

Ruby-zoisite achieves only hardness 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and is thus not very resistant. Therefore it should be worn with care, never be cleaned by ultrasonic method and never come into contact with acids. The green zoisite rock carries black hornblende inclusions and large, but mostly opaque rubies. Cut and polished ruby-zoisite appears in an earthy green and black color with exiting pink and red highlights, due to the presence of ruby. (courtesy of GemSelect)

I really love these little triangular stone beads. I'm a huge fan of complimentary colors and these stones do it so well. They are paired with tiny little luminous pink seed beads, AAA white freshwater pearls, and dangling below are light-catching swarovski crystal hearts. They hang about 1 7/8" at the drop and are $22 before discount.

. . .

About Rose Quartz

Rose Quartz: Rose quartz is a gentle, pale to medium pink translucent form of quartz. It comes from Brazil. This stone has a soft and useful frequency, and does not conflict with any other stones. It is an important stone for the heart chakra, and for giving and receiving love. It helps to dissolve all burdens and traumas that have burdened the heart. Rose quartz assists in understanding and dissolving problems so the heart is better able to know love. As its presence is felt by the body, sorrows, fears, and resentments are replaced by a sense of personal fulfillment and peace. (Source: Truth about Crystal Healing, by Phyllis Galde)

This stone promotes the vibrations of universal love and inner serenity. It teaches that the many negative childhood experiences enable the self to learn how to love and nurture itself. It also enlivens the imagination to be able to create beautiful forms.

The last pair have a very simple design and made from 11x7mm grade A Russian Rhodonite chicklets beads and 6x11mm faceted grade AA rose quartz rondelles. They are subtly set off by little iridescent pink glass seed beads. As with most of my jewelry, unless otherwise stated, all metal is sterling silver. They hang about 1 3/8" from the drop to the bottom and sell for $15.00. This pair has been sold, so NFS.

More coming soon. And look for the opening of my Etsy store soon, as well.