Accessoire Blog’s Shop Find

 

I am once again changing this part of my blog around a little.  Since I am finding it hard to keep up with all my projects, attend physical and cognitive therapy (due to an accident in December), and continue to design and make my own jewelry, I find I must scale my schedule back a little bit to give my brain and body rest.

Rest assured I am striving (key word) to have a post on a artisan/shop find each week.  Thus the new graphic which I made which changed to Accessoire Blog’s Handmade/Artist Shop Find.  As you may also know, I am doing a Local Find Post in which I will be highlighting artists/venues/photographers/handmade artisans/crafters right in my own local area.

Needless to say my plate is full, but not too full to bring you this week’s wonderful and exciting find thanks to the ever wonderful and inspiring IAMTHELAB Blog.  I am inspired by the way that Brett Torrey Haynes does everything on his blog, he is no doubt one of my heros in the area of advocating for handmade goodness.

I am part of the Blog Blitz at IAMTHELAB which allows bloggers to actually use information, photos and actual posts from the LAB’s blog to highlight any handmade goodness we have found while reading their blog.  Thank you a million times over.  I find such wonderful and inspirational artists while there on his blog.

This time around I have discovered the wonderful shop of Wind and Willow Home (http://www.windandwillowhome.com/).  Araya Jensen is the beauty and the brains behind these beautiful creations, which include hand-dipped bowls and a whole line of Dipped housewares. These designs are crafted by Araya in Minneapolis, MN where she lives with her family.

Here is Araya (or as her site says, Araya (like A-Ray-A Sunshine)!   

 

Araya has added a line of hand-inked soft goods.  To celebrate the launch of her new collection, Araya has started a new initiative (her new Indiegogo campaign) that she appropriately calls BOWL FULL.  This new initiative, Araya’s Wind & Willow Home “will donate a minimum of 1 meal per item sold to feed the hungry near and far, in addition to volunteering our time in pursuit of this cause”.  Her goal with the Indiegogo campaign is to raise $12,200 to help cover the cost of materials, development, production (including a new professional website design to integrate the giving aspect of the BOWL FULL project into her current website) and administrative support to bring the soft goods line to life.

As the IAMTHELAB’s article points out, most Indiegogo campaigns offer incentives and Wind and Willow Home will be giving some lucky someone the opportunity to have an exclusive color added to her fall collection in their name.

I pretty much loved this shop right away.  But then when I found out that Araya had the Indiegogo, Bowl Full, well you could say that it was head over heels from there on in.  Of course, if anyone knows me, you know that I have another blog in which I have talked about giving and supporting causes that give to others.  (DO*CARE*ACT Blog)

(photo courtesy of IAMTHELAB) Wind and Willow Home

Wind and Willow’s New Indegogo Project (photo courtesy of Wind and Willow Home and IAMTHELAB)

I just love that as I was looking through the handmade goodness at IAMTHELAB, not only did I find a beautiful example of something made by hand at Wind and Willow Home… but also by heart and soul as beautiful as Araya Jensen.

Please visit Wind and Willow Home to get the chance to delight over all her beautiful handmade home goods and then head over to her Indigogo initiative and hopefully help her in this worthy endeavor.

There is a wonderful Vimeo video Wind & Willow Home : Indegogo from Hello Sunshine Films on Vimeo.

Have a great week creating and I wish you much peace!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

Shop Find of the Week

I must have a slight obsession with England of late, because my next shop from hails from Great Britain.  As you may remember, my last shop was LeShopUK and is a British shop!!  

This week I have chosen a wonderful and whimsical shop, somethingtodo,  which is home is the wonderful and whimsical jewelry of Claire Lockwood.  Her jewelry is quirky, offbeat, original and certainly beautiful.  I love it!  I think her shop name is so quirky and original just like her jewelry and I guess that is one of the things that first drew me to her shop, then I read her shop introduction which plainly states, “something to do with your hands.”  Right there she had me and then I started to really study her pieces of jewelry, and the more I looked the more excited I became over her “masterpieces” of design.

She obviously has the “touch” and “eye” to put together pieces of jewelry that are interesting and not your average piece of jewelry that everyone else is wearing.  I like that about her designs.  She seems to have a boldness in her designs, a flair for the original, a fearlessness that I sometimes wish I had in my designs and so much appreciate.   Her style of design is so eclectic, drawing from a combination of different elements, textures, colours, styles.  I would wear any one of her pieces in a heartbeat!  In fact, her pieces are on my ever growing wish list of things!! 

According to her brief bio, she is a self-taught jewelry designer. She states that she makes her unique jewelry from “a wide array of materials, including handmade artisan beads and components, vintage pieces and found objects, semi-precious stones and gemstones, czech glass and other assorted lovelies.”  She also sells her handmade beads on Etsy.

But first I would like to show you a few of Claire’s beautiful creations…

This way – handmade earrings, beaded earrings, art bead earrings, arrow earrings (photo via somethingtodo/Claire Lockwood)

 

Coaster – Handmade Beaded Necklace, Art Bead Necklace, Beach Necklace, Asymmetrical Necklace (photo via somethingtodo/Claire Lockwood)

 

Holding light – handmade bracelet, beaded bracelet, art bead bracelet, vintage bead bracelet (photo via somethingtodo/Claire Lockwood)

 

As you can see, Clair is a very talented young woman with a natural gift for putting together designs that just draw the eye.  I encourage you to visit her shop and view all her designs.  You are in for quite a treat of eye candy.

Claire also mentioned her bead shop on Etsy, she has somethingtodobeads, here are some sweet little birds that are listed in her bead shop.  She made them by hand with polymer clay and then painted them with acrylics.

Handmade Bird Bead (1), Hand-painted bird bead, Polymer Clay Bird Bead, bird bead (photo via somethingtodobeads/Claire Lockwood)

 

Please be sure to stop in to Claire’s shops and heart the items you love and let her know you love her items.

Links:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingtodo

https://www.etsy.com/shop/somethingtodobeads

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Something-to-do-with-your-hands/146954858726274

On her Facebook you will find a lot of interesting designs and things, so please head over there to “like” her page and follow her designs!

As always, thank you for supporting handmade artisans!

Have a wonderful week of creating beauty.

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

 

My New Favorite Ring by Accessoire Jewelry!!

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When I saw these perfectly round wooden beads I wanted them immediately.  There is really nothing unusual about them except that I loved them and knew I that was going to go a different direction with them.  I was not going to use them to make earrings, bracelets or necklaces.  At least at first!!

Modern Wood Circle Ring by Accessoire Jewelry

I began by using some recycled flat matte metal circles I had from some old pieces of jewelry that I had ripped apart and glued them to the wood.  I then used my straight ear pins to plug the holes on the sides and glued them in so there were little silver circles on the sides.  You can’t see them in the photo.

Using silver German square wire,  I fashioned my ring base and used a super sturdy jewelry glue and adhered the silver base to the wood.  I used a tape/mesh and glue to further anchor the metal to the wood.  I can attest to the fact that this ring is quite sturdy, that is if one is careful to keep the ring from being smashed in a door (yes, I did that!).  I usually test a new design for a while before I offer it in my online shop! And when I say test I mean that I am quite clumsy and forgetful, so I will often make a copy of one of my new designs and wear it to test the glue, connections, ease of wear, and response of others and my feel for the design.  Most pass my test, some don’t and end up back in the “redesign” pile!!

… the “try again” pile!!

And sometimes I end up really loving a design and wear it and love it to bits. I have already sold some of these rings.  We all know what it is like to sell our jewelry right off our body to people who love a design.  It is humbling and I am always so thankful that someone actually likes my stuff! I am so happy to be doing what I love everyday.

If you click on the photo it will take you directly to the listing in my shop!

I hope you have a wonderful week filled with peace and much creativity!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

Great Shop – Peg and Awl Shop

This little beauty comes from IAMTHELAB (http://www.iamthelab.com/blog-blitz/)

 

I am quite literally in awe (pun in intended) of this shop that I am about to talk about, and I found them while perusing my favorite blog of handmade goodness over at IAMTHELAB.  They are the Peg and Awl shop and I am excited to introduce you to them.  I am following the rules of IAMTHELAB’s Blog Blitz and the photo I use are in accordance with said rules.  All the photos used are the property of the Peg and Awl shop.

First, I would like to give you the direct link back to IAMTHELAB’s post on this shop… it is a wonderful piece written by Brett Torrey Haynes http://www.iamthelab.com/craftiness-handmade/get-inspired-more-handmade-goodness-from-peg-and-awl/.

The Peg and Awl shop is run by a husband and wife team and they are amazing in their widespread approach to handmade. Here are a few of the pieces made by the husband and wife team that are a creators of this shop:

 

Peg and Awl
Small Botanical Desk Caddy

The Small Botanical Desk Caddy is one of my favorite things because I can see using it on my desk for brushes, pencils, or even tools I use in my jewelry making.  This shop’s inventory ranges from dry goods, jewelry, home, office/studio, kitchen, garden, journals, decoupage, photography, and one of a kind items.

Here is an example of their one of a kind items:

Book Necklace: Ben Franklin 1906, “This useable and wearable miniature book is covered with a bit of an antique leather postcard from 1906 still baring the original 1 cent Ben Franklin stamp and postmark.”  – Peg and Awl

This is one of those shop that my mind just says “uh-oh” the minute I see it, because I know that it has everything that I love to pause, touch, and wonder over for long moments at a time.  The little tiny books remind me of books I used to gather as a child.  Good craftsmanship can be found at every turn in this shop.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and find time to leave them some positive feedback and perhaps take something with you.

I know I plan on making a list of must haves and then purchasing a few items to add to my collections of handmade love!

Here are links to follow the Peg and Awl shop!!

Instagram:  http://instagram.com/pegandawl

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/pegandawl

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PegandAwl

Shop:  http://pegandawlbuilt.com/

Much peace and creativity!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

Shop Find of the Week!

I am happy to announce that in addition to my Handmade Artisan Spotlight, I will also be having a “Shop Find of the Week”!  I know my little sign says of the day, but I think it is more realistic for me to go with a weekly pick.  I am so happy to be passing along these great shops to my readers.  I guess in some ways I will always be a kid at heart, because I have never lost the excitement and wonder when I find something that I find beautiful, intriguing, and worth sharing.

My family knows I have a tendency to announce my great finds and tell them all about the wonderful things I have seen or heard.  I guess I would rather be the way I am, than be someone who has lost the joy and wonder in the things around me.

Well, without further chatter from me, here is my latest find:

https://twitter.com/AccessoireEtsy/status/438810013130559488

Hope you enjoy this shop as much as I did, and remember if you like something, please take a little time to let Rachel know and favorite her shop, tweet about her beautiful handmade items, and buy handmade!!

I have asked this shop’s owner to be a part of an interview with me, so I cross my fingers and hope to be able to talk with Rachel about her design process.  Stay tuned!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

Handmade Artisan Spotlight – Thomas Houha Designs

Well, I have the wonderful Brett Torrey Haynes, Founder of IAMTHELAB to thank again for this wonderful find and my newest Handmade Artisan Spotlight.  I am also doing this as part of IAMTHELAB’s Blog Blitz and in accordance with their guidelines.

(photo via IAMTHELAB)
Brett Torrey Haynes, Founder

 His name is Thomas Houha and he is both an architect and artist and he creates wonderful 3D models and kits that you can buy in his Etsy shop.

Here is one of Thomas Houha’s Bridge designs.

(via IAMTHELAB)
Design Thomas Houha

I have to tell you that making models are a little love of mine.  My dad used to make model airplanes when I was little and I have always loved to watch the process.  Now I actually love to buy little kits and put them together.  I have just “hearted”<3 Thomas Houha’s Etsy shop for my future shopping needs!

In his shop he even has a little drafting table, that is a must have for me. When I was looking at his models and kits I could see the architectural elements in each one. I don’t think there was anything in his shop that I would not want to buy!  My poor wallet, eek!

(via IAMTHELAB)
Design by Thomas Houha

Brett of IAMTHELAB did a recent article where he writes about his interview with Mr. Houha.  The interview can be found here:

http://www.iamthelab.com/craftiness-handmade/handmade-profiles-thomas-houha/

It’s a great look into the thoughts of Mr. Houha’s inspiration, and the fact that his early design inspiration came from Erector sets.  How many of us had those in our toy chests?!  He now collects them as a hobby.

He also names Leonardo DaVinci as a dream collaborator, because he was both architect and artist.  He names other people he would love to work with and goes on to talk about the materials he uses in his design work.  He even talks about music tastes, social media, and his future as an artist.

(via http://www.thomashouhadesigns.com/)

Handmade artistry spans so many art genres, and Thomas Houha Designs was a wonderful find.  I hope you take the time to visit this beautiful website and Etsy shop and leave him some kind comments about his work.  His models and kits are reasonably priced and will definitely add a beautiful and unusual design element to your space.

Here are his links:

Website:  http://www.thomashouhadesigns.com/

Etsy Shop:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThomasHouhaDesigns

I wish you a creative week and much peace!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

Please Meet Tiro Tiro — Deliciously Bold and Brilliant Jewelry

I recently found this wonderful artist on the IAMTHELAB blog.  I fell hopelessly in love with the jewelry that is bold, beautiful, and so reasonably priced.

Teresa Robinson is the brains and designer begin Tiro Tiro and her biography is just as super cool as her shop!

Cast and hand forged bronze earrings with woven Irish linen and oxidized sterling silver ear wire.
Vea Earrings measure approximately 2 inches in diameter.*Made to order in her Portland studio.(photo via Tiro Tiro) 

Here is an example of the work she does in her Portland studio.  Please tell me that you wouldn’t just adore wearing these beauties.  They are hand forged bronze that are woven with Irish linen.  Surely, you won’t see this type of workmanship, quality materials, and artistic beauty in a department store.

Over on the IAMTHELAB’s blog, Brett has some beautiful photos from the Tiro Tiro collection.  Some of the following photos came from IAMTHELAB website and have been used according to the IAMTHELAB’s Blog Blitz rules. I am sharing these photos with the understanding that all credit is directed back to the wonderful Brett at IAMTHELAB and Tiro Tiro.

[photo via IAMTHELAB]

(photo via IAMTHELAB)

I am a big fan of rings, especially odd shapeed rings that have a distinctly different shape. I love these rings from Teresa.  (photo via IAMTHELAB)

Ring cast in solid bronze.
**In fact, here is my favorite of Teresa’s rings!!**(photo via Tiro Tiro)

Of course, being someone who loves jewelry and making jewelry, I am especially intrigued with Teresa’s designs and her metalwork.  I hope to someday start metalsmithing and make some creations of my own. Meanwhile,to see the work of artists like Teresa is very inspiring, and to see the beautiful creations that she makes with various metals is absolutely inspiring.

I have always loved big hoop and dangle earrings.  The following earrings are an example of the type of drop earrings that I find so beautiful.   They are bold, brilliant, eccentric with an edge. Tiro Tiro is my kind of bold.

Hand carved and cast bronze earrings, oxidized sterling silver ear wire.
Earrings measure 2 by .6 inches. These earrings are made to order.(photo via Tiro Tiro)

As Brett pointed in the IAMTHELAB article, last year seemed to be about brass. Could this year be about bronze. Here is an example of bronze and a beautiful custom linen rope.(photo via IAMTHE LAB)

Teresa of Tiro Tiro fell in love with metalsmithing and lucky for us that she did!  She has had three successful jewelry lines (Smallthings in 2001, Stone & Honey in 2008 and Tiro Tiro in 2013). Teresa states in the Tiro Tiro “About” section that, “she lives in a little red house in Portland, Oregon with her dog, Marcelle, and shares the backyard with 4 precocious chickens.“  Lucky doggie and chickens living with such a creative person!

Tiro Tiro has a  blog, find it here: http://tirotiro.com/blogs/news

Shop:  http://tirotiro.com/collections/all

Tiro Tiro can also be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Look for the link Icons on her shop page.

Check out this wonderful shop and enjoy some beautiful eye candy!  You will not regret the trip.  I know I have a wish list started.

Happy Creating & Much Peace!

Ⓒⓗⓔⓡⓘⓔ ✌

PaperMelon — Eco-Friendly Paper and Cardboard Jewelry! (Handmade Artisan Spotlight)

The Fern Necklace

 The artisan who makes these wonderful creations is Devi Chand and she lives in Chennai, India.  Devi graduated in Accessory Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology.  She has a beautiful shop on Etsy called

Here is the link:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaperMelon.

Her paper jewelry is amazing and as she states, ” I love to convert everyday materials to wearable pieces of art.”  How great is that to take what other people would toss out and make into something so beautiful.  Not only is it beautiful but it makes a statement that says “I care about the environment.”

Thanks to http://ppt-bird.blogspot.com/ who made this clip art available for free!

I have always loved paper beads and have used them in some of my jewelry designs.  She inspires me to want to get back to using more recycled items in my jewelry.  I have always tried to be environmentally conscious when designing a piece.  Many times when I visit an antique or vintage store I will find pieces of old jewelry that I can use in my current designs.

 Here are a few more of her pieces for your viewing pleasure!!!!!!   Also, please remember her for holiday gift giving or maybe your first anniversary is coming up.  As she points out in her shop introduction, paper symbolizes the first wedding anniversary.

Cherry Blossom Necklace

Manjadikuru Ring

❤ This ring is a favorite of mine ❤

 

Rustic Treasure Earrings – Tribal Jewelry

Dazzling ❤ Love ❤ Earrings

Her attention to detail and love of color can be seen in this pair of colorful earrings!

Fern Bracelet – Woodland Jewelry

Most of her pieces and are listed in the description, so that you can just click on the link and find them easily.  PaperMelon is very bright and easy to navigate and all of Devi’s items arrive in beautiful handcrafted gift boxes.

Please Note:  All of the designs from PaperMelon are protected using a moisture-resistant sealant which allows the jewelry to be splash and moisture proof.  However, it is advisable to always remove your jewelry during water-related activities. 

To read and see her design process just visit her page at http://www.etsy.com/shop/PaperMelon/about?ref=l2-more-about.

Please remember to support handmade artisans this holiday season!

Have fun creating and spending time with those you love❤

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My Favorite Color — Turquoise!

This is the definition according to Wikipedia…

Turquoise is the name of a bluish-green color, based on the gem of the same name. The word turquoise comes from the French for Turkish, as the gem was originally imported from Turkey.  The first recorded use of turquoise as a color name was in English in 1573.

Now with the history lesson behind us, my love of this color lead to me collecting turquoise jewelry in the Southwest style at early age.  I love the pairing of sterling silver and turquoise.  My choice is the more bluish turquoise as opposed to the green colored.

Via: thatbohemiangirl.tumblr.com

When I make jewelry I find that I tend to use turquoise and blue/green colors in many of my designs.  Although, I like other colors and try to add various color combinations to my designs I seem to always come back to the blues.  

Accessoire on ArtFire

Here is one of my recent bracelet/earrings sets where I used magnesite stone beads in turquoise blue and accented them with silver twisted rings and Czech fire polish rondelle beads that have a touch of red .  The question could be asked “why use magnesite instead of real turquoise?”  Cost is one reason especially if you are just getting started in the jewelry making business.  Or in my case, getting back into the business and replenishing my lost bead/gemstone stock.  Of course, in the future I will be buying some turquoise and creating some pieces with it.  Using more expensive items such as sterling silver vs. silver plate and turquoise vs. magnesite will affect prices and the audience I am hoping to reach.  

My next learning experience in my jewelry making career is to start taking classes in silversmithing.  I want to create my own pieces from the “ground up” and watch as they bloom in my hands into the designs I have envisioned in my head.  I love rings and hope to be able to make some beautiful rings for customers.

Finally, I simply thought I would write a  post with a lot of pretty photos for your viewing pleasure about the color that inspires me!  

Have fun creating and explore the world around you!

Cherie 

Related articles

• About Turquoise (montanasilversmiths.com)

Just Joined Amazine!

I love creating… no lie!  Whether it is with my hands, computer, mind, writing, etc.  I have a busy mind and I love all the ways that I can find to throw out all the wonderfully talented artisans and people I find daily.  I just found a new outlet – Amazine!

Here is a link to my tiny portion of this great site!  Check it out as I am sure you will have much fun creating your own “magazine”!  http://www.amazine.com/user/Accessoire

via http://www.100layercake.com/

This was one of the stories that I clipped and added to my magazine!

I hope you find your creative center and find joy in the beauty others create with their hands and minds!

Cherie