Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Take Time to Smell the Smilodon...er Roses

Hello All,

Is it Spring?  Really?  Freezing cold in warm locales, snow, rain, crazy weather.  Yup!  Must be Spring.  Hope you've all escaped the worst of it.

The Second Most Interesting Man In The World just returned from a business trip to sunny and beautiful California.  He took some I-Phone pictures for me to share with you guys.  awwwwww.  And yes, that is why he is also known by some of you as Mr. Wonderful.  I think you'll be glad he shared....





My eyes could feast on this scene and never grow tired of it.
 
Thank you Mr. Wonderful!!
 
 
 
oh but there's more.....
 
a visit to La Brea Tar pits yielded these fascinating sights...
 
 
 
 
 
He was captivated by these plants growing outside of the place.
 
 
 
 
 

Right there in the heart of L.A.!
 
Big bubbling pits of tar.
Filled with fossils.
Cool stuff, eh?
 
 
 
 
 
 
how the fossilized bones are found.  What a jumbled mess.
 
 
 
 
 
a wall of the numbers of found Dire Wolf skulls.
Can't tell for sure, but I don't think these are actual skulls.
 
 
 
 
 
 
great display.
you know, "they" say that birds are descendants of dinosaurs.
you know... they,
the unofficial experts on EVERYTHING!
 
 
 
 
 
Yowza!
 
 
 
 

He said this skeleton was incredibly massive.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Giant ground sloth?
 
 
 
 
 
Who knew?!
Saber tooth cats teeth replaced themselves!
As if they weren't scary enough.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impressive!
 
 
 
 
 
 


this, my friends, is what I really want to find while fossilhunting.
What is it?
Why, a tooth of course!
 
OK, enough of that.....
 
 
 
so we've seen the Smiloden, now let's smell the roses....
 
 
 
 



 
There are a number of these rose bushes in the back yard.
LOVE!
 
 
 
 



 
Saw the first hummingbird of the season on this bush.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beautiful.
Yes, still loving the crisp blue western skies.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
this tree is right by the front door.
you guys hoped you could escape the flower pictures, didn't you?
 
bwahahahahaha
not a chance!
 
 
Now I'll get down to business and show you what you came to see.
Though, I think some of you secretly enjoy my frivoloties, eh?
C'mon, you know you do.
 
 
Do you guys remember the photos of the
custom order of bracelets from a couple of posts ago?
 
The fiery red hot romance themed bracelets.
 
The same lovely lady sent me some more of her gorgeous
components to make another set of bracelets and necklaces.
This time the theme was "Not Too Pretty-Pretty".
Which believe me is a huge challenge when I am working with such
beautiful pieces.
 
She sent the most delicate carved roses and more of her
magnificent micro mosaics.
The color scheme this time was creamy ivory, mossy green, butterscotch.
Soft and inviting.
But with an edge.
 
 

This piece with the face is a locket.
I know!  It's fabulous!




Paired with her rhinestone pin.
This one did turn out very pretty-pretty.
How could it not, with those components.






I tried to give this one a contemporary feel while
keeping true to the origins of the micro mosaic.
 
 

She requested that the necklaces layer together.
 
 
 




Love the combination.






Earrings to match.






 
I used a small micro mosaic accent from the above necklace on this bracelet.
Paired with fossil coral, sparkling white druzy in a tin bezel,
butterscotch rhinestones and ivory beads.
Grunged it up to tone down the prettiness.






Here it is in the "pretty" bangle stack.






 
Double carved roses paired with freshwater pearls, amazonite, carved bone,
a vintage teardrop bead and one of my word stones.
 
I really tried, but there was no way to keep this from being too pretty.







She sent these wonderful bits of tinsel.
I discovered they worked best when showcased in a vial.
Mixed with vintage beadcaps, a butterscotch glass eye-headpin, faceted beads, filigree, rhinestones
and adorned below with one of her sterling padlock hearts.
A bit of a steampunk vibe.
 







A successful layering combo!






Gorgeous carved rose paired with lustrous vintage ivory teardrops,
vintage and new crystals on a mossy green velvet wrap bracelet.





Flame painted copper band bracelet adorned with
lampwork and filigree bead dangles.
 
To keep the bracelet stacks from being too sweet.






This one makes me swoon. 
A carved butterscotch rose, a raku bumpy lampwork headpin by HavanaBeads,
golden butterscotch freshwater pearls,
new and vintage beads on a rhinestone chain bracelet with an oversized
almost industrial hook clasp.







Assemblage in resin paired with green freshwater pearls, tiny bronze freshwater pearls,
a soaring bird charm, double ball headpins wire wrapped onto the bracelet chain with
her stunning blush pink carved rose as the focal.






This is an electroformed skeletonized leaf adorned with a white stick pearl, additional freshwater pearls, her tiny little rhinestone heart and snippets of antique hand tatting
on a hand dyed silk wrapped metal bangle.








Here it is paired with two more bangles
for a delicate, understated look.
 





 
 
The request for this magnificent micro mosaic was "edgy".
This one had me stumped.
Nothing I tried looked right.
I was trying too hard to make this feminie piece "modern edgy".
When I realized that wasn't going to work with this piece
and went in a new direction, finally, it fell into place.
Black spikes provide the edge factor,
 accented with a striking dichroic glass bead,
matte beads in chocolate brown,
carved pyrite roses, raspberry glass, filigree, more pyrite beads and faceted black beads.






Yes, it also layers nicely with the locket.







Close up of the ivory rose, pearl bangle.






Enameled green beadcaps cradling bumpy cream beads
on a double wrapped bangle with hand dyed silk accents.








I do love this combo.





 
I paired her double rhinestone hearts with one of the carved pyrite roses,
faceted stone teardrop briolettes and a soldered accent piece.






The stack with a grunged gypsy bracelet chock full of lampwork beads
and multi colored vintage rhinestone accents
paired with a simple overwrapped brass bangle sporting a
skeleton key and sterling heart padlock.







Adding a bit of color, I've adorned a soldered bracelet band
with peachy pink, white and mossy green stone beads.






The stack with a grunge bracelet featuring an adorable
mother of pearl accented ivory or bone butterfly, baltic amber and Kuchi charms.
I love how switching out the accent bracelets changes the look of the stack completely.

From gypsy boho to rustic to refined.....






to unabashed romance.......
 
 







That's the custom collection I've just finished up.
 
Here's what else I've been working on....







I've been wanting to work with some color lately.
Bright and bold colors.
 
I found these wonderful faces at EarthShards
and knew that I would use them with sari silk wrap bracelets
I had recently affixed snap closures to.
Embellished with a variety of colorful glass and ceramic beads,
 this bracelet wraps around the wrist multiple times.







I've used Numinosity Beads criffles in a delicious sea foam green
paired with some metal pieces that I've shaped and formed
and given a soft verdigris patina.
The ruffled wires above are oxidized to compliment and contrast with the sea foam.
Yes, you know I want to keep them.
Why do I keep torturing myself by making things for the shop in my favorite color?
Oh yeah, cuz it's my FAVORITE COLOR
 






a second view because if I'm going to list these, which I am,
I want to fill my eyes with them before I say good bye.
Kim, you have more of this color?
I sure hope so.






Multi wrap hoops paired with flame painted copper charms, 
verdigris patinated Kuchi charms and
lampwork headpins from Fire Forged Studio 



Here's another silk sari wrap bracelet
 
 




This one in blues with another wonderful EarthShard face,
a crystal point, a mottled headpin from Havana Beads 
and an assortment of stone, glass and ceramic beads along with
vintage headpins in an-I-don't-even-know-what-to-call-this-shade-of-green.






Kingman turquoise nuggets paired with flame painted copper,
hammered brass domed discs, antique buttons and twisty jump rings for added visual texture.






Multi wrap hoops with handformed leaves that I've oxidized then
patinated with verdigris,  bits of verdigris vintage metal adornments and tiny silver blossoms.







These are so simple but I just love them!
Vintage Kuchi buttons with red stones paired with
 hammer textured, flame painted and oxidized copper tongues.
They are a perfect size for everyday wear.



I also finished this bracelet.
 
 









It, like the previous earrings, look so much better in person.
Not sure why I had so much trouble getting a true shot of these.





 
And this one which you saw as a "before" shot.
Oxidized and done.





 
 
Hammer textured aluminum cuff adorned with brass and turquoise.





 
Filigree hoops with vintage twist pearls, rhinestone rondels,
 faceted opalite and matte black beads.
The filigree has silver Gilders paste highlighting the design.
These have been listed in my Etsy shop as "Take Me Dancing filigree hoops".
Jazzed them up a bit and relisted them
 
 
and thats' it!
Phew.
I know I've been feeling really busy lately and
I guess I was.
 
Now to get all of this listed.....
 
 
Hoping that you all have a lovely, warm, blossom filled Spring till next time!

 
 
 
 this little fella looks like a flower, doesn't he?
 
 
 
 
 
Adeus/Tchau (goodbye in Portuguese)
 
 
enjoy!
 
 

31 comments:

  1. I think you must've been a blogging the same time as me today!
    Holy Carp...you have a Patroness too now? I don't know if I could take the pressure, honestly! What a fantastic bunch of pieces you did, i have to say the mini mosaic earrings are my favorite of that first custom order bunch but that's because I could see myself wearing them.
    Now about those criffles, I can just keep supplying you with them of course but you'll have to wait until May because we only have one week left here and I ran my tank out of oxygen...sooo there you have it. ( well we can trade too for a replacement of your earring that I lost on the plane from Tucson to Atlanta too) I just love what you did with the patinas and criffles. Those are really doing it for me and honoring the criff spectacularly.

    Your posts are so jam packed with particles that lodge in my brain kelp that I feel like one of those saguaro cactuses that has accordian-ed out after the monsoon if you know what I mean. And Mr. wonderful being so kind as to provide us with the bone-us shots of his CA visit. I know he did it for you and then you were kind in turn, I get that.

    Enjoy spring, it's like summer here and then I go backwards in time and climate and get some winter/spring action all over again.

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
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    1. you sound terribly excited to be headed back to the frozen north. :) So this means you have more sea foam? YAY! Be happy to try and duplicate your earring if I can. If not, I can make you a close-as-I-can-get-it-similar pair. Sorry to hear it went MIA. Nope, no patroness here, simply a very lovely lady with a couple of large custom orders. It sure was nice of Mr. Wonderful to take and share those photos. He did say they were for me to use on my blog if I wanted to, so indeed, he did take them for all of us. Nice guy, eh?

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  2. I love what you've done with the clay faces and the sari silk - inspiring and fascinating! Thanks so much for elevating my work to something extraordinary! ♥♥Lyn

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    1. Thank you Lyn and welcome! So glad you like how I used your amazing faces. Anything they're used on will be elevated because they're included. Love them!

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  3. Beautiful rose. Nice to see you surrounded by the blooms again.
    Great pics and pieces as always. Especially love the hand formed leaves earrings.

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    1. Thanks much, Pipn. Yup, I am so happy to see all of the blooms in the new place. That rose color is wonderful! And flowers that attract the flying jewels...thrilled!

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  4. So many wonderful things as always, my heart did little leaps on viewing your double carved roses and micro mosaic earrings... :) Wow Mr. Wonderful has shared some amazing fossil pictures, I could spend all day in museums looking at bones. Congratulations on spotting your first hummer, they are magical little beings.

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    1. hahahaha me too! What is it about that fossils that is so captivating? Thank you for your kind compliment.

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  5. Those pale green mosaic earrings...oh my.
    Not pretty-pretty, but gorgeous-gorgeous. Is that o.k? Lovely work all of it.

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  6. Hoo boy - where to start??? Another amazing job done, on another Mammoth (thank you, Mr Wonderful) custom order. Love those mosaics!! Fabulous bangles stacks too.
    Oh my, those Earth Shard faces are wonderful, especially next to the vibrant sari silk - really beautiful. Those 'simple' kuchi earrings are honeys too!
    I still can't get over you having hummingbirds flying around in your garden!! All that blooming going on too - sigh, still mostly grey here.
    Blimey crikey, you've been SOOO busy!!!
    As always, a dizzying post!!
    XOXOXOX :o) <3

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much sweet Petra. You don't have any hummingbirds in your beautiful Treetops?! That doesn't seem right for such a gorgeous spot.

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  7. So many wonderful things to see in this post! Thanks to my dad our family never gets tired of visiting museums. In fact my dad has so many things in his basement that he could probably fill one wing of a museum.

    Your jewelry is wonderful. I've never been able to perfect the edgy look so I stick to what I know. But I do try every once in a while.

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    1. aww Thanks Alice. My dad's thing was libraries, for which I am very grateful. Sympathies on your dad's basement....unless that's a good thing. Treasure hunting in dad's basement, possibly?

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  8. Good grief...there you go again with a monster post. hehe I love that top pic. I could stare at it a long time too. Our son lives in Long Beach. Obviously we don't visit nearly enough. He used to live right around the corner from those tar pits - and I guess hubs told you that they're right beside the LACMA. What a place to be!!

    You're having a wonderful time with the custom work & it's GORGEOUS! But not too pretty, pretty of course. ;) The bracelets are yummy & the layered necklaces are perfect! I wish I could wear gorgeous stuff like that. The "Kim's sea foam green" earrings are my favorite!

    psssst...I have some of those sea foam green criffles in my stash. If she can't make more, let me know & I'll be happy to send them to you. Just shoot me an addy.

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    Replies
    1. How fun for your son. Hubs said it was a great area. Thank you for the lovely compliment, Lela. I have a hard time wearing "sparklies" myself, but I sure do love making them. What a very kind offer-thank you! If Kim can't duplicate them later on, I just might take you up on that.

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  9. OMG Your jewelry is stunnnnnnnning!!!!! I need your bracelets!!!

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    1. Kathy, your comment made me laugh out loud! Because YOUR jewelry is stunnnnnnnnning and I NEED your necklaces! thank you so much for your generous compliment.

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  10. Oh my goodness!
    The custom necklaces look stunning together, the matching earrings equally stunning,love all of the completely yummy bangle stacks, and the filigree hoops! The face beads are awesome, and I loved the hand formed metal earrings (and the especially the patina is my fav too:) as well.

    Wanted to tell you Kentucky is supposedly a HUGE hot spot for all sorts of fossils. But , the 2 places I know of are preserved by the state and just for looksies, although one of them has a "dig" pile you can collect from in their parking lot lol. Apparently you have to "know the right someone" to dig on private lands. Being a transplanted from California girl , I just found this out recently :)
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Shari

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    1. awww you sweety. Thank you! Parking lot fossil hunting? BWAHAHAHAHA! Though every time I drive by the construction sites where the new highway is going in, I am driven to distraction with wanting to fossil hunt in the construction debris so I really shouldn't laugh at parking lot fossiling, eh? :)

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  11. Wow, is all I can say, just WOW! All glorious and pretty the right way.

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  12. Oh wow!!!! W O W ! I love the not "pretty-pretty"!! Simply gorgeous in the right way!! I'm amazed by how you can turn a piece "edgy", and the composition with the carved roses!! Awww!
    I'm the same at this time of year admiring the flowers and birds and insects, well no hummingbird here, but all that life booming, it's magic!

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  13. How could I forgot to mention the criffle verdigris earrings?! Stunning!!! :D

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    1. Aw yes, Springtime...nothing better. Are there no hummingbirds at all there?
      Thank you, Lucie for your kind words.

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  14. I've had to take a couple of days to keep coming back and forth to digest all this sumptuousness.
    The heart face necklace and earrings are to die for and the bangles are incredible. When I grow up I want to be a patroness!

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    1. you sweety. Thank you! Like you, I'm thinking that being a patroness might just be fun, but who wants to grow up? hahahahaha

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  15. dude. whassup w/the book-length post? 1st- there really are such things as direwolves? also, how jealous am i of all those carved roses? how can it not end up pretty as hell w/those?! love your grungy style with that pretty though. perfect match. you've been busy. what can i say, love it all.

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    1. hahahaha i can't help myself. You should see all the stuff I saved for my next way-too-long-post! yes, dire wolves are/were a real thing. I know, those roses are so yummy. thank you so much for your kind compliment, fanci.

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  16. AA - huge amounts of info here; but love the huge amount of production and its beauty - you are on a roll. May it all sell. Go well. B

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