new work, new favorite

i had lofty goals of getting a million new things made this weekend, but my plans were thwarted by too much wine, nasty weather, a shortage of jump rings, and general lack of motivation.  i did manage to get a few things done, so i’ll get the shameless self-promotion part of this over with (click pictures for etsy listings):

all are available for sale at my etsy shop. 

obviously, i am still on a hoop kick.  they’re just so versatile.  the possibilities with hoops are limitless, which is what makes them so much fun for me.  on that note, today’s favorite are the littlebird hoops by modern bird:

i adore these.  even the closure on the back is pretty. 

daily favorite…11/7/08

i’m all about the hoops these days.  i love wearing them and i love making them, especially when they’re not just plain old round hoops.  i also really like the particular forming technique the artist, gretchen walker, used on this pair.  it’s called anticlastic forming, and it’s something i never got the hang of while i was in school, though not for lack of trying.  at any rate, these hoops are fabulous:

i imagine they’re very lightweight and easy to wear, despite their size.  for more on the anticlastic technique, click here.  when you’re done doing that, check out gretchen’s shop!  and after that, go have yourself a great weekend.

daily favorite…11/5/08

i know i’ve mentioned this before, but i absolutely love earrings that do not come in symmetrical pairs.  i can’t understand why more people don’t wear them this way.  they’re far more interesting if the earrings are different but complement each other, rather than look exactly alike.  without further ado, today’s favorite are the tango earrings by organikx:

i adore these, and am seriously contemplating ordering a pair.  the organikx shop is full of amazing stuff.  bridget, the proprietress of the shop, is one talented lady!  her design aesthetic is somewhat similar to mine, so i’m really drawn to her work.  she also has her own website, containing even more pretty things.  go take a peek!  you won’t be disappointed.

daily favorite…11/3/08

okay, let’s see if i remember how to do this whole posting thing.  it’s been awhile!  here we go…today’s favorite etsy find is this awesome pair of earrings, by cynthia del giudice:

cynthia has achieved the perfect balance of simple and striking with this pair.  i love how she has made the ear wire an aesthetically important part of the piece, instead of just a functional one.  she has also made a similar pair with a great patina, and i can’t decide which one i like best so i’m posting both:

beautiful, no?

daily favorite…8/18/08

i’m back and feeling refreshed after a long, busy weekend of shopping, surprises, preserved bodies, drinks with friends in the sunshine, attending an amazing benefit for another friend, and various other things.  i didn’t spend a single second at my workbench, however.  i’m not feeling particularly inspired these days.  i think i need a vacation.  however, my lack of inspiration only means i’m spending MORE time on etsy, looking for fun things to post.  today’s favorite is the fun and fidgety inger spinner ring by lunaticart. 

rings with kinetic components are such fun.  i’m one of those fidgety types that can’t hold still, ever, so pieces like this are a staple in my jewelry wardrobe.  i made a similar ring a few years ago, and i wear it constantly:

i had grandiose plans of making a whole series of these, but of course i got distracted by something else and it never quite materialized.  but someday…

daily favorite…8/11/08

this one will have to be quick…i’m on my way out the door and headed to the lake, to spend the evening on a sailboat with the boy and some friends.  so, in honor of that, today’s favorite is a lovely pair by julie lake.  behold, the pantaloon earrings:

i love them.  i want them.  my birthday is in january.  hint, hint. 

okay, i’m off to enjoy the lovely evening.  xo!

daily favorite…8/8/08

the piece i’ve chosen for today’s favorite is probably not for everybody.  i think it’s great…creepy, yes; but i’m a big fan of the creepy stuff.  i’ve seen a lot of things cast before, but never a bird foot.  some may find it gross, but i think it’s a really cool way of preserving and displaying a bit of what’s left behind after we (or animals, in this case) expire.  on that note, check out bird claw necklace by jessitaylor.

i love jewelry that makes people stop and stare, and this definitely qualifies as such.  i giggle thinking of the looks i’d get from relatives if i were to wear this piece to a family event…too bad it’s not in the budget this month or i’d get it for that reason alone!  oh, and the listing states the bird died of natural causes, so there’s no need to panic and think that an innocent bird was killed for its foot.

today’s favorite…8/7/08

it’s only day 2 of listing my daily favorites, and i already know i’m going to have a hard time with it.  there are just too many aweseome things out there.  good thing there are so many days in a year.  anyway, today’s favorite is brought to you by the letter Q, and is the gorgeous black and gold long necklace by imogeneANDannie. 

I LOVE IT.  it’s beautiful.  it has only been recently that i’ve started liking gold jewelry.  i used to be a strictly sterling silver kind of gal, and thought gold was pretty tacky.  but, i’m starting to branch out a bit.  i really love the combination of the bright gold chain and the dark sterling silver pretty bits.

daily favorite

my job, like that of millions of others, requires that i sit in front of a computer for 8 hours a day.  this is horribly mind-numbing, so whenever i have a bit of downtime, i find myself scouring the millions of listings on etsy.  if i don’t watch it, i can lose hours this way.  believe me; i’ve done it more times than i should probably admit in a forum my employer may see.  but there’s just so much to look at.  it’s really incredible how many amazing designers are out there.  so, i thought i’d start sharing my daily favorites with the 3 or so people who accidentally stumble upon my little corner of the internet 🙂 i’m sure it will usually be jewelry of some sort, but sometimes i may surprise you with something else.  without further ado, my first daily favorite is (drumroll, please)….. the lovely abandoned earrings by paintedmetal!  

aren’t they gorgeous?  honestly, i could have picked her entire store as a favorite.  i looooove the look of old metal after it’s been exposed to the elements, and tammy at paintedmetal is an absolute pro at creating that look in her studio.  i’ve done some experimenting with various patinas myself, but never did i come near her range of colors and textures.  she makes the etsy front page all the time, and rightfully so.  check out her shop!  you won’t be disappointed.