Faerie4w

This week I have been posting some of the new items for the 2009 - 2010 season. I haven't been able to properly work on my jewelry for a while, because of other responsibilities, so I finally get a chance to play with some of my new beads and gemstones.

This Easter, I took a nice trip with my best friend to New York, where we both got the chance to buy some lovely beads in the Fashion District. Some of my favorites were these luminous faceted prehnite drops, which boast a perfect spring green color. I paired them with lustrous button-shaped pearls in two sizes, tiny faceted peridot rondelles and icy blue moonstone rondelles.

Faerie5w

The delicate color palette was perfect for a regal set of princess-length necklace and matching cascade earrings: The Faerie Queene set. Named for the famous poem, it really reminded me of a mythical fairy: delicate, regal and beautiful. The necklace features a handmade chain of pearls and gemstones, individually wrapped in sterling silver wire. A lovely prehnite is the focal pendant, topped with a cluster of pearls and gemstones. This necklace is a bit longer than what I'm used to making, with 18 inches of pure luxury. The earrings feature gradating sizes of pearls, with subtle accents of peridots and moonstones. Each bead has been individually set on a sterling silver chain.

I will be gradually adding more of the new pieces to my Etsy shop!

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Bagdad boxed set

Today I listed a new item in my Etsy shop: a boxed set. A cute fabric-covered box unfolds to reveal a matching journal. These elegant sets are the top-of-the-line items in my shop.

The process of making the book and its box is quite time-consuming, but makes for a lovely end result. First, I need to make the backcloth. Fabric cannot be easily pasted to the book boards, so it needs to be backed with paper to make it stronger and easier to paste. This takes about a day for the fabric to dry and be ready to use.

Paisley boxed set

Meanwhile, I make the signatures for the book, folding and tearing the paper, then grouping the leaves to make the signatures. Then it's time to measure and cut the boards for the covers. Once the backcloth is ready, I measure and cut fabric for the covers, a bit for reinforcing the spine and three little strips for sewing the book. I punch the holes for sewing the signatures and once the book is sewn, I reinforce the spine with a bit of gauze. Finally, I cover the boards with fabric and paste the signatures to the covers.

Once the book is ready, I measure it so I can get precise measurements for the box. Then I cut the boards for making the box, as well as the fabric and endpapers. I always use the same paper for the signatures and the endpapers in the box! I cover the boards and assemble the box. Before covering the inside, I attach the ribbon ties. Finally, the book and the box are left to air dry for a couple of days, and voilá! A new boxed set is ready.

I have made five of these boxed sets since I learned how to craft them. As you can see, they take a while to be ready, so they become a major project for my bookbinding sessions. I hope you enjoy them!

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In January, I took a wonderful class on handbinding techniques. It came as a surprise how much I enjoyed working with paper: folding, tearing , sewing and pasting papers to make colorful little books soon became a much needed distraction from work! I've always collected unusual papers and it was finally clear what I could use them for.

We learned many different techniques, from simple butterfly and album style bindings, to beautiful Japanese sewings, exposed spine bindings and we even made our own bookcloth for a boxed set.

Lime Washibook

Since then, I've tried to make time for a little bookbinding every once in a while. I still find it extremely relaxing, and it's always a great experience to be able to work so closely with paper, fabric and thread. I started learning on my own: I purchased some books (Keith Smith is a great teacher!) and started trying some interesting sewings. Soon, I realized that I enjoyed coptic stitching the best, and created a line of cute little journals that used this beautiful stitch.

My Washibooks combine some materials I find particularly enjoyable to work with: Costa Rican banana paper, which has a great texture and is also good for the environment; Japanese washi papers, which feel almost like fabric and have some of the most beautiful designs I've ever seen; and cotton and hemp threads in many colors. I especially love putting together the combinations of papers and colors that will make up each book. The covers, back covers, endpapers and thread can feature wonderful harmonies or vibrant contrasts.

Kimono Washibook

The loving process of tearing the paper for the signatures, covering the boards for the covers and sewing the book together is a wonderful experience, and it always produces a cute little book that can be carried around, admired, and used for writing or drawing whenever the inspiration strikes.

You can now find my Washibooks at my new Etsy shop!

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This is how you sleep when you're a very spoiled kitty

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Beadtrends

My Gardens Crown is featured in Bead Trends magazine current issue, and it even made it to the front page!!!!! I'm extremely happy with this, and will post more pictures once I get my copy of the magazine. Also, I wanted to thank Susan of Clinkscales Art for letting me know about this fantastic opportunity. :D

Gardens Crown

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So I've decided to do an experiment: I'll try to write tiny little notes to get me to post with some semblance of regularity. Let's see how this goes!

Tourmaline earrings for Ele

These are one of the latest earrings I've made. I'm really, really happy about how they turned out: elegant, colorful yet subtle, and very exotic. The colors are just yummy and were carefully chosen to achieve this gradating effect. These earrings are a gift for my maid of honor, who is wearing a gorgeous emerald green dress to the wedding. Her earrings combine luscious vessonite briolettes in a deep, almost forest green; refreshing lemon quartz briolettes (all the brios are from my personal stash); and some gorgeous micro faceted tourmaline briolettes from a strand Ele had purchased some time ago. She let me use the tourmalines in these cascading "helix" earrings, which are definitely one of my absolute favorite pieces ever.

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Hello!

Anfiteatro - Amphitheater

After a crazy long time, I finally decided to write something on this blog. I've been extremely busy with a couple of projects that are not my jewelry line, for a change. :)

First of all, we're getting married in less than a month!!! That alone should explain why you haven't seen me around! We're excitedly finishing the last things from our wedding to-do list: talking with the florist, learning to dance bolero and looking for some decorations for our site.
We'll be getting married at the Villa Caletas Hotel, in Costa Rica's Central Pacific coast. Here's a picture of the gorgeous site. :)

Traje con alas / Winged suit

On the other hand, I've been working on my thesis... which has been very time consuming but also a very satisfyingexperience. I got to reacquaint myself with my own dress-making skills! I didn't study fashion design (I studied fine arts with an emphasis in graphic design), but nevertheless my thesis is on dress as a form of art. I have a profound love for fashion and everything related to it (illustration, jewelry, theory and history of fashion), so it was a very personal choice to work with such a subject.

My thesis is due in June, so I have lots and lots of work ahead of me. The project consists of two parts: first, a theoretical study of the relationship of art and fashion, fashion as a form of communication and the relationship between fashion and women. The practical part of this thesis is an exploration of the concept of artistic dress through three dresses that have oversized, constrictive and impractical proportions. Right now I've almost finished one of these dresses and the other two are still in progress.

And last but not least... we have a cat! Please welcome little miss Lana, a tiny but astoundingly cute Himalayan cat. She's been with us for about two months now. She loves to keep us company and to closely supervise any activity, especially those related to my thesis (yikes!). She's very energetic and playful, likes to talk a lot and is just a sweetheart. A little bit after we got her, we learned that Lana is affected with feline leukemia virus. This was probably contracted through her mom and dad, and has caused her to be quite susceptible to infections and the like. This whole situation made us extremely sad, and so I urge all cat owners to have your kitties vaccinated against this disease. Lana is under close supervision from her vet and we hope that with lots of loving care she will live with us for many years. :)

Here's the official portrait of Her Royal Cuteness!

Lana

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I just listed a couple of new hairpin styles in my Etsy shop. They're part of my new Resort 2008 collection!

Tropical Ikebana Hairpin

The Tropical Ikebana Hairpin features a flower made of three amazonite briolettes, accented with sterling silver stems with Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls. The asymmetrical design is fabulously modern, while the fresh aqua, turquoise and sky blue colors will perfectly complement a beach bride!

Custom for Helena - Flor Blanca Hairpins

The Flor Blanca Hairpins feature lovely and delicate white organza flowers with sparkly centers (made with Swarovski crystals and seed beads). The multi-layered effect on these hairpins speaks of romance and tropical sunsets. The organza is a pure white color, perfectly accented by the Aurora Borealis effect on the Swarovski crystals.

This style is a departure from my regular beaded jewelry and accessories, since it incorporates fabric petals. Each petal is handcut and shaped to form a fabulous bloom. I have been experimenting with some new techniques for creating fabric flowers, and I hope to soon be able to launch a line of bridal accessories with satin, organza and tulle flowers.

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I just love the colors in this one! The mix of subtle dusty rose crystals with blush-colored pearls and sprinkles of light champagne is fabulous when paired with the oversized shell flower. The Hibiscus Hairpin is one of my personal favorites from my new collection and has a definitely modern/tropical feel.

Hibiscus Hairpin

The Hibiscus Hairpin features an oversize shell flower, made with luxurious, iridescent mother-of-pearl ovals. It is accented with three undulating stems of sterling silver wire with Swarovski crystals and freshwater pearls.
The subtle palette of ivory, dusty rose and light gold will be a perfect accent for champagne gowns, while the exotic design is reminiscent of the lush tropical vegetation.

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The Resort 2008 Collection is now featured in my Etsy shop!
A gorgeous selection of necklaces, earrings, hairpins, hairvines and combs will be gradually added to my shop, showcasing new colors and designs perfect for the Austral summer. These light-hearted pieces feature delightful colors, sophisticated materials and fabulous designs.
I took my inspiration from the luxurious colors of the tropical summer: deliriously blue skies, lush green vegetation, candy pink flowers and some more restrained and subtle shades of ivory and golden sands, opaline white surf and muted rose petals.

Marina Necklace

Tha Marina Necklace is the first piece of this new collection to debut in my shop. This fabulous necklace was crafted with freshwater pearls, blue Swarovski crystals, kyanite heishi beads and a lustrous turquoise briolette, all hand-knotted on light blue silk thread. This is a especially hotogenic piece, which is why it's feature din my new shop banner. :)

Resort Collection!

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