25 posts tagged “handmade”
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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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. :)
The lovely Ikebana Hairpin was featured today in the very stylish blog Handcrafted: The Cure For The Common Wedding. This is what they said about my piece:
"Today's Indie Star is Pavoreal. There are some really pretty tiaras and combs, awesome hair vines, and great hairpins. It was this really unique hairpin that caught my eye first. I thought it was interesting that she is a graphic designer. Most of the people I have run into with a graphic design background are doing stationery. She has been working with wire jewelry since her teenage years and has developed a very nice style."
Don't forget to visit this blog to take a look at their amazing selections for the modern and creative bride!
Fabulous Peruvian opal marquise cut briolettes give this hairvine a very organic and sophisticated look. The lovely gemstones range from opaline seafoam green to greenish white, with a few inclusions. The gorgeous, faceted opals are paired with freshwater pearls and Golden Shadow Swarovski crystals for added sparkle. This lovely hairvine is a unique piece and will be the perfect accent for a romantic garden wedding.
The Madreselva Hairvine is a one of a kind piece, entirely handmade with sterling silver wire. Since the moment I bought these fabulous opals from one of my favorite Etsy sellers (and a fellow Etsyluxite), I envisioned turning them into stylized leaves for a romantic headpiece. I just love the result!
Enjoy!
I adore the refreshing color palette of blues and whites, accented by moonstone and aquamarine rondelles. The centerpiece for the necklace and cascading earrings are some gorgeous aquamarine drops from Tamara's shop. The large briolettes look fantastic with Swarovski crystals in Pacific Opal, Light Azore and Indicolite, with some white Swarovski pearls sprinkled about. The blue flashes in the tiny moonstone rondelles give some lovely color accents as well!
This is one of the most luxurious and time-consuming pieces in this collection, but it still retains a modern and stylized design. The crystals and gemstones dangle form sterling silver chain and form clusters in the front part of the necklace. The back of the necklace is much more simple and light. The Waterworks is definitely a regal piece, perfect for a wedding!
Today is the debut of my new Fall/Winter Collection in my Etsy shop. A fabulous array of tiaras, hairpins, combs and jewelry will be gradually added to my shop, showcasing new colors and designs perfect for the new season. You'll find colorful tiaras, like the Orchard Hairvine, masterfully crafted with Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls and gold-filled wire. Soon to come are some ornate earrings, like the Apple Orchard and Starry Night, a decadent set of aquamarines called the Waterworks, some beautiful headpieces like the White Cherry Tiara and Margaritas hairpins and much more.
There are two different color schemes for this new collection: a palette of warm, autumnal colors (topaz, ivory, chocolate brown, smoky quartz and garnet), and an elegant palette of cool, wintery blues and grays (aquamarines, labradorites, pearls, moonstone and grayish blues). The designs are equally complex, and skillfully handcrafted.
Enjoy!
I'm currently working on my new designs for Fall/Winter. I got a ton of new beads and some fabulous, fresh ideas that I'm dying to turn into sparkly pieces! The new autumn colors look really awesome, a decadent palette of gold, topaz, smoky quartz, champagne and copper, mixed with gold-filled wire and creamy freshwater pearls.
I'm also experimenting with new textures, such as iridescent mother-of-pearl, mixed with pearls and shiny crystals. I love the abstract feel of this piece: are those flowers? butterflies? leaves? I'm always trying to turn the nature-inspired pieces into contemporary tiaras and jewelry that reflect that inspiration but are much more modern-looking.
So this new collection will be arriving in my shop soon! Enjoy! :)
Inspired by MsBelle's blog! My 50th Etsy sale was this past Wednesday, and I sold this pretty hairvine to one of my fabulous customers:
The Moonlight Hairvine has always been one of my favorites. It's constructed of very thin sterling silver wire, twisted to for a delicate little garland. A combination of Swarovski crystals, moonstones, freshwater pearls and Celestial crystals was my inspiration for this piece. The subtle flashes of blue in the moonstones are echoed in the AB coating of the Swarovski crystals, while the warmth of the natural pearls is a great balance for the cool crystals and gemstones.
