Tag Archives: Etsy

More than Metal

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The first jewelry that I was able to make was made of string.  I would spend endless hours trying to keep the string braided while I also managed  to tie it around my wrist.  It usually didn’t work.  It would unravel as I fumbled to tie it with one hand.  To this day, I have a weird allegiance to the world of fiber jewelry.  Fortunately, it is a world filled with much better jewelry than I ever managed to make during Saturday morning cartoons.

There is some beautiful stuff out there these days.  But, as with everything, there are a few who break the mold and make something unbelievable.  Maria João Ribeiro has managed to do this and then some with her inventive, playful line.  Her lovely work is available in her Etsy store, Kjoo.

Textile choker
Fiber multicolor bangle
Set of 4 leather rings

Call and Response

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I’ve only been doing this blogging thing for a little over a month.  Even though it is early days, sometimes I sit down with no idea of what to write.  On those days, the first step for me is to cruise around Etsy to see what captures my attention.  Sometimes that can take a while.  There is plenty great work out there but finding something that really sparks a topic for me is where the time comes in.  Other times, thankfully, it is just too easy — today was one of those days.

I ran across the amazing work of Temi Kucinski right away.  Her lovely line, sold in the Etsy store, Temi,  displays a consistent vision with great metal work and a really unique collection of stones.

Temi’s work brings to mind my favorite phase of working on a drawing or a painting.  I don’t know if anyone else can relate to this but, whenever I am working on a piece of art, there is a point when I know I’ve got it.  A point at which I know I own the piece — it and I are communing perfectly.  It is usually the point that I have the mechanics of the piece down and I am simply listening and responding to what the piece wants in order to be fully actualized.  It is where it becomes stylized, decorated, detailed — when it becomes itself.  Temi’s work has that vibe for me.  I feel as if I can see that there was a point at which she listened the piece and allowed it have all the elements it requested.

Wearable Sculpture by Katie Johansson

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Katie Johansson, as the creative force behind Dollybird Jewelry, is flat out fearless in her designs.  They are sculptural and bold.

This necklace in particular puts me in mind of modern art mobiles with its open metal structure and artistically placed stones.

Particle Necklace

Lapis Temple Ring

Katie’s creative use of materials in her line is admirable.  She selects unusual stones on a large scale for a huge visual impact and, occasionally, ventures away from stones and uses other objects as the center piece of the design.

Vintage Horsehair Earrings

Many of Katie’s designs are available in her Etsy store, Dollybirddesign.

Jewelry Becomes You

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As part of my jewelry obsession, I am enthralled by the idea of jewelry that becomes a part of you — jewelry that you never take off.  The most obvious example of jewelry that rises to that level is the jewelry used in piercings.  I’ve worn a nose ring off and on over the years and, as much as I enjoyed having that piercing, I was typically disappointed in the selection of jewelry available.

Well, with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo knocking critics out of their seats, you can see some pretty cool piercings on posters all over town.  So, today, just out of curiosity, I set out to see what was new in the world of nose rings.  To be honest, not much.  Thankfully, April Baynes, in her Etsy store Aprilsblissed, saves us with a great line of stunning nose rings.

These are just great, unique pieces.  They are edgy but also tasteful and very flattering.  The geometric piece has really got me wondering …Can still get a ring through my piercing.  Hmmmm.

New Moves

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Good jewelry design is often about movement.  The way earrings turn and flip.  The way a necklace swings.  That is not usually the case where rings are concerned, though.  While ring designs can be dynamic in many respects, movement isn’t natural to the ring form.  There are some clever designs, however, that can add movement to a ring.  This is one way that also manages to maintain its delicacy:

Twosome 18k Gold Pearl Ring

This absolutely sweet and beautifully executed piece was created by the very talented Arosha Luigi Taglia.  It is currently available for sale in his Etsy store, Arosha.

Bold Creativity by Allison Sattinger

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I meant to take off from blogging for two days, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  However, it seems that bad planning got the better of me and I didn’t have one ready to go up today.  But, the holiday is officially over – no more slacking off.

I saved the following piece of jewelry in my Etsy favorites a week or so ago.

Volcano Ring

There’s something that I really love about this ring by Allison Sattinger. Pairing raw with refined, I think it makes a bold statement and definitely captures the eye.  From the perspective of an amateur jewelry maker, however, I am impressed with the concept and the execution.  I can tell that the construction of the ring took a lot of planning.  I am still not really sure when or how Allison set that stone.

Great Pairing

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The big, chunky, wooden rings that you can get import stores are nice but can be a little unrefined — a little like napkin rings.  Vintage buttons have been added to handmade jewelry for some time now.  That was novel for a while but its become harder to find a unique use.

Enter Jessica J. Fein who has breathed new life into both ideas — the wooden ring and the use of vintage buttons.  She’s taken the best of both concepts and came up with a fresh approach.

Swirly Vintage Metal Button on Wooden Ring
Moroccan Inspired Vintage Button on Wood Rings

Continuing Ring Thing

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Rings are my favorite type of jewelry.  A lot of rings have passed through my hands over the years.  I still have quite a collection.  My addiction to rings was once so well known among those close to me that my friend, Kate, who was in art school at the time, photographed me with my collection of rings.  (The details of those photographs I will not share here.  Look, it was for art school after all …)

The post yesterday was about a sampling of some daring designs from Teresa Arana‘s collection and two of them were really unusual ring designs.  That got me thinking.  I began to wonder what else was out there that varied from the typical ring design and I found these blow-your-mind examples of two-fingered rings.

These designs are available in the Etsy stores of Galit, jeneseque, and WearKatherineLincoln.

Black Onyx and Sterling Silver Two Finger Ring by Galit
Two Finger Jasper Drusy Ring by jeneseque
Carnelian and Silver Two Finger Ring by WearKatherineLincoln

Amazing Alternative Rings

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Well, as I think I’ve mentioned before, I look at a lot of jewelry.  Just when I think there isn’t anything new out there for me to ponder, I find something like Teresa Arana‘s collection.  Flat out, it’s amazing.  I really love the alternative ring designs — especially the open ring.

These gorgeous pieces and more can be found in Teresa’s Etsy store, aranajewelrydesign.

Tiny Armour Says It Well

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I love it when people really get their own work.  Being able to articulate your point of view to yourself allows your work to have a consistent voice to others.   I think that can be said of Angi Glenn-Quincy.  She called her Etsy story “Tiny Armour” and describes her designs as  being inspired by “texture, geometry, mid century modern design, rainbow colors, and all aspects of nature.”  In her work of shapes and symbols, I see all of that and more.  The words that come to mind are “graphic design jewelry.”  For my money, the whole line hangs together all the better because she understands her own work.

As a side note, I have to commend the liberal use of brass.  As we know, the cost of precious metals has gone through the roof.  Brass allows Angi to offer affordable pieces to her customers.  But, aside from that, I love brass.  It has a beautiful, warm color and can take on a patina that gives it such character.

Pyramid Stud Bangle
Scallop Collar Necklace
Pyramid Stud Ring with Crystals