Jewelry Update

I started a few new series within my existing jewelry design series, both evocative and one a little harder to design than others. You'll see a few more common themes in my new creations, a few of which have not come into my shop yet, including gorgeous czech glass buttons and chandelier glass. (Coming soon: fantasy in silver, bright and tasty colors with contemporary lines, somewhat creepy mourning cameos, winter designs.)

My jewelry items are wonderful for one-of-a-kind gift items, especially in the fall and winter months. And I've been working on commissioned items as well, so if you have an idea you think I can tackle, let me know. There's still some time for Halloween jewelry in the spirit of the season or for your costume.

One of the new series that I love and would like to expand on is the Cathedral series under the Elysia series, which integrates filigree wrapping and bright czech glass buttons that remind me of rose windows. I've actually had these buttons for over a year, fighting with glue to make them work with the filigree, but they just didn't work because they were too big and the filigree wasn't flat (less surface area to glue). I was ecstatic when I realized that I could wrap the filigree around them for a solid hold that would display the buttons beautifully. As soon as I have the capital, I hope to expand on the Cathedral series beyond the six pieces I have now. Basically, my Cathedral series and some of the other filigree-wrapped items are what I've been wanting to make since the beginning.

The second series I've begun is the Apocalypse series under the Bountiful Winepress. I figure I might as well take my fear by the horns and make something beautiful and dark with it. I'm not entirely positive where I'm going with it, but I've got a good start with the Apocalypse at Sunset necklace (below) and The Beast Falls necklace.

Below are some of my new Cathedral pieces and gothic and Halloween pieces from the last wave of jewelry.



Apocalypse at Sunset necklace


Bitten Pretty vampire chandelier necklace


Black Widow Bite button necklace


Witching Hour chandelier necklace


Autumnal Beauty chandelier necklace


All Hallows Eve Dark Moon filigree necklace


Cathedral Rose Window I emerald iridescent filigree wrap necklace


Esmeralda necklace (smaller version here: Esme necklace)


Oval Cupola Cathedral Rose Window II button filigree wrap necklace


Cathedral at Dawn vintage glass filigree wrap necklace


All is Vanity peacock filigree wrap necklace

Sharing My Favorites

As a jewelry seller, I sell a respectable amount of items, although not nearly as much as I would like. Each one of my sales are special – I have not yet reached a point of being blasé about sales. Each one is unexpected; each one gives me that frisson of excitement. However, it is an extraordinary pleasure when my favorites (and everyone has favorites) are selected. Recently, two of my favorite necklaces were sold to different people, and it was a genuine pleasure to send them off, knowing that someone else would love them as much as I did.



My dark red carnelian beaded necklace “A Cordial Greeting” was my first necklace I made with more expensive supplies, and I fell in love with it the minute it was finished. I had been wanting to make something inspired by my love of the Dracula story for a while, and this was my first attempt at the gothic. Naturally, it inspired me to make an entire series based on it. Just a week or two ago, the necklace went off. I may or may not replace this one in my shop – I’m not sure whether I have enough carnelian. But I shall certainly try.



Just a few days later (when it rains, it pours), “Crystal Vial” was sold to a woman in Greece! It was my first international order, and “Crystal Vial” was easily my favorite necklace in my entire collection. It was also my first creation specifically for the new shop. I had bought the chandelier drops months ahead, knowing that I desperately wanted to use them for gothic pendants once I knew how to wrap wire. First I made a necklace for the shop, and then I finally made one for myself. I wear it a few times every week, and it’s such a strange but lovely feeling to know that someone halfway across the world will love it as much as I do. In her feedback, she said it was her dream necklace, and I’m so glad that she agrees with me. It’s what you might call my shop’s signature necklace, and I hope I can make another one in the month ahead while I’m creating for fall.

Suffice to say, it is not the excitement of commerce that really gets me creating. At best, my sales comp a small percentage of my supplies that I buy. However, I get excited knowing that other people have the same aesthetic taste as I do and can enjoy the things I create in their daily life.

Featured in Lady in Red Treasury

My "Imposter" gothic romance Bountiful Winepress necklace is featured in the Lady in Red Etsy Treasury here: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=74095

Sunday Showcase

Vampire Tears earrings

I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for the gothic aesthetic, particularly when a piece can be used for other purposes as well. My Bountiful Winepress series is inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula, and I consider it more gothic romance than pure gothic jewelry. The brass, filigree, and cut of the glass or style of the jewelry has an air of refinement that undeniably hints at something dark, yet beautiful. I may stick to a few colors in this series, but it will be interesting to see how many things I can come up with within the aesthetic before I have to find something else.