Driftwood ~ Meet Tourmaline

A whole new crop of driftwood specimens arrived at my doorstep last night compliments of my friend and partner-in-beaded-crime, Jennifer.  She recently and quite spontaneously decided that we needed more driftwood inspiration and hopped-a-plane for the Oregon coast...my hero!  Tourmaline is said to enhance understanding, increase self-confidence and amplify psychic energies...bring it on.  Who knew multi-colored tourmaline on driftwood would look so smashing?! The dragonfly was added as a custom touch for a client. 

Driftwood Gallery: Apatite ~ Stone of Acceptance

This faceted aqua colored gem perfectly brightens a sea-washed piece of driftwood.  They call apatite the "stone of acceptance".  Ok, no problem, I accept!  It's Friday and I chose to highlight my latest driftwood necklace creation with a pretty pink background.  Happy colors, happy day.  Cheers!

Driftwood Gallery: More Bracelets!

Maybe it is the full moon or maybe I have just found a serious creative zone but I literally cannot stop making these bracelets.  Here are three more for your viewing pleasure.  From top to bottom: Turquoise seed beads, Appetite, Aquamarine.  Oh what a happy little stack of bracelets!

Driftwood Gallery: Bracelets with Turquoise

Loving these...Christmas gifts anyone?  :)

Driftwood Gallery: Earthy-Hipster Bracelets

I always return to bracelets, admittedly they are my favorite category of jewelry.  I love making pendants with the driftwood but these pieces feel so special too and appropriate for everyday as bracelets.  These three lovelies are utilizing leather, turquoise, recycled sea glass and wire.  I am feeling ever more confident in this category of earthy-chic.  So many possibilities!

Driftwood Gallery: No. 3

There are endless possibilities with this medium.  I LOVE working with driftwood.  In this necklace, I liked the contrast of the turquoise with the darker wood.   It's a fairly simple design but I think it works.  This one measures 1.5" wide and a little over half an inch tall.  Let me know what you think!

A True Vintage Find!

I love it when you go into a thrift store and walk out with something so perfectly on trend and truly vintage!  And, so phenomenally inexpensive, try $6!  Yes!!  This is a beautiful and classic gold mesh collar by Givenchy with a 1976 date stamp on the tag charm.  I am quite impressed with myself on this one.  It feels amazing on, lightweight and very flexible.

Peacock Pearl and Gold Chain

In this convertible piece I took peacock pearl and added a little gold wire and chain...I just love simple chic!  Wear as a long necklace or a 5-wrap bracelet. 

p.s.  More driftwood pieces are in the works!  :)

The Jewelry Bird at Kitsy Lane!

I opened my Kitsy Lane online boutique today!  There is truly something for everyone as they highlight up and coming jewelry designers.  I bought this cute little leather ring recently and kept going back to peruse the shop.  So, I decided that I would try my hand at selling my own curated selection of their crafts.  No, none of my pieces are for sale at Kitsy Lane, at least not yet! You'll have to contact me at LisaBead@gmail.com if you see something on my blog that you like. Please do check out my little corner shop at Kitsy Lane for some unique finds from other designers: https://jewlerybird.kitsylane.com!

Driftwood and Aquamarine

Hello Part II...in the Driftwood Gallery series that is!  This one was created to specification for my friend Cathy.  This time I used mineral oil to bring out the color and definition in the wood.  Then I wire wrapped faceted aquamarine to create a lengthwise tassel necklace.  I used a dark antiqued brown leather and gold wire and button for the adjustable clasp.  I truly love the one-of-a-kind-gallery-feel this piece has!  Email me at lisabead@gmail.com, if you'd like a quote on your own special piece.

The Jewelry Bird Copyright 2012

The Jewelry Bird Copyright 2012

The Jewelry Bird Copyright 2012

Driftwood Gallery Series

A lovely person off the northern coast of England collects beautiful pieces of driftwood and when I saw them on her Etsy.com site I knew they would be the perfect inspiration for some totally one-of-a-kind and special jewelry.  My friend, Jennifer, and I thought we'd be making mostly bracelets out of this lot of pretty driftwood but as it turns out each piece has revealed a unique destiny, many as necklaces.  This piece is only a small sampling of the creativity that came out of working with this natural medium.  In this one, I re-purposed a thrift-store-gold-necklace-find and added turquoise and gold wire to complete the finished look.  I can honestly say that I have never seen anything like this and that makes me very happy. 

The Jewelry Bird Copyright 2012

Gronstedt Design

There is a very talented jewelry artist named Anita Gronstedt from Sweden who makes the most amazing leather bracelet cuffs.  My friend Jennifer discovered her in Boulder at an art festival.  She saved her pennies for two months to purchase the bracelet below.  These pieces are traditional to northern Sweden in an area near the arctic circle known as the Lapland.  These Lapland bracelets are hand stitched out of reindeer leather and are of the highest quality and workmanship.  I had to write about her because her work is so special and unique and she does all of her work right out of Boulder, CO.  The bracelet below features an antler centerpiece.  Just stunning!  Many of her pieces are featured and sold on her website at http://gronstedtdesign.com.  She also custom makes these, so they are a perfect fit to any wrist size, hallelujah!