Creativity: Earth and Metal

I satisfied my bead lust and made a few pairs of earrings with the ceramic beads:

Martinique: Copper & Ceramic Bead Earring

Fiesta: Earthy Ceramic Beaded Earrings

Spectra -Rainbow Ribbon Yarn Earrings

Trance: Violet Patina & Red Copper Earrings

I just posted the Martinique Earrings in my Etsy shop and will list the others tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting;-)

Time for a Giveaway!!

Hello Everyone and Welcome new followers!!!

My ultra -cool needle & fabric craft friend Heidi @ DigitalMisfit is so gracious to be the hostess of my jewelry blog giveaway from Swan River Stone !! Not only has Heidi revamped her super cool blog with a very stylish layout, but there is a short interview with yours truly to share, her fav pics from my shop and of course, the GIVEAWAY!

So, What could you win?


Up for grabs we have the beautiful Eowyn Ceramic Leaf Necklace with stoneware pendant on faux suede cord; the fabulous Hypnotize earrings , and the lovely wire-wrapped with lampwork bead Cosmic Ring.

How many winners will be chosen?

TWO winners names will be drawn.
The first winner will get to choose one item from these 3 gorgeous pieces. The second winner will then have their choice from the 2 remaining pieces.


How do you enter?

Well, click on this lovely blog avatar to DigitalMisfits Blog below to learn ALL the information you need and the complete entry instructions for up to SEVEN chances to win!

Thanks for stopping by, and GOOD LUCK:-)

Creativity- Color, Color, Color!!

Happy wednesday!

I was cruising YouTube looking for a "How to Felt" guide- a totally different direction from what transpired after watching this beautiful Lakme Fashion Week Video.

Sridevi Wows Lakme Fashion Week Day 5

I love color! whether on canvas or in the fluid artistic expression in Bollywood Fashion..color makes me want to create something new, bold, soft, vibrant..whatever the energy..I drives me;-)


Keeping the eco-conscious theme going, I pulled out my old Scrabble game that we haven't played in YEARS added some beautiful fabric and wire and made these lovely pieces for Fall.




I love the muted blues, greens, reds and oranges that Autumn brings, there is still so much richness in the seasons color change.




I'm looking forward to adding these lovelies to my Etsy shop:-)

This one is going to be a pendant;-) I haven't decided what direction I am going with this one.

Have a colorful Wednesday.

The Grace- Photograph Outside the box

Hi there..This is an old post but the subject is relevant how much I LOVE taking pictures.

I have always looked for new and creative ways to photograph my jewelry...but then my mind as I take the pics starts to wander off and I imagine my photos in a photo art gallery ,,,or an ACEO print....I have even though of becoming a Jewelry Photographer..hmmmmm

I've learned to appreciate the spontaneous when I photograph.I fell in love with this picture before I cropped it to advertise my earrings...it was completely unintentional how these herb leaves fell into the wood squares. As I was making these earrings, the crisp autumn air was blowing gently through my window.. the tree outside my window finally turned a full golden yellow. Everything was so warm and earthy the Picture Jasper's and the gold chain looked perfect together...As I laid them down to photograph between the squares i knocked over some dried red clover flowers i had In a bowl to grind up later to make tea..in that instant, the wind caught them and dusted them just as you see them.

I love to add details to my photos to give them an edge...a personality....i guess i try to find backgrounds and scenery that reflects what is the feeling or theme I had when i created the jewelry design.These I pictured on an eclectic art or history alumni of a prestigious college; cultured, well traveled,down to earth.

I have received lots of compliments on this photo below...another beautiful accident. I was just trying to get a shoot that captured the details of the brass component AND the color if the stones in evening light...Then a scene plays in my head..............

A woman sits outside on the deck of a ferry boat reading a book. unbeknown to her, she catches the attention of a handsome man who admired her from afar.As he approached her she looks up in his direction and the sunlight just lightly glides across her face catching the light green/hazel in her eyes.

The man..in awe of her natural beauty says "Your earrings are beautiful"
She replies, "Thank you, these are my favorite pair"
He smiles with an adoring smile..."Yes" he says, I can see why"............

The Grace is to never be afraid to step outside the box sometimes as an artist, you can market your product with scenery and elements in your photographs from the same, emotions or thoughts that inspired you to make them.

Creativity- Inspiration through finding Balance

A little over a week ago. I had turmoil at the home front..everything was out of wack. I couldn't eat or sleep. I was filled with fear , despair and sorrow.My deepest meditation were not working, my prayers gave little solace.I had to go to the river.

This may sound corny, maybe even fabricated to some but this comes from my spiritual roots of African and Native American ancestry..The River is your cleansing ground because it's spirit very much like the human spirit. Complicated, simple, extreme, passive, raging, calm, unforgiving, merciful, violent, healing, still, wild..

Soo many feelings.The Rivers and oceans are very much like people emotionally..sometimes one feeling, sometimes several feelings.Water speaks to you. it want you to listen because it know the secrets of your heart.

So, in the unbalanced state I was in. I went to the River - and let go..I cried, I screamed, I prayed..and the River flowed over me..It healed me, it understood my pain & helped me cope with what I was going through.

Ocean Peace SeaGlass Necklace was a very difficult yet therapeutic piece to make. It has already found a new home yesterday.


The piece is symbolic of my experience. It's a simple piece. The seaglass has a double symbolism of the rough and tumble emotions I was feeling-very much like how seaglass is created -tossed and turned all around in the oceans yet through time the end result is a new creation of beauty and light. The silver wire and the rock symbolizes the Strength and security that held me up doing my emotional purge and the river (water) receding into a state of stillness and piece.


I plan on making another one similar to it. I think the wire wrapped style gives it a very organic look without fancy twits and coils-making it very easy to wear. Thanks for visiting.

Ashanti

Grace- A little Love from Etsy

Hello Friends;-)

Phew ! it's been a long a busy month for me so far. I hope everyone had a beautiful Earth Day celebration. Too bad for me I missed out on all the cool fun;-(


Within the last eight days Etsy has given a few of my Feather Earrings that were featured in some amazing treasuries some Front Page love;-)

Natural Bohemian by BumblebeeBuck

Gold by YouareYou

Thanks Etsy, I am humbly gracious for the wonderful exposure.

Saturday Blog Shopping #3

Well, it's time for another Saturday Blog Shopper event created by Quilts Galore and More. The list is getting bigger with even more specials for today! Be sure to click on the above highlighted link above to see them all.

For TODAY only I am offering 10% off all jewelry in my Saturday Shopping Section

Just enter "SBS" in the notes to seller during checkout and I will refund the discount.
OR send me a convo for a revised invoice BEFORE sending payment*Remember- this special is valid only for today (Saturday March 27, 2010).

To visit all the goodies in my store just click the link here;-) SwanRiverStone
Be sure to stop by the Quilts Galore and More Blog and check out all the great participating shops. Leave a comment and/ or follow so they will know that you've stopped by!

Happy Saturday everyone-thanks for visiting.

Creativity- Custom Orders

I made a customized version of the Oval Ebonywood Necklace that I have in my shop that was originally sold in my Nyblaque shop. The original design never had engraving but this was a great idea.


The thing I love the most about custom orders is that my customers challenge me with new ideas! Things they would like to see created that I either thought about but never got around to or simply something new I would like to have the chance to bring bring to life.


Though my client wanted the initials in silver inlay, I personally LOVE the natural wood look the best.This was the "test piece"

Added the wire wrap and chain....

All done:-). This is what the engraving looks like on the back, or the front, however she wants to wear it. I am thinking of offering this necklace with engraving also.


So what do you think?? Thanks for visiting

Ashanti,

At home crafting - Recycled glass VBlog

Hey Family,

I made a video showing how I put together my recycled glass pendants;-) - I also have it posted on Youtube;-) Since I have low volume speakers on my pc- let me know if you can hear everything ok.

Thanks for visiting,

Ny

Countdown to My New Etsy Shop and Offical Website YAY!!

Yep my baby will be hatching soon..As of Januray 31, 2010 I will opening my new Etsy Shop SwanRiverStone.Etsy.com

Here is where my new shop for  my metal smithed pieces, minimalist jewelry and repurposed bags and accessories will have a new home. There will be a few other surprises featured at the Swan but I am not telling all my secrets. I have registered the name and copyright as well as snagged a domain name for the website that I will launch in the coming weeks.

Here is a link to the information/intro site

http://swanriverstone.weebly.com/

Let me know what you think of the site so far on the chat/blog page.

I am so excited! I have been working on branding and promoting my baby for a long time. I only concern is the transferring of one business to another without losing customers. I think that is the hardest part of this movement. How do you advertise? What is the best way to make a smooth transition from one company and brand to another? These are the things I have been struggling with.

Well, setting up the Twitter,Blog and Flickr for SwanRiverStone was the easiest part- each one promoting Nyblaque as my sister or original shop. So now I just have to keep going from here.a YouTube video maybe??? hmmmm.

I'll be blogging a little more about my progress at The Swan blog in the coming weeks.

Thanks for visiting,

Ny