Etsy, Etsy, Etsy!

Yes, I finally went LIVE on Etsy!  

Here’s where to go to directly visit the site:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/SilverCharmerJewelry 

I’ve also added a page to my website here: “Shop Online for Jewelry” with a couple of examples.

It’s been quite an experience fine-tuning all the details.  I have a lot of jewelry in the queue waiting to have magnificent photos taken, so… I’m working on that piece by piece and will offer a full array of my work there very soon. 

Thank you for all your patience.

My first piece, of course, had to be a kitty!  =^.^=

My first piece, of course, had to be a kitty! =^.^=

Valentines and Beyond… A Tree of Hearts

Tree of Hearts

Tree of Hearts

 

There’s a new tree of hearts in town available at The Pod, in Uptown Normal, Illinois, across from the Discovery Museum.

Here’s their information through Uptown Normal, and here’s their Facebook page.

I love to make and wear hearts all year round, but especially for Valentine’s Day.  It is one my favorite times of the year.  Hearts, chocolates, champagne… who needs more?  Oh yes, jewelry makes celebrating complete.  

Other places to find my jewelry are listed on my Here I Am page.   Thanks again for your continued support.

Here are a few more new things you’ll find on that tree:

Copper heart with wrapped silver, garnet, charm.

Copper heart pendant with wrapped silver, garnet, charm.

Dichroic glass heart with silver and copper.
Dichroic glass heart pendant with silver and copper.

Double heart pendant with sterling and Thai silver and copper.

Double heart pendant with sterling and Thai silver and copper.

Ceramic kitty on silver heart pendant.

Ceramic kitty on silver heart pendant.

 

An array of heart pendants,some with copper, silver, ruby, amethyst, crystal.

An array of heart pendants,some with copper, silver, ruby, amethyst, crystal.

 

Another Week With The Red Lady…

 

The Red Lady would love to meet you!

The Red Lady would love to meet you!

Wow, after a fantastic turnout last night for February’s First Friday and the Tour de Chocolat’, the Main Gallery 404 owner, Lisa Lofgren, asked if I would mind showcasing my work in the front window with The Red Lady for another week?  My response?  ABSOLUTELY and THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  

The Red Lady has a great view!

The Red Lady has a great view!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And she loves to wear jewelry...

And she loves to wear jewelry…

 

 

 

 

So, there’s still time before Valentine’s Day to select something special for that someone special, which just might be you!

Here’s where you can find my jewelry in the Bloomington-Normal, IL area:

Main Gallery 404, Bloomington, IL

Four Swinging Hearts

Four Swinging Hearts

The Pod, Normal, IL

Sunny Blue.

Sunny Blue.

McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL

So many rings!

So many rings!

My Etsy site is being tweaked and I’m almost ready to make the announcement when it’s LIVE!

Thank you for your continued support!  

 

Hearts, Hearts, Hearts ~ Hammering Away!

There are hearts and then there are hearts.  I love them all and will be offering many varieties this Friday …..  

…at Main Gallery 404 for the First Friday Event and The Tour de Chocolat’:  Details and more jewelry HERE!

Here are a few hammered hearts:

Hammered copper and fine silver.

Maggie’s Heart:  Hammered copper and fine silver.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver and lampworked bead.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver and lampworked bead.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver, olivetine and garnet crystals.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver, olivetine and garnet crystals.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver and peach drop.

Hammered copper heart with fine silver and peach drop.

Hammered copper heart with ruby, garnet, emerald, crystal, fine silver.

Hammered copper heart with ruby, garnet, emerald, crystal, fine silver.

Four Swinging Hearts

Four Swinging Hearts

And a few other new hearts, too!

Almost kept this for myself:  Lampworked copper-wrapped bead with crystal.

Almost kept this for myself: Lampworked copper-wrapped bead with crystal.

Agate heart with lampworked bead, hematite, crystal, garnet, sterling, copper,sterling silver.

Agate heart with lampworked bead, hematite, crystal, garnet, sterling, copper,sterling silver.

Fine silver with crystal.

Fine silver with crystal.

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver.

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver.

Hammered copper with blue and green crystal drop.

Hammered copper heart with blue and green crystal drop.

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver and sleeping kitty charm

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver and sleeping kitty charm.

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver.

Hammered copper heart with sterling silver.

 

Okay, technically not a heart, but he has a little red glass heart nose…  =^.^=

Mr. Kitty; hammered copper with red glass heart nose and sterling silver whiskers.

Mr. Kitty; hammered copper with red glass heart nose and sterling silver whiskers.

Hearts On Fire ~ The Red Lady Awaits

The Red Lady beckons from the front window of Main Gallery 404, where I just added tons of new jewelry, with a heavy accent on hearts, in honor of Valentine’s Day.   

Who can resist the Red Lady?

Who can resist the Red Lady?

 

When new owner, Lisa Lofgren, asked to feature my work in the window from now through February’s First Friday, I was honored and thrilled!  Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

The Neighborhood Thrift Store generously let us borrow a beautiful art deco vanity (the one in the above photo) for the display.  And, yes, it’s also for sale.

 On February 1, 2013, Downtown Bloomington, IL also celebrates with its annual Tour de Chocolat’:

“An annual event and celebration of chocolate!  Participating downtown businesses offer free samples of food containing chocolate.”  

Uh, huh.  Trust me, there is everything chocolate to sample.  It’s a super fun way to spend an evening. 

My jewelry is now in the window until 2-2-13.  

Gallery hours are:  

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday:  12-5 PM                                                              

Saturday:  10 AM – 5 PM

Closed:  Monday, Tuesday

Here are a few of the available pieces:  

Key to MY Heart (pendant)

Key to MY Heart (pendant with fine silver, sterling silver, crystal)

Heart Ablaze (Pendant)

Heart Ablaze (pendant with fine silver, copper)

You've run away with my heart...

You’ve run away with my heart… (pendant with resin)

You've sewn up my heart.

You’ve sewn up my heart. (pendant with fine silver, copper)

It’s not all hearts…

Nothing shows love to your sweetheart like jewelry.  These selections and much more are available now at Main Gallery 404 now through Friday, February 1, 2013.

 

Donut fun (pendant of Jade, fine silver, copper)

Donut fun (pendant of Jade, fine silver, copper)

Lumen (pendant of fine silver, copper-wrapped chrysoprase)

Lumen (pendant of fine silver, copper-wrapped Chrysoprase)

Wrapped up (earrings of copper, Labradorite, Aquamarine, fine silver)

Wrapped up (earrings of copper, Labradorite, Aquamarine, fine silver)

Blue Reflections (pendant with fine silver, glass)

Blue Reflections (pendant with fine silver, crystal)

Miss Kitty (pendant with fine silver, copper, Garnet)

Miss Kitty (pendant with fine silver, copper, Garnet)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soapstone on copper-wrapped with fine silver bail.

Soapstone on copper-wrapped with fine silver bail.

 

Fine silver, copper earrings.

Fine silver, copper earrings.

 

First Event of 2013

Wow, my first event for 2013 is tonight, January 4, at Main Gallery 404 in Downtown Bloomington, IL from 5 ~ 8 PM!

While the previous owners, Joanne Goetzinger and Martha Burk, will be dearly missed for their groundbreaking work, it’s an exciting new opportunity for Lisa Lofgren, the new owner, who is full of vision and enthusiasm.

Along with Jamie Morse, glass artist, and Jeffrey Kohl, who specializes in watercolors and acrylics with a Pacific Island influence, I’m one of three featured artists.  I’ll be demonstrating fine silver casting from 6 ~ 7 PM.

Janthina, Janthina

Janthina, Janthina

Casting with fine silver is one of the most magical processes there is and compared to traditional silversmithing, much less labor intensive.

The photo below is what I’ll be wearing tonight; the paw print of my recently departed kitty, Blue Blue.  I’ve been holding my breath, afraid for the last couple of months to make the cast from the vet’s mold in case it didn’t turn out as I envisioned; but… I’m thrilled with the results.  Hope to see you tonight!

=^.^=

=^.^=

That's my boy.

That’s my boy.

 

All dressed up... =^.^=

All dressed up… =^.^=

 

 

And Thank YOU for a great year!

As the year draws to a close, my mind is almost bursting with ideas for new creations.

(Maybe it’s because I’m committed to finishing the screenplay I’ve been working on…  That whole story is here.)

My goal by the end of January is to also offer my jewelry through Etsy.  My currently inactive site is here where you can clearly see I’ve been doing nothing since August, 2010.  Sigh…

But, not to get side-tracked.  I’ve had a great year with new pieces and techniques and appreciate the positive responses I’ve received from you.

I look forward to adding photos of new pieces as soon as they come off my bench.

Happy New Year & Thank YOU so very much!

Hope your year starts off with chocolate and champagne!

My toast to YOU!

My toast to YOU!

Thank You, Santa!

All my holiday shows are over, but there’s still time for last minute shopping.

HO, HO, HO!

HO, HO, HO!

One of the highlights of this holiday season was an unexpected visit from Santa; sure hope he thinks I’ve been good!

With only a few more days until Christmas, if you’re looking for a piece of jewelry, here’s where you can still find Silver Charmer Jewelry in the Bloomington-Normal, IL area:

 

 

Main Gallery 404, 404 North Main Street, Bloomington, IL  

With a beautiful patina, at Main Gallery 404

With a beautiful patina, at Main Gallery 404

He's waiting at The Pod.

He’s waiting at The Pod.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pod, 104 E. Beaufort Street, Uptown Normal, IL (follow the link to Shopping)    

 

 

 

 

 

 

The McLean County Arts Center; 601 N. East Street, Bloomington, IL  

Many rings at McLean County Arts Center

Many rings at McLean County Arts Center

Merlot & A Masterpiece  412 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL  61701  

Available at Merlot and a Masterpiece

Available at Merlot and a Masterpiece

 

 

 

(Sorry to any out-of-towners; will announce my Etsy account when it’s available.)

Hope you and yours have a wondrous holiday season!

Last Chance Jewelry Bash In December

For some reason, when I was trying to think of a catchy title for this post, all I could think of was…

Ricky Lee Jones singing “Last Chance Texico” which is a great song for a day like today.

It’s gloomy, drizzly, and chance to sip a hot cup of tea and make jewelry in my studio.

 (Here’s the link if you’d like to listen too.)

Or woman cave as the refinance guy called my studio last week.

He said he’d never seen a woman cave before, but my studio qualified!

I think it was the refrigerator that cinched it.

Except for the beer opener, I try to keep it covered up...

Except for the beer opener, I try to keep it covered up…

Serendipity struck on Saturday when I wandered into The Garlic Press and started talking with artist Jan Brandt.

She opened a new gallery in June 2012, Jan Brandt Gallery, at  1106 E Bell Street Bloomington, IL 61701.

As we conversed, she noticed the jewelry I was wearing.

 (Thank you my dear husband for always telling me to wear something I made, even though I do wear other artists’ work that I love…)

One thing led to another and Jan very generously asked if I would join her “Wine and Shopping” event on

Thursday (Yes, THIS Thursday!):  December 20, from 5 ~ 8 PM.

(I was going to go anyway, just for fun, but… now I’ll be offering some jewels and have fun too.)

Like a little elf, I’m still working on new pieces.

And even more in the making... Pardon my messy bench.

Pardon my messy bench.

Lots and lots of earrings and more.  Again, pardon my workbench.

Lots and lots of earrings and more.

Attention desperate gift-givers!  (You know who you are!)  Please stop by.

Holiday bags mean already wrapped.

And, if you’re not that confident the special someone in your life will come through, select something for yourself.

Jan has a beautiful space and it’s filled with lots of unique artwork, all ready to go home with someone.

Hope to see you Thursday night for some holiday cheer!

December 15, 2012 Event Cancellation

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  Due to an unforeseen circumstance, Jamey Spain and I are very sorry to cancel our event, Saturday, December 15, 2012 as part of the Uptown Normal Christmas Market & Artist Walk, and apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

Jamey and I hope to offer a “Spring Fling” after the New Year.

Massage gift cards are still available HERE.

This development might push my Etsy website into existence, which will be shared as soon as it is ready.

Please visit my “Here I Am” page for for a list of locations where you can find my jewelry.

Thank you for your support and patience.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!~ Gayla Betts

 

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