07 May 2012
by GJD
in News
Tags: beach, Janthina, Jewelry, sand, shells
Having just returned from a lovely vacation on the beach, I’m in the mood for some beach-themed, summer jewelry. The work is in process, but to keep me and everyone else in that lovely mood, I’d like to share the following inspirations for some of my pieces:
A perennial favorite of mine, the lovely Janthina, Janthina. (Carnivorous little pretty; it eats Portuguese Man-O-War jellyfish…)
This too beautiful cat’s eye was inhabited, so… he stayed on the beach.
A veritable hodgepodge of treasures; olive barrels, cats paws, coral…
So, I’m a little obsessive!
Looking forward to sharing soon! 🙂
08 Dec 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: Bead, chandelier, chimes, Christmas, Crafts, Crystal, Decorations, drops, Jewelry, musical, Shopping, Supplies, vintage
Spent a day making crystal ornaments and listening to every Christmas CD we have! Available now at The Bead Parlor in Bloomington, IL!
Lots of vintage crystal: chandelier drops, crystal beads and bells, one-of-a-kind beads, even musical chimes! Price range: $12 – $15.
Crystals sparkling in the sun!
Trying to get "artsy" with my camera angle!
All lined up!
Waiting for you at The Bead Parlor!
08 Nov 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: Art Deco, crystals, enamel, fine silver, Handcrafted, Jewelry, Millesimal fineness, pearls, Precious metal, Shopping, Silver, Sterling silver
November is starting to pass by quickly. Suddenly we’re over a week in.
The Holidays are approaching and so are all sorts of new ideas.
For the first time since metalworking class so many years ago, I’m trying enamels again. This time on fine silver. And, I’m loving it!
Fun stuff: enamel on fine silver
And then… I started building cages. I can’t decide if I like them better empty or…
Empty cages...
…filled with pearls…
Caged Pearls
…or crystals.
Caged Crystals
It’s a good day to be in the studio!
07 Nov 2011
by GJD
in Uncategorized
Tags: fine silver, Handcrafted, holiday, Jewelry, McLean County Arts Center, patina, Precious Metals, rings, Shopping, Silver, treasures, United States
This year for McLean County Arts Center’s annual Holiday Treasures which kicks off Friday, November 11, 2011, I’ve added an array of fused and coiled fine silver rings; some with added patina, some hammered, some au natural! Prices range from $20 ~ $35 for these “feel good” weighted rings.
20 Aug 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: amethyst, Bead, Beadwork, bezel, cabochon, chain, craft, Cultured freshwater pearls, Easter Seals, fine silver, Glass beadmaking, Jewelry, jewely, Mosaics, pearl, Seed bead, Shopping, Sterling silver, Supplies
There are a few charities near and dear to my heart; Easter Seals is one of them.
Here is the piece I’m donating to this year’s Grape Soiree Event.
Ardor Embraced
In a bezel fabricated of 28.2 grams of fine silver, an amethyst cabochon and a freshwater pearl are inlaid amidst tiny glass beads as part of a micro-mosaic tiling process. A hand-wrought fine silver bail connects the pendant to a twenty-four inch sterling silver cable chain.
18 May 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: Arts, Bead, cats, Crafts, fine silver, Jewelry, Milwaukee, porcelain, Shopping, United States
These are two of my new guys.
Last year at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee I found an artist specializing in porcelain components (give me a minute and I’ll add the proper name information when I locate it). Suffice it to say, I was pleasantly surprised when I found these treasures and decided to somehow encase them in fine silver. A few more should join their company in the very near future.
I have a feeling June is going to all about the cats.
=^.^=
Two new guys...
16 Mar 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: art, Arts Festivals, Bloomington Illinois, Community arts, Fine art, Japan, Midwest, Midwestern United States, United States
This Saturday, March 19, 2011 from 10 AM to 5 PM, you will find me in Booth #20 (down by the stage) at the 2011 Spring Bloom Arts Festival.
The festival will be held at the Bloomington Sale Barn, at 2027 S. Main St, Bloomington, IL. (Just south of Veteran’s Parkway) Admission is $5, children 12 & under are free.
Spring Bloom is an indoor fine art festival held annually in Bloomington, Illinois. It’s a juried show of fine art and fine craft, featuring a hundred artists from across the nation with original artwork in a variety of disciplines.
McLean County Arts Center, one of the oldest community arts organizations in the Midwest and the organizers of the Sugar Creek Arts Festival, sponsor the event. I’ve been honored to participate in both these events in past years.
Here are a few of my newest pieces. Hope to see you at Spring Bloom!
A portion of my sales will be donated to the relief efforts in Japan.
10 Feb 2011
by GJD
in News
Tags: Bloomington Illinois, Cooking, Entertaining, Holidays, Home, Opinions, valentine day, Valentine's Day, Yes Dear
Some new fun–ROMANTIC– pieces added to my display at The Bead Parlor in Bloomington, IL just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Oh, darling, how did you know I liked pink?
Kitties love hearts, too!
Which Valentine has a February (amethyst) birthday?
Brown is the color of my true love's eyes.
Or were they green?
Yes, dear.
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