Grape Soiree 2014: “Personal Sunshine”

This is the piece I donated to the 2014 Easter Seals’ Grape Soiree Art Auction in September.

“Personal Sunshine” is a fine silver pendant capturing a free-spinning sun-face with a golden patina between its layers.  It’s embellished with copper wrappings to embrace its warmth, accentuated with blue pearls and crystal dangles and silver charms to reflect the sky, and features a peek-a-boo fine silver mesh window in the back, on a 24″ s.s. chain.
Coordinating fine-silver earrings with copper wrappings complete the set.

Personal Sunshine

Holiday Treasures Opening Gala at McLean County Arts Center

McLean County Art Center’s Holiday Treasures kicks off Friday, November 8, 2013 with an Opening Gala.  Details are at the end of this post.

This year I’m sharing my Sea Glass Candy Series:

Sea Glass Candy pendants, earrings, bracelet

Sea Glass Candy pendants, earrings, bracelet

My husband and I found the green, amber, blue, clear, and brown bits of sea glass during many walks over the years on Florida’s Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach.

One of my favorite sets.

My favorite piece of “candy”.

 

I set the glass in fine silver metal clay, then fused the glass and silver together in my kiln.

Not all types of glass are created equal.  Most retained their beautiful colors.  I haven’t decided what to do with the ones that didn’t…

Remember wearing rock bracelets?  This one is just as fun.

Remember wearing rock bracelets? This one is just as fun.

 

A few more pendants...

A few more pendants…

 

I also included my Hammered Heart Series, hearts hammered from copper or fine silver; some jeweled with pieces of art glass, crystal, gems, or beads.

How can you ever have enough hearts?

How can you ever have enough hearts?

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

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

It’s always a beautiful event at the McLean County Arts Center:

An Opening Gala on Friday, November 8 from 5-8pm will kick off the McLean County Arts Center’s (MCAC) 38th Annual Holiday Treasures Exhibition and Sale. A donation of $20 at the door is suggested for the evening of live music, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages a festive way to begin the holiday gift giving season with friends. 

The Holiday Treasures Exhibition and Sale runs from November 8, 2013 through January 4, 2014 and features over 70 locally and nationally known artists exhibiting paintings, glass, fiber, photography, jewelry, wood, ceramics as well as handmade seasonal items. The McLean County Arts Center is free and open to the public during regular hours for the holiday season.

The Holiday Treasures Exhibition is generously sponsored by Sue & Julius Alexander, Ron Bacon & Dee Bohbrink, Anne & Brian Boyden, Kelly & Lynn Gray, and Steve & Deb Wannemacher.

The McLean County Arts Center is located at 601 N. East Street in downtown Bloomington. Arts Center hours are Tuesday, 10am – 7pm; Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 5pm; and Saturday, Noon – 4pm. For more information, please call 309/829-0011 or check on our website: www.mcac.org

You can also find this event on Facebook and/or follow my jewelry at Silver Charmer Jewelry on Facebook.

Would love to see you there!  ~ aka, Ms. Silver Charmer

The Pea Pod Shuffle ~ 2013 Grape Soiree

For this year’s September 28, 2013 Grape Soiree, an annual fundraising event featuring fine art and wine to benefit Easter Seals of Central Illinois, I’ve donated a piece for the live art auction titled The Pea Pod Shuffle.

The Pea Pod Shuffle

The Pea Pod Shuffle

 

The Pea Pod Shuffle is an organic piece modeled from a sugar snap pea.  It features a fine silver pendant embracing faceted hematite crystals, catching the light inside and reflecting it outward.  Coordinating fine-silver earrings with smoky crystals complete the set

Details about the event can be found on the Grape Soiree Facebook page and on the Central IL Easter Seals website.  It’s always an inspirational and amazing evening.

Aside

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.

Vintage Crystal Ornaments

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!