13 Dec 2015 Leave a comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: Christmas, Copper, cuffs, duck, earrings, fine silver, holiday, Jewelry, pendants, suncatcher
Just dropped off items for A Coppery Christmas at the Main Gallery 404.
Okay, Mr. Duck is a 6″ high suncatcher.
Also available at McLean County Art Center, a selection of fine silver earrings.
I admit and apologize; not my best pic. Very shiny stuff, in person.
19 Oct 2013 2 Comments
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: amber, art glass, blue, brown, candy, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, clear, Copper, Crystal, emerald, fine silver, Florida, fused, Gala, Garnet, gems, Glass, green, Jade, McLean County Art Center, Mexico Beach, National Retail Federation, ocean, Panama City Beach, ruby, sea glass, Shopping, United States
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
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.
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.
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?
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
20 Sep 2013 Leave a comment
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 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.
25 Mar 2013 2 Comments
in News Tags: art, artists, Bloomington, Bloomington Illinois, booth, bracelets, design, earrings, earwires, fine silver, Illinois, Jewelry, Normal, Normal Illinois, pendants, Saturday March 30 2013, Silver
This year’s Spring Bloom Indoor Arts Festival is on Saturday, March 30, 2013 from 10 AM ~ 5 PM at the Interstate Center, 2301 W. Market Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
There will be 106 featured artists. I’m honored to be included in this group of diverse and talented artists.
They managed to add another 10 artists. Yaay!
I am in Booth 396. This LINK will take you to the map.
The rest of this week, I will be busy putting on final touches to new designs and pieces. I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
A previous Spring Bloom Booth.
More photos to come as the week transpires!
There will be plenty of these fine silver “janthina, janthina” pendants, each a bit different.
09 Feb 2013 Leave a comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: amethyst, candy, champagne, Chocolate, Copper, Dichroic glass, Discovery Museum, fine silver, Garnet, Heart, Holidays, Jewelry, roses, ruby, Silver, Valentine, Valentine's Day
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 pendant with wrapped silver, garnet, charm.
Double heart pendant with sterling and Thai silver and copper.
Ceramic kitty on silver heart pendant.
An array of heart pendants,some with copper, silver, ruby, amethyst, crystal.
28 Jan 2013 Leave a comment
in Fun stuff!, News Tags: Arts, Copper, Crystal, emerald, fine silver, First Friday, Garnet, hematite, lampwork beads, love, Main Gallery 404, Romance, ruby, Tour de Chocolat', Valentine
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:
Maggie’s Heart: Hammered copper and fine silver.
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 and peach drop.
Hammered copper heart with ruby, garnet, emerald, crystal, fine silver.
Four Swinging Hearts
And a few other new hearts, too!
Almost kept this for myself: Lampworked copper-wrapped bead with crystal.
Agate heart with lampworked bead, hematite, crystal, garnet, sterling, copper,sterling silver.
Fine silver with crystal.
Hammered copper heart with sterling silver.
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.
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.
04 Dec 2012 Leave a comment
in News, Uncategorized Tags: Crafts, Dichroic glass, exhibition, fine silver, holiday, Jewelry, Merlot, Mosaics, pendants, Shopping, Wine
I’m honored to be participating in the first Art Circle Member Show at Merlot and a Masterpiece, 412 N. Main Street, Bloomington, IL.
It’s in the paper, so it’s official!
The show begins with an opening on Friday, 12-7-12, from 5 ~ 8 p.m. and runs through the month of December.
And, yes… there will be refreshments this Friday. Yaay!
Two of my pieces are being shown. Here they are:
I See An Angel.
Fine silver with dichroic glass.
Blue Sky Sun.
Fine silver with micro-mosaics.
24 Nov 2012 Leave a comment
in News Tags: bracelets, earrings, fine silver, Health, holiday, Illinois, Jewelry, Massage, Massage Therapy and Bodywork, Normal, open house, ornaments, pendants, precious metal clay, rings, Silver, silversmith, Sterling silver
This year, I’m partnering with Jamey Spain, RN and nationally licensed massage therapist, for an Open House Holiday at her studio in Uptown Normal, IL on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 10 AM ~ 4 PM.
While I’ll be offering lots of cool jewels and more, Jamey will be offering 1/2 off chair massage services. (Please contact ahead for options and appointments with Jamey at jameygreenleaf@gmail.com.) You can also learn more about her at Green Leaf Massage.
Two Amigos!
We thought it would be super fun for you to stop by, do a little shopping, have a relaxing massage, and enjoy some yummy treats!
Here’s the official invitation!
Would love to see you!
I promise to add pics of new jewelry throughout the week!
Counting down 6 more days until the open house…
Every year I make limited edition holiday-themed pieces. One year I made snowmen earrings and pendants, another year it was Christmas trees.
This year I lucked into a stash of old-fashioned beautiful lampworked tree light beads which are now earrings and pendants in red, green, blue, amethyst, turquoise, pink, yellow, and amber.
These are really sweet and won’t last long.
Except for this set which will adorn my mother-in-law.
🙂
Day5: Found some cool mood beads and had a lot of fun turning them into pendants. The first photo shows “before” any warmth connects, and the “after” shows how your mood can change the colors. (Okay, I used a heating pad underneath to affect all of them at once, but it put me in a pretty good mood!)
And yes, I will start previewing some silver pieces soon!
“Before”
“After” Pretty cool, huh?
Day 4: These “wheels” are some of my absolute favorite pieces. They’re in between the size of a nickel and dime and are just fun; I always find myself running it up and down my chain. 🙂 They’re also double-sided!
Three little wheels.
Day 3: Here are some hollow forms that were intentionally patinaed. They have a great weight to them.
Smooth.
Day 2: Freshly minted, so to speak! One more day and the Open House Holidlay begins! Hope to see you there!
Kind of swingy…
Gearing up with 1 more day until the Open House Holiday! Did a bit of a mock set up at home to make sure everything fits! So far, so good!
I was a girl scout, you know.
25 Sep 2012 2 Comments
in News Tags: Earring, Easter Seals, fine silver, Grape Soiree, Handcrafted, Jewelry, Pendant, Precious metal, Sapphire, Shopping, Silver
My contribution to the 2012 Easter Seals’ Grape Soiree Art Auction this year. Fine silver pendant with blue sapphire on sterling chain, with coordinating earrings. 
By request, the complete set:
08 Nov 2011 Leave a comment
in News Tags: Art Deco, crystals, enamel, fine silver, Handcrafted, Jewelry, Millesimal fineness, pearls, Precious metal, Shopping, Silver, Sterling silver
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!
Silver Charmer Jewelry 