In composing 'Nantucket Lightship Basket,' I created my design in colors around the lampwork beads using semi-precious gemstones,  sterling Bali beads and other  beads. You will find:

 

* Luminous, faceted ice-blue aquamarine rondelles

* Faceted large teal teardrop quartz beads

* Stunning faceted quartz rondelles

* AAA quality Cubic Zirconia faceted teardrop beads in clear

* Variety of Swarovski crystals including faceted cubes in ice blue

* Freshwater button pearls in a rich cream shade of peach

* Quality cane/furnace beads by the esteemed glass artist, Penrose

* Lampwork steel-blue organic, ribbed rounds by the same top-flight artist of the boro set

* Lampwork encased teal discs by the same top-flight artist of the boro set

* Sterling daisy spacers, tube beads and twisted ring beads

* A wee sterling sand-dollar charm hangs at the bar end of the toggle clasp

 

'Nantucket Lightship Basket' is completed with a nautical-style round toggle clasp made by the Bali silver artisans and measures just over 8 inches.  Resizing is possible at no additional charge.

 

'Nantucket Lightship Basket' is a gallery piece, void of my usual lampwork flowers and unnecessary chaos.  It is pure in its design and is only about the powerful beauty of the sea under wind & sail, sunny days, sun slipping below the horizen and about the magical starry skies under a full moon.  It is a bracelet to celebrate the tropical sea, the North Sea, the Antarctic sea and all oceans inbetween.

If I were an avid sports fan, it would be soccer (and baseball) and yesterday's World Cup win for Spain had me strangely giddy.  I took to the internet, searching webcams in Madrid's central plaza del Armas or whereever the party was going on in Spain, feeling all the way across the time zones, the joy in the air.  Finally, as the evening moved along, I did what always cures a bout of giddiness and I sat down at my beading table.  Having been so very, very lucky to have visited Southern Africa (Zimbabwe) in the early 90's, and including time spent on safari, I knew something of the colors and richness of Africa.  I began to design my celebration piece for Spain and winning in South Africa, fulfilling Nelson Mandela's dream of the World Cup in his beloved country.  And so it is, 'Viva Espana! Africa Dreaming...'

 

As a bit of a departure from my usual busy chaotic designs, this one is more simple and is a showcase piece.  Made almost entirely of top-flight artisan lampwork studio beads, you will find only a spare Swarovski or two in the splendor and some regal, faceted rich purple amethyst rondelles.  Otherwise, it is a design comprised of some of the most glorious design work in torched glass beadwork.

 

The 'pillow' shaped beads are by Catherine Steele.  She named them 'Colors of Africa' those many years ago when I was lucky enough to get my hands on some of them.  They are at once the stripes of zebra, gazelle; the mane of lion, the earth-colored textiles of the proud Masai Mara people, the turquoise shade of the Zambezi river, the thunderous falls of Victoria Falls and the dense, deep grass of the Okovango Delta.  Her work could not be any more brilliant.

 

Companions are 24K gold coated carmel tubular beads by another premier artist.  These are the deep spots of the leopard or the handsome pattern of the giraffe.  Other lampwork are golden, transparent rounds by Betty Hanssen, ringed in  silver.  And ice-cube-like encased teal organic square slices, looking like they are about to melt along with round slices or discs of carmel & gold, accented with Bali vermeil (24K gold over .999 sterling) daisy spacers and beads.  Esteemed furnace bead maker David Christensen lends the orange cubes along with lavender Swarovski faceted cubes.  An elegant vermeil toggle completes, 'Viva Espana! Africa Dreaming....'  one of the more elegant, spare pieces I have ever designed.  A piece to be worn to an gallery opening or with a couture black dress.  A piece to celebrate and to celebrate once more.  Being alive!

 

'Viva Espana! Africa Dreaming...' measures 8 inches and can be adjusted at no additional charge.

Sold out!  Thank you!

 

* Sweet baby pink rosebuds by Serena of SJDS

* Etched (like beach glass) baby pink 3D flowers by Heather of BeadIntrigue

*Sculpted cream roses by published clay artist, D. Jean Vainio

 

Finally, the last beads and stones include:

* Swarovski bicones, rondelles and faceted cubes

* Cubic Zirconia faceted teardrops (AAA quality)

* Faceted amythest rondelles and teardrops

* Luminous faceted iolite heart briolettes, stone of the Vikings

* Freshwater pearls capped in ornate Bali silver beadcaps

* Thai Hilltribe small tube beads, white sterling rosebuds (3 of them)

* Ornate Bali silver lentil beadcaps

* Daisy spacers

 

 

 

 

A gardener at heart, mind and soul...my muse for 'Daisy Mae' is entirely a small stretch of my garden devoted to strawberries, sweet peas, tomatoes (in 4 varieties) and squash...all surrounded by generous, big, white Shasta Daisies.  It is this patch of garden next to our young apple tree (in full, bountiful bloom just now), that inspired 'Daisy Mae.'

 

This design is another small departure from my usual design model.  A totally loaded 'luxe' piece, 'Daisy Mae' includes gorgeous sterling metal work by a fabulous artist who uses the old wax technique in making her metal art.  The daisy shaped toggle clasp and the matching daisy 'connector' at the bracelet's center are solid sterling, handcrafted original art and lend so much character to the piece along with the rouge peace sign charm.  It is around this whimsical sterling metal work that I designed the balance of 'Daisy Mae.'

 

As a luxe piece, 'Daisy Mae' brings together 5 various artists.  The feminine, soft blue & white lampwork round beads are done by Melanie Carey of her studio, Glass Valley; the Lazy Susan styled 3D lampwork daisies and white bumpy rounds are by Heather of BeadIntrigue.  Published clay artist, D. Jean Vainio creates the floppy white clay daisies, on of my favorites among her collection and the charming Swiss blue, white daisy lentils are by artist, Melanie Egan.  Bright yellow tulips are by Serena and add just that sparkle to the overall design.

 

Aside from the silverwork and lampwork, you will find the following other stones, beads & findings:

 

* Aquamarine faceted rondelles

* Light, transparent Green amethyst faceted briolettes

* Luminous white iolite, stone of the Vikings

* Sleeping Beauty Turqouise briolettes from the renowned mine of the same name

* Hydrothermal faceted blue cubes

* Green furnace beads by esteemed glass artist, D. Christensen

* Freshwater pearls capped in bright Bali silver

*Bali silver lentil beadcaps, twisted rings & daisy spacers

* Swarovski cubes, bicones, rondelles, a flower & large clear abstract shapes couched in sterling leaf bales

 

'Daisy Mae' is one of those happy, spring and summertime designs.  It is the sort of piece that makes a person smile, just looking at it and would be the 'go everywhere' bracelet for the upcoming season, whether at a ballgame or an evening out on the town, it is summertime chic and a piece of richly detailed wearable art!

 

'Daisy Mae' measures 8.5 inches in length.  Because of the sterling daisy connector at its center, 'Daisy Mae' cannot be resized without significantly losing some of the design and lampwork.  However, 8.5" is the most common 'average' length among my clients. 

Sold out!  Thank you!

This design is a small departure from my usual design model.  I lucked upon some stunning sterling chain, large, oval loops done in thick, substantial, polished sterling.  It sparked a design in me that was spare, elegant, clean, classic and chunky. Bold, but stunning.  The theme is the approaching spring (in the western hemisphere, at any rate) and, as always, the explosion of roses in  my garden. As such, this is a piece done in icy pink, warm pink, medieval pink with lots of stunning clear and lots of sterling silver.

 

Whenever I think of beautiful gardens, particularly rose gardens, my mind wanders to England where everyone seems to own and  tend a fantasy garden, filled with lush, healthy, fragrant & generous roses.  The ice pink colors in the piece remind me of Princess Diana's special rose bush, dedicated to her following her untimely death.  I planted a bare-root Princess Diana variety one February and the fragrance is divine and the color, so delicate and feminine.

 

Two esteemed glass artists make up 'English Rose.'  The gorgeous, ice-pink tulips are done by Heather Davis.  While she has her signature florals (equally superb), her tulips have captured my imagination and I can't own enough of them!  These ice-pink tulips arrived just days ago and the design cooked and stewed in my mind for a few days until bingo...I knew what I wanted to do.  Combining them with Melanie Carey's always precise and feminine lampwork floral rounds was just the ticket.  While some beads in the set are strictly her rosebuds-on-pink, others are a delicate patchwork-on-taupe which reminds me of medieval castle windows and their fused metal work & stained glass.

 

In keeping with a 'chunky' and edgy design, I added luminous freshwater coin pearls in creamrose white along with regal, faceted & cut quartz stones in abstract shapes.  I  punctuated my design with small, pink freshwater pearls and AAA top-quality pink cubic zirconia teardrops.  Swarovski abstract pink & clear shapes done in a larger-than-normal size, completes 'English Rose' along with a small Swarovski butterfly, a bold hammered white silver heart charm by the Hilltribe artisans as well as a beautiful white sterling rosebud charm, also by the Karen Hilltribe artisans.  An ornate, Victorian styled Bali silver toggle clasp completes 'English Rose,' which measure @ 8.5 inches in length and can be resized to about 9.5 inches in length or shortened to a length of your choice (as chain is taken away and not added).

 

'English Rose' is the quintessential Springtime, feminine yet modern bracelet.  It is at once elegant, fun & edgy and with all the chunky sterling sparkling like mad, looks very uptown and tres, tres chic.

 

'The Wine Country' is named for the many wine countries around the world - not just our beloved Napa & Sonoma Valley Wineries here in Northern California.  Whether you are in Tuscany, in France, in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or in California...there is always a wine country to be had; a day of heightened life experience, roaming and wandering at leisure and modestly sipping a thousand tastes while enjoying a sumptuous countryside, steeped in natural beauty and often rather fabulous history.

I am a gardener at heart and would spend hours out of doors working the soil and tending to my plants and trees. If only I could! I relish the ability to go into my garden to pick my own bunch of roses for the house or to give as a gift. Needless to say, I adore working with rose themed lampwork and especially those with a transparent glow to them, reminding me of the sparkling dew on the lush, fragrant roses in the early, early morning when I sneak out to take it all in; the beauty and solitude before kids and dogs and cats send the day flying.

The muse behind 'Southern Rose' are the exquisite lampwork beads by Heather Davis of Blissfulgarden beads. Her beads are always a treat to work with and she is regarded somewhat as the 'royalty' of lampworkers. I combined two of Heather's bead sets in this piece - her signature floral chintz roses done exquisitely with an encased technique.  She swirls transparent baby pink glass over a light, soft yellow core,  with a layer of transparent glass over the top, something I have never seen in her signature sets.  The effect is a rich, wet, watery depth.  As companions, I used two of her ice pink tulips sculptural  beads; a design of which I have yet to come across from any other glass artist. I start to hyperventilate when Heather offers her glass tulips for sale.  They are beyond divine, especially her transparent, glassy pink petaled beads. The overall effect is so feminine and hopeful as the days grow longer and Spring approach day-by-day, through the dense grey of waning winter chill.

In composing 'Southern Rose,' I kept the companion colors contained to those in the focal lampwork ~ shades of pink, faceted clear, light yellow and the rich lustre of pearl, mixed with the bright shine of sterling silver.

 

 Other lampwork artisan beads you will find here include:

 * Wet, bright pink rosebuds by Serena 

*  Transparent pale yellow 3D petaled flowers by Heather

* Elaborate roses by published clay artist, D. Jean Vainio

 

To complete the wondrous composition that is "Southern Rose," I used the following stones  & beads:

* Faceted AAA quality cubic zirconia teardrops

* High lustre AAA quality Iolite briolettes

* Pink & Lilac Chalcedony faceted briolettes

* Smooth white Chalcedony teardrops

* Clear, smooth, lilac amethyst teardrops

* Blue-fire flash moonstone rondelles

* Swarovski crystal pearls capped in bright sterling daisy beadcaps

* Karen Hilltribe bright sterling rosebud charm

 

Anyway...I digress.  The other thing about Siena is the Duomo - the cathedral - which is made of perfect squares of black and white marble.  There are other medieval buildings in Siena also made in black and white squares like this - I thought it was a common medieval period of architecture in Italy, however in looking it up just now, I find out that black & white were the symbolic colors of Siena (Civic Coat of Arms) and derived from the black and white horses of the legendary city founders, Senius and Aschius.

 

But back to the Duomo.  As far as cathedrals go, the Duomo is mind-bending and earth-shattering in its beauty.  More beautiful still is that I stayed at a somewhat modest hotel called The Duomo which was situated in back of the cathedral.  On my small deck, high up, I had a perfect view of the Duomo and her black & white cubes and ancient, medieval architecture. More fantastic still is that Duomo now had a webcam attached to its roof!  Except that it is 'down' tonight! Darn.

 

So for days, I have been designing this black & white bracelet in my mind.  The focal set of beads are elegant clear glass lentils over a white core, splashed with black.  Bumps and a single scrolling line of white and faint blue curl around each bead in a modern, edgy effect.  These are the work of OCD Lampwork and artist Tracey Nelson.  I have also used the work of Heather from her studio called BeadIntrigue.  She is the artist behind the small white bumpy lampwork rounds and the clear-over-white core, polka dot slices, as well as the etched white with black polka dot rounds done in miniature. Adding to the artisan collection of studio beads are clay roses in black and white by published clay artist, D. Jean Vainio.

Rather hidden in this confusion of black and white are two superb white tulip lampwork beads by Serena of  the studio, SJDS Designs.

 

To complicate the black & white chaos even more, you will find the following additional beads:

* Elegant faceted black onyx briolettes

* Blue Fire Moonstone rondelles with daisy spacers

* Clear quartz rondelles & chunky briolettes

* Tiny freshwater rice shaped pearls

* Swarovski glass pearls capped in white sterling silver beadcaps from the Karen Hilltribe in Thailand

* Swarovski crystals in a variety of shapes, in the color of black and white

 

'Dreaming of Italy' is finished not with a sterling charm of the cathedral of which I have been speaking, but with a charm of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, another jewel of Tuscany.  Except for a sterling bunch of grapes (Tuscany is famous for its fine wines), I did not have many Italian-themed charms to use.  But the Leaning Tower will do since it, too, is dramatic enough and has that luminous flare of exuberant expression the Italians are known and loved for 'round the world.

 

'Dreaming of Italy' is completed with a square Bali silver toggle and measures 8.5 inches in length.  Resizing is possible at no additional fees.

Sold out!  Thank you!