I Can't Predict...

...what will sell at a show...

Last Sunday I participated in the Cypress Point Circle Holiday Bazaar for CHKD. The 6th Annual show. My 1st time. Fabulous publicity. Some of my pieces made their television debuts!

I had THREE full tables to work with and I FILLED the tables up with jewelry. As I was unpacking my jewelry and feverishly trying to design an alluring display, I thought about my Smithsonian ELITE Series. I left it unpacked. Undecided. Would people really be interested? Sometimes they are; sometimes they're not. I walked around the show and checked out the other jewelry vendors. Their pieces were a lot less expensive than mine. And this particular collection consists of more high end pieces...

I arrived THREE hours early for the show as I couldn't sleep and at the last minute I decided to display the collection since I had so much room anyway and you never know...

Well, guess which collection received a LOT of attention??? If you guessed the Smithsonian ELITE Series, you guessed correctly! People were enchanted with the history of the beads. And they PURCHASED pieces!

I am always happy to sell pieces, but I am most happy when someone feels excited about a purchase!

"Mint Julip" - Pre WWII Czech Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!

You Can Have It Your Way...

... and I don't mean Burger King! I love custom orders! The pocket rosary in the pic above was created for my friend Lori's grandmother. She told me a few facts about her and then I went to work...

The thing about my work process is that it is 99% thinking and 1% working. And believe me, if you've ever seen ALL of the jewelry I have made, you know I have been doing a LOT of thinking! LOL

Anyway, when I began to focus my thoughts on Lori's grandmother, one bead came to mind immediately: the carved turquoise round beads you see in the pic above. So when I finally decided to create the piece, I went looking for the beads. You need 11 to create a pocket rosary; I only had 6. So I decided to make something else on my list. Wouldn't you know it? No matter what I looked for, I could not find! Now granted, my studio is NOT the most organized room in my house, but to not be able to find anything I am looking for is unusual. I finally gave up and looked in places I never look for things and I found 11 carved turquoise beads!!!!!!!! And suddenly, everything - literally everything I had been looking for suddenly began appearing.

Lori LOVED the pocket rosary. She said the beads were perfect! When something is meant to be, it is meant to be. That's how I look at it!

("Turquoise" Pocket Rosary Custom Order - Carved Turquoise, Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

yellowishious

Today was sponsored by the color yellow! It seems like (almost) everything I created was yellow or had yellow in it!

I was thinking today about the competitiveness between jewelry artists. I don't concern myself much with it. But I notice it. Here is my advice: create what you love; create what makes you happy!

("Fae Jaune" Bracelet - Lustrous Cat's Eye, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver! Earrings to match!)

Meet Adriana...

"Adriana" (from Comedy of Errors) is one of the newest sets in The Elizabethan Collection!

("Adriana" - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

has it been a month? OMG!

WOW! Time really does fly! I stopped designing for a bit while I unpacked and settled into my new place. But I am back to work now! I have titled this photo "A Drop In The Bucket" because this is just a small taste of my newest creations!

Featured in this photo of all bracelets: From The Elizabethan Collection - "Helena," "Adriana," and "Calpurnia." From The Natural Stone Collection: "Purple Haze." From The Fresh & Fun Collection: "Orange Chakra 2" and "Fiesta 2."

one rainy sunday

(Olivine Rosary Necklace - Swarovski Glass Pearls, Swarovski Crystal, Glass, Sterling Silver, & Pewter!)

Waiting (Impatiently Tapping My Foot) For Spring

("Les Fleurs Jonquil" - Swarovski Crystal & Sterling Silver!)

Take Two...

Okay... so we took a few more photos today. Still no better. It's me. It's totally me. Just not in the mood to smile I guess.

I created the set in the photo for The La Motta Art Show 2008. The first time I wore it with a bombshell red satin dress. But today it was jeans and bare feet all the way!

You probably can't tell, but I am sitting on my favorite red stool - my painting stool - and draping my legs over the back of it... Comfy? Not so much! Maybe one of the reasons I am not smiling! LOL

("Flame Dancer" - Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

what is she doing with her hands?

All I can do is try to get a few decent photos of me wearing some of my own jewelry. Today? Apparently not my day. Tomorrow? Tomorrow is another day. And I will try again. For your amusement - your viewing pleasure (or not) - I offer up one of the pics from today's shoot... Is it me or do I look totally pissed?

(The Mid-Night Cowgirl Collection - Vintage Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

polka dot aprons and high heels (oh my!)

I have always had a thing for old fashioned pin-ups... and polka dot aprons over dresses with high heels in the kitchen... I think I missed my calling... LOL

("Retro Girl" - Fun Premium Bumpy Handmade Lampwork Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

there are so many things i want to do

yet i fear i may run out of time...

oh how i wish i could suspend time grow wings and fly and do the all the things i want to do and savor each and every moment...

("Free Bird" - Resin, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

my mom loves these!

("Wildflowers" Chokers - Double Stranded - Swarovski Crystal, Pewter, & Sterling Silver!)

i can't wait...

... to introduce you to the newest bracelet in The Elizabethan Collection: Viola! From Shakespeare's Twelfth Night! Also the name of my mother's mother...

("Viola" - Premium Handmade Lampwork Glass Flowers, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

I have been busy busy busy working on my web site. I still have a long way to go. I still have a TON of jewelry to photograph and upload onto the site. Check it out...

http://www.cosmicgeisha.com/

("Tranquility" - RARE Vintage Chinese Handpainted Porcelain, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

Sophie & Pablo: The Update

Sophie's surgery was complicated. She had several bleeders and somehow they missed one so she had to have two surgeries instead of one. When she finally came home, she was so high from the anesthesia she was literally tipping over. Poor thing whined through the night.

The next day I had to take Pablo, my AmStaff, in to have several teeth extracted. Turns out he had three teeth removed. Three BIG teeth! He too came home completely loopy. And whimpering. And bleeding.

I am happy to report that today they both seem fine. They are eating and drinking and playing and sleeping. Sophie's blood still needs to be monitored. Though the growth was benign, her blood calcium level is high which could mean something dire... But today I won't worry about that. I can't. Today I will love her and kiss her and pet her and feed her... Today we are together.

("By The Shore" Pocket Rosary - Mother of Pearl, Swarovski Crystal, Sterling Silver, & Silver!)

Rumi

"The flowers flee from Autumn, but not you -

You are the fearless rose

that grows amidst the freezing wind."

-Rumi

Earrings Extravaganza!

I have added a page on my web site called Earrings Extravaganza! A page of nothing but earrings because a gal can never have too many pairs of earrings as far as I'm concerned. I am living proof!

Go to http://www.cosmicgeisha.com/ to see more jewelry!

("Jolie" - Handmade Lampwork Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

A Tiny Piece Of History

There is a woman who used to be a jewelry designer for the Smithsonian Museum of Art. In the 1960s and 1970s, she traveled around the world and purchased beads. Often she came across amazing vintage beads in little out of the way shops...

The beads used to create these earrings are from her private collection. They are RARE vintage Japanese tensha or decoupage beads - carved and painted by hand. They are stunning! They are a tiny piece of history!

("Decoupage" - Rare Vintage Japanese Tensha, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)

Sunday Dinner With The Family

My brother was here from Kentucky... we had fun conversation and yummy food!

(White Pocket Rosary - Vintage Glass, Glass, Sterling Silver, & Silver)

Chocolat

No words necessary...

xoxo

("Chocolat" - Pre WWII Czech Glass, Swarovski Crystal, & Sterling Silver!)