Etsy find of the day - Funky Silver Drop Earrings

Funky Silver Drop Earrings

Handmade funky Silver Drop Earrings for her. USD$70 from EONDesign.

Etsy find of the day - Tribal Blade Sterling Silver Hoops Earrings

Tribal Blade Sterling Silver Hoops Earrings

Shine brilliantly for a night in town with this Tribal Blade Sterling Silver Hoops Earrings, USD$140 from Mocahete.

Jewelry and Tutorial by Mary Anne Karren a.k.a. SilverPearlMetalworks

Labradorite Rivet Earrings

Featured Artist: Mary Anne Karren, Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks

Warning!!! You might fall madly in love with these jewelry but unable to purchase them, because Mary Anne has take up a job and might not be making jewelry for sale anymore, you may, however, drop her a convo or contact her via her facebook fanpage if you would really like to have a piece of her work. I have included links to get hold of her in the last paragraph of this blog post.

Labradorite rondelles are riveted and wrapped on Mary's hand hammered sterling silver earwires. Labradorite is a soft gray stone with flashes of blue, green, and gold iridescence. These are natural semi-precious gemstones. Elegantly curved earwires have a strong feminine curve to them, and the rivets give a touch of industrial. The wires are lightly hammered and oxidized and polished for depth. Lightweight and comfortable, these earrings are perfect for every day wear.

Mary Anne's sterling rivet series earrings come in a longer and a petite size. This is the petite size. Earrings are about 1 and 3/8 inches long and the stones are about 6 to 8mm across.

Ruby Rivet Earrings

Raspberry red rubies dangle from Mary Anne's riveted and wrapped hand hammered sterling silver earwires. These little faceted ruby rondelles are just adorable, with their cheerful sparkle. Raspberry is the best term to describe the color... not a true red, but darker than fuschia, with a hint of plum purple in there too. The earwires have a strong feminine curve to them, and the rivets give a touch of industrial. Lightweight and comfortable, these earrings are perfect for every day wear.

This is the petite size of Mary Anne's rivet earrings. Earrings are about 1.25 inches long and the stones are about 6mm across.

Peridot Rivet Earrings

Mary Anne wrapped bright, limey green peridot rondelles on her hand hammered sterling silver earwires. It's hard to find a happier little gemstone than peridot. These are good quality natural stones, mostly translucent (but with some inclusions), and a cheerful bright green color. The earwires have a strong feminine curve to them, and the rivets give a touch of industrial. Lightweight and comfortable, these earrings are perfect for every day wear.  Earrings are about 1.25 inches long and the stones are 6-8mm across.

Tutorial: 14K Gold Hoop Earrings with Self-locking Closure by Mary Anne Karren

Now here's the interesting part. While I was studying about Mary Anne Karren, I discovered that she'd written a tutorial on how to make her highly demanded Gold Hoop Earrings with Self-Locking Closure, it's such a pleasant surprise and I'd urge you to pay her website a visit to view the full tutorial write up about her 14K Gold Hoop Earrings with the Self-Locking Closure!

And I have embeded her video tutorial here for your viewing pleasure, too!

Video Tutorial: 14k gold hoop earrings with the self-locking closure by Mary Anne Karren
tripod.

Do check out her 18K Gold Hoop Earrings listed on Etsy if you are keen to own a pair of these from her:

18K Gold Hoop Earrings by Mary Anne Karren

18K Gold Hoop Earrings by Mary Anne Karren

18K Gold Hoop Earrings by Mary Anne Karren

18K Gold Hoop Earrings by Mary Anne Karren

18K Gold Hoop Earrings by Mary Anne Karren

Hope you enjoy viewing, and last but not least, be sure to visit Mary Anne Karren etsy. facebook fanpage and blog!

Directory:
Mary Anne Karren's Etsy Store
Mary Anne Karren's Facebook
Mary Anne Karren's Blog

Corra @ de Cor's

Elfi Roose Handmade Jewelry from Los Angeles, United States

Freshwater Pearl and Vermeil leaf hoop earrings

Featured artist: Elfi Roose from Elfi Roose Jewelry

Apologies for the late update on this blog! It has been an exciting and busy week because there were too many birthday celebrations throughout the week, ever wonder why there's so many September babies every year? Yes you've got it right! They were conceived in holiday month (December) that's why.

Back to today's write up.

Though I am born in September and my birth stone should be sapphire, I am very attracted to pearls since I was really young, and when Etsy sent me Elfi Roose's Freshwater Pearl and Vermeil Leaf Hoop Earrings in my feed, I knew I won't be procrastinating on updating my blog!

Theaw hoop earrings are made with freshwater pearl, sterling silver with 18k gold plating, the blue freshwater pearl is hand wire wrapped, and dangles between 2 beautiful gold plated leafs.

The hoops measure a little over 1 1/4 inch in diameter, the length with the pearl measures 2 inches.

I moved on checking out her other pearl's collection, and found a couple more that I like.

Vermeil bangle with grey/blue fresh water pearl

Above bangle is Vermeil bangle with grey/blue fresh water pearl, made with solid sterling silver, 14k gold plating, fresh water pearl. This irregular heavy weight round shaped bangle was hand carved out of wax and casted in sterling silver. The oneven shape is what gives this piece an organic feel, any small imperfections are left intentionally, to maintain the signature look of Roose's jewelry.

The charm with 2 vermeil leafs and a fresh water pearl dangles freely of the bangle, giving the piece that extra edge. The bangle measures the standard size of 2 1/2 inches from the inside, the width measures 3mm. Elfi Roose describe this piece as solid and heavy. The surface has a soft semi-matte gold finish.

Freshwater pearl and sterling silver hoop earrings

 If you are not entirely into large hoops earrings, Elfi Roose has something tiny and elegant, but equally eye catching too: Freshwater pearl and sterling silver hoop earrings.

These little hoops are sterling silver that have been slightly oxidized. The blue freshwater pearl is hand wire wrapped, and dangles between 2 beautiful sterling leafs. Earrings measure a little 13mm in diameter, the total length with the pearl measures 28mm (approximately 1 1/8 inches). All elements used in these earrings are handcarved out of wax and casted in sterling silver - quality assured.

Pearl and leaf necklace

So if you'd go for the tiny hoops earrings, you'd probably need a matching necklace - something tiny, too, and romantic: Pearl and Leaf Necklace. This solid sterling silver necklace has a blue-grey freshwater pearl pendant, adorned with 2 handcarved solid sterling silver leafs, that flow freely with the pearl. The necklace measures 16 inches in length, and has a 2 inch extension chain for easy
adjusting. The pendant measures 7/8 inch in drop.

Be sure to drop by Elfi Roose's store soon, ya know, Christmas is around the corner! 

Elfi Roose Directory:
Elfi Roose Etsy
Elfi Roose Facebook (NOTE: if you are a facebook fan you receive free shipping on all domestic i.e. U.S. and Canadian orders. Use coupon code FB2012 at checkout.)

Enjoy!

Corra @ de Cor's

KAZNESQ, Artist handmade jewelry from Japan

Thistle motif Silver Pendant

Featured artist: Kazuhiko Ichikawa a.k.a. KAZNESQ
Item name: Thistle Motif Silver Pendant

"The methods I use are not special. They are very standard and traditional. I think there are so many artists and artisans who are much better than me as skill is concerned. But I always try to make pieces in my own style that I hope is unique." - by Kazuhiko Ichikawa

Thistle motif Silver Pendant

This handmade item is made of sterling silver and metal coated string. It is carefully handmade with wax curving, casting, soldering, engraving, and etc.




Made in and ships worldwide from Funabashi, Japan.

Thistle motif Silver Pendant

Kazuhiko graduated Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1979. He majored industrial design. After the graduation, he was working for a stationery company as a product designer and a planner for more than 20 years. Around in 1999, he was fascinated with antique jewelry. In 2002 he quit the company and entered to Tokyo Jewelry Craft School in 2003. In 2004 he graduated there and started his career as a jewelry artist.

Kazuhiko had won several prizes of jewelry in Japan, it is only matter of time he make it to be famous in the world!

Thistle motif Silver Pendant

Kazuhiko shared a process of making Thistle motif Silver Pendant in his Facebook, of which I have gathered and documenting it here.

The making of Thistle motif Silver Pendant

First of all, Kazuhiko drafted out the initial design of Thistle motif Silver Pendant. The sketches is just for himself for reference, not for customers nor artisans.

Below is the image of the wax form of a calyx.

and a wax form of leaves.

The foundation frame is made of sterling silver and polished before assembling. All components needs to be polished beforehand, too.

Below picture shows the cast calyxes and leaves.

A comparison of the sketches and the actual piece:

Always refer back to the sketches to ensure they are aligned:

 Putting the jagged pattern on the round frame.

Done with the patterns:

Next, Kozuhiko started with the assembling process:

And then he polish the pendant with 3M microfine.

More polishing with his special compound and baking powder.

The calyxes are textured beforehand but here he'd enhance it with a glass brush.

Overview of the piece.

Adding some shining on the frame with a vanisher.

This is the material used for petals. The original idea was to make them of silver with patina but it could turned out to be a little too ordinary and Kozuhiko wanted some colors, so he selected the second item from left. He doesn't know what it is, it was sold as a material for embroidery. It's shiny and soft.

Tying them around and fix the edges, then cut.

Fold half and wrap it around with copper wires:

Finished pieces, gorgeous!

There are few several pieces I would suggest you to check out from his store too, too pretty not to share indeed:

Fine gold keum Boo fan pendant featuring cultured pearls

Green tourmaline bamboo motif necklace

Pink blossoms Keum Boo pendant with pearls

KazneQ's Directory:
KazneQ Facebook
KazneQ Blog

Be sure to visit KaznesQ's Etsy store soon!

Hope you enjoyed viewing!

Corra @ de Cor's