Tribal necklace and new ideas

Hello, my friend!

This summer I was so inspired by tribal jewelry! New pieces of jewelry that I created recently are more tribal - with lots of metal combined with different natural materials: leather, wood, bone and horn, and, of course, gems, gems, gems...

I'm looking forward creating the full collection of statement necklaces and earrings. However boho style (which is sure close to tribal one) is still in my life and in my works. So, I'm trying to combine them, and at the moment I can call my style as elegant ethnic.
Statement necklaces and more exquisite ones, with some rough and wild details, but still elegant. Extra long earrings and hoop earrings - that's what I create and that's in my further plans.
Unfortunately, I still have not enough spare time for big collections, and still need more materials for my plans, but I'm on my way!

Look and this African style necklace which is a good complement to the earrings designed earlier. Ebony wood which I love for its color and smooth surface, copper and leather. By the way, they believe that blackwood has some medical, rejuvinating and magic properties (it's used for protective amulets).

 And how do you like this new necklace? Frankly speaking, I love it!
Metalsmithing techniques like cold forging or fold forming plus soldering and wire-wrapping. Authentic African trade beads, leather and ebony wood. So many different details form a harmonious design.

 

When this idea appeared in my head, I was afraid as I didn't know how to realize it in materials. I've just started and all the problems have been solved one after one.

The result is gorgeous, isn't it? ;-)

 

Long time no see )

Hello, my dears.

I didn't write anything for a long time and I didn't make any jewelry during this period. I had some changes in my life, new activities, and I had to adjust my rythm of life. I just had no energy for creating jewelry.

And one beautiful spring day my good friend made an order for bracelet set. I didn't know if I could find any time and energy for this job but I agreed )
Oh, I'm so grateful for this order and so happy thet I've agreed, as it removed some barrier that appiered inside of me.
After that new ideas born in my head, and I only try to find time to realize all of them in metal and gemstones.


So let's start from new statement rings made of brass.
Three new rings - as if they were made long ago in Africa.
Rough texture, antiqued color that emphasizes patterns.
Lovely large rings for boho and ethnic outlook!

Small or big business?

Hello, my Friends!

It's already a year as I've opened my Etsy shop.
During last several months I was thinking about should I stay on this level of my jewelry making - to stay a craftswoman, or should I develop my business, so I could only create design and to hire some assistants for hand work.
Really it appeared to be a rather hard choice and I was thinking a lot.
I was looking at success stories of different artists who had started interesting and successful projects for growing their jewelry making business. They took part in exibitions and fashion shows, did cooperation with other artists in different areas - clothes designers, make-up masters, photographers and so on.
It looks sooo interesting and fabulous!
But!
I also can see how much they should work to receive positive result. They have no possibility to have a rest on weekend or to spend enough time with their families.
Maybe someone thinks that own business makes people free, however I know that in many cases it makes them attached and much less free.

During this period my little kid fell ill and he had teething that hurt so much. I had to spend much time with my son playing with him and distracting from that pain. And you know, I realized, that big business is not for me. At least not in this period of my life.
Yes, I could earn more money selling more jewelry. But there are more important things in my life at the moment.
I want to be able to spend my time with my son and the whole family any time they need so. I want to enjoy my job and not to feel the burden of it. I want to make jewelry with my hands and not only to create design on paper as it makes me happy.
So, maybe I don't create as much jewelry as I could, but you can be sure - it's created totally with love :-)
And if you face with the same question - just let yourself to answer frankly. You can receive the same reply or a different one. The only thing that is important - what makes you happy? :-)

Chain earrings with amethyst

Sometimes your creation has its own plans that are different from your. And yes, I can say the same about my jewelry projects.
These lovely delicate earrings were intended to be a dangle to my hoop earrings. But when I assembled them and tried with hoops, I saw that they looks much better separately, as an individual piece of jewelry.

The focal copper element with etched pattern is domed and framed in wire-wrapping  technique.
Large clear amethyst beads are accompanied by small ones, creating a harmonious combination of oxidized copper and purple stones.
Exquisite, delicate and light these dangling earring would be perfect for many occasions and different styles.
They would find their place in boho look, or with a cocktail dress, or even with a casual outfit, for example, with jeans.

As usual, I used handmade sterling silver earwires.

Already available in my Etsy shop!

Autumn boho earrings

As autumn came, it brought some special mood with it.
A bitter-sweet mix of warmth, and freshness, happiness and melancholy, cosy things and 'warm' fragrances - delicate smells of dry leaves, coffee and chokolate milk, cinnamon and ginger.
And, of course, I would like to add some warmth to these fall days by my jewelry. Copper is very cosy by itself and gives that feeling of warmth which is so needed in these cool days. Accompanied by bright colors of natural gems this jewelry creates super mood - happiness, freedom and comfort inside.

Ok. Some of my new earrings that are ready and will be available in my Etsy shop soon.

Black lava, carnelian and copper. I love the combination of black and orange!

Embossed flower on copper and blue lapis lazuli drops:

Extra long boho earrings which were created by chance when i was thinking of design for another piece of jewelry. Very bright earrings for a good mood! 

Pine metalwork earrings

Hello, everybody!
I want to show you new earrings which were created in collaboration with my younger brother.

Once I've bought very cute copper fircones and looked at them thinking of design. I had some ideas but they were not amazing, so I was waiting till I'd get better one )

And one day I showed these fircones to my younger brother, asking him if he has any idea. Yes, he had! He described me what he was thinking about and I started to work!

I've made graduated pins. They were just looking like a pile of ordinary pins and this made me laughing: instead of gorgious peace of jewelry I've produced a pile of pins!

But in fact that was a rather long job, as all pins - one by one - had to be gradually cut, hammered and rounded.

The next step was creating patina of needed color. And hat was a very respronsible moment, as usually I use other substances and get other colors. That was the first time for me, and I wanted my Designer to be fully satisfied with the result. So I was a bit nervous.
The process of greening looked like this:

It took longer time than I expected - the whole day for greening and night for drying. But in the morning I was happy as the color was perfect!

The next rutine was sealing the patina with varnish - every and each needle was covered twice.
And finally I could assemble the earrings! A bit of wire-wrapping - and here they are!

I've got wonderful unusual earrings and I'm happy that my Designer is also happy ))))
The earrings appeared to be very stylish, and I guess, boho and hippie style lovers would like them as I do )

As one my friend said these earrings have New Year's mood. But I'm sure that they are good for any season.

Hello, my Friends!

I'm happy that my creative activity increased recently and I have different interesting things to show to you.
There is a tribal mini-collection in copper and brass, my special hoop earrings in different designs - several are ready, others are waiting for assembling.
But today I want to show you my todays favorite piece of jewelry.

It started from assembling idea which I used several years ago for one cute necklace made of polymer clay. And I thought about how to use it for my metal work. And finally decided!

I started from making several round blanks, domed them and covered with my favorite royal blue patina - you know how I love it!

Here they are!

They were waiting rather long, as I started many projects at the same time. I always do this way. I usually make many blanks which I process and assemble one by one. Maybe not so productive, but that's my style )))

Finally I came to these circles and connected them using some hand forged 'horseshoes'. I've got a very cute necklace and wanted to stop. But suddenly I've seen an image in my mind! A tassel!
I was in a doubt for several hours and then I set to work.
A tassel made of copper chains and several amazonite beads - and - yippie! - it's done!

A pair of plain earrings in order not to overload the general look and here it is - a beautiful and gorgious boho jewelry set:

Already available in my Etsy shop