Sleek, Shimmering, Style...
Glamorous Button Pearl Earrings

Sleek, shimmering sterling silver stick earrings with creamy white button pearls. A wonderful gift for the bride to be, or anyone with a June birthday!

Sterling silver bars were hand forged a texture hammer and anvil into these glistening sticks that reflect the light with your every move. A small post was soldered on and creamy white freshwater pearls were added. They move gracefully on handmade sterling silver earwires and measure 1-1/2 inches in length from the top of the earwire to bottom of the earring.

When caring for your pearl jewelry, always remember this rule: Last on, first off! This will assure that the nacre will not be damaged by perfumes, make-up or hair spray.

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,

Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

Cyber Monday Sale!
Through December 5th!

Heart's Desire Beading Company Cyber Monday Sale now going on through December 5, 2010, everything is my Etsy shop is already discounted 10%. In addition, you will receive Free Shipping for all orders sent within the USA! Gift wrapping also is available free of charge at your request!

Happy shopping!

Blessings,

Marriage of Metal ...
Classic Hoops with a Twist

Sterling silver hoop earrings with a twist of copper for accent, the perfect marriage of metal for everyday wear! Each of these hoop earrings starts with a sturdy base of sterling silver wire that is hammered for strength. Then a handmade wire wrapped copper bead is added for a wonderful focal point. Both hoops are then lovingly wrapped with very fine gauge sterling silver wire that gives them loads of added interest!

The Marriage of Metal hoop earrings are 1-1/4 inches in length from the top of the earwire to the bottom of the copper bead, and they are 7/8 of an inch in width.




For those who love the warmth of copper, I have created Copper Hoops with a Twist. Handcrafted with coils and twists of copper wire, they have a wonderful ethnic flair! The earwire is also made of copper wire, but if you prefer, a sterling silver earwire can replace it at no extra charge.

Both of these handsome hoop earrings would be a excellent addition to your everyday jewelry wardrobe!

Many thanks to Julie Sigmund of JewlieBeads for her wonderful tutorial! Thank you for looking!

Blessings,




Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

Accountability...
and a Garnet Ring

One week ago I read a post on my friend Gayle's blog, This Artist's Journey discussing her desire to stretch her metalsmithing muscles and get out of her comfort zone. She revealed how easy it was to stay with "what is familiar, easy, comfortable" and how hard it was "to dive into metalsmithing head first without looking back to my beads for comfort." As I read her post it struck a cord deep within me, it was as if she had read my mind!

For a very long time I've wanted to learn how to bezel set stones, and finally this spring I took a metalsmithing class and learned how! It was a wonderful class with an inspiring teacher who taught himself how to make jewelry. He shared volumes of information with the class; it was an opportunity of a lifetime! When the class was finished I felt confident in changing my jewelry designing style. But something happened along the way, self doubt crept in and thoughts of what if I ruin the silver, what if I make another mistake, what if no one likes my designs and how can I risk failure? Does any of this sound familiar to you?

Well, at the end of the post Gayle ask "Anyone with me in trying something new instead of taking the easy way out???" and I just had to respond, I needed someone to be accountable with! My reply in the comments section was, "We were given talent for a reason, and it is wrong not to use it! It is time to get off the sidelines and get into the game! Maybe we should start an accountability group, what do you think?" It was time to move ahead, and not look back!

So here is where the metal hits the anvil so to speak! I've started out slowly with this simple little garnet ring as my first response to the challenge from Gayle! It was inspired by the book These Happy Golden Years, by Laura Ingalls Wilder. In the book, Almanzo Wilder ask Laura to marry him and gives her a garnet and pearl ring as an engagement ring. Although I do not know exactly what the ring looks like, I am sure it was simple and lovely. This is my little nod to that engagement ring, although it is much more modern in style, it is simple and lovely!

I must end this post with a challenge to you. Are you stuck in a rut with your art? Have you stayed with what was comfortable just because it works, but you dream of doing something on a much grander scale? Well it is time to get off the sidelines and into the game! Find someone to be accountable to, step out of your comfort zone, look for encouragement, and do what you dream of doing!

Your dreams are waiting.....

Blessings,


Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

A Change of Seasons
Autumn Jasper

Warm peach, burgundy, rust, olive green and a touch of gray all blend together in this lovely autumn jasper oval pendant. These gorgeous warm colors will go with many of the current fall fashions!

The Change of Season necklace has a hand woven copper wire bale with two tiny swirls is done in the Eni Oken style. The bale has been oxidized and then buffed for an antiqued finish. The autumn jasper stone is 1-13/16" x 1-3/8" (45mm x 35mm), and when you include the bale; the pendant is 2-3/8" in length. To complete the look, the pendant is suspended on a coordinating 4mm wide burgundy suede necklace that is 18 inches long with handsome handmade copper findings.

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,




Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

Whiskey Quartz, Garnets and Peridot, Oh My!!!

A very vogue circle necklace with a hammered texture that is adorned with a stunning flame shaped whiskey quartz briolette. This beautiful stone is surrounded by peridot rondelles, faceted garnet rounds, a spessartite garnet briolette, and one plump freshwater pearl.

This stylish necklace started with sterling silver wire and chain, and of course all the splendid stones. No store bought findings outside of the chain for this necklace! The head pins and the circle that the stones are suspended on were created with sterling silver wire and a torch. Each stone is lovingly wire wrapped, and floats freely around the circle. Every little round garnet has a swirl of wire wrapping around the stone and finishing at the bottom. This detail is repeated on the two round garnets which connect the chain to the circle.

The circle was hammered for an interesting texture which captures and reflects the light; the back side of the circle has a smoother finish. So depending on your mood, you could wear this necklace with the texture or smooth finish side up.

Each detail of this necklace was thoughtfully considered, from the choice of warm colored stones, to the textures of the metals. It is my hope and desire that you will enjoy this necklace as much as I did in creating it for you!

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,





Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

A Rose by Any Other Name...
A lovely fibula for your knits

A fibula is the perfect adornment for any knit sweater, hat, or scarf. They were originally made by the Greeks to fasten their togas, but today artists create them to decorate knits and more!

This fibula is artfully made with twists and curves of silver tone wire. Its focal bead has a sparkly, gold glitter center, wrapped in swirls of white and pink roses on each side of the bead. It is flanked by two intricate bead caps, and a ruby red and iridescent glass bead. The pin point is filed to a sharp point that is buffed smooth, and will work best with loosely woven or bulky knits.

It measures 2-3/8 of an inch in length, and 7/8 of an inch in width.

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,




Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

A Fascination With Deep Purple!

Adorn any sweater, hat, or scarf with this exquisite deep purple and silver tone fibula. Did you know that fibulas were originally made by the Greeks to fasten their togas? I guess you could say they were the first safety pins, but today artists create them to decorate knits and more!

This fibula is artfully made with a dazzling deep purple, faceted glass bead as its focal. I have had this bead for quite some time, and never found the right project to include it in until now! It is surrounded with intricate bead caps and beads which compliment, but do not take away the attention from the bead. The pin point is filed to a sharp point that is buffed smooth, and will work best with loosely woven or bulky knits.

The Deep Purple Fascination fibula is 2-5/8 inches in length and 1 inch in height.

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,





Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

A Fascination....

With cooler weather upon us, it is time to pull out the sweaters, hats, coats and scarfs. Once again, I must decide which these items will be worn another season and which will go to Goodwill. Despite the fact that I am not the cold weather girl, I am excited to be wearing my favorite pair of boots again!

As of late, my jewelry designing thoughts are consumed with a fascination for pins! It seems the perfect time of year for them, after all they bring new life to those old knits! So this week I pulled out several of my jewelry making books and began searching for ideas on making fibulas. Trying to be frugal, I started working with nickle silver wire to make prototypes, but found that the wire was wonderful to work with, it looks great, and is cost effective too!

These are some of the pins I put together this week! What do you think?





Be sure to check out the Fibula section of my shop in the coming days, I will be adding these soon!


Blessings,

Humble Elements

Re-purposed Copper Washers and Wire

The unpretentious lines of this textured copper bracelet comes from humble elements, copper wire and simple, re-purposed copper washers! The washers are all hand forged with two different textures; dimples and tiger-like stripes! I love my texture hammers! They help me achieve interesting designs in the metal, and also assist in releasing daily frustrations!

In between each washer you will find a simple figure-eight link. These are made with heavy gauge copper wire formed by hand with round nose pliers. With just a little hand forging, they become strong and with a slight texture. The swan shaped clasp also textured for strength and interest and you can close this bracelet with just one hand!

The copper elements of this bracelet are untreated so they will develop their own unique patina over time. If you prefer your copper jewelry to remain bright and shiny, soak your bracelet in a lemon juice bath for ten minutes and it will be like new again!

This textured copper washer bracelet is 7-7/8 inches in length, perfectly made for wrists 6-1/2 to 7-1/4 inches around. If needed, additional links can be added to make the bracelet longer. Please be sure to convo me if you need any adjustments to the size!

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,


Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

Pretty in Pink
A Dainty Pink Chalcedony Briolette Necklace

A dainty pink chalcedony briolette necklace for the girly-girl at heart. This lovely heart shaped briolette is opaque with a light fuchsia color, and has lots of facets that sparkle! The pendant is 7/8 of an inch in length and is wrapped in very fine sterling silver wire, it is suspended from a flat link sterling silver chain that is 18 inches long. A perfect bridesmaid gift!

Thank you for looking!

Blessings,





Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved

Exceptional Freshwater Pearls

Exceptional freshwater pearl earrings for the modern bride, made with plump and dreamy pearls on sterling silver wire! These 8mm potato pearls have a gorgeous iridescent nacre that looks wonderful with the handcrafted "U" shaped sterling silver earwires they are on! The earwires are hammered lightly into a fan shape that keeps the pearls on the wire. They are dainty 3/4 of an inch in length, but still noticeable!

As with all pearls, do not wear them while applying perfume or hairspray and always wipe them off with a soft cloth before storing them away!

Thank you for looking

Blessings,





Heart's Desire Beading Company 2010 © - All Rights Reserved