firefly jewelry: February 2011

Ana Hagopian Jewelry

Paper and fiber jewelry created by
Ana Hagopian is a wondrous feast for the eyes.
Texture and color dominate her work.

It's very easy to recognize the commitment
and talent this artist brings to her work;
one can see the sensitivity and the
delicate skill it takes to create
these pieces.

Over the years, Ana has developed
an astonishing range of jewelry including
pieces that are geometric and architectural
in style, and those that are more relaxed
and organic in style. Our favorites are her
hand-sculpted floral necklaces featuring
wildly-extravagant profusions of blossoms.
The subtle variations among her
floral pieces lead to a rich, layered
effect that's realistic and idealized
at the same time. The results of all her efforts
combine to create an impressive world
of textural magic.

We'd like to take the liberty of traveling back
and forth among her current and previous
collections to look at some of our favorites.

These two-tone blooms

are sweet and lively.

We really like these

flowers made from felt.
We're being to feel like
springtime is arriving.

Here's another version of these
particular blooms that are
bright and tender.

Lush and densely-packed together

flowers seem to be filled with

life and vibrancy.

So lush and light.
Delicate and powerful at the same time.

We love the delicate tendrils

in this brightly-colored piece.

The sheer lusciousness of saturated color in this necklace

causes a physical reaction – it makes our hearts beat

faster every time we see it.

This jewelry truly is a celebration of nature

in all her glory.

Some pieces are ethereal
and diaphanous; some are
made with heavy, dense felt.
They're all filled with textural
elements and spectacular color
that just takes our breath away.

We're inspired by all this
beauty.

How are you?

Product Junkie Approved: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Ballet Pink

I really like cream eye shadows and have been using them for years. It seems like every time I would find one it would get discontinued. In my quest to find a new one I stumbled upon Bobbi Brown's Long Wear Cream Shadow in Ballet Pink. You can wear it alone but I like to put my powder shadow over it. It really helps your eye shadow stay on all day and is so neutral that it goes with everything. This is one of my favorite every day products.

disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation and purchased this lovely product with my own moula and am sharing it just because I love it and want to share the love, you may not like it (but I bet you will)

Happy Monday friends!

What was on your...

image source Serenity Sheep Linens

What was on your first lunch box?

Mine was Holly Hobbie, and I loved taking Chicken Noodle Soup in the thermos.

New: Key To My Heart Necklace

Who holds the key to your heart?

Product details:

The Key To My Heart is a 7/8th inch sterling silver disc that can be stamped with up to 16 letters {spaces and dots count as letters} The piece also includes a beautiful stamped sterling silver scroll key charm. Both charms hang on a 18 inch sterling silver bead ball chain.

You can find this piece in my shop Here.

La Dolce Vita

You Capture: The letter L

L-E-G-O

Will loves Lego but I think what he really loves is the Lego guys. Will often plays with his Lego while I work at the dining room table. He plays, I work and often we have some very interesting conversations. I really enjoy this time we spend together, I actually cherish it.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Photobucket

I {heart} Mason Jars!

I love the simplicity of mason jars and filling them with goodies. For Valentine's Day I filled a jar for each of us with our favorite candy and sadly mine is empty :( It is so hard to eat just a few peanut M & M's. I found these pint size cuties at Target.

So tell me what are you favorite type of M & M's peanut or plain? Or maybe one of their new varieties?

Joyce Fritz Jewelry

Lighthearted. Whimsical. Playful.
Jewelry by Joyce Fritz provides an
enormous variety of fun and delight.
One doesn't expect to wear insects
and other creepy-crawly things as adornment
but each piece created by this artist is more
delightful than the last.
Smiles erupt whenever her jewelry appears.
Both the wearer and the viewer share
the enchantment.

Her designs are based on the world of bugs -
some are patterned after real insects and
are incredibly true to form,
while others are designed in her imagination
and are wonderfully creative.

Every piece of her jewelry is handmade in polymer
with detailed embellishments of glitter,
metallic leaf, wire, and glass beads.
Color and pattern are pivotal for this artist's process.
The intricate designs are not painted on; they are
an integral part of the polymer
and are created with an ancient technique,
also used in glass, called "millefiori,"
an Italian word meaning "one thousand flowers."

Let's look at some of our favorites.

We are inspired by the color effects in this brooch.

We love the elaborate, detailed mosaic effects

in this piece.

It's easy to forget that it's a bug.

This little fellow might become

our newest best friend.

The color choices on this piece
make quite an impact.

This little bug is just so adorable.

Playful. Pretty. Pleasing.
We really can't stop admiring them.
What do you think?

Enjoy!

If you could...

If you could pick another time period to live in what would it be?

For me it would be the 1950's.

You Capture: Warmth

My Joan of Arctic boots keep my feet toasty warm!

Photobucket

New in the shop Double Stacked Key Chains

Double Stacked Key Chain

Due to many customer requests my popular double stacked necklace is now available as a key chain in two sizes! This makes the perfect gift for the person that doesn't wear jewelry but would like to showcase their family names.

The Double Stacked key chain consists of the following: Bottom disc is a hammered sterling silver 1 inch disc that will be personalized with custom names stamped around the outer edge (approx 16 letters,spaces and dots count!), the top disc is a sterling silver 3/4 inch disc that can also be customized with approx. 16 letters, spaces and dots count!) both charms are attached to a key ring. Have names or a special message stamped.

Double Stacked Key Chain Grande Style

The top disc is a 3/4 inch sterling silver disc that can be stamped with up to 16 uppercase block letters{spaces and dots count}, the bottom larger hammered sterling silver disc is 1 1/8th inch and can be stamped with up to 31 uppercase block letters {spaces and dots count}. Have it stamped as shown or personalized with a special phrase or names. Many customers also like this piece stamped with I love you to the moon and back for the bottom larger disc.

You can find my full collection of key chains HERE.

Exhibition - Mary Hallam Pearse and Julia V. Turner

We recently became aware of a jewelry exhibition
currently showing at Taboo Studio.
"Fresh Air” is running from
February 11 – March 25, 2011.

"Fresh Air" is a contemporary jewelry art show
featuring new work by eight artists (several of whom
we have previously seen on this blog).
JEWELRY ARTISTS in this exhibition include:
Brooke Battles, Joanna Gollberg, Christy Klug,
Brigid O’Hanrahan, Mary Hallam Pearse,
Ingrid Psuty, Claire Sanford, and Julia V. Turner.

Let's take a look at some examples of the one-of-a-kind
jewelry included in this exhibition.

We find the brooches made by
Mary Hallam Pearse
to be rather exciting and different.
She works with found images and prints
them on thin sheets of aluminum
then incorporates materials such as
sterling silver and diamonds to
create pieces that are unique.
This brooch called "Diamond Tears"
is a real attention getter.

And this piece is called "Three Words."

Truly eye catching.

Another artist we admire in this

exhibition is Julia V. Turner.

She is showing a series of

fascinating pendants that feature distressed wood.

This piece is called "Blue Migration Pendant."

In this piece the unspecified type of wood

has been burned and stained.

It’s enclosed by steel and meticulously

decorated with Japanese glass beads.

Here's another intriguing example of this artist's work.

This pendant is called "Orange Scatter"- and

here again we see wood that has been

burned and stained, and decorated

with Japanese glass beads.

We'd love to see these pieces in person.

If you get the opportunity to attend this exhibit

let us know your thoughts and impressions

of the jewelry on view.

Enjoy the exhibit!

Happy Valentine's Day & Heart Shaped Rice Krispies Treats

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Heart Shaped Rice Krispies Treats with M & M’s

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

10 ounce bag of marshmallows

¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)

1 ½ cup M & M’s

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated then add marshmallows.

3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool. Cut into 2-inch square or use a heart shaped cookie cutter. Best if served the same day.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:

In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

And the winner is....

Congratulations to Penny of Penny's Peeps. Penny said she would like to win the loved necklace! A special thank you to everyone who entered.

Special offer: Free Domestic Shipping until February 16th, please enter code FREESHIP14 offer not valid on prior purchases.

La Dolce Vita

Favorite sweet treat

My favorite sweet treat is Swedish Fish, especially the red ones!

What is your favorite sweet treat?

You Capture: Cold

The last time I visited this park it was around 90 degrees and I remember how miserable it felt. But today I would have killed for a 90 degree day, I would have welcomed it since the temp today with wind chills was minus 10 degrees. The ducks didn't seem to mind the cold temperatures but they were disappointed that I didn't have some food for them. Next time I will bring some food.

Just about now I am really done with winter how about you?

Photobucket

Currently Available at....

Either online from me or in Gananoque at R & B Expressions - main street right beside the Art of Tea, Scotts and the LCBO!
Silversmithing Workshops in the planning stages to be held at R & B in March - watch for the announcement!

Hammered Heart Ring

Heavy hammered sterling band with hammered copper heart fastened with a brass rivet for contrast!
Oops! I see a tuft of my polishing buff caught on the rivet! Amazing what shows when you look at an enlarged photo!

Email for Detail!

More Hearts!

What can I say; Valentines Day coming! The first is a sterling heart with hammered copper and brass rivet.

This second piece was so shiny I didn't get a good photo at all... it turned out even better than the first of which its a smaller version of. Brass, copper and sterling.

Monique Rancourt Jewelry

A dear friend of ours recently introduced

us to work created by Monique Rancourt.

We were instantly smitten with all of

her current pieces.

Then we read her thoughts regarding
one's need for adornment and were
left pondering ideas we hadn't
considered before.

On her website, Monique shares

these ideas about jewelry and its

impact upon us.

My passion for creating body adornment has left me with the question: Why do we adorn our bodies? . . . But there is another question: Why do I feel as though I NEED to decorate my body? Isn’t my natural beauty good enough? . . . I think about the pressure I put on myself, as well as the expectations put on me by others, that cause a need to wear a second skin, to stand out, to be someone extraordinary. Although beautiful, body adornment can be a burden. While exploring the history of the corset and body adornment of the Pacific Islands and Africa, I have created a metaphorical body of work . . . exploring the idea of how jewelry gives confidence and is perceived as beautiful when in fact it can be a burden; constricting, heavy and uncomfortable . . . This series is intended to be perceived as extravagantly beautiful while the wearer is in fact constricted and “burdened by her beauty.”

There are many pieces in her collection

that we love but it's her bracelets that

are especially thought provoking.
They dramatize the artist's point

of view succinctly and directly.

These "Magnetic Rubberized Bracelets" are
remarkable. The artist has taken chain and dipped
it in rubber. We find them to be reminiscent
of cords or ropes.

This "Forged Sterling Silver Bracelet" is striking.
The combination of patination and
granulation adds so much to the elaborate design.
The edges closest to the wearer seem so fierce
yet they're the part we like the best.

This piece is called "Etched Cuff."

It has an outer layer of etched copper that is

attached to sterling silver. We sense
a fierce armor-like quality in it
similar to chainmail.

This piece is called "Reticulation Bracelet."

In this bracelet, we see layers of sterling silver

elements that are attached to a solid base giving

an initial impression of armor, yet at the same

time we sense distinct imagery of

delicate petals softly caressing the wrist.

Interesting.

Lots of beauty to absorb.

Lots of new thoughts to ponder.

Remarkable. Striking.

Beautiful.

We really can't stop thinking about them.

How do you feel?

Special Treats for our furry outdoor friends...

Winters in Michigan are brutal so Will and I wanted to make some special treats for the birds and squirrels.

Supplies:

Bread or bagels
Peanut Butter (or lard works)
Birdseed
A cookie cutter of choice {we used Star Wars sandwich cutters}

These are so simple just cut out your bread with a cookie cutter, spread peanut butter and then sprinkle with bird seed. Instead of hanging these for the birds we just put them in the back yard as you can see the Squirrel is really enjoying his treat.