firefly jewelry: September 2011

Are you a Good Witch, Bad Witch or maybe a little wicked?

The Bad Witch, Good Witch and wicked necklaces are so fun, not just for Halloween but all year long. All components are sterling silver and hand stamped, and come with a cute little sterling silver Witch charm flying on a broom. You can find them here.

Which one would you pick?

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Floral Delights in Polymer - Elvira Lopez del Prado Jewelry

Elvira Lopez del Prado's jewelry

is captivating.

She has several collections but it's her

Whispers in White collection

that really catches our eye.

Created using polymer and wire

these designs are dreamy and feminine.

The multitudinous swirls and loops

evolve into rings, necklaces and bracelets
that are punctuated with blossoms

that appear so realistic they

seem to have been plucked

directly from a garden.

This particular necklace called

is made with polymer, copper wire,

anodized aluminum wire and gold sheet.
The creamy flowers seem freshly

gathered.

Most of her pieces have strong textural contrasts

that keep one's eyes

moving throughout the piece.

This next piece also shows continuous movement

as the tendrils curl and dance throughout the ring.

The wire helps guide the eye around

the various and contrasting shapes.

Here's another view of this ring.

Each twist and turn adds life to her design.

This graceful neckpiece utilizes polymer,

copper wire, and silver sheet.

Malleable wire combined with floral elements

created from polymer combine to

become dainty and delicate pieces of jewelry

that look incredibly realistic.

These delicate and tender blooms are so lifelike

you almost think you're smelling their

sweet fragrance.

For more info you can visit her website.

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Yummy Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp!!!!

Apple Crisp Recipe

6 apples peeled and sliced
1 c. dark brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 stick butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. uncooked oatmeal (sometimes I leave it out)

Place apples in bottom of 9x13 inch pan. Blend sugar, butter, flour cinnamon and oatmeal together with a pastry blender. Streusel over apples. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Serve warm or cold but is especially good with vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!!!!!

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Do you like to decorate for...

I happen to love Halloween, I love all of the orange and black and especially the cute pumpkins. Some of my neighbors already have their decorations up, I usually wait until October 1st.

Do you decorate for Halloween and do you like Halloween?

P.S. Aren't these Witch Hat cookies adorable? I think I am going to make these for my sons class.

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Sweet Pea

Email for Detail!

Copper Pendant with Baroque Pearls
Sorry! Its been sold! Watch for the one in sterling silver!

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Upcycled Color - Tamra Gentry Jewelry

It looks like a gemstone called agate.

But it's not agate.

It looks like a metal-working technique

called mokume gane.

But it's not.

So, what exactly is it?

Old paint.

But not just any old paint. This is a hidden treasure that

has been salvaged from trash and re-purposed into

truly innovative jewelry by metalsmith Tamra Gentry.

Known as Fordite or Motor City Agate it is

made of layers and layers (and more layers) of

automotive enamel paint that used to be

manually spray-painted onto cars

at the auto factories during the 1960s and 1970s.

While the cars eventually left the painting

stations the excess overspray was left behind.

Layers of enamel paint built up over time on the

walls of all those painting stations and were

baked on repeatedly. When this manual painting

process was automated the creation

of Fordite ceased.

Salvaged Fordite is in limited supply.

And what was once destined for the landfill

upcycles beautifully into exquisite jewelry.

This artist uses a variety of fabrication

techniques to infuse stylish new life into

a manufacturing byproduct.

These pieces are definitely top drawer.

In a striking array of colors

these pieces are both stunningly stylish

and eco-friendly.

Pairing many of her pieces

with gemstones she cleverly provides

a stunning counterpoint to the

vintage auto enamel.

It's obvious that Tamra's technical skills

are superb and her designs are

innovative and very feminine.

One can consider them to be

artistic expressions set in silver.

We love to be enchanted and inspired by artists

who are using objects that had a previous life

and creating something with a different purpose.

In this particular case, we're impressed that

a substance that was truly

considered as wasted product for one industry

has become a valuable material for another.

For more information about these

colorful nuggets of beauty visit

Tamra's website.

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My Cup Runneth Over....

New in the shop my cup runneth over necklace. I have more than enough for my needs and my cup runneth over! All components are sterling silver and the piece is adorned with a beautiful freshwater pearl. You can find it HERE.

Does your cup runneth over?

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FEED Trick-or-Treat Bag

I love when my purchase benefits a good cause. The FEED Trick-or Treat bag is a limited-edition bag just perfect for gobbling up some yummy treats this Halloween but it also provides one child in the developing world with a years supply of micronutrient powders. You can find the bag at a few online stores but Garnet Hill has it for $12.95 with Free Shipping. Get it HERE.

I ordered one today and plan on using it as a tote the entire month of October.

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Nestle Winner announced!

The winner of the Nestle giveaway is Courtney @ vanitizebaby@yahoo.com.

A special thank you so everyone who entered!

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Industrial Jewelry by Hila Rawet Karni

Recently, we were asked a rather

thought-provoking question,

"so what happens when industrial materials

meet contemporary jewelry design?"

Apparently the answer is, "you get inspired

jewelry created by Hila Rawet Karni. "

Blending together a passion for both

industrial design and contemporary jewelry,

Hila expresses a distinct point of view

by marrying a variety of

industrial materials like plastic components

and metal springs to textiles, leather and pearls.

By transferring the skills and knowledge she

learned while studying industrial design

to the traditional world of jewelry she creates a

connection between mundane materials

and a graceful aesthetic.

It's jewelry that suggests a feminine style

with an urban edge.

There are many pieces in her collections

that we simply adore. Here are a few

of our favorites.

Several of her necklaces are made with

silver-plated stainless steel springs and

hand-woven leather laces.

It's exciting to see the delicate potential in

industrial raw materials and to have them

be transformed into objects of beauty.

These earrings feature stainless steel springs,

Swarovski pearls and sterling silver.

She makes it easy to develop an appreciation

for jewelry that is not made out of

gold and silver but is just as

beautiful and sumptuous.

These bracelets are made with

stainless steel springs and silicone connectors.

This artist is willing to experiment with industrial

materials to create items that can be appreciated

as adornment. We're inspired by her ability

to see beyond the common uses

of items and to expose their

hidden potential as jewelry.

Bravo!

Additional information and images can be

seen by visiting her website.

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Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm

We visited Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm and had some yummy treats, this year they had pumpkin donuts with cream cheese frosting and they were simply deliecious. I love this time of year because it means the Cider Mills are open!

Have you been to the Cider Mill yet?

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Marne Ryan Jewelry

Once Upon A Time . . .

there was a daily television program called

the Carol Duvall Show.

It was a how-to program that provided many

expert demonstrations of crafting

projects all of them done

with a personal touch.

For me the best part of the show's format

was the inclusion of an interview segment

talking with various craftspeople.

The interviewer and camera crew

traveled to someone's studio and

the footage of the craftsperson

at work in their studio

was always interesting,

educational and inspiring.

And utterly priceless.

One of my favorite episodes featured

Marne Ryan at work in her metalsmithing studio.

She provided a vivid demonstration

of her torch techniques to fuse gold to silver.

What really made a lasting impression

on me that day,

and what I still carry forward with me,

is her devotion for her craft.

Even though she's been doing this work

for well over 30 years her passion

still burns as brightly as her torch.

Her specialty is fusing high-carat gold onto

textured sheets of sterling silver.

These sheets of mixed metals

are then transformed

into one-of-a-kind

jewelry and sculptural vessels.

Here's an example of one of

her awesome cuffs.

She often includes rare and unusual gemstones.

The wide variety of choices (especially her rings!!)

is amazing.

Her work shows simultaneous delicacy and

deliberateness that's been translated into metal.

It's an unbeatable combination.

She creates a smorgasbord of

cutting edge designs.

Variations on a theme just continue to evolve into ever more strikingly
beautiful pieces of art to wear jewelry.

The bottom line is that

no two pieces could ever be identical

and the never-ending variations in her work

provide an incredible array of choices.

There is no doubt that her passion

and her torch will always be sparked

by her never-ending inspiration.

More of her exquisite jewelry can be

seen at Marne Ryan's website.

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Art & Soul Thanksgiving Weekend Art Show and Sale

http://www.tiarts.org/tour_al/index.php

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I am a Soccer Mom....

Soccer season is in full swing, we had our first game yesterday! The league all got new uniforms and numbers so the kids were especially excited about that. And now since Will said he is sticking with Soccer I guess I am now a Soccer Mom, minus the mini van! Are you a Soccer Mom, Hockey Mom, Football Mom?????

I thought the Soccer Mom necklace would be a fun necklace to add to my shop, the charm can be customized with the players number and can have other things stamped too, such as Hockey Mom, Dance Mom, Swim Mom. You can find the Soccer Mom necklace HERE.

Happy Monday friends.... I am missing my little guy so much today!

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911 Ten Years Later

It has been 10 years and we will never forget the day that changed everything. As the years pass we can never forget. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who's lives have been everchanged by this tragic event. Take a moment today to remember those that lost loved ones on 9.11.2001.

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Exhibition - Wendy McAllister Jewelry

There's something about the enamel jewelry

created by Wendy McAllister that

makes me smile every time I see it.

She has the ability to translate her ideas into

delightfully delicate and intricate compositions.

But there's more to her work than that.

Her enamel work expresses an optimistic

point of view - there's so much

color and motion in her jewelry -

it positively dances with joyful exuberance!

These pieces are so reminiscent of the pinwheels

we played with as children.

Her sculptural enamel brooches and pendants

showcase her avid interest in the colors and formations

of the natural world around us. She explains

on her website,

"My jewelry refers to the botanical world with its riotous clash of cobalt, chartreuse, and crimson. I am drawn to the lush blossoms . . . All that sumptuous, unabashed beauty is purposeful, and it sweeps me away . . . ."

Many of her pieces are geometrical in design

yet exude an organic feeling and
her botanical inspiration can

be seen in each piece.

And at times her bright enamels create a

kaleidoscopic effect.

This artist's work will be included in an exhibit at the

Mobilia Gallery in Cambridge, Massachusetts

from September 13 until November 12.

This exhibit is called,

"Objects of Status, Power and Adornment:

The Studio Jewelry Movement 1950 - 2011"

and features the work of 100 international

artists working in diverse materials

and techniques, and explores the history of

studio jewelry over

the course of more than 60 years.

Some of the artists represented at this

exhibit include:

Marianne Anderson, Donna Barry, Donna Brennan, Sharon Church, Lisa Cinelli, Petra Class, Margot di Cono, Betty Cooke, Marilyn Cooperman, Valerie Jo Coulson, Susan Cross, Jenny Deans, Cristina Dias, Cindy Eid, Arline Fisch, Christine S. Forni, Emily Garfield, Lydia Gerbig-Fast, Joanna Gollberg, Elizabeth Goluch, Anna Gordon, Laurie Hall, Mary Lee Hu, Reiko Ishiyama, Janis Kerman, Daphne Krinos, Rena Koopman, Linda MacNeil, Wendy Wallin Malinow, Elizabeth McDevitt, Leah Meleski, Nancy Michel, Joan Parcher, Jeanie Pratt, Suzan Rezac, Kamilla Ruberg, Mary Ann Scherr, Joyce Scott, Helen Shirk, Marilyn da Silva, Christina Smith, Brooke M. Swanson, Beverly Tadeu, Manya Tessler, Rachelle Thiewes, Linda Threadgill, Cynthia Toops, Jennifer Trask, Donna Veverka, Mallory Weston, Heather White, Karin Worden

You can find more information about this exhibition

at the Mobilia Gallery website.

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You Capture: Back to School

Today was the first day of Kindergarten for Will. It is so bittersweet as I am sad to have him gone all day but so excited for him to learn new things. He is such a sweet, inquisitive little boy and I hope he always stays that way.

When he came out of class I asked him how he liked it and he said he loved it! He loves his new teacher, likes that he has a desk of his own and a special hook with his name on it for his back pack.... it is the little things isn't it? I hope he continues to enjoy it!

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THOUSAND ISLANDS ARTS SILENT AUCTION

“A R T AND SOUL”

THOUSAND ISLANDS ARTS

SILENT AUCTION AT

“the socialist pig”

BID ON SILENT AUCTION ART DONATED BY 11 TIA PARTICIPATING ARTISTS DURING SEPTEMBER AND UP TO THANKSGIVING WEEKEND. PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE GANANOQUE FOOD BANK AND THE GANANOQUE HUMANE SOCIETY

BIDS ANNOUNCED THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

TIA ARTISTS SHOW AND SALE

STEEL

21 KING STREET EAST, GANANOQUE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 6 PM TO 9 PM

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 10 AM TO 5 PM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 12 NOON TO 5 PM

Email for Detail!

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Nestle Back To School Giveaway

I can hardly believe that summer is wrapping up and school is starting {or already has for some}. What better way to kick off a new school year than a giveaway from Nestle! This giveaway is packed with so many goodies and is sure to please one lucky winner.

One lucky winner will win the following:

A $25 Mastercard rewards card, $20 worth of school supplies, a mix of free coupons from Stouffer's, Juicy Juice, Toll House Morsel and Refriderated Cookie Dough, Carnation Breakfast Essentials and Ovaltine product from Wonka, Baby Ruth, Crunch and Butterfinger; a straw dispenser and coupon booklet.

To enter:

Leave comment and tell me if you are excited or sad about school going back.

Extra entries: {leave a separate comment for each entry}

Follow my blog 1 extra entry

Tweet about this giveaway 1 extra entry

Facebook about this giveaway 1 extra entry

Additionally there is a larger giveaway at nestle family.com which is the Happy New School Sweepstakes, Be sure to enter there also head HERE. {this is a separate contest}

Contest will run until September 16th 2011. Please ensure that you leave a valid email address if your blog doesn't link back to you. Once winner is selected you will have 48 hours to respond.

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Exhibition - "Think Twice - New Latin American Jewelry"

There is a huge exhibit currently on view

at Bellevue Art Museum in

Bellevue, Washington called,

"Think Twice: New Latin American Jewelry."

Open until October 16th, this exhibit

brings together more than 130 pieces by

over 90 artists from 25 countries.

Think Twice is the largest collection of

contemporary Latin American jewelry to

be seen in the United States.

The Bellevue Art Museum will be the

only location on the west coast to

showcase this extensive exhibition.

A few of the jewelry artists included in this exhibit are:

Mirla Fernandes, Kehisha Castello, Helena Biermann, Tota Reciclados, Martacarmela Sotelo, Kika Alvernaga, Silvina Romero, Elisa Gulminelli, Martha Camargo, Maria Paula Amezcua, Magali Anidjar, Gabriela Horvat, Jimena Rios, Thelma Aviani, Alcides Fortes, Samantha Fung, Marie Pendaries, Renata Porto, Martha Hryc, Teresa Margolles, Paula Isola, Beate Eismann, Aurelie Dellasanta, Giselle Morales, Fiorenza Coredro, Francisca Kweitel, Alina López, Ana Paula Campos, Mariana Shuck, Stella Bierrenbach, Linda Sánchez, Ana Videla, Alejandra Agusti, Lucia Abdenur, Claudia Cucchi, Chequita Nahar, Ariel Kuipfer, Ximena Briceno, Julieta Odio, Nuria Carulla, Henna Lee, Alejandra Hernández Montoya, Laura de Alba, Mariana Acosta, Valentina Rosenthal, Laura Alvarado, Carolina Martínez Linares, Leda Daverio, Alejandra Solar, Carolina Hornauer, Raquel Paiewonsky, Lorena Lazard, Maria Constanza Ochoa, Ursula Guttmann, and Carolina Gimeno.

Many of these artists draw on the rich and diverse

cultural history of Latin America to create works

that are filled with historical and political significance.

Most are unusual. All are intriguing.

The collection as a whole reflects

a dynamic mix of cultures, styles,

techniques and materials.

This exhibit will end October 16th.

You can see more information and photos

by visiting the museum's website.

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