The blues. They can be dark, they can be light, they can be soulful music, they can be nature's sky and sea, they can be healing, they can bring comfort. Angelite is naturally formed blue Anhydrite, appropriately named for the Angels. These Angelite beads may be smooth and soft in appearance, but they are strong and loyal in action. This is a flapper length necklace that can also be wrapped and worn as a double strand when you feel like it. All the tones of the color blue are in this necklace. The smooth Angelite beads are in two sizes, and large round and bi-cone Swarovski crystals add interest and sparkle. The round clasp is Bali silver. Wear these every day and know that you are surrounded by love.
Even though I spent years wearing and decorating in black and white, I've always loved color. Mondrian, Lichtenstein, Van Gogh, Seurat and cartoons. So why not a piece of jewelry with no pattern and that couldn't be defined by one color? The Miss Unpredictable necklace is just that. You don't know what's next with this one. She's really nice though. She doesn't overreact, and you can trust her to be loyal and to always say the best thing in any given situation or conversation. She's exciting in a good way. She can be the bad girl, but you can count on her. Her necklace is composed of agate, jade, rhodochrosite, angellite, onyx, amber, squares, circles, oblongs, facets and smooths and more. The riot of shape and color is tamed by a one of a kind vintage button clasp in sterling silver. You may be able to tame this woman, but not for long. Sooner or later, even if she goes back to wearing black and white, her true colors will shine through.
A little pearl necklace is a must in any wardrobe. This white freshwater coin pearl necklace is set off by midnight blue Swarovski crystals and a double heart clasp that I'd been saving for something special for simply ages. So hear it is. Simple, elegant, pearls. Inspired by a one shouldered/one sleeved dressy dress I used to have back in the day that was the exact color of these crystals. This girl is no stranger to midnight. She's fun, she's sassy, she dances, she laughs....no matter how inappropriate she might be in certain eyes, her pearls are always appropriate.
These beads were part of my vintage stash, and so I had to do some sleuthing to identify them. It turns out that they are appropriately called Aventurine, which according to Wiki, is a form of quartz with the quality of aventurescence. If that's not the word of the day, I don't know what is. I made this necklace with one inspiration in mind. The white blouse. The white blouse never goes out of style. You see it at the beach as a cover-up, you see it at lunch with your friends, with dress pants or jeans, and you see it at cocktail parties with skirts. The Aventurine necklace is worn under that white blouse, just peaking out with its aventurescence....sparkling if it's supposed to be dressy, and being a serious shade of deep green if it's supposed to be serious. Just like the wearer, who likes aventure, but doesn't have to talk about it all the time. She lets her aventurine say what needs to be said to those who can hear what isn't said. A square bali sterling silver clasp and rondel crystals in a color that shimmers compliment the aventurescence.
I love that Blue Agate beads are actually almost anything but blue. In this strand, they are grey, peach, yellow, pink, white, and the palest blue. They have an ethereal quality that lends itself to any look or style or season. Like a Chameleon. This is a Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall necklace, and so will look great with any color, at any time. It definitely has more casual elements, but I suppose that with the right edgy styling, it could even find itself at a black tie event. Strapless shiny fabric close fitting dress with high heels, simple envelope bag, and hair up. Simple earrings, maybe a little bracelet or anklet, and your chameleon won't be able to hide. The unique Sterling Silver clasp is inspired by a vintage button, and there is something about its wavy pattern that satisfies the chameleon.
Leopard prints have been in style since the first caveman decided to wear a leopard skin. Then they came back in a few years ago, then they were everywhere, and now they are fading out. Except they're not. Just last month Elle said they were still hot. It might have been the month before, but still. ANYWAY, a couple of years ago, I made myself a necklace to go with leopard this or that and to wear on a black sweater. I made mine with a one of a kind clasp, and my friend Jeanne liked it so much that she wanted to buy one. Hers is a little bit different, but she also wanted the one of a kind clasp. This one is a little bit different still, and the clasp is simple. All different, all the same, just like a leopard. Tiger eye beads, white fresh water pearls, and black onyx, glass or swarovski beads make the pattern. My girl loves leopard and doesn't read Elle. Grrrrr.
I saw the faceted purple beads at the gem show last spring, and had to have them. The seller told me that they were purple jade. I love that jade can be purple. I pictured them in a long necklace, but not a plain one. A one of a kind clasp (sterling silver with vintage victorian marcasite button) as well as large Swarovski bicone crystals make it interesting. Wear it with anything. Since this is a deep rich purple, and the marcasite brings in a bit of black, wear it in place of black, for drama, for elegance, for to make you happy. Flapper length, but you don't have to pair it with bobbed hair and fringe. My girl wears this with everything, and she looks taller and thinner when she does. With purple suede boots and a purple suede handbag, she's uniquely herself.
You wear the LBD Necklace with your LBD. Here's what my sister in law Susan said to me the other day. "I know you know this, but I'm going to tell it to you anyway". Which is what I'm going to do now. Your LBD is your Little Black Dress, and your LBDD is your Little Black Drama Deco Necklace. 'Cause that's what you wear it with. This is a simply fabulous one of a kind necklace because there will never be another clasp like this custom made Sterling Silver vintage art deco button clasp. These are large faceted Black Onyx beads, and although this is a dressy necklace in a photo, the truth is that the women Bill Cunningham photographs for the NYT (I'm going to do it again New York Times) On The Street column would wear this necklace any time. And it would look smashing. It's big, it's bold and it says I'm here.
Last year one of my favorite necklaces was the Knossos Necklace inspired by the murals at Knossos on the island of Crete. It sold right away, and I didn't make another red necklace until now. The first Knossos necklace incorporated Hematite beads, but this time I wanted more contrast, so deep onyx colored black glass square beads separate the patterns of large and small red velvet crystal rondells. This is a necklace for all time, but it's especially pretty at Christmas, because the color of these red crystals is so rich. Wear it all season long on your morning walk, to your shopping trip and lunch in jeans, and then that night when you go out to a fabulous party. It's kicky and fun. As in "what are you going to wear to the party?" "I don't know....something kicky, something fun". (Previous question and answer credited to my mother circa 1966.) (When I was but a mere gleam in her fun and kicky eye). (Now we'll find out if anyone really reads this stuff).
Another foray into my vintage bead stash, and I came up with these beads that I am having a difficult time identifying. The shapes and colors remind me of being on the Acropolis when I was a kid and there was no scaffolding, and you could run inside the Temple, and scattered on the ground were ancient rocks. These beads are earthy in a beautiful way, and they look fabulous with the amber colored rondell crystals and a simple Sterling Silver hook clasp. Props to my good friend Lucine who gave me the greek column prop. The Grecian Temple Necklace Looks fabulous with all the off whites, oranges and denim. Not really a dressy piece, but it will look great with a blouse, so if that blouse happens to be worn with a skirt and heels, this will work. It's got a summery feel, but at the same time, there's something winter white about it. Can you tell that I've been enjoying Project Accessory this season?
I really wanted to incorporate some blue into my collection this year. I wanted to be inspired by the waters of Greece, but as I made this bracelet, I just wished that it were spring instead of fall, and these blue Angellite beads reminded me of the beautiful skies in the spring, sometimes filled with a cleansing rain, but more often made bright blue by the sun. The one of a kind vintage Sterling Silver Button Clasp is a flower, and all the best join the Angellite....freshwater pearls, Bali Silver, and Large Swarovski Crystals. In the middle of winter wear this with your white, off white or blue cashmere sweaters, and the rest of the year, wear it with the same color cotton sweaters and tee shirts. Looks great with jeans, but I also see it looking fab with a little black dress with an interesting neckline, no necklace and classic pearl earrings. (I will be happy to supply you with the perfect pair!) Flats or high heels, pumps or boots. This bracelet would also love to be with you on your resort vacation at dinner in a white linen sheath or flowy long white dress and strappy sandals.
Continuing deeper into my stash of vintage beads, I wasn't through with the amber. I wanted to combine the amber shadings with the deep red orange of carnelian, and came up with this design which I love love love. This might be my favorite necklace of the new collection. The center bead is a darker amber with Carnelian shades, and two distinctive Bali beads set it off. From there, the darker faceted Carnelian beads and amber oblongs play together nicely. At the end, there is a large square Bali Silver Clasp. This girl doesn't like to be pegged. She's not square, but you can't round her out too much either. I think she wears boots. For style not warmth. So not in the snow. Her boots are high heeled, ideally suede, and they go everywhere, just like this necklace.
I was invited to participate in the St. Francis School Sip 'n Shop event on Thursday December 1, 2011 6 - 9 PM. Although I've continued to make jewelry, I hadn't contemplated a collection until the Sip 'n Shop opportunity came along. I decided to really get into my stash of vintage beads this time, and the Amber Dream Necklace was my first design. It showcases a lovely oblong bead of layered Amber, surrounded by graduated round amber beads as well as graduated Bali Sterling Silver Beads, and one of my favorite toggle clasps, an easy to use flat circle to lend a modern touch to a decidedly traditional design. Amber looks warm and bright when worn on or with black, white, yellow, peach, tan, brown, and all the other rich fall colors.
In my new collection, I've continued to make jewelry that can either dress up or dress down my girl's look. To that end, this necklace looks great with jeans and a white tee shirt and jean jacket, as well as perfect for a dressy black suit with a peach colored sweater.
Her Heart On Her Sleeve: I live in a suburb north of Chicago, and I read, bead, make jewelry, sew, watch TV and movies, crochet, craft, decorate, go to house and garage sales, walk and go on beach walks, listen to music, take pictures, cook and bake, read, and write about all of it on herheartonhersleeve. I have a companion blog called Jewlery by Dianne Sophia at diannesophia.blogspot.com where I write exclusively about my jewelry.
Jewelry By Dianne Sophia: I have been collecting vintage jewelry since I was a girl growing up in Detroit, and have been designing and making jewelry for 15 years. I love to work with pearls and crystals, semi-precious stones, Sterling Silver and Gold, along with vintage beads and materials. I delight in combining shape, pattern and color in new ways. I'm inspired and influenced by my travels and experiences as a reader, writer, photographer and student of life. My blog herheartonhersleeve.blogspot.com chronicles my life in art and popular culture.
