:-)

Breakfast with Hyenas

2010-12-18T08:17:00.008-05:00

Breakfast with Hyenas

Mornings in my house are a bit like an African segment on the discovery channel. You might recognize this particular scene: Lions peacefully devouring their kill under an acacia tree.

And in the periphery, the scavangers the jackals, they hyenas and the vultures slowly move in to harass the lions.

These opportunists are skilled in the fine art of pestering to the point of the lion being ticked off enough to leave, but not mad enough to consider the scavengers part of its meal.

And here a parallel scene, set in a 1920’s Sears Roebuk house on the north short of Long Island:

My daughter breakfasts alone on schooldays, she’s so good; toasting her English muffin to perfection before she drenches it in butter and honey and carries it gingerly to the table - ready to devour her loot.

As she sinks in at the table Mojo, cat with cattitude en masse swiftly slinks up on the tallest part of the sofa behind the table, Elfin, frenchie who can jump 6x her own height while snatching objects of interest positions herself under the table and lastly Buck, the lanky lab appears. Buck is an undercover agent who while pretending to be really really stupid swiftly applies third degree of hypnosis with his beautiful deep wells of eyes.

As soon as I am out of sight a Mayhem break loose:

Here’s the soundtrack, a mere 15 seconds long - pay attention:

Isabella : “NO, Buck NOOOOOO! STOP BEGGING!!” Isabella: “ELFIN!!!! STOP JUMPING!”

Isabella: MOJO!! Off the Table”

Isabella: “MAMA!!!!!!”

And here the gory details, reader’s discretion advised.

As Isabella raises the muffin to her mouth, Buck plops down an inch from the muffin-less side of her chair and plants a big paw on her lap as he gazes into her eyes. As she turns to push his paw off her lap with her muffin-less hand, Elfin jumps towards her other hand, and snatches the muffin.

In the midst of this mayhem, Mojo jumps down to bat the other half of the muffin off the table, and they all take off to devour their scavenged treat.

Isabella sighs and reaches for the muffin I hand her as she heads out the door to catch the school-bus.

Interesting, this never happens when she has cereal for breakfast; my scavengers are picky, just as I imagine hyenas, jackals and vultures would not bother if zucchini replaced the la carte zebra.

Conflict free Carbonado black diamond fine silver ring

2010-04-08T12:12:00.006-04:00

Yay, set my first Carbonado! Exquisite ones. Let me tell you, nature did not check out what kind of settings wold be available trillions of years later before accepting these diamonds from outer space:D I selected a 1.2 ct stone to begin with.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44371074

Roll of drums......

Carbonados - Diamonds from the Sky

2010-03-31T22:18:00.015-04:00

So excited, checking the mailbox every day for my diamonds from the sky.... well, from the sky via my diamond-guy:)

So what are they and why are they so exciting, well Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonado and Science Daily http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0612-mystery_diamonds.htm helped me to put the puzzle together:

Carbonados, often called black diamonds, a black carbon formation that resemble diamonds, have been show to have a chemical spectrum that indicates they originated before the formation of the Earth; their high hydrogen content suggests they are from a star-like environment. Since this carbon is only found in two locations on our planet, the Central African republic and in Brazil they may have arrived via an asteroid!!!!!

The term "carbonado" was coined by Portuguese in Brazil in the mid 18th century because it resembles porous charcoal. Carbonado diamonds are so tough that it took a 20-ton hydraulic press to break one. This means it is almost impossible to work carbonado into jewelry settings, since they are too hard to be polished or cut -- except with another carbonado. They get their hardness from their structure. While conventional diamonds are cut from a single crystal that breaks easily along a natural line, carbonados are made of millions of small crystals stuck together. Carbonados were first used to polish Brazilian hardwood before transporting it to Europe. In 1905 it was used to drill the rocks for the Panama Canal.

The origin of carbonado is controversial. Some proposed hypotheses are as follows:
1. Direct conversion of organic carbon under high-pressure conditions in the Earth's interior, the most common hypothesis for diamond formation
2. Shock metamorphism induced by meteoritic impact at the Earth's surface
3. Radiation-induced diamond formation by spontaneous fission of uranium and thorium
4. An origin in interstellar space.

None of these hypotheses for carbonado formation was generally accepted in the scientific literature by 2008.

Dr. Stephen Haggerty, a geoscientist from Florida International University, in the attached video, proposes that their material source was a supernova which occurred at least 3.8 billion years ago. After coalescing and drifting through outer space for about one and a half billion years, a large mass fell to earth as a meteor approximately 2.3 billion years ago, possibly fragmenting during entry into the earth's atmosphere, and impacting in a region which would much later split into Brazil and the Central African Republic, the only two known locations of carbonado deposits. Wow!
SO, to sum it up, Black Diamond also known as Carbonado is one of the most rare and most expensive diamonds that are existing on earth. Based from the experts black diamond was occur in irregular or rounded fragments, rarely distinctly crystallized, with a texture varying from compact to porous. Its natural colour is black or dark grey, and it is more porous than other diamonds. Can't wait to make my (the???) first eco-friendly carbonado ring!!! And they are conflict free, Brazil is part of the UN mandated Kimberly system of warranties

Meanwhile, back at the farm, it has been raining and raining and raining and I have been busy making rings, like this one http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43567963 , and this one http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43050668

And awesome Natural Awakenings Magazine, gave me a shout wahoo! http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1n9ks/April2010/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpages%2Fesmeraldadesigns%2F153351130475

RInging in the new year-showschedule 2010 sort of final:)

2010-03-28T10:41:00.011-04:00

Finally most shows confirmed my presence or not-yay. This is an iteresting game, barely able to digest the holiday foods you have to hurry, hurry, hurry to make the mid January deadline for spring/summer/fall shows...writing checks in $$$ for application fees from funds you need for the yearly March sales tax or ...:::sigh:: that vacation you foolishly envisioned when your back account had more than three digits before the full-stop.

Hence, and then the waiting game begins, especially for the hard core juried ones...

This year I got accepted to a really neat show upstate, the St Lawrence Rustic River art show http://www.stlawrenceriverrusticshow.com/ and waitlisted for ArtRider http://www.artrider.com/lyndf2010.html and Rose Squared http://www.rosesquared.com/
with backup show incase waitlist just stands for -we have not had time to say no to you, yet- and it does not want this time around...and in all there is 26 shows. Sugarloof festivals and Renegade Brooklyn shows decided I should not leave my quarantine yet, or something :b"...meanwhile, back at the ranch, Tonto disguised as a teabag is up to his neck in hot water." and I am making rings shows or no shows, just because I love to.

Stony Brook

2009-11-14T06:59:00.004-05:00

Hiya!!!
As the leaves are falling and winds of indoorsness calling for brisk walks followed by high carbohydrate indulgences our show schedule is stepping up for the Holidays.

Somehow I managed to accept invitations from five back to back shows, all in the west part of Suffolk Country. Intense, I'd say:) After this I will take four weeks off to focus on etching metals and making leather cuffs and on-line sales and start the new season in sunny Pasadena. So there will be plenty of opportunity to see my designs:) every show will feature new additions. Our show dogs Bella and Elle decided sadly that the snacks on the other side of the rainbow bridge were worth exploring and sent us mischevious puppy rescues instead. You'll get to meet them when we start the outdoor show season, but hhere is an image to wow how much trouble they are.

This weekend we will be at Stony Brook University. I don't know about you, but I feel my IQ stepping up every time I visit this famous campus. By immersion that is:)

Stony Brook is home to brilliant faculty, honored by Nobel Prizes in Economics, Physics and Medicine, The Pulitzer Prize and many other awards. Amongst the exciting discoveries at/by Stony Brook faculty are::

* Identification and cataloging of 328 distant galaxies
* Discovery of the link between smoking and emphysema
* Development of the drug ReoPro®, recommended for all cardiac angioplasties
* Invention of an ultrasound method to speed up healing of bone fractures
* Creation of the smallest electronic switch, using just one electron
* Discovery of the cause of Lyme disease
* Technologies for 3-D computer visualization
* Discovery of the golden bamboo lemur, Hapalemur aureus
* Discovery of the most primitive fossil bird, linking birds to dinosaurs
* Construction of the first nuclear magnetic resonance image of a living organism

Directios to this show:
LI Expressway east to exit 62 north, Nichols Rd. (route 97). Take Nichols Rd. north for 9 miles. Pass the main entrance on left. At the next light turn left into the north entrance. At the top of the hill turn right. Go past the football stadium and make the first left onto Gym Rd. Take Gym Rd. to the Sports Complex parking lot.

Print out the coupon (link to .pdf on http://www.preferredpromotions.com/index.html for 20% (1$) off entrance fee

I will bring many new designs along: Basha Beads, Filigree Brasswork inlays in conch shell to mention a few...

Ethno BOHO rockin' designers

2009-08-04T09:42:00.009-04:00

So the show was a lot of fun with awesome designers and customers. made many new friends and will return in January of 2010...so in love with the art and designs of Suzi Click http://www.suziclick.com/
beautiful designs and material, ethno-boho R&R vibe, exquisite materials, one awesome designer, delighted to own one of her designs. Visit Atelier Designers in NYC Sept 20-22 www.atelierdesigners.com

Back home Bob had taken great care of 'the farm' - still spent all Monday convincing the I wont leave again for a while. When the cat is gone....Elfin officially claimed my spot in the sofa, Jojo claimed my desk and Bella the doorway.
Had a lot of fun introducing Eowyn, a cool Tolkien inspired ring I just designed, to the cool Californians visiting my booth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl2_o8SVVIs
...for she was not only a brave and fearless maiden, but a true warrior..... Says Tolkien.

Beauty and Courage in one form. Just like Eowyn. Making a custom one in silver for an awesome artist and friend that really has wings, Karin Alisa Houben of Gypsyeyes jewelry http://www.karinalisahouben.com
Truly awesome art...check it out!

Frenched

2009-07-25T22:26:00.011-04:00

Its amazing how from one day to another an animal decides to come stay with us. Happened with Mojo and Jojo our cats, with Bella our golden and now with Elfin, a French Bulldog.

Her owner could no longer care for her and in a whirlwind with about a millisecond to search for information about this adorable breed and to secure our house for puppyhood we said :::YES:::

And nothing will ever be the same:)

Wikipedia tells that English Laceworkers in the mid 1800's brought miniature bulldogs when they sought work in France, their loyality and talent as a ratter made them very poular.

Photos dating to around this time show the Russian royal family posing alongside their French bulldogs, and they imported several of the little dogs from France. Other famous fanciers included Toulouse-Lautrec, the author Colette and King Edward VII. A French bulldog, insured for the, at that time, astronomical sum of $750, was on board the ill-fated Titanic.

The breed is brachycephalic, squshed in nose, and can neither regulate heat nor swim very well. Bulldogs and Terriers alike, there is no surprise the Frenchie has a strong will of its own and that the energy leels ranges from hyperactive to docile.

Elfin got her name from her elfin features and we think she is quite noble, but short, so hence her full name, Lady Elfin the Short. We have a great vet, Dr. Vic of Roslyn animal hospital, and he made sure that she is up to date on her shots, heart worm medicated and as of now, an it as she got spayed. Interesting, as fate would have it on July 14, yeah, quatorze Juliet, the French National day. If you live on the northwest part of long Island and need an amazing vet, Dr. Vic's contact info is here.

Stithces removed and she has had a month getting used to us, we have now started training her in addition to housebreaking her...yah, that bladder is small..and that head is very thick.

I was using first another Frenchie as my avatar on Etsy, and have just retired Elfin's avatar as I am selling metal artisan designs, not dogs (Godforbid).

Takes special measurements, softest collar or harness for a smaller breed strong as an ox! Agreat site for leashes and collars for all breeds, Allhoundsapparel
The ones we got are padded martingale collars that are as made for walkling both Bella our golden and Elfin. Handmade in California and shiped faster than lightning and very well priced.

We'll I'll keep you updated on our little pup growing up. For now I try to keep my boots vintaged the way they were supposed to be.

ruby baby

2009-07-16T19:41:00.003-04:00

Come on, baby, light my fire,
Try to set the night on fire

Yeah.

Inspired by the ring of Fire worn by Gandalf this ring bears a ruby. I choose a beautiful rough ruby, red with a hint of blue, a coloration known as pigeon blood, the mostly valued rubies. Found only in Burmese rubies from Myanmar.

The ruby is considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe. A symbol of friendship and love, the ruby is also the symbol of vitality and royalty.

Because of acts of great cruelty committed by the Burmese junta, human right advocates succeeded to influence US legislation to implement severe import restrictions of Burmese rubies. Only rough rubies can enter the US, cutting off a major source of income for the junta, unlike the more affordable rough ruby stone, polished pigeon blood colored rubies command prices of up to $20,000/carat. Despite legislation, illegal trade of polished Burmese rubies into China and Thailand netted almost US $300, 000 for the junta in 2007 (http://www.fleetstreetinvest.co.uk/commodities/precious-stones/blood-rubies-00047.html).

I added an emerald, the stone of the goddess Venus, for faith and hope.

Dance, baby!

2009-02-03T10:28:00.017-05:00

Esmeralda Designs are sooo honored to support Mariana Bekerman Dance Company (MBDC) yearly fundraiser for their upcoming Black and White production. Come learn about an amazing dance company and see new designs. I will donate part of the proceeds from sales at this event to MBDC.

I love to dance, and studied figure skating and jazz untill I started college. I dance when I create, music always in my ears. I have been fortunate to meet some amazing dancers with stron and raw charisma in my life - Mariana is one of them! So when I met Mariana at a show last summer I was thirlled she said she would contact me later for an event. And she did!

This is very cool dance company, read here what Mariana says " in my work, I explore personal journeys through dance, sharing my observations, concerns and fears, superstitions, and beliefs. Creating process driven dance that is accessible to all audiences, I hope to make performers and viewers aware that we are all connected, regardless if our world is comprised of chaos, complexity and disorder. I attempt to eliminate prejudice by presenting a multi-cultural company comprised of dancers and collaborators from the United States and the rest of the world. MBDC strives to avoid the gloom, doom, and angst often associated with modern dance. In a New York Times review in January 2005 Jennifer Dunning wrote, “Mariana Bekerman’s approach to modern dance tends to be enjoyably blithe and sometimes witty. She also has visual imagination and a firm sense of craft.”

Making bronze this week:-)

The show schedule is up

2009-01-28T23:41:00.009-05:00

Phew, booking shows is so much fun and so much work. Luckily I believe I work with the most wonderful promoters and show directors in the World; Gerd of Crafts on Columbus in NYC, Frank of South Fork Craftmens' Guild in Water Mill, Bobbie of The Art League of Long Island, Barbara of ACAC and Don and Rache of Preferred Promotions. So most of it, safe for a few shows in December and some stragglers ths should pretty much be it. I will link the sowe on my blog and website as showtime gets closer...for now I am happy making rings and things in bronze and silver for the most amazing customers...tomorrow is bronze-day:-) Made dragonflies and spooning heart to commemorate beauty and grace in my life.

Hey Jo (Malone)!

2009-01-25T20:23:00.008-05:00

Back from Pasadena where I met awesome artists and made great friends! Liberty Worth of same name Etsyshopand blog libby dibby stuff makes these really really awesome reversible skirts for women and fun spinnyskirts for the little ones (see images), check'em out:-) . She is, as I became a fan of Barbara de Jounge Designs, and we both left the show owning awesome pieces from this designer that I feel captures clean lines, fibres and avant garde japanese inspired designs in the US at its very best today. To my great delight Liberty ordered a ring from me, I am soo honored!!

Another great designer and amazing woman is Julia Bristow she has an etsyshop, too and made me feel so much welcome at the Pasadena Bea d and Design Show and she designs the most beautiful gemstone pieces that you will ever find. An amazing sense of colors, harmony and a sense of the metaphysical properties of the stones that I have not seen in anyone else's designs. Check out Julia's designs, too! I will forever cherish that Julia choose to purchase a ring from me. Awesome, oh joy!!

Finally back home and finished making and sending the orders from Etsy and the show I got a lovely weekend! My amazingly beautiful and talented writer and documentaary filmmaker Rebecca took me and our families for a walk in the snowstorm yesterday followed by yummy spiced wine and grandmother's pizza and today my amazingly beautiful and classy friend Valarie met me at astore I dreamed on visiting for almost a year now, the JO Malone Store on Madison Avenue in NYC. Eversince Valarie gave me a teeny beautiful bottle of Jo Malone's White Jasmine and Mint Cologne, I have been hooked...listen to how Jo Malone describes this scent "This enchanting essence, inspired by a sun-drenched morning in an English country garden, perfectly captures the scent of jasmine, lily, orange flower and rose on the morning breeze. An unexpected twist of soft and sensual wild mint stimulates the senses and teases the palette in this elegant and eccentric fragrance." Oh yum!

The store was ::::AMAZING::::, Simeon Kline that mannered the store this Sunday along with his assistant Betsy was so knowledgable and helpful and made me and Valarie feel like Royalty, the yummiest creams, scrumptious fragrances that can be layered for exponentientally many fragrance experiences and luxury samples along with purchase made this journey to Jo Malone very memorabel. The store is an absolute, a Mecca of tranquility and class in a very busy world. Thank you so much Simeon!! I hope we meet again, soon:-)

'ts been very, very coold in the studio and out of the very coldes day came the most organic ring I ever made-morphing
This ring is like no other... faint imprints of letters and flowers from times way back tumult on the front and the tapered back has an accordion shape... being infatuated with the matrix at times came to think of morpheus...morphing what do you think?

2009-01-13T23:33:00.005-05:00

Oooh so a last minute reminder..I will be at the Pasadena bead and design show Jan 14-18, please stop by my booth C-198 and please visit awesome designer Julia Bristow http://juliabristowjewelry.blogspot.com/ at the show http://www.pasadenabeadanddesignshow.com/ come see lots of cool new designs:-)

'Tis the Season

2008-12-19T22:02:00.013-05:00

Almost there!!! Holiday spirit entering the system...putting light in the Christmas palm tree...yes you read right, we decorate a palm tree (one of our house plants) every Christmas with teeny lights and lith ornaments, and then it gets to drink a little extra water to compensate.

Seriously, there were no Christmas threes whre Jesus was born, harvesting and throwing out threes is wasteful, its an expense, and those dang needles, we dont own a vaccuum cleaner, and there is some sort of ethereal war going on between Christmas trees and house plants..so threre you go, these are the reasonings that went on before this became a tradition thanks to the height before the branches begin, tons of presents fit in under the tree.

The pets are enjoying the snow..got extra walk to school-pickup, Prancer and Magnet-Nose made sure they earned their names and went to sleep early...the cats must be listening to house foundation rodent radio with their little faces pressed to the carpet listening and listening.

...tomorrow is a snow...I mean show in Selden..lets see how the last show for the season goes..come and see us-esmeraldadesigns have 20% in shovel-discount tomorrow and Sunday:-)

Showtime!

2008-12-16T23:20:00.012-05:00

'Ti's the season...gathered some images from Esmeralda Designs shows throughout the year to show what it is like showtime in NY...lovely, rainy, windy, cold, hot ...in all an amazing experience that our little booth perfect in California definitely was not prepared for.. The latest one in the Box Gallery of The Creative Art Studio where we were surrounded by beautiful arts, talented artists and yummy music and food and soon by friends, too. Coming home that night I found to my joy that I am invited to the Pasadena Bead and Design Show this January ..thank you so much Anna Johansen...so these past days I was scrambling to get signed up amidst making commissioned pieces and gifts before Christmas and the Holy-daze.What I thought was a lazy sleepy January is no more...I will be busy preparing for the most prestigious show so far in the History of Esmeralda Designs...The Wings ring was created amidst all this...

.

Esmeralda Designs Featured Interview on World Artisans Gems

2008-12-08T10:45:00.009-05:00

Oh Joy!!!! Can you believe this one, I am so honored and grateful. Please check out the interview featured today on World Artisan Gems website, http://worldartisangems.com/2008/12/08/christina-bjenning-esmeralda-designs/

This is what this amazing website does: promotes emerging and talented jewelry designers, and check out the other taeted artisan that are being featured every month. Wow!!!!!
Lovely Show for The Art League of Long Island in East Northport see top images...now off to clean my house and then off to the studio..
More later:D

Winter coat on

2008-10-26T22:24:00.014-04:00

So....the studio is getting ready for winter-times; insulation is being put in the windows and on the door to compensate for almost 100 years of standing in a slope-cracks...The light is so beautiful and as you can tell, Bob is happy saving on heating of the studio later this year. The dogs are schnoozing all day while I work and hopefully help generate a little heat, too.

As you can see, my tables are filling up with new pieces, getting ready for shows in November and December. I am so happy about my I love tea pendant and my lovely dagger earrings

Metal broom handles and lightning: less cackling, more crackling

2008-10-16T09:46:00.005-04:00

Fall is here!!! Lovely light & leaves, my studio is still warm enough to work in without heating (most days:-) and the dogs love the yummy scents that seem to ticle their noses every inch on our morning promenade it seems. So all the leaves are starting to cover our grounds and the need for a new broom arose. So my amazing husband offered to pick up a couple of good old brooms at Home Depot-the wood handle ones, you know, to make the leaves pile in a more organized and bag-friendly way. Lo and behold. There ARE no wooden handle brooms to be had anymore. Oh, the liabilities involved. Can you just imagine a witch flying off with a cat on her way to a brew or a party somewhere and....ZAPPP!! lightning strikes and the handle being superconductive...Oh horror. As hubby put it...less cackling more crackling..

Have been making peace signs and angel wings...sign of the economy and upcoming election...

Of Dragonflies and Hearts of Bronze

2008-10-06T09:48:00.010-04:00

This weekends shows were diametrically different. The Bridgehampton show amazing weather and costumers strolling by on the beautiful grounds of the Presbyterian Church. The Pastor, Reverend M.Eileen Rhodes paid a visit to my booth and I am delighted to know that this very cool Reverend is letting one of my bracelets have a Divine time:D

A beautiful Dragonfly landed on the road, looked shaggy something tried to eat him:-( and decided to hang out in my booth for the rest of the day. He hiked to Sea Cliff with us at night and enjoyed the whole next day sitting in the booth, with water and sugar and still his time was up so sometime last night he lifted his wings and his spirit flew to heaven.

The Sea Cliff Mini mart started out in pouring rain and setting up the booth under a big blue tarp was so reminiscing of camping. The sun came out (yay, prayers do work) and we all had a great day, 50, 000 visitors, lovely costumers, fun cover band made it a great day, too.

I love meeeting amazing people,. This time was certainly no exception The Amazing Alex came by with his Mom, a project and a beautiful image he took of a ring I made that he is sending is sister. Amazing art connoiseur Lynne paid a lovely visit and purchased pieces that beautifully harmonized with her complexion and amazing personality. The very cool couple Amy and Rob Mansfield of Grassroots cafe stopped by for bracelet-talk and conversations and pieces all merged together for a very cool day.The images are of pieces that got to meet costumers, the bracelet HEY! (elkskin and fine silver) Soul pendant, flower necklace and Knight ring.

Music and Metal, yea mon'

2008-10-02T21:16:00.007-04:00

It started with the art show I did in Sayville, LI this summer...awesome music lover Alex Diana stopped by, purchased rings, one to be custom designed. On a visit to my studio he brought me music! Never heard of Michael Franti before in my life and now, I am a huge (no not OD'ing on chocolate) fan and just purchased the New CD' All Rebel Rockers'. http://www.fan2band.com/home.php?artist_id=449 Now I am designing with his music around me. Awesome...check out designs I made with this awesome music in my ears. The Band is on tour right now, check my sidebar for info.

The ring is named "Grace" and feature a conflict-free rough diamond cube set in a ring made out of recycled bronze. The peace pendant...like Michael Franti sings: 'you can bomb the world to pieces but you cannot bomb the world to peace" yea mon'. A beautiful 1.5" long and 0.5" wide bronze pendant for a man or a woman. Nice mixture of smooth and rugged texture. The word PEACE is stamped on the front along with peace-signs that I carved by hand. The back is blank.

Also, a plug for Modish a great blog on all things handmade http://www.modishblog.com/modish/contact.html
This weekend I am happily buzzing around, two shows...Bridgehampton Saturday and here in Sea Cliff Sunday so tomorrow I have a major overhaul of myself and packaging and labeling o get ready...anti-rain dances, please everyone:D

The Incredible Journey

2008-09-20T13:01:00.005-04:00

I am so excited! This morning I went straight to my computer from bed, even before the morning run, shower and breakfast as I was hoping to find out what happened. You might wonder *what* what happened...Well-this!: The rings got there!!!! Winnie Rose Reyes and John Frederick Moye are two incredibly talented artists that met last year in cyberspace for the first time when John commented on an image that Winnie had posted on Flickr of one of her artworks....their artist souls connected in cyberspace and today, a year later they have never met in person as John is here in the US and works as an artist and WInnie is in the Filippines where she is an art professor and independent artist. How's that for an incredible Love story...

Winnie and John found my rings on etsy and she especiially liked my ring The Incredible Journey and she described my art is such a beautiful way that I feel butterflies out of sheer 'honoredness' in my stomach everytime I read the her words.

This is what Winnie wrote to me: "love your designs. I love the raw quality of them. It gives them an ethereal quality. As if they've been spewed and culled by the forces of heaven and earth."

Winnie and John ordered The Incredible Journey rings that I made and sent and yesterday John opened the package while they both watched, Winnie through webcam...thousands of miles apart !
Winnie and John, I am so honored to be a teeny part of your incredible journey together . Please check out winnies blog for the story

http://wrreyes.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/the-rings/

Bronze Bronze Baby

2008-09-11T22:28:00.005-04:00

I am totally in love with BRONZclay, an amazing ecofriendly material developed by kind and ultrasmart scientist Dr. Bill Struwe and available from Rio Grande . The material was just released and I was very fortunate to be part of one of the very first workshops taught by the amazing teacher and artist Celie Fago on her farm in Vermont.

BRONZclay is sculptable bronze...bronze as you might know is made out of copper and a little tin and was used by man already 3, 000 years ago. Bronzclay fits perfectly with my eco philosophy in that it is made mostly of recycled scrap copper, and 'regular tin' and a binder. . It is shaped and fired slowly in active carbon and the most amazing patinas form on the surface of the metal.

When you send artwork to be casted in bronze you pay $15-$20/pound casted, this is not the case here, no mon', scrap copper is more expensive then mined copper and then you have the process of making the amazing BRONZclay too...but the end result is stunning...what do you think of my hand?

Mudpuppies, StreetShows and Magical Harp Music

2008-06-22T22:41:00.006-04:00

We spent Saturday afternoon with amazing friends Ryan and Alan in their lovely villa next toa pond and a brook. The dogs, especially Bella went NUTS and turned into happy algae-feeding mudpuppies that swam, and swam and chased imaginary things.

Todays street show was a first, in a very cool neighbourhood on Long Island's south shore. Lots of rings got adopted and I met soomany nice people.

Monday I will start to prepare for the opening at the Box gallery where
Esmeralda Designs together with the sculptor Jeffrey Hollman and the Painter Peg Kolmar be part of an opening at Sea Cliff's new art gallery The Box gallery Sunday June 29 hosted by Megan Sirianni and Tracy Arnold.
My friend Ryan that we visited with Saturday will play his magical electric Harp..if you know of Andreas Wollenweider's music...you'll know what to look forward too.

Here is one of Ryans youtube pieces...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwmBdUOOFQg

SO please if you are in cyberspace close to Sea Cliff, Long Island, come visit with the exhibition!!

Esmeraldadesings: New adoptions and a first!!!

2008-06-20T20:22:00.007-04:00

Oh so I have been busy working, working working and making many new amazing friends at etsy and on the artisan show circuit. My nails are in a state of less than despair today as I finally decided to go see a great beauty salon in Locust Valley that I knew would not hrrrmpf me, and It was so worth it parting with a little more funds. SO now my mallet fingers do not look like they were soot dipped any more. And the new pewter-silver metallic nail polish is a cats meow to a metalsmith like myself..ohh the title..you might ask yerself...when is she getting there...

Well here we go! I am right now alternating between singing "Oh Canada" and "New York, New York"!!!

I am so amazed that two of my favorite pieces; Gaia with a Peruvian Opal and Return of Spirit with a Coober Peedy Opal and emeralds are finding new homes with amazing two-legged soon-to-be-embellished friends in.

I am so grateful and I hope that these pieces spread joy and Grace and reminisce of our Lord's beautiful creations wherever they go.

I have a show this Sunday and am working to extend the collection of necklaces and rings by then.

And...I got blogged about by my amazing fellow artisan and a very talented musician Sunny Rising. I wear her belts and corsages and now she wears are ring by me-yaba-daba-doo!!, please check out her awesome blog:
http://www.sunnyrisingleather.blogspot.com

Hula Hoop

2008-03-31T20:18:00.008-04:00

Ay it's grey out there and I absolutely am day-dreaming about the tropics and beaches and less of everything to go outdooors. Ms. Elle, who always wears a fur and webbed toes seems not to mind at all and happily trots along while I try to resemble the letter C, trying to minimize wind flux.
Well no tropics on the horizon for a while and If you cannot got to the mountain, how about making the mountain come to you? So I eat savory French coconut cubes yummy fresh pineapple and ...make hula hoops in precious metals with conflict free diamond leis. I choose 14K, 22K and 24K and fine silver and to the silver I add Labradorite, Apatite or rhodolite garnets. I hammer the soft metal so that the light reflects even better of them and then I wire the stones into the hoop itself and hang them from open french wires or leverbacks for us with wild lives and ditto hair, The hoops are 1-1.5" in diameter and oh so beautiful!

My amazing frostumer friend/costumer Donna is safely out of hip replacement surgery and and I wish her the speediest recovery ever!

Had a show this weekend in Stony Brook and I love the visitors, what great energy and how many interested visitors in my booth. Thank you all! Many pieces and especially rings found new homes and I am thrilled that when a ring really fits with the wording and the style it is so obvious that I do not have to point it out, the costumer usually dances around and comes to find me to tell me they will wear it out. One wonderful costumer, Jessica, found the most amazing necklaces and a ring that will be personalized to embrace life and hope, and she brought her mother, too, which is really special to me. Thank you Jessica! I made the ring today and will set the tiny diamonds tomorrow.

The Tale of the Ring

2008-03-21T20:44:00.005-04:00

Lately my jewelers bench has been budding rings of new and very unusual shapes. My focus is to create a ring that seems to hover, that it is so light there it is no feeling of a cuff. And my first attemps feel aboslutely awesome. I wish you could try them on.....next best is to see and read about them so here we go!

Heart and Soul gentle embrace ring
Soulful, beautiful fine silver ring with a beautifully and soulfully included 0.45 ct old mine cut Russian conflict free diamond set amongst 24K matte gold plated burnished-to-perfection tattoo-like-banner draped around the ring inscribed with the words 'Heart and Soul'. I designed this ring to hover; the ring is wrapped inside to be a gentle embrace and not hug your finger too hard. It feels amazing on, the outside is hovering, what a feeing!
Listen to 'My Baby just cares for Me' with Nina Simone to get a feeling for this ring, getting your priorities straight, care about the things that really matter. Oxidized to bring out the soul. My rings are one of a kind, this ring is 1/3 to 2/3" wide and in size 6.

Unvelievable Lightness of Beeing ring
Did you see the movie, the unbearable lightness of being? Daniel Day-Lewis, Juliette Binoche and and Lena Olin make Milan Kunderas book come alive.
This ring is certainly not unbearable. I made it rather unbelievable!
Soulful, beautiful fine silver ring with a beautifully and-here i for the unbelievable part - a soulful 0.34 ct un cut conflict free Russian Champagne colored diamond, naturally clear and shaped like a capsule and set to expose 2/3 of the stone. This stone is amazing and conflict free diamond set amongst 24K gold plated burnished-to-perfection tattoo-like-banner interruptedly draped around the ring inscribed with the words 'the unbelievable lightness of being'. The diamond is set in an open manner so that the light can have a lot of fun with this gem.

The Incredible Journey Ring
This ring will move you! Fine silver ring adorned with .15ct Congolese pastis colored conflict free rough diamond cube and inscribed with "the incredible Journey". Wrap around-tattoo-banner style 24K gold plated band keeps you on the track, oxidized to perfection!
This ring feels just like "Bittersweet Symphony" by Verve, if you know what I mean...
Pictured ring is 0.3" widening to 0.5" and a size 8, this ring is custom made from size 4 to size 12, half sizes too

Bohemian Bowtie Ring
This ring my amazing costumer and friend (frostumer) Donna bought already almost before it hit cyberspace, and I wanted to show it because it is truly special! This ring has a bowtie wrapped around it in a very carefree, bohemian manner. I wrote "Heart and Soul" on it to secure it with some strong words. That is so needed as this ring soars like an eagle...of course Spirit has wings. It feels amazing on, this ring lifts you up where you belong, what a feeing!

Listen to Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warren sing "Love lifts us up where we belong" to get the feeling of this ring

Oxidized to bring out the soul. My rings are one of a kind, this ring is 1/3" wide and technically a size 8, because of the bowtie design it fits more like a seven.

Ahh these rings! Click the likk to etsy to learn more!

Sun and Wind Sunday

2008-03-09T23:56:00.002-04:00

Wow-what a weekend-three amazing parties with so many cool friends/costumers/new friends.So many Pisces seem to prefer the waters around Sea Cliff, and they all brazed stormy weather to come party here! This weekend it was very little time and much to cold during the Sunday to work in the studio, so only two pieces got created, I am rolling up my sleeves for Monday, though!

Brrr!

2008-03-06T08:39:00.005-05:00

Today will be a great day for studying the effect of cold indoor temperature on human motivation-just turned on the heat in the studio- I could see my breath, just the thought of removing mittens is froozen. And spring is acoming-I know it-my urge to make jewery in yummy peruvian opal, chrysoprase, strong murano glass, prehnite, amazonite and white jade is emerging right along the crocuses.

Making a necklace for a friend's nice who is graduating and making changes to current necklaces already for sale in a store. The layering look has not hit Sea Cliff - just yet that is:-)

And need to prepare for our lovicore pisces party..you might ask yourself what the Higgins is a locivor...well that is a person who eats locally grown food and i am throwing a party for my dearest man and two friends who all happen to be born these very next few days. Hence, I should be out there preparing but there is this magical mysterious force that pulls me up to my beautiful studio....stay tuned...

later that day....chrysoprase met with murano glass and decided to embellish . See pictures on top of page.

Amazing Grace!

2008-03-05T20:23:00.004-05:00

A very dear friend and costumer stopped by my studio today with her sister to pick up some jewelry transformations, that is me taking someones jewerlry that no longer is worn so much and transmogrifying it to something they can not wait to wear. They loved the transformations from the 80's right in to the 20th century and found additional pieces to admire. I always dance around to music in the studio when I make my pieces, well except for setting stones that is, and the music directs the look of the piece. Well, yesterday I braided some beautiful grey doeskin into a lariat, and suspended a yummy African turquoise and vintage swarowskis from an antler-ring all while listeing to the B52's and Sergio Mendes. My friends put the necklace around her neck today and started to dance to imaginary music, way cool!