Happy New Year!  I haven't put these earrings  in my Blood Moon Rising shop section on etsy.com yet, because I wanted to preview them here.    As always, these earrings are Kauai made.  I will try to have them there by tomorrow if anyone wants to view details about them.  I made these earrings with that comfy sterling chain I spoke of in a previous post, so you know that a matching necklace is coming soon. 

The pearls, cz accents and genuine Swarovski crystals under the pearl butterflies convey pure elegance.   In honor of  The Vampire Diaries, I would like to think that after the character of Damon broke the sire bond with Elena, he would give her earrings like these for Christmas.  Christmas gifts between Elena, Damon and Stephan have not been shown in this CW series, but of course, I always imagine what gifts these characters would put under their Christmas trees. 

Back to these earrings.  Some consider the word elegant to be a word that describes the character of Damon, played by +Ian Sommerhalder.  That's why I used these sterling hooks with cubic zirconia accents to give these earrings a little more sparkle, along with the tiny Swarovski crystals at the base of the butterflies.  The butterflies symbolize Elena's transformation and growth as a vampire, and the character of Damon clearly stated that he'll take her as human or vampire.  He loves her either way.    But butterflies have wings, so they also symbolize Elena being released from the sire bond by Damon. 

You know what they say: 
"If you love something, set it free..."

Until next time,
Susan

So I made these Jesus earrings a week ago.   Yes, another item that is Kauai made!   I do list name jewelry on my etsy.com page, which is under Tabby's Intuition, but I don't have any name jewelry posted there yet.  This was a custom order that I did using 18 gauge round argentium wire with low lead Austrian crystal accents.  I also made the argentium earwires.  Argentium is great for people who are allergic to copper, because sterling has copper in it.  Argentium has sterling and geranium, and the sterling is a higher silver content in argentium.  I haven't heard of anyone being allergic to argentium yet.  I've just notice that the heart on the right needs to be turned up...now I've fixed it!  Pictures show what the eye doesn't immediately see!

Another great alternative metal is niobium.  It comes in various colors, and is considered very hypoallergenic.  When I make earrings with this metal, I will post it here.  I have very sentitive ears, and I haven't been allergic to niobium.  I like the dark colors like copper and black colored niobium.

Now, a word about the mid season finale of The Vampire Diaries!  I am inspired again to make a piece of jewelry in honor of this episode.  I don't know if I will make it based on the character of Stephan finding out how "together" Damon and Elena are, or the conflict between his own heartbreak and loyalty for his brother that Damon has for the character of Stephan.  Of course, when I make it, I will post it here!  Then it will be in my Tabby's Intuition etsy.com shop.

Yes, and here she is, our JRT after knee surgery about one month ago.  This was the first night of her surgery, which went well.  She was in pain here, as can be seen on her expressive face.  Now she is still hopping sometimes, but she is mostly using her left foot by running and jumping like she used to when she was younger.  

More Later,
Susan

So I made two things with silver filled wire in the last two days.  I am calling this the Mother and daughter Trees of Life in honor of The Vampire Diaries.  The smaller one is itty bitty, and the smallest tree I have ever made.  I would like to imagine that Katherine Petrova would have found a way to get the smaller tree to her baby girl who was given away at birth.  The amethyst chips on the bigger tree are a darker shade of purple.  Before making these trees, I had only made the trees in argentium.  The birthstone of February, amethyst is thought to have protective properties. 

I am liking the pearls that encircle the bottom of the bails of these trees, but future trees may have other beads or even snapsets.  The fun part about making these trees is twisting the branches, adding the leaves and gnarling the roots.  There is also something spiritual about finishing a tree.  I like all the trees that I make, but the purple ones are my favorite.  The first tree I made was a copper amethyst tree.  A photo of this trees appears on my hangtags and will also appear on my banner for when I do craft shows, although after today, I don't know when I will be ready to do another one. 

I have noticed that delicate chains are in vogue right now.  At a recent trade show, I bought a few feet of the most comfortable delicate chain that I have ever worn.  I haven't posted anything on etsy.com using this sterling chain, but when I do, I will post it here.  Both of the chains in these photos are sixteen inch chains.  These Trees of Life hang very close to the throat.    I want to make more of the itty bitty trees with different colored leaves.  

...and every three thousand years, the Tree will produce a single peach.  Whomever shall eat from this fruit shall have eternal life....

So, I made these earrings in 2010, but I kept them on the side.  It needed something else.  That something else was pearls.  In honor of The Vampire Diaries show on the CW, I have named these leverback earrings Hearts and Tears for the character of Elena, whom  I can see wearing these.    I am referring to the episode from two weeks ago when the character of Stephan told Elena," I can't do this anymore,"  to which she responded, "I know."  The blue of the hearts (Ian Sommerhalder's eyes!)   remind me of the Damon character played by Ian Sommerhalder, and the small pearls are for Stephan...as he cries inwardly over Elena and her increasing feelings for his brother Damon.  The witch who made the daylight rings for the Salvatore brothers told Stephan that his heart was pure, even in death.  I would think that Stephan would cry tiny pearls, and that they would be white for purity.  I will add this pair into my Tabby's Intuition etsy.com shop soon.  This pair is made of sterling silver with tiny freshwater pearls.  The hearts are Czech glass and the beads on the bottom are made of goldstone.  The headpins that the pearls are on have rounded tips, so that people with curly hair will be less likely to get this pair caught in their hair. 

This is another piece that I made in 2010, but like the earrings, I saved because they needed something.  I added the onyx cross with freshwater pearl dangler and frosted sterling beads today.  The bead at the clasp is also onyx.  This is a sterling and freshwater dyed (green) pearl long necklace.   This necklace is approximately 33 inches long, so most people can slip this on without disturbing the lobster clasp.   It would seem that the character of Caroline would like this necklace, due to the pearls, cross, and the "Y" style of this necklace.  I will also add this piece to my Tabby's Intuition etsy.com shop soon. 

This is a custom order design update that I did earlier this year.  The beads are Murano glass from Italy.  They were in a plastic bag and strung illusion style, and the necklace was broken.  I removed the beads and restyled the necklace like this, with argentium chain and freshwater pearls. 

I hope that all of you had a good Thanksgiving holiday.  If it was not good, may your next one be better!

More later,
Susan

My etsy.com shop  under Tabby's Intuition is finally open!  It was scary to press the open shop button,but I did it.  I plan to add new items weekly.  I haven't added name writing items yet, but they are coming. 

This is the Menehune Fishpond scenic lookout that I pass five days a week on my way to the gym.  If there is nobody behind me, I will slow my car down to take in the view, if only for a moment.  I have visited this site many times with my parents and visitors over the years.  It is called Menehune Fishpond because legend says that a small race of people called Menehune were the ones to build this beautiful place.  I took this picture at 8:15 in the morning, and it was a perfect day for photos.  I have been to this spot with my Dad, and this was one of his favorite areas to take in scenery.   I think of him when I pass this place. 

Now, back to the jewelry.   Another Kauai made Tree of Life inspired by the Vampire Diaries, season one, to be precise.  Maybe Bonnie's Grandmother would have worn this argentium tree with blood red garnet chips to remind her to "stay out of vampire business" and take care of her own.  The 13 freshwater pearls add to the beauty of this Tree of Life.  This pendant won't slip off the leather cord ends.     The birthstone of January, garnet was thought to give it's wearer safety in travel. 

Here is the wire wrapping and clasp on the leather cord.    I used argentium for this part, too.

Here are my 14k gold filled wrapped natural quartz crystals, inspired by season three of The Vampire Diaries: 

 This last pearl accented one, I imagine the character of Caroline wearing.  Gold and pearls suit her quite well.  I know the character of Klaus would agree.

 

More later,
Susan

Vampire Diaries inspired pendants

I have made two items that are Kauai made to my soon to be public etsy.com store called Tabby's Intuition.  These will be in the Blood Moon Rising section of the shop, as inspired by the CW show The Vampire Diaries.  These two items are dedicated to the character of Bonnie.   This is the first item that I have made using silver filled wire.  I also got to use my new Fretz texturing hammer on the hook!  This is a beautiful natural wire wrapped moss agate massage wand with a leather cord necklace. 

Here's the other thing I made:  I actually made the tree of life a few months ago, but I made the leather/argentium/pearl necklace tonight.  This tree of life is made of argentium and carnelian, which is a type of chalcedony.  Carnelian is thought by some to protect the wearer against negative emotions.  Argentium contains more silver than sterling, and the other metal in it is geranium, instead of copper, like sterling.  Because of this, argentium will take longer to tarnish, and cleans easily with an old t-shirt. 

I made the extender chain on this leather cord to give the option of adding approximately 1.5 inches to this 18 inch necklace.  Argentium is harder to work with than silver.  There is no room for error with this metal.  Even in similar gauges, argentium feels like it's harder to bend.  Some people are allergic to the copper in sterling, so argentium gives people another option. 

This is Tabby's former nemesis.  She is a Jack Russell (now called Parson Russell by some) terrier.  She has a very expressive face.  Look how even in sleep, she looks pleased with herself.  More about her later.  For now, we will let sleeping dogs lie...

More later,
Susan

November 8, 2012

This is a picture of my cat, Tabby, for whom my shop with Kauai made items,  Tabby's Intuition is named for.  We got her in 1999, when my flute student brought her over to the house for me to see her.  She was found at the airport, where there were many stray cats.  Of course, we had to keep her!  We don't know how old she was when we got her, but the vet said that he thought she was about 8 months old.  She lived until 2010.  She was a very smart cat who learned to use  the regular "people" toilet, and we still remember her fondly.  We miss our Tabby girl.

I have been making wire jewelry since 2010.  I started it to pass the time while I spent almost every evening with my Dad at his assisted living apartment.  While I sat at his round table, which I still have, he would give his approval of my jewerly creations.   He was lucky to be able to live there, and it was a comfort to know that he could get help if he needed it.  Of course, there's no place like home, which is why I went to visit him almost daily.  If I couldn't be there, my husband would go in my place.  This went on for 17 months until his death at the age of 90 in 2010.  His illness caused a great deal of stress.  More than I was aware of at the time.  Still, I think about him everyday. 

The good news is that I am still making wire jewelry, and my jewelry making has evolved in the almost three years that I have been doing this.  I started out making long link necklaces and many dangle type earrings.  Now I am making rings, wire wrapped cabachon pendants, bracelets, and name jewelry.  When I do a craft show, I make the name earrings and pendants on the spot.  I will add the name rings at the next fair. 

My etsy.com shop will be opening soon under the name of TabbysIntuition.  I planned to open it by November 1st, but I soon discovered that the hardest part was taking good pictures.  Also, doing the descriptions and posting the pictures is taking more time than I anticipated.  But it is coming along.   I will feature rings, pendants, necklaces and maybe some earrings.  In addition to name jewelry, I will also have a Blood Moon section of the shop devoted to jewelry inspired by the CW show The Vampire Diares.  All of my jewelry is Kauai made, and made by me.

This Tree of Life was a custom order.  It is made of argentium and rose quartz. 

This is a necklace that I upgraded for a custom order.  It had gold plated beads and a gold plated clasp.  It was knotted with cotton string.  I took it apart and exchanged the original beads and clasp for 14k gold filled.  I also restrung and knotted the necklace between each bead the way pearls are strung by using silk thread made for knotting pearls. 

Here is anothe Tree of Life that I did in copper.

Until next time,
Susan