Almost Summer Sale

<<< ALMOST SUMMER SALE >>>

It's time to get things moving! My Artfire studio is full of my own handmade rustic, Bohemian, ethnic, primitive, southwestern and tribal jewelry that must be cleared out. So here's your chance to score some great jewelry finds at a reduced price. I am offering a special coupon for my blog readers so that you can get an additional 10% off my already reduced prices. Just enter coupon code CURIOUS10 at checkout! Now through Saturday, June 14th.

If you follow my work, you know that I rarely have sales so don't miss this one! Here's a link to my Artfire studio:
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Untamed Clay

It was inevitable. Polymer clay was calling to me, saying "Come . . . knead me with your fingers. Mold me into something wild.". So I listened. Whether it turns out to be a passing fancy or a direction for which I was destined, I am having so much fun making distressed and ancient looking beads and components.

When I can't find the right component for my design, it is so liberating to be able to sit down at my metal working bench or my clay table and make what I need.

Letting my imagination run wild, I can hardly keep up with all my new ideas. Just drawing and writing little notes, so I won't forget before I have the time to try them.

I try to use the clay color as just a base, and then after it's baked, coat it with layers of gilder's paste until I get the look I want. The colors are sealed with a matte fixative.

No plans at present for selling clay components, I just like having the freedom to make something outrageous for my own use.

The Kristi Kollaboration

Mayan Style Copper Clay Earrings

The "kollaboration" to which I am referring is between me and Kristi Bowman-Gruel. We found one another on Facebook, and I have been using her metal clay components since she first began to sell them. It was a pleasant surprise when I found Kristi because we share an appreciation of rustic style jewelry. So, of course, the components that Kristi designs are rustic and sometimes tribal, both of which fit well into my approach to jewelry design.

As you can see, we both have a wild side. I love to come up with new ways to use these amazing components, so you will see them often in my work. The earrings in the above left photo are called "Rag and Bone", and are listed in my Etsy shop.

Kristi is branching out into polymer clay (in the picture on the left) and is applying her uniquely original style (she calls it "wonky") to this new medium. I look forward to working more with her polymer clay creations and whatever brilliant idea she may dream up in the future. The bracelet on the left is also available in my Etsy shop.

Gloria Ewing
Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Rag and Bone

A recent acquisition of a dozen or so strands of bone beads from one of my favorite vendors at a gem show has prompted the theme for this AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 21, "Rag and Bone". In the above pair, the "rag" is actually recycled sari silk. The brilliant red color is great with the black and white batik bone beads and Kristi Bowman's Lotus Seed Pods. In the design below, I stacked the rectangular brown fish motif bone beads with green turquoise and natural colored carved bone discs, and added copper accents and ear wires.

Rag and Bone Earrings on Etsy

Fish Bone Earrings on Artfire

Ethnic Magnetism

 Mixed Trade Bead Necklace

Bone Ceramic Necklace with Turquoise

Black and White Trade Bead Choker

I have been drawn to ethnic art my entire life. Even as a child, I had an interest in clothing, art and jewelry from other cultures (especially native American art).  If the hippie era had not come along and made ethnic apparel more popular, I think I would have found a way to wear it anyway. Native American and Mexican weaving and jewelry were my first love. Later, I moved on to tribal African beads and weaving, that are so full of character and individuality. 

Creating a piece of jewelry from beads that have been circulated for over 100 years, or handmade using 1000 year old methods, fills me with awe. Unless you feel that northern European roots are tribal, I have a strange and spiritual connection to this style of art. Tribal art is so free and expressive! 

Copper Earrings with Recycled Glass

Uninhibited tribal jewelry by Gloria Ewing on Etsy and Artfire.

Peek of Summer

It is supposed to be a play on words Peek and Peak, maybe someone will catch it? Anyway, we are half way through the summer season and it has been a little shorter than usual this year, so I thought it deserved a little celebration. Boldly colored copper and pewter jewelry pieces with a casual summer 2013 attitude.

Red Flower Earrings
Copper Charm Bracelet
Turquoise Yellow Copper Earrings
Sunburst Pewter Earrings
Copper Heart Polymer Clay Earrings

Happy 2013!!!

Seems a good time to reflect on where I've been (as a jewelry designer) and where I hope to go.

In my "evolutionary process", there have been some distinct benchmarks. The first was a stage of stubborn independence. I was certain that I could teach myself to make jewelry without a class, a magazine or a tutorial. How hard could it be? This initial stage was marked with some successes, but also some failures that could easily have been avoided with a bit of outside instruction and a dose of humility.

The between stages leaned more toward my developing style. I still felt that taking too much instruction would limit my approach to design. If an experienced instructor were to show me a technique, I would be likely to accept it as the only way to do something instead of at least trying to create my own techniques. This is certainly not a recommendation! As I said earlier, there are definitely some pitfalls to this way of thinking. The many learning experiences have helped me to develop a recognizable style.

Now I concentrate on broadening my pool of resources. More ethnic beads are available than a few years ago when I started beading. Many talented artisans are selling their handmade components, which I like to use whenever posible because they add so much character and diversity to my pieces. I have begun to make a few of my own metal components that blend well with my more primitive tribal style designs. I hope to grow in that area during the coming year.

What the next stage may bring is anyone's guess. To see more of my tribal contemporary jewelry click here or here.

Asymmetry

The Japanese are masters of using asymmetry in design. You see it in their lithographs, their architecture, and in their gardening techniques. Using asymmetry is one more element that can create interest within the composition of your design.

In these earrings, I use rusty brown Czech glass nuggets and transparent brown nuggets along with copper in an inverted asymmetrical design.

Monochromatic by bohobeader featuring leather handbags

Alice + Olivia summer top / Miu Miu / Paige Denim super skinny jeans, $345 / Sergio Rossi suede platform pumps / BCBG Max Azria leather handbag / Weston Scarves silk scarve, $275

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire
Earrings Everyday Blog Spot