Grand Portage Jewelry Collection

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Grand Portage Collection

 Rustic Natural Stone Jewelry

My most recent collection, as many of my past ones, is inspired by places I have visited. This spring, my husband and I spent a few days on the North Shore of Lake Superior, one of our favorite places to relax and enjoy the magnificent scenery.

I had a new camera to try out, so we stopped frequently along the route looking for interesting subjects for photography. We drove the entire way to the Minnesota/Canada border, where Grand Portage State Park is located. The temperature had dropped 15 degrees from the point at which we started, near Lutsen. And even though it was early June, many of the trees were still just beginning to leaf out.

 As I mentioned, we have gone to the north shore many times, and no matter what time of year it happens to be, there is always something interesting to pursue.

But this was my first trip to Grand Portage, where I was pleasantly surprised to find a wooden walkway all the way to the falls. And I mean, practically on top of the falls! 

All this luscious spring natural beauty was the inspiration for my Grand Portage Collection of jewelry. Some exciting new cuts of chrysocolla, azurite, fluorite, chrysoprase, and rare Peruvian opal, were the stones I chose to be the basis of the collection. 

 The colors in these beautiful natural stones, along with the interesting hand cut facets, suggested to me the rugged rock ledges and mineral filled waters of the falls.



These pieces and more are now available in my Etsy shop, Chrysalis Too! I find this color palette most appealing, and I plan to add several additional jewelry pieces over the summer. Updates coming later.

If you want more information, check out the Grand Portage Collection at the link below. Free shipping in the US.

Chrysalis Too on Etsy

Rustic Gemstone Jewelry

Available at ChrysalisToo on Etsy!

Your first impression might be that "rustic gemstone" is sort of an oxymoron, that the terms are a bit contradictory? My gemstone jewelry uses cut stones in a rustic style of design, combining them with artisan copper or Sterling silver. The pieces are range from dressy to casual; there is something for every occasion. And by the way, any of the gemstone selections would make a great holiday gift for that someone special on your list this year!!!

Earlier this year, I began a collection of rustic gemstone jewelry, all using copper and gemstones entitled The Apostle Islands Collection. This piece features cube cut fluorite stones with apatite. I am in love with this concept and continue to add to this popular collection with new varieties of gems. Soon to come, chrysocolla and more sunstone pieces.

A simple earring design of hammered and heat patinated copper with cube cut fluorite gemstones.

This style lends itself well to customization. These pieces work well with copper, and also with Sterling silver. So if you have an idea for a personally customized piece with your choice of metals, I would love to hear from you. I have a good selection of chalcedony, labradorite and garnet, citrine, green amethyst and more.

This beauty is a combination of sunstone with labradorite with wonderful artisan copper focal piece. I just received a shipment of small faceted sunstone beads and briolettes, so if this is one of your favorites. contact me for a custom piece.

Contact me at: Chrysalis.HCO@comcast.net









Gloria Ewing

Chyrsalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry

The Vintage Collection

Vintage Collection Necklaces

My path in designing jewelry has had many twists and turns. It has now been 10 years since I began this adventure. It never ceases to amaze me how much there is to learn, and how many generous people have gone out of their way to be supportive of my vision.

I still want to try everything, and I hope that never changes! Along with that desire to continue learning new skills comes a gradual change in style preference. 10 years is plenty of time to grow and develop a distinctive and very recognizable style, and I am fairly certain that I have achieved that goal. Throughout this evolution, I remain hypnotized by the beauty of natural stones, and have introduced more artisan made components including a few of my own. I am never content to learn a new technique using the same methods as someone else, but instead I always look for a way to adapt a new material or technique with my own quirk or wrinkle.

This collection of vintage pieces in my web store, Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry, represents some of my growth in design. Each piece makes a statement, some are more bold and some more simple.

Vintage Collection Bracelet

You will find gemstone bracelets, Bohemian style bracelets, and tribal bracelets at affordable prices during this promotion period. A great time to find a special piece of handmade jewelry just for you!

Vintage Collection Earrings

Earrings from The Vintage Collection include designs with lampwork glass, Sterling silver, handmade hammered copper components, and even leather.










Gloria Ewing

Mystical Greens Provocative Purples

Green is beyond a doubt, my favorite color, so it's no surprise that I use it frequently in my jewelry designs. To me green has a mystical quality, as though there is more there than I can see on the surface. The earthy and dusky shades of green are the ones I find most appealing.

And whether you love purple or not, it is gorgeous with green! You can add just a touch of purple or blend lots of it in with the greens for depth and drama. There is a wide range of purples to consider, lilac, mauve, lavender, amethyst, violet, heather, orchid,magenta, grape, aubergine and more. Bright or subdued, purple is provocative.

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal 18

Remember the acronym KISS, keep it simple stupid? Every once in awhile, I need to remind myself to stop. Just stop, don't add anything more! Let the color contrast, or the texture, or the artisan component stand out without unnecessary embellishment. So this week, the designs are fairly simple. Above, I have layered patinated copper drops hanging from an oval of red jasper. Below, I hammered out a rough diamond shape of copper and applied a muddy yellow patina to blend with these gorgeous fish drops from Petra Carpreau. I added some of my handmade oxydized copper ear wires to maintain the primitive look.

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry on Artfire

Earring Challenge Reveal 17

Southwestern with an attitude! I have blended these gorgeous rustic lampwork beads from Outwest with inverted triangles of copper that I have hammered and perforated.

Crispness in the air signals the coming of autumn, so I had to try my hand at making leaf charms. I wanted them to be rustic and understated. They have been dapped to achieve a slight wave effect as you would see in a fallen leaf. I paired them with green prase and golden orange lampwork beads from Yvonne Johnson of Firestone Lampwork Beads.

Chrysalis Too on Etsy
Chrysalis Jewelry 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.