Do you know what Shibori is?

Last week I went to Oaks Bluff on Martha's Vineyard and saw a shop called Shibori and was a little curious because I recently met Kate Tracton through Etsy forums and blogging and who just happens to have a blog called, http://shiborigirl.blogspot.com/ . I was so disappointed when I found out it was closed. So when I got home I contacted Kate and she told me a little about Shibori....

Shibori is the ancient Japanese art of dyeing fabric - it's about 2000 years old. It could TECHNICALLY be called tie-dye, but most Shibori artists will bristle at that. The term calls up images of Grateful Dead t-shirts dyed using rubber bands. Anyway, the fabric is folded, stitched, twisted around a pole, or generally tortured into a 3-D shape before being popped into the dye bucket. After being dyed, the stitching and folding is undone to reveal fantastic pattern.

The process can be repeated many times to create a complex and lovely piece of cloth. This is a scarf in Kate's shop and you can see more of her Shibori pieces at http://ktracton.etsy.com/ Kate also has on her blog how she goes about dieing her materials... To see and read more about Shibori please visit her blog at http://shiborigirl.blogspot.com/ . Kate also makes beautiful jewelry so please visit her Etsy Shop to see more of her items!

New Fall Jewelry!!

This is my new fall jewelry set called "Fall in New England". I used Fancy Jasper faceted rondell stones in 3 sizes, 10, 8 and 6mm. I love the multi color variation in each stone. The colors range from pale green,olive green to a dark forest green, lilac to a deep mauve and pumpkin to brick red with many shades in between. The center of the necklace holds a sterling silver tea rose surrounded by small fancy jasper rondells.

The center of the necklace holds a sterling silver tea rose surrounded by small fancy jasper rondells. The length of this necklace is 18 1/2 inch and the earrings are 1 inch from the bottom of the ear wire. Please visit http://obtp.etsy.com to see more views of this piece and more Fall Jewelry.

Destash Beads for your Jewelry and Craft Making!

Do you make your own jewelry or even crafts that you just need a few beads for? Well when I buy beads I usually have something in mind, mainly earrings. I love making earrings, they are fast, easy and so many possibilities, they are also one of my must have items with me at all times. I don't really need a full strand of beads for this so I decided to share them. Here are just a few of the destash items I have listed in my Etsy shop. I have these Carnelian teardrops, beads topped drilled perfect for wire wrapped earrings. These Red Bamboo Coral beads and Tiger Eye in a creamy brown are great for fall jewelry. These Russian Amazonite are just perfect for anytime of the year jewelry. Go check these and other beads listed in my Etsy shop http://obtp.etsy.com


Mention this blog post in an email or convo to me prior to your purchase and receive 15% off your total purchase!!

Scrapbooking

Let me introduce you to Wendiwinn she has a shop on Etsy featuring scrapbooking embellishments. She has a great sense of humor and a great shop. Wendi opened her Etsy shop in May of 2007 and has over 250 sales! Wendi's shop sells gift tag sets and this Black and White set of 4 is one of my favorites. She also has Pin Tags and Mini Notebooks. Please Visit Wendi's shop at http://wendiwinn.etsy.com/ for more of her fantastic items!

Look at these cute Pin Tags a Bee with a Hat and Sheep Baa

Wendi is a SAHM of 2 little girls and lives in Melbourne Florida. They have recently had to deal with tropical storm Fay. Here are a couple of pictures she has posted to her blog.

To see and read more about Wendi in her own witty way please visit her blog at http://wendiwinn.blogspot.com/

Fall Bead Preview

I just bought some beautiful Crazy Blue Lace Agate and Faceted Fancy Jasper. These crazy agates look like a mix of oil and water in tones of blue, shades of green, brown and cream. It's very hard to make a perfect match with these but I'll give it my best.

These Fancy jasper beads remind me of New England foliage. Beautiful shades of green,mauve,brick, slate and more. I've decided to make just earrings with these beads, or at least that is my plan. Please visit my Etsy store for newly listed items made with these beads.

Smokey Quartz and Sterling Silver Twisted Rings Earrings

Smokey Quartz and Sterling Silver Twisted Rings Earrings
Originally uploaded by Originals By Terri Handmade Jewelry

I went to Cape Cod 2 weeks ago and bought 2 blue jasper teardrop beads. I made a pair of earrings similar to these and posted them on my store. I have to say I was very surprised when they sold in no time. Well I just can't get up and run to Cape Cod again to buy those beads so I decided to make them using faceted smokey quartz teardrops. I have to say I am just as happy with these earrings. I really think these two colors compliment each other very well, a very earthy yet elegant combination.

The funny thing is these twisted rings were meant for something totally different when I bought them. Yet when I got them in they were not soldered as stated, so I had to use them for a decorative design and I think it worked out well.

Etsy Artist in Rhode Island

Since I started my blog I have featured a few different Etsy Artist. Well today I would like to feature artist right from my home state of Rhode Island.

CERAMICS

First let me introduce New Moon Studio. New Moon Studio opened in April 2001. Hilal graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Marmara Istanbul, Turkey. Hilal means New Moon in English, she is originally from Turkey and has been living in the U.S. for about 8 years now. During her four-year program in the Ceramic Department, she focused on large-scale sculptural works and outdoor installations. Hilal also has an Architecture-Engineering Degree and is trying to combine the two in her artwork. She focuses on developing lines of functional ceramics as well as decorative pieces. All of Hilal work is done on a turning wheel or she builds it by hand.

These are just a couple of my favorite pieces from New Moon Studio Now go pick out yours!
Red Vase and White Porcelain Tea Pot



Hilal states; I have a home base studio. I usually work early in the morning. I may say it is the best time for me to produced new ideas. I am married to an Architect. We have a new baby now. His name is Alex and he is 6 months old. I cannot wait to put his hand in the clay some day.
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HANDBAGS

I love handbags and I've already started to shop for my new fall bag. There is a new shop on Etsy called Palette Handbags . Melissa of Palette Handbags lives on the East Coast. She is 25 and a stay-at-home single Mom who LOVES to design and create things!!! Melissa wants your handbag to be comfortable, effortless, and full of style. She feels handbags are an extension of you. They work with you and for you and should be something that makes you smile. These are 2 of my favorites, which ones are yours?
Turquoise and Chocolate Fall Handbag and Children Playing Toile Handbag in Chocolate Mint - Braided Handle

Melissa also loves to work up accessories. When the weather gets cool she loves to get out the knitting needles and make accessories that are mix-and-match, easy to wear, and add the finishing touch to your look.


KNITTING
Melissa also has a second shop You can check out her Scarf Collection at Bombshell Studios Most people that know me know I'm not really the coat type person, but I love scarves! These are 2 of my favorites, what's keeping you warm this winter?

Cape Cod Blue

I went to Cape Cod last weekend and they have a beautiful bead store there called The Bead Emporium of Cape Cod. I was with my husband and 2 kids so needless to say I really couldn't spend as much time in there as I wanted to, but I did have enough time to buy these beautiful faceted blue jasper teardrops. They dangle from a stack of sterling silver twisted rings attached to sterling silver ear wires I made (my first ones) with a crystal quartz rondell.

I was very excited that right after I listed these on my Etsy shop somebody bought them!!

Destash Beads

When I first get my bead orders in I am so excited. It's like a kid in a candy store. But after making a few items I soon grow tired of the same beads. So I've decided to list a few beads to make room for a new order, and what better way than to sell them to other crafty people. Now if your like me and only want a few of each bead this might be of interest to you. Visit my shop OBTP where you can find, Red Coral, Keishi Pearls, Red Marble, Amazonite, Labradorite and let your imagination go wild! Don't forget to check my shop often for new listing

LabradoriteAmazonite

Red MarbleKeishi Pearls

Red Bamboo Coral

Did you play with marbles when you were young?

Well look what you can do with them as a big girl. These are 2 of my new earrings made with marble teardrops. These beads have a beautiful high polished shine to them.


The grey on these marble teardrops remind me of a thunder storm. With the shades of grey swirls and the crystal rondelle being a flash of lightening. These are great earrings to go from a day at work to a night out.




These marble teardrops have the same color as a terracotta clay pot with swirls of cream in them. They have a triangle sterling bead cap and are dangling from a freshwater brick colored pearl. I picture these paired up with a crisp white top and kaki pants.

Remember sock puppets when you were a kid?

We all had our favorite comfort toy or stuffed animal when we were young. Something to cuddle up to when we were scared or just needed to take with us everywhere we went. I know my son's favorite was a John Smith figurine from the movie Pocahontas and my daughters was a little pink stuffed musical elephant. Well I found these really adorable sock puppets on ETSY.

The Willow Tree has this oh so cute and softly stripped sock puppet look at the matching bow and gadget cozy wristlet she has. Under The Willow Tree describes this Girlie monkey as a bright and cheerful monkey. It is made out of a brand new pair of socks and is stuffed with 100% polyester fiber and is extremely huggable! She has embroidered eyes and face with a lot of detail! Girlie monkey is made out of gray socks with blue, yellow, green, and pink stripes. This monkey is sewn very well by hand and by machine so it will not come apart. This monkey measures 16" from head to foot and has a 14" long tail.

This one is "Kristina the Sock Bunny" from Cuddlet It is so cute I love the colors. She is made of new cotton socks. Her fancy dress and hat are also made of socks and are fully removable. Kristina is a serious young lady and she likes books and documentaries. She loves her little brother Alex even though he is so naughty sometimes! Go to Cuddlet to see her brother Alex.

Look what I put together with my new marble beads

I have to say when I got these new marble beads in I was really unsure of what to do with them. But I do think grey can really go with just about everything, so I decided to mix a little of everything together and this is what I came up with.

Marble teardrops in swirls of grey that are topped with a cluster of faceted Rhodolite Garnets in a fuchsia shade, Iolite, Apatite in a shade of emerald green, Freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals, Faceted Labradorite and Faceted Smokey Quartz rondells. All 925 Sterling silver findings. Apprx length is 1 1/4 inch from the bottom of ear wire.

Cocktails on Saturday

Well I finally got some time to put together these beautiful black and white earrings with my Petal Pearls (keishi pearls). As I was putting them together they just reminded me of a little black dress with white ruffles across the top. You know the kind you would wear to a cocktail party. This dress is from Nordstroms.

All Wrapped Up

I love wire wrapped jewelry. I think it gives just so much more detail to some pieces. But I just can't do it. I have tried and tried. This isn't a boo hoo me but I am just all thumbs. I have at least 5 books with step by step instructions. I have gone through so much wire practicing thank goodness I wasn't using sterling silver. I decided to look for some pieces that really caught my eye and these are just a few in my opinion that are absolutely beautiful. I hope you enjoy them!

I don't think I have ever seen anything so beautifully done! These earrings take my breath away. Xinxinemin has used so many different Gem Stone colors and shapes. I love the way she has made the different flowers out of them. There is even a butterfly!
xinxinemin states; These butterflies swing in and out when you move, looks that they are flying above flowers

Features Red Garnet, Pink Tourmaline, Green Amethyst, Violet Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Aquamarine, Blue Apatite, Green Apatite, Iolite, Lemon Quartz, Peridot, Citrine. All findings are sterling silver.

I just can't imagine doing all this work and it coming out as beautiful as these earrings. The detail is unbelievable and so neat, everything matches up so nicely! You can see this and more wire wrapped jewelry at Augusta's, Inspired designs to reflect your distinctive style.
Theses earrings from Augusta are Wrapped and hanging from the graceful wire wrapped scroll work are gorgeous, high quality pink amethyst briolettes. Simple, understated and elegant.These earrings have been oxidized, tumble polished, lightly hammered and buffed to a beautiful shine. The earrings hang 2 inches from hand crafted earwires.

I love the way the tourmaline rondelles are wrapped around to frame the faceted ruby drop (which is one of my favorite Gem Stones). And the way the golden tone of the Citrine and deeper almost bronze pearls cluster on top to show off the color of the Ruby.

This beautiful wire wrapped necklace is from Jewellery Haven, Ruby focal measuring 20mm x 11mm suspended in a 14k gold filled frame wrapped with lovely petro tourmaline roundelles. Cluster of gorgeous golden citrine, petro tourmaline briolettes and pearls sits above the ruby. Chain length approximately 17 inches.

Visit Jewellery Haven for more exquisite wire wrapped jewelry.

And last but not least the extent of my wire wrapping. Each Phrenite bead is wire wrapped at the top and attached to sterling silver chainand ear wires. I added some black swarovski crystals to bring out the black inclusions in the Phrenite.

More New Beads!!

I really just needed to buy some earring hooks and head pins and well......It's kind of like eatting a potato chip once you start you just can't stop. But I really didn't do to much damage, I just bought a few strands.

I love the look of cluster earrings they are so versitile, so I purchased some Botswana Agate, Faceted Smokey Quartz, Rhodolite Garnet, Faceted Clear Quartz, Apatite Heishi Beads

Black Agate Teardrops, Fancy Marble that looks like terracotta and Black Marble that is more of a milky black grey swirl teardrops. Don't forget to visit my shop to see the finished pieces!!

Many Years Ago

I love to go antiquing and years ago I found this brass bracelet at a small antique store in Foster R.I. Like any piece of jewelry you wear it for a while and it either goes out of style or you just forget about it. That is until recently.....

I had been looking on Etsy for unique and different findings and I found these beautiful brass earring findings at The Despina Collection on Etsy. I just added a simple brass ring to complete a long look.

Pearl Petals and Labradorite Teardrop Cluster Earrings

I am so excited I finally purchased a strand of pearl petals also known as keishi pearls! I purchased them from Pandorasbeadbox, a shop on Etsy. I have wanted these pearls for so long and now I just can't wait to make more jewelry with them.

My first item is this cluster of keishi pearls with a beautiful luster to them that sit on top of blue/grey Labrdorite teardrops with flashes of blue with every movemant. All findings are sterling silver and they are 1 1/8 in from the bottom of ear wire. To view more pictures of these and other items please visit my Etsy shop Originals By Terri.

Keishi pearls are formed when an oyster rejects an implanted bead nucleus but continues to create a pearl, or when some of the implanted mantle tissue in a mussel breaks away and forms its own freeform pearl.

When just the right words are needed...

I love handmade cards. I think the creative ability to draw, sketch, or put different materials together and come up with something that needs no words because the artworks tells the story is such a gift.

Below are just a few new shops on Etsy that I think deserve mentioning!

lrsteiner Shop, the atomic rabbit features some really nice fun items such as note cards and gift tags. This shop has the perfect gift for someone that loves to send notes to their friends. I look at these below and all I can think of is "lets all go to the mall!" The atomic rabbit also features note cards with ball gowns, party dresses, handbags and many more styles. The atomic rabbit is a must see shop!

Look at these cards below from Pearlstationery's shop. My friends and I are always have a girls night out and I think these would make a great invitation for a girls night out pool party! Pearlstationery also carries birthday and thank you notes. Check out the P.S. Signature Correspondence set it would make a great stocking stuffer!

Stop by homespunheaven shop as they feature some beautiful inspirational cards. Homespunheaven also carries some beautiful bookmarks and other items. I am very partial to butterflies so this is just one of my favorites in their shop.