cserpentDesigns Newsletter 01/2020

cserpentDesigns Newsletter

Enjoy!                                                            January 2020                                            Happy New Year! 2020 has begun, my annual Tucson visit is looming and I'm actually getting a newsletter out to start the year! I'm slowly working my way back to playing soccer.  I made it through half a training session this weekend and I'll see how long I can play in a small field game with an over 55 group next weekend.  I'm in the throes of closing the books for 2019 so I'll be ready to add my inventory from Tucson into my database.  I had fun playing with some new enameling techniques so you'll be seeing more designs with my enamel work in them this year.   All my new designs premiere on Facebook since I really like the one-on-one interaction you get with people in the various jewelry groups.  If you want to be the first to see my designs be sure to like cserpentDesigns on Facebook and turn on the notifications.  I update my blog somewhat regularly and I do blog about my new designs there as well.  One big accomplishment last year was to get my own website for my jewelry designs.  cserpentDesigns.com  is open and ready for business.   Since it's January I have to have some garnet designs in my shop.  I'm working on a few more designs with garnet so check back often to see what's new. Ringed Garnet Wisps - Gorgeous artisan lampwork beads, garnet and sterling silver earrings Red Tipped Spikes - Beautiful Sonoran jasper, hollow artisan lampwork beads, garnet and sterling silver If you are on my Facebook page and want to shop just click the Shop Now button. If you're local and are interested in a home jewelry show anytime this year please contact me so we can arrange it. Hostess discounts are available and a hostess gift is always part of the show!   You know I love purple, but I also think kyanite is a gorgeous gemstone.  For this pair I combined the two for a beautiful design.  Available in my studio. Turquoise and Gold Kumi I am doing more Kumihimo weaving with beads, cord and fiber and am adding in larger beads for some designs.  I love turquoise and gold and had fun weaving this beautiful and long necklace. Available in my studio.   Flower Garden Slider I'm designing a new style of bracelet. This is adjustable with a sliding bead so it is easy to put on, adjust and take off. This pretty is available in my studio.   Lime and Purple These earrings use a pair of my enamel drops.  This enameling technique is called crackle enamel.  I layer on multiple colors of glass and a crackle enamel. The crackle enamel causes the upper layers of glass to open up so you can see the lower layers of glass.  I combined the drops with artisan lampwork, Swarovski crystals, Czech glass and copper.  This is available in my studio.

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Weaving away!

I love turquoise and gold and that's the combination I went with for this Kumihimo weave necklace.  I wanted to incorporate some beads into this design and these Kazuri ceramic beads were perfect.  They have a base of turquoise with gold accents.  It takes a bit more work to include beads during the weave but adds such a nice little umph! to the design.  Here's a quick summary of what's involved in the process:

• Cut all the cords
• Thread the beads onto the cords.  Normally you thread on the beads for the entire necklace but since I was adding beads I only added the beads for the necklace section before the bead
• Set them up on the marudai (the wood weaving apparatus)
• Start weaving!

Here are some shots as I worked.

As you can see I had to add a bit more weight (my tools) to keep the weaving balanced :)

And here is an upclose shot of the necklace in its beginning.


And many hours later the beads are incorporated into the design and weaving continues.

At this point I have to add in the rest of the beads to complete the necklace.  So off I go to string them on and finish the weaving.  I'll be back when I'm done.

The weaving is done and now I just have to add the clasp.  I love this color combo!

Larimar and Pearls - a beautiful combination!

I LOVE larimar and, as any readers of my blog know, I always visit my favorite larimar sellers in Tucson - Cynthia and Jens.  Here is a set I made recently using larimar from Cynthia and Jens and freshwater button pearl drops.  I have another idea for this style of design combining wirewrap and stringing.  I'll have to give that a try to see if I like the way the beads hang better.  Enjoy!

Larimar, freshwater pearls and sterling silver earrings

Larimar, freshwater pearls and sterling silver necklace

It's already October!

Wow - time does fly when you're having fun!  I was working like crazy to come up with some new designs for a juried show application.  I've been in the show at the Fallbrook Art Center for the last two years and wanted some new stuff to make sure I'm accepted again this year.  I decided to make some more torch enameled earrings designs.  This time I cut out some copper circles, domed them, enameled them in one color and then added some glass stringer bits in another color.  I think they came out pretty nice!



I also made this wonderful set for fall.

All of these are available for sale in either my ArtFire or Etsy studios - for now.  They'll all be heading off to consignment or shows shortly.  So if you like them - get them now!  Of course I'm making more variations - but the patterns of glass on the enameled designs is one of a kind.  The glass starts acting on its own once it starts melting!



A Beachy Set!

One of my customers wanted a set in peridot and teal. I started off the preliminary design with an eclectic combination of lampwork beads from several different artists. All had some peridot green, some teal and a white base, but each had different patterns and different shapes.  When I showed her the mockup she wanted me to add something to give it a beachy feel. I had fun making this set and it turned out great!

Bracelet

Eclectic and fun earrings!

Necklace

Beautiful pearls!

Wow - I've been neglecting my blog!  I'm cross promoting on the web with Lynn of Urban Pearl Studio.  She has absolutely gorgeous pearl jewelry in her Etsy studio.  If you're looking for wedding jewelry or some sweet pearls to go with that little black dress check out her studio! I'll share some of her beautiful pearl designs and some of my own as well.

A gorgeous triple strand pearl bracelet by Lynn of Urban Pearl Studio



AA white freshwater pearl and twisted sterling silver post earrings by Susan of cserpentDesigns



Natural light blue chalcedony and white pearls necklace by Susan of cserpentDesigns



White coin pearl necklace by Lynn of Urban Pearl Studio

More Murano glass beauty!

I just finished up necklace and earrings using some of the gorgeous Murano beads I got in Venice in February.  I just LOVE the cobalt blue in these!  I used both sterling and gold filled so you can wear it with silver or gold accessories.

Both are available in my Etsy studio - just click on the pictures!

For chocolate lovers!

I recently listed this gorgeous, chocolate inspired bracelet in my ArtFire studio.

The chocolate bracelet sent me searching in ArtFire to see what other luscious, chocolatey things I could find.  I made a collection with all these other wonderful, chocolatey designs. I was so excited when I saw my collection in the ArtFire email with their daily collection. Here it is!

Isn't that cool!?

4/19/2012 update - and my collection made to ArtFire's front page today!  Whoopie!

It's time to start holiday gift shopping!

I just delivered my designs to the Fallbrook Art Center for their month long Art of the Holiday show. If you're looking for Christmas presents and are in or near Fallbrook be sure to check out all the gorgeous designs as the Art Center. A portion of every purchase goes to support the Art Center. Here are just a few of the designs I have for sale there.






      

It's beginning to look like fall at cserpentDesigns!

I have some wonderful fall designs in my Etsy and Artfire shops. Here is a sampling ...

Another week of new things ....

I want to get back to designing but I'm going to diligently get ALL my existing designs listed before I make more. So I'll share a few more of the latest listings ...

Luscious reds ...



Gorgeous pearls!

And a few more ...

A few new things ...

I'm taking pictures and steadily listing all the new inventory I've made. Here are just a few in blue ...



purples ...



and pinks ...