Pantone Colors of the Year - 2021

The Very Nice Group on Facebook had a challenge to come up with designs based on the Pantone colors of the year for 2021.  The colors are "illuminating" (yellow) and "ultimate gray".  Here is the inspiration picture we got.

I'm having a LOT of fun with enameling, and crackle enamel is what I've been playing with for many months now, so I decided to start by combining those colors in enameling.  With crackle enamel you layer many different colors layers, heat them up and the crackle enamel causes the colors to separate showing the colors below.  It is part science and part luck what you end up creating.  For these enamel pieces I used 3 colors for all - opaque grey, transparent and opaque yellow.  For some I also used a transparent opalescent white.  Just changing the order of the layers creates very different results. 

Here are the designs I created. The first 2 have enamels in the same colors and order.

Sunshine and Gray Skies - SOLD - Enamel on copper, artisan lampwork, citrine and copper

Relics - enamel on brass, dinosaur bone, citrine and brass

Going Tribal - for these I changed the order of the enamel.  Gray was added at the end and it almost disappeared as the crackle enamel caused the colors to move.  The transparent yellow turned out brown as it reacted with the copper.  The patterns and shape reminded me of sea slugs - LOL!

For this pair I enameled in gray, added some gold highlights and then did feather raku to get those random black patterns.  Feather raku is a challenge.  You want to get some nice random patterns, but don't want a big black smudge.  I also used gold fill/vermeil beads and wire for the yellow rather than a yellow gemstone.

Golden Gray Skies - SOLD - enamel on copper, artisan lampwork, gold vermeil and gold fill

And, finally, I made a pair with just gemstones - though the lemon quartz is AAA quality with fabulous step faceting.

Leaves and Sunshine - Botswana agate carved leaves, AAA lemon quartz and sterling silver

This was a fun challenge and I enjoyed making a variety of designs in yellow and gray and it was a popular color palette for several of my customers as well!

St. Patrick's Day is almost here. If you need some jewelry so you'll be pinch proof keep on reading.

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SHOP NOW cserpentDesigns Newsletter March 2021 #10 St. Patrick's Day is almost here! I've been remiss in sending out emails so I figured it was high time I got my behind in gear! I absolutely love the green beer mugs in the earrings below. If you're local and want to be pinch proof on St. Patty's Day we can hookup for in person delivery to make sure you get them on time. Lady of the Green Kirtle Earrings Originally made for a The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe themed show. For these I used fabulous artisan ceramic spikes and lampwork glass, chrysoprase and sterling silver. Shop Malachite and Petals Earrings Sweet, dainty earrings with beautifully patterned malachite. Shop A Mug O' Green Beer Earrings I just LOVE these frothy beer mugs! They are artisan made glass beads and hang below a rich, green Swarovski crystal and sterling silver connector. Shop Green with Envy Earrings These have so many shades of green with silver sparkles! Shop Deep In The Forest Bracelet The beautiful, ceramic Kazuri bead started off this design. I added fabulous lampwork beads, more kazuri beads and Swarovski crystals. Shop No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe. cserpentDesigns 7930 Dell Rim Court San Diego, CA 92126 ‌ ‌

 

SHOP NOW cserpentDesigns Newsletter August 2020 #5

Are you an August baby?  Peridot is the birthstone for August.  Maybe you just love peridot?  If so then read on ... I love that peridot is such a bright shade of green.  For me it is a happy stone.  Peridot is known as the stone of compassion.  It is believed to bring good health, restful sleep and peace to relationships by balancing emotions and mind.  What I didn't know, until I did a little research, is that peridot is one of only two gems (diamond is the other) formed in the molten rock of the upper mantle of our planet and brought to the surface by the tremendous forces of earthquakes and volcanoes.   How cool is that!  I guess I should really say - how HOT is that?  Even more interesting is that peridot has been found in pallasite (iron) meteorites.  The peridot stones from meteorites are usually very small since the meteors are subjected to tremendous stress in space and come crashing to the ground on earth.  Needless to say peridot from meteorites is pretty rare. Some designs for the peridot lover ...

Purple and Peridot Earrings Fabulous peridot set in sterling silver hanging below beautiful green and purple artisan lampwork beads, framed by peridot and Swarovski crystals. View Product Rough At The Top Earrings I love these artisan made, lime and black lampwork beads.  Peridot and onyx are the perfect gemstones to accent the glass.  Peridot rough is on top with onyx rondelles.  Below is a faceted onyx drop with little peridot beads. View Product Caged Peridot Necklace AA grade peridot captured inside a sterling silver cage and flanked by A grade round peridot beads on a sterling silver chain View Product Caged Peridot Earrings AA grade peridot captured inside a sterling silver cage with AAA grade peridot dangling below. View Product Orange Glow Watermelon Earrings Beautiful watermelon lampwork beads hang inside hammered sterling silver rings.  Carnelian and peridot gemstones dangle above. View Product

Here are the online shows I'll be doing in September on Facebook: Sep. 6 1PM - Sep. 7 12PM - The Jewellery Show Sep. 10 4PM - Sep 12 3:30PM - LBA Designers Galleria Showcase Sep. 27 7AM - Sep. 29 2AM - Artist Spotlight I also have one more online show to do in August from 7AM on Aug. 30 - 2AM on Sep. 1 in the Artist Spotlight Facebook group. If you're interested in any of these shows and not already a member of the Facebook groups just click the join button on the group page.