Our give-a-way of Three (3) FREE pair of earrings for answering our jewelry question in our last post are:
Lisa C. of Flaggstaff, Arizona
Jackie R. of Casa Grande, Arizona
and
Marsha H. of Casa Grande, Arizona
All three won a pair of our 2009 "On The Vine" hand crafted sterling silver hoop earrings wire wrapped with small, freshwater cultured pearls in 'Tahitian Blues'.
Congratulations and stay tuned for out next give-a-way!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and FREE jewelry baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~
Fall Jewelry
Okay - so I've read all sorts of articles, blogs, trend forecasts, etc. on what's hot and what's not this Fall 2009 season - but I'd really like to hear from all of you - our MiShel Designs Fans and customers (and anyone else out there who likes to wear pretty jewelry!).
So, give us some feedback...do you like big earrings, layered necklaces, lots of bracelets (before you have to cover your arms for winter) or do you like it all?
And, what colors (don't worry about trends now, folks!) truly get you in the fall mood or keep you thinking of cool fall nights, crisp colored leaves blowing in the wind and the smell of apple cider and cinnamon?
We're going to take everything you post and come up with some 'cool' designs for you this fall!
And, the first three (3) people to respond and post something will get a FREE - yep, I said FREE - pair of our latest "On the Vine" hoop earrings in some great Tahitian/Peacock colors!
So, start typing and get yourself decked out for FALL!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and "Fall"ing Pearls!!
Cheers,
~Shel~
Confused between Summer and Fall !
Okay - I've been up here in the mountains at my sis's cabin (the neighbor's actually - house sitting their house and doggies) in Nutrioso, Arizona for several weeks and have been loving the pine and aspen trees, cool breezes, 4th of July parade and fireworks, cookouts, late night 'barn games' the kids play and even the occasional spotting of the bear, wolf and mountain lion; it's the perfect back drop for fall (fall inspired designs, that is!). However, my brain seems to be thinking (feeling) that I'm "missing out on summer"! Is that strange - or what?!!
My subconscious is somehow longing for 'summer'. True summer. You know,...pool parties, picnics in the park, the smell of coppertone, fresh seafood, sunsets that don't come until after 8:00p.m., red ripe tomatoes from Illinois (the best!!), the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, warm sunlit days ('m getting those), baseball (I'm really not into baseball - unless the Diamond Backs are playing!) and all that summer stuff.
Even though I've barely used up half my spring/summer bead stash from the Tucson Gem and Mineral show this past February, my brain keeps going to those lovely faceted transluscent gemstones in light blues, pinks, misty greens, pale yellows and bright oranges! Maybe it's because I'm used to 115F degree temps in the summer, or going to the beach instead of the mountains, but, none-the-less, as a designer - it's time to get the "Fall Line" up and out!!
Fall is what I need to concetrate on becuase that's what designers's do in the spring and summer - they design for fall and winter,...and by the fall/winter (or before) they start designing for the spring and summer...I feel like a baby who has it's days and nights mixed up! LOL!!But, even though I'm a bit 'confused' right now - I'm loving every minute of the cool summer breezes in the mountains, the clouds, the occasional rain and thunder, the friends and family I am getting to spend time with, and the cute, old-fashioned, little towns that are up here - it reminds me of home (you know, my home town of "Mayberry" as I refer to it!). And, I always loved my hometown best in the summer. Maybe that's why I'm thinking of summer gemstones and colors instead of fall ones.
Although,...fall was beautiful there too - with it's golden yellows, burnt oranges and soft reds with flecks of olive greens and light browns....ooh....I can see fall now!!
Maybe I just needed to visualize! And write,......
Okay - Until next time,
Peace, love and fall colored pearls!!
Cheers,
~Shell~
Please visit our MiShel Designs website.
And, you can find us on Etsy now, too!
Happy Independence Day - USA !!!
Wishing everone in the USA a very happy and safe Independence Day!
I'm celebrating the 4th and a sending big THANK YOU to all those who made it possible - for with out you, we wouldn't be living the free lives we're living now.
Words are just not enough,.....
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Freedom!!
Artist's Review - Ying Yang Pendant from Artbeads.com
We liked the review that came from another jewelry artist on a different Artbeads.com item and basically decided to following suite - so to speak - and make this a short and sweet one (I know, hard for you to believe, coming from me, huh?!).
We photographed the pendant, front and back, as Jewelry Artist, Gayle Dowell, of "This Artist's Journey" said all suppliers should do, even though pendants like the one we have really don't need it as much as the one she had did. (Please follow the link and check out her review)
We ordered the small Ying Yang Pendants - "H-16mm by W-12mm" from Artbeads.com and were pleased with their 'heft' and found them to be perfect for earrings, charms and necklace talismans. Nothing 'cheap' about these - perfect quality! Quality = A+
We thought of the obvious, and about our "Basic Earring Class" we teach, and decided to start with a pair of "Ying/Yang Earrings" in black and white - with a small 'twist'. These simple, yet stylish earrings, can be made in as little as 15 minutes - provided you already have your own ear-wires/hooks. Our ear-wires/hooks are handcrafted, but we still managed to make these 'go to' earrings in about 25 minutes. Ease of use = A+
We're actually pretty excited about these little 'gems' because we see all sorts of potential - charms, earrings, dangles from a 'bridal' anklet of all blue stones for your 'something blue' when you get married and have to 'mesh' with your significant other - the 'Ying' of your 'Yang', so to speak.....the possibilities are endless. Versatility = A+
The price from Artbeads.com for the Ying Yang pendant is extremely reasonable. Money wise: $, $$, $$$ = $
Overall Grade: A+
We enjoy using Artbeads.com and encourage you to give them a chance when ordering supplies for your next 'creative moment'!
They've never let us down!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Great Beading Supplies, Baby!
Cheers,
~Shel~
More Designers we're loving right NOW!
Okay - here's another in the series of "Designers We're Loving Right NOW!"
Pade Vavra - Her Herkimer Diamond designs are way cool - check out these bangle type bracelets - awesome!!
And these earrings are anything but typical!!
And these earrings are anything but typical!!And everyone's favorite these days - Melissa Joy Manning's jewelry - because it's pretty cool! And very 'organic'.
And then, for the fun of it - there's Kathy Frey's Anemone Pendant!
Okay - that should give us all sweet dreams!!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls (and fun jewelry, too!) Baby!
~Shel~
Creating
I love creating jewelry. Especially jewelry with clean, simple lines, that's versatile and goes easily from day to night attire.
Here, our long silver and pearl link necklace, made especially for my niece for her college graduation, is one of those lovely pieces!
We've had so many comments on it, I thought I'd share it with all of you here on our blog.
Similar versions will be for sale soon on our MiShel Designs website!
Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend and please remember those who have ever served our country - we wouldn't have our wonderful way of life without their dedication, sacrifice and love.
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls, Baby!!
Cheers,
~Shel~ 
Style Envy - shop and save!
Hey there fashion fans!We're blogging to you today about one of our favorite sites - Style Envy!
Style Envy is THE place for fashion and beauty specials. You've just gotta visit Style Envy before you shop anywhere else! You'll find the latest coupon codes, free shipping offers, the latest trends and the best new designers. Shop designer fashion for less and save! Seriously!!
Heart's Desire Jewelry (yep, we're featuring another jewelry designer - because, hey, there's always "plenty" when you believe there is!!) They like to support the American Heart Association (like we do), they have gorgeous jewels, and they look like a fun bunch!!
White Python and Leather - oohhh....Beatrix-Ong! Oh Yes!
Hey - we're Arizona girls - we love the 'flip-flop-sandals-gone-glam look!!
Okay,...stay tuned for more!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Pearls -and jewelry, and fashion, and more!
~Shel~
Our Favorite Jewelry Designers Right Now!
We were asked who inspires us and who we think is the absolute King/Queen of jewelry designs right now and who's jewelry you should go check out (other than ours, of course!) , so here's a list of "Who we're loving NOW!"
Todd Reed - OMG!! His stuff is amazing - no need to say anything else! He's the King!
Todd Reed Bracelet - amazing or what?!!
Dominique Cohen - Could her stuff be any hotter than it is!?!! Not likely - She's our queen!
Jewelry by Dominique Cohen.
And then there's Margaux Lange - Simply Fun!! Check out her Barbie Jewelry - it's so wild, you just can't stop looking at it! I want the 'eyes'.....they're way cool!
Okay - that's it for now.....we'll give you more on another day!!
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Great Jewelry!
Cheers,
~Shel~
Artbeads Components Review
We've been ordering components and supplies from Artbeads.com and using their items in our designs for about 5 or so years now, so it was really wonderful when they asked us to review some of their products here on our blog. We create lots of jewelry using some very basic 'staples' (as we call them) such as 2mm seamless round beads, as well as various styles of chains, some pendants, Swarovski Crystals and more from Artbeads.com and we've chosen several items which we'll post over the next month or so to blog about. We're very lucky as Artbeads.com put no stipulations (include the "good, the bad, and the ugly") on how we review any of these produts.
Many of the items we will blog about will have not only the featured item included in the design, but several other items from artbeads as well. And, we're going to include links to all of the Artbeads.com items we use so you can easily find them for your own beading pleasures!
Since it's basically summer time (well, here in Arizona it is because it's already hit 100 degrees once this year and it's supposed to be 104 in a couple of days!) we decided to do our first review on a wonderful little Thai Silver Sun Design Pendant - in the Hill Tribe Silver Pendants Section of Artbeads.com - and it couldn't have pleased us more!
We wanted to create a lightweight, airy and fun pair of "summer" earrings - your 'go to' earrings for all summer - so, we paired these little beauties with some faceted citrine we picked up at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show this February and hand forged these large oval hoop ear-wires with sterling silver 20 gauge round, half hard wire for the beads and pendants to dangle freely from. Very simple, yet versitile and fun!
We were very pleased with these little pendants when they arrived. The thickness of the silver is quite nice - not too heavy, yet not so light they will bend. The antiqued (blackened) sun pattern in each pendant is quite nice and each one shows slight variations of the pattern due to the individual hand-crafted nature, allowing them a truly organic look and feel.
The 'bail' on each tiny pendant is perfectly suited for the size of the pendant, yet is still large enough to be strung with seed beads, or anchored on to flexible beading wire for
a multiple-strand necklace or bracelet.
a multiple-strand necklace or bracelet. These little pendants/charms are perfect for designing a cute pair of earrings (our choice), hanging them on a bracelet with other small pendants and/or charms to create a really cute 'moving' bracelet or for putting one center stage on a small chain with a few natural stones, beads or gems (pearls!!) to have a simple, yet striking necklace.
Rating these (our idea - not artbeads.com) on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best and something we'd highly recommend) we'd give these little Thai Silver Sun Designs Pendants a perfect 10 and not only because they're right up our alley as far as their style goes, but for their durability and quality, their fantastic price - only $3.89 each! - and their unlimited design options. Plus they're super stylish and fashionable right now, too!
Please weigh in and let us know what your impression of these earrings are using Artbeads.com's Sun Design Pendants.
Until next time,
Peace, Love and Artbeads.com baby!!
~Shel~
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