Category Archives: collections
Bordeaux
The latest object of attention of Neiman Marcus‘ Senior Accessories Editor, Roopal Patel are fabulous bordeaux items.
I have always loved this color. Most of the time, however, I’d forget its name and would just describe it as dark red or the color of wine. I think it’s a safe bet if you want to wear something within the family of the color red but are not daring enough to do so or if it does not fit your skin complexion.
Upon browsing through all of Ms. Patel’s bordeaux choices, I can’t help but realize that the color can and does resemble that of garnet! Garnet has a deep dark red color which is sometimes difficult to photograph. I have spent hours trying to get the right hues of the color come out. Most of the time, I’d wait for different times of the day just to get that perfect shot.
I am not a professional photographer but I do know how to balance light or ISO settings. Most of the time I will use macro shots. But thanks to my trusty Canon G10, which was a gift from my dad, I was able to capture these wonderful shots of garnet:
The necklace in the first photo is available here.
The one in the second photo was a custom request for a garnet necklace and earring set, garnet being her birth month.
What’s in Store
Now that Angela’s bridal headpiece is on its way, I have yet to decide what my next collection will be. Apart from the customized orders I have already pending on my desk, I was able to find time to conceptualize 3 new collections. The only problem is, I now don’t know which to set up first:
The Web Series
Twilight Collection
or
The Filigree Collection
What do you think?
The Classic Pearl
I’ve always considered the Pearl to be the most elegant and classic piece to work with. That is the reason why I always name my pieces “The Classic Pearl”. Pearls are timeless and versatile. They can be worn during any occasion without the wearer looking over accessorized or under accessorized.
I first started using pearls last year. Specifically, I opted for the freshwater pearl because it was much cheaper than the South Sea pearls. I started off with simple designs to test the market and they were a hit! I decided on the regular wire wrap because aside from it being easy to construct, I believed that it was simple and elegant enough to match the focal piece, which is the pearl.
Fast forward to today.
The royal wedding draws near and the internet is flooded with photos of the royal couple, particularly the soon to be princess, Kate Middleton. During one of my surfing, I found several photos which took my breath away. The earrings she wore often were an uncanny resemblance to the classic pearl earrings I made last year!! Not only that, she wore another pair of earrings that was also similar to the citrine earrings also from the same collection!!
No, my friends, I did not make those that she was wearing (although I wish that one day she will carry one of my pieces…:). In my excitement, I have made a collage that emphasizes what I have just said.
Here is a photo of the faceted Austrian crystal earrings in citrine gold wire wrapped in sterling silver and another one wire wrapped in argentium wire:
Here is the collage/the photos of “The Classic Pearl” earrings made from freshwater pearls wire wrapped in 10k solid gold wire:
photos courtesy of lifetimetv.com
These two earrings were from my 2010 Collection. I still make them now although I have upgraded into South Sea shell pearls.
For those who would like to request a custom item, please leave me a message here.
All About Pearls
Not just any other pearl, but the actual pearls I use in my 2011 Collection.
This is a new year and a new year entails new discoveries. Late last year I discovered what will constitute my pearl collection for 2011: South Sea Shell Pearls.
Little is known about this variety of pearls and so I will share a little of what I have found out:
South Sea Shell pearls are the by-products of the REAL South Sea Pearls. By this, it means that the shell of the clams producing these beauties are cut and pulverized or powdered and shaped to form a perfect round pearl. Successive layers are added over and over again mimicking the process of how natural pearls are created.
The effect is practically a flawfless and perfect shaped pearl!
BENEFITS
When creating pearl jewelry, I prefer to up the ante and use these kinds of pearls. They are unique and perfect and their quality is superb with the same feel and weight as the real South Sea pearls!
While considered man-made (although some real South Sea pearls are made from a nucleus inserted by man in the oyster to form the pearl), these pearls are not synthetic and neither are they made from wax or glass.
In my next post, I will be showing you what I was able to create using these beauties 🙂
On my desk….
….are some of the gemstones and pearls I will be using for my Christmas collection 🙂
South Sea Shell Pearls
Rock crystal quartz free form nuggets, faceted crystal rondelles, German crystals,
Herkimer diamonds!
Carved Blueberry quartz
Alexandrite, Denim quartz, Opalite (Tiffany Stone), Acqua quartz,
Kyanite, Yellow Opal, Black German crystal
And what I am currently working on:
Peridot crystal quartz and south sea shell pearls wire wrapped in 10k solid gold
Something new
So many things to do so little time!
Instead of backtracking my lack of posts, I’ll give you a brief overview of some of the pieces i’ve made for my winter collection.
I’ll be back in a few to post more! stay tuned!
I can start feeling the Christmas spirit with all the greens, and reds and blues and white!
It all started with headbands……
…..and the rest, they say, is history.
Yes, this is how ClassicSparklers started getting noticed. In my headbands I incorporated gemstone chips, mother of pearl, majorica and freshwater pearls, Austrian crystals, and swarovski crystals. Added to this is the fact that I add a bit of history to each item:
Some experts believe that headbands were actually copied from the early day wreaths that were from the early Greek period.
Old mosaic portraits showed Byzantine women wearing jewelled bands and head dresses.
Not just like any other fashion accessory, ClassicSparklers headpieces are designed to be functional. They take you from your day to day activities to an evening out in the town.
Rock Crystal Quartz
Rock crystal is the name given to all clear colorless quartz and is the transparent variety of the silica mineral quartz that is valued for its clarity and total lack of colour or flaws. Vessels and spheres have been carved from large crystals since ancient times, and the application of the word crystal to fine glassware derives from this practice. Rock crystal formerly was used extensively as a gemstone (usually brilliant-cut), and although the resemblance to diamond is remote, the widespread use of colourless quartz in jewelry gave rise to the use of the word diamond …
Rock crystal is an alternate and traditional birthstone for the month of April.
My fascination for this stone lead me to create jewelry that mimics as well as make the most out of its sparkly beauty!
All available now in my shop 🙂
Coming soon
It’s a lazy, quiet Sunday morning. I’m done with the household chores, have given the little one his bath, and now we sit side by side as I listen to him read his books. I, on the other hand, have my coffee mug at my side as I go through hundreds of photos I’ve taken the past few days of new pieces that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks. However, excitements get me as I can’t wait to share with you what’s in store. 🙂
So, just for you, loyal readers, you get a sneak peek of up and coming pieces from me 🙂
“Kaleidoscope”
Except for the “Kaleidoscope” necklace, everything here has not yet been posted. Should you be interested in one, please do drop me a message either here or send me a convo here 🙂
Of blogs and treasuries
A fellow etsian included my “Midnight” crocheted wire cuff in her blog 🙂
Then another treasury featuring my “Star In The Night” crocheted cuff.
Thank you! Thank you! 🙂
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