Edera Jewelry: Romantic Handmade Lace Designs

Scenes from the Studio...{Glimpses}

2012-02-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

New designs for Spring/Summer 2012, debuting here soon!

xo,

P.S. Follow me on Facebook for additional previews of designs and information about the launch of my new website.

Scenes from the Studio...

2011-12-29T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've shared some recent work on the blog, so I thought I'd do a whole post on new designs that I've created in the past month or so.

.............................................................

These custom earrings were a variation on my Giselaine style, and were a custom order for a lovely bride in Canada. I made them in gold lace, with gorgeous quartz crystal briolettes and a deeper "black diamond" colored vintage rhinestone trim...

{Custom Giselaine Earrings in Gold}

.............................................................
These decadent chandelier earrings were another special order, this time for a very sweet Etsy friend. We both have a love for ancient Greek and Roman jewelry, which partially inspired the shape of the earrings. They have black silk half moon motifs, embellished with lots of gold lace, garnets, watermelon tourmalines, citrine, and 24k gold plated beads...

{Custom Gold Lace Chandelier Earrings with Garnets and Tourmaline}

.............................................................

These intricate earrings are a new design and feature sinuous curving braided cording looped around pearls and vintage rhinestones.

{Hélène Earrings, with Gold and Silver Lace Knotwork and Pearls}

.............................................................

These bridal chandelier earrings feature silk textile motifs in a pale taupe, embellished with silver lace flowers with pink tourmaline rondelles. They hang from sparkling silver posts and have a luxurious fringe of flawless rose quartz briolettes...

{Athenais Earrings, with Taupe Silk, Silver Lace and Rose Quartz}

.............................................................

Another design from my Fall/Winter 2011 Neoclassical Collection, this necklace features a delicate oval lace motif, embellished with tiny lace flowers and a mixture of blush pink stones and pearls...

{Attar of Roses Bridal Bib Necklace, with Silver Lace and Blush Pink Stones}

.............................................................

And finally, one other custom order I recently completed. These gold lace chandelier earrings are a variation on my Serenissima style and were a custom order for another lovely client. The earrings incorporate some gorgeous green peridot to tie into the colors of the client's wedding...

{Custom Serenissima Earrings, Gold Lace Bridal Chandeliers with Peridot}

.............................................................

I am currently working on some new designs for my Neoclassical collection, but soon it will be time to start thinking of work for Spring and Summer and the busy wedding season!

xo,

Wishing you...

2011-12-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Holiday Sale...

2011-11-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

{ Apolline Necklace, Aiglentine Earrings
Juliette Necklace, Morgaine Bracelet }

From now until December 15th, take 20% off your order in my Etsy Shop using the code HOLIDAYSPARKLE20 at checkout.

*Sale excludes made-to-order and custom designs.

xo,

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:23:00.000-08:00

To all of my readers in the US, hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving today!

xo,

Featured in Get Married Magazine...

2011-10-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Get Married Magazine for featuring my Frida earrings in their Winter 2011 issue!

xo,

The Bohemian Eco-Fashion of Oda

2011-10-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

I recently came across the indie clothing company Oda on Etsy and was intrigued by the line's blending of tribal and historical fashion elements, as well as by the unusual beaded embellishments that feature in most of their designs...

Founded by three women, Angie Kim, Mandalyn Begay, and Maggie Kim, the line focuses on eco-friendly clothing, and incorporates organically produced fibers and hand-dyed textiles using natural dyes. The designers describe their style as "in the Edwardian tradition and incorporating Tokyo-pop flavor..."

All photos used with kind permission from Oda. You can see more of their lovely work here:

{Website}

{Etsy}

xo,

Announcing the Neoclassical Collection, F/W 2011...

2011-09-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to unveil some of the first designs from my Fall/Winter 2011 Collection! If you've been following my business page on Facebook, you probably already know that this collection is very inspired by a "neoclassical" style--think the opulent court during Napoleonic Era France, with echos of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. I was invited by the Two Wedding Belles to do a guest post on their blog last week, in which I discuss the inspiration behind this collection and give an overview of my creative process. You can check the interview out here...

{Sabina Earrings}

{ Lys Post Earrings }

{ Fortunée Heart Necklace }

{ Apolline Necklace }

{ Thalie Earrings }

{ Juliette Heart Necklace }

I'll be adding more designs to my Etsy shop in the coming weeks. In another news, I'm very happy to announce that my website is nearly ready to launch--I'll be sure to post on here once it's live!

xo,

A Collaboration with Artist Merle Pace

2011-08-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Recently my dear friend, Merle, a talented artist, printmaker, photographer, jewelry-maker and doll-maker extraordinaire, asked if she could incorporate some of my jewelry designs into a series of photos she was shooting. The results turned out so beautifully I had to share them on the blog!

Merle is known for her dramatic portraits, many of them self-portraits, with saturated colors and rich costuming. I love how each series has a distinctive character and story being told by the use of costuming, colors and props.

"Each piece brought a certain 'character' to mind for me--I wanted to show how these pieces could be inspired by the rich and lush jewelry of the past but also show how a modern bride or anyone could wear them today."

Monarch

This series of photos has Merle wearing my Monarch Butterfly Necklace.

"The piece of lace I am wearing on my head is really old (a piece saved from a textile collection). It is so gorgeous--ivory lace trimmed with black velvet. I am also wearing a really old white cotton lace top. I envisioned this as a gypsy and bohemian bride."

Hylas and the Nymphs

In this series, Merle is wearing a seafoam green silk medallion necklace of mine, and was inspired by the Pre-Raphaelite painting "Hylas and the Nymphs" by J.W. Waterhouse. You can see the influence in the orange and green color scheme and the flowing hair.

La Belle Dame

For this series, Merle envisioned my Belle Dame Necklace being worn by "a glamorous bride, but with a vintage feel--like a bride you would see in an old photograph."

Sidonia

For this series, Merle said she was inspired by the idea of incorporating black as an accent in a wedding. She is wearing my Sidonia Earrings, and pairs them with black lace, an Empire waisted gown and a classic setting for what she calls a "Regency Wedding" style.

Violaine

My Violaine Necklace also inspired two very different series. According the Merle, "for the Violaine, I felt it needed a really regal setting, which is why I had Lorrisa wear a white wedding gown and purple velvet coat. Violaine is just such a strong piece, I thought that the photos should be taken in a way to show that off. I also took a few of myself wearing the necklace with vintage lace to show a softer side of the design."

A big thank you to Merle for allowing some of my jewelry pieces to be a part of her wonderful photography!

Be sure to check out all of Merle's beautiful work here:

{Blog}

{Flickr}

All photos used with kind permission from the artist. Model credit: Merle Pace and Lorissa Byely

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2011-07-10T12:21:00.000-07:00

A work in progress--a new design from my Fall/Winter 2011 collection. More designs coming soon!

xo,

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Scenes from the Studio...

2011-06-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lots of new work to share with you today! Recently I've been experimenting with creating new patterns and lace motifs.
This necklace was created around a stylized bow design. The pendant is adorned with dozens of tiny freshwater pearls and a sprinkling of vintage rhinestones. It will be making its way to my Wedzu shop shortly. {I also have a very cute, smaller version of this style currently in the works!}

Several months ago I developed a lace pattern in the shape of an ivy leaf {quite appropriate} and I really wanted to explore combining the design with wire-wrapped vines on a bridal hair ornament...

{Ivy Vine Hair Comb}

The comb has lots of tiny gold lace ivy leaves embroidered with olive green vesuvianite and freshwater pearls. I think it has a very woodland/fairy tale feel to it!

I also created a pair of matching earrings, with an asymmetrical clusters of beaded lace leaves twining their way up a gold-filled chain...

{Ivy Vine Earrings}
*

{Mélisande Gold Lace Chandelier Earrings}

Long, dangling earrings are inspiring me at the moment, as you can see. These earrings have intricate golden lace motifs with honey yellow citrine stones and freshwater pearls.

I also recently created this silk and lace bridal hair comb with detachable veil for a lovely customer...

{Custom Bridal Hair Ornament with Silk, Lace and Pearls}

Pretty soon it will be time for me to switch gears and start looking ahead to Fall and Winter. I've already been sketching and plotting and "pinning" inspiration in anticipation of creating my new collection--looking forward to sharing more in the upcoming weeks!

xo,

The Detailed Art of Yelena Bryksenkova...

2011-05-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Right now I am really loving the work of artist and illustrator Yelena Brysenkova. I recently came across her art on Etsy and was captivated by her use of detailed patterns and restrained color palettes in her mixed-media paintings--and of course, I love the fact that she has a series based on lace motifs!

{Maitresse-en-Titre}

{Lace by Marie Sedláčková-Serbousková}

From her artist biography:

"a few of my favorite things are world exploration, dashing historical men, good grammar, fancy urns, books, elephants, Persian portraiture, folklore, Japanese things, limericks, elaborate textiles, Napoleon Bonaparte, silent cinema, Russian ballet, and mysterious circumstances..."

{Zeigfield Girls, Red}

{Czech Lace}

{Alice}

{Moravian Lace}

More of Yelena's work can be viewed here:

{ Etsy }

{Website}

{Blog}

(All images used with kind permission from the artist.)

xo,

Announcing the Fairy Tale Wedding Collection, S/S 2011...

2011-04-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to share some of the key pieces from my Spring/Summer Wedding Collection, inspired by fairy tales, the rich embroidery of the medieval and Rococo eras, and the architecture of Versailles...

{click photo caption to be taken to the jewelry}

{Climbing Rose Earrings}

{Diamanta Post Earrings}

{ Dulcinea Earrings}

{Melilot Earrings}

{Yseult Crown Brooch}

The Climbing Rose, Dulcinea and Melilot Earrings were inspired by the golden and pink colors of the inspiration board in this post, while the Diamanta Earrings and Yseult Brooch drew their inspiration from this silver inspiration board.

I'll be adding more designs to the collection in the coming weeks, including some rich necklaces and a hair ornament or two, but I thought there couldn't be a more auspicious date to launch a collection of fairy tale-inspired jewelry than on the day that a real fairy tale royal wedding is occurring :)

xo,

Featured in Kentucky Bride Magazine...

2011-04-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Kentucky Bride magazine for featuring some of my jewelry in their Spring 2011 issue!

I was thrilled to have my Lys necklace and earrings included in the

above article on Bridal Fashion Trends of 2011!

The magazine is available through their website and newsstands throughout the state.

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2011-04-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

How is everyone? Sorry it's been so quiet on my blog lately--I've been logging quite a few hours in the studio recently! Remember those little "glimpses" of works in progress from this post? All of the designs are now finished and I thought I'd share the results {plus a new piece that I just finished and listed on Etsy!}

This romantic handmade lace head piece was for a lovely bride in the UK.

I created all the lace motifs with ivory silk thread to compliment the lace patterns of her wedding dress, and then embellished it with lots of sparkly pearls and crystals.

This set was another custom order and a fun design challenge as the two necklaces are convertible and can be worn various ways...

Either layered as a choker and longer chain...

Linked together for an opulent opera-length necklace...

Or even with the matching bracelet hooked in to make a medium length style.

These four little pairs of earrings are destined as gifts for four bridesmaids

{I love the coral color on them!}

And here is another custom wedding order, featuring a dainty pair of lace flower earrings and matching bracelet...

And last but not least, a new design in my Etsy Shop,

the Yseult Brooch:

Continuing the theme of my Spring/Summer Wedding Collection, fairy tales, this little brooch is in the shape of a crown and is decorated in tiny seed pearls and vintage rhinestones. I have several other new designs in the works--be on the lookout for a shop update next week!

xo,

For Japan with Love...

2011-03-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

Like so many, I have been deeply saddened by the scenes of devastation and suffering in Japan since the 8.9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit on March 11th. I have been keeping the people of that region in my thoughts and in an effort to help in some more tangible way, have made a donation to ShelterBox, a non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters.

On Friday, March 18th there will be a Bloggers Day of Silence, an event organized by bloggers Lydia of Ever Ours and of Lucia of Utterly Engaged. On that day my blog and many others will be silent as a way of honoring the victims of the disaster and those still having to cope with its aftermath. Lauren and Lucia have set up a website called For Japan with Love, which is collecting monetary donations to ShelterBox. Their goal is to raise enough funds to buy five boxes. Each large green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Please help with this worthy cause. To find out more information please visit For Japan with Love. To join in the Bloggers Day of Silence, visit this link and leave a comment. Donations to ShelterBox are being collected here.

xo,

The Intricate Ceramics of Isabelle Abramson...

2011-03-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

I recently came across the beautiful ceramics of artist Isabelle Abramson and was amazed by the intricate and delicate effects she achieves in this medium. An entirely self-taught artist, Isabelle carefully hand-carves complex patterns into snow white porcelain, for a result that looks remarkably like lace...

All photos used with kind permission from Isabelle Abramson.

More of her work can be viewed here:

{Website}

{Etsy Shop}

{Facebook}

xo,

{Inspiration Board} Fairy Tale Pinks and Golds...

2011-03-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a great week so far! I wanted to share another inspiration board I recently put together, continuing on the main theme of my Spring/Summer 2011 Bridal Collection: fairy tales. The colors of blush pink and golden yellow are really inspiring me at the moment, as perfectly captured in these beautiful and intricately detailed images...

{1. Vintage Corset, photo by Shae Acopian Detar via Everything Style

2. Gloucester Cathedral- Cloisters, photo by Steven Meyer-Rassow

3. Versailles, photo by Megh Testerman

4. Silk Taffeta Embroidered in Chain and Beauvais Stitch, late 18th century,

from Fabrics: The Decorative Art of Textiles by Catherine LeBeau, via Trouvais

5. 1830's Georgian Gold and Diamond Earrings, via Soulful Adornment Gallery

6. Sleeping Beauty by Edmund Dulac, via Art Passions }

Enjoy!

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...{Glimpses}

2011-03-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I've been quiet on the blog lately--I've been working on new designs for the shop, as well as on several interesting custom projects that have been keeping me busy...I thought I'd share a few glimpses of what I've been creating!

{Odette Earrings, available in my Etsy Sho p}

{Blush Pink and Buttercream Earrings, coming soon!}
xo,

A Tour of Versailles...

2011-02-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I took a leisurely stroll through Versailles, passing through the Hall of Mirrors and admiring the hangings in the Queen's Chamber...without even leaving my chair! Via the Google Art Project, you can now take a virtual tour of Versailles and other famous museums. You navigate using arrows to get a panoramic view of each room and can even zoom in close to examine the artwork on the walls. Not a bad way to spend a snowbound afternoon :)

{Thanks to Encyclopedia of the Exquisite for introducing me to this new way to armchair travel!}

xo,

The Beautiful Photography of Malgorzata Maj

2011-01-28T07:46:00.000-08:00

I recently came across the hauntingly beautiful and evocative photography of Malgorzata Maj and had to share. Some of her dream-like photographs remind my of Pre-Raphaelite and Renaissance paintings, others of the work ofVictorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron--all of them are perfectly composed and beautifully costumed...

{click on the images to enlarge}

Her biography says she draws inspiration from

"XIXth century painting colours and themes, ghostly moods & dreamy visions, also fascinated with music..."

All photos courtesy of Malgorzata Maj/Sarachmet Photography.

More work can be viewed here:

{Portfolio}

{Blog}

{Facebook}

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2011-01-20T07:52:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy in the studio--here's a little update of what I've been working on lately!

The mood board that I shared on Monday inspired the colors of this decadent pair of earrings...

Giselaine Earrings

These are perhaps the sparkliest pair of earrings I've ever made--each earring has over 25 vintage rhinestones stitched onto the base of handmade silver lace, as well as beautiful faceted quartz crystals, cubic zirconia and tiny freshwater pearls...

They're a little preview of my Spring/Summer Wedding Collection and now available in my Etsy Shop.

I also recently completed two custom orders:

a dainty pair of lace flower earrings with pearls and green amethyst stones...

And an elegant pair of bridal earrings in ivory silk and pearls...

Today I'm finishing up a new earring design for the shop and will be onto making some dainty necklaces...think lace, pastel gemstones and crowns! What is everyone else working on today?

xo,

{Inspiration Board} Fairy Tale Silvers

2011-01-17T11:50:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am currently working on my Spring/Summer Collection. Right now I'm facinated by fairy tale illustrations from the turn of the 20th century, heavily beaded and metal embroidered textiles, architectural details from Versailles, fairies, nymphs and pixies, and sparkly things. Here are some dreamy images that are really inspiring me at the moment:

{1. Vintage Photo, source unknown, via UnderTheIvy

2. Detail of Versailles, photo by Alix Bancourt, via The Cherry Blossom Girl

3. Napoleonic Era Silver Embroidery, from the exhibition catalogue of Josephine Imperatrice de la Mode: L'Elegance sous l'Empire, via Madame Guillotine

4. Edwardian Paste Earrings from Vintage Sparkles on Etsy

5. Embroidered Shoes, from the exhibition catalogue of Josephine Imperatrice de la Mode: L'Elegance sous l'Empire, via Madame Guillotine

6. Point de Gaze Lace Fan detail, source unknown, via Lace Fairy

7. Gold Embroidery from Balmain Bodice, photo by Susan Elliott, via Plays With Needles

8. Arthur Rackham Illustration via ArtsyCraftsy}

xo,

The New Year...

2011-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I took a few weeks off from blogging and creating and am now feeling refreshed and ready for what the new year brings. And it already full of some exciting things! I thought I'd make my first post of 2011 about some news, changes, and upcoming projects...

*One of the biggest changes for this year is that I've decided to change my custom work process. Last year was a learning experience for me and I was flooded with many, many custom orders. While I love getting to work closely with brides and customers, I realized that I needed to find more of a balance. Special orders are quite labor and time-intensive, and I found that I was left with little time to create new jewelry. I've decided that I am going to schedule far fewer custom work projects per month and will have a slightly longer waiting list. I am hoping that this will allow me more time to create new and wonderful designs for the shop, while still keeping custom work an option.

*In other news, I recently had some of jewelry designs photographed for a stunning bridal editorial. There is a chance that it may be published in a wedding magazine--I will keep you posted! But in the meantime, here is a sneak peek of the shoot:

{Photo courtesy of Kismis Ink Photography}

*Another goal for the year is to launch a bona fide website! I'm still in the researching and planning stages, but I hope to have an official website by the end of the year.

*And on the design front, I'm working on my Spring/Summer 2011 collection. It will primarily focus on bridal jewelry and right now it is shaping up to be inspired by fairy tales. I'll be sharing inspiration and photos of new designs in the coming weeks. Here is the first design from the collection, the Flowering Heart Earrings.

I'd love to hear what everyone's plans are for the coming year. Please be sure to stop by and say hello in the comments section! And on that note, I'll close with a Treasury I made the other day that I think captures the feeling of new beginnings:

Blossoming...

These dreams are bl... pleasebestill $25.00	Magic lanterns - fi... irenesuchocki $30.00	Red Rose Necklace H... Crafts2Cherish $56.00	8 x 10 Mounted Prin... lilygreenwood $12.00
Felted mittens --- ... aureliaLT $39.00	Frida Kahlo Mosaic ... laurettacreati... $450.00	RESERVED: Embroider... chixycoco $56.00	Wide cable knit acc... dilettant $65.00
Leona And The Yello... janethillstudi... $55.00	bright sunshiney da... jennifermorris... $139.00	Folkloric Suzani Pi... MaterialRecove... $132.00	Plum Print - Free S... hadleyhutton $28.00
Technicolor Pansy B... mamaslittlebab... $42.00	Bright floral petit... MeMeWorld $48.00	Embroidered doll hilleryrebe $30.00	Climbing Roses Broo... fairyberry $43.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

xo,

2010-12-23T07:09:00.000-08:00

I'll be taking a little break from blogging for the next week and a half...see you next year!

xoxo,

Photos from the "Useful and Beautiful" Show...

2010-12-22T10:29:00.000-08:00

As some of you may remember, a few months ago I was asked to include several of my designs in a group show in Indianapolis entitled Useful and Beautiful: A Return to Myth and Romance in Art. The show featured a variety of artists working in different mediums, all of which could be considered a modern take on the Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic. I just received some photos of the exhibit, curated by the talented Merle Pace, and wanted to share them...I think Merle did a wonderful job!

{A vignette featuring Merle Pace's "Peacock Pomegranate Queen" Doll}

{Displays showcasing my jewelry, with photos of the paintings that inspired each design }

{A view from upstairs}

{A scene in the window, with Merle Pace's "Lady of Shalott" Doll}

{Artwork by Heather Sleightholm}

{Signage showing the inspiration behind the show}

{Artwork by Julia Jeffrey}

The show was held at Big Hat Books as part of the Fall Gallery Tour and received a great review here.

Some of the designs that were in the show are now available in my Etsy Shop.

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2010-12-07T09:24:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've done a "Scenes from the Studio" post, so today I thought I'd share some custom work projects that I recently finished...

These earrings for a lovely bride in Australia were designed to match the lace and beadwork of her wedding gown. You can see a little swatch of the dress fabric in the background...

{Custom Lucienne Style Earrings}
I created silver lace flowers adorned with lots of tiny faceted citrine stones, pink freshwater pearls, and rose quartz. The fabric had little bronze-colored sequin leaves stitched onto it here and there, so I carefully cut around those and stitched them onto the earrings to complete the design. It's a variation of my best-selling Lucienne Style Earrings, but with a completely different effect!

Another interesting custom order that I recently finished up was for a very sweet bride in the UK who is having a traditional Indian ceremony for her wedding. She requested a jewelry set that matched the colors of her beautifully beaded and embroidered sari in shades of shrimp pink and charcoal grey...

{Custom Wedding Jewelry Set }
My favorite part of the set is the lacy "tikka" or forehead ornament...

{Handmade Lace Tikka}

All the pieces featured large, vintage glass rhinestones set in crocheted cabochon-settings, as well as a rich mixture of pink freshwater pearls, rose quartz rondelles and grey Swarovski crystals...

{Detail of the Matching Necklace}

I think the effect is very romantic, with a hint of the exotic to it :)

{The matching earrings}
*
Hope everyone is enjoying their week!

xo,

A Little Luxury for your Weekend...

2010-12-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

I recently put together this Treasury, featuring decadent designs from the Independent Jewelry Goddesses:

Black and Gold Masquerade

Miss Havisham Colle... BijouxOdalisqu... $856.00	Sweet Vintage Jet B... zwzzy $66.00	Ornate gold Venetia... ladyinthetower $110.00	Sexy floral lace an... Lalilouche $52.00
Freshwater Pearl an... msbelle $31.00	Hydrangea - queen o... LeeOhio $398.00	Yellow hydroquartz ... LoellaMedina $105.00	The Jolie Earrings ... jewelsbyldesig... $135.00
The AMALA Halo Earr... emilygrayjewel... $139.00	ON SALE --- The Isl... MercuryOrchid $	Maluku II - Solid 1... modesteparisie... $160.00	Sea Anemone Cocktai... Klewism $180.00
Pin Up Poster Black... OpheliaVintage $49.94	Le Chandelier TrousseauDeMar... $11.00	vintage SILVER BEAD... lulouandada $24.00	MORGAINE Cuff Brace... EderaJewelry $379.00

Enjoy! And have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

Nesting...

2010-11-28T13:11:00.000-08:00

When the weather gets colder I always have the impulse to start little projects for the house-- I suppose it's the anticipation of the long winter ahead and spending more time indoors.

I thought I'd share two projects I finished up recently.

First, I finally framed this lovely print by Vermont artist Carol E.S. Macdonald

{fittingly featuring a nest and two samara pods} and hung it up in our living room...

{Hope Nest, Monoprint and Etching}

I love Carol's work, especially this interesting new series based on knit patterns here.
*
I also finished a filet crochet pillow that I started ages ago, you might remember it from this post...

It now is all stitched up and decorated with a little snippet of vintage embroidery, mother-of-pearl buttons and two tatted lace motifs...

It goes nicely with the other crocheted pillow that I made last year and ties in with the blues and greens in our living room.

What sort of projects do you like to work on when the weather gets colder?

xo,

A Little Holiday Sale...

2010-11-22T09:34:00.000-08:00

I'm having a Pre-Holiday Sale in my Etsy shop.

From now until Cyber Monday {11/29} you can take off 15% on any item--just type in the coupon code: HOLIDAYSPARKLE15 at checkout!

And speaking of sparkles, I just created this sparkly Treasury full of opulent jewelry designs from

the Independent Jewelry Goddesses...

* * Snowflake Sparkles * *

Yvaine - stardust p... LeeOhio $2408.00	Snowflake I Blank b... KandiceInWonde... $50.00	RESERVED for P --ON... MercuryOrchid $60.00	Victorian Overbust ... totallywaisted $650.00
Grace- delicate el... bonheur $145.00	The AIR GLACE Earri... emilygrayjewel... $268.00	Aure BijouxOdalisqu... $320.00	The MERMAID DANCING... jewelsbyldesig... $450.00
Blue Topaz yellow S... LoellaMedina $389.00	AAA Prasiolite (Gre... msbelle $56.00	Liquid Copper Neckl... Klewism $490.00	Ludivine - Pink Opa... modesteparisie... $
ON SALE Kaleisdosco... MagicalMystery... $285.00	Fancy Schmancy. Vin... AlicesLookingG... $12.00	Pearl Modern Tulle ... hollystalder $650.00	LUCIENNE Wedding Ne... EderaJewelry $216.00

Generated using Treasury HTML code generator by Whale Shark Websites.

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2010-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I thought I'd share some photos of what I've been working on since I last posted. I've been creating quite a few special orders lately.

I just sent off these earrings to a lovely customer in the U.K. They're a bit of a change of pace from my recent designs--very bright and large scale--but I like how they turned out...

{Frida Earrings}

And in an interesting synchronicity, they happen to be in a color scheme nearly identical to this post--all different colors of the rainbow, with touches of black vintage bugle beads and nailhead beads.

{Detail of the Frida Earrings}

I had already picked out these colors for the special order when I blogged about my last color inspiration, but I didn't make the connection until after the earrings were finished how perfectly they matched the mood board!

I also completed these earrings for the same customer...

{Serenissima Earrings}

They're an update on an older style {the first thing I ever sold on Etsy to be exact!} with lots of citrine and freshwater pearls.

And for another wonderful customer, I created these two brooches:

the first one features a cascade of beads that hang beneath it like a tassel...

This was designed to be worn on the client's wedding dress and is another example of when collaborating with a customer yields new and interesting designs!

{Custom Wedding Brooch}

She also requested a brooch for her mother to wear to the wedding...

{Custom Mother of the Bride Brooch}

And I'll close with a work in progress photo--

yes, I'm finally getting into doing bridal hair accessories!

This is another custom order, but expect to see a comb or two in the shop at some point.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

xo,

A Little Etsy Update...

2010-09-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

The work in progress that I featured last week here is now completed and listed in my Etsy shop! It's one of my first pieces for my Wedding Collection for Fall/Winter...

Eglantine Bracelet

Eglantine is a type of rose {as well as a rather romantic sounding girl's name} and living up to its inspiration, this bracelet features some sumptuous, petal-soft silk ribbon in a deep shade of red. I love how the rich color contrasts with the sparkly, lightness of the lace, which is almost snowflake like...

I think it would be perfect for a winter wedding... and there is some versatility in how it can be worn, as I've made the ribbon ties extra long.

I've wrapped them twice around my wrist for an interesting layered effect, but it could also be worn once around for a larger bow, or even as a choker...

And I was recently invited to be part of the Independent Jewelry Goddesses' Facebook group-- a gathering of many talented jewelry designers who create upscale jewelry and sell on Etsy. It's been awhile since I made a Treasury, so this weekend I decided to create one spotlighting a design from each of the designers in the group

{as well as a few other Etsy favorites!}

Goddesses of the Harvest

If you like beautiful jewelry by indie designers, then you might like to visit the group here.

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2010-09-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Today I've been working on these little earrings, a custom order for a bride...

I just finished them this afternoon and am pretty happy with how they turned out! They're very dainty and vintage looking, with lots of rhinestones stitched on by hand and some large champagne colored freshwater pearls...

I've also been creating lots of tiny little lace motifs to adorn the tops of every package that I send out. I like to sit and create a batch of them so that I have them ready to go when I am packaging up my orders...

To see what other bloggers are working on in their studios this week, be sure to visit Kirsty's blog!

Hope everyone in the States had a nice Labor Day Weekend! I had a good one--my birthday was on Saturday, so I took some time off to celebrate :)

xo,

Designs for the "Useful and Beautiful" Show...

2010-08-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

{Updated publicity postcard for the show featuring my Naiade Earrings and a portrait by Merle Pace}

I just sent off the box of jewelry for the "Useful and Beautiful" show last week and I thought it would be fun show some of the designs with the paintings that inspired them. Several of the pieces are new, some are slightly older, but all happened to match a Pre-Raphaelite painting perfectly!

{The Crystal Ball Earrings with J.W. Waterhouse's "The Crystal Ball"}

{The Naïade Earrings with J.W. Waterhouse's "Hylas and the Nymphs" }

{The Lady of Shalott Necklace with J.W. Waterhouse's "The Lady of Shalott"}

{La Belle Dame Necklace with Frank Cadogen Cowper's "La Belle Dame sans Merci"}

{The Sidonia Earrings with Edward Burne Jones's "Sidonia von Borke"}

*
And I'll close this post with a video of the incomparable Loreena McKennitt singing "The Lady of Shalott," a song she wrote based on the words of Alfred Tennyson's poem of the same name. I've been listening to Loreena's music a lot lately while I work. Enjoy!

xo,

Announcing my Fall/Winter Collection...

2010-08-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

I've decided to make the Pre-Raphaelites the inspiration for my Fall/Winter collection, so in addition to the designs for the "Useful and Beautiful"show, I have created some pieces in this theme for my Etsy shop. Here's a little sneak peek!

{Delos Earrings}

These earrings are a completely new style, created with silk and gold threads with accents of peridot, citrine and amazonite. The vibrant color scheme was inspired by J.W. Waterhouse's painting "The Charmer."

The painting depicts the Greek goddess Brizo, protecter of fisherman and sailors, who was worshipped on the Island of Delos.

{Morgaine Earrings and Bracelet}
I was inspired by the famed enchantress of Arthurian legend, Morgaine Le Fay, for this opulent and intricate set. While not referencing a specific painting, Morgaine was a favorite subject of the Pre-Raphaelites and I wanted to create something that was elegant and mysterious and darkly romantic...

{Morgaine Bracelet}

These designs were created with a fusion of lacemaking and embroidery. The medallions were created using some rich, vintage black velvet as a base. I then stitched lace motifs onto the fabric and embroidered dozens of beads by hand before applying the fabric over a wooden base...

{Morgaine Earrings}

I will post the finished designs for the show in the next few days!

Until then--

xo,

Color Inspiration...{Pre-Raphaelite Paintings}

2010-08-13T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've been gathering color scheme ideas for the "Useful and Beautiful" show by looking at lots of Pre-Raphaelite paintings lately. Here are some of my favorites:

{The Crystal Ball by J.W. Waterhouse}

{The Lady of Shallott by J.W. Waterhouse}

{The Beguiling of Merlin by Edward Burne-Jones}

{The Rose Bower by Edward Burne-Jones}

{Proserpine by Dante Gabriel Rossetti}

And I came across this painting and realized that her necklace was almost identical in construction to my Athalie Bracelet, only in gold. I made the bracelet before I saw the painting, so it was an interesting synchronicity!

{Bocca Bocciata by Dante Gabriel Rossetti}

xo,

Color Inspiration...{Jet and Old Parchment}

2010-08-11T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm drawing inspiration right now from this muted color palette--

the subtle shimmer of jet beadwork on black fabric...
intricate details on pale, parchment-colored backgrounds...
a flash here and there of subdued silver and gold...

{Costume Design by Leon Bakst}

{Antique Beadwork via Robes of Earth}
*

{From the Movie "Bright Star"...Fanny's Sewing Kit}

{Handmade Textile by Anita Quansah London}

{Victorian Jet Trim}

{Pen and Ink Drawing by Teagan White}

{Alexander McQueen Dress Fall 2008}

*

{A work in progress on my desk}

*
I hope to capture some of this feeling of faded elegance in a few pieces of my Fall/Winter Collection...Stay tuned!

xo,

2010-08-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

{Postcard from the Useful and Beautiful Exhibit}

The little side-project that I mentioned recently is that I've been invited to include several pieces of my jewelry in a group show in Indianapolis. The show, called "Useful and Beautiful: A Return to Myth and Romance in Art," is being put together by my lovely and talented friend, Merle, and is a gathering of contemporary artists working in the Pre-Raphaelite tradition.

The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of English painters, poets and critics active in the mid-to-late 1800s. Their intention was to reform the stodgy art of the time and they shocked the art world with their intricately detailed, sensual, brightly colored paintings with complicated compositions that drew inspiration from early Italian and Flemish Renaissance painting {hence the name Pre-Raphaelite, or before Raphael}.

The exhibit, which will feature local and international artists working in a variety of mediums, will be held at the Big Hat Books and Gallery, located in the Broad Ripple Village in Indianapolis, Indiana. It will be up September 10th. Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the opening, but my friend Merle promises to take lots of photos--which I will be sure to share on my blog!

To give you an idea of the aesthetics of the show, I'll close this post with some gorgeous photos byMerle, styled after Pre-Raphealite paintings...

1. Ophelia Siren Child, 2. Lorien Flower 2, 3. Primavera 3, 4. jewelry 8

As for me, I already have a few designs for the show in the works, which I will share soon!
xo,

Fairy Tale Friday...{Castle}

2010-08-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

This week's finds from the Fairy Tale Ornament Flickr Group...

rich, mysterious shades of patinated metal, old gold, misty blue, and castle-wall grey...

1. fleur crown , 2. Tromp l'oeil, 3. ref.Sara.maiden, 4. Mina's Treasure

This may be the last Flickr mosaic that I do for a bit. I've decided that I want to try a freer approach to blogging, outside the confines of such a rigid weekly schedule. I'll still be featuring favorite photos from Flickr, but I want to branch out and share other things that inspire me. I'll also continue to share what I'm working on in my studio every week :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2010-08-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

With the last of the custom orders finished up for the time being, I'm now switching gears in the studio and starting to focus on designs for the Fall and Winter season. I've been spending the past few days reorganizing my workspace {which was looking like a hurricane had swept through it!}, drawing sketches and updating my inspiration board...

I'm also working on some jewelry designs especially for a group show that I was recently asked to participate in by my talented friend, Merle. More news on this soon--I plan to devote a whole blog post to it as it is going to be such an interesting exhibit! :)

And here are some of the custom designs I just finished up over the weekend...

{Custom Athalie Wedding Earrings}

{Custom Wedding Barefoot Sandals}

{My feet, modellng them!}

These were a commission from a lovely bride in Australia. She ordered the set below, and then asked if I would be interested in making barefoot sandals. I've never made anything like these before but I think they turned out really neat--perfect for a beach wedding

To see what other bloggers are working on in their creative spaces this week, be sure to visit Kirsty's blog.

xo,

Scenes from the Studio...

2010-07-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

I'm sure some of you are wondering where I've been hiding the past few weeks--I've been in my studio, creating lots and lots of wedding designs, both custom orders and for the shop!

Here is a a little peek at what I've been working on lately...

{Custom Lucienne Wedding Earrings}

{A Custom Wedding Set}

{The Athalie Necklace}

{The Athalie Bracelet}

{Custom Henrietta Wedding Earrings}

{A Custom Alida Wedding Brooch}

{Work in Progress on my Desk}

{Custom Rosamund Wedding Earrings}

{Custom Floréal Wedding Earrings}

I'm finishing up the last of my wedding custom orders this weekend, and then I am taking some time to work on an fun little side project {more on that soon!} and to create some designs for my Fall/Winter collection. What exciting projects has everyone else been up to?

xo,

Fairy Tale Friday...{A Midsummer Night's Dream}

2010-07-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

For this week's selections from the Fairy Tale Ornament Flickr group,

I was inspired by Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, especially this line from the play...

"I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,

Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,

Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,

With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:

There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,

Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight..."

I tried to find photos that captured that enchanted atmosphere

and were fit for the fairy queen Titania...

{click image to enlarge}

1. Dream Queen, 2. 5 Boyd Hill, 3. Untitled, 4. Clustered Butterflies 1, 5. In the Meadow, 6. Fairy Bird House Garden sticks, 7. Early Spring, 8. Scarlet Wing Lichen Moth Necklace, 9. Blue Acorn, 10. QUINCE fairy shoe, 11. 26 .........., 12. queen-annes-lace-HD9, 13. work in progress

And some exciting news--

this week the Fairy Tale Ornament and Bohemian Embellishment flickr groups both reached 100 members! Thanks to everyone who has joined and submitted photos to the groups :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

My Creative Space...

2010-07-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

...a week later than I had planned, I'm afraid!

I ended up taking some time off last week to rest up and recuperate from the flu and didn't get to do my weekly creative space post as planned. Thank you for all of your sweet comments--I'm feeling better now and have been gradually getting back into the swing of things in the studio.

Today I've been working on a custom order for a bride...

She requested two pairs of earrings and a dainty bracelet all in soft shades of pink and rose. The set is halfway finished. I also have several other custom orders in the works, but I'm planning on taking a break from custom work soon so I can create some new designs for the shop!

To see what other bloggers are working on in their Creative Spaces this week, be sure to visit

Kirsty's blog...

xo,

An Unexpected Break...

2010-06-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say that I'm sorry that I haven't stuck to my usual blogging schedule this week--I came down with a flu, and now my computer seems to have gotten a flu, too! I'll be taking it to the computer doctor this week, and hope to have things resolved by Wednesday. I'll be offline until then, but hopefully I'll be back in time for my weekly Creative Space post :)

Until then, I'll leave you with some photos from my recent trip to the Shelburne Museum. They had an exhibit of American crazy quilts from the 1800's on display, and I found the contrast of bold geometric shapes and delicate embroidery so interesting! Enjoy!

{click images to enlarge}

xo,

Bohemian Monday...{Parisienne}

2010-06-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some flirty, light-hearted finds for this week's Bohemian Monday post...

1. High Kickin' It at The Moulin Rouge, 2. Croquet with the Queen Earrings,

3. Lolita, 4. ~ Pivoine Neclace ~

I love the combination of pink, black and white--it's so feminine and très chic, aussi :)

And be sure to visit the Bohemian Embellishment Flickr Group for more inspiring photos!

xo,

P.S.--A Lovely Blog Feature!

2010-06-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, I nearly forgot to mention! My sweet and very talented friend, Miss Emma Lamb, has written a lovely little post about my work on her blog! You can read it here--and I'm sure once you visit her blog, you'll be hooked, because she always finds the most inspiring images and does very lovely crochet work...

Here are some of her beautiful potholders--they're like little works of art ...

{I know, I have some hanging in my kitchen!}

And one of her beautiful granny pillows...

And her some of her signature forever flower garlands...

In addition to be a talented designer, Emma is one of the sweetest people I know :)

You can visit her blog here, and find more of her vintage-inspired crochet creations on Etsy here.

xo,

Fairy Tale Friday...{Silvery}

2010-06-18T13:53:00.000-07:00

I've been inspired lately by soft, silvery shades of grey and touches of crystal and off-white,

so for this week's selections from the Fairy Tale Ornament Flickr Group,

I chose photos that captured this whisper-soft color palette...

1. bridesmaid, 2. Aurélia Frey, 3. vermeer,

4. Silver Oak crochet earrings , 5. Royal Textures, 6. Gray

You can visit the group here to see more fairy tale-inspired photos, or to post your own!

And tying in with this color scheme is a new pair of earrings that I just finished

{you could just see a glimpse of them in this week's Creative Space post...}

Athalie Earrings

They're part of a wedding "parure" or matched set of jewelry--I'll be listing the bracelet and necklace in my Etsy shop very soon :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

xo,

My Creative Space...

2010-06-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

Eye candy!

I just love it when a package of new stones arrives in the mail...

These just came and I'm so happy with how vibrant the colors are.

I'll gradually be working them into designs for my Fall/Holiday collection,

as well as a custom order or two...

And here's another sneak peek into my studio today...

I just finished up these pieces of jewelry this afternoon,

and they will be making their way into my Etsy shop shortly...

To see what other bloggers are working on in their creative spaces this week, or to join in the fun, visit Kirsty of Kootoyoo's blog!

xo,

A New Look...

2010-06-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

As some astute readers of my blog noticed, this little sketch that I showed last week...

was part of my complete blog design makeover!

I've been wanting to have a lighter, airier, more feminine feel to my blog, and after experimenting with different photographs as a background, I struck upon the idea of drawing what I was visualizing...

then scanning it into the computer and adding color to the background and lace motif...

and voila--

a brand new look!

I'm still making refinements to it--an expanded "About" and "Press" section are coming soon--but I'd love to hear what you think :)

xo,

My Creative Space...

2010-06-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Today I've been putting the finishing touches on these two new designs...

They're part of my wedding collection, and I think they would look rather pretty worn together :)

The earrings are really a departure for me, as they are very tiny and are attached to sterling silver post earrings. I am really excited about how they turned out--this technique opens up a whole world of design possibilities and are perfect for women who like smaller, daintier earrings. They'll be available in my Etsy Shop in the next day or so...

I've also been working on another project which I'll just give a sneak preview of today...

Expect to see the finished product in the next day or so

{and no, it isn't jewelry!}

On Monday, my husband and I took a road trip to visit the Shelburne Museum, which has a wonderful collection of antique quilts and other folk and decorative arts--I took tons of photos and will post some of them soon...

To see what other bloggers are working on in their creative spaces this week, check out Kirsty's blog {and if you're joining in this week, be sure to leave your link!}

xo,

Bohemian Monday...{Paisley}

2010-06-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

Some exotic paisleys from the

Bohemian Embellishment Flickr Group...

1. Fertility-Citrine, chrome dioside, tsavorite, tourmaline,

Fine999/sterling silver chandelier earrings,

2. Farah's necklace, 3. bohofairy, 4. Felt paisley brooch

Be sure to visit the group here to see more Bohemian finds, or to add your own!

xo,

Edera Jewelry: Romantic Handmade Lace Designs

Scenes from the Studio...{Glimpses}

Scenes from the Studio...

Wishing you...

Holiday Sale...

Happy Thanksgiving

Featured in Get Married Magazine...

The Bohemian Eco-Fashion of Oda

Announcing the Neoclassical Collection, F/W 2011...

A Collaboration with Artist Merle Pace

Scenes from the Studio...

Scenes from the Studio...

The Detailed Art of Yelena Bryksenkova...

Announcing the Fairy Tale Wedding Collection, S/S 2011...

Featured in Kentucky Bride Magazine...

Scenes from the Studio...

For Japan with Love...

The Intricate Ceramics of Isabelle Abramson...

{Inspiration Board} Fairy Tale Pinks and Golds...

Scenes from the Studio...{Glimpses}

A Tour of Versailles...

The Beautiful Photography of Malgorzata Maj

Scenes from the Studio...

{Inspiration Board} Fairy Tale Silvers

The New Year...

Photos from the "Useful and Beautiful" Show...

Scenes from the Studio...

A Little Luxury for your Weekend...

Black and Gold Masquerade

Nesting...

A Little Holiday Sale...

* * *Snowflake Sparkles* * *

Scenes from the Studio...

A Little Etsy Update...

Scenes from the Studio...

Designs for the "Useful and Beautiful" Show...

Announcing my Fall/Winter Collection...

Color Inspiration...{Pre-Raphaelite Paintings}

Color Inspiration...{Jet and Old Parchment}

Fairy Tale Friday...{Castle}

Scenes from the Studio...

Scenes from the Studio...

Fairy Tale Friday...{A Midsummer Night's Dream}

My Creative Space...

An Unexpected Break...

Bohemian Monday...{Parisienne}

P.S.--A Lovely Blog Feature!

Fairy Tale Friday...{Silvery}

My Creative Space...

A New Look...

My Creative Space...

Bohemian Monday...{Paisley}

* * Snowflake Sparkles * *