Mystic Mountains Necklace

This necklace, "Mystic Mountains," was inspired by my practice of shamanism. During some of my shamanic (visionary) journeys, I went to a place in the sky where, off in the distance, there were beautiful, gem-like mountains. When I saw the faceted Rainbow Flourite, the stones looked so much like these beautiful healing mountains, that I had to make the necklace. The other components are Amethyst, Sterling Silver Accent Beads and lots of Bali (handmade) Sterling Silver spacers. If you are interested in learning more about shamanism, visit Michael Harner's site: http://www.shamanism.org/

If you are interested in this or other similar items, please visit my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Raedawn

My Visual Art ... ACEOs

In addition to being a jewelry maker, I am a visual artist. After training with a BFA in painting from Virginia Commonwealth University my work has been shown in galleries throughout the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, Virginia, New York, Oregon, Idaho and New Mexico.

Currently I am working with what I thought was a new format called ACEO. ACEO stands for Art Cards Editions and Originals. They are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches. Artists trade them, sell them, make prints and make and sell the prints. For more information on the history of ACEOs, visit Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACEO

I am working on a collection of four ACEOs; the theme is creation and the origin of the four sacred elements: fire, water, earth and air. These elements have been a recurring theme in the majority of my visual painting, drawing and mixed media art. They each have associations such as for fire: birth, illumination, power, and more. They are done in colored pencil. I will continue to share this collection as I work on it and welcome all comments.

Featured Artist Robin Hartman

Robin Hartman (aka Helen Puck) is an artist jeweler par excellence. She is also a mother with two toddlers and a part-time college English professor. Says the artist, "I've been involved in crafts ever since my tiny little looped balloons around a clothespin and called it a doll. Now, she makes everything from lovely cameo earrings to cross stitched pendant necklaces, from delicate origami paper (set in clear epoxy) pendant necklaces to lovely wire wrapped earrings and pendants. To see her work, visit her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/helenapuck
Robin also makes adorable wire wrapped bird' nests, which you can see on her blog, along with other creations: http://snipsansnails.blogspot.com/

Dream Again Jewelry by Stephanie

Stephanie walked into her first bead store at the age of twenty and never looked back. Overcome by the sheer number and types of beads in the shops, she bought a few things ~ some African Trade Beads, leather, and clasps, and she was hooked. She's been making one of a kind, handmade jewelry ever since, and is completely self-taught.

Growing up in the country in a small town in California, she was surrounded by creatures, domesticated and wild, from chickens to wild turkeys, from dogs to coyotes. The family business was grapes, and says Stephanie, "we had lots and lots of grapes." Being the firstborn in her family, she admits to being spoiled by her mother and attributes this to the beginning of her love for "pretty things."

Stephanie's original creations are made with with pliers and wire, chain, beads, and stones. When inspiration strikes, she starts dreaming up new ideas, which she turns into reality. She also does custom work and says, " I want to make your dreams a reality." To enjoy Stephanie's work, visit her Etsy store, "Dream Again Jewelry": http://www.etsy.com/shop/DreamAgainJewelry

Primal Garden

For most of my life I have been interested in primal and indigenous cultures and spirituality. This has led me to study shamanism as well as extended study of the Navaho culture, and of ethnomusicology. This love has taken root in my visual art, in my performance art and in my jewelry. As a performance artist, I have led participatory ceremonies related to a variety of issues including ecology and self awareness. This newest necklace, "Primal Garden," is an expression of this deep interest. The pendant has a very primal feel to me and, like the other Sterling Silver elements, was handmade by the Hill Tribe in Thailand. The Turquoise seemed to naturally fit, and the bronze Freshwater Pearls are an earthy element to the design, which is assemytrical.

The pendant, being the focal point, draws you into the garden, and the other components invite you to explore. To see this and my other jewelry, visit my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Raedawn

Meet Japanese Artist Kazumi

This week's featured artist is Kazumi, a versatile Japanese based artist. She does everything from age old sock monkeys to wedding message boards. I especially like her whimsical drawings. Her sock monkeys have been sold around the world, and she has t-shirts and other items that go with them. To see her sock monkeys: http://sockyworld.com/
In her Etsy shop, Kazumi welcomes visitors to "East Meets West" designs. Everything she does is handmade, but, for her fabric pieces, with fabrics from around the world. To visit K & K Crafts and Designs: http://www.etsy.com/shop/sockysworld

Sandi's Handmade Art

Sandi, of IKnitQuiltSew, expresses her passion through her knitting and quilting. Her items are handmade, one of a kind blankets, booties, bears, etc. According to Sandi, " I truly love what I do... whether it's knitting that perfect pair of booties or hand-quilting my latest creation, it's a labor of love." Some of Sandi's designs were handed down from her great grandmother to her grandmother, and then to her "before color TV was invented." Sandi is an artist with fabric and yarn as her media. To see more of Sandi's wonderful work visit her Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/iKnitQuiltSew