Summer 2013 - Colour and Fun

Now that I have a second little one to look after, I gotta say that my passion for jewelry design keeps me sane!  It's a little trickier finding the time to pump out any number of pieces, but it's still a cherished activity.  I am just so thankful that I have something to be truly passionate about.  I wish that everyone could find their passions in life and have the freedom to pursue them. 

Anyway... I've been working on summer pieces since, well, it's summer!!  Colour is super hot right now, in just about any combination.  Emerald green is, of course, the Pantone colour of the year, but even neon is back with a vengeance!  Accessories are a great way to experiment with colour without too much commitment. It may be a little less comfortable for you to wear that hot pink blouse than it is to wear the hot pink bracelet.  Try adding splashes of colour to your wardrobe, starting with your jewelry and accessories.  Here's some of the pieces I've been working on for the season! 

Multi-Strand Green, Yellow and White Bracelet

Multi-Strand Orange, Pink and Red Bracelet

Chunky Green and Gold Chain Link Necklace

Summer Siesta Earrings



Red, Pink and Orange with Gold Chain Link Necklace

 

 



Wild Side

Last year, I was introduced to the work of Dandi Maestra, a Canadian Jewelry Designer who uses natural elements to create her amazingly over-the-top pieces.  She's pushed the limits and isn't afraid to create wild, couture jewelry.  Her pieces are found in fashion magazines and runways all over.  She's inspiring and amazing.

I think I'm mesmerized by Dandi's work because she isn't afraid to step outside the comfortable to create something unconventional and, well, HUGE!  She's daring.  She's creative beyond the realm of normal creativity (in my opinion) and she's almost revolutionary.  I've never seen work like hers before.  This is what I aspire to.  Like most artists, we want to create something never seen or done before and have our audience love it.  This may be a tall order but it's what keeps me motivated and inspired. 

I was introduced to her work because a visitor of the Shakespeare Artisan Market found my pieces and was reminded of Dandi's work.  I do use some similar materials, including the horn rings and exotic wood.  However, Dandi's creative genius far exceeds mine.  This is something I'll continue to work on as I evolve in my art.  Below are a couple of pieces I created that are a little more daring, perhaps, but still totally wearable.

Wood, Bone and Glass Bracelet

Czech Glass Rings in Black and Clear Necklace

Budding Leaves

Spring has sprung and summer is coming fast!  Really, I was just inspired by all of these green lucite leaves I had kickin' around.  I decided to make a chunky stretch bracelet with them, just to add a pop of colour to a neutral ensemble. 

I was so inspired by this leaf theme, that I did up some earrings as well.  Simple and elegant!



Memories

This piece was a joy to design!  The vintage bits that make up this one-of-a-kind charm bracelet have sentimental value and hold a memory or two of special people in my life.  A number of the vintage beads came from my aunt and grandmother.  They love to give me bits and pieces to remake into new designs.  Anyway, this bracelet is one of my favourites for it's bright colours and unusual components.  I can't make another just like it. 

You'll find this piece along with my other jewelry at the Perth County Welcome Centre and Artisan Market in Shakespeare, ON.  Hope you have a chance to visit.  (They also sell Mapletons Organic Ice Cream, in case you're interested!)

What the Shell?!

Most of you who are familiar with my work know that I'm a big fan of natural materials - shell being one of my most favourite.  Shell is super versatile, as it comes in a tonne of colours and shapes.  I love the bright, albeit dyed, tones of mussel shell.  You can find these coin-shaped shells in just about every colour.  The bright hues remind me of a breezy day at the beach, frolicking in the sand... 

Anyway, below is a necklace created with mussel shell, glass pearls, faceted glass beads, and rose quartz.  The bracelet is just one chunky pop of colour - I think of mermaids when I look at it!  These pieces can all be purchased at Cynthia Weber Interiors.

Shades of Gray

Is it grey or gray?  I'm never sure.  Anyway, I am sure that shade of gray - whether silver, charcoal or gunmetal - go with almost any wardrobe.  Plus it's just plain elegant.  While nothing beats black, gray comes in at a close second. 

Unfortunatley, however, gray can be a little drab.  To spice up my pieces, I included some sparkly rhinestones and unusual beads.  Check out some of my gray collection below.

Just Beachy...

Right or wrong, I love many styles of jewelry and I want to create it all! Some artists stick to one specific style, making their work easily recognizable. Maybe I'm crazy, but I just can't do that! Sure, I understand the logic. But, if I stuck to just one specific style, I'm pretty sure I'd get bored! We, creative junkies, want to do it ALL. I wanted to try sewing, baking, card/book-making, crocheting, knitting, you name it! I did, in fact, try all of these things, but knew that I just couldn't do everything I wanted and do it well. I knew that, with limited time, I needed to focus on one thing. Jewelry design is my passion, so I decided to stick with that. But, ask me to stick to just one style and I'll out-right refuse!

I love experimenting with different materials and looks. If I want a glamorous piece, I use rhinestones, glass and faceted crystals. If I want a vintage vibe, I take apart old necklaces and earrings to create new pieces. If I want a natural feel, I lean toward my favourites: seeds, wood, shell, and recycled glass.

As summer is approaching, I'm thinking about creating those natural pieces that I love. I realized, in my creative process, that I've used a lot of shell over the years. From Mother of Pearl to Hammer Shell to many other exotic types, shell comes in a huge array of shapes, colours, sizes, etc. It's amazing stuff!  Plus, who doesn't associate shell with those blissful summer days at the beach?  It adds texture and interest to my pieces and helps to pull the overall components together. Here's a couple of different pieces I've created using various shells. I think these are super hot colours for this spring and summer.

I'd love to know your favourite summer colour to wear.  If you have some time, leave a comment!

Sea Breeze

I'm so very excited to share with you that I am now selling some of my pieces online at www.cynthiaweber.com.  The collection is still in the works, but much of it will showcase my recycled glass pieces.  Personally, I love the organic and natural quality of Indonesian recycled glass.  It comes in a variety of colours, but I especially love the muted greens.  These colours remind me of an ocean breeze and look so beautiful when paired with glass pearls and shell. 

The process for making recycled glass beads is not particularly easy.  While there are different methods used to make recycled glass beads, the overall process is the same.  Glass is collected, sorted and crushed into a fine powder.  This powder is then placed in molds and fired in a hot kiln.  Some shape the glass after it's been fired.  Others simply use the mold to hold the shape.  No two beads are exactly the same and they are all made by hand.  No chemicals are added to create the beautiful beach glass effect of the beads. 

Owning a recycled glass piece of jewelry allows you to truly feel like you own a unique piece of art.  While most of my designs are one-of-a-kind, each recycled glass bead is also a one-of-a-kind piece of art.  Below is one of my charm bracelets featured at www.cynthiaweber.com. 

Spiked

What's seems to be really in right now are chains and a rocker vibe.  These tiny "spike" beads made me think "dog collar gone girly".  I thought of creating some kind of choker, but the bracelet is what transpired.  Oh, and I made earrings to match.  I have a question for all of you ladies (or men), though.  Do you like jewelry sets?  You know, the necklace with the matching earrings or bracelet?  Or, do you like buying individual pieces?  I'm seriously really curious, so please don't hesitate to leave me some feedback.  I've always sort of done individual pieces, but I know some women dig the sets.  Let me know your thoughts.  I'd love to hear them!

Below are the matching earrings!

My Old Bracelet

I got this old bracelet at a craft show one time.  The bracelet was just a simple elastic, strung with aqua coloured semi-precious stones.  I liked the bracelet for its simplicity and the colour of the stones.  However, it sat in my drawer for quite a while, barely being worn.  I decided to take the beautiful beads from the bracelet and create something new.  I decided on a necklace - sort of a French vintage feel.  Below is what I came up with:

The only problem was that I still wasn't happy!  I felt unsure about the three strands so I changed it again:

K.  I think I'm happy now.