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.

Gone Coastal!

Oh, doesn't this necklace make you think of a coastal escape?  I can't think of anything better than sitting next to the ocean and making jewelry!  This piece uses mussel shell, glass, plastic and antique bronze chain.  It would look beautiful under a white collared blouse with it's soft oceanic colours.  This piece is one of my personal favourites.  Hope you enjoy!

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. 

Au Naturel

Most people that know my style know that I love, love, love all (ok, most) natural components.  Nature offers crafters a huge variety of colour, shape and texture for our creative minds.  Personally, I love shell, horn, wood and bone.  I also love seeds and nuts because of their texture, versatility and unique quality.  I created this full, bauble necklace to showcase all of the above elements at work in a natural way.  Of course, I had to add some glass pearls for that feminine touch.  In addition to the natural elements stated above, I've also used some very organic-looking clay and recycled glass beads.