Earrings

Bold, beautiful

Simplistic, Sophisticated !
Need I say more ?
No, I will let you enjoy the beauty of "la magnifique" Frida Kalho.
She was  so beautiful, fierce, and talented.

Looks like these obsidian black base with surface flowers lampwork beads, along with abstract murrine under big bumps were just waiting for Frida to pop up!  I bought them a longtime ago, and had even forgotten about them.

These long drop earrings with Frida Kalho decals will be sure to brighten someone’s day.

This other pair of earrings are filled with nature’s beauty. The peacock feather has the most intense and beautiful colors that nature has to offer. They provide depth, texture, delicacy and gorgeous rustic feel on them!
I can't believe that christmas is just around the corner !
I just wanted to let you know that I will be taking part with the Etsy holiday sale from November 20, 2017 to December 1, 2017.
So, if you are looking for gift ideas, you can always shop with me. :)

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup.

Escapade!

I made a bunch of earrings, since my last post.
Beautiful evocative pieces, full of character and little details.
In a certain way, my  jewelry is  connected to my memories.  An item of jewelry, where every pieces has its own story.
Today's designs take us to Morocco, where you will find yourself stroll the souk and the medina, enjoy beautiful landscapes, between the warm mediterranean blue sea and mountains, through magical green valleys of scenic geoligical spectacle and fertile plains, desert plateaus and oasis; or simply ride a camel in the hot sand dunes.
This marvelous land will not reveal its secrets until you are confident, but for that, you have to take the time to meet the wonderful local people, who have a great sense of welcome !
Let these beauties be yours, and be the star of your own story.  You will not have to tell much, for your beautiful earrings will become the subject of the conversation. They will continue to speak the rich story behind them and you will be amazed how we are all connected to each other.

Beautiful vintage old  individually hand made in Morocco in  old fashioned  methods as the well as the tools  used to make these beads. As you can see, they are not perfect, so  expect some imperfection that contributes to their uniqueness which separates them from factory made items, modern handmade lampwork fossilized canyon trail headpins, and beads with  pretty browns and ivory, moss green and a hint of terracotta on a transparent base.

Hollow bicone shaped Moroccan Berber rustic silver beads made individually, by hand, with old tools and techniques that show some wear such as knicks on the metal. There are some imperfections which make them more unique and add  mystery to their story, such as  where they have travelled to, who wore them, before me, etc... Combined with the new handmade fossilized sand headpins that have a rough texture but also are partially etched and have a very little bit of shine.

Soldered Phantom quartz and oxydized by me. Vintage Moroccan Resin Beads, light topaz

Czech glass with a sbtule rose pink glow shines from within these captivating faceted beads.

Very elegant and awesome combination of color!  Handmade lampwork beads and  hammered metal ethnic silver from Turkey.

Please visit my shop as I have a lot of new designs that I am trying to list everyday.  I have distanced myself from Instagram for the moment because I find it very distracting, keeping me from doing all the things I need to accomplish. But I promise I will be back very soon. So check in on my shop often as there will be new listings daily.  Thank you.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup.

Happy October!

It's been a longtime since my last post !
The fact is, when you suffer so much from pain, it is hard to enjoy even the basic things in life ! You cut yourself off from the world.
There is no longer any interest in things, and everything seems indifferent, almost offensive. But the truth is, when suffering so severely, it is even more important to remain connected with the people and things that make you happy. Because when we are disconnected from those people and things that bring us joy, the pain becomes worse and lasts longer, because then we focus only on the pain. Having constant pain is exhausting. Exhaustion and pain make it hard to think clearly and even makes it difficult to have a decent conversation with someone.

I have been far away from everything since we returned from our vacation!
I even ventured to stop my activity as a jewelry designer, which I know is not a very clever idea . 😊
My family and my friend Linda think the same way ! 😊

I need to continue with what brings me joy.  I love what I create, and I am so very happy that this activity leads my path to each of you.
I appreciate each of your actions, each of your smiles when you come to hold one of my creations, and your kind words.

Thanks to my acupuncturist, osteopath and other plant medicines  (which I really hope, will be reimbursed by the insurance company one day) I have gotten a little bit of relief.  

I never would have thought that eating something, that I have eaten my whole life, would make me feel so miserable.  I stopped eating my daily "baguette "  and now eat gluten free foods.  However, in my case, I am intolerant to rice, and rice flour is commonly used in gluten free foods.  So that makes being "gluten free" a lot more difficult.  But for now, I am making some delicious vegetarian dishes, which are a mixture of African, Indian and European foods.
One of these days, I will try to share these dishes with you.

I am up to working again, albeit in slow motion, but I am here ! 😊
I wonder where all this will lead me.
For now I want to share with you, my precious customers and friends, what I have made.

 It was deemed to be beautiful and unique, warm to the touch and light in weight. Washed upon the shores by turbulent north seas, intrinsically formed by light and life, preserved by time.

This  marvelous necklace is made with raw authentic baltic yellow-gold amber, in a nugget shape. Vintage resin from Morocco,Brass tube from Ethiopia, Tuareg brass bead from Mali ,recycled Krobo beads, Acai seed beads and vintage glass beads.

Subtle, mystic, dreamy and serene, ethereal yet solid. Inviting, isn't it ?
How can you go wrong with this gorgeous sea blue color necklace with its matching pair of earrings !
It's said that the light blue colour marks the beginning of life and emotion, and is a colour of faith and trust.
I just love blue chalcedony gemstones with its amazing soft blue translucence, and an almost imperceptible movement within that invokes a stillness of silent reverence. It's so calming, and speaks of spirit. Alongside are handmade ceramic beads,vintage Berber silver as center piece, Krobo beads and Recycled Indonesian tube glass.
Feel free to visit my shop for all my new designs! 

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

The maker hands

From time to time we must listen to our body and see what it has to say .

We tend to take things for granted but nothing is immutable, nor acquired!
It is already so difficult and frustrating to be in constant pain and living in slow motion, but at least, I was able to do what needed to be done!  Having pain in my hands, wasn't something, I had thought about.
My little hands hurt!
Have you ever thought how important and indispensable our hands are ?
No, I have not.
Our hands are our survival tools and when they are in pain, our soul also is in pain.
My survival tools are giving up !
I am not in a complaining mood, neither do I want to victimize myself. I am kind of private person, but just for today's post, I needed to share why I have been so slow recently.
The hands of the maker are the intermediary between his thought and his creations.
Isn't it said that the hands are the reflection of the soul?
Aren't they the tools that realize or better reflect and transform our imagination into the finished piece?
For nearly two months now, my hands hurt so bad !
In a moment of  introspection, I listened to them.
In order not to sink into depression and stay in my  corner, I decided to paint.  While waiting for my hands to feel better, I painted some metal finding which I will use in my jewelry creations.

Vintage Waziri Tribal Buttons and antique brass leaf pendant painted with swellegant paint.

Beautiful flowers from my "jungle" backyard. :)

Crystal quartz point beads, rare Moroccan fossilised Bryozoan coral pendant and our sour cherries. Birds being great lovers of cherries, it is rare that we can pick them before they eat them all. 🍒🐦 😊

On my journey to seek and connect with others and because of my admiration for the beautiful tribal cultures around the globe, I recently acquired this gorgeous Turkmen pendant.  I will deconstruct it  and use the individual pieces in my creations. This is my way to pay tribute to those who owned it before me and who have worn it gracefully. Now, it is my turn to continue with it and write another kind of story.

I love the wild flowers in our "jungle" garden. :)

Cascades of old bells, beads, and dangles in this beautiful very-long Turkmen Bell-Tassel Head Jewelry with a sturdy Turkmen beaded triangle with a bird perched on top.  
The bells sway with every movement, making a wonderful sound and scaring away demons. Warm age patina. Tassels like this one, was traditionally worn attached to the tops of head dresses, at the sides of head to frame the face, or along the Turkmen woman's single hair braid.

Sour cherry aka Morello cherry

 This  collectible, wearable old Turkmen Tribal Jewelry handcrafted in the mid to early 1900's.

My shop will be closed from mid July through  August. To make room for my new designs, which still need to be photographed, I am offering 15 % off the entire shop, until I close in mid July.  I hope that my hands will feel better by the end of summer !
Coupon code: ETE2017
I wish you all happy summer vacations.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

The sense of simplicity

I am working on another series of earrings.  However, I paused working on them for a moment to make these necklaces. Each of  necklaces has an African mask within the design.

I love masks and I even collected them.  In many culture masks express illusion, but also  symbolize power, and strength, embody beauty and dread.
The African mask acts as a bridge between nature and culture.
Masks are used in ceremonial events.  But beyond that, it has an aesthetic appeal. It seems strange that it can be so beautiful and graceful and yet powerful. It has an extraordinary presence.
Each is made with beads I got from my Grandmother.  

In a meditative state, I made these necklaces that resonate with history and African rich culture. Stay tuned for more about the story behind masks!

Lovely summery blue green vintage glass beads are combined with chrysocolla gemstones with repurposed  vintage Tibetan beads for an organic look.

This necklace has an eye-catching bold and beautiful color. The design is simplistic yet bold and has an extraordinary presence about it. The bronze mask is handmade using the technic of the lost wax.

Simple and warm eartth tones make this red necklace stand out! Featuring red agate and African vintage glass beads for that rustic and organic feel of African soil.

Elegant and beautiful colors juxtaposed with simple and soft design. I just love the blend of colors, materials and textures here. The rustic bauxite is prefectly paired with soft blue vintage glass beads that you can wear anytime. They blend together so well!

PS: Don't forget to check out my shop for the free shipping offer.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

La planète bleue

This mini series was created in homage to our planet earth, also known as the blue planet. For two-thirds of the surface of the earth is covered with water.

It is blue like the oceans.
I love blue and all the shades that go with it. Even though blue is considered a cold color, this color gives me a lot of joy and happiness. Blue is so refreshing !
Color of communication and serenity. Intuitive color, harmony and meditative . Blue is associated with the throat chakra.
I wanted to publish this for the International Earth Day, but the elements did not see it that way. 😊
After all, we have to celebrate this beauty that is our earth every day.

I couldn't have found a better component to complement these fabulous handmade ceramic dangles than these handmade intricate mosaic patterned Tibetan bead.  It is inlaid with coral and turquoise beads in white brass.  This outstanding pair of earrings is sure to be worn again and again !
They are just waiting for you to whisper the story behind them ! Submerge yourself into the rich Tibetan and African culture.

These completely unique components turquoise aged brass have been heat treated with chestnut brown patina, given a wash of dark blue and speckled with verdigris!

This pair of earrings makes me think of a river or an Island with islets. The blue and green colours are reminiscent of looking upon the earth surface from space. :)

Awesome combination on these earrings that take the wearer from Asia to Africa. All topped with gorgeous tiny round sea breeze ocean chalcedony.

Those look like they have been at the bottom of the ocean for years.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

The ocean is calling!

This Sunday, I pretended that I was somewhere, where the sea and mountain meet. Where the sea waves crash over the rocks.

I am often bored by simply going to a "normal beach" and sitting there watching the ocean or people gathering around to soak up the sun.  Nope, that's not me or my family.  We like to walk around to see what we can find or explore to see what kind of flore or fauna is there!
So this past Sunday, I let my mind wander to some of the beautiful beaches that I have visited.  Beaches such as those in Scotland.  Brittany in France, and Mendocino in California.
I love the beaches, especially those where the cliffs and the ocean meet.
Where rocks and waves combine, to sing a hymn in unison, a beauty of which only nature has the secret!

Where when the sea recedes for a pause, the opportunity is given to us to collect shells and driftwood.
That's how I love my beach!

That's how I communicate better with her!

These flowers are from my backyard. The purple and yellow are pansies which we call "Pensée" in french. (Pensée means thought) and dandelion. I made a simple bouquet with them and of course, since it is spring, the cherry trees are all in bloom so I couldn't help but to add a little of its beauty to my bouquet creation!

I hope you enjoy it! :)

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

Life of memories!

I took a little break from making earrings.

I made quite a few necklaces that I will share with you soon.
This post is a tribute to the woman in my life who inspired me so much in my jewelry journey and who has taught me the basic things of life.
Thanks to her, I grew up surrounded by nature and she taught me how to live in harmony with  nature.
Thanks to her,  I ate organic and fresh foods everyday while growing up. I spent some of my most fabulous summer vacations with her in her plantation.
She was the most wonderful story teller and comedian I ever knew. She was so funny and always made us laugh.
I remember how after a hard day, working on the plantation and cooking dinner, she used to thread beads for our waist.
I liked to help her, because I knew  that  she would tell another one of her fabulous stories.
She explained the meaning of the beads and of course, the name for them.  Unfortunately, I don't remember anything of what she told me.
She passed away, but my grandma is still with us.  We are very lucky because even at 92 years old, she still has her brain which works very well !

Thanks to her, I never felt like an orphan.

This important and inspiring woman of my life was my great grand aunt, my grandma's little sister.  She was more country, while my grandma was more urban.
Today, while making these necklaces, I was thinking of her.
How beautiful she looked with all the strands she wore on her waist and how colorful the beads were.
Women mostly used red cotton fabric to wear with the beads, and this was their underwear.
Someone once told me that "thong underwear or panties" is the modern style of our grand parents underwear.  I am in love with these simply beaded red necklaces, which also take me back to this period and time of year, when you got plenty of ripe delicious fruits and when we would climb the trees to collect these fruits.  Sometimes we would eat so many that we would get sick ! 😊

Odiche

Odiche means the one who is special.
The pendant is made with an extinct fossilized squid specimen called "straight horn" found in Morocco in grayish and black tones and handmade lampwork beads which I wrapped with recycled silk fabric.
I strung with red jasper, vintage black and white terracotta beads from Mali, 10 mm round red agate surround the pendant and the other beads are mixed vintage beads that were  from my Grandma's, and then some are reused from a broken Tibetan necklace that I had.

Obioma

Obiama means kindness.

Beautifully strung with red jasper, red agate, vintage African beads, Ashanti brass and vintage Tibetan beads along with handmade ceramic beads.

It always takes sometime, between the moment I share my new work here, and listing them on etsy.

So, if you see something you like, please let me know and I will be happy to list them for you.
My pain always increases when I work on computer. So, I need to go to my physiotherapist and acupuncturist in order to be able to use the computer again.
My pain is hindering me from running a good business !
Well, slowly I will try to use my phone or tablet, which is a little better for my back and my shoulder. But old folk like me, we prefer the computer. Lol.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

La discrète!

Here are another series of earrings, more in earth tone colors.

I know it is spring and everyone wants color in their life especially during this period of the year.

Personally, I don't wear a lot of colors!

I like to be discret, so I will wear more brown, Ivory and pastels.

Plus, colorful items looks uggly on me! :)

The other day, I felt the urge to buy a new trench coat because it was so warm and I almost passed out on the street from the heat in my winter jacket.

The only trench coats I like were in two different colors. But in effort to change from my style habit, I tried the colorful one and I scared myserlf to death. Lol

Even the sales woman agreed with me.

She was nice and politely said "we are not used to see you in such color"

However, I really like red and I look great with.

Even if these beauties are made with earth tone colors, you can't go wrong with them. Because they can be matched with most colors.

Ilozumba

 Ilozumba means distant from home is forgotten  

I like the earthy feel of this combination of materials.

A pair of slim rustic hoops in buff stoneware and fired with bronze and river rock glaze were the start of this design. I then added rustic handmade lampwork, handmade ashanti brass and I adorned it all with faceted black obsidian. I then wire wrapped them with my own oxidized pure copper wire.

Even with such neutral colors, you are sure to be noticed and the center of attention with this amazing pair of earrings!! :)

 

I love these ceramic droppers so much!

It was hard to capture the beauty of these drops in picture.

A pair of wing droppers,  hand formed in earthstone glacier porcelain, embedded with leaf skeletons, and fired. Coated with black slip to fill in the skeleton of the leaf, sanded down, and fired again. Coated with turquoise crackle glaze and fired. And finally a layer of mother of pearl lustre glaze which captures and becomes the center of attention on this pair of earrings. I simply stacked a small carnelian stones with the most beautiful color, nuggets of turquoise and sandwiched with very unusual handmade lampwork beads.

They will be surely be a part of your everyday life story and you will never grow tired of them!

 Imbiana

Imbiana means unity in song

It is always so wonderful to find lampwork beads that have a tribal feel!

I no longer buy lampwork beads. I think I have enough lampwork beads in my current collection to last me for the rest of my life! Lol

These beautiful handmade pair of tube shaped porcelain beads are fired with a coil of nichrome wire wrapped around and down each for a dramatic and beautiful effect then dipped in lovely glazes. Then I added a tribal flair lampwork bead adorned with a dots in a lovely shade of purple with a squiggle line in shades of ivory.  I added black silver spacers and round tibetan agate with a cream band.  

At the top of the earring I added a large loop of copper to finish the piece.  I really liked making this large loop to finish the pieces. I felt that it added some elegance while at the same time was eye-catching, which gave each a  nice finish.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

Colors And Harmony!

"Colours are the smiles of nature"

Leigh hunt

I really like to blend colors together.  I try to blend them in an aesthetically pleasing way; as colors are pleasing for the eyes and for the soul.

If they are blended well, in harmonious way, it brings balance and makes the whole design look fantastic.

Colors are intimately linked in our daily lives.  Each one of those colors are associated with a state of mind and emotion.

Most of us don't realize it, but colors have an influence on our behaviour and sense of humor.

Unfortunately I don't have much to say today but I hope to be able to post here more often in the future!

There are so many details and items to take care of after I make a piece of jewelry, such as: photographing, creating an etsy listing and posting an article on my blog or on Instagram, etc... These details are not the most favorite part of my job as a jewelry designer.  But unfortunately these things must be done.  

I am currently working on a very special collection and I hope to be able to share it with you very soon.

I like the way, and the circumstances, in which the design came to me!

When it comes to buying my supplies, sometimes I know exactly what I want, and exactly what I will make with the beads I am purchasing at that moment.  Yet at other times, I have no idea what I want to make, but I KNOW that I must have and must hold the beads in my hands.

I bought these particular gemstones and lampwork beads that I used in this project at different time periods.  I didn't even remember that I had these lampwork beads But they just happen to match perfectly with the fossilized dinosaur bones.

The color of each, drew me to them; I knew that I must have them !

                Ifede

These earrings have fascinating fossilized dinosaur bone nuggets with a beautiful spectrum of colors which include: purples, blues, greens, oranges, and last but not least, red tones.  The nuggets are the focus of attention and dangle upon a loop of several Czech farfalle glass beads and then upon vintage swirled solid brass rounds that have a nice coppery finish.  Equally at the center of attention, are these beautiful sparkling handmade lampwork beads that are saturated with varying shades of purple, plum, blue, deep pink, and even some citrine.  The colors of the lampwork beads and along with those of the dinosaur bones...blend in such poetic harmony !

"Gem Dinosaur Bone refers to fossilized dinosaur bones that have been petrified with silica or quartz crystals which gives them their colourful, glassy appearance.
Petrified or Fossilized Dinosaur Bone increases energy and memory"

Amadia

A playful use of color here with these chrysocolla beads in their calming and soothing color.

It looks like the stones and lampwork were made to match each other, but that is a pure coincidence that Mother Nature's stones and the artisan's handmade lampwork are so perfectly matched.

"Chrysocolla, the king of carbonate copper gemstones.
The name chrysocolla was first used to describe the stone by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and botanist, in 315 B.C. The word was derived from the Greek words chrysos, meaning gold, and kola, meaning glue, referencing the fact that chrysocolla was employed from the earliest times by goldsmiths as an ingredient for solder, called santerna by the Romans, to weld gold pieces together.
Chyrsocolla is first and foremost a Stone of Communication. Its very essence is devoted to expression, empowerment and teaching.It is the stone of forgiveness, peace, and the strengthening of emotional bonds".
Source: Crystal Vaults

Ijeoma

What makes you think of springtime more than flowers?  So let's celebrate Springtime with this gorgeous pair of flowery earrings!  Don't you just love the combination of red and turquoise?

These earrings are a stunning mingling of: beautiful red tulip beads, unique red lampwork beads by the Canadian lampwork artist Kerri Fuhr, along with an African turquoise gemstone nugget, and vintage flowery bead caps.  Kerri's beads were my first purchase on Etsy back when I first started to browse online for pictures of beads and gemstones.  That's how my history with Etsy began, and it was back in 2010.

I love each and every single one of Kerri's pieces and I was so fortunate to be able to own some of her art.  Unfortunately, I can no longer afford them.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)

Gemstone calling!

This week, I was litterally drawn by these gemstones while I was working on something else.
At first, I tried not to hear them but I was so obsessed that I even dreamed of them at night and kept thinking of them night and day. I felt this calling was a sign to return to my soldering adventures. I wanted to test if my skills had progressed since my first attempt.
I don't know how much time I spent making them, but for sure, I put my heart and soul on each of them !
I would like to sell some of them as headpins, for someone to relate their spirit and journey on their own creative way.
I already turned some of them into a pair of earrings. I will share them with you here and later list them on etsy. Just in case, you see something here you want, please let me know.

I know you all are asking yourselves. What is the weird thing in the middle? :)
Well, It's an old bone I collected in the river Thames in London amongst ceramic pipes and beach glass.

An assortment of beautiful earring gemstones.  From left upper row to lower right: Multi-color picasso jasper, butter honey ocean jasper, blue fossil coral, serpentine and another jasper. I don't remember exactly which one of jasper it is!  (Sorry) 
 Ready to wear as they are or I am thinking to embellish them with something else.
On the other hand, I really think of those of you who don't like long earrings.
I am doing my best to make my earring shorter. The truth is that I enjoy to add a lot of small details on each of the design and I always end up with long earrings. :)

Phantom quartz point gemstones

Raw citrine crystals with lovely white to amber colour with specs of eggplant color sprays on some of them.

Wild and rough-cut rustic blue Kyanite gemstones to use in your unchecked designs. 

Handmade yellow ceramic dangles, small drops poppy jasper and bone I collected in the river Thames in London.

 Mystic titanium AB quartz crystal point rocks.

I have protected each of the items that I made with renaissance wax so that it will be more durable and protected from the elements.

Like always, thank you so much for stopping by.  

Merci beaucoup. :)