New Design using Sterling Silver & Glass...

Coconut Grove Art Festival

49th Annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival
February 18,19,20 2012

See Us at Booth 171

"Wine, Women, & Music" Gallery Opening

Have a glass of wine with me tomorrow night and lets enjoy this wonderful evening!



Andre Christine Gallery Art Opening: Saturday February 11, 6-9pm

"Wine, Women, & Music"

Show opens with forty eight paintings and a reception to meet the artists.

Wine tasting with World Premier wines, and live music by
"The Greenhouse Jazz ensemble" Introducing glass blower David Goldhagen's incredible glass sculptures, and new to the sculpture garden is Robert Winkler "Winding Out" this large Cedar sculpture is very clever and uniquely done.

The gallery has seven new painters showing in this show, as well as Jewelry Designer Dawn Vertrees introducing a new collection of pieces exclusive to the gallery. Come join us for an evening of art, and music at 148 Ervin Road, Mooresville, N.C. 28117 Gallery hours are Tues- Sat. 10-5 visit our website: www.AndreChristineGallery.com

New Koi Cuff

Some may say my fins are finished, but nope..only a third there.

My fins will have some awesome flips in these.

Cool Wavy Fins...I'm having a blast!

 I'm trying to create a graceful movement with the Koi's fins yet keeping the cuff comfortable at the same time.

The detail in this cuff will be over the top, from it's fins to the texture of the scales on the Koi's back.

I'm finding that I like to keep around 3-6 projects going on at the

same time and at least 15 "to-do" projects on my mind...I think it's because of a couple of things, first my fingers get tired from

doing repetitive movements, such as scraping, carving, or making way too may dots or holes. 

Two...some designs require

designing while sculpting and this piece is a good example...so the brain needs a rest, third, ADHD!

 

A few cute Orchids added to my Etsy Shop...

Cattleya Orchid Post Earrings
Available in SS or 14k Gold Plated

Cattleya Orchid Pendant

Available in SS or 14k Gold Plated

Cattleya Orchid Ring
Available in SS or 14k Gold Plated
Please specify your size when ordering.

Our Etsy Shop

My Egyptian Concept...

Egyptian Cuff

My concept is to have an Egyptian Column wrapping around my customers 

wrist but with an open Lotus design between the two top column, unfortunately,

my design looks like a fancy keg of beer and the side view of the cuff looks like a cupcake...thank goodness I can sculpt better than I can draw.  Anyway, I choose the

Lotus because of it's connection to the Egyptians and because it's Egypt's National Flower

which I thought was unique plus it's a beautiful flower.

Seven New Items On Etsy...

Busy Busy Busy...Seve New Items Posted on my Etsy Store.

 

Katie's Wedding Ring - Finished

To see the complete store, click here.

Becky's Cuff - Finished!

Click here to see all of the photos
from start to finish!

Dolphins Updated with Finished Pictures!

Click here to see the whole story.

Fusion Ocean Jewelry

This most unusual designed ring defies definition. It's organic, yet un-natural, it's twisted, yet so sophisticated. The contrasting textures of the gnarly starfish tentacles wrapping around a ring shank of smooth, highly polished fan coral, combine in a look and feel we call "Fusion".

If you like unusual...but with a twist, this ring is for you!

Available in 6, 7, & 8

Available on Etsy

Alaska State Flower - Forget-Me-Nots

Alaska State Flower - Forget-Me-Nots

It's been a long time since I looked at a flower other than an Orchid but since I'm sitting here trying to get over the flu and Don is in Estero at the show, I thought I would just check out a few flowers.

Since my thumb is brown and not green, my other fingers took me to the internet of endless possibilities of flowers each saying saying, pick me, pick me...flowers are like little faces so therefor, they talk to me...

...so anyway, I wanted something that looked like my style of sculpting, I wanted something simple, not complicated like an Orchid, I wanted a beautiful natural flow of the flowers...and most important beautiful buds!  I love dotting the buds around the flowers and leaves...which makes a design very elegant...sort of frilly. The leaves are important...long or short, they have to be flowing as well.  The long stems on the forget-me-nots are just a bonus.  

So what do you think? Did I pick a winner for my new floral line? I think I did and I hope Alaska doesn't mind nor North Carolina for not picking their beautiful Dogwood Flower but honestly...I have done that, they were some of my first flowers to sculpt and I loved those pieces.

So now...I'm off to sketch a few designs. Please check back soon because this photo has so many designs already drawn for me.

Thanks for listening. -Dawn

My husband says "I see things different than most" well I think I found one way I can show him how I see some things...

I choose the forget me not photo because of its beautiful flow...I see rings, a necklace, two bracelet options and then I turn it sideways like this...

Can you see the necklace and one of the bracelets?

Now do you see what I see? Nature makes it easy.

Two New Tabs

Two New Tabs were added today. 

Wholesale Accounts Welcome!

Dawn Vertrees Jewelry Designs is proud to offer exclusive wholesale accounts to qualified applicants. 

Also, for those who might know of a great store near you that you feel my jewelry would make a good fit...please send me a contact and store name to: dawnvertrees@gmail.com ...I would love to send photos & pricing of my work.

Second, we have added a Gallery Location Tab to our website. We are listing our current Galleries as well as Galleries & Shops coming soon. My goal is for you, the customer to be able to see my jewelry up close, and if you choose...try it on for size.

Thanks for your support in advance. -Dawn

9th Bi-Annual Estero Estero Fine Art Show

Estero, Florida Art Show

What: HotWorks.org Presents 8th & 9th Bi-Annual Estero Estero Fine Art Show™

When: November 5 & 6, 2011 and January 7 & 8, 2012

Where: Miromar Outlet Mall (Outdoors), 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero, FL 33928
Located Off I-75, Exit #123 Corkscrew/Miromar Outlets Road

What: Juried Fine Art & Craft Event with World-Renowned and Top Notch Local Artists

Event Hours:Saturday, 10am-5pm
Sunday, 10am-5pm

Free Admission and Free Parking

We played today...

My Sister-in-law, Carolyn Schulz came from England visit us this weekend and she showed
Don & myself Shambala. Its a popular macrame knotting method that
they make bracelets out of. So the night before, we headed out
to A.G. Moore to pick up some fun supplies.

I dug out some of my beads from about 5 years ago and some
barrel leaf beads that I sculpted 4 years ago and with her shambala
methods produced this really cool bracelet.

...I had three more Leaf Barrel Beads and some 10mm black

onyx beads and created this bracelt as well.

Don, my husband tried his hands at Shambala and created this

bracelet using 10 Jasper Beads. 

Carolyn Schulz is a freelance craft designer, teacher and businesswoman. Her experience ranges from scrapbooking to Christmas decorations and over the last 20 years, Carolyn has focused her attention on jewellery design.
Working in both the British and American market for over 30 years, she has edited 3 popular craft magazines, and is currently authoring a fourth book. A former board member of an international trade organization, the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association), for 6 years, she received the President’s Award for service to the industry.



Her designs are widely used by magazines, retailers, manufacturers and television in the UK and US. She loves to share her talent in the form of teaching classes and is fast becoming a familiar face on QVC in the UK.
This website is a showcase of Carolyn’s current work, and her latest way of sharing with others her lifetime passion. It is hoped that the reader may be inspired to create beautiful jewellery, and will learn the techniques required to do so.

http://www.carolynschulz.com/

Fan Coral and Starfish Ring

Hand sculpted and cast in Sterling Silver, this ring features a "fusion" of high polished Fan Coral with our signature Starfish holding on for dear life.

Materials: Sterling Silver 92.5 and plated in 24k gold (Starfish).
Length: 1 1/4" Long
Size: We size all of our rings, please specify when purchasing.

Available on Etsy.



Fusion Starfish Ring

Available on Etsy 

 

Made of Sterlin Silver, this starfish ring features a "fusion" of high polished Fan Coral against dark patina finished Starfish tenticles with polished dot details for a rich combination of texture and color.

Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver, Patina
Size: Adjusted to fit your finger before it ships, please specify your size when ordering.
Ring is adjustable.Length: 1 1/8" Long

Fusion Fan Coral and Starfish Ring



The "Fusion" of Fan Coral and Starfish designs brings to this ring striking contrasts in textures and color that complement each other handsomely. Made of Sterling Silver with high polish finish and dark patina, truly a piece of wearable sculpture!

Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver, Patina
Length: 1.5" Long
Additional Photos on Etsy

Cattleya Charm Bracelet



Nine 3/4" hand sculpted Cattleya Orchids hinged together to create a beautiful Orchid Charm bracelet measuring 7 1/4" long. Each flower was cast in solid 92.5 sterling silver then heavily plated in 24k gold.

Materials: 92.5 Sterling Silver and 24k gold plated
Clasp: Door Knocker Style Clasp
Length: 7 1/4
Gold Plating Warranty: Lifetime

Click to purchase this piece on Etsy.

Fusion Starfish Pendant

Fusion Starfish Pendant

Hand sculpted Starfish Pendant using the lost wax process and cast in Sterling Silver with oxidation added to bring out my detail. Fusion is a new line I introduced this month to be combined with my Ocean Reef Collection. Fusion is a combination of a classic Starfish but with Fan Coral laying on the starfish, fusing itself to the starfish.

I wanted to create a true piece of wearable art.

The piece is 2" in diameter.

Available in our Etsy Shop

Fusion Hoop Earrings

Fusion Hoop Earrings

I know just about everyone has either heard me say, I don't

like sculpting earrings because I hate to sculpt two of them...

a left and a right but these were worth it. I wear a pair of these and i love them,

 nice weight and our fusion two-tone colors, black and silver is perfect for this design.

Available in our Etsy Shop

Ghost Orchid Earrings

Ghost Orchid Earrings

True to the Orchid, I have utilized the sprue of the ghost orchid as the french ear wire.

Each sculpted to have their own unique look.
Available on our Etsy Shop

Cattleya Orchid Charm Necklace and Earrings

Susan Fender Cattleya Orchid Charm
Necklace and Earrings
now available on our Etsy Shop



Charlotte Fine Arts Show Demo

Charlotte Fine Arts Show Demo

This was my first lost wax demo at the Charlotte Fine Arts Show this past weekend...it was pretty awesome talking to so many people who had no clue that my jewelry was made using sheets of wax that I hand sculpted.

I started out by sketching out a leaf necklace and made individual leaves and added them to my wax wire. I had wax sheets, wax wire and all of my tools including my favorite Wax Pen. They could touch the wax, handle the tools...whatever, it was great!

A Wedding Gift for Kathy and Wynne

Completed!

Two Matching Pendants for Kathy & Wynne

To read how we came up with this custom design...click here: A Wedding Gift for Kathy & Wynne