New Wide Leaf Band Ring - Garnet

This is a super comfortable ring that I love wearing...actually, my jewelry display is a blast to have around...in fact, deciding what ring to wear is such a new thing to me but I'm getting used to it!

This ring has 6 hand sculpted leaves 925 Sterling Silver that wraps around the top of the finger and in the center I have set a 9mm x 6mm Faceted Almandine Garnet which has a beautiful deep red color which is typical for a garnet containing iron. This is a natural non-treated stone.

This ring can have just about any stone or birthstone set in the ring (final price depends on the stone) and as always, Shipping, Insurance and Re-sizing is free.

Cost: $165

Free Flowing Leaf, Bud & Flower Bangle with Stones

I've had this design in my head for some time so I set up my mandrel and just started by adding my stems first and then added the leaves, buds and flowers and kept going until I was finished. I added 2-10mm x 8mm Amethyst Cab, 2-9mm x 6mm Peridot Cabs and inside three flowers I set 3mm citrine cabs.

The design took on a very natural free flowing design which is exactly what I love.

The Bangle measures 8" around and 2.5" across. If you have large hands like I have, I can add two hinges to open the bangle up with a safety chain.

This is a one-of-a kind Bangle in Argentium 925 Sterling Silver.

Cost: $396
Free Shipping & Insurance

I'm Going Tropical! Philodendrons, Banana Leaves, Hibiscus...

You would think because I'm heading to my next show at the Tropical Ranch Botanical Gardens in Stuart next month that this is where I had the idea about going tropical, it would have made perfect sense but noooo...we were in the Keys at our show and while staying at the hotel in Florida City they had beautiful tropical gardens around the pool and I looked down at a cluster of tropical plants growing together...there were banana leaves, palms, hibiscus, philodendrons and I said...this is my next projects!

My head was spinning but it was Don who suggested making a slider with a single Philodendron leaf first so this morning I made the larger leaf for an Omega Chain or a set of pearls using an enhancer and then I made a smaller one as a slider for a Hematite Choker.

The little leaves are 7/8" and 1 1/8" tall and will be cast in sterling silver first and then possibly 14kt next.

I plan to make a ring out of the smaller leaf which will wrap around the finger...I've curled the leaf around my finger and it was just perfect. My husband said I nailed the design beautifully!

High-Riser Designing Woman has passion for jewelry

I made the front page of our Sun-Sentinel's High-Riser Newspaper today.!

My friend, Beverly submitted my Blog to the newspaper and the next thing I know I'm getting an e-mail from Chris Guanche, a writer from the newspaper wanting to set up an appointment to write an article about me. He was so impressed with my jewelry, he scheduled a meeting immediately with me and with his photographer, I didn't even have time to get nervous. I was so excited to have my story told plus have my artwork shown to over 50,000 readers along the coast of Ft. Lauderdale up to Boca Raton!

Unfortunately they forgot to add my contact information so I've had several people searching for my information on the Internet. Well if anyone out there can find their way to this blog (which several have) you can e-mail me at dawnvertrees@bellsouth.net or call me at 954-594-2186 to find out where you can see my Jewelry.

New Earrings....YAY!

Cattleya Orchid Drop Earrings
Long time coming but they are here...new hand sculpted Cattleya Orchids are hand set with 4mm Citrines with French Ear Wires.

The Cattleya Orchids are 7/8" wide (petal to petal)
Argentium Sterling Silver stamped 925
Price: $149


Calla Lily Ear Thread Earrings
Too Cute!
These were extremely popular at our last show and I'm excited about taking these to our next show in the Keys this weekend.

These are amazingly comfortable. Each have U-bars that attach to the cable chain. Sterling Silver Ear Threads with Argentium Sterling Silver Calla Lilies.

Price: $74

I'm having a Garden Party...

...and all of the Phala Orchids & Buds as well as their owners out there are invited.

I'm not sure what goes on in my head when I start designing one of my orchid pieces but when I see those little Phala's...it's like looking at little faces and they are all saying...don't forget me.

So it's definately a party.

Update at the ArtiGras Show: Don & I have a wonderful time meeting everyone who came to our booth including the supportive staff at the show, the learning experience was priceless. We left the show totally satisfied but not only that, we left with a clear path to what we needed to do for our next show which will be in Islamorada March 8th & 9th.

I loved hearing all of the comments about my jewelry including the comments that "they had never seen anything like it". That was exciting because I was able to explain that it was because of my method of sculpting the wax as if it was my porcelain, something that's not the norm when learning how to make jewelry.

All comments were extremely positive but both Don & I agreed...we feel the Phalaenopsis Orchid designs really stole the show leaving me wishing I had more designs to offer.

So we both agreed, I need to expand my Phala Collection but I also heard one other request...PEARLS! I heard this load and clear. So I am developing a collection by combining the two, Freshwater Pearls & my tiny Phala Orchids shown to the right.

I don't usually show my pieces right after the casting but they were so cute, only 3mm 4mm & 5mm wide (around 3/8th"). The long stem on each flower is called a "Sprue". This is where the silver is shot from the outside of the plaster mold into the void where the wax piece used to be before it was burned out.

We'll cut those off and start cleaning up the orchids and I'm pretty sure I'll sand blast each orchid creating a soft glow.

This is going to be a growing collection so please check back in a few days.



March 5th...I'M POPPING IN HERE FOR A MINUTE.

I am in the process of designing 3 new cluster "Phala" Orchid rings. The first one will have a 10mm x 8mm stone, a beautiful Green Quartz (light pastel green) stone which sets up high with a cluster of buds, orchids & leaves wrapping around the stone.

This design reminds me of the traditional "Cocktail Ring" in Bloom!

...more coming soon!

Don & I also have some exciting news for all those hi-risers living along the S. Florida coast in a few days, so again, please check back...this is very exciting and a complete surprise to me!

Peeking through the leaves...

It's as if I'm standing next to a large tree trunk and looking between the leaves seeing the sun peek through the leaves.

I spent so much of my time walking through the woods next to Lake Norman back in the 70's.

It was so quiet there but if you looked close enough...it was so busy. Everywhere you looked something was blooming, leaves were getting larger and veins were searching for a place to land. I would sit by a tree and just look at the leaves while watching the birds and squirrels run from one tree to the other.

This one-of-a-kind hand sculpted pendant is cast in Argentium Silver 92.5 (see definition of Argentium below)

Pendant Height: 3/4" x 7/8" wide

10mm x 8mm Oval Citrine Cabochon Gem.

Citrine Color: Light to Med. Gold / Heat Treated

18"Rope Chain included.

When I sculpt each piece I lay out my stems around the stone that I've chosen and from there I hand sculpt each individual leaf curving them around each other as if they were blowing in the wind.

If you are interested in this piece or other pieces I have on my blog, you can e-mail, call or purchase this piece listed on Etsy by clicking on the title "Peeking through the leaves..."

Cost: $195.00

Argentium® Sterling Silver is a patented and trademarked alloy that is at least 92.5% pure silver, just like traditional sterling silver.What makes it different from traditional sterling silver is that a small amount of germanium replaces some of the copper that is usually the other 7.5% of sterling silver. There is two things I love most about Argentine Silver is that it's more tarnish-resistance. Although many say it's tarnish-resistant...that's incorrect. Argentine Silver will still tarnish, just slower than traditional Sterling Silver but the good news is that Argentine Silver is very white, almost giving a white gold look which is a good thing!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

It's been a month since we found out that we have been invited to participate as a "Homegrown Artist" in the upcoming ArtiGras Art Show Event coming up this weekend.

I have been working hard on at least 30 new designs and Don has put together a beautiful exhibit for us. Everything is coming along nicely and we are so excited!

As soon as pieces are photographed, I will add them to the blog.

Thanks to everyone for your support & wonderful comments!

New Double Leaf Pendant...Very Art Nouveau!

This 1 5/8" tall pendant caters a 10mm x 8mm Citrine Stone, two hand sculpted leaves and three small buds. (chain not included)

Cost: $139
Additional pictures are found on my Ruby Lane, you can click on the title "busy, busy, busy..."to see additional pictures or to purchase this piece.

One-of-a-Kind Hematite Orchid Necklace

This one of a kind necklace was designed by my husband, Don who has a vey good eye for
jewelry.

The necklace is a 18" Hematite Gem Necklace. Each necklace is intricately woven hematite beads with a sterling silver magnetic clasp beneath the Leaf Slide.

The Leaf Slide is a series of 15 of my hand sculpted leaves overlaping each other until they reach the Orchid below.

The Pendant is one of my hand sculpted Cattleya Orchids, which has amazingly acurate detail carved into each one.

The unique concept with this necklace is that you can wear this necklace three different ways as shown.

Cost: Sold

*Although this piece sold at my last show, I can create another one-of-a-kind piece. Please e-mail or call me.

Swiss Blue Topaz & Almandine Garnet Ring

I don't think I'll ever get tired of making rings...I love rings.

Once I added my first stone to my leafy rings I was hooked for life and now I've added little flowers and buds to make the design more interesting. I love a ring that can keep your attention for at least 5 minutes and this was does the trick. You have leaves that intertwine between each other. On one side you have a bud ready to open and on the other side you have an open flower with a 5mm Almandine Garnet.

On this particular ring I decided to braid the band which was perfect for sculpting my tiny leaves on each side as if they were little vines.

This ring is just beautiful all around and I'm so pleased to offer this ring on my blog as well as at the ArtiGras Show.

This ring has a 10mm x 8mm Swiss Blue Topaz plus a 5mm Almantine Garnet inside the flower. I have choosen stones such as Amythyst, Citrine, Almandine Garnet, Blue Topaz as well as Peridot...which is one of my favorite stones. I will always add a complimentary stone to go with the larger stones unless a client request their favorite stones to be added instead.

I have just finished making a matching one-of-a-kind pendant, as well as a beautiful bracelet with 4 large stones, 4 flowers and buds.

This Ring is a limited edition, only a small number will be made. Overall width of the ring is 20mm x 25mm

Ring can be re-sized.

Retail Cost $245