Monday, March 31, 2008

New Asymmetrical Necklace in Lemon Quartz, Citrine & Amethyst

Asymmetrical Design using Amethyst
SOLD

This has been an amazing designs that I created a while back. I gave it to one of my Galleries and within a couple of weeks it was sold. Since then I have had several request for this piece so I decided to bring it back in Amethyst as well as Citrine and Yellow Quartz.

I designed a new necklace based on the original Asymmetrical Necklace plus I designed a smaller version of the "A" Necklace using Amethyst & Citrine Brioletts and Faceted Stones shown below.

Asymmetrical Design using Lemon Quartz
SOLD

The "Leaf Section" of the above "A" designs are 2 1/2" and Argentium Sterling Silver 925
In each design including the smaller Asymmetrical Designs below, the Clasp is in the front of the necklace instead of in the back which is usually impossible to attach plus you can adjust the length with a catch we have behind the stem in front. This is the most versatile necklace I have ever designed.

Asymmetrical Design (smaller version) using Amethyst
SOLD
All the same features of the larger Asymmetrical design have been incorporated into the smaller design.

Asymmetrical Design (smaller version) using Citrine
SOLD
Smaller Asymmetrical designs leaf section is 1 7/8", the briolettes are adjustable.
For additional photos, please e-mail or call me for front & back photos.
Thanks for looking!

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Phalaenopsis Orchid Necklace is FINISHED!

She's Finished!
This piece is a Limited Edition Only. It will be 1 of 12 and this piece is Number 1. The Orchid Necklace, 2 of 12 is in Brazil. It was given as a gift by my mentor, Volker Kracht, a Master Jewelry & Artist who hand delivered the piece.
I am anxiously waiting his return to find out more about the one on the receiving end. I will keep you informed.
This was a design I've had for about 1 year...but procrastinated because I knew that the cost & time for making the first one would be enormous...plus I wanted to put a few more projects under my belt before I started sculpting this necklace. Once sculpted & cast, it took us more than 5 months to complete this necklace.
Now about this necklace: It has incredible accurate detail and was designed to wear comfortably. I have taken this piece to my Botanical Show last week and everyone who tried it on was amazed on how light the necklace was...and when they did try it on, the look on their face was priceless. It was as though they had stepped out onto the red carpet.
It has 3 Phalaenopsis Orchids, 17 buds and 33 leaves.
Each leaf in the necklace has movement, making this necklace flexible and adjustable, allowing us to add or remove leaves to adjust the length for a custom fit.
The necklace is Argentium Sterling Silver 925 and is stamped and has the "DV" logo. The Clasp is a very strong hidden clasp and was beautifully hidden under the leaves.
I am in the process of finishing up the matching "Phala" Orchid Bracelet and Ring.
Leaf Earrings are available in two different sizes.
As always, additional photos are available or visit my Ruby Lane Shop for additional Photos.
You can always Call or E-mail me for additional Information.

Friday, March 21, 2008

New Calla Lily & Turquoise Necklace

I LOVE TURQUOISE!
There is something about bright shiny silver and turquoise that just goes together so perfectly but adding my Calla Lily Stem with all it's texture just adds a new level of beauty.
I strung up the piece, put it on my velvet bust and waited until Don came home from work...I sat the necklace on the counter so that it would be the first thing he saw when he walked in the door. His reaction was very positive...and for him, that's a good thing. Don has a very good eye and having him in this business is great because he has some great feedback.
At this time the necklace is 17" long but can be adjusted.
The Sterling Silver Pendant is 1.75" wide x 2.50" tall
Note: This is also a pin as well as a pendant
$254
If you are interested in this piece, please call or e-mail me for more details as well as additional photos.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

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

Saturday, March 15, 2008

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

Thursday, March 13, 2008

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!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

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.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

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

Friday, February 29, 2008

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!

Thursday, February 28, 2008

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!