Kudzu...Could this be my next cuff?

Kudzu? Let's Vote...

HEALTHY FOODS - KUDZU

Why should I be eating kudzu

Kudzu is a plant native to Japan and China. Its root has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine where it is considered to be among the top 50 therapeutic herbs. Practitioners of Chinese medicine use kudzu to treat a range of conditions, including excessive thirst, headaches, high blood pressure and angina. Other uses include diarrhoea, allergies, migraines, headaches and alcoholism.

Kudzu is also a useful cooking ingredient as it can be used as a gluten and corn-free thickener in soups and sauces. You can find it in health food shops and Japanese food shops.

What is it rich in?

Kudzu root contains isoflavones such as Daidzein. Animal studies indicate that Daidzein may reduce the desire for alcohol. Studies with alcoholic people show mixed results but heavy alcohol drinkers given 1000 milligrams of kudzu extract three times a day for a week significantly reduced their beer consumption. Daidzein also has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.

Who should eat kudzu?

Those suffering from high blood pressure or angina pectoris

Those suffering from blood sugar imbalances. The fibre in kudzu slows the release of sugar from carbohydrates thus reducing blood sugar highs and lows

Those with intolerances or allergies to gluten and/or corn starch can use kudzu as a thickener

Serving suggestion and amounts

Therapeutic doses of kudzu vary from 10-100 milligrams of the extract 2-3 times a day. However, as a culinary root 1-2 tablespoons in a sauce is usually sufficient to thicken it.

How interesting... And we thought it was just a pesky plant that's taking over the South!

Any comments?

...a few new rings

Bamboo Bands

A New Phalaenopsis Necklace

Our Orchid Shows are gearing up and it's time to think about my Orchids again.

Phalaenopsis Necklace

I will be reproducing my Phaleaenopsis Orchid Necklace. The original one is way down towards the end of my posts but I'll bring up a copy just to show you what the original necklace looked like.

The new Phalaenopsis Orchid Necklace will be smaller, more flexable but twice the details the original one had. The design will be the same but it will have more buds, some half open buds, and a bit more smaller leaves.

The three flowers will be as perfect as I can get them, so I have chosen the Phal. H.P. Norton to reproduce. I feel this Phalaenopsis is among the most beautiful I have seen. While I am making the flowers, I will be offering a single Phalaenopsis Pendant with an Enhancer while sculpting the necklace.

Wax Model pictures so far...

I will be sculpting 2 more orchids above the first one plus a few more buds between the flowers. After that, I'll be designing the leaf links to the back and a clasp.

Ocean Reef Necklace

I'm getting close to finishing up the wax model on this new project. I have sculpted several fan corals with plate coral peaking out from between the overlaping corals.

Some of the plate coral will be cast in 14k yellow gold but the majority of the necklace will be Sterling Silver. I will have 3 clusters of small aquamarines dotted around the necklace. One cluster on the left side and two clusters to the right.

I took two of my sketches and combined them, coming up with this design...I think you can see by looking at my drawings, I took the best of both.

Needless to say, it's going to take some time to complete this piece but I can assure you...it will be photographed. This is a one of a kind piece, and if anyone is interested in this piece, please call me.

Two New Cuffs - UPDATED!!!

Two New Cuffs...

Bamboo Cuff

14K yellow gold & rose gold bamboo leaves

on sterling silver

Ocean Reef Cuff

Sterling Silver Fan Coral with 14k yellow gold

plate & cup coral



Finished Cuffs!!!

Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold
Bamboo Cuff

Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold
Ocean Reef Cuff

Bamboo Collection

The Newest Addition to my

Bamboo Collection

Two bamboo leaves, one in Sterling Silver and the other in solid 14K yellow gold.

The 4mm Sterling Silver Woven Chain is soldered into the bamboo stems creating a seamless neck piece.

If you are interested in this piece, please email me at:

dawnvertrees@gmail.com

...a watch for Kristi

Kristi's Watch Design

...a bit more nautical

Sculpted Wax:
The corals included in the piece are cup coral, fan coral, plate coral & tube coral.

Well, it's finished and I couldn't be happier! I love sculpting coral because each piece is telling a story such as the eel trying to snatch that piece of topaz that has fallen and stuck between the corals.

I'm not sure if my photos capture the details but here they are...I hope you like it.

What's new in my Bamboo Line?

Bamboo Hoop Earrings

Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold

$329

Stack-able Bamboo Rings
Sterling Silver Bamboo Rings - $39 ea.
Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold - $138

Bamboo Cuff
Sterling Silver & 14K Yellow Gold
$529

St. Petersburg Times "Bay Magazine"

June Issue

Tampa Bay Magazine

Isn't she beautiful!

Our Tampa Bay Magazine is out!

I was blown away by this. Don & I came home from a large art show and normally I do not go straight to my e-mails (due to lack of brain cells after a 4 day show) ...but I did anyway.

When I saw the e-mail from the Bay Magazine editor...I quickly scanned over the e-mail, couldn't believe my eyes and told Don to read the e-mail and let me know if it was as good as I thought it was...AND IT WAS!!!

The St. Petersburg Times was wanting to look at adding my big bold silver pieces to their article on elements of copper, brass, silver & gold...what an honor! My pretty pieces were going to a very prestigious magazine.

Ghost Orchid Pendant

Just finished a small quantity of

Sterling Silver Ghost Orchids...finally!

Tomorrow, I'll add them to my website.

Thanks for waiting.

New Leaf Band

Blue Topaz Leaf Band

This ring is so comfortable...if I wasn't getting ready to design my own ring, this would be it!

I am also making this leafy ring using a 5mm round Citrine and purple Amethyst.

New Lemon Quartz Vine Design

I have been sitting on this stone for a while now but the design finally hit me while in Winston-Salem at a convention. It was the perfect stone for trying out my new Vine Design.

I'm not particular fond of the tradition straight line settings that most stones sit in...especially since I don't care for straight lines in the first place.

My father has always told me that nothing in nature grows straight, so I sculpted this ring as if the vines were holding the ring up and my leaves were holding the stone down.

Well I'm happy to say...I'll probably never go back to a straight setting again. I think it came out beautiful...

Vine Setting

Laser Cut Lemon Quartz

Florida Craftsmen, Inc.

I was just accepted into the Florida Craftsmen Gallery starting May 26th, 2009. We will be displaying 10 pieces in their gallery.

Florida Craftsmen, Inc.

501 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Phone: 727.821.7391 Fax: 727.822.4294

Jeannine's Lotus Ring...

5 am - Starting on Jeannine's ring.
7:12 am - coffeeeeeeee
8:56 am - Just finished the ring shank, just plain for now.
10:15 am - hungry, making a sandwich & pretty satisfied with petal design
11:45 am - making lotus petals.
12:59 - adding the petals to the ring.
1:15 pm- it's starting to take shape...looking good.
1:45 pm - making the 8mm setting

Did I mention that Jeannine is only a short drive away (15 min. max) and I bet she can't wait to see her ring plus I know she is wondering WHY I'm not posting any pictures???

2:36 pm - adding the surprise to the side of the ring shank. This idea is just too cool.

2:39 pm - fine tuning the petals.

After a bit of additional work to say the lease...whalla!

I'm a bit under the weather but I will be posting additional information about the Sunstone she choose to add to the center of her Lotus Flower.

The best of both worlds.

Although my designs are self explanatory...I have a lot to say about this design...but first, I have to add a few things to my website and then I'll be back.

KRISTI - UPDATED!

As you can see I'm getting ready to work on a few custom pieces.
This one is called "Kristi".

It's going to be an impressive ruby ring. Kristi wanted a ring based on one of my leaf bands which is a beautiful ring but for this stone I wanted to make it a special one-of-a-kind piece.

Finished...

New Dogwood Designs for Tammy

Being that one of these is going to go to Tammy once finished...I think I'll just
name the one she picks "Tammy" unless she has another idea.

I have two Teal Blue Quartz in my possession, one 14mm and the other is 15mm. Each will consist of silver (maybe palladium) & 14k yellow gold...my designs will change slightly, they always do once I start sculpting the wax but I'll do my best not to get carried away...I am pretty happy with the overall design, just hope Tammy is once she sees these.

It's Finished!