Olympic Fever

For the past 2 weeks, a lot of attention has been focused on the Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Although my husband and I don’t usually take much notice of the Olympics, we have caught Olympic Fever this time round. Living in the host country and having one of our main television channels completely dedicated to the games may have influenced this. :)

I have been impressed by the athletes – by their skill and ability certainly, but also by their grace, enthusiasm and the good sportsmanship that I have witnessed. These athletes train so hard and for so long, many of them overcoming enormous obstacles. For some, participating in the games is the realization of a dream. For others, the dream is to earn an Olympic medal – bronze, silver or gold.

Most of us never dream of an Olympic medal. That is an honour reserved for the best of the best. But that doesn’t stop us from loving bronze, silver and gold. So in the spirit of the Olympics, here is some bronze, silver and gold jewelry made by members of the Starving Artists Team.

Bronze

Silver







Gold






Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Quote Me - Rita Rudner

I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and have bought jewelry.

~Rita Rudner

Rita Rudner is one witty lady!

This quote makes me ponder two questions...

1. Does your significant other buy you jewellery any more?

Bead Pendant from Bead Origami on Etsy

I know mine doesn't!

Not since I started designing my own. He figures I can probably make it myself.

Earrings from Theresa Mink Designs

I keep telling him though... "Honey, I can't make a diamond!".

Lampwork Bead from Melissa's Beads Shop

Wondering what the second question was?

Does your man have a pierced ear?!

The beautiful jewellery I have chosen today are pieces that I could not make!

Be sure and visit the SATeam profile to see the names and shop addresses of other awesome talent.

The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists Jewelry Team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

SATeam Sez . . .

It's FRIDAY!

SATeam sez: It may not be spring by the calender, but we're ready to rush the season. It may still be cold where you are, but these treasuries should brighten up your day. Are you ready for Spring? Wear something bright and colorful today!











Featuring artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Status Symbols

Jewelry is one of the oldest forms of personal adornment, but it also has its functionality as in the use of clasps, pins and buckles that prevent clothes from falling from one’s body. It has been used as currency or as a display or storage of wealth. It is definitely a form of artistic display and is also popular to identify one’s beliefs or affiliations in the form of symbolism. Some wear jewelry as a means of protection through the wearing of amulets and talismans.

The status symbols of jewelry in modern times would be defined by value, designer, scarcity or trend. The display of wealth or social status and the purpose of wearing for personal adornment has become the primary function of modern jewelry. However, for most of the early history of jewelry it was the actual symbols that denoted one’s status that was the primacy of jewelry. Religious, spiritual and nature symbolism were the most popular designs used in jewelry. If you were Christian you’d probably wear an Ichthys or a cross, Jewish a Star of David, or if you were married you’d wear a wedding band. It told the world something about you.

Recently, it appears that there is a shift developing in the function of jewelry which has brought about a resurrection of symbolism in jewelry design. Of course much of this symbolism is more stylistic and embellished than the often simple ancient designs. We choose our gemstones by their metaphysical properties. We proudly wear our cross, ankh, om, hamsa, yin and yang, pentacle, peace sign, green man, triquetra, et al. We are again telling the world something about who we are and what we believe.

The talented members of the SATeam have recognized this resurgence in symbolism. Here are a few of their designs.

Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists Jewelry Team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Supplies

Check out these recent SATeam listings for lampwork beads, jewelry components and tutorials! Click on any picture to learn more about the item.

The SATeam blog features artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

I heard the lid being closed!

This is a true story. When I was about five years old, a vampire moved into our cellar. At least my older brothers told me so (ah, teenage boys, so lovely!). We had this staircase where you could see through to a dark space underneath, a storage space my mother called it, but I knew the vampire's coffin was there. I heard the lid coming down whenever I opened the cellar door. I was always a bit afraid that someday he would reach through the stairs and grab my ankle.
Needless to say, he never did. And suddenly he had disappeared. I don't quite remember for how long he lived with us and I wonder where he went to. Maybe he got a new assignment to scare another little girl. Maybe he moved to the beautiful old graveyard not far away. Anything must have been better than living in our cellar!

Anyway, my fear of the darkness which made me sleep with the blanket wrapped around my neck over the years turned into fascination. I was intrigued by the classic, seductive vampire – elegant, dark, charismatic, a gentleman, like Bela Lugosi.

And part of me is fascinated by the dark fashion – gothic. What is gothic? I let Wikipedia help me out here once more:

"Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress."

A lot of people like to be just a little gothic, though. Black finger nails with ordinary blue jeans, a black velvet jacket without a frilly shirt underneath, a touch of gothic on your finger, in your ears or around your neck.

I have found a few beautiful examples how to get your gothic touch without having to wander graveyards in the dark or eerie castles at night.

Meet heavenlyflower's Dark Angel. Who wouldn't want to have him on their side? He looks as if he can impress people!

Or maybe you feel like plunging into the darkness with this beautiful choker made by Good Quill Hunting. I can see it with a white blouse and black velvet jeans for contrast. I could also see it with a white blouse and my beloved long black velvet coat .... hm .....

If you want to show that you have been bitten by your favorite vampire (elegant as I prefer or sparkly like others do), but don't really want to do without daylight's advantages forever, you could use a little trick. The Family Jewels offers your very own vampire bite and you won't even get your collars bloody!

See you in Transylvania .................................................................................

Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists Jewelry Team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Eye Candy: New listings from SATeam

Featuring artisan handmade creations by the etsy starving artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.

Amethyst for Anne

My favorite book from childhood is Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I love Anne, the main character. She has so much enthusiasm and is so excited by life. I love this passage, where she talks about amethyst:

“I think amethysts are just sweet. They are what I used to think diamonds were like. Long ago, before I had ever seen a diamond, I read about them and I tried to imagine what they would be like. I thought they would be lovely glimmering purple stones. When I saw a real diamond in a lady's ring one day I was so disappointed I cried. Of course, it was very lovely but it wasn't my idea of a diamond. Will you let me hold the brooch for one minute, Marilla? Do you think amethysts can be the souls of good violets?"

Like Anne, I love the beauty of amethyst. I hope you will agree with us that it is worth the admiration.











Featuring artisan handmade creations by the Etsy Starving Artists jewelry team. SATeam members create handcrafted jewelry and beads. More information about our team and its current Etsy shop owner members can be found at SATEAM.etsy.com.