June Challenge: Designing with Pearls

The Starving Jewelry Artists Monthly Team Challenge is a way of encouraging one another to grow as artists by stimulating our minds and our creativity to move in a new direction.

There is no voting.

There are no prizes.

There is fun, the joy of creating, and the pleasure of seeing how other jewelry artists interpret the theme.

June's traditional birthstone is the pearl. Pearls don't just come in ladylike strands anymore. They are sold in countless shapes and in every color of the rainbow. Is your style demure and understated or wild and bold? June's challenge was to show us what you can do with the gift of the oyster and mussel.

Pearls in a multi-strand bracelet by Galadryl.

Sylvia finished first with a beautiful multi-strand bracelet that combined soft gleaming pearls and sterling silver. There are some crystals in there for the perfect dose of bling.

Cat's use of texture makes this a stunning piece.

Cat gave us a feast for the eyes with a seven strand fine silver wire crochet (chain stitch) necklace with dark beads, lava stone in two shapes, peacock freshwater pearls, and hematite in different sizes and shapes. 

Pearls are a perfect wedding adornment in these earrings by Beadsire.

Caron provided us a glimpse of these elegant pearl earrings made for a wedding party in England. Don't they make you wish you could see the pictures of the ceremony?

Bonnie added pearls to a vintage rhinestone shoe clip for this bracelet.

My contribution from The FamiLee Jewels mixed vintage rhinestone jewelry with the softness of freshwater pearls in a seamless combination of old and new.

Beaded bead earrings by Island Girl

Lynne made beaded beads using pearls. She suspended them from delicate ear wires with fine silver chain for a feminine fashion statement.

As you can see from our accomplishments artists love a challenge. Won't you consider joining us in July's Fly me to the Moon Challenge?

Supplies From the SATeam

Are you running low on supplies for your latest creations? Check out these new supplies from the SATeam! Click on the links below the images for more information.

Silver Plated Spiral Charms - 10 pcs by alatsupplies

7mm faceted Trillion Mystic Topaz by NValentineStudio

Purple Potato Pearls (1/2 strand) by MilenaS

Playful Jellies Artisan Lampwork aquarium Bead by islandgirl

Petite Fancy Sterling Silver Ear wires - 5 pair by BellesBeadsNThings

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

Supplies: Focus on the Basics

Today in the Supplies feature, we take a look at a variety of basic supplies useful to any jewelry artist. From simple earwires to handmade charms, the SATeam has got you covered! 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

Quote Me - Coco Chanel

"My jewels represent an idea first and formost.
I wanted to cover women with constellations!"
~Coco Chanel

When you hear the name Coco Chanel you think of her trademark suits and little black dresses. Her simple, yet sophisticated outfits paired with great accessories - often several strands of pearls.

She has become one of the more influential figures in 20th century fashion, an icon of expensive simplicity.

And don't you just love the way in this picture that she wears her pearls draped to the back!?

Her quote got me pondering two things?

One...

do your designs start with an idea? That little grain that embeds itself in your mind and blossoms (or festers!!) until it escapes.

My "idea" has always been to design jewellery that fits in to three categories:-

1. I would wear it.

2. It has to be feminine, but a little unusual.

3. It has to be affordable to the average woman (a throw-back to my broke student days).

The second thing the quote got me thinking about was where my designs have ended up.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to get a giant map of the world and stick pins in to show where our designs have ended up. I'm pretty confident that there wouldn't be much room left!!

So, a tribute to the women of the world - constellations in the sky, glittering in every corner of the world, adorned by all of our pretties.

Brings a smile to my face thinking about it...

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.