Bring on the Summer!

I love the natural feel and look of wood. It can take on so many hues and forms. Tiger Ebony Wood is a favorite of mine with its exotic striations; each bead is unique from the next. There is an elegance of this wood that is the new tone of brown for this summer. Alternately, the soft sun-bleached tint of my natural wood jewelry contrasts beautifully against the dark brown of the Tiger Ebony Wood. I wear these pieces with my favorite tank tops and summertime t-shirts. Layer the bracelets; mix the woods. Bring on summer!

Thank you; My friends and My Family

I like to think that my Orange Avocado Jewelry business is a one man show. I design the jewelry, I make the jewelry, and I market the jewelry. However, after each one of my Spring and Christmas shows, I realize that it is far from that. If it weren't for my friends (Sandra), my family (Debbie, Rayna, Roma, Kim (my mom who couldn't make it this year), and my wonderful daughter (Erin) I wouldn't be able to do it. I ask each time for their help and no one hesitates to leave their very busy lives and help me for a day. And it is a very long day. I'm running on adrenaline; they are running on friendship. So thank you.

My Orange Avocado Jewelry Spring was another great success and I welcome each year old and new faces to my show. Thank you to my loyal fans of Orange Avocado Jewelry. You make it fun for me to do this each day and night!

Silver on the Rise...Feeling It

I learned my craft of silversmithing from a talented silver and goldsmith about 6 years ago. I took private lessons and slowly learned how to make art out of sheets of sterling silver, bundles of silver wire, and made molten silver out of my silver scraps. That was then; this is now. I just met my teacher a few months ago and she nolonger sells her jewelry actively because she cannot afford the silver at the prices that it is now. She thankfully teaches her craft to others, but she cannot keep up with the rising silver costs. Now that is a shame.

Silver, once at $18.00 an ounce when I began silversmithing, closed at over $46 an ounce yesterday. Although I feel that I have priced my jewelry to reflect the materials plus the labour that I put into the pieces, I must now increase the price of my jewelry to reflect the increase in silver prices. Despite all of this, my prices will only rise approximately %10 to %15 and I will continue to absorb alot of these rising costs. Prices will only increase AFTER my Orange Avocado Spring Show on April 27th, Wednesday. So hopefully this is a temporary phase and silver will become affordable to all that love the art of silversmithing.

Giving Back...

Glori Meldrum, Founder of the Little Warriors charity organization contacted me back in November 2010 to arrange a meeting with me. I was asked to design a jewelry line for her charity organization. Ideas flew around the room for the next 2 hours as we talked about the organization: education and prevention of child sexual abuse. We talked about Glori: founder of g-squared and trafik interactive. We talked about what I could create: something unique and special to Little Warriors.

So here it is.

I am proud of it. I am proud to be associated with Little Warriors.

I am honored to be connected with Glori Meldrum.

The entire jewelry line can be found on Facebook under "Little Warriors" and soon to be on their website http://www.littlewarriors.ca/ Fifty percent of all sales of this jewelry line will be donated to the organization.

Spring & Summer Collection 2011: Vintage Found Objects

When I watch my kids at times, I want time to stand still. I wish that I had a snapshot of each special moment. Then the next day happens and we forget. But we do carry momentos: a first doll, an amazing drawing, or just a pair of old glasses.

I have come upon so many beautiful vintage keys, watch faces, keyhole openings: all found objects. I have combed through many vintage shops and gathered a treasure trove of collectible findings. These objects once had a home in a historic printing office, a bank, or a jeweler's bench. Each find is one of a kind and unique.

And now it is time to relive these found objects in beautiful pieces of jewelry combined with my handcrafted pure bronze and fine silver pieces. I largely composed my Spring 2011 Collection around beholding a piece of time gone by in a piece of jewelry. Each piece geniunely unique; each piece representing a little bit of history.

Here is a sneak peek of my Spring & Summer 2011 Collection.

Enjoy.

Fall and Winter Collection: The River Valley

Running and biking in the Edmonton river valley brings me daily to the ever changing hues of fall: leaves turn a golden yellow and fall upon the different shapes of rocks. Each day the scenery is different; each day the colors are different. It is ever-changing and always evolving.

My current jewelry line highlights how sometimes the most elementary shapes of circles, squares and rectangles complement each other. My fall and winter collection highlights a free flow of layer upon layer, color upon color; always changing. The elegance of Swarovski crystal pearls and crystals highlight the matte glow of each piece of precious metal that I use. Each piece of silver, bronze, gold, and copper element is handcrafted by me. Sometimes imperfect in its solitude, but perfect in their unity.

Enjoy.

Family Necklaces and Bracelets: What's in a Name

Names of our children, a name of a loved one, names of friends and names of endearment; they hold so much meaning and uniqueness to each one of us. They represent an era and a moment in your own history. For each family name necklace or bracelet I make for someone, they tell a story. Sometimes that story is told to me, sometimes it is held secret to one's heart. I have made necklaces for first time moms, grandmothers and daughters. I have made necklaces for four girls graduating from highschool, each possessing a square pendant with the four names of friends that may come and go, but are here now. Each has their own story, each story special and unforgettable.