by Barbara | Feb 14, 2016 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Faux Bone™, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Polymer Clay, Sterling Silver, Uncategorized
Happy Valentines’ Day! It also happens to be Steven’s and my twenty-first wedding anniversary so it’s a very special day for us! The really great thing about having this date as an anniversay is that it seems everyone is celebrating love with...
by Barbara | Jan 11, 2016 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Bronze, Components, Embellishments, Materials and Supplies, Metal Clay, Mixed Media, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Polymer Clay, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques
I’ve made another winter-worthy necklace! Looking at this necklace almost makes me shiver! This time I’ve interspersed polymer clay pods, twigs, and beads with fine silver metal clay warp-shaped disks as well as Toho Baroque Pearl glass seed beads. The...
by Barbara | Oct 23, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver, Techniques
Mary’s life was fraught with complication. Upon the death of her father, James V of Scotland only six days after her birth, Mary ascended to the throne with her mother, Mary of Guise, acting as regent. At five years of age, she was betrothed to Edward, Henry VIII’s...
by Barbara | Oct 19, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Beads and Materials, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, Patina, Sterling Silver
Born in 1122, Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine was wealthy, intelligent, and ambitious. She reigned as Queen of France from 1137-1151 while married to King Louis VII and as Queen of England from 1154-1189 during her marriage to King Henry II who imprisoned her from...
by Barbara | Oct 16, 2015 | An Aside, Art to Wear, At the Bench, Beads and Materials, Bracelets, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Delica beads, Embellishments, Handmade, One-of-a-Kind, Seed Beads, Sterling Silver, Techniques
Miyuki of Japan manufactures Delica beads, which I have used extensively in my geometric beaded creations. But Miyuki also makes wonderful beads in many shapes and sizes…bugles, tilas, triangles, square, etc., and of course, seed beads in many sizes. I especially like...
by Barbara | Sep 28, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Components, Handmade, Inspiration, Materials and Supplies, One-of-a-Kind, Rings, Sterling Silver
Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25 in 1558, succeeding her half-sister, Queen Mary. Beloved by her subjects, she was a brave and noble Queen. On July 29 of 1588 during the Spanish Armada (a fleet of 130 ships...
by Barbara | Sep 19, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Sterling Silver
The latest addition to my “Medieval Muses” collection is a ring titled “Lady Jane” for Lady Jane Grey who reigned for only nine days. Made of hammer-textured and patinated sterling silver, bronze, and 22k gold bi-metal, the tiny crown-themed...
by Barbara | Sep 10, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Techniques
Louis XIV, known as the Sun King ruled as King of France for 72 years, the longest reign of any European Monarch in history. He was a patron of the arts allowing classical French literature to flourish. Louis was also passionate about ballet…at fifteen years of age,...
by Barbara | Aug 25, 2015 | Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Handmade, Inspiration, Metal Clay, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Techniques
As the first wife of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon fared somewhat better than Henry’s second wife, Anne Boleyn…Catherine, at least did not lose her head! Raised as a devout Roman Catholic, which factored largely in her later life, she was the daughter of...
by Barbara | Aug 18, 2015 | An Aside, Art Jewelry, Art to Wear, Bronze, Cabochons and Gemstones, Components, Earrings, Embellishments, Handmade, Inspiration, One-of-a-Kind, Patina, Sterling Silver, Techniques
That statement has been attributed to Marie Antoinette when she was told the people had no bread. Born an Archduchess of Austria and married to the Dauphin of France at the tender age of fifteen, young Marie led a sheltered and privileged life. She had no idea of what...
