Halloween Costumes and New Jewelry

Is anybody else sick of hearing about Halloween costume?
My kids have been talking about Halloween for 3 weeks! Shoot me now. Ever since the Halloween costume catalogues started arriving in our mailbox. Note to self: get the mail before the kids get home.

Way back when, we didn't have Halloween catalogues brimming with costumes. We actually had to use our noggins to dream up costumes to create out of nothing. Or visit Kmart and buy one of the prepackaged costumes with the plastic mask. The plastic masks were so hot, your face would steam up from your breathe. Remember those?

My son wants to be Harry Potter. That's easy enough, right? The robe, glasses and wand. Plastic wands are 8 or 10 bucks. Why can't he whittle a wand out of a stick? Oh yeah, because he cannot use a pocket knife. He's 7. What with all the explorer sticks out on my deck, I would think he could find a super cool wand out of that pile. This way, he's recycling and green. But, no, now he wants the broom, owl and other props after perusing the blasted catalogues! These costumes are ridiculously expensive too. For one night? I don't get it. If I'm buying a $50 costume, I want to see it out in public more than once.


The other spectrum is my daughter. "I don't know what I want to be", she says, several times a day. My idea, look in the back of your closet, and find the costume from last year - in mint condition! I have a nice, clean white sheet...

On another note, new jewelry! My kids are obsessed with Halloween costumes and I'm obsessed with new jewelry designs. I had to share these with you.

The necklaces on the right is made with dumorteriete, a deep blue gemstone considered to enhance organizational abilities and self-discipline. It is believed to release fear, bringing courage to one's life, and to boost creativity and expression. I should wear this one daily just to stay organized! Two beads are wire wrapped and hang from sterling silver chain and accent a round sterling silver pendant that has been hammered for texture. I love my hammers!

The necklace on the left is hand beaded with dyed mother of pearl nugget beads in a milk chocolate brown. I've added an oval sterling silver piece that I roller printed to add texture, then wire wrapped a blue turquoise nugget in sterling silver to dance atop the silver piece.

Look for these on the website by tomorrow. More to come...

Wonder Woman Cuff.

Maybe its because I feel powerful when I slide this cuff bracelet on my wrist that I refer to it as "the Wonder Woman cuff". How I wish I had Wonder Woman's powers or her body, for that matter. Maybe I'll name this piece Linda, for Linda Carter the star of that cool tv show.

Who knows, all I know is that I'm not finished setting the stone, but I'm loving the look. It's a long process setting a stone of this size, at least for me. I'm not a perfectionist, but I want to be pleased with the finished piece and be proud of my design.

When I purchased this stone, I imagined a chunky pendant. I soon changed my mind when I began thinking the stone looked like various things, from a wedge of cheese to a slice of turtle cheesecake to other things I dare not mention. This musing began in my metalsmithing class at Spruill Center for the Arts. A few of the girls (T and J), made cracks about this stone, so finally T suggested I mount it on the cuff bracelet I had been working on! Brilliant idea! So began the process. Interesting how you purchase a stone with thoughts of one design and then the finished product is nothing how you envisioned. Hence, handmade jewelry that is one of a kind, because its hard to duplicate errors.

Another example, the turquoise stone in this pendant setting (below right) was going to be a ring. It would have been a beautiful ring, but I began setting the stone, BEFORE I soldered it to the ring shank. No, no, no! You must finish the setting, solder it to the ring shank, then set the stone, because you cannot solder a piece with the stone already inside, it will break or shatter the stone. Duh! the stone is not invincible to heat.

This is called problem solving or fixing screw-ups. I have to say, every time I've "problem solved" I've been super happy with the results. I'm working on two ring settings and have sticky notes on my workspace reminding me to solder, clean-up, then set the stone.

This, my friends, is why I make one of a kind jewelry and wouldn't want it any other way.

May flowers brings new jewelry designs.

We are having beautiful weather in the south. Unseasonably cool for this time of year. The flowers are blooming and the birds are feasting.

I love having fresh flowers inside and out. The sunflowers are my favorite - they are so darn happy! The yellow drop crystal earrings put a smile on my face.


And I just picked up this vibrant basket of petunias for my deck. The fun drop earrings with the Bali silver stars pick up the color in the petunias

Other beauties using turquoise and riverstone. The smooth texture of these flat round stones feel nice and cool against your neck.





Inspired by the garden and the outdoors, the new designs will leave you wanting more bright, happy color and cool, soothing color. Find these one of a kind jewelry items and many others at Dee-Zigns.