The (Ri)Charmed Life: jewelry

Showing posts with label jewelry. Show all posts

Richarme Summer 2016 Mermaid Necklace Collection

Life is crazy right now! Wonderful things, of course, but it's kept this girl busy. I decided to do just a small limited edition collection for the summer. I was inspired by a handful of turban shells that had the most wonderful colors. Each necklace is one of a kind. Click on the caption to go to the Etsy listing.

Turban Shell with recycled coconut shell and genuine pearls

Turban Shell with Korean jade

Turban Shell with carved mother of pearl birds

Turban Shell with pink pearl and gold beads

Turban Shell with genuine white pearls & blue green speckled pottery beads

posted under etsy, jewelry, mermaid, mermaid jewelry, necklaces, pearls, shells, the richarmed life, turban shell | 1 Comments

My Etsy Wishlist!

It's no secret that I'm an Etsy girl. All year long I browse and favorite things, if I was a good girl this year, maybe one or two of these will end up under the Christmas tree! They're all from sellers in the USA so that's pretty "nice", right? ;p

I am all over the hair stuff this winter. Check out this gorgeous clip:

from Lost Years Vintage

For the home, this awesome bat hook:

from The Tim Woodsman

Here's something else batty I desire:

from Zulasurfing

This trio of cloisonne boxes is just delightful and useful:

from Pollygolightly

This one is a little sad as my dear pekingese is probably not going to be around many more Christmases:

from Confetti Monster

Last, but not least, something very practical!

from King Stitch Studios

posted under asian, bats, boxes, cloisonne, etsy, hair clip, home decor, jewelry, made in the USA, pet portrait, pets, ring, swiffer duster, wish list, wishlist | 0 Comments

What to do with all those pins!

I've got a fairly decent amount of vintage pins. Some I inherited, some are lucky thrift finds and a few were hard won on eBay. I hardly ever think to use them though. When I do remember though, I don't always want to put a hole in my clothing and sometimes I just can't figure out where to put it so it looks right. Occasionally I'll get it right, but mostly I just don't have the time to mess with it.

My hair is super long right now and I find myself "bunning" it a lot. It's not my best look, but it's easy and cool and surprisingly in style this summer. I get a little bored with this look though, so I've been utilizing my pin collection to add a little interest to the look.

Photo from my Instagram account, follow at http://instagram.com/thericharmedlife

So what do you think? Is this something you'd try out? If so, my only advice is to make sure the brooch is attached to both a pinch of hair and the hair tie, otherwise, it can slide out.

Here are some of my favorite pins on Etsy that I think would work well for this. All are under $50! (Just click the shop name in the caption and it will take you to the shop each brooch is in.)

Available at Neatstuff Antiques

Available at Moddities

Available at Lorenzo Mele

Available at Richarme

Available at The Vintage Curve

Available at Zeppola

Available at Sanibelsands Jewelry

Available at Jeanies Place

posted under bat, brooches, buy this, etsy, hair, jewelry, pins, pinterest, TBEC, TheRicharmedLife, vintage | 4 Comments

Nice Oyster

That is, nice SPINY oyster! What are you visualizing? If it's a clam type shell covered in long spikes, you correct. Here's one I have in my collection of shells.

Can you imagine stepping on one of these at the beach? Fortunately in modern times they inhabit the waters of the Pacific Ocean and not the Gulf of Mexico. These are actually in the scallop family and are sometimes called Spondylus, which is Latin for "spines on it's back". Historically, these were used as currency in the early Andean culture. Now they are mainly found in southwestern, Native American type jewelries. Let's end this natural history lesson with a fun little fact. These often are born male and then change to female when they are older!

I put together a treasury on Etsy that shows the range in jewelry that is currently available. View it here. Below are some of my favorites from it.

From Navajo master silversmith Albert Jake, available at the Bugz Store

By Ecuadorian artists, La Perla, available at Organic Jewelry by Allie

Scott Grady ring available at Classic Southwest Jewelry Design

Spondylus more commonly called the Thorny Oyster

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5728030_spiny-oyster_.html

Spondylus more commonly called the Thorny Oyster

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5728030_spiny-oyster_.htmlS

Spondylus more commonly called the Thorny Oyster

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/facts_5728030_spiny-oyster_.html

posted under bracelet, earrings, etsy, Indian, jewelry, lesson, native american, oyster, red, ring, shell, southwestern, spiny, spiny oyster, spondylus, TBEC, TheRicharmedLife, treasury | 0 Comments

Freak Show Favorites

This is a post I've been wanting to write for awhile, but wanted to wait until Halloween. One of my favorite Etsy shops is Freak Show Follies. I'm a bat freak so that's how I originally discovered Stacy's shop and then we ended up on the same Etsy team and I've been collecting ever since! They are beautiful and so well made that I wear them year round, but this time of year they definitely get noticed more. And here is my Freak Show collection- try not to be jealous and do go visit the Freak Show Follies Etsy shop to get your own collection started!

I wear this one the most!

This spider bracelet gets the most attention

This was my first purchase from Freak Show Follies

This is a ring- Stacy does her own custom resin work so her stuff is really one of a kind.

These go with either necklace or just by themselves.

I have worn these, but I think the display card is adorable, so I've left them on it. Stacy's packaging is always fantastic!

I love the range of the Freak Show stuff- it goes from cute to bizarre to buggy!

posted under bats, etsy, Freak Show Follies, Halloween, jewelry, TBEC | 2 Comments

When I Grow Up...

This lovely necklace was featured in an Egyptian treasury today. At one point in my life I wanted to be an Egyptologist. Anubis figures scare me half to death though! When you were in high school, what did you want to be?

Green & gold pottery necklace available here.

posted under anubis, aspirations, death, dreams, egyptian, Egyptology, etsy, high school, jackal, jewelry, necklace, Richarme Jewelry Designs, treasury | 1 Comments

For the Love of Clearwater Exhibit

My jewelry is featured! Check it out at the main Clearwater Library downtown, now until September 13th.

posted under art, clearwater, exhibit, Florida, for the love of clearwater, jewelry, library, main, Richarme Jewelry Designs, show | 0 Comments

Upcycling Vintage Jewelry

I'm a big fan of vintage jewelry- especially stuff with glass beads. I like to pick up broken necklaces and incorporate the beads into my designs. Sometimes it's already a great piece and I'm able to just restring or repair it. I still sell items like that under my Richarme label, but I'm careful to put that it's "restored vintage". Here's a couple pieces in my shop right now that feature vintage beads.

(You can click on photos for more pictures and product details.)

posted under available, beads, components, design, glass, jewelry, necklaces, recycling, repairs, restored, restrung, Richarme, Richarme Jewelry Designs, upcycling, vintage | 2 Comments

Sunburst

Wednesday, August 30, 2012~

I got a nice little package in the mail today- my ring from Unique Nique! The other night at the Craft Party I'd spotted one of her fused glass art rings and had to have it. It reminded me a little of the Tibetan flag and the colors are my favorites right now. Unfortunately it was just a hair too small my finger. Monique was nice enough to resize and ship it to me.

This is just a small taste of the beautiful glass creations Monique has in her Etsy shop. Go check her out at Unique Nique!

posted under art, etsy, fused, glass, jewelry, purchases, resized, ring, shop, sunburst, Tampa Etsy Craft Party, Tibet, Tibetan, Unique Nique, wire, wrap | 5 Comments

Grandpa

from Wednesday, June 13, 2012~

Julian and my cute niece, Trinity

Finally got over to see Grandpa Weeks. He looks so different from just 6 months ago. He's in pain, he's tired. He is aware, but not himself at all. I never thought I'd miss his curmudgeon-like ways, but what I wouldn't give to hear one of his grouchy retorts now.

Joy is leaving today. It will be weird without all the kids running around and laughing. Yesterday we went through lots of boxes of old costume and fashion jewelry my grandmother left. It was fun, but also sad. I don't know how long I will grieve her passing, but it's helped to remember things she wore and just talk about who she was. None of our friends in Florida ever knew her enough to reminisce with me.

posted under family, Grandpa, grieving, jewelry, Joy, kids | 0 Comments

Work Space

Sunday, May 3, 2012~

Checking off orders on my commission list... Love commissions 'cause I know it's a sure sale! I'm going to start saving just a few beads from each project so I have some if they request earrings. Sometimes I can run out and find something that matches, but on the stuff that I get overseas, often it's just a few beads and they all go into the necklace.

I'm a little envious of people who have real, legit, work spaces. I have my dining room table, a tackle box, a dozen plastic organizers, and a bag full of smaller Ziploc baggies. It's a little sad. I do get by, though! One day Julian's room will probably be a home office/work room and I'll be a bit sad about that. =S

posted under beading, beads, commissions, etsy, jewelry, project, Richarme, Richarme Jewelry Designs, room organization, sales, space, work | 0 Comments

Lasts of the First

Wednesday, May 16th~

This necklace is the first design I sold at the boutique. It was based off of a pattern I'd seen on a trip to the Bahamas and seemed like a good fit for a resort area. I was right and it sold well. I stopped making these last summer. I only have two left now. It seems weird. Most of my designs are one of a kind so to have a pattern that I followed and made multiples off was never really my thing. Over the last year I've been less inclined to work with shell. Now that the boutique has moved, I don't have as much of a market for that stuff anyway. It's evolving and changing and I'm glad for it, but I'm a nostalgic person at heart and I'll be sad when these two go.

Both of these are on sale. You can go to my shop or click on the photos to go directly to the listings.

posted under Bahamas, boutique, change, evolving, jewelry, moving, nostalgia, personal growth, resort, Richarme Jewelry Designs, sale, sales, shell | 0 Comments

Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Clean Up!

Monday, May 15th~

Don't forget to dust me!

Last week I worked hard on getting my jewelry shop updated. Things got a little... scuzzy around here. I'm only one person. My attention is already split because I have a 4 year old to look after. When I'm doing that and working on another project, something has to give and it's usually the house. So this week it's the house's turn to get some attention.

I really need a studio or at least storage room. It's hard to maintain multiple online shops and keep everything tucked away in our nook of a dining room. It drives me nuts! So tonight I just started going through everything and sorting what absolutely had to stay in the house and what could temporarily stay out in the hot and humid and spidery garage. I feel better already.

posted under attention, cleaning, dog, house, housework, jewelry, priorities, Richarme Jewelry Designs, shop, storage, studio, TheRicharmedLife | 0 Comments

Define Art

from Saturday, May 12, 2012~

The updating will never end... I guess that's the reality of online sales. Most of my stock is from last fall and the beginning of this year. I did make a few necklaces for the show the other week. I'm finding that listing, promoting and photographing is taking so much time that I'm just not getting in the creative mood as often. It's like the computer is sucking it all away. I'm one of those people that when the mood strikes me, I'm like a whirlwind and I get a huge amount done in an almost manic way. If I'm not feeling it though... I can redo the same necklace several times and never be pleased and end up taking it apart entirely.

I know to a lot of people beading is not true art. And as much as I hate that idea, I often think it. I'm not making the beads- I'm assembling another person's work into something else. I tend to think of art as tangible creativity so in that way bead work does qualify. I think the artistry comes in having an eye for color, texture and pattern. I see myself as a curator or concept designer pointing people in the direction of artful living. Anyway, it does take energy and vision and inspiration.

posted under art, artisty, beading, color, computer, creating, creativity, etsy, inspiration, jewelry, marketing, mood, necklaces, online, pattern, photography, promotion, sales, texture | 0 Comments

The Biz

Thursday, May 10, 2012~

Click on the photo to see the listing

I like beading. I like staging photos. I like when people absolutely love a piece. I like almost everything to do with having a jewelry business. I say almost because the thing I don't like is how much time is involved. I've been on the computer so much this week that my fingers are stiff in the morning. Once I finish updating my shop though, I am taking a break!

posted under agate, beading, biz, blue, break, business, exhaustion, jewelry, peacock, Richarme, Richarme Jewelry Designs, tired | 3 Comments

Altered Archeology- TBEC Member of the Week

Monday, May 7th~

We had such a nice morning at the park today. It was shady, breezy and a lot of good friends turned up. I hope every Monday in May is the same way!

So as El Capitan of the Tampa Bay Etsy Crew, I get to showcase our Member of the Week. This week it's Jessica at Altered Archeology! Jessica is native to the Tampa Bay area and currently lives down by Indian Rocks Beach. Her shop is delightful mix of vintage finds, assembled art pieces and jewelry. Check it out at www.etsy.com/shop/AlteredArcheology. Her product photos are terrific too and we can all learn from that!

Here are my picks from her shop: