Cabs - No, not the NYC kind, cabochons! I've been practicing on and off with craftwire and although the results are good, it just isn't as satisfying as using real silver. Well, this past summer, I purchased some beautiful cabs and I thought it was time to take them out of their packages! Here are two that I've wrapped this evening.

"Exotic Beauty" Tahoma Jasper Cab (F, B - 2"L, 1/2"W at its widest point)
"Interesting" Polka Dot Agate (F, B - Approx. 2"L, 1"W at its widest point)

First Home Jewelry Show - A collaboration between moi and Lakshmi is scheduled for Saturday, October 14. The invitation has gone out and there's no turning back! Deadlines are good for spurring on creativity. Time to re-direct my focus from photography and admin matters to making jewelry again!

Left: Dance Barefoot #1 (Lakshmi) (SOLD)

Will I ever get this photography thing down? Aargh! After quite a few tries, I've managed to take photos of my latest pieces. My most recent photos were done in a light cube with the jewelry "posing" with props. They are the best so far. It's past midnight. I can sleep well tonight.

Grapevine Necklace: Grape seed beads with flower jasper teardrops. Light and breezy in a choker style, so approximately 16"L.

SOLD - Cleo(patra) Necklace (below): The focal bead is a kenyan bead, ceramic and handcrafted in Kenya. This bead is surrounded by sodalite beads in a rich royal blue, accented with emerald czech glass beads and completed with navy blue seed beads. 17"L.

SOLD - Midnight Gleam Necklace: I recently received my order of these gorgeous luna sea opal czech beads! Perfect for moonlight walks! 16"L.

SOLD - Wine and Roses Necklace: At the center is a poppy jasper "trillion" or triangle-shaped donut - pretty! The deep red against the rich brown beads (I believe they are chrysanthemum beads) give this piece a rich autumn feel. 16"L.

La busqueda sigue - Since the crafts show, I haven't been able to get my mind off of finding another venue to sell my jewelry.

In the last weeks, I've been on the internet checking sites and pounding the pavement. There's so much information out there, but yet there isn't! I suppose there are only so many venues in the NY metropolitan area. Strike: Street festivals (no tent nor table & chairs nor vendor's license, oh and the season's pretty much over); and high visibility arts & crafts shows (same as above AND application period closed at the beginning of the year AND the fee is daunting - yikes).

The greenflea market at 76th Street was promising (low fee, availability, high traffic) but they are simply saturated with jewelry. I was delighted, however, to meet Juli of Julira Designs! She makes crochet silver jewelry which is beautiful. I also met the designer (did not get her name unfortunately) from anothai. Also beautiful jewelry and accessories. Both ladies are an inspiration!

Encontrada un otro lugar. Actually, I've been sitting on the fence about LAUNCH-NYC because of the fee - $100. I mentioned this to mij goed vriend, G, and being the artist herself, decided to join me and share the table! Fantastische! The date I've applied for is November 18, which will give her enough time to return to glass work (beads).

I'm happy now that I have an event each month for the next two months! I'll have to decide if I want to do a second show in Astoria, which would be December 2nd. Hmm ...

My First Crafts Show Labor Day was a beautiful here in NY and everyone was about - just not about where the crafts show was sadly :( Sales were slow all around. A few people had more than 2 sales so they made their booth fee. And luckily it was a low fee or many of us would have been pretty mad! My first experience was a relaxed one, meeting nice, friendly and supportive vendors. IMO, my one sale for the day was ok with me. (Thanks, K!)
Here's a pic of my display:I can hear it now: Tsk, tsk, tsk. 1. Can you tell I didn't give much thought to my display? No, I didn't - no, not true - what I wanted to do would have cost me more money and I couldn't find street trash items to make do! Well, I'll keep looking so I can be prepared for the next opportunity.
2. I didn't have enough in inventory. There are definitely too many empty spaces here. 3. The black board on its own didn't have enough punch. Visitors couldn't see it from across the room where they entered. Customers were definitely intrigued as I displayed each item on my hand; my pieces couldn't shine !
Anyhoo, onto the next venture: A Home Sale in October with Lakshmi - stay tuned!

The Last Empress (SOLD)
I had such a time capturing this set in its true light and this is the best of all my attempts. The peruvian blue opals together with the scarlet red beads convey a sense of nostalgia, casting you back to a previous era. The fancy box clasp completes the look. Bracelet is 7-1/4" (approx. 18cm). Matching earrings 2"L (5cm).