While on our recent vacation to the beach, I rediscovered my love of Mah Jongg. That’s not to say that I am particularly good at the game, but I do enjoy the challenge. So I definitely got a little excited when I found pendants made with Mah Jongg tiles. The Tigers and Dragons Etsy shop has a variety of Mah Jongg pendants made using reclaimed vintage and antique game tiles. Each tile has a specific meaning, and a card explaining the significance of your pendant is included with each purchase.
There is also a fabulous line of etched copper and stainless steel jewellery. There are etched pieces with Chinese zodiac signs, or Celtic and Norse designs. The Manitoba-based duo of Paul and Jill have backgrounds in architecture and art, and I think it shows in the esthetics of the jewellery they create.
All the tiles are reclaimed from incomplete vintage sets, so they have the added appeal of "game history"
I love the warm patina of this copper etched piece
While it was the Mah Jongg pendants that originally drew me to Tigers and Dragons, I have to admit that my eye has been caught, and my heart stolen, by this etching on stainless steel:
For the intrepid traveller: a beautiful symbol of protection and guidance!
The design is called a Viking Compass, and when translated from icelandic, it means “see the way”. It is said to help guide the traveller safely home. What a lovely sentiment to keep close to your heart while collecting stamps on your passport and having grand adventures!
You can see the whole selection of items at the Tigers and Dragons Etsy shop. I’m off to put Mah Jongg on my computer so I can play any time!
~Jennifer
Let me begin with a little disclaimer: I do not have pierced ears. You can blame that one on a lifelong plague of needle-phobia. However, that doesn’t keep me from loving the look of earrings, and appreciating the style and finesse that they can add to an outfit. Every so often I come across earrings that make me take a moment and contemplate finally taking the plunge and getting pierced. Today, it is Ear Curls, etc that has me double-thinking my poor naked ears.
Ear Curls only require one piercing, but gives the appearance of many, with a dramatic sweep of jewels up the ear.
Elegant, and yet a little bit edgy
Ear curls are available with a variety of beads, and your choice of sterling silver or 14 carat gold. These are a great option for those who love the multiple-piercing look, but don’t want to commit to it for every single day.
Ear Curls, etc also has lovely little wine charms, and neat beaded hair wraps.
Less dangly and clanky than traditional wine charms, these wine curls wind up the stem to decorate and identify your glass!
A quick and easy way to embellish your hair while keeping it up and out of the way.
Ear Curls are handmade by Shirley on North Pender Island, B.C. You can order them online, or check here to see if she will be at an upcoming craft show near you!
Shirley's crafty hands hard at work!
Have a great day!
~Jennifer
Uli’s Creations are not what comes to mind for me when I think of chainmaille. Admittedly, my experience with this jewellery design technique is limited, but I’m thinking knights and jousting. Instead, we see that Uli’s chainmaille creations are delicate and often colourful!
Uli was another of the participants in our Canada Day giveaway, and even though I’ve held one of her bracelets myself, I’m not sure I’ve got it quite figured out how it all goes together so seamlessly.
Uli’s passion for chainmaille started when her daughter wanted to make some jewellery… plastic beads turned into “real” beads and eventually she tackled chainmaille, learning as she went. I’m intrigued by the number of tiny little rings involved in each piece, and the patience that it must take to put it all together. Obviously, colour is important to Uli, and my favourite pieces are definitely the ones that incorporate a bit of the rainbow!
My all-time favourite in her shop, though, is this one… I know black isn’t exactly colourful, but the organized chaos of this “shaggy” weave necklace suits my current state of mind. I guess that means I’m feeling a little shaggy?
You can find Uli on Facebook, Twitter and on her personal site as well as browse online at her Etsy shop if you like what you see here!
Cheers,
~Sarah
My personal style is pretty simple, but I like to splash it up with a special detail here and there… a simple dress with an unusual back detail, or a gorgeous ring to add a little pizazz to jeans and t-shirt.
So, when I saw the rings at Brilliance Found, I stopped and did a double-take. This floating butterflies piece is so lovely, and I’m not sure that I’m going to be able to resist buying it (my budget is arguing with me!)
The artist is Nyne, and she is currently living in Vancouver, having just escaped the cowboys and spring snowstorms of Alberta back to her hometown! From her designs, it’s clear that Nyne is a creative spirit who takes inspiration from nature and the world around her – many of her pieces feature leaves, butterflies, flowers and even this spectacular dragonfly:
Lest you think her shop is filled only with gorgeous rings, let me show you my favourite necklace:
And for something completely different… this felted flowers necklace!
Nyne has a history of creating specialized jewellery pieces for your specific needs, too – sensitive skin options, earrings for un-pierced ears that don’t look anything like your Grandma’s clip-ons as well as large gauge earrings. You can find her all over the internet with a shop at Artfire and Etsy, as well as on her blog, Facebook and Twitter!
Enjoy,
~Sarah
As I mentioned on Monday, our family spent some time in Waterton Lakes National Park last week. The scenery is stunning, and without a doubt has inspired some great artists. I mean, honestly. This was the view from about 100 feet away from our campsite:
Mt. Blakiston
So, as I walked the streets of Waterton Village with my family, I came across the Lost Art Jewelery studio. I was struck immediately by a couple of rings in the display window and managed to convince my very hungry family to wait for a couple of minutes while I looked around. Such gorgeous pieces, created right in the on-site workshop with the artist, David Sommerfeld, often on hand to answer questions or offer a consultation for custom work.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me at the time, so you’ll just have to pop over to the Lost Art Jewelery gallery to take a look at some of his stunning work. Here’s an example from the site, but the gallery is full of rings, earrings, pendants, hair pieces and more.
I was so pleasantly surprised to find pieces of such quality in tiny little Waterton with a population 2,000 in the summer months, a mere 50 in the winter! Mr. Sommerfeld uses traditional direct metal work techniques to create his pieces (rather than molds), with Canadian diamonds, Alberta ammolite and other fine gems. I wanted to get back to the studio to speak with him myself before we left (that very hungry baby didn’t allow much browsing time during our first visit!), but the next time I dropped by the shop, the sign on the door said that he’d gone out “for some fresh air”. There’s plenty of that in Waterton, and I’m sure that fresh air helps to inspire his fresh designs.
If you’re ever in southern Alberta, do take some time to visit Waterton and the Lost Art studio!
Cheers,|
~Sarah
It takes a special talent to take an age-old material like wood and transform it into something sleek and modern. 3dots has managed to do just that. The Modern by nature line of jewelry is exactly what the name brings to mind. The pieces are modern and dramatic, while still holding on to the natural warmth of the wood. The result is a unique balancing act between trendy style and traditional materials that will leave you wanting more!
Wouldn't this be perfect with a cosy sweater dress this fall?
This necklace is called Fallen Leaves, so pretty!
The wooden circles can spin and move on the cord, like your very own mobile!
Dramatic and elegant, "Orbit" is out of this world!
3 dots is the brainchild of Lucie, a full time furniture maker, part time artist extraordinaire in la belle province of Quebec. You can see more of her work on her flickr stream, or check out her Etsy shop to order one of her beautiful pieces. Custom orders are also available if you have something particular in mind.
3 dots gets 5 stars in my book!
~Jennifer
In need of a little boost of summer today (it’s pouring rain in Alberta’s Capital Region today, and it SNOWED last weekend!), I found this lovely Tree of Life pendant. Wouldn’t this just make you feel like you always had a bit of summer with you when you were wearing it? Having made some jewellery in the past, I’m truly a sucker for unique, handmade pieces – in part because I understand just how tricky it is to make those beads or gemstones, silver or gold, cooperate and achieve the vision you have for them.
The Tree of Life, found at Toronto jewellery maker Sammi84, struck me immediately as something that I hadn’t quite seen before.
Tree of Life - peridot & gold
Sammi84 and sister shop Made by S.A.M. are run by sisters Sammi and Kelly, with Sammi doing most of the designing and creating. She prefers to work with sterling silver, vermeil and rolled gold combined with fine gemstones and semi-precious stones in nature-inspired pieces.
A few more of my favourites:
Spring Garden Orchids on sterling silver
Black rutilated quartz with bare leaf
These sterling silver pieces in particular are so delicate… I just love how they would look with the perfect little black dress, or with jeans and a t-shirt out for coffee with your best girlfriends! If you like these, you can find more of Sammi’s work by following the links above, or by visiting her on Facebook.
Cheers,
~Sarah
