Happy Holidays!!!

"Winter Forest", sterling silver and montana agate.

I just finished this pendant.  I am always drawn to unusual stones, and this one really asked for a unique design.  The stone is montana agate.  It is a high arched cabochon and is almost translucent.  To me this piece looks like a pine forest on a snowy day.
Thanks to all my friends and customers for a wonderful year.  Here's wishing you peace and joy during this holiday season and a happy, healthy 2013!

A Wedding

A very sweet customer of mine, Sarah, recently got married.  She asked me to make her jewelry for her, and I was honored to do so.  Sarah loves nature-oriented themes. For her wedding she had a beautiful pale blue/ gray dress with embroidered vines all over it.  To go with it she commissioned this necklace of cast silver twigs and blue topaz.

Sarah's photography was done by Hannah Penny, who I think did a wonderful job.  The photographs capture how beautiful Sarah is and the dimesional quality of the jewelry very well.  Thank you Sarah for sharing these gorgeous photographs with me! 

A Clear Crisp Day

Today is one of those clear, crisp fall days.  I love days like this.  It's the perfect weather to rake leaves, drink coffee (one of my favorite things!) and of course, VOTE!  I voted bright and early this morning.  I won't write about politics here, as I'm sure we're all saturated with it, but I have to say that today is a good day to be thankful for the freedoms we have, and voting is one of them!  One unusual fact about my life is that I was born in the Middle East, Iran in fact, because my father was working there at the time.  I doubt I will ever have the chance to return there, but I do often think about the situations women in the Middle East are faced with, and on days like this I am aware that there are still many people in this world who do not have the freedoms we all too easily take for granted.  We have much to be thankful for.  On that note, it's time to get back to work.  Happy election day!!  Here are some new pieces just out of the studio.


Lace agate, Kingman turquoise, sterling. 

I'm in love with this necklace.  I recently purchased some Kingman turquoise from a woman in Arizona and this is the first piece I have made with it.  Beautiful colors of the Southwest! 


Sterling lock necklace with labradorite.

This lock has a Victorian feel to it I think.  What is the significance of a lock?  There are so many different meanings we could read into it.  I like the mystery.


Spinning rings!  These are favorites of my customers.



Sterling silver with laguna agate. 

This one reminds me of the desert.  It's amazing how many different colors and patterns can be found in agates.  Happy Fall!!

Working Hard!!

Ok, the truth is that I took a break today.  However, I've been working hard.  Every now and then I just need to take a breather and get out of the studio.  So my friend Lauren and I went for a hike on the Syracuse Creekwalk.  We hiked from the inner harbor to Onondaga Lake.  Granted, it was once considered one of the most poluted lakes in the country, but they are working hard to clean it up. Judging from the water fowl in abundance, I'd say they are making progress.  So, the exciting news is that I spotted a bald eagle today!  They've been nesting there for awhile, but this was the first time I've seen one.  We also saw a very cute kingfisher.  So fun! 

This sweet little necklace is dendritic quartz with aquamarine.  I love the delicate dendrites!

 

"A Leaf in the Woods", with variscite and "The Forest Floor" with labradorite.


As for work, I've been on a roll making cuff bracelets, plus a couple new necklaces for the shop. I know the Holidays will be here before we know it, so I'm gonna keep on workin'!
Peace, Dana

Gifts



Hand-fabricated sterling silver necklace with azurite and chyrsocolla.

Yesterday I sold two of my favorite necklaces.  One was bought by a husband and wife on a trip to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  The other (above) was bought by a woman for herself, celebrating her 50th birthday!  While we certainly live in a culture of excess, I think there is much to be said for supporting artists, buying locally, and at times granting ourselves or someone we love a gift that brings us beauty and joy.  My favorite purchases are those made directly from the artist/ creator.  This act gives us a tangible connection to the process of making; we know what and who we are supporting with our spending.  We not only support our local economy, but also experience something greater, perhaps less tangible: the connection to those around us and our local community.  I know for me working with my hands is one of the best ways to spend time.  There is an element of introspection and exploration through creativity, but also the making of something to pass along to another person, hopefully adding joy to their lives in some way or another. I am forever grateful to those who take an interest in my work and support my livelihood.  Thank you! 

Mixed Metal and Gemstones



Copper, steling silver, kyanite, labradorite, amethyst, and amazonite.

I love making big metal cuffs.  Recently while contemplating sheets of copper that I etched last year, it occurred to me that the patterns would be gorgeous paired with stones.  What I also love about these cuffs is that are much more affordable than the same size cuff would be in sterling which enables me to keep them in a customer-friendly price range (yay!).  Copper has such a rich and deep color.  I will be bringing these with me to the upcoming Clothesline Festival in Rochester, NY September 8 & 9.  Check out the link to the right for more information, and I hope to see you there!

Summer

It has been a long and hot summer, but I have much to be thankful for.  My husband and I were recently given the gift of a very sweet trip to the Hamptons to stay with friends.  They collect Buddhas so we decided that the Jewel in the Lotus Box would be the perfect gift to thank them for hosting us.  Here it is, and also a photo of one of their lovely stone Buddhas overlooking the Bay... 

The Jewel in the Lotus Box No.2

The box is made from etched copper and sterling with garnets and a lotus with chrysoprase inside.

A Buddha in the Garden

In other news, I am preparing for the Clothesline Festival in Rochester, September 8 & 9.  It promises to be a fun weekend.  It's a big show with a wide variety of fine craft - definitely worth the trip if you're in the area.  I will be bringing several new pieces to the show as well!

Rings!! Rings!!

After a week in Wellfleet, Cape Cod I got back to work in the studio this week and spent 2 days making rings.  The busy season is in full swing at Gallery 54 and I must keep my hands working!  Here are some of this week's lovelies. 

 Two sweet pink sapphire rings...

Peruvian opal and amethyst.  I love the dendrites in the opal..

 Autumn ring with sunstone...

and finally, tanzanite and amethyst "compass" ring!

These rings will all be at the Gallery after today, and if you're out and about, it's also First Friday in the town of Skaneateles, so stop by the Gallery and join us for a glass of wine.

Craft Company No.6

I'm happy to announce that starting today my jewelry is available in Rochester, NY at Craft Company No.6!  Craft Company in a fine art and craft gallery on University Ave. just a couple blocks from the Memorial Art Gallery Museum.  They have a fine collection of work and I am proud to be one of the artists they feature.  Above is one of the pieces at Craft Company.  It is entirely hand-crafted and features an unusual and gorgeous green jasper with a tiny peridot. 

This piece was just completed. It was custom made for Sarah, who will be wearing it to her wedding!  It is sterling silver with cast branches and a large blue topaz in a hand-crafted prong setting.  It will be gorgeous on her!!

A Few Customer Favorites

Hello.  I just finished another session experimenting with my new photography equipment and here are some of the results!  These pieces are designs I've been making for awhile, and they have been favorites of my customers. 

If you live in Central New York, don't forget the Westcott Art Trail coming up the first weekend in June.  I'll be one of the participating artists.  The link to the right will take you to their website!  Hope to see you there.

Below is one of my bird-on-a-branch necklaces, lost wax cast in sterling.

My tree pendants have been a favorite for a long time.   I've been making these for years and the image of the tree seems to speak to many people.  These are one of my most affordable designs.

This lotus pendant has a peruvian opal in the center.

And finally, tree earrings with kyanite...

The Great Capricorn Beetle

This beetle was hand-fabricated in sterling silver which has been oxidized to achieve the dark patina.  It can be worn as a brooch or a pendant.  This one is a real statement piece, definitely a conversation-starter.  The great capricorn beetle is one of the long-horned beetles.  I used a hollow-form to give this piece its dimension. 

Today I was experimenting with photography and this photo is one of the results.  I want to teach myself to photograph my jewelry well.  I purchased a piece of frosted glass to photograph pieces on.  It makes the background really disappear, as if the piece is floating.  I'll post more of my photography experiments soon.  Happy spring!

The Seventeen Year Cicada Brooch/ Locket

For those of you who don't know me, I have a thing for cicadas.  I am intrigued by insects whose life cycles take them through multiple transformations.  Some cicadas spend 17 years incubating in the ground before they are hatched, eventually molting into beautiful flying creatures. Cicadas remind me of my childhood as well - collecting their molted shells and watching my brother create huge armies of cicada bodies. 

This brooch is one of two pieces recently completed that will be exhibited in the upcoming Celebration of the Arts at St. David's Church in Dewitt, NY.  I designed this piece to be worn two ways: as a brooch or the cicada can be removed and worn by itself as a pendant.  The cicada is a locket and conceals a chamber where photos or treasures can be kept.  The materials are sterling silver, gold-filled bezel, and azurite/ malachite. The show at St. David's runs Wednesday May 9 thru Sunday May 13.  More information can be found on the St. David's website or Facebook page.

Compassion, Vision, Openness

Ah, finally a new post! Things have been busy and I haven't had much time to photograph. Here is one of my latest. This piece will be part of the opening this Friday evening at Gallery 54. It is our annual self portrait show, in which all the artists bring in a new piece that is a self-portrait, or somehow represents the artist. This is not meant to be me, but rather represents my goals: Compassion, Vision, Openness. Compassion is represented by the lotus, Vision by the eyes, and Openness by the antique key. The image is from "Girl with the Pearl Earring" by Vermeer. The stones are garnet, golden citrine, and fire citrine.

Opening at Edgewood Gallery

This Friday, February 24, I will one of four artists featured in an opening at Edgewood Gallery in Syracuse. The opening is from 6-8 and the show will be up for 6 weeks. Among the new pieces to be featured in the show are the "Great Capricorn Beetle" pin/ pendant and two spider brooches, all in sterling, as well as many other new pieces. This creature themed show also features work by Alan Hart, Candace Rhea, and Diane Menzies. I would love to see folks there! Wine and snacks for all as well.

Below is a my sterling silver black widow spider brooch, one of the pieces featured in the show. The stones are fossilized coral and garnet.

2012

I hope everyone had a fun Holiday Season. 2011 ended with a flurry of activity: openings, shows, and a trip to Virginia to visit family. After taking a few days to recouperate, I'm finally back in the studio hard at work. This time of year, when sales are slow, I take the time to work on some new designs and indulge in more involved projects that it's hard to find time for during the rest of the year. I'm looking forward to the opening at Edgewood Gallery in Syracuse on February 24. Edgewood is a small frame shop and gallery near the University community. From the outside, it may appear unassuming, however, Cheryl, the manager, does a very impressive job of organinzing art shows and openings throughout the year that showcase very talented CNY artists. The upcoming show features a group of artists who all portray animals in their work. Two of the artists in addition to myself are Candace Rhea who sculpts in clay, and Alan Hart, artist and scientific illustrator. I am working on an insect specimen case filled with hand-fabricated jeweled silver insects. I look forward to seeing folks there. It promises to be fun.
This necklace is a watch crystal in a sterling bezel with butterfly wings and peridot.