Charmed Bracelets

Juicy Orange Lampwork Heart

Lampworked beads are handmade by melting rods of glass with a torch and then forming the molten glass into beads.

This heart has a sweet flower-and-leaf design on a translucent heart of orange glass.   

The heart is about 19 mm in size and was handmade in California by a company called Grace Lampwork.

I used sterling silver wire to attach the heart to a jump ring with a wrapped loop. Then I threaded a yard of brown grosgrain ribbon through the ring, and added a high-quality cultured pearl on another jump ring.

The ribbon is long enough to tie a bow at the back of your neck. It's also long enough that you can adjust the length of the necklace to suit whatever you are wearing.

If you find the ribbon is too long, cut it with a very sharp pair of scissors. 

The necklace is one of a kind, of course. 

Price: $85, which includes postage, insurance, and so on. To order: 

I would love to make lampwork beads myself, but I don't think I have the necessary hand-eye coordination, plus, I'm afraid of the torch.

If you feel like trying your hand, here are some instructions, from the Beadworx site:

How to Make a Lampwork Bead

Photos: @ Monica Strasen 2010.

@ Jeanne Sather 2011.  

 

Elegant Lampwork Heart Necklace

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 You could search a long time before you'd find glass hearts as beautiful as these.

In fact, I did search for quite some time before I found these handmade hearts in various designs and colors. 

This heart has a dramatic but sweet design of flowers, swirls, and little raised balls of glass. One is the center to a flower, the others are part of the overall design. 

The heart is about 19 mm in size and each one is handmade individually in California of Italian and German glass by a company called Grace Lampwork.

I used sterling silver wire to attach the heart to a jump ring with a wrapped loop. Then I threaded black velvet ribbon through the ring, and added a high quality cultured pearl on another jump ring. 

You can't see the pearl in this photo, but here's a different necklace with a pearl: Glass Hearts: a Variation

I have some earrings made with the same pearls and jump rings: Precious Pearl Earrings

The black velvet ribbon is long enough to tie in a bow at the back of your neck. You should be able to adjust the length to suit the neckline you are wearing it with.

If the ribbon seems too long, just cut the ends with very sharp scissors. It won't fray as long as the scissors are sharp.

Price: $85, which includes postage, insurance, and taxes. Buy this necklace:

See also: How to Use This Web Site

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2010. 

 

@ Jeanne Sather 2011. 

 

Branches of Pearls Necklace

Here's another view of the Branches of Pearls necklace, modeled by my friend Laurie. 

Here's the link to read more about this necklace, or to buy it: Branches of Pearls

See also: How to Use This Website

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2011. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2011. 

Going to the Beach?

This agate pendant with charms is the perfect necklace to wear at sunset, perhaps while sipping an umbrella drink and watching the ocean.

The agate pendant is a little over an inch and a half long, and the stone has layers of peach, white, and carnelian, giving it the warm glow of a evening sky. 

The charms are a handmade Thai silver starfish and a square onyx bead. They hang from a black velvet ribbon that is about 40 inches long.

That gives you plenty of length to tie a bow at the back of your neck, and also to adjust the length to suit the neckline you're wearing it with. If you find it is too long, simply cut the ribbon.

This necklace is one-of-a-kind. 

Price: $80. The price includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. destinations.

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2011. 

@ Jeanne Sather 2011. 

Hearts and More Hearts

These handmade glass hearts have been very popular with my customers, and I  love them as well.

The hearts are about 19 mm in size and each one is handmade individually in California of Italian and German glass by a company called Grace Lampwork.

I like the complexity of the designs--the mix of colors, the way the different colors of glass overlap each other, and the raised details.

I make a loop for each heart with heavy sterling silver wire, and then slide it onto a ribbon--typically black, purple, or deep navy blue velvet. I also have grosgrain ribbons in various colors. 

The ribbon tie makes it easy to adjust the heart necklace to the length you prefer.

I've also been adding a high-quality pearl on a sterling jump ring to the last few necklaces I've made. You can slide the pearl to the center of the necklace next to the heart, or you can move it several inches up the ribbon. (It will stay where you place it because of the thickness of the ribbon.) 

When you order, specify which heart you want (from left to right above: pink/lavender, brown swirls, and rose pink.) I will e-mail you to discuss the best color for the ribbon.

Price: $80, which includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. mailing addresses. 

The purple and pink heart at the left in the top photo is spoken for. Sorry.

See also:Finished Heart Necklaces

Photos: @ Monica Strasen 2011.

@ Jeanne Sather 2011. 

Touchable, Elegant Pearl Necklace

Everyone who sees this choker of creamy freshwater pearls wants to touch it. Then they want to try it on ...

It's just that beautiful. 

The pearls are very unusual--they are about a quarter inch in size and round but slightly flat--not spherical, as most pearls are. The flattened shape allows the pearls to lie perfectly around the base of your neck. In addition, they are drilled off-center so that they make this pattern when strung on silk cord. 

I strung about 13 inches of pearls on silk cord and then attached sterling silver chain with a delicate handmade hook for a clasp. With the extender chain you have a total length of almost 18 inches, which allows the necklace to adjust to fit necks from about 13 inches to 17 inches. The extender chain is weighted with a crystal in a pale color called "silk."

This necklace is one of a kind. 

Price: $110. The price includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. destinations. 

The pearl choker doubles up beautifully with a love token necklace like this one: Classic Love Token Necklace

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2010. 

Design and text: @ Jeanne Sather 2010. 

Glass Hearts and Flowers

You could search a long time before you'd find glass hearts as beautiful as these.

The hearts are about 19 mm in size and each one is handmade individually in California of Italian and German glass by a company called Grace Lampwork.

I have five hearts of four different designs. (Actually, I have many more, Not all have been photographed, however.) I bought two of the black ones, which were my favorites until I handled the orange one at the top or the more feminine pink and blue heart at the top left. The fifth one at the bottom right doesn't photograph as well as it looks, because the peridot glass is translucent with pink and white flowers and light green leaves ... but maybe that one is my favorite....

Th I strung the pink and blue heart at the upper left on pale green ribbon. The ribbon looks much yellower in the photo that is actually is. 

The black, white, and pink heart I strung on classic black velvet ribbon.

When you order a heart, please specify whether you want it on the black velvet ribbon, or if you would like me to find a different color for you. I'm starting to lay in quite a stock of ribbons, vintage and modern, so I have a number of choices. 

Price $80, which includes taxes, postage, and insurance to U.S. mailing addresses.

When you order, please specify which heart you want and also what kind of ribbon you would like.

The orange heart is no longer available, as I have donated it to the raffle to help Erick DeForest pay for his cancer care and living expenses. 

If that one's your favorite, you can bid on it at this site once it is posted (we're waiting on the photo to post it).

Erick's Fundraiser 

Or you can buy one of mine:

For more choices, see: Hearts and More Hearts

Questions? E-mail me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

 Photos: @ Monica Strasen 2010.

 

@ Jeanne Sather 2010. 

Victorian Love Tokens

Most of the English love tokens that I've used in my jewelry are 3-pence coins, thin silver coins with portraits of Queen Victoria.

Now, Victoria reigned for decades, and it's fun to watch how she aged--and got plumper--as new coins were minted with updated portraits.

(I have a double chin now too, at age 56, so I identify with the older queen.)

My friend Sandy, my main source for vintage charms and love tokens, explained to me that there were three "Victoria heads."

The "young head," Sandy says, was used until 1887, but a bun was added to the design in 1860, which is useful in dating a love token if the date has been polished off the coin, as often happens.

Next came the "Jubilee head" which Sandy says was a middle-aged looking Victoria and used until 1893. Then came the "old head," which was used until the queen's death. 

Of course, the coins remained in circulation and continued to be used to make jewelry, as were coins with King Edward's portrait. I've had a few of these, but I don't find them as appealing as the Victorian love tokens.

Two of the four love tokens in the photo above is spoken for, both of the "young heads." The other two are available. E-mail me if you would like me to make you a bracelet or necklace with one of these. I think garnets or amethysts look wonderful with these coins, but crystals in a subtle shade are another possibility, as are pearls. 

I ORDERED ABOUT SIX MORE LOVE TOKENS, SOME OF THE YOUNG VICTORIA AND SOME OF THE MORE MATURE QUEEN. SO SPEAK UP IF YOU WANT A PIECE OF JEWELRY WITH A LOVE TOKEN, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG VICTORIA ONES GO QUICKLY. 

This pearl choker would look beautiful with a love token added at the center: Megan Models the Pearl Choker.

Here are two other pieces that I made with love tokens that are for sale:

Romantic Love Token Necklace

Classic Love Token Necklace

I've made several similar garnet and love token bracelets, and they always sell very quickly. If you'd like a bracelet similar to this one, send me an e-mail:

Queen Victoria Wore Garnets

I've also been wanting to make a choker-length necklace with five or six strands of garnets and a love token. It would look pretty much like the bracelet, but longer, of course. Here's a necklace in that design with jade and agates: 

Romantic Necklace 

Feel free to start a conversation with me about how you want your jewelry to look, and also to fit. I enjoy working with my customers to give them exactly what they want. Women who have bought several pieces of jewelry from me seem to be very comfortable telling me exactly what length they want a bracelet or necklace to be, what kind of clasp they want, and so on.

I enjoy that give and take with my customers. Also, if the piece isn't quite right after you receive it, send it back for adjustments: Repairs and Adjustments 

The only thing I can't do for free is replace a vintage charm or love token, so if a charm should happen to come off, please keep track of it and mail it back to me for repairs. 

Here's the link to Sandy's Web site: Sandy's Vintage Charms

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2010.

Designs and text: @ Jeanne Sather 2010.  

 

Colors From the 'Big Box'

Crayon fans will recognize the subtle colors of the glass rings in this necklace--They are colors from the 64-crayon "big box" from Crayola. 

Colors like periwinkle ... lemon yellow ... red orange ... sky blue ... cornflower ... 

Making this necklace took me back to childhood, when getting a new Big Box of crayons--with the built-in sharpener--was an event. 

The glass rings are handmade and about a half inch in size. I spaced them on 50 inches of delicate sterling silver chain, which makes for a very versatile necklace--you can wear it long, or wrap it two or three times.  

I like it with the toggle worn in front, a popular look right now. Wrap it three times, and you have a choker. 

I have more of the glass rings and could make you a pair of earrings to go with the necklace, if you like. 

 Price: $120, which includes taxes, postage, and insurance. 

Questions? Please e-mail me: jeanne.sather@gmail.com

Photos: @ Monica Strasen 2010.

Laurie Models the Red Button Necklace

 I have quite a few red bakelite buttons in my collection of jewelry-making materials, but this is the most beautiful one I have found so far. 

It's a deep, rich red that somehow looks very Asian, and it is hand-carved in a design that resembles a pair of abstract fans. 

To buy this necklace: The Red Button Necklace

Photo: @ Monica Strasen 2010. 

Design and text: @ Jeanne Sather 2010.