Monday, August 16, 2010

From Concept to Creation....

i love custom orders at laurastaley.etsy.comcustom orders at laurastaley.etsy.com















My newest creation was a fun collaboration between a beautiful bride and myself. After creating her bridesmaids' necklaces for her September wedding, we started to work on her bridal necklace (still under construction) and a necklace originally for her rehearsal dinner, but now to be worn as a statement piece at a friends wedding.

The color palette includes coral, green, champagne, crystal, pink, and cream. Wired gemstone and glass flowers have been on the top of my list for creating for a while, and with her own hand drawn design concept in hand, plus a nod to her bridesmaid necklaces, I created a handful of flowers, wired them to an anti-tarnish trellis of sorts, and nestled them in between juicy apple-green and other czech glass "leaves". Strawberry quartz is the focal color, with a central flower and "buds" hanging from the crystal leaf vines, and accents of crystal, seed beads, and organza round out the design. I'm really pleased with the result, and, more importantly, so is the bride!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Ariel's treasure lost but now found...

custom orders for sea shell necklace laurastaley.etsy.comThis necklace was a custom creation commissioned by a pretty lady in Texas for a beach-themed formal event. The trick was to make flowers, but keep it beachy. So, why not use beachy to make the flowers? I was up for it.

The natural beauty and colors of these shells and coral are what makes the necklace. They're showcased in all their glory, and highlighted by gold, czech glass and recycled "sea glass" beads. These beads are not sea glass, but recycled glass designed to LOOK like real sea glass. They're also available in cobalt, which is a very rare sea glass color, and very beautiful.

The conch-like shell at the bottom is wrapped around the top with glass and pearls to tie it in with the focal "flower" and gold heishi plays hide-and-seek with different loose beads for extra sparkle. Closeup photos of this necklace set can be viewed in my "sold items" portfolio in my Etsy shop, here.

sea shell flower necklace at laurastaley.etsy.com
I really should take the time to learn the names of these beautiful shells, and go to the local shell conventions that showcase and sell these treasures from the deep. I'd like to use them in future creations. The textures and colors are striking, and will be sure to start conversation wherever they are worn, don't you think so?
sea shell earrings and necklace set laurastaley.etsy.com

If you are interested in a creation all your own, please contact me through my Etsy shop, click "Request Custom Item" or this link.