What did you do on Leap Day?

artisan jewelry, Coral Reef, Earrings, gold, handmade jewelry, jewelry, moonstone, On The Bench, Ring, sterling silver

I have a dear friend up in Oregon that I speak with at least every Leap Year. We had a great chat and got all caught up on our lives, art, children and families. Check out her hand made goddesses at Bell Pine Art Farm.

Other than that I didn’t do much. Leap Day always feels like a lost day to me rather than an extra one… like it doesn’t really count. What did you do?

360º Ring Show
I am excited to be a part of this cool show at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco. So many amazing rings! Check it out.

Coral Reef Ring
My entry in the 360º Ring Show is this one-of-a-kind ring made of reclaimed sterling silver and gold from my studio that has been melted and formed into a flowing ring resembling what you might see on a coral reef.

The Coral Reef line of jewelry was inspired by the record breaking hot ocean temperatures in the Florida Keys (100°) last summer related to climate change, leading to bleaching and a massive die-off of the coral reef. Marine scientists are preserving samples of rare species of coral before, possibly, they’re gone forever.

Coral Reef Ring
Reclaimed sterling silver and gold.
One-of-a-kind.

Coral Reef Earrings
Reclaimed sterling silver and gold.
One-of-a-kind.

Hinges!

I’ve been playing around with hinges and trying to learn how to incorporate them into my jewelry. Here are a few pics of my struggle… and it’s real! This attempt was an epic fail! Study more. Try again. Stay tuned.

Peace & Love from Sonoma Mountain,
~meeshka

The Small Works Exhibit 2023

artisan jewelry, Coral Reef, Cuff, etching, gemstone, gold, gold fill, handmade jewelry, mermaid, moonstone, ocean, sterling silver, turtle, Under The Sea

I am once again very proud and delighted to be included in the juried Small Works Exhibit 2023 at Art Works Downtown in San Rafael! I participated in this show in 2013 and I’m excited to be among the talented artists again this year.

“Art Works Downtown invites artists to share their gift of creativity in The Small Works Exhibit, an annual offering of quality fine-art to holiday shoppers and the art-loving public. This dynamic showcase will feature over 80 unique artworks in the award winning Gallery 1337.” ~from the Art Works Downtown website

Mermaid Pendant Necklace: sterling silver, amethyst and pearl
Hand drawn, etched, oxidized sterling silver mermaid pendant with amethyst cabochon. Strung on amethyst/gold fill and pearl/sterling silver chains.

Swimming Turtle Cuff: sterling silver
Hand drawn, etched, rolled, oxidized sterling silver swimming turtles cuff.

Coral Reef Earrings: sterling silver, 22k gold and moonstones
Coral Reef Earrings are inspired by the record-breaking hot ocean temperatures in the Florida Keys (100°) this summer related to climate change leading to bleaching and a massive die-off of the coral reef. Marine scientists are preserving samples of rare coral species before they’re gone forever.

Small Works Exhibit 2023
November 18, 2023 through January 20, 2024
2 Receptions: Friday December 8, 2023 and January 12, 2024 from 5 to 8pm

At downtown San Rafael’s 2nd Friday Art Walks
ArtWorks Downtown Gallery • 1337 Fourth Street • San Rafael

The Flame Within: Metal Artistry Unleashed

artisan jewelry, gold, handmade jewelry, sterling silver

I am very proud and delighted to be included in the juried show, The Flame Within: Metal Artistry Unleashed, a biennial collaborative exhibition by ACCI Gallery, Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco, and Northern California Enamel Guild.

Sterling silver and amethyst Coral Reef Necklace

“As artists, we experience the flame within, the drive to create. As metal artists, we then unleash our skill and utilize flame to convert our creative ideas into visible form. In both inner and outer spheres, we must balance wild abandon with conscious working within the constraints of the material, time, and our craft. Often the result of the unleashed is an unexpected unique piece of art.”
~from the ACCI Gallery show website

5 strand braided sterling silver and 24k gold ring

Sterling silver, 24k gold, and raw diamond earrings

The Flame Within: Metal Artistry Unleashed
October 13 – November 12, 2023
Opening Reception: Saturday October 14, 4-6PM
ACCI Gallery
Arts & Crafts Cooperative Gallery
1652 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA
510.843.2527

Sketching, Designing and Creating Jewelry

artisan jewelry, Custom, etching, gemstone, gold, handmade jewelry, ocean, On The Bench, sterling silver

Sketching and Designing Jewelry

For me, designing one of a kind jewelry is an intuitive process. I have ideas, sketch out variations, and start creating. What often occurs are finished pieces that differ from my original visions. Going with this flow is the process of listening to my head, my heart, and what unfolds before me, which often can be interesting, delightful and frustrating all at once! Below is a peek into what’s going on in the studio right now.

These are recent drawings that are currently being etched to become new jewelry.

The process involves creating the etching and designing the piece. In this image I was exploring which stone to use, Amazonite or Turquoise, what shape to make the pendant, and how it might hang.

I often design as I go along, starting with a vision and allowing the piece to evolve. Below is a mermaid necklace in progress. Sterling silver, Amazonite, Amethyst, Moonstone, Tourmaline… decisions, decisions.

Sketches for Coral Reef Earrings to go with the Coral Reef Necklace and Ring.

Becoming earrings: sterling silver, Moonstones and gold bezels.

Dress Up Your Jeans

I just completed this necklace last week. Playing with etchings from my artwork has been so much fun! Then final decision for the center stone is a beautiful Sleeping Beauty Turquoise.

Sleeping Beauty is a mine in Globe, AZ, where these stones are from, and is named after the mountain range where it is located. Known for its unique color that ranges from ‘robin’s egg’ blue to deep-blue, the Sleeping Beauty Turquoise is one of the most sought after gemstones in the Turquoise world. According to research, the darker it is, the rarer it is. (source: Turquoise Moose)

The necklace is strung on porcelain and silver beads from Africa, with a sterling silver swivel clasp. This piece is not yet up on my website but will be soon.

If you are interested in purchasing this necklace before it goes up on my site, please feel free to contact me at meeshka@meeshka.net.

Custom orders are also always welcome.

Save The Planet. Save Ourselves.

artisan jewelry, Coral Reef, Custom, Dead & Company, gemstone, gold, Grateful Dead, handmade jewelry, honu, sterling silver, sugar skull, sun, Tell Me A Story, turtle

Once upon a time… there was an anti-nuke rally at San Onofre around 1979 with about 15,000 people in attendance. We sang and danced as we hoped for a better future. Fast forward to now. We had no idea what lay ahead, and we still don’t know, but it is becoming abundantly clear that we have to do something to save the planet if we are to save ourselves.

A few months ago I created these “Coral Reef Necklaces” never imagining I’d be reading this headline. “Record breaking hot ocean temperatures in the Florida Keys (100°) related to climate change have led to bleaching and a massive die-off of the coral reef.” Marine scientists are scrambling to preserve samples of rare species of coral before, possibly, they’re gone forever.

On another note… July 16 was my birthday and I celebrated with dear friends and family. The highlight of the week was the last Dead and Company tour concert at Oracle Park that night. (Check out the drone show in the link!) Laur and I have seen so many shows together and this one brought many memories rushing in. Once again we danced, sang and felt hopeful (yes, Laur was with me at San Onofre) being surrounded by the loving people of our “tribe” as we were transformed by the music. Ahhh, the power of music.

To honor the birthday concert celebration I made us necklaces. Hand drawn and etched sterling silver turtles with keum-boo 24k gold lightening bolts.

Grateful Dead Inspired Jewelry

Sterling silver skull and citrine with fishies necklace

Sterling silver turtle with peridot necklace

Sterling silver sun and labradorite necklace

Sterling silver heart necklace

Happy birthday to ME!

Save the planet. Save ourselves. And please, be kind.
Peace and Love,
meeshka

Summertime Is Beach Time!

artisan jewelry, gold, gold fill, handmade jewelry, ocean, sterling silver, water

Summer is here and if you know me you know I love the beach… any time of year. Check out these new ocean inspired jewels!

Sterling silver etched “fishie” pendant strung on turquoise necklace. Etched fish are originally hand drawn, etched, and put through the rolling mill to make the impression on the silver.

Sterling silver etched starfish and turquoise earrings. Etched starfish are originally hand drawn, etched, and put through the rolling mill to make the impression on the silver.

Last Drop Of Water Earrings, Revisited. Sterling silver, keum boo gold, aquamarine, and gold fill earring wires. Last Drop Of Water earrings represents the environmental struggles of our time.

Tunnels Beach, Kauai.
One of my favorite beaches.

Happy Accidents

artisan jewelry, Cuff, Custom, Doodle, gemstone, gold, handmade jewelry, jewelry, On The Bench, Ring, sterling silver

Sometimes things don’t go quite as planned in the studio.
Lately I’ve been concentrating more on creating and less on marketing, and on having more fun in general! I have a lot of ideas and inspiration in my head and in sketchbooks, but sometimes the outcome is another story altogether. After a frustrating day of melting gold bezels for a stone on a cuff I decided to go pyromaniac (which all jewelers secretly are), blast my torch, and melt some sterling silver on purpose.

This ring is the happy outcome of recklessly melting sterling silver. The stone was supposed to be a beautiful tourmaline, but that broke (another heartache), so I set the sterling cabochon from another melting episode that just so happened to fit. End of story, the cuff never got a stone.

This is the etched cuff without a turquoise gemstone and gold bezel.

And Speaking Of Flames
Isn’t this flaming bezel too cool?!?

Rough cut Amethyst and sterling silver earrings

On to the next creations!

Sterling silver braided ring with keum boo gold accents.

These started out as a ring then devolved into sterling silver, gold keum boo and a square rough cut diamond pair of earrings.

And when all else fails, bake your dog a cake!
Peace & Love,
~meeshka

Easy Giving Gift Guide 2022

artisan jewelry, bronze, gemstone, Gingko, gold, gold fill, handmade jewelry, Love, ocean, Ring, sterling silver, Story Art, Under The Sea

I hate being pushy and salesy but I do want to offer you some ideas for giving this year to make your holidays easier. Every item comes wrapped in a velvet gift bag with a free polishing cloth and, as always, free shipping in the US. I hope you have a stress free season!

Something for everyone.
Items under $100
Here are a few items under $100. Pick up a few special pieces for friends, family, and absolutely for yourself! More items available in Shop. Take a moment and browse.

Bangles!!!

Bronze Ginkgo Earrings

Stacking rings

Something a little more special, perhaps?
Items from $100 – $500
Sometimes you are looking for something a little more special for that certain someone or for yourself. Here are a few items from $100 to $500 that are sure to please and delight! More items available in Shop.

Gemstones and flame UFO necklace

Bronze ginkgo ring

Sterling silver and lapis lazuli earrings

Top of the line!
Items over $500
There are times when you know you need something just as special as it can get. Maybe it’s a special occasion or you want a bespoke piece of jewelry to hand down through the years. Here are a few items over $500 that are sure to be keepsakes for a lifetime! More items available in Shop.

Sterling silver, gold and Amazonite necklace

Sonoma Mountain Bracelet: Sterling silver, NuGold, copper and Lapis lazuli bracelet

Sterling silver, bronze, aquamarine and pearl necklace

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New jewelry and blog posts are added to the website regularly so please visit often.
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Meeshka Jewelry Designs

gold

What did you do on Leap Day?

Like this:

The Small Works Exhibit 2023

Like this:

The Flame Within: Metal Artistry Unleashed

Like this:

Sketching, Designing and Creating Jewelry

Like this:

Save The Planet. Save Ourselves.

Like this:

Summertime Is Beach Time!

Like this:

Happy Accidents

Like this:

Easy Giving Gift Guide 2022

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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SHARING IS CARING

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