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.

The Back Story

artisan jewelry, Dead & Company, Grateful Dead, handmade jewelry, Michelle Vidro Graphic Design, On The Bench, Tell Me A Story, turtle

Once upon a time in Brooklyn, New York…
… a baby was born.
I thought you might like to learn a few things about me. I was chatting with a new jeweler friend the other day and telling her the story about how I got “here”. I realized you may like to know these things, too.

As a young child, I learned to draw by sketching cartoons while watching TV. I had a thing for The Flintstones.
When I was around 7 years old I sent in the Draw Winky drawing from the TV Guide. They accepted me into their art school. My parents were shocked! No, I didn’t go.
Was VERY fortunate to go to a high school with a big art department. I practically lived there. That is where I learned metalsmithing, but I practically lived in the ceramics studio.
Attended my first Grateful Dead concert at the Hollywood Bowl in 1974. #mindblown Maria Muldaur opened the show.
Went to Art Center College of Design in Pasadena to study graphic design and illustration.
Lived in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. Started and grew my art career on Madison Avenue; ad agencies, publishing companies, New York Times.
Moved to San Francisco (I’m a California girl at heart). I moved around a lot in my lifetime, actually. Lived on a kibbutz in Israel, Eugene Oregon, and Kauai, to name a few.
Learned Desktop Publishing (among the first) on a Mac and worked for MacWorld, PC World, and Publish magazines (IDG) in San Francisco.
Made a baby!
News Artist on the Marin Independent Journal in San Rafael, CA.
Rediscovered my passion for making jewelry in 2000. Took a few refresher courses and built out my home studio. Made a website, did retail and wholesale shows. Landed in museum gift shops and galleries.
Co-owned the Marin Jewelers Guild in San Rafael, CA for around 12 years.
Covid. Changed everything. Need I say more?
Currently I’m the webmaster and on the Board of Directors at the Metal Arts Guild of San Francisco.
Still selling online at meeshka.net and various retail locations.
Now I continue learning, playing, and exploring the edges of my creativity. See below.
Constantly looking for joy.
Still dancing to Dead & Company.

Following my creative heart, these remind me of a coral reef. Sterling silver and Amethyst pendants in progress.

Experimenting with etching some of my drawings to turn into jewelry. Also a sterling silver Agate pendant in the works.

Gift Cards Now Available Online

You asked, we delivered. Any denomination available.

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

2023 or 1953?

artisan jewelry, bronze, Cuff, Custom, handmade jewelry, Peace, Tell Me A Story

My intention is to always stay positive. These are trying times.
Warning: brief rant ahead.
Scroll down to THROWBACK SALE if you want to bypass the rant.

What year is this? I wish I could stop reading the news. The headlines are a throwback to a different time and I wonder to myself, WTF is going on?!

• Abortion is illegal in 13 states as of this writing. (10 more to surely follow.)
• There have been 38 mass shootings so far this year (3 months).
• Banks have failed. Recession? Inflation? Depression? Pick a financial crisis.
• People in Israel are protesting to save their democracy.
• The rhetorical threats of nuclear war are dangled before us as if it’s no big deal.
• Bigotry, racism, hatred and intolerance are being normalized and on the rise.

And this is just to name a few!!!
I’m sorry if this is all just too much, but this is my point! It totally is!

What’s an artist hippy chick to do?
I keep creating, meditating, and manifesting to try to tip the scales towards a critical mass of positivity, love, and light. Is it futile? Am I crazy? Please tell me I’m not. Ok, maybe I’m a little bit crazy but I’m okay with that. I think you are, too.
Peace

THROWBACK SALE!
Here is the silver lining to my disbelief at the state of the world. In order to remain positive I want to spread a little sunshine your way. In honor of a throw back to what seemed to me like simpler times I’m having a FLASH SALE from April 18 to 20. Enter THROWBACK40 at check out and receive 40% OFF your entire order.

(And don’t forget, Mother’s Day is coming May 14th. Call your Mom!)

Shop Meeshka’s Throwback Sale

On Another Note… The Rain
One nice thing about all the rain we’ve been having, besides reducing fire danger and making everything super green, is the cozy time I get to spend in my studio. Here’s a sneak peek at a couple of things I’m working on… etching and improvising.

Collaborate with Meeshka on a custom jewelry design.

The breathtaking beauty of Sonoma after the rain.
Love,
~meeshka

International Women’s Day

14 Cows, artisan jewelry, handmade jewelry, promoting others, sterling silver, Story Art

March 8th is International Women’s Day
The IWD 2023 campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity

“Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have. A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA. It’s critical to understand the difference between equity and equality.

It’s not just something we say. It’s not just something we write about. It’s something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. It’s what we believe in, unconditionally. Equity means creating an inclusive world.

Each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our own sphere of influence. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity. Collectively, we can all forge positive change.” ~extracted from the IWD website

“Give Back” stud earrings by Half United

Half United: Siblings, Christian and Carmin Black founded Half United in 2009 as a way to merge their passion for fashion and philanthropy. Using recycled bullet castings, Half United’s unique jewelry designs empower consumers to fight against hunger. Each product purchased creates seven meals for a child in need. At the end of each month, Half United divides the number of meals raised equally between their local and global partners.

On Giving: It’s not what you give or how much you give… just give.
It seems like such a long time ago, 21 years, but we shall never forget. After learning of the devastation the United States suffered on September 11, 2001 the Masai of Kenya donated fourteen sacred cows to the US as a gesture of goodwill and healing. In honor of this generosity, Meeshka created the 14 Cows jewelry line as a way to give back. Proceeds are donated to benefit women and children in Kenya.

Signature 14 Cows jewelry set

Beautifully written and illustrated 14 Cows for America children’s book

Artwork for the 14 Cows jewelry line

“Be Love Now”

artisan jewelry, handmade jewelry, heart, Love, sterling silver

“If I go into the place in myself that is love and you go into the place in yourself that is love, we are together in love.”
~Ram Dass

Love and jewelry always go hand in hand this time of year and so here is my Valentine’s Day newsletter complete with heart jewelry that I create. But for me love goes far beyond February 14th and materialistic tokens of affection. Love is the essence of life and within us all, quietly waiting to see and be seen. Some days I see love everywhere I go and in everyone I meet. Other days, not so much. Live from a loving place and the rest will follow.

White Hearts
There is a beautiful bead called a “white heart” that has a white porcelain center surrounded by glass that seems to glow from the inside out. They are found in Africa but originate from Italy. “Trade beads” were used as ballast in slave/trade ships for the outbound trip and were exchanged for human cargo as well as ivory, gold, and other goods. In Africa, beads are a symbol and celebration of womanhood, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, protection, and wealth, among other things.

Sterling silver heart necklace, vintage red “white hearts” and Hill Tribe Thai silver

Mended Hearts

“Hearts can break
hearts can mend
love is stronger
in the end.”
~meeshka

Sterling silver Mended Heart necklace

“Love”
~meeshka

Meeshka Jewelry Designs

The Small Works Exhibit 2023

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The Flame Within: Metal Artistry Unleashed

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Sketching, Designing and Creating Jewelry

Like this:

Save The Planet. Save Ourselves.

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Summertime Is Beach Time!

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The Back Story

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Happy Accidents

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2023 or 1953?

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International Women’s Day

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“Be Love Now”

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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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