What did you do on Leap Day?

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

Bell Pine Art Farm
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

 

 

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 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.

Coral Reef Necklace with AmethystSterling 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

etching

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.drawings for etchings

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.

process

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

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

drawings for etchings

Becoming earrings: sterling silver, Moonstones and gold bezels.

Becoming Coral Reef Earrings

 

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.

Dress up your jeans

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.

Carole Peace

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.

Coral Reef Necklace with AmethystA 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.
Coral Reef Necklace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. Turtle backHand drawn and etched sterling silver turtles with keum-boo 24k gold lightening bolts.

Turtle front

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Grateful Dead Inspired Jewelry

Sterling silver skull and citrine with fishies necklaceSterling silver skull and citrine with fishies necklace

 

Sterling silver turtle and peridot necklaceSterling silver turtle with peridot necklace


Sterling silver sun and labradoriteSterling silver sun and labradorite necklace

 

Sterling silver heart necklaceSterling silver heart necklace

 

Birthday

Happy birthday to ME!

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