February in Oregon brings with it rain followed by drizzle followed by showers followed by downpours followed by….well, you get the picture. And what a dull grey, brown, and green picture it is. My heart yearns for vibrant flashes of color, something to warm my spirit if not actually my body. What I need is a hit of bright orange.

Color Story: Bright Orange

Handblown glass tear drop beads are filled with non-toxic orange water and finished off with sterling silver to create these alluring earrings. These are just one of a large variety of handmade jewelry available from The Studio8.

This brilliant strip of embroidered cotton could add a touch of warmth to anything from a scrapbook page to a sewing project. Silk Route has 4 pieces available, each measuring 15.5 x 1.25 inches.

Tessyla combined multifaceted orange Czech glass pair with shiny gold plated beads and hoops to create earrings that flash like fire. These are all you’d need to dress up any outfit!

Karen Faulkner specializes in free flowing watercolors with a sweet simplicity that manages to convey a lot of depth. This fine art print is ever so aptly titled “Bouquet of Sunshine”.

Combined from two sets of vintage Melmac dishes, this bright collection of mugs and serving pieces would start your day off right. Made of melamine, The Squirrel Cottage points out that they’d make a delightful children’s tea set as well.

I love the contrast of fused art glass against the textured silver dog tag in Emotional Oasis’s necklace. A black enamel background is a thoughtful complement to the blaze orange and electric yellow of the glass.

A brilliant orange zinnia shows off its rich colors in front of a deep turquoise background in this fine art photograph. It’s a perfect example of Carolyn Cochrane’s pure, clean, and uncomplicated style.

Happy Stalking!
Curator V.

Let’s see. Vintage components? Check. Bright colors? Yup. Playful one-of-a-kind designs? Indeed. We must be at Chrome and Cotton! These earrings incorporate vintage lucite, rhinestone, czech glass, and pearls into an absolute carnival of color.

Jessica is the creative force behind these designs, repurposing the colors and textures of the past into fresh, fanciful jewelry. This stunner features a brilliant blue carved vintage glass button in a hand oxidized brass lace setting. It hangs from a vintage aqua glass beaded chain.

I love the contrast of the rich royal blue velvet with the translucent faceted beads in this bracelet. Entitled Queen Bee of the French Festival, it’s resplendent in shades of amber and champagne.

Jessica has such a talent for putting things together in a way that makes each piece greater than the sum of its parts. The primary colors in this pair of candy-like earrings are delightful on their own. But it’s the variety of finishes–from pearly sheen to clear glass to iridescent moonglow–that take them to the next level.

Curator V: How did you get your start making jewelry?

As an Interior Designer and Artist I have been dabbling in the Arts my entire life. So I suppose it was my constant need to create something and the desire to try something new. Having dabbled in many art forms, jewelry design was the one form of expression that really spoke to me.

Curator V: What is it about working with vintage items that appeals to you?

I love just about anything that is vintage…specifically from the 1940’s & 50’s. I have been collecting antiques from that period for several years now and it seemed only natural to want to make jewelry that is inspired by the style and colors of the era. Many of the vintage materials I incorporate into my pieces are limited and therefore more unique and precious to me. I love that I can take a road less traveled repurposing as well as preserving a little bit of history.

Curator V: Where do you find the vintage pieces you work with? How do you decide which ones to incorporate into your designs?

Many of my materials are purchased through small vendors that specialize in vintage components. Most of it comes from Rhode Island, which used to be the Jewelry mecca of the world. Many factories have since closed down and are now offering their old stock to smaller buyers. However I also scour antique stores, flea markets and estate sales for truly one of a kind pieces. I find that the hunt is half the fun!

When it comes to my designs I tend to lean toward the bold and colorful, so it isn’t hard to spot the things that spark my interest. I like to try new things, and even though it may take me a while to figure out how I want to use a specific piece, I always find a perfect solution for it eventually.

Curator V: How would you describe the women you design for?

Fun, bold, vivacious and most definitely young at heart! I think my buyers have the same love for color and vintage appeal that I do. It may be a small market, but they are out there. And once they find me they know they can come back again and again to find unique, colorful and whimsical designs.

Curator V: You just celebrated your first year on Etsy. What have you learned in that time? What would you do differently?

I have learned that Etsy takes work…you can’t expect people to come looking for you; you have to put yourself out there. The more you share in the community and support others the more they give back. I also think it is really important to create good relationships with your customers. I work really hard to give a good first impression and let my buyers know how appreciative I am of their support. In the end it is all a learning process and sometimes it just takes time. Overall it has been a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t change a thing!

Add a hit of color and retro style to your wardrobe with Jessica’s Penny Candy Prize Earrings! To enter, step back in time to Chrome and Cotton, then come back here and leave a comment with your favorite item. One winner to be chosen at random next Sunday, February 27th.

(Reading this via a feed? Here’s a direct link to the giveaway.)

This week we insisted our hearts be Anatomically Correct and found inspiration from a black eye in Shades Of Purple. On Valentine’s Day we put together our 2nd annual collection for the Broken Hearted and finished off the week with an exhibit Brought To You By The Number 12 in honor of Poppy’s birthday.

{Solo Exhibit and Giveaway}

Due to the Shadowbox Launch there was no Solo Exhibit this week. Look for a brand new one Monday morning.

{Visit Our Sponsors}

ClosetFull – Vintage items from a lifetime of collecting
Kumo Temari – Japanese-style thread-wrapped embroidered spheres
Just Dangles – Handmade Charms and Pendants
Etsy Marketing App – The Shop Marketing Helper for Artists
Vintage Wrapture – Upcycled Recycled Repurposed Vintage Jewelry
Pixamatic – Fine Art Photography
Quiet Mischief – Use coupon code STALKINGMISCHIEF for 15% jewelry. (Excludes wholesale, bulk, and discounted listings.)

Interested in advertising on Etsy Stalker? Details here

{Shadowboxes and Giveaways}

Check out the 6 Shadowboxes in our February Shadowbox Gallery.

Enter this month’s Shadowbox Giveaway!

Win a Heart Pendant in your choice of color from BootyHeart Jewelry

Think your shop has what it takes to be a part of our Curated Shadowbox Gallery? Information and details here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Curator Violet

Tomorrow is Poppy’s 12th birthday. There’s no more denying it…she’s growing up. Next fall she’ll be at the junior high and exactly one year from today she’ll have her bat mitzvah. Like most parents, I have a love/hate relationship with the way time seems to pass so quickly. Part of me wants her to stay little forever, but another part so enjoys watching her grow into the young woman she’s becoming. In today’s exhibit, let’s look at some things that wear the number 12 as beautifully as Poppy will this year.

Brought To You By The Number 12

This timeless necklace is made from the upcycled numbers of a vintage flip clock. (I remember well the gentle clicking sound as the numbers changed.) Check out (of)matter’s shop for a whole selection of strikingly minimalist pieces.

Luxurious textured cardstock in black, white, and bright yellow come together in this set of 12 table numbers from Invites by Jen. Floral damask and a single Swarovski crystal add the perfect touch of elegance to this design.

A piece from a 1960′s UK Victory Clock wooden jigsaw puzzle becomes a bright and colorful brooch/lapel pin with the addition of a locking pinback. It’s available from ME2 Designs.

Tyson Bodnarchuk makes delightful monster-themed art including a series of “Numbeast” prints that go from 1 – 12. Sold separately, each one comes printed on a 4×6 inch heavy gloss cardstock.

Fresh and colorful without being cutesy, this handmade birthday card is just right for the tween set! Karen Irene is happy to custom make it with your choice of colors or numbers.

What would you do with this vintage metal door number? Frame it as a piece of wall art? Use it in an assemblage? This great flea market find is available from Babyshka’s Attic.

Add a touch of French sophistication anywhere in your home with this 14 x 14 inch pillow cover. It’s shown here on oatmeal fabric, but Word Garden can also make it for you in ivory or white linen, if you prefer.

Happy Stalking…and Happy Birthday, Poppy!
Curator V.

Recently, I had a “black” eye. While we call it black, it has actually been the most incredible shades of purple, violet, lavender, and even green. Did my eye look beautiful? Most definitely not! But the colors were impressive and inspired me to search for artists and items that use these colors in wonderful ways.

Shades Of Purple

I love the spectrum of colors in this mosaic pendant. It is made of glass, grouted in black, and sealed in resin. Darlene Payton has made great use of these colors and design.

Imagine how this wonderful chunky raw gemstone necklace would feel. It would be cool and a little heavy, but so powerful with the just barely polished gemstones. Catkins Designs finished this striking piece with a sterling silver clasp.

Jennifer Mally creates art the celebrates life’s simple joys, like these whimsical birds painted with acrylics on canvas. I believe the big bird is dancing for joy at her happy colors!

There is a whole new interest in fascinators (thanks Kate & William!) and the one pictured here really caught my interest. Created of leather and satin, the colors are vivid while the design is delicate and lovely. Schicki Mickis named this one Flora after the Roman goddess of flowers.

Breezy and light, the airy lavender in this print has me thinking spring. It’s made from an original water color and The Joy of Color offers it as a limited edition signed and numbered print.

Now if you are a fan of colors, as I am, you must adore this hand painted silk scarf. The fabulous purples and lavenders are outlined in black and silver. It’s both dramatic and wearable. Silk Scarves Colorado will ship the day that you order.

Let’s end with an abstract of great colors that seem to move on the canvas. Kavali8 has done this gem with acrylics on canvas. It’s called “Corals in the Depth of the Sea”. Maybe the movement I see is the sea stirring. Isn’t it lovely?

See you soon!
Curator Ivy