Vespa Triple Goddess Necklace

Every couple of months I get an itch to sort through my unique stones and make a one of kind piece.

I've had these beautiful faceted citrines for awhile, since designing the Vespa collection I had a limited supply of them so thus making this beauty.

I'm naming it after Brigit the Celtic triple Goddess, she represents the Muse, Healer and Smith.  

Now listed exclusively on my website, $360.

Pin It

The importance of small boutiques and galleries

Over the past two years I've been working hard to establish my jewelry line and get it out to the public.  One of the most essential parts of doing that is working with independent and small galleries such as Equinox Gallery in San Antonio and Ghost Gallery in Seattle (and the many other places, including online).  I've come to realize how important they are and many other independent retailers.  

It's a very symbiotic relationship, without jewelers and makers like myself these galleries wouldn't have the fresh talent to show their customers and without galleries like them I wouldn't expose my work to new customers.  In that sense I'm so grateful for them.  I also understand more of what it takes to run a gallery, studio and events since co-opting at Art Avenue.  

The hard part is getting the community to understand just how crucial to people and the community small business' are to the economy.  I try to stress this with my friends and family that aren't as into the handmade community as I am, but it's hard when you've got the Family Dollar down the road.  

So here's my soapbox message for today, think hard about every purchase you make because there is a history to it.  Such as the on trend blouse you get at the mall that was manufactured in China, that supports the big business and yet doesn't give much to the poor people that made it.  However, when you drop say $25 or $50 on that ceramic mug your local artisan made it goes to an artist that pays his rent, shops locally and puts that same money back into the community.  

*many ECU alumni are represented by this Equniox Gallery

Laurie Kearney, owner of Ghost Gallery has a super keen eye for artwork

My beaver teeth earrings (ethically sourced - no animals harmed) now being sold at Equinox Gallery.
Image by Equinox Gallery

Pin It

Song of the Day: Fancy by Iggy Azalea

I can NOT get this song out of my head.  the video, brilliant, takes me back to when Clueless was huge.

Pin It

World beyond

I've always been completely fascinated by the stars, planets and astrophysics despite my math and general science challenged brain I love the study of far off universes and new life.

And of course I watched the entire new series of Cosmos: Spacetime Odyssey with Neil DeGrasse Tyson.  And in watching it, I was very much inspired and had the wheels turning in my head on how I could create a collection that would somehow embody the look and awe of staring into the night sky.

I've already got some of the pieces in play and how to do this, my plan is to have the collection completed by August and shot within the month to present as a Fall/Winter collection. Now, if I could just find the time to make it!

Here are some shots of the stars and sky pulled from the internets, so amazingly beautiful.

Pin It

featuring you

I think one of the best and most gratifying feeling of being a jeweler is seeing other people wear what you create.  And I am so honored when customers send me photos of them wearing their new jewelry.  

So here are several photos I've received over the past several weeks of customers wearing their new jewelry.  Don't they all look great? 

If you have an image of you wearing Eilisain Jewelry, email me: info@eilisainjewelry.com - you could be our next model!

Nima wearing the owl talon and Vespa joint ring.

Bill wearing his silver double owl talon pendant

Jamila wearing the large faux gauge talon earring

Safiye also wearing the large faux gauge talon earrings

Pin It

Hemyca London

Another gem of a designer discovered at the Origins Passion and Beliefs Fair in Italy last month.  This video is beyond cool, the team behind the Harry Potter movies worked on this video.  That pretty much tells you why it's so wicked, along with the fact that Hemyca is wicked as well.

hope you enjoy! 

Pin It

Valkyrie Collection photo outtakes

I've posted these beautiful images on several of my social media sites but not here.  Aileen Devlin is such a stellar photographer and always works to get the best shot.  I like how we grouped them and played with how they were laid out, along with mixing in the Vespa Collection. 

I was so pleased at how well the collection has been received; several sold in the first day of releasing the collection.  However there are still several left.  You can shop today!

Love, love LOVE purple.  So I just went nuts in this collection.

And I believe this is my favorite necklace, the stone just worked so well with the design.

Such an awesome shot of the rings together.

And My new packaging.  Looks fancy!

Pin It

Updates and news

Per usual these days I've been more absent from the Eilisain Jewelry blog; summer has those extra added daylight hours that have me walking on the Greensprings parkway of Greenville, grilling with friends and lounging at the pool.  And it has been well needed and deserved!  I hope you are enjoying the summer just as much.

So I have some awesome news...I have an intern! Her name is Katie Powell, pictured down below.  She is so sweet, talented and eager to work with me and learn.  I'm so thankful to have Katie in the studio, I do feel as though my prayers were answered.  Katie is also a maker, she beads jewelry and is selling them this summer at the Uptown Greenville Umbrella Market. 

Katie already hard at work putting sprues on wax models.

In other news Eilisain Jewelry was featured on CIJ International Jewellery's website.  I had the pleasure of meeting Cynthia at the Origins Fair in Italy.  She gave me some great advice as well as insights into trade shows.  Below is the feature. 

Pin It

How to clean and maintain your jewelry

I get this question quite often, and usually I recommend using a soft tshirt to polish jewelry but I'm finding that many of you would like to remove oxidation and do a bit more thorough cleaning.

And here are my tips:

1. If you think any of your stones, diamonds, precious gems are loose, take your jewelry to a professional repair shop.  Or if there is a a snag on a prong etc.  They are experts and will handle your jewelry with care and have the proper equipment.
2. For removing tarnish on silver jewelry:

• Line the bottom of the sink or a glass baking dish with a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Fill the foil-lined container with steaming hot water.
• Add salt (sodium chloride) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to the water. Some recipes call for 2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt, whereas others call for 2 tablespoons each of baking soda and salt. Personally, I wouldn't measure the amounts... just add a bit of each substance.
• Drop the silver items into the container so that they are touching each other and resting on the foil. You will be able to watch the tarnish disappear.
• Leave heavily tarnished items in the solution for as long as 5 minutes. Otherwise, remove the silver when it appears clean.
• Rinse the silver with water and gently buff it dry with a soft towel.
• Ideally, you should store your silver in a low-humidity environment. You can place a container of activated charcoal or a piece of chalk in the storage area to minimize future tarnish.
  (source of information)
  
  3.  To polish silver I recommend using an old soft tshirt and polish wax.  This is a great kind of polish and affordable, it will last you a life time! However, if you don't want to go through this process, taking your jewelry to a repair shop for cleaning is the best option.
  
  
  4.  To polish bronze or brass, unfortunately I recommend the same, taking it to a jewelry shop.  There is no better or faster way to get a super gleam on your jewelry than a buffing machine. 
  
  HOW TO MAINTAIN JEWELRY:
  Just some very simple steps to make your jewelry last longer and stay shiny.
• put your jewelry on last, AFTER putting on perfume, lotions, hair spray, gel - etc.
• take your jewelry off at the end of the day.  Now I know this one might be hard to do but trust me, it'll last longer
• take your jewelry off when doing any physical activity; it can get caught, fall off etc. Also take your jewelry off before swimming or bathing.
• Try to keep chains separate, such as hanging them on hooks or keeping them in plastic bags.  I use an earring tree to hold my big earrings and several other props to place my jewelry.
• To prevent tarnish on silver, keep a piece of small chalk in your jewelry box, for some reason it prevents tarnish.
  
  And finally I recommend purchasing two flat nosed pliers, these will come in handy to connect jump rings, push in any small details etc.  My mom always had one on her nightstand and we used it several times to repair her jewelry - back when I wasn't considered a jeweler!
  
  

  

  Eilisain Jewelry all sparkly with the owl and wolf.
  

  
  

  
  

Pin It

WIN the Resurrection pendant

This is how excited I am about this new addition to the Resurrection series; the bronze wood beetle pendant with sparkling cz 4mm stone, 

I'm offering the chance for YOU to win this beautiful new piece (valued at $130).

All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter! So simple.  If you've already signed up for my newsletter, simply repost this image and tag Eilisain Jewelry in it (whether it be Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or G+.

Pin It