Friday Artist Feature - Rasmussens Gems

Today on my weekly artist feature, I'd like to share with you some new items from John and Debbie's Handmade Artist shop, Rasmussen's Gems.  I've shared this talented couple before...here and here, and here too.  So let's see what's new there...

...just look at this amazing rock crystal with garnet ring.  John cuts and sets the stones himself, for a truly one of a kind creation.

I am in love, with this beautiful pendant.  John cut this stone in his lapidary, and the filigree setting is just perfect to show off the beauty of this stone.

Now here's a cute pair of square leaf earrings....the colors are so pretty.

I really like the design of these oriental pattern bead ladder earrings.

 

Here's a style I haven't seen in their shop before, metal jewelry.  This 3 strand black art wire bracelet  shows the versatility of talent in this couple.  And if these items aren't enough for you, click on a link and visit their shop.  You can also find out more about them here....

Blog / Facebook / Twitter

 

Enjoy your 4th of July everyone!

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF - True Blue

Hey everyone...taking a minute from our Florida vacation to bring you this weeks Handmade Artists Forum blog ring artist feature.   And the theme is "True Blue".

First up this week is this gorgeous Lapis Lazuli Cabochon from the wonderful shop of Rasmussen Gems.

This stone was purchased in the rough in a bazaar in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and then John cut it in his own lapidary at home, and set it in this wonderful yellow brass setting.  Delicious!

Pam at A Bead Thing does an amazing thing with beads.  She weaves them.  And when she weaves them, she creates unique pieces of jewelry.  Like this Turquoise Cats Eye beaded ring.

I love rings, and these flowers are one of my favorite pieces in her shop.

I love the look of this one of a kind vintage button bracelet created with different vintage pieces.

Lisa at Uniqlets has an amazing talent of seeing beauty and new life in items others might just toss in the trash.  This bracelet is made from buckles, and buttons, and rhinestones.

Sometimes, simple is best, and while these lampwork bead earrings may look simple, they are perfect!  April is the talent behind these earrings, she created every bead individually from glass, and their perfectness amazes me.  Check out her lampwork creations in her shop, BrooklynBeadGoddess.

My favorite blue stone has always been turquoise.  And I'm amazed with wire wrapping, so when I saw this Sunflower wire wrap necklace in Colette's shop, I had to share it.  She used 2 different shades of turquoise stones and sterling silver wire in this pendant, and the finished product is

true blue!

That's it for this artist feature.  Now it's time to go back and play with my great-grandbabies!

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF - My Favorite Things

My oh My....it's been over a week since I last posted...I feel like a real slacker!  The next 2 weeks are going to be hit and miss too, since I have to get ready for a trip, go to Florida (where I will be spending a day with my two HA buddies Pam and Monika) for a grandson's wedding, then clean and unpack after we get home.  Sheww, I'm already tired. lol

This weeks Handmade Artist blog ring theme is "My Favorite Things", so let's go shopping....

I love gemstones, and I love bling, and I absolutely love the wide size of this Red Zircon Ring from John at Rasmussengems.  John is a talented and highly trained metalsmith and gemologist.  Plus in this shop you'll find beautiful beaded pieces created by his wife Debbie.  Such a happy and talented couple.

WOW!  That was my first reaction when I saw this Deco Style Bracelet by Lisa at Uniqlets.  She creates the most unusual and amazing art work that you can wear from vintage items that she has saved from the scrap heap and given new life.  In fact, some of her pieces come framed so you can even hang them on a wall in your home.

This piece is from the shop of my buddy Pam at A Bead Thing.  I love the freeform swirl of the handforged wire in this bracelet cuff.  Her shop is full of beaded items, bead weaving, crochet, quilled items, truly a girl after my own heart...she just can't make up her mind! lol

And lastly, even though Monika is not a part of the blog ring this week, I wanted to share with you this beautiful re-purposed vintage tea pot.  Isn't it just beautiful?  Or as she likes to say... "BEAUTIMUS". :0)  She makes those roses by hand too.  You'll find other great mosaics in her shop MyEuropeanTouch. 

Well, that's it for today....visit my buddies by clicking on any link above, and I'll see you again soon.

Be blessed,

Debbi

The Craft Star artist feature - 41 stars

This week I want to share the shops of a woman whose name I see popping up all the time in The Craft Star forum. Heather seems like such a warm and caring person, and is quick to offer advise and answers to others on the forum.  She's a mom that loves making jewelry and taking pictures, which is a love she inherited from her maternal grandfather.  Aren't grandparents great? :0)

Heather has 4 shops at TCS...wow...I have trouble keeping up with 2, lol.  This will be a product heavy feature, so get ready to shop.

First stop....41 Stars Studio.

This is where Heather offers us her amazing jewelry...and look what I found...ORANGE.  I love orange.

And it's a neon orange necklace to boot!   Maybe I'll get lucky and she'll put this up in the next BNR.

Next is her photography shop...Nature's Cadence Captured.  What a beautiful name!

I didn't intentionally look for an orange photo, I just got lucky.  :0)

I absolutely love this photo of a tree at sunset.  She offers her prints at 3 different sizes.

Now on to her supply shop.   Lookie what I found....

...orange chalcedony beads!  Yep...time for more supplies, and she has 333 items to chose from in her supply shop.  So you can leave the orange beads for me. 

Heather's last shop is Beyond the Blue.  This is where she keeps her high end jewelry.

And that's where I found this gorgeous fire citrine sterling ring.  Sometimes less is more, and this ring is simply beautiful.

You can also hook up with Heather, and follow 41 Stars, at the following links.

Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

Well, now my feature is over, so click on a link and see everything that Heather has created...just for you.

Be blessed,

Debbi

The Craft Star artist feature - Galleria di Giani

This week I want to share with you a special person over at The Craft Star, John Tozzi, and his shop, Galleria di Giani.  Why is John so special?  Well, he is always there in the forums, answering questions, setting up clubs, and just giving support to us newbies there.  I know that he has helped me, no matter how foolish my questions were, and late at night, my questions can be quite foolish. lol

Here's his shop....

I love this Lavender Jade, Pearl, and Sterling Silver necklace.  The triple strand gives it such an elegant look, but it would also look great paired with a pretty tee and jeans.

For the wild women in everyone of us, check out this lariat necklace.   The beads are blue and gold, and while not a traditional animal print, I love it.  John used 3 strands of sterling silver chains, for extra strength, and as he says himself "extra bling factor".   And with this style, there is no clasp, so it is easy to take on and off.

John also designs and creates jewelry that serves a purpose.  He has several watches there, but my favorite is this coral and mother of pearl watch with a matching bracelet. 

And for the last item, I picked this beautiful Jade and sterling silver necklace.  The pendant is stunning, and John designed this necklace so that you can take the pendant off the beaded chain, and wear it on a cord, or a silver chain.  John takes great pride in the versatility of this designs, as well he should, for they are all quite beautiful.  And with 180 items in Galleria di Giani, you are sure to find something special, just for you.  

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF artist feature - The Alchemist Vessel

I love the look of chainmaille.  Actually I love the look of anything Renaissance-y.  So I pretty much love anything you can find in Alix's shop The Alchemist Vessel.

"Chainmaille, Sterling Silver and Semi-precious Gemstone Jewelry. Specializing in unique handcrafted collectible artisan creations. All products are handcrafted with meticulous and loving care by Alixandra, the designer and owner."

Alix is very talented at designing jewelry.  Let's take a look...

Moors Malachite Azure set

I love the silver swirls in this necklace created with sterling silver and malachite with azurite beads.  Alix's Irish heritage shows in this piece, the silver and the green bringing to mind misty moors.  This necklace a nice long 20", and it comes with matching earrings.  

silver dragonscale bracelet

Now here is an amazing example of her chainmaille work.  This was listed just yesterday, and it's called dragonscale.  It is 1" wide, and looks so delicate, but the design also makes it very strong and sturdy.  I can't imagine the time and patience it took to connect all these little rings.  Stunning.

Alix opened a second shop on Handmade Artists for her fine jewelry, beautiful gemstones set in sterling silver.  I remember her struggling over a name for this shop, and I love the one she chose, Blackbird Metalworks. 

Let's take a peek...

filigree leaf ring

While I love bling...there is just something about silver.  And this sterling silver ring with a leaf motif is amazing.  This is a one of a kind ring, hand cast, sanded, and polished by Alix herself.  It's a size 8, so it would fit me almost perfectly. lol.

Now a little bit about Alixandra...she is good friend.  She is very active on the Handmade Artist forum, and on Etsy, and is full of advice and tips, and loves to help promote other artists.  And to that end, you can find her most everywhere on line, and at home she runs a retail venue for local artists in Boise, Idaho.  I love the name, "Little Shop of Artists".  That shows you the sense of humor she has, which is good for me, cuz she usually gets my off-center comments. (I hope, haha).

She is currently working on an e-book titled "In Chains" where she will share with us just how to connect all these little rings without losing our minds. :0)

Look for Alixandra and her designs at the following links, or at any of the links above.

Etsy / Facebook / Website / Pinterest / Linkedin

Until tomorrow...

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF artists feature - The Alchemist Vessel



Do you like chainmaille, sterling-silver, and semi-precious gemstone jewelry?  Then you must visit my friend Alixandra and her HandmadeArtists.com shop, The Alchemist's Vessel. 

 

Isn't she purty?  Definitely someone I would love to just hang out with, and we would probably get kicked out of a few places if we ever did get to hang out together. LOL.  One of the best things about the HandmadeArtists.com site is they way some artists just get involved, and you really get to know the artist behind the shops...and Alix is one that gets involved.  You'll see her there everyday on one discussion thread or another thread, sharing tips, giving support, and just having fun sharing her life.  Now look at these...

 

I love the name she gave to this ring..."two ringy dingy".  She used 20g silver plated jump rings woven together to create this pattern reminiscent of fishbone braiding.  This is like her "one ringy dingy" ring, but with more rings for a denser look.  I like it!  Alix tries to bring a sense of whimsy and femininity to her pieces, and is self-taught in her medium of jewelry design, specifically chainmaille.  I think that making a piece like this is similar to a jigsaw puzzle, getting every piece to link up even and then lay correctly.  It must take great patience, something I don't always have...

 

My Amanda introduced me to the Renaissance Festival several years ago, and I always talk/dream/plan to go in costume, but never quite drum up the courage (or the money), but these Maiden Faire Sterling Silver and Malachite Earrings would be a fantastic start to my outfit.  Again, looking at these, I can't imagine how Alix knows where to attach each ring without it all falling apart!  Amazing!  Alix has a brick and mortar shop in Idaho called "The Little Shop of Artists", a retail venue for local artists to share their talent and wares.  She is also writing an e-book titled "In Chains" where she shares tips and project for the chainmaille wanna-be's, like me.

 

Alix has just opened a second shop on HandmadeArtists.com, Blackbird Metalworks.  Here you will find her original designs of fine jewelry, like this

Malachite and Sterling Silver Ring.  The shop is just newly opened, so bookmark it and check it often for new items.  Ok, now I could just sit here and brag about Alix all day long, but people...I've got chores to do and I'm still in my pj's!  But before I leave, let me give you your chores for today...1) visit The Alchemist Vessel. 2) visit Blackbird Metalworks. 3) check out her blog. 4) like her facebook page. 5) follow her pins on Pinterest. 6) and you can even get linkedin with Alix.  So, go ahead, get started, and I'll see y'all tomorrow.

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF artists feature - Rasmussens Gems

I think I seriously need a clock that has an extra hour or 2 on it every day....anyway...

I know that I have already featured John and Debbie Rasmussen from HandmadeArtists.com, but all really good things deserve attention...and Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry is full of really good things.  Look.



1) G Baroque Pearl Bracelet 2) Agate Cabochon 1 3) BA Copper Heart Earrings 4) Custom Paw Ring 5) QTZ51 Faceted Lemon Quartz 6) Necklace and Earring Set B 7) Glass Bead Key Chain

8) FP Brown Bead Necklace 9) D Zircon and Marcasite Ring

 

I took one item from each section of this shop, just to show you the great versatility you'll find from this husband and wife team.  Did I mention their blog? John is an absolute treasure trove of information on gems, ethics, and such, and shares his knowledge with us on the Handmade Artists blog.  So stop on by Rasmussens Gems and Jewelry today.

Be blessed,

Debbi

HAF artist spotlight....Rasmussengem's

Before I start today's artist highlight for Handmadeartists.com, I have to share this story with you.  We have a shop on this site and well as another well-known bigger site.  Yesterday evening I was updating our shop announcement but the links were messing up my shop page.  So, I went to our forum and posted my problem.  Within 2 hours I had a response from Andrew Kitchen, (one of the owners of the site).  And before bedtime my shop front was fixed!  Isn't that great?  We have had a shop on that other un-named site for about 3 years, and in all that time, I have never had any kind of response from site support, let alone the site owner.  All I ever got was some help, and a lot of criticism from other sellers.  With all that being said....come on over and join an albeit smaller, but much better, site...Handmadeartists.com.  And thank you Andrew, and Josie!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program.



Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry.
John Rasmussen and his wife Debora fill their shop with beautiful gems and beaded jewelry.  John is a lapidary, gemologist, and metalsmith, and Debora creates the great beaded jewelry pieces.



John finds, finishes, and then offers all types of cabochons and gemstones.  I especially like this Lapis Lazuli Cabochon.  The speckled colors just get my jewelry designing juices flowing.  John cut this cabochon from a rough that was bought in a bazaar in Kandahar Afghanistan.  How exotic that sounds to me.



Here is a sample of Debora's beaded jewelry.  This DZ Mixed Bead Cross Pendant is such a beautiful shade of blue.  I love the graduated sized of the beads that just draw your eyes down to the cross. 

 

John also writes an amazing blog, Rasmussen Gems and Jewelry.  Here he shares his knowledge of gems, and features other artists, and shares his ideas.  He recently wrote this post about how technology changes the face of handmade.  It was fascinating.  You can also find Rasmussen Gem's on facebook.

So click on any of the links above, check out all the goodies at Rasmussen Gem's and join this terrific site.

Be blessed,

Debbi