fun finds on Etsy

It is amazing what you can find on Etsy! We bought this vintage Collier's Magazine from LiteraryMischief. My Mom was on the cover! She was born and grew up in the Nassau in the Bahamas and just happened to be poolside when the Collier's photographer was taking pictures. He asked her to pose and history was made. Both my brother and I have probably romanticized life in the Bahamas back then but it must have been a wonderful time and place to grow up.

labradorite and lava stone

lovely combination with the tans and pinks of jasper, lepidolite gemstone, and

faceted Czech glass,

warm copper and shiny silver metals

labradorite and lava stone bracelet

new bracelet

neutral colors 

gray, tan, and silver

beautiful mystic labradorite, 

shell, bone, Czech glass, sterling and Turkish silver

at RocksandPaperSwans.etsy.com

lots of new earrings

you can't have too many ear dangles imho

 

lampwork and Mykonos green patina casting earring

ancient Roman glass, Mexican fire agate earrings

  

old mexico #3 flower earrings

hand painted wire wrapped polymer earrings

pink jasper cross earrings

 

labradorite and pale peach faceted glass earrings

naked lady returns

...  with more pretty necklaces  ...

 Tibetan conch shell and sterling necklace

 

hand painted polymer clay focal mixed bead necklace

naked lady, mannequin, dress form

I've finally found a mannequin to photograph RocksandPaperSwans necklaces on. I wanted one of those shabby chic, covered in linen or something, beautiful antique-y things but they are a little on the pricey side. This one was found in a little shop downsizing their stock in an antique mall nearby at a price I could afford.

For now I'm using her in the nude but later I plan to cover her with paint or pale tissue collage. I think I still have some old dress patterns in one of my many paper stash drawers that would be perfect.

So, here are the first new shots of the lovely Ms. ? (haven't named her yet).

 

Thai Buddhist amulet lariat necklace 

 Tribal necklace of seed beads, jasper, paper beads

 

 Tibetan agate and orange impression jasper necklace

I have lots of new things being listed in my shop now that I am really pleased with.

Everything I do is one of a kind.

Lovely colors and unusual mixes of beads, my polymer, and paper beads, very easy to wear.

Storyworks magazine

a new illo for a poem in Scholastic's Storyworks Magazine that should be in mailboxes about now

and here's a favorite older piece just because summer is almost over

sale continues

Oops, I made an error in some of the sale coupons I sent out last week so I am doing it again. My HAPPYBIRTHDAY25 sale - get 25% off your purchase through Monday September 29 at http://www.rocksandpaperswans.etsy.com/

birthday sale

Happy Birthday to me! And I'm giving you a present! Get 25% off your purchase now through Tuesday September 16 at www.RocksandPaperSwans.etsy.com

**HOW TO APPLY THE COUPON  CODE** 

HAPPY25

Once you've added an item to your cart, on the right, click Apply shop coupon code above Item total. Enter the coupon code HAPPY25 and click Apply. The coupon discount will adjust your order total.

pretty new bracelets

Lots of illustration projects going on but I managed to squeeze in time to finish up some new bracelets.  I hope to have them listed on Etsy by week's end.

RocksandPaperSwans.Etsy.com

oodles of new earrings

 

I made lots of paper beads last winter and after finishing up some picture book projects I'm finally getting around to turning beads into jewelry. I love combining their pops of color with semi-precious or ethnic or Czech beads. The pair above are stacked with African clay, recycled glass and Czech glass on sterling silver 'sticks'. Others (below) are combined with mykonos ceramics, jasper, and various metals.

at rocksandpaperswans.etsy.com

SUGAR WHITE SNOW AND EVERGREENS

This box plopped onto my doorstep yesterday.

It has only been a couple of days since I sent the final art for the 4th and last in the series (they haven't settled on the title yet). SUGAR WHITE SNOW is 3rd and should be in bookstores very soon.

Now I can work on some jewelry projects for a little while!

Babybug magazine

Did this 'Trash Truck' art for Babybug magazine a few months ago. Not my usual subject matter but I think I made it my own with lots of color and texture. And a couple of cute dogs.

Volcano Rising

I got a lovely letter from the Mount View Library/4th grade Spanish/English Dual Language Program at Mount View Library in Seattle, WA.

The library class has been studying picture book awards and decided to establish their own award. They created their own criteria, reviewed all the books that fit the category and finally voted Volcano Rising as the winner. They even made up a certificate. 

I am so honored to receive an award like this from the actual kids that read the books I illustrate.

Thanks Mount View Tigers!

bracelet commission

I was asked to make a bracelet similar to one I sold a while back and just heard back from my wonderful client:

'I received the bracelet and I absolutely LOVE it!! Oh my goodness, it is gorgeous!!! What a beautiful work of art in jewelry, you are so talented! I don't think I will ever take it off, well, maybe for the next one. Thank you so much, I am very pleased!'

She made me very happy!

I'd love to make something for you.

RocksandPaperSwans.etsy.com

chicken sketches and paper beads

I know I've mentioned before how much I love chickens - such a wonder of color and pattern; and I get to put a bunch, flock, many, many in the new book I'm working on. Joy!

Here are some sketches. 

 I'm making up new paper designs for these digital collages which will get printed out for a second life as paper bead jewelry! I've already got a batch of beads made up and will post a photo once they are sealed.

It's Spring in TX ...

and the wild flowers are everywhere!

This is a digital collage from a few years ago but I decided to show it anyway. 

The bluebonnets in TX are wonderful en masse but close-up Indian Paintbrush wins the prize for me; 

so much more beautiful! (imho :-))

new pretties in the shop

I've been slow photographing/listing new things because I'm recovering from surgery for a detached retina; not a fun experience but at last here are a few new things. I made a lot of paper beads during this winter's numbing cold and have plans for multi-strand necklaces. Meanwhile I've made some cute lightweight earrings with the beads.

I love this one

I'm so pleased with this new southwestern bracelet, the combinations of colors - red Czech beads, serpentine, jasper, bone and a tiny turquoise heishi just for extra pop. I found some of these beads on a recent trip to Ashville, NC and have been waiting for just the right project. The mix of antique silver, pewter and sterling looks great together; I made this pretty sterling clasp for it and found a lovely artisan sterling cross to dangle from the links that allow it to fit just about everyone. Hope it finds a good home.

RocksandPaperSwans.etsy.com

It's finally flower season!

in the shop at

RocksandPaperSwans.etsy.com

I made these from polymer clay that I textured and painted

and wrapped in antiqued copper wire (or filigree or silver or patina-ed copper caps); they are very lightweight!