Merry Christmas Everyone!

Although quiet on here the outside world has been busy!  I had several orders for the xmas season!!  A monkey, gargoyle cat and wolf were among the animal inspired necklaces that went to their "forever homes"!  Thanks everyone!  And to a certain "collector" (who shall remain nameless in case "they" read this blog) I hope that you love what you are getting under the tree! 

Pictures are coming soon of some of the new things that have left the beading board so stay tuned.  In the meantime savor the holiday season!  I know mine will contain lots of comfort and joy and a certain amount of "bling" under the tree! 

Thanks again for a wonderful year of beading and living life to the fullest!

The Colors of Fall

I had a friend tell me this reminded her of caviar....to me the light catches it and I think of bubbly champagne!  Both are good analogies of the color and the way the light refracts from it.  Hand drilled agate beads complete this perfectly.

Apatite Necklace

I love this "cooler" color of blue.  I find it very soothing and love the pairing of bronze gold with it.

Updated Designs

After a very busy summer I am back at the bead board creating new designs!  I also found out that the April issue of Vanity Fair will the "one".  So stay tuned for updates and photo shoot info.  I am really excited about being in the magazine.  Here are a few pictures to let you know what I have been doing.

Foggy Maine Morning

This marble cabochon reminds me of a grey morning in Maine.  I saw just this scene the other day...a grey fog rolling off the water with mountains framed in the background.  Silhouetted in black...for those of you who have had the opportunity to visit or live here you know just what I mean!

Girl With Eagle

A carved bison piece surrounded by amber and amber colored seed beads.  Looking for the perfect stringing beads for this piece.  It is still a "work in progress".  I had initially done some antler slices and may add those into the mix as well or they may become earrings.

Fetish Doll Pendant

A long time ago I vowed to make a dozen of these.  I sold one yesterday which reminded me so here is another one!  Vintage cats eye cabochon body with handmade, and painted, clay face.  Embellished with brass colored seed beads and rose pink and black sparkly delicas.  Around her throat are a pink freshwater pearl, a brown freshwater pearl and sparkly crystal.  Ready to be hung from a black cord.

Finished Cuff Bracelet

Finally got the edge stitching done on this beautiful cuff bracelet.  Done in shimmering colors of metallic grey and pinks.  Enhanced with bugle beads, a center cabochon, rock chips, delicas and e beads.  Lined with the softest black ultrasuede.  A sparkle for any one's wrist!  SOLD

Chaos in Blue Boat

I am almost done with this piece titled "Chaos in Blue Boat".  A sterling silver boat sails thru an ocean of blue beach glass, beads and pearls.  Close to the rocks and amidst crashing waves.

August

August has a way of zooming in at high speed and keeping you running all month here.  I have been doing extra shifts at work leaving little time to bead.  But I do have a few things in progress on the board.  An antler slice and carved buffalo piece (girl with eagle hair).  I used amber seed beads and chips of amber for it.  Also a blue seaglass and sterling boat.  As well as a grey piece of marble with black and grey tones.  As well as an almost finished bangle bracelet that I am in love with!  I started it a long time ago and just got to the edge stitch and finishing touches.

I finally was given the gift of a perfect deer skull to start on!  It is perfect and special.  With shades of red, green and tan it is going to be spectacular when I get it done.  I have wanted to do one for so long now.  I will post pictures when I start the project which will take a while. 

Seaweed Froth with Mussel Shell

Black Onyx carved Mussel embellished with a froth of green oxidized seed beads and cream colored freshwater pearls.  Backed with green ultrasuede.  Strung with seed beads and freshwater pearls.  Finished off with a hand forged sterling silver clasp.  One of a kind and "simply Maine".

Maine granite with Pearl

Another Maine Inspired piece.  I like the way the pearl settles in this one.  Simple and understated.  Black seed beads, mauve freshwater pearl with green bronze delica's.  Backed with black ultrasuede and a magnet clasp cord.

Maine Beach China in Blue

Small shard of Maine beach china hand drilled and embellished with blue crystals and delft blue seed beads.  Backed with grey ultrasuede and suspended by a black magnetic cord.

Website

My website is now up and running after many hours of work!  You can visit it here http://lesliejonesjewelry.com/

Any and all comments are encouraged! 

Seaweed on the Rocks

Undulating seaweed on the rocks after the tide has gone out....another Maine Inspired piece.  This one is a hand drilled granite stone embellished with garnets, bronze green delica's and garnet colored seed beads. Backed with lite grey ultrasuede and suspended by a black cord with a magnetic clasp.

Maine Granite with Pearl

Here is another Maine Inspired piece.  Hand drilled Maine granite with a freshwater pearl.  Surrounded by silver grey metallic seed beads.  Very organic and reminiscent of a rocky Maine coastline.  Hung with a magnet clasp cord.  Elegant and simplistic.

Maine Lobster and Seaglass Pendant

Here is #2 in the Maine Inspired Series.  Comprised of a sterling silver lobster, maine seaglass, freshwater pearls and seed beads.  This little lobster looks like it is just crawling into a tidal pool of seaglass!

Maine Inspired Pieces

I have been giving a lot of thought towards a Maine Inspired Line of jewelry lately.  Today I actually sat down to work on three of them.  I want them to reflect our rocky Maine coasts and all of the beauty you find outdoors.  Especially here on Mount desert island. 

This first piece that I finished is completely different for me in several way.  It is plain and small!  I usually do larger, more elaborate pieces.  But I am really liking the monochromatic look of what I am doing in this particular series.  It reminds me of fog, surf, rocks, sandy beaches...you get the picture.

This piece is a hand drilled granite rock embellished with a freshwater pearl.  Matte black seed beads undulate with texture with 24kt gold seed beads peeking thru.  Strung with a simple magnetic wire choker and backed with black ultrasuede.  SOLD

Runway Grand Show

The show last night was so much fun!  I got to hang out backstage before the designers were walked out onto the runway.  My two models did a great job!  I made some new friends and connections.  But more importantly I was exposed to a new level of show that I had not participated in before. Got some display ideas, mingled with other designers..it all .felt very special.  It was a great experience and I am sure that I would do it again!

Thank You Charissa!

Today was a great day!  I had a private jewelry viewing this morning with numerous purchases.  I also happened to walk into my gallery to re-stock just as this woman asked to see some of my pieces in my case.  I stepped in to help her and had a great conversation.  She made me remember why I do what I do and my audience.  Yesterday a woman I met suggested that I contact Safari/Disney world to sell my animal necklaces.  It was, to paraphrase a friends reaction, strangely insulting.  If I made pieces and sent them all off to be sold to anonymous people I would miss the interaction of someone buying a personal piece that spoke to them.  I was so glad to have been able to be present for this customers purchase.  It made my day brighter.

She posed for a few pictures and we looked at almost everything before she selected a necklace (that I am going to re-string for her) and a pin.  Thank you for making me remember why I create the things that I do.  For that special person to see it, fall in love and ultimately want to add it to their jewelry collection.

Polar Bear Necklace

I just finished stitching the edge on this little polar bear.  Embellished with a round mirror, an opal, crystal drops, crystals, opalite and a vintage flower.  As well as hundreds of blue delicas and silver seed beads.  It is sparkly and fun! 

Ellsworth Runway Grand Show

One more day to prepare for the Runway Grand Show.  Today I need to drop off designs for the models to wear and finish a number of small details before swooshing off to ellsworth tomorrow to set up.  I have been working on the website and on a few new designs lately.  Along with life that has been keeping me really busy.  It is August already!  I can feel fall in the air.  My new website address is lesliejonesjewelry.com if you want to visit me there as well.  Pictured above are a few of the new designs.  A puffin and cow in a smaller version.  These will probably go to a new account in Portland if I do not sell them at the show.  On the board still is a polar bear with a mirror and a sparkly opal.

Best Friends & Vanity Fair Magazine

All artists search for many things...creativity, their muse and the inevitable "lucky break".  Mine may have happened recently.  I had decided that this was going to be my year.  And in a myriad of events and creative circumstances it has turned out to be one of the best years of my life.  I have gotten my work out there and made some really unique pieces.  Found my path to what I really want to be doing and have been following it.  Made the August issue of maine magazine.

The other night I decided after dinner to stop into an eclectic bar where a friend of mine was bar tending to say hello.  When I walked in I saw an old friend.  An old best friend.  We had had a falling out about 20 years ago and really have not spoken.  So, of course, small bar, we strike up a conversation and friend each other on facebook.  A few days go by and she contacts me to see if she can wear my jewelry in an upcoming photo shoot for VF.  Goes to show how clueless I am since I actually had to ask what vf was?  Turns out to stand for (drum roll please) Vanity Fair magazine....yikes.  I quickly said yes...after I cried a little.   This is a magazine who has my photographer idol on staff (annie leibovitz, of course).  And amazing covers and stories...Domminic Dunne, a naked Demi Moore cover...the list goes on. 

So after a little discussion we decide on a couple of animal pieces (the story is about animals) and decide to meet once again at the eclectic bar.  We end up having a great discussion about the past and mend fences (so to speak).  And it becomes just like it was.  Two friends catrching up on a life that they have missed out on for all of those years.  And I realize life is not all about achievements and making it up the ladder.  But it is more about the friends and connections you make along the pathway of life.  It is more importantly about love, kindness and relationships.  Some are more complicated than others.  Some come and go, some last.  And some are worth mending after 20 years of not talking. 

Thank you for wearing my necklace in every single shot, thus insuring visibility in the story, and for a credit in the magazine.  But more importantly thank you for being my friend.

Zebra Necklace #3

Black Onyx, Coral and aturquoise cabochon decorate this zebra necklace.  I used black seed beads with a copper delica for the edge stitch.

Unicorn Special Order box

Finished Piece! 7/24/11

Here is a picture of a unicorn box top in progress.  This is a special commission piece for a little 6 year old girl who lives in California.  thanks Jill!

Maine Magazine August Issue

The new issue of Maine Magazine is out. My puffin necklace is on page #24.  Here is a picture of it!

Antler Necklace

I just love combining beads with something out of the ordinary.  This antler piece may be one of the most rewarding pieces I have ever done.  I used silver lined dark topaz seed beads (hundreds) individually hand stitched with freshwater pearls, turquoise, amber and garnets.  A little foiled glass face and a lone turquoise leaf complete the look.  I laced it up the sides with more garnets and put a little bit of peyote stitching along the bottom edge in small ruffles.  I have another antler so watch for another one of these coming soon.  So far I have about 6 hours of stitching in this piece alone.

Antique Nailheads Pendant

The cabochon is of unknown origin but I loved the colors of it.  The seed beads are a perfect color match and compliment to the stone.  I alos used some drilled polished agates for the side edge and some antique Czech nailheads.  I loved these when I first saw them but had a really hard time finding them.  Finally the Beadin Path in freeport came thru for me!  As always thanks, girls!

SOLD

Simple Beaded Necklaces

While organizing my beading closet I ran across these unfinished projects.  It only took a few minutes to finish them off with clasps.  Now I can take them to the next fair that I am in.  The black and orange one is chunk of carnelian and vintage black heshi beads.  The blu is also vintage faceted beads with a cool abstract coin bead that I got from the Gifted Hand downstairs bead shop.  It is very mod 70'ish.  The coin shaped pale blue beads resemble candy.  This one has a matching pair of earrings. Both have sterling silver clasps.

A Whole Lot Of Pink

My friend, Beverly Lameroux, makes these beautiful buttons.  I was lucky recently to obtain a few to use as cabochons.  I picked this pink swirled one to try out first in an attempt to make something out of my normal range.  I used the holes in the middle to weave a few strands of seed beads and crystals thru as well as around the edge.  Debating on what to string it with.

Bee Necklace

SOLD!

I got this pretty hand etched bead in my bead of the month club.  It came from my favorite beading store in Freeport, Maine called the Beading Path.  They have a great selection of beads and materials.  And the staff is really helpful and encouraging.  I knew when I saw it that I wanted to create a bead embroidery piece with it.  The color was perfect to match with some carnelian beads I had in my stash.