Amudra
Sterling silver, recycled glass earrings
Thea
Gold, sodalite, jade, kyanite earrings
Iska
Gold, fossil coral, quartz earrings
earrings
Blue Moon
Sterling silver and blue apatite earrings
Jasper & Love
Journey
Sterling silver, quartz and riolite earrings
Play Date
Sterling silver, jasper and coral earrings
Jasper & Love
Just a few more for your enjoyment :)
Jenna
Desert Vacation
Lee
Jasper & Love
How about a few more to fill out your weekend?
Cheers,
Charity
Modern Art
Marble gold earrings
By The Lake
Sterling silver aventurine earrings
Lulu
Flower jade hoop earrings
Tahitian Sunset
Carnelian gold earrings
Jasper & Love
I owe you an update - here's a few new items from the backlog, with many more to come. Stay turned for more later this summer!
Agnes
Agate gold dangle earrings
Anise
Carnelian dangle earrings
Fey
Glass dangle earrings
Sabine
Quartz gold dangle earrings
Jasper & Love
A few of you have asked how I name my pieces. Just kidding - no one has asked, but I think it's pretty interesting. So let's go!
Lila I have to start my saying I've been pining after these stones for weeks before I found and purchased them. Wouldn't mind if they were a bit more saturated, but in this case, it works really well to let the garnet be saturated and let the glass just chill in the background. To name these, I typed "purple" into google translate and did my normal strategy - clicked to a random language translation. Who knew? "Lila" means "purple" in Filipino.
Viola You guessed it - "viola" means "violet" in Italian :) I love the tropical colors in this pair, including my favorite shade of chartreusy green. Can you smell the summer breeze yet?
Kima I'll be honest, I don't write down my methods, so I'm literally piecing together memories as I write this post. I remember starting with "goldfish" on this one, because the large glass bead looks like a fishbowl with an ornate goldfish inside. And yes - when you translate "goldfish" into Amharic, you get ወርቅማ ዓሣ which sounds like werik'ima asa. And I liked the "kima" part :)
Pilar No translation story for these guys - it's more the matching color palette and personality of these hoops and the name "Pilar" (which I love). Excited to find more homes for this set of recycled glass stones.
Jasper & Love
I'm not sure how to shoot Shida to capture what I love about them, without hiring a model (seriously considering this...). The best of boho SoCal chic, with the push/pull of warm ochres and cool sage greens. Gemstones top to bottom? Nope, you'll find four glass beads included :)
Jadine (already sold, #sorrynotsorry!) I adore the color combination here, the warmest chartreusy green (garnet, believe or not) having a visual conversation with an equally warm peachy pink. Why not let the two hang out alone? Because they would just compete - both lighter tones, both very textured, both similarly sized. So we add a dark (not light), smooth (not textured), small (not medium) bead to the middle. Since the bottom is slightly larger than the top, you want to go with that color family, to give it even more weight. Otherwise, you're just making the fight worse (picture if I'd used a dark coral instead - doesn't resolve the tension).
Sadiya You've heard me go on and on about asymmetrically cut stones, so I'll spare you. You've heard the spiel about these ochres and sage-y blues too, so let's just move on to the next piece, agreeing that you understand how I feel about these :)
Summer Rose Many thanks to my Mom for helping me name these and Jadine. You'll see I'm bringing back the three-part earring, just like Shida at the start of this post. I like the movement this allows, plus the extra length, plus the reliability of wire rather than thread to achieve this effect. (Trust me, if I could figure out a reliable way to pull it off with thread, I'd do that too...) We'll see if this cream quartz / garnet combo resurfaces later, I'm a bit fascinated.
Spring Moss I can't let myself go into my local favorite bead shop anymore, unless I have a specific mission. No matter what, I will buy something. I allowed myself to go to stock up on some jump rings this week that are difficult to find anywhere else, and even with the single-minded purpose, I just, you know... got diverted... and picked up some blue quartz. Because they didn't have the angelite I wanted. None of this is relevant - except that I was looking for another set of moss quartz, since I love how the moss quartz worked out in this piece. No luck. The moral of this story is, if you like something I post, you should definitely get it while the getting's good - I work with a lot of suppliers and the local ones have unreliable inventory. Might never see a pair like this again!
Cheers!
Charity
Jasper & Love
I've been hanging onto these stones for months, so naturally am SO pleased that they found a home in this piece. You'll see the agate is rooted in a tiny moonstone, paired with sterling silver ear wire that fades into the background - a soft tone that doesn't distract from the central stone. Allie
You should have seen my face when I found the display of geometric metal shapes at one of my local vendors. Toddler at Christmas - overwhelmed, delighted, unsure what to pick first. Of course these squares... but also the gold tone squares, right? and the larger kind? and do I get the rectangles too? The cream quartz and aqua terra "jasper" (trade name for soft onyx marble, for your trivia stash) were born for each other. The larger cream quartz in a soft pale peach, and the jasper also translucent, near transparent, but in a slightly sturdier sage green. I'll come play with these colors again later... :) Charlotte
You've heard me rave about these stones before, I'm sure. The best purchase I've ever made, stone-wise? Let's see... top five for sure. I adore the asymmetrical cut, the smooth flow of the line, the painterly patterns that vary SO MUCH (see Sara below)... And of course they're jasper, my shop's namesake. Make them black and white I just melt into a puddle of be-still-my-heart. Maisie
Sara! The soft neutrality of these remind me of the book title Sarah Plain and Tall, which probably inspired the naming of these earrings. Subtle, yet not lacking in detail. Notice the striations as if illustrated with graphite. Notice the way the moonstones - tiny orange and larger grey - bring out the best in these larger jasper stones. I could go on and on about the elegance of shapes here, but I'll save that for another post about composition. Love these.
One of my best-selling pieces, Beach Vacation, made me realize that I don't have to Beyonce every piece (give a one word name) - I can use a non-name or phrase to evoke what I feel in making a piece. And thus, Tonight! These feel like a night out on the Lower East Side when your friend is in town from the UK and playing her new set and you need earrings that are just as ready as you are to stay out til the sun :)
Jasper & Love
Mmm, it's been too long! I'm making a pile of all the new stuff you haven't seen, and will post in the coming weeks. The lovelies above are called "Blue Moon" - I'll be honest, I've had the blue apatite for months and happy it finally has a home.
I call these "By the Lake" because they remind me of a hot summer afternoon at Lake Michigan. Don't worry - you'll see those oval curved aventurine stones more often in weeks and months to come!
I *adore* these carnelian earrings, framed by blackwood jasper (the name even tastes good, they're so beautiful) and fossil coral. I picture these with a camel wool pencil skirt, but obviously other options abound.
Nora... I'm sure you've noticed that I can't walk past a good asymmetrical stone without adding it to my tray (the carts of jewelry stores), and this was no exception. Maybe I paid too much for them. But just look at 'em, I mean, how could I walk on by?
In case you're like me, and can't get enough blackwood jasper, well, here's to you. *clink* These "Winter Woods" earrings make me want to wear navy and cuddle up by the fire :)
Jasper & Love
While I normally avoid dyed gemstones, these match my favorite lipstick and I couldn't say no. Plus 50% off, LBH. As a bonus, they're drilled in such a way that stones overlap each other ever so slightly when stacked. If I were remaking these, the only think I'd consider changing is switching to slightly thicker 23 or 22 ga gold headpin at 3", and adding another stone. Could only fit 4 with my 2" wire :)
Sun fire! This is my first of many explorations with carnelian gemstones - in this case, topped with aventurine. I adore the coloring on these stones (every one is different), so the only thing I'd change is switching to a marquise cut instead of oval. Or, if we're dreaming aloud here, an asymmetrical faceted cut, chunky but not so much that it becomes heavy.
Snails! Yep, those patterns you see are snail fossils from Wyoming. (Read more, it's really fascinating: http://geology.com/gemstones/turritella/) So how did I find a tiny bead to match as a topper - is that agate too? Nope. It's glass, actually, from a mixed set that I use WAY more than you would expect (Elyn, Eva, Beach Vacation, Sadie, Abode, Moxie, they're just surprisingly versatile beads. Check it out: jasperandlove.etsy.com) This particular pair is blue shot through with tanny golds and cooler indigo.
Since my first round of glass pendant earrings went over so well - Siara - I had to go see what other options were available. And I'm thrilled with these. The color, the simplicity, and that first photograph that is so perfectly abstracted. Look for more riffs on this theme soon.
These make me feel like New Year's Eve!
The equivalent of a reversible jacket, these Julia earrings can be worn two ways - with chain to the side, or chain split symmetrically to either side. Flip through the photos to see what I mean. If I were remaking, I might try two different types of gold chain to add another layer of texture. Or I might add a third, or see if I can find a less symmetrical shape than square, or see if I can stretch the square into another shape...
Enough about me - what about you? What do you want to see?
Jasper & Love
Let's call this a "Making Of" or "Behind the Scenes" story. You know me, I don't like stuff. I like multi-purpose objects that store nicely, not bulky one-use-only things like studio lighting or elaborate photography props.
So how do I shoot my product photos for Jasper & Love, like this one?
Simple! First, use natural light ALWAYS. This is more difficult half the year when I'm only home during daylight on weekends.
Second, white reflects light. I keep a light source on one side and a piece of white paper on the other, to keep the shadow from getting too dark. As below, white paper below the set is also helpful.
Third, glass! I love glass backdrops, because the surface abstracts whatever is actually there. This will become more interesting in following images.
Once more with feeling! This time I'm shooting toward the window, instead of straight back into the white.
I adore this shot. The warm tones in the earrings pop because the background is so blue. It would be better if the background were more blurred - I'm working on that.
Using a low fstop blurs the background window, and using a glass vase abstracts it further while being visually less distracting than the black earring holder.
Here's the final shot. Now that you know it's there, you can see the window frame, right?
Similar setup, as seen from above. Instead of shooting into the window, this time I'm shooting perpendicular to the window, with glass-in-front-of-white-paper as the backdrop.
Here's the final shot. While I love the abstracted nature of the previous, you can see that a white backdrop is less distracting. And adding the glass makes it less boring and impersonal than a simple white sheet backdrop. (I tried that, it looked robotic.
Happy shooting!
Cheers :)
Jasper and Love
This is what's next - glass and 100% semi-precious stones :) For now, I'm including glass shots in each shoot, but I want to get to 80% glass for all listings. Most of my work is both semi-precious stone and glass bead, but these are both complete semi-precious stones and gold. Love the texture that brings, and uniformity of sheen.
Jasper & Love
Mmm, new photos! I really enjoy the glass backgrounds, and would like to (eventually) replace all the black earring stand shots with glass compositions.
Jasper & Love: Grand Opening!
So excited to finally open on Etsy! You'll see a few of the newest designs above, and I am excited to bring you even more later on this year.
Shop now at jasperandlove.etsy.com !
Cheers!
Charity
Jasper & Love
"Ara"
Blue apatite stone with glass beads and brass findings.
"Ambra"
Amber tourmaline, glass beads and brass findings.
"Melle"
Moonstone and steel
"Liesa"
Turquoise stone and brass
"Junia"
Peridot serpentine, glass bead, gold findings
"June"
Peridot serpentine stone, glass bead, brass findings
"Jane"
Jasper stone, glass beads, gold findings
"Teila"
Turritella agate, glass beads
Jasper and Love
Ah, the "beach vacation". Can you see the surf? Can you feel the sun?
You might recognize "Emmy" - I have another version with deep blue faceted beads, but couldn't resist making again in turquoise / aqua. I LOVE this color, like I love all inbetween colors. Not blue, not green, somewhere inbetween.
These ones feel as close to rocker chic as I expect to get - I call them "James". The bead is grayish clear, but washed in gold on one side. Love it so much. I found a bunch of new supplies this weekend, and am plotting a new idea with these beads.
Mmmm, another repeat - these "Roxie" earrings might remind you of the "Moxie" pair I posted not long ago. These have a burgundy undertone, a warm pinkish glow. I'm not usually a pink person, but I really like these.
Ah, my favorites of the bunch. Citrine, one of my favorite stones, framed by gold, cream, and...what is that? YES - a subtle green. A bit sage, a bit mint, with an honest hint of lime.
These quartz earrings gain the honor of "most expensive earrings I've ever made". They have all my favorite things - juxtaposition of colors that don't intuitive go together, a mix of opacity and transparency, and lovely faceting, a mix of angles and smooth curves...
Jasper & Love
At last! I saw these jasper beads in one of my favorite NYC shops earlier this summer, and made a necklace. But it simply wasn't right. So this past week I remade it, double the length, so that it works as a necklace *or* as a wrap bracelet. Ahhhh, perfect :) If you look closely, you'll see that I use 2mm and 3mm beads, which along with the color varigation give the piece its interest and texture.
Another at-long-last piece. I bought two of these dalmatian jasper beads in Portland ME earlier this summer. Then got home, and promptly realized that I needed four beads, not just the two. After much to do, I ordered more and received them this week - twenty, just in case I need more later :) Pleased with the end result, though I don't think these photos do the piece justice. I need a model in a black dress, maybe...
Yes! I recently discovered an online vendor with great prices (and a Labor Day weekend sale, fun!) and great inventory. So these were one of my first purchases. These were more difficult to place than you'd think - the sparkle inherent in colored faceted beads didn't fit well with the matte aesthetic of most of my recent work. But - on their own, these beads can shine. I look forward to finding other ways to make use of them soon :)
And finally, "Moxie". I took process photos for these, and may include them in a later post so you can see the drafts I go through in a normal brainstorming process. You may recognize the metallic faceted beads here - I use them often. You might also recognize the center bead - it's part of a set of pearly beads that surprise me often with their usefulness. The third element is a new faceted bead from my lastest shop discover a mere block from my day job office. The best part of these beads though, is the gestalt - as a whole they achieve a neutral champagne color that could go with many outfits, yet speaks as a statement piece.
So overall, you could say recent weeks have brought great new vendors to light, which will be foundational to any sustainable business model I hope will grow from this hobby. Pleased with my progress, but eager as always for more-faster-better. Onward!
Jasper & Love
Another lovely week for creating new jewelry - and new product photos! I've been using much more morning light, as the evening hours of good light are nearing their end for 2016. This pair, "SOL", was a double lucky find. I accidentally found a new bead store one block from my office. (One block!) Better yet, it sells individual beads - many places only offer packs, so any choice is a larger investment that you'd really want to make. So I picked out the red and mango colored beads, as I'd been wanting some darker warm tones to work with, and the different shapes complemented each other. Then - then I found these turquoise-y green discs that look like globes and said MUST HAVE. In my rush, I didn't write down what they were called. Next time... :)
Now you can see - now you can see why jasper is one of my love languages. Oh! These are ocean jasper, like the last in today's series, so take a second to compare how different they are. Wow! But these strong deep colors and distinctive patterns are brilliant, and since I used all four this week I expect to buy more next week. (Ok, or tomorrow.) While I love the glass beads above the stone, what makes this pair work, I think, is the chain beneath. Only one question outstanding - do we like 2 dangling chains, or do we prefer 3? I may try three next time, or try adding some embellishment to the chain, to see if that enhances or detracts from the gestalt.
Sea glass! Alright, I only remember these are glass and am not 100% sure that they are sea glass. Something to ask my vendor when/if I reorder these. I adore this color, and adore even more how well it photographs. Look at the difference in color across these images! Aren't you so glad you have multiple images with multiple lighting sources, so you can get a feel for how these look? Me too.
Ah, and the second pair of ocean jasper, alongside glass beads and a surprise guest, a plastic bead! I don't normally buy plastic beads - no good reason, I'm just too stuff for plastic. But these caught my eye before I knew what they were made of, and I took them home anyway. Do an experiment for me - pretend the bright blue plastic bead isn't there. Do you still like these earrings? I do. But *with* the bright - and perfectly sized - blue-green, these really come alive. I also like how the darker bits of the stone talk to the darker findings. It will be interesting to see if I can find some similar stones, then pair them with matte navy beads. Onward!
Jasper and Love
For now, I'm calling these "Cora II", just as the first fossil coral earrings I made were "Cora". We'll see if I need to get more creative, or if that will help me memorize all these names. I have a penchant for naming inanimate objects, so it's easier to remember than you'd think :)
Wow. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure the selfie product shot would work. But the lighting! The dress near-matching the wall! (Ok, not really in real life, but with this light - excellent!) These "Citra" earrings are *so* simple but still pack a punch.
By far my favorite. This asymmetrical composition is lovely - I can see myself using it again in future. But the colors too! Playing both sides of the gold tone, darker with the faceted small bead and lighter with the creamy yellow one... and same with the pink. A mottled salmon below, and a faded salmon above. Love these shapes, and the light in these images definitely worked in my favor.
These are one of the few one-of-a-kind earrings I expect to make. But who knows! I found these stones at a rock shop in Maine, and while there were a handful of others I really wanted, it was these that I simply couldn't say "no" to.
Next up - besides just making more work and exploring more materials, I also want to get this glass product shot right. You'll see that some of these are different from before. The earrings are actually hooked onto a plastic vase, and a glass vase is behind it to further abstract the background. I like this method, but need some windex to make both vases spotless. Projects!
Jasper and Love
Absolutely thrilled with these shots :)
The favorite shop name idea today is "Jasper and Love", two reasons this hobby has grown so much in recent weeks. Love, of course, of color and line and texture and all things creative. I am thrilled to be making things. If I had to pick a favorite stone, it would be jasper hands down - the patterns and color combinations are thrilling! Dalmation jasper is my latest object of affection - hoping to finish some earrings with it this month!