Featured Artist: Dawna St.Marie of PrairieArtisan on Etsy (30% Off Coupon Code Included!)

Our latest featured artist is the very talented Dawna St.Marie of PrairieArtisan on Etsy! Dawna has a special treat for you, so be sure to scroll down for full information. 

Dawna's work is inspired by vintage rhinestone jewelry, and was kick-started by her admiration of her friend's sparkling vintage jewelry collection. 

With a background in stained glass, Dawna does all of the soldering by hand, making each piece a one of a kind creation. 

Dawna's expertise in vintage jewelry and components can be seen in her designs as she expertly matches and contrasts stones, filigrees and settings. Some of her designs use hundreds of rhinestones (that she solders by hand, just think about that for a moment!). 

Dawna's use of bright colors and brilliant vintage stones bring a freshness and modernity to her creations. These statement pieces would look right at home alongside both vintage and modern jewelry.

Truly incredible works of art, which you get to wear!

Be sure to check out Dawna's shop! There are fabulous rhinestone bracelets galore that are sure to awe and delight you! Dawna has graciously offered our readers a discount coupon code for 30% off your order at PrairieArtisan. To receive your discount simply use the code 

WELCOME30

at checkout. What a great opportunity to save on some very special one of a kind jewelry that would make a wonderful gift this holiday season. 

Also, you can find more of Dawna's handmade bracelets at her second shop PrairieVintageJewels, where you will also find stunning vintage jewelry pieces that reflect Dawna's eye for unique vintage flair.

 

Book Review: Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box

When serving the Clinton administration as Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright became known for her use of pins and brooches as a communication tool during her diplomatic duties.  This book, Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box was written in 2009 to accompany a touring exhibit of her pins.  I read the Kindle version of the book on my iPod, probably not the best format for viewing the pins.  However, while there were some unique and interesting contemporary and vintage pieces, most interesting to me were the stories about how Albright came by her collection, and how she used her jewelry to communicate specific messages in a subtle but very public way, highlighting a creative and very female approach to diplomatic negotiations.  This is a light and easy read, with lots of pretty pictures.

Miriam Haskell Bracelet Update: Russian Gold Plate Flower Filigree Identification

I’m busy sorting through our recent purchase of metal findings from the Miriam Haskell warehouse, see my blog post here.

And guess what? I found some of the same filigrees that are used in a Miriam Haskell pearl bracelet I am fortunate to own. See my bracelet blog post here.

Here are the filigrees together with the bracelet filigree… We have a match! 

In this bracelet, the Haskell oval plaque is soldered to one filigree. There is a second filigree on the back, both held together with jump rings, right before the clasp.

Both my bracelet filigree and the Haskell warehouse filigrees are plated with Russian gold plate, a type of 24K gold plating used in vintage Haskell pieces. The bracelet filigree and the warehouse filigrees are dramatically different in color, showing how this type of plating can age over time.  For more, see my blog post about Russian gold plate here.  

We now offer new antiqued brass tiny flower bead caps just like those in my bracelet…

And we also carry various vintage Miriam Haskell glass pearls, also originally purchased at the Miriam Haskell Company warehouse.

I’ll keep researching our Miriam Haskell findings to see if I can discover examples of how they were used, I’ll keep you posted!

Announcing Bumbershoot Designs Online: New Website

We’re very excited to announce our new website, Bumbershoot Designs, dedicated to offering our  jewelry designs made with uniquely gorgeous vintage components.

We love offering our designs at Bumbershoot Designs on Etsy and our success there has encouraged us to open our own website in addition to our Etsy shop.

Now you will find us in 4 places: Bumbershoot Designs on Etsy, Bumbershoot Designs online, Bumbershoot Supplies on Etsy and Bumbershoot Supplies online.  All of our websites are fully linked to each other so we hope you will be able to navigate our locations with ease. Prices and shipping fees are consistent in all shops and we are always happy to combine shipping fees and purchases from all of our shops, just contact us if that is helpful to you.

We are very grateful to all our customers from both Bumbershoot Designs and Bumbershoot Supplies who have made this step possible. Thank you!

Featured Artist. Nancy O'Connell of Black Rabbit on Etsy

I didn’t have to go far to find our featured artist for March. Nancy  O’Connell of Black Rabbit on Etsy is a neighbor of ours, located here in Seattle.

The main component of Nancy’s designs is vintage tin, which she has been working with for more than 15 years.

Nancy creatively refashions vintage tin containers into unique and unusual jewelry items.  Nancy says, “I am attracted to texture, color and pattern - especially in unexpected combinations…

… I am fascinated by wood and metal and the effect of time on their surfaces. I have a passion for fabric and tin containers which I collect with abandon.”

Nancy’s gifted eye for pattern and patina is apparent in each design. 

One of her customers says it best, “stunning – I love the way you capture the beauty in the patina and patterns – and then put it all together in a unique and beautiful way”.

This necklace caught my eye because it is reversible, two different pieces of tin riveted together – two pendants in one! This is one side….

And this is the other.

And I love the story that this necklace tells. Nancy calls it “little village”.

I hope you will enjoy a visit to Black Rabbit to view Nancy’s gorgeous limited edition and one-of-a-kind designs. Be sure to check out the sold section, too – there are many beautiful pieces to see there as well.

Featured Artist. Stephania Dapolla of le Petit Foyer and Stephmel

Let us begin the 2012 series of featured artists inspired by the multi-talented artist Stephania Dapolla of Athens, Greece.

And I definitely mean multi-talented! Stephania has 2 Etsy shops, le Petite Foyer for her jewelry designs…

…and Stephmel where she makes available her fine art photography and original paintings. 

Stephania says her jewelry designs are “…an eclectic collection of vintage inspired handcrafted jewelry, which combines old and new elements, colours and styles in a romantic and whimsical way…made in small series or are one of a kind, with love, special care and quality materials, vintage and antique gems or ethnic findings…”

I know you will also enjoy discovering Stephania’s dreamy and evocative art photography, which to me is poetry in picture form.  

Stephania’s photography has been featured on the blog Photographers of Etsy, interviewed by Steve Raley of PhotoGrunt, where she talked extensively about her work, saying in part, “…I try to hear the whispers from the past and to read the old stories hidden behind the locked doors. I am very happy to hear someone saying that in one of my photos they recognized even vaguely a moment or feeling from their own personal history…”  You can read the full interview here.   

Stephania does bring together her photography and jewelry designs, such as in this lovely necklace.

A person who incorporates art throughout her life, Stephania also paints and restores religious icons in the many ancient churches in Greece. To learn more about Stephania, check out this blog feature.

I hope you will enjoy visiting le Petite Foyer and Stephmel to view Stephania’s art and designs!

Complementary Upgrade to USPS Priority Mail at Bumbershoot Designs

How's it going - are you knee deep in holiday preparations?

We can help!

As of today, Dec 14, 2011, all jewelry purchases made at Bumbershoot Designs on the web and Bumbershoot Designs on Etsy will receive complementary shipping upgrades to USPS Priority Mail.  This upgrade is for all US customers purchasing our designs - you pay the regular shipping and we'll pay the extra fees to upgrade your package to Priority Mail. No need to ask, no coupon code necessary, we'll provide Priority Mail shipping for all US shipments until Dec 21, 2011. 

The US Postal Service says that Dec 21, 2011 is the last shipping day to ship Priority Mail packages for Christmas delivery.  All of the jewelry designs at Bumbershoot Designs are ready to ship. Be sure to order by 10am on Dec 21, 2011 for Christmas delivery.

For the convenience of our local Seattle customers, we will support last minute purchases by shipping up to and including Dec 23, 2011, with our usual 10am shipping deadline.

And don't forget gift certificates! We send those electronically so they are a great last minute option.

Wishing you a happy holiday season!

Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies 2011 Holiday Shipping Schedule

The holiday season is here!

Here is the holiday shipping schedule for Bumbershoot Designs and Supplies.

And remember that we now offer gift certificates, which are available by email within 24 hours of purchase.

HOLIDAY SHIPPING SCHEDULE:

Thurs Nov 24, 2011	No shipping, US Thanksgiving Holiday
Fri Nov 25 and Sat Nov 26, 2011	Yes, we are shipping
Nov 28 - Dec 23, 2011	Shipping every day, Monday through Saturday, including Fri Dec 23, 2011
Dec 24, 25, 26, 2011	No shipping
Tues, Dec 27, 2010	Regular shipping schedule resumes.

Our standard shipping policy will apply during the holiday season: 

If payment is received by 10am Pacific time, items ship the same day. Otherwise it is the next business day. 

 

We email a shipping confirmation with tracking number (US destinations) or scanned customs form number (international destinations) for every purchase on the day your package ships. 

 

If you want a faster shipping option than regular first class mail, please contact Sharon for a quote: sjdurfy@bumbershootsupplies.com.

 

 

 

Featured Artist: Patricia Mackey of Tippy Stockton

I am delighted to share with you another one of Bumbershoot Supplies’ talented neighbors, jewelry designer extraordinaire, Patricia Mackey, owner of Tippy Stockton. 

Patricia has been selling on Etsy and in other venues for some time, and she just recently launched her own website, a beautiful place to visit and a wonderful complement to her lovely designs.

Patricia says: “Some of my earliest memories are of playing with my Mom and Grandmother’s jewelry. Opening up their jewelry boxes, made me giddy with excitement.

I still get that same feeling today when I find a piece of Vintage jewelry - that piece of jewelry tells a story and I love giving it new life!

Tippy Stockton jewelry is designed and handmade from sterling silver, vintage, and glass beads. My inspiration is great color, texture and a bit of nature thrown in for good measure. You might call me a "jane of all design trades".

I love jewelry, textiles, paper - see, I told you! I began creating jewelry when I couldn't find the perfect necklace for a special event. So my imagination took over and as they say, the rest is history.”

Patricia’s metal of choice is sterling silver. Oxidized to a dark patina, she pairs it with high quality vintage and contemporary components, reflecting her love of combining vintage and contemporary into something new.

When last I checked, Patricia’s designs were available at 23 different boutiques and retail sites in 4 different states. But no matter where you are located, you can always view her designs and get a dose of inspiration and loveliness on her website, Tippy Stockton.  I hope you will enjoy a visit soon!