Earth Goods 4 The Spirit: July 2012

Steampunking a Second Vintage Dress Form

Here is a Fully Functioning Hearthside Size B Dress Form Model Antiqued with Leather Brown and Brass Accent Stain.

This is the second of my transformations and the original How To Article is Here.

I have placed this Dress form up for sale in my etsy shop, the listing text appears below and the actual listing is HERE.

I'm putting a Shout out for anyone who has taken my advice and actually done this to their own dress form, leave me a message or click on the email link at the bottom of this article and I'd love to feature your creation!

Here she is as bought

Etsy ad:

here she is all dressed up!

This lovely vintage sculpture will look great dressed or undressed in you home or shop, it's so pretty it's a shame to cover it up!

After being fully stripped of her old tattered cloth covering, this dress form was cleaned and repaired to a fully functioning state, then sealed and stained with several layers of antique red and brown then highlighted with gold accents that make her look as if she is covered in buttery aged leather!

We all have a beautiful outfit or pieces of jewelry coat that are too lovely to keep closed up in a drawer or closet, this is the perfect way to showcase them in you bedroom, sewing room or sun porch so everyone can enjoy them when they are not being worn.

Makes a great hat rack to at the entrance of your home! Throw a beach hat on her and anyone looking in your windows will think you have company, (I set mine near a window with a hat on when I am at home alone or leaving the house, she looks like a living person through the window and makes my home more secure).

Dress form does have an adjustable stand.

Did I mention she is still fully functional? She expands from measurements of:
36" bust to 43"
26" waist to 33"
37.5" hips to 45.5"
so she can still be a functioning dress form for you if you want a one of a kind dress form!

Please check out the rest of our shop for a variety of unique handmade jewelry and beads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthgoods4thespirit

if you want to see how I change a vintage dress form from thrift store reject to an object of art you can see the transformation of a smaller dress form I already sold at my blog:
http://www.earthgoods4thespirit.com/2012/05/steam-punk-old-dress-form-for-jewelry.html

Latest Treasury by Sherry Easton, "Out of the Darkness Comes the Light"

New treasury featuring one of Doyle's Pendants!

Shell Pendant Pearl Tribal Necklace

This is a pendant made from freshwater clam shell from the Mississippi River. This river is prized for it's beautiful gemstone grade river clam that have been used for centuries to make shell buttons and other forms of adornment and jewelry.

Doyle and I collected these shells ourselves and have just begun to carve them into wonderful transluscent items for your consideration.

We have upgraded the quality of our necklace components also, now we offer only grade AA+ freshwater pearls, reborn keshi and mother of pearl clam heishi.

The Etsy listing for this necklace appears below and the link to the sactual necklace is HERE.

Pre-Columbian Native American Indian style necklace. Pearls, hand carved mother of pearl shell medicine wheel pendant. Antique collector museum piece reproduction. Champagne A++ grade freshwater baroque pearls, reborn keshi and and mother of pearl clam heishi make up the strung necklace.

This 45mm pendant is outlined and hung on a 20" necklace and has a shell toggle clasp for added comfort and authenticity. This is a wonderful Powwow medallion as well as being well suited for Historical Reenactors and others who wish to embrace the Spirit of the Ancient Elders.

Ceative Designer Statement Choker Necklaces from Shell and Gemstone

Ceative Designer Statement Choker Necklaces from Shell and Gemstone by earthgoods4thespirit on polyvore.com

Primitive Native American Pre Columbian Fashion Forward

Primitive Native American Pre Columbian Fashion Forward by earthgoods4thespirit on polyvore.com

From Zero to Hero, Remaking a Sea Glass Tropical Choker Mother of Pearl Stick Beads Choker That Just Didin't Quite Cut It!

Sometimes you just have to admit defeat on a project and start over. From scratch. The necklace in the picture below was a case in point.

Sure, it looked good in theory but I made the mistake of wearing it for a day at the beach and it flopped all over the place and looked awful. I hate to admit it, being of an Artist temperament and all, but this one was a dog in practice.

The Hot Mess Itself - Bow Wow!

But what to do? It took me all of several months to come up with a design that would hold such necklaces in place properly, (I do love my bead fringes and dangle drops), but they are generally a pain in the butt to wear and not have them turn into a hot mess after a few minutes of wear.

I started by rethinking what was needed to hold elements in place, crochet seemed obvious but how to integrate two strands into the third crochet strand?

Well, I'm not giving up my secrets here, it took me many days of agonizing experiments to come up with something that would do the trick and still look good.

I've decide to make an entire line of this type of choker jewelry because it's design is authentic and new. It's just for those Gals who love their dangle beads and fringe look but don't want things sticking out all over the place at odd angles just because you bent over or breathed.

The moral of all this is: Even if you have an item in your shop that has been up for months, don't be afraid to remake it into something new. I have done this with several of my pieces now, they are being favorited left and right and soon i expect some sales to discriminating buyers who know quality and a glad to pay for it.

Anyway, here is the relisting for those interested below the link to this necklace choker in my Esty shop is HERE.

New and Fresh, No More Flopping!

Blue sea glass tropical beach choker necklace hand carved chunky creamy beige conch shell and coral pink, banana yellow mother of pearl, MOP, stick beads. Features blue sea glass beads with lime green and yellow striped glass trade bead spacers for a unique unusual modern look.

The salmon pink silky crochet ribbon Influence adds color, texture and stability, keeping the individual elements snugly in place while allowing limited, flowing movement while reflecting the natural hue of colors of the mother of pearl stick beads.

This is your colorful, lovely, edgy, buttery smooth candy necklace beach wear choker that will set you apart and show you have a unique sea side style all your own! Perfect for those flip flop shopping trips, sunny beach picnics and coffee house gatherings.

The necklace can be easily refreshed by holding under gently running cool water and then laid out on an absorbent surface to dry.

The Necklace is 20".
The Conch Beads range from 22mm, (largest Center Bead) to 15mm.
Aqua Glass Disc beads are 20mm
Hot Coral Pink and Banana Yellow Stick Beads are approx 20mm

Please check out the rest of our shop for a variety of unique handmade jewelry and beads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthgoods4thespirit

Mother of Pearl Designer Necklace Choker Abalone Unique Statement Necklace

This is the third in my limited series of Designer Chokers featuring crochet cord, sea shell and gemstone natural elements combined to create earthy, natural casual ready to wear unique fashion that can be worn either with your business suit or your summer beach wear with equal grace and appeal.

Designer mother of pearl necklace choker abalone unique statement necklace. Chunky mother of pearl sea shell beads, with abalone paua in pearl, purple pink blue, sea foam jade accent beads add color and subtle flair.

Driftwood colored waxed crochet cord adds color, texture and stability, keeping the individual elements snugly in place while allowing limited, flowing movement reflecting the natural hue of colors of the abalone shell that shifts from electric blue to purple and then to shimmering red and green tones.

The 16.5" Choker Necklace is strongly clasped with a antique bronze tone lobster claw clasp that adds both security and today's latest fashion Look.

This necklace is also easy to clean, just place it under gently running cold water for a few seconds and lay flat to dry on an absorbent surface such as a towel to refresh and renew its glow!

This season, it is all about mixing textiles and natural reclaimed elements to show you have a relationship with the planet you live on but with a practiced eye to fashion forward. This necklace has it all and more! Even more so is the trend towards individualizing jewelry so that it directly reflects the wearers feelings, with just a few added personal charms this necklace can be YOUR DESIGN.

I will be glad to customize this necklace with personal charms or any way you need it to make it more your own personal taste or design a special necklace just for you! I have already done so for a customer in Tasmania, here is the listing for this item, https://www.etsy.com/transaction/87057555

it just goes to show that this design is easily transformed into any combination of personalization for any woman's sense of fashion! I love to make custom jewelry that reflects my Clients tastes and desires, let me design an original piece for you today!

This necklace is available in my Etsy Shop HERE.

HERE is a blog post about one of my other Limited Edition Statement necklaces..
and HERE is the custom order necklace that started it all! (These links will open in a new window so you do not lose this page).

Please check out the rest of our shop for a variety of unique handmade jewelry and beads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthgoods4thespirit

Playing With Polyvore Instead of Doing SEO for Etsy

Find me on Polyvore

Conch Shell Tiki Choker Crochet Designer by EarthGoods4TheSpirit

Blue Sea Glass Sea Shell Necklace by EarthGoods4TheSpirit on Etsy

Creating Sea Shell Abalone Paua MOP Stick Bead Tribal Choker

Original design being laid out

Beautiful, but the ribbon speaks too loudly, off to the dye bath!

This is the beginning of a New Line of Jewelry I will be creating over the next several months, it features the best of crochet used to fortify and stabilize unusual combinations of shell elements that normally have a great deal of difficulty remaining in place when worn. By adding the crochet ribbon the two strands unify and the textile helps to "nestle" the beads into proper position with minimal movement, yet a limited freedom of motion still remains in motion.

This will allow me the freedom to add dangles and drops with abandon without worrying about them flipping all over the place while being worn or danced in, there is nothing worse at the Powwow than having to constantly adjust ones regalia!

Originally the ribbon was stark white but I felt it overwhelmed the design, so off the to dye bath of natural henna to tone it down and bring it back to matching instead of overpowering the piece!

I look forward to experimenting with new textiles and crochet to enhance Doyle already lovely and timeless creations, this design is so powerful I've already had my first sale because of its unique design! You can see this necklace HERE.

I will be glad to customize this necklace any way you need it to make it more your won personal taste or design a special necklace just for you! I have already done so for a customer in Tasmania!

Below is the listing stats if you are so inclined to read them and this item is now being offered for sale on my Etsy Site HERE.

Original Designer Abalone Sea Shell Coffee n Cream Color Choker Necklace Paua Mother of Pearl MOP Stick Beads Tribal Crochet Charm Choker Necklace Pendant. Beautiful, Coffee Colored Swirl Dichroic Glass Beads with Abalone Paua Dangle Beads and Mother of Pearl Multicolor Stick Beads in Coffee, Pearl and Violet Lavender.

The Driftwood colored Smooth Stone 50mm, (2") pendant adds focus and strength to this piece reflecting the abalone shell pieces at the shoulder that also have subtle naturally occurring doughnut holes in them.

The Antiqued Violet Lavender Gold Flecked Silky Crochet Ribbon Influence adds color, texture and stability, keeping the individual elements snugly in place while allowing limited, flowing movement reflecting the natural hue of colors of the abalone shell that shifts from electric blue to lavender and then to shimmering red and green tones.

Antique Brass Accent Beads add color and subtle flair. The 16.5" Choker Necklace is strongly clasped with a antique bronze tone lobster claw clasp that adds both security and today's latest fashion Look.

This is the second in my limited series of Designer Chokers featuring Crochet Ribbon, Sea Shell and Natural Stone Elements combined to create Earthy, Natural Casual Ready to Wear Fashion that can be worn either with your Business Suit or your Summer Beach Wear with equal grace and appeal.

This season, it is all about mixing textiles and natural reclaimed elements to show you have a relationship with the planet you live on but with a practiced eye to fashion forward. This necklace has it all and more! Even more so is the trend towards individualizing jewelry so that it directly reflects the wearers feelings, with just a few added personal charms this necklace can be YOUR DESIGN and no one else's.

I will be glad to customize this necklace with personal charms or any way you need it to make it more your own personal taste or design a special necklace just for you! I have already done so for a customer in Tasmania, here is the listing for this item, https://www.etsy.com/transaction/87057555

it just goes to show that this design is easily transformed into any combination of personalization for any woman's sense of fashion! I love to make custom jewelry that reflects my Clients tastes and desires, let me design an original piece for you today!

This necklace is also easy to clean, just place it under gently running cold water for a few seconds and lay flat to dry on an absorbent surface such as a towel to refresh and renew its glow!

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Blue Sea Glass Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Blue Sea Glass Dangle Drop in Creamy Natural Earth Golden Tan and Pink Tones are Hand Made, 3D and free spinning, creating a light, tinkling sound that will remind you of the sea!

I've been digging in my bead stash again and making some wonderful wire wrapped dangle drop hoops that spin and tinkle as you move!

This is the ULTIMATE in Summer Beachwear! Grab your Straw Hat and Sandals, your Best Beach Cover Up and You are Ready To Go! Original, Funky Design assures a Durable yet Fun Look for Your Day at The Beach. Also makes a great casual Summer statement for more urban Mom's and Young Ladies, would look great with your jeans or sun dress for a Cool, Airy Summer Feel! They freely sway in the cool Summer Ocean breeze or office air conditioning making you the Queen of Casual Chic!

Earrings are 2" long, The shell hoops are just over 1" and feature Glass Bead, Sea Shell, Black Lipped Conch set in Hypo Allergenic Silver Tone Wires.

Sea shells are a natural product and therefore have natural features that give them character and charisma, no two shells are ever exactly alike and therefore are original works of art in their own right. I try to match each set as closely as possible but there will be slight differences between earrings that I think give them an even more earthy beauty.

These earrings can be purchased by visiting my Etsy Shop HERE.

And here are more Earrings I just posted for you today, the links to the listing are next to the picture!

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Blue Sea Glass Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Emerald Green Sea Glass Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Floral Glass Bead Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Antique Brass Blue Green Bead Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Sea Shell Earrings Hoop Silver Blue Sea Glass Dangle Drop Tan Pink Natural Earth Tone

Dangle Drop Bumble Bee Yellow Black Glass Earrings

Hand Made Conch Sea Shell Tiki Hippie Dangle Drop Earrings w Copper n Glass Trade Beads

Carved Conch Shell Chunky Nugget Conch Drop Copper Earrings

My First Etsy Sale, Custom Jewelry Order based on Poem "Shelley Beach" by Margaret Scot

The finished result! Lovely!

Work in Progress

I am sooo excited, i just made my first sale on Etsy and it was not only a custom order but an international one at that!

I really had to put my creative cap on for this one, I had to interpret a poem by Margaret Scott, famous Tasmanian Poet who wrote a wonderful poem about the beach, her poem is available to read HERE.

I really related to this poem as my favorite hours are spent on the beach so it was not to difficult to put something together that expressed my love of beach combing.

Happily, my Client agreed with my interpretation and happily spent the money to receive this gift from the sea!

I could never have done this without the support of my Etsy Teams and other Etsy Artisans who encouraged me to keep working and not be discouraged if I didn't have immediate success.

Below is the listing put forth and you can see the actual listing HERE.

Moral of the story? Keep believing in yourself, accept Custom orders and ship international. Don't ever give up, even if you end up burning the midnight oil, as I did on this piece!

Custom Order 16mm Mother of pearl nugget beads, 12-20mm luster mix Reborn Keshi freshwater pearls, Natural Tiger's Eye Slipper Gemstone Bead Pendant, 20mm glass pendant bead, Abalone Shell from Mexico, recycled sea glass beads combine in this one of a kind hand crochet Choker Necklace in tribute to a poem titled a "Shelley Beach" by Margaret Scott.

Warm, Fresh and Romantic, this is your colorful, playfully yet elegant nautical beach wear necklace that will set you apart. The Mother of Pearl nugget beads shimmer in the sunlight and the iridescent abalone shells give a lovely and interesting appeal. The recycled sea glass beads add depth and the reflection of the ocean.

This is my first custom order and it was a tremendous challenge making something from a beautiful poem. I have just started to work in quality Freshwater pearls combined with crochet ribbon and the results have surprised even me at the romantic soft look the two combined create.

I would be more than happy to create just such a necklace for you at any time, just let me know your requirements and I will draw up a proposal to suit your needs! This order was given a special discount and any future custom orders will be at the regular price.

The Choker Necklace is 18".

We now Cheerfully Ship Internationally, message me and we will figure your exact postage! Any additional shipping fees or customs charges will be the purchasers responsibility.

Please check out the rest of our shop for a variety of unique handmade jewelry and beads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthgoods4thespirit

Creating a Chiefs Bison Buffalo Teeth Collar A Vison Revealed

First Version, one strand with graduated pipe stone inside

Anyone thinking that designing and creating designer jewelry is easy ought to try it some time. It's not as easy as it looks.

Add in a Vision and Dream that insist you create something and you have a huge amount of time invested in an item long before you even get the proper materials gathered to complete it.

This Chiefs Collar is a case in point. I was at a friends and saw these Bison teeth and immediatley I remembered a forgotten dream about a necklace made from them.

The dream was fuzzy, but I could see the placement of the teeth as well as red and green surrounding it much like the old Grizzly Claw Collars worn by Western Plains People.

Second version, large pipe stone beads added

I purchased the teeth and later the same day ran across another old friend who had the turquoise and red coral beads hanging in a dusty corner of his shop.

Then began the agonizing process of trial and error sorting that took ages because while the dream did not tell me what was right, it did tell me what was wrong when I tried it.

I spent several days trying this and that until finally it started to make sense. I knew it was finished when I tried to add an additional element and a voice clearly spoke and said, "It stands alone as it should now".

I then strung it up, hoping this necklace would be for us, but sadly it spoke again and told me it was not and to offer it up to whomever may need it.

It is most difficult to trust ones inner voice to make an item such as this, doubts creep in about ones worthiness to even create it and one begins to doubt ones sanity.

Third version Red Coral Added

Fourth Version Second strand and old shell bead added

I'm not the first to feel this way and I won't be the last. I know for certain that if I had not done as I was told to do, the voices would never have let me go on with my life until I did.

I am just as certain that the person who needs it will see it and have to have it, if they don't, they also will have to answer to their inner voice.

Hopefully this will help you to understand what the process is to create something from the heart, it is never easy and clear cut, one sort of stumbles around until one hits on the right combination that stills the voices and releases you from your artistic debt to the ages.

I feel very honored to have these gifts of visions sent to me, but it is also a double edged sword that makes one wonder if madness is just around the corner.

I choose to trust the voice and to continue for now, to do else wise now seems a worse alternative to me.

I thank so many people who have encouraged me to make my dreams into reality, I have inquired deeply with Elders as to my worthiness and they seem to feel that at the very least, I am doing no harm and at best I am bringing those things long slumbering to light.

Without their encouragement I surely would have slid into the abyss of madness as the visions come unbidden and will not relent until I obey their instruction to create that what you see before you now.

I know it seems all mysterious and such and I don't mean it to be, it's really not that mystical and spiritual, I just get relentlessly nagged to death until I do something about it.

I would have to do a great deal of drugs and booze to get them to be silent, something I am no longer willing to do in my old age.

I must become what I am and do as I was meant to do. I know it means something somewhere, but I don't really concern myself with the end results, I just keep creating and what happens after that is beyond my control.

If you have been fighting such and inner voice, perhaps you should stop and really listen. If it does not lead you to destructive or dangerous things, it may be well worth nourishing. We all owe it to ourselves to develop our inborn talents at some point and by doing so my life has changed for the better and I am finally free to live my life as I was meant to do.

It's not an easy path, but it is mine. You should find yours too.

Final result, magnificent!

Killer Honey Bumble Bee Chunky Layered Yellow Black Triple Strand Necklace

18"-24" Chunky Layered Killer Honey Bumble Bee Yellow Black Glass Trade Baroque Bead Triple Strand Necklace. A Lovely Nugget Triple Length that would go well with Office Wear and carry over to Evening Wear, (would be stunning with that Little Black Dress! Set includes faceted honey yellow black striped spacers to complete a sweet look that is sure to be a show stopper!

This is a Loud, Colorful, Lovely Buttery Smooth Necklace that will set you apart and show you have a unique Brilliant Style all your own!

The Necklace is 18"-24".
The Glass Beads range from 17mm, (largest Yellow Bead) to 15mm, Black Beads.
Strong Silvertone locking toggle clasp holds the necklace comfortably secure.

I made this necklace from my fun bead stash bag, a collection of beads that just look great together and are Dress Ready. I then used my skills to Match the Beads, Select the Design and Create this One of a Kind Jewelry made from wonderful Chunky Glass Baroque Trade Beads and Built to Last Generations.

This necklace is available in my etsy shop HERE.

There are matching Black Glass Bead earrings to match at:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/103699810/killer-honey-bumble-bee-chunky-layeredt they are available at no additional shipping cost when purchased with the necklace.

I Hope This Necklace brings you all the Goodness in this Life You Need, and my Best Wishes Go With Them to You.

We now Cheerfully Ship Internationally, message me and we will figure your exact postage!

Please check out the rest of our shop for a variety of unique handmade jewelry and beads:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/earthgoods4thespirit