Silver Sublime

It’s time we remembered the magic of silver. As a material, it is among the most versatile, alluring, dependable and sensible substances found on the earth. Since most of us don’t have it in great supply, however, we tend to forget how wonderful it is. Enter Trudie Davies, silvercrafting proprietor of an Etsy store by the same name, and Melbourne-based merchant of that fabulous stuff that slays vampires and dragons, charms the human heart, shimmers on the backs of rare fish and exotic birds, and lines our momentary trials with the faintest outline of hope. If anyone knows the power of silver, it’s Trudie.

With rings like The Bridge, which evokes both modern architecture and timeless values such as fidelity and spiritual strength, she reminds us how visceral and honest her medium can be. With delicate hoop earrings featuring, for example, birds on a perch, she draws out the artistry and conversation-inspiring dynamic of this wondrous matter. And with irresistible, original pendants such as her selection featuring a solitary willow, she reinforces the principle that handcrafted jewelry need not be complicated to be classy. Swans, trees, alphabet letters, stars and more—the variety of emblems we find at her store that are borne from the same time-honored ingredient is remarkable. The fact that so few people are willing to be this creative with precious metal is perhaps even more remarkable.

Visit TrudieDavies.etsy.com to view the collection in its entirety.

Glimmering Handiwork

Upon encountering the striking individuality of the jewelry craft of The Baker's Wife, our featured shop of the day, a handful of Wordsworth’s verses composed above Tintern Abbey seemed appropriate: Once again do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs/that on a wild secluded scene impress/thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect/the landscape with the quiet of the sky. The lines of well-crafted jewelry, like the winding river that inspired Wordsworth's epiphany, have a way of reflecting and interpreting the beauty around them in captivating ways. It might be in the dulcet radiance of the Honey Ring, the woodland shimmer of the Broadleaf Earrings, the jumbled synchronicity of the Bittersweet Necklace or perhaps the coiled power of the Palmetto Bracelet. It might be in any of the pieces crafted by this shop, really, because the one quality that seems to most commonly fit the pieces in this shop is uncommonality.

Inspired by natural themes, cultural touchpoints, and other instantly recognizable motifs, The Baker's Wife’s creations range from conventional with a twist to downright bold, but never leave the margins of practicality. Her handmade cards, adorably refreshing, fit this description as well—and really, who couldn’t use a nice pick-me-up card these days? But enough with the rambling praise, and on to a great giveaway. Wishing Willow readers will be excited to know that The Baker's Wife is offering a pair of Sakura Earrings to the winner of today's drawing. To enter, visit BakersWife.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 3/17/09.

Soy You Think You've Seen It All

An especially savvy entrepreneur looking to enter the candle market might try something a little different. A brand that channels rock’n’roll cheekiness as surely as rose petals and chiffon. A southern vibe that blends the comfort of Mama’s kitchen with the cool of Daddy’s garage. A line of scents that range from sweet to sassy, from Bayberry to Eucalyptus, from simple’n’pleasant to simply sumptuous. Unfortunately, said crafter would be a little late to the game, since Auntie Di’s De-Lites has already accomplished all this and more. With a gallery of unique soy candles labeled as freshly as the scents they evoke, augmented by a full complement of handcrafted soap, earrings, necklaces, and rings that capture Di’s inimitable style no less effectively, this is one proprietor who has carved out an entire shelf where most of us stop at simply acquiring a small niche.

Of course, it’s no use stirring the imagination with names like Moon Lake and Fleuriste if the dream is priced out of reach. Thus the reasonable prices of Auntie Di’s candles and jewelry are all the more reason to love this shop. And with a number of Your Choice packages to offer in time for spring gifts, and a delectable new Lovespell scent featured for this season, the time is now to stop by this delightfully offbeat store and browse the collections yourself. As a way of encouraging new customers to explore the Auntie Di’s experience, the owner is also offering a wonderful giveaway to Wishing Willow’s faithful readers. Today’s winner will receive an 8 oz candle of their choosing. To enter, visit AuntieDis.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 3/10/09.

Be sure to also enter our giveaways here.

Sterling Qualities

There’s a longheld stereotype that says jewelry reflects the character of its wearer. Bold, outspoken women hailing from in-your-face cultures tend to wear earrings the size of small hula hoops; artsy women are apt to decorate their wrists and hands with all sorts of rings and bangles as a way of subconsciously honoring the part of them they value most; modest women gravitate toward lockets and clasps; you get the picture. If the stereotype is true, we’d like to think that the organic, craft-loving consumers who tend to shop for jewelry on Etsy cherish the values embodied by artisans like Emily of Emily Warner Designs: substance, strength of character, subtle beauty and originality.

From the beautiful simplicity of the Hammered Circle Ring to the quiet confidence of the Beach Stone Bangle, from the deep, swirling earth tones of the Bezel Wrapped Chrysacola Necklace to the riveting plotlines of the Circle Drop Earrings, each of Emily’s fine designs seems to bring to life a powerful aspect of womanhood or of the neverending, ever-cycling creative story itself. Like the shimmer of Emily’s own Faceted Quartz Charm Necklace, the appeal of this shop is in the pride of craft that it represents. And as long as charm’s the word, those of us charmed by generous giveaways (which is all of us, of course) will find this one a real gem: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive a $40 gift certificate from Emily Warner Designs. To enter, visit Ewarnerdesigns.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite item in Emily's Collection. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 2/27/09. We have a winner. Congrats Suanne!

A Revolution? Let’s Soap So…

Lightly soothing, softening up under gentle pressure, bubbling brightly at just the right moments… To stop and think of it, in times of stress a well-made soap is a lot like a well-rounded friend. Even smaller wonder that artisans such as Janell of Dancing Mooney, whose shop features soap injected with pure personality, are especially loved. With signature items such as the olive oil-based Green Tea and Lavender soap, its stirring fragrance locked into a series of layers as verdant and dark as the bed of a Scottish loch, its dressing of tea leaves as fine as a sprinkling of rare pipe tobacco, the store scores high marks in mystery and suggestion.

In the category of sweet’n’salutary, however, Dancing Mooney is no slouch either, with items such as the Vanilla Mint and Oatmeal soap encapsulating the very idea of class in a glaze-white confection comforting as honey porridge and spry as a young mint leaf plucked fresh from the garden. Bold as Bay Rum, inspiring as Ginger Peach, coastal-clean as Ocean Air, the myriad varieties of soap offered in this store stir the senses and light up the eyes, reminding us that even the oldest and most basic of bath items can be transformed into a work of art when placed in the right hands. And speaking of hands, you’ll be able to get yours on this irresistible product sooner than you think, should you be lucky enough to win this great giveaway. Dancing Mooney is sharing with you, our lovely readers, a bar of Green Tea and Lavender Soap to call your own. To enter, visit DancingMooney.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite item in Janell's shop. Tell us in an additional post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, follow us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, and "tweet" about the giveaway. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. Contest ends 2/26/09. We have a winner. Congrats Leane!

A Little Birdie Told Me

A while back we had the opportunity to feature Lulu Bug Jewelry (see it here.) I've had my eye on the Little Bird Necklace ever since. What a perfect little embellishment for the coming Spring. Isn't it sweet?

Visit Lulu Bug Jewelry to view the entire collection.

Warmed by the Artisan’s Fire

There’s a simple way to find the light in a dark economy. One need look no further than the lamplit window of an independent artisan working late into the night, eschewing bailouts and bankruptcy filings in favor of a buck hard-earned doing what she feels made to do. Perhaps that twinkle of creative perseverance is the shimmer of a Jessie McCann bracelet, its many facets reflecting a recession-proof luxury nouveau approach premised on the twin ideas that hand-crafted jewelry can be wonderfully elegant, and that elegant doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. A beautiful case in point can be made from McCann’s Hespera Necklace, a gathering of rose, olive green, and amethyst briolettes fashioned from quartz and hung from a sterling silver chain. It could be priced out of reach of most of us. It isn’t.

Alternatively, it could be a bracelet as understated and feminine as the Cate, or as dark and striking as the Alessa. The champagne tastes of the Aurelia Earrings, or the lagoon-deep subtleties of the Nora would make a fine argument in favor of independent craftsmanship as well. In the end, what so many of us withering in this financial climate are looking for is proof that value can still be found in simple, lovely objects priced honestly rather than artificially. What we are looking for, in other words, is a few more Jessie McCanns. For those who are fans of her work, today’s giveaway is especially exciting. To celebrate her shop's one year anniversary, Jessie is giving away a lovely pair of Kandice Earrings to call their own. To qualify, visit Jessie McCann Handcrafted Jewelry, then come back here to tell us about your favorite item in Jessie’s shop. Tell us in a second post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 2/5/09. Make sure to check out Jessie Mccann's 20% off Sale.

We have a winner! Congrats Dixie :)

Beyond the Paper Crane

By now, provided you’re one of the millions of folks worldwide who observe the odd tradition of hauling a freshly hewn tree into your home for the holidays, you’ve probably already begun to ruminate on the subject of decorating that tree. If you’re the neighbor who yearly sets out to shame the others with that plum and gold, shimmering ball-festooned edifice sprouting with pheasant feathers in the window where every passerby can see it, you might have overlooked today’s featured item. If, however, you can appreciate a more organic, sensible approach, you might consider origami ornaments this year. You heard right. Origami, a lost art, has returned in time for the holidays, courtesy of Suanne of Paper Affection. Employing the elegant movements of such styles as Magenta Arabesque and Lime Star Petite, while also building with more traditional boxy shapes such as Blue Modular Petite, Suanne demonstrates the many possibilities of this art form as yuletide décor and awakens us all to an old/new design paradigm.

If the ornaments are unique and fresh, however, the earrings that Suanne manages to produce are downright striking. Since origami is essentially papercraft, it’s expected that these earrings would have a delicate, almost weightless bearing to them. Even so, the precision and inspiration of the Aqua Brocade Earrings, Blue and Green Flipped Cubes, Origami Cherry Earrings and so many others in this collection prove that Paper Affection’s catalog is as long on substance as it is short on wasted material. And say this much about origami accessories: You will never lack for a conversation piece with such a lovely conception dangling from your lobes. Finally, to encourage us even more to explore the boundaries of this ancient Asian tradition both in our fashions and by our firesides, Suanne is offering a very special giveaway: The winner will receive a generous $25 Paper Affection Gift Certificate, good toward the purchase of any item in the store. To qualify, visit Paper Affection, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 12/16/08.

**We have a winner! Crystal said, "Awwww, How sweet the Winged Heart Necklace is...Love it:)"**

Another Little Piece of My Heart

“Silver threads and golden needles can not mend this heart of mine,” Austin, Texas native Janis Joplin sang. There may be truth to the lyric, but most ladies would agree that silver and gold make rather nice pick-me-ups when blue days come calling. In today’s economic era, with shopping malls closing their lights to all but a few elderly mallwalkers and the cleaning crew, lovers of handcrafted accessories tend to fill their “shiny object” needs online, browsing the virtual aisles of independent jewelry artisans like Chris of Carolina Bleu to locate something truly special. An Austin native herself, the craft professional behind this unique business lures the eye with the subtle graces of her work, as in her Full Circle earrings, their shape emblematic of life’s cyclical loves and losses. She inspires the spirit with neckware made to dangle, like promises, close to the heart, exemplified in the Loved Ones locket. And she stirs the soul to imagine its possibilities with captivating crystal the likes of Petite Champagne Billy.

In fact, if it’s true, as Paul Simon wrote, that there are “fifty ways to leave,” there must surely be fifty ways to love as well, and at least that many choices of ways to express it through the Carolina Bleu catalog. Our favorites would have to include those of the Economic Crisis Sale, a line of tiny, delicately charming jewelry priced at a mere ten dollars per item. And speaking of affordable, Carolina Bleu has even agreed to go one better: The winner of today’s giveaway will receive one free pair of beautiful Amy Earrings, courtesy of the artist who conceptualized them. To qualify, visit www.carolinableu.etsy.com, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/22/08.

**We have a winner! Shauna who said, "I love the abundance necklace. Its definitely a piece that needs to be added to my collection!Love the paul simon comment as well...its so true"**

Felt and Fancy

Hypotheses abound as to why the fabric we tenderly, almost affectionately refer to as “felt” gives us the warm fuzzies. Is it the spiritual echoes of Sunday School lessons animated with floppy characters slapped up against feltboards? The unburdened memories of a childhood decorated with fall cutouts, perhaps, of pumpkins and scarecrows our first-grade teachers strung around the room? The wistful recollection of a favorite blanket? Whatever it is, we can’t help but smile at the mere mention of this wispy, wooly material. It’s a savvy businesswoman indeed, then, who can tap that well of warmth and turn out a grown-up line of felt brooches that any lady with half an ounce of personality would be proud to wear. When Heidi of Pink Sparrow isn’t crafting unique necklaces, earrings, buttons and other jewelry items, she pours her enthusiasm for color into images on felt that are beyond cute, venturing well into “that…is…aDORable” territory.

Sleepy apples, starry-eyed owls, smiling skulls; the subjects of Heidi’s work would be considered relatively eclectic save for the fact that each has a charmingly organic quality in common with the others. The visual texture of the lovely Prism Flower wool felt pin, for example, sends so many different color signals to the eyes that the effect is almost hypnotic, and yet the material is so accessible and natural that one can almost smell in it the sweet breeze of summer. The point of these brooches is not craft a less-expensive version of something mass produced by factory drones, but rather to celebrate the singularity and exceptionality of something original and completely handmade. And of course, it goes without saying that a Pink Sparrow brooch accessorizes one’s outfit like nobody’s business. If handcrafted jewelry is a subject you love to “brooch,” you’ll find this next bit of news especially exciting: Heidi will be giving away (are you ready?) THREE floral brooches similar to the ones pictured here, here & here to the winner of today’s giveaway. To enter, visit Pink Sparrow, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/14/08. Best of Luck!

**We have a winner! Berry who said, "My fave is the MOD OWL wool felt pin, any of the three colors!"**

Dreams Reflected

Nature is unrivaled among muses. From Bierstadt’s misty visions to the grandeur of Hopkins’ verse, from Monet’s mottled ponds and lilies to the gorgeous, almost lyrical elucidations of Cormac McCarthy’s southwest, creative minds of every kind and in every age have gone to the “source” when inspiration was demanded, and rarely has nature ever failed to inspire. Helene of Helene’s Dreams, as far as her themes are concerned, is a kind of modern-day incarnation of these naturalists, with one notable difference: where most artists interpret the world in verse or color, Helene gathers the view outside her window and molds it into handcrafted jewelry. Some of her earring sets, such as Golden Light or One, would best be described as lovely and enigmatically simple. Others, the likes of Oregon Rustic Berry Bouquet and Silver Ice Bells jingle with a bit more festive flair while still keeping a safe distance from gaudy.

The ornate pastels that color Picasso’s Friend, and the elegance of the hanging-lantern Queen Olivia set, embody the more distinctive elements of Helene’s designs, but really, even at her most daring Helene finds a way to keep in place the all-important quality of wearability, and knowing that a portion of each sale is donated to charity lends just that much more peace of mind to the purchase. It would be a dream, of course, to live amid the pine-dressed splendor of western Oregon, as Helene does, but for those of us who don’t, we can enjoy the dream’s reflections in the smiles this jewelry brings. And to further illustrate the fine character of the artisan, Helene will be sending a beautiful pair of crystal Oregon Sunset Earrings, champagne-hued and shimmering like a mountain stream, to the winner of today’s giveaway. To qualify, visit Helene's Dreams, then come back here to tell us about your favorite product. Tell us in a second post if you happen to subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/12/08.

**We have a winner! micaela6955 who said, "I love blue so the Oregon Rain Drops are such a beautiful shade of blue, and they are my favorite!"

Thinking Concretely

Run your finger around the rim of a Lulu Bug pendant, and you’ll hear the unmistakable lyrics of a protest anthem emanating from its finely wrought form. Concrete, a plaque-like symbol of urban sprawl, an indissoluble preservative of man’s footprint on the earth, wasn’t supposed to be transformed into something so incredibly pretty. And yet, here it is: boldly as a bush springing up through pavement cracks, Lulu Bug Jewelry turns all the old assumptions upside down and combines silver, resin, amazonite and other materials with tinted concrete to craft an ode to nature that plays close to the heart. Though the Oak Tree Necklace, its generous coloring rich against the silver backdrop, might be the most visually striking piece in the collection, one couldn’t be faulted for gravitating toward such lovely interpretations as the Concrete Flowers Necklace, Little Bird Necklace, or even something as delicate and understated as the Tiny Blackbird Earrings. The substance is trustworthy, the art painstaking, and the feel a whole lotta fun: You may not, after all, have ever thought of concrete as a medium for artistic expression, but it's never too late for a revolution. Visit Lulu Bug Jewelry on Etsy and see these for yourself.

Class In Session

The jeweler allows me to wear the sapphire blue lake on my finger, the emerald green leaves around my neck, and take the citrine sunset with me wherever I go. Jewelry has become my daytime link to nature in an office with no windows.

-Astrid Alauda,
Office with No Windows

Anyone who’s ever ventured into the shallow fringes of a lake and felt the smooth perfection of a rounded stone between the toes knows the penchant of nature for surprising us: gold sifted from sand, diamonds peeled from cave walls, a pearl growing in the hardened bowels of some salty clam half-buried on the ocean floor. The trick, however, is not in birthing precious or semi-precious stones from nature’s womb, but persuading the rest of the world to adopt them and acknowledge that they have worth far beyond that which can be measured in dollar signs. Kenton Beadworks, maker of handcrafted jewelry that features flawless stonework such as the Acacia Necklace, is one artisan that seems to understand. By eschewing stereotypical high-end cookie cutter accessory forms in favor of an organic, natural form, these pieces show off the stone itself rather than the setting—and in the process, exude absolute class. Bleeding-heart romantics might reach for the deep turquoise potency of the Willamette; a more poised lady might slip on the elegant Elle for a night out on the town. Whatever your preference, however, the goal of Kenton Beadwork's one-woman operation is to outfit you with classic jewelry that says graceful, not gaudy. Showing restraint, after all, has always been more ladylike than showing off.

Wish Bravely, Shop Simply

In this political season in which the notion of a free-world-commanding, do-it-all mom sparks applause from some and derision from others, it seems a provocative choice to highlight a businesswoman/mother of three who quietly goes about, well, doing it all. When today's featured individual isn’t chasing her boys or playing chauffeur, she maintains not one, but two popular websites, Simple Me Boutique and Simple Finds, catered to the one-stop shopping mom. The range of products offered speaks for itself, but that isn’t the whole story. Our experience with Christie has not only left us highly satisfied with her service and impressed with her savvy; we’ve found ourselves taken with her engaging and down-to-earth personality as well. (While the latter may seem an irrelevant detail, it isn’t: Empirical studies show that when two businesses offer a similar product, the business perceived as “friendlier” wins more customers just about every time. Go figure :)

One of the more bewitching offerings available at Simple Me Boutique is the Grayc Coral Rectangle Cocktail Ring. Striking enough in its shining citrus-amber complexity and intriguing depth, this ring is even more compelling given the unique process required to produce it. By fusing glass fragments of various colors together in a kiln, then melting them over a mold for shape, the designer, Courtney Gray, renders an entirely new material, aptly named “grayc.” Mounted on a sterling silver adjustable band, the finished glass seems almost to beam with pride—as you will the moment you try it on. Devotees of this art form would do well to check out the Antique Ocean Cocktail Ring as well, a no-less-fascinating creation that swims with aristocratic blue tones and gathers light in dramatic fashion.

For a limited time, any purchases over $50 at Simple Me Boutique can be had at a 15% discount. Just plug in the discount code WILLOW, and let the fun begin in earnest.

Character Matters

Say what you like about the allegedly Wilde-esque self-absorption of the contemporary artistic soul. Say it but don’t expect me to agree. As far as I’m concerned, in questions of eco-ethics and social conscience today’s generation of artists acquits itself splendidly—and if you don’t believe that, consider the grassroots example of Ash Hilton. A New Zealander with a passion for “responsible” jewelry craft, Hilton produces his fabulous rings with a priority on wasting nothing, even going so far as to offer a line shaped from “beached gold” collected right off his local shores. But put away those visions of Longbeard the half-mad beachcomber: Hilton is a thoughtful and talented craftsman, with simple designs such as the stately treeline of In the Pines serving to infer a rugged masculinity that sufficiently “roughs up” the long-stemmed elegance of its subject. Rings as stark and unpretentious as these, whether used to seal a modern marriage or just to accessorize a good jacket, are a great find for today’s man. But more importantly, anything made this responsibly is a marvelous gift for tomorrow’s world.

Fellowship of the Bling

Anyone over the age of sixteen can probably recall at least two jewelry fads that came and went (and returned, perhaps) in her own lifetime—rubber bracelets and mood rings, anyone? It is a rare talent, however, that can distill the best of several trends, melt them down creatively, and then rework them metallurgically into something entirely new. Alisa Miller’s reinterpretations, such as the 3 Circle Necklace, may recall the best of the Celtic Wave, but with all due respect to home shopping channels, there’s nothing QVC about them. Rather, with the high-end integrity of a sterling silver core, and with designs as unpretentious as a tastefully bold array of conjoined circles, they are the kinds of accessories that speak of confidence, strong self-identity, and openness to new life adventures. And if this kind of description seems intended to invoke the spirit of Tolkien, well, it’s in the modern sense—think Liv Tyler, ladies—rather than the creepy sense of those boys from high school who wore capes and elf-armor to Biology class. For a thorough introduction to the original craftsmanship of Alisa Miller, visit her shop on Etsy, and be sure to come with a mind as open as the lovely circles she bids us to wear.

Of Pipefittings and Prettiness

In an age of hemp and compost, it’s intriguing to find anyone, let alone a jewelry sculptor, whose material of choice is a thermoplastic polymer. But then, it’s all in how you look at it: What greener use of PVC can there be than to wear it? One glance at the Harvest Cuff, its mesmerizing faux-glass surface gathering light in intricate grooves, illuminating a pattern of overlapping seashell or chandelier, and it also quickly becomes evident that Kath Inglis of Wear No Evil is celebrating pure ingenuity with every hand-carved inch of her elegant bangles. This, I suspect, is where the future of jewelry lies, in products that capture the aesthetic of a traditional material yet inject a new element (in this case, elasticity) via technology that just wasn’t available in the old days of Bombay bungri. Bravo to Kath for a gutsy reinterpretation of an accessory worn by at least half a billion women worldwide, and pity anyone who fails to appreciate the sweet irony of salvaging something genuinely beautiful from the forge of chemical madness.