This Month, It's All About Pearls (at WillOaks Studio!)

Collection of a variety of pearl designs from WillOaks Studio
featuring selections of white and light pearls

...partly because I adore them....and partly, because it's my birthstone and very soon now, it will be my birthday. So I've got a pretty cool idea about how I'd like to celebrate via my Etsy shop....and pay attention here because soon, I'll be announcing some very special pearly kinds of deals, courtesy of yours truly. I find it cool that I'm finally at an age where I'm not so interested in what gifts I'll "get" but instead, what gifts I can give!

And speaking of giving, I've got two lovely young ladies in my life who are graduating right now: one from high school and another from college. They don't know it yet, but their gift from me will be a piece from my Special Chain series chosen to reflect each of their personal birthstones. Simple and sweet and I hope, kept as an heirloom piece for years to come. Yes, I did use the word "heirloom." I believe these pieces are not only well crafted for a lifetime...but that the design is timeless even if it is original....and so can be comfortably and fashionably worn regardless of what "fashions" may come and go! OTOH....I did say "young ladies" as in possibly finicky teens and young adults...so this whole notion of a classic piece may or may not fly at first....and if this happens, well, it won't be the first time I didn't chose quite right but maybe these pieces will look different (better?) to them in a few years....or decades?? Time will tell!

More News and New Work

His little face still melts my heart--another way of saying he can pretty much get away with anything!

Labradorite Stones and Teardrop Necklace on a Special Chain

Garnet Heart Dangle Earrings

Photography marathon today, the better part of 8 hours to style, shoot and edit. I guess it really is more efficient to gather a nice batch of new work and then just photograph it all at once...as long as the light is cooperative! I discovered I had a number of heart-themed earrings today--just for the season OR for folks like me who just like hearts.

It's always fun when the cats help me here and of course, who can resist Purrmeister sitting there posing? Not me!

My "Special Chain" series has been so much fun and slowly, keeps growing more diverse and more colorful! New additions include a labradorite teardrop and a turquoise concoction--take a peek!!

What's New At WillOaks Studio?

Quite a bit, actually! Many orchids are putting out stems, developing new flower buds, and one of those buds began to open. I wanted to use these new stems for hanging new earrings on, but they are sort of soft and fresh and cannot quite support too much weight yet (they become a bit stiffer as they mature.)

But on the art front, quite a number of new pieces are poised to end up in my shop over the next couple of days. Although it's a bit bold and for me, breaks some new ground, this "Special Chain" piece features an amazing semi-precious stone called "ametrine."

These rather long, smooth teardrops of stone, which vary from shades of medium lavender to a golden yellow (many stones have both lavender and yellow, side by side) were assembled in an arrangement both by size (longest in the center) and such that the yellowest ones were grouped into a sort of off center cluster within the full group cluster. I need to get this photographed on a neck tomorrow, because this 5" dense cluster of stone tears really does hang well and personally, I haven't ever seen anything like it before...until I finished it, I mean!

OK, thanks for stopping by and time to get back to work!!

New Special Chains & A Mirrored Treasury

I'm still having a great time exploring my "new design." Two recent examples break out of the more round or rondelle shaped beads and take different shapes into "center stage."

The overall effect of this slightly translucent stone called "hematite" is of a medium light gray. Up close, it's rich with delicate inclusions in a rainbow of colors. Since this stone is found in the vicinity of iron ore, various oxides create these marvelous, natural marks and colors. The cut of these stones is referred to as "lentils" as they are perfectly circular and quite flat, then have been drilled diagonally such that they overlap their neighbors and together, lay very nicely even if they aren't laying flat. It really is an unusual cut that isn't seen very often and I had a heck of a time figuring out how to use and showcase them....until now!


"Goldstone" is an entirely man made stone. I'm not really clear how exactly "stones" are manufactured but can only imagine that some tremendous heat and pressure must be used, as this is how the earth makes stones. This is a blue goldstone and is a richly dark, navy blue with wonderful metallic glints within the body of the stone. Definitely a mysterious quality to the color and the light. These teardrop shaped stones have been faceted and 4 mm rounds are used to separate the teardrops, creating a lovely simple pattern of shapes.

Neither of these new pieces is listed quite yet as the photography needed just a bit more work. Hopefully, Friday these will be live in my Etsy shop.


And finally, you may recall I touted a treasury that included my work yesterday? Well, today it was redone in a "mirrored" order and promoted from the back stage to the main pages of Etsy treasuries. Every so often, from this position, if there is enough interest, the collection goes on the become the front page of the Etsy web site...so please, drop in and if you're inclined, leave a comment!! 12 artists and a curator (Ellen, the cat maker) thank you!! The treasury is linked here or through this image. TGIF!!!!!!

Slightly Obsessed....

Prehnite Rondelles on a Special Chain

Rasberry Pink Quartz on a Special Chain

A sampler of some of the creations that either are or will be available in the
Special Chain series

I just love being in "the zone" where new creative ideas flow freely and am just delighted to be in this zone right now. Obsessed might be too strong a word, but this new "form" or "structure" that I've designed and developed here is just so compelling for me! (Ooops, you can see I was trained in sculpture when I use words like this to describe....a necklace!! Ha ha ha!)

But I'm enjoying this design so much as a way to sort of frame and wear a nice 3, 4 or 5 inch collection or cluster of stones or beads. You see, I collect stones and beads...have been for quite a long time, starting with the lapidary stone collection my grandfather created and that was left to me when he passed on. Sometimes, I'll look at a set of stones or a strand of beads over and over again and just cannot commit to using them, not finding the right way or place. I put them away to come back to later.

So this new design has me digging through things here, and unearthing strands that are just waiting to be used in this new way. I realize it may sound a bit lame, but I've christened this design my "Special Chain" series and I've developed a special link for it in my Etsy shop. The two stands of oxidized, then burnished, sterling silver beads function as the "special chain" that holds or hangs the stones....(sometimes, titles are really hard--I often do much better with visual explanations....which is why my blog uses photos so much!!)

Starting today, I will begin to dedicate 10 % of all my art sales to Haiti relief work. I plan to post a button over on the side bar, but it's not quite designed yet. I'll keep tabs on how this goes here on my blog and keep you all posted on what kind of success this has. A month is a pretty good stretch of time, so hopefully, sales will be OK and funds raised will be OK, too! The whole situation is currently so grim...I hope more relief can get there quickly and begin to make a difference.

And also, today, the brand new I Heart Handmade for Valentine's opens!! Pop over and have a look at all the Indie artists and artisans...do a little shopping...visit my "booth" and leave me a comment (please!!) The main home page is here and there's a button on the side bar that will be up all month....and the direct link to my own page is here....drop by soon!!

Have a wonderful weekend!