Elektra Jewelry Design

Jewelry from the Heart

2009-07-08T19:17:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the beautiful pieces found in Debi Levine's etsy shop. Debi's jewelry is unique and well designed. Her shop not only features pearls, but semi-precious stones and swarovski crystals as well. She also carries some Baha'i pieces that are quite beautiful. Visit

Debi's One Heart Jewelry shop here and you won't be disappointed.

A Professional Look

2009-07-06T08:32:00.001-07:00

I have been wanting to have a banner made for my tent to achieve a more professional look and to draw customers to my booth at craft shows. I was fortunate enough to stumble across the etsy shop of Paul Wilson at Wilson Graphics a few weeks ago and worked closely with Paul to achieve the beautiful banner you see here. Not only was he patient and creative, he gave me information about how to send large files through email. Paul sent me a number of proofs before we agreed on the final look for the banner. If you need a banner, promo item, decals or wall graphic do not miss this shop. I am thrilled with my purchase!

Original Art for the Home and Garden

2009-07-05T09:17:00.001-07:00

I have just had the pleasure of visiting Rachael's Garden , a wonderful shop on etsy. Karen, the shop's proprietor, has some wonderful original art for your home and garden. Folk art has always appealed to me. I love the bright colors and primitive designs. Karen's shop carries these items as well as adiitional folk art and original paintings for the home. Her birdhouses are so creative and the detail is amazing. Just perfect for your garden. Karen is happy to do custom designs for you. Just send her an email (convo) when you visit her shop.

Pirate's Booty

2009-07-02T22:22:00.000-07:00

Are looking for some fun and a great game to play ? Go to http:// etsy.com and then click on community. Find this thread which I have copied for you below. Have fun and good luck!

PromoPixie says:

COME TREASURE HUNTING! WIN SOME LOOT!

Win ye some LOOT from
Collaborartors In CAHOOTS!

THERE BE TREASURES HERE!!!

Aaaarrrgh....
In each of the shops listed below,
ye will find TREASURE, well hid ya know....
For no treasure worth its weight in gold
Is easily plundered and pillaged I'm told!

So search these shops well, leave no stone unturned
Or ye will miss finding that which ye long yurn
It may be loose coin or full treasure chest
Hark lad! Look closely..tis your best bet ;-)

Take note of thee findings, make thee a full list
Then convo it ONLY to yer host, me Pix!!
DO NOT Post your findings within this live thread
Or Pirates will find ye, and that ye would dread!

"Whats in it for me?" You stand there and ask?
Just wait and see...The Prizes be VAST!
Does EVERYONE win?? Nay, I reget
Here be the rules, in stone they are set!

RULES:
1- search all shops on the list to find the 'hidden treasure' icons-they are all different, so keep a sharp eye!
2- compile a list containing the page links of where you've found the treasures (I suggest using the notepad feature or word)
3- convo ONE FULL LIST ONLY (all 21 treasures) to PromoPixe.etsy.com DO NOT send seperate convoes for each finding or your contest entry WILL NOT be considered.
4- Game will run until JUly 6th
5- At game end, all CORRECT/COMPLETE entries will be placed in a random drawing to win great prizes!!
THERE ARE 12 PRIZES TO BE WON!
(viewed here: www.pixienook.blogspot.com)
6- One entry per complete/correct list

-----------------------------------------------------
HIDDEN TREASURE LOCATIONS:
1. PromoPixie.etsy.com
2. LindaCaterpillar.etsy.com
3. AprilsOriginals.etsy.com
4. Ginabee.etsy.com
5. ValerieEssentials.etsy.com
6. WhatsHerName.etsy.com
7. RachaelsGarden.etsy.com
8. CapeCodConsignments.etsy.com
9. ShadesOfVictoria.etsy.com
10. GoodeGear.etsy.com
11. MarysMaids.etsy.com
12. Tinkerick.etsy.com
13. CandleGuy821.etsy.com
14. Krishenka.etsy.com
15. OneHeartJewelry.etsy.com
16. 2Kute.etsy.com
17. AdornYourself.etsy.com
18. ElektraJewelry.etsy.com
19. BijouxBoutique.etsy.com
20. KawaiiBuddies.etsy.com
21. Tias.etsy.com
---------------------------------------------------

*~*GRAND PRIZE!!!*~*
WIN ALL 4 Bonus Treasures found in DAVEY JONES' LOCKER!!!
Make any purchases from any of these 21 shops during your hunt, include your transaction link(s) to your complete list and get BONUS ENTRIES for the Grand Prize of Davey Jones' Locker!
( Seen here www.pixienook.blogspot.com )
EVERY PURCHASE from any of these shops will each count as seperate entries!

EX: purchase 1 item from "shop A" and 2 items from "Shop B" = Get THREE seperate entries into the Grand Drawing!

The Power of Promotion

2009-07-01T18:06:00.000-07:00

All of us who have online shops or services are aware of how important it is to promote ourselves on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, but that is only one part of what you can do to make your goods or services stand out from the crowd. Promo Pixie on etsy.com is a shop that can help you get your name out there. Melissa , the shop's owner has come up with some wonderful ways to help promote your items. She offers banner, avatars, business cards, note cards, buttons ,tags, bags and many other interesting items to show YOU off to the world. Here you see some items that I think are wonderful promotional tools.

Bag It!

2009-06-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today I am featuring the lovely etsy shop of April Vinson. Her shop aprilsoriginals features bags and tissue holders in glorious colors and styles. A lady can never have too many shoes or bags and Aprils Originals certainly provides wonderful selections. If you need a clutch for evening, a laptop bag, makeup bag or zipper bag to hold anything your heart desires, you can find it in April's etsy shop. Here are some that caught my eye.

Wine and Roses

2009-06-20T18:54:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorite things are wine, roses and strawberry shortcake. In fact, whenever I am enjoying any of these items, my only regret is that they are so short lived.

Valerie of Valerie Essentials can provide these items and more in a longer lasting product that you will enjoy again and again. Her charming etsy shop has a collection of wonderful candles handmade by Valerie. You can ask her to make a custom candle or choose from the many selections in her shop. Here you see my favorites.

Posh Period Pieces with Pizzaz

2009-06-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

If you say that too quickly your tongue will be tied! You will be more than tongue tied when you take a look at the stunning offerings of Posh Adornment. This etsy shop carries one-of-a-kind antique, vintage and estate jewelry and other accessories. The items are from about 1840 to 1945 and include Edwardian, Victorian , Art Noveau , Art Deco and many other period pieces.

I have posted a few of my favorite posh pieces here and urge you to visit this lovely shop today!

Fresh Look for Banners and Avatars

2009-06-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Have you wanting to add a new look to your online shop? If so, take a peek at the bold graphic designs of Quaydesigns, who is a newcomer to etsy. He recently opened a new shop on ETSY and offers bright and interesting designs such as the banners you see here to anyone who wants a new banner or avatar for their shop. He will be happy to do a custom design for you . Just contact him through his etsy email.

The Perfect Wedding Location St. John- Part 2

2009-06-07T17:51:00.000-07:00

I recently spent 5 glorious days in St. John at Caneel bay in the US Virgin Islands. While we were visiting, three or four weddings took place at the the farthest end of the property,Turtle Bay Point. While exploring the 7 incredible beaches at Caneel Bay , I happened upon the pre-wedding preparations at the estate house on Turtle Bay. The photos can't do justice to the beauty of this spot.. I have been married for 30 years, but if I could do it again , I would choose this location, even if I had to save up for 10 years to afford it.

Flora and Fauna of St. John,Virgin Islands- Part 1

2009-06-03T08:08:00.001-07:00

I am taking a little diversion from my usual posts. I love traveling as much as designing jewelry and was lucky enough to have traveled to St. John, US Virgin Islands this past week. My husband and I spent 4 unforgettable days on Caneel Bay and I had to share some wonderful photos of the exquisite tropical flora with you.
Besides the beautiful flowers and crystal clear aquamarine waters, donkey, deer, birds and mongoose are inhabitants of this gorgeous 170 acre resort property. I tried to capture the mongoose on film but they were just too fast . Stay tuned for more photos and Turtle Bay Point which is an incredible wedding spot.

Better than your Mother's Pearls - Part 2

2009-05-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

June's birthstone is pearl . See this post to learn more about how this beautiful gem is created. This coming month I will be featuring some classical and also unusual one-of-a kind pearl jewelry pieces in my etsy shop. Here is a preview.

Better Than your Mother's Pearls - Part I

2009-05-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

June is pearl month. The pearl is one of the most fascinating and mysterious of all of nature's gemstones. This video is fascinating and gives a great perspective on the difficult and tenuous job of pearl farmers. It gives a greater appreciation of the value of these beautiful gems . If you are a June baby consider yourself fortunate to have the pearl as your birthstone. In the next few days I will be posting some lovely pearl jewelry.

New Earring Designs for Spring and Summer!

2009-04-30T17:23:00.001-07:00

Here are some of my latest earring designs. They are all one-of-a-kind pieces made with genuine A to AAA+ quality gemstones. All of the findings are made with 14k gold filled wire and gold vermeil (18K gold layered over sterling silver) and some have matching necklaces. Any of these earrings would make a lovely gift for Mom or birthdays, graduations, etc. I can also do a custom design if you prefer. You can find these items and others on my website.

Crocheting A Necklace

2009-04-18T19:26:00.000-07:00

I recently learned to knit and have been knitting up a storm all winter long. I have found the knitting videos very helpful when I get stuck on a specific type of stitch or need to review what I have already learned. I have wanted to try crocheting with wire so I bought myself some fine gauge artistic wire in silver, gold and brass and added some stunning swarovski beads . I was very happy with the results and plan to make some beautiful pieces with pearls and perhaps silver beads . Now that I can crochet, hopefully I can add some trim to the next sweater that I knit.

An Interesting Proposal

2009-04-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned to make a necklace for a customer who lost a loved one and would like to carry the ashes around her neck in a sealed vessel. She informed me that she had seen the above necklace on flickr.com and would like to hang the urn type pendant on the handmade necklace instead of the spiral that is usually the focal piece of this design. I didn't think this would be possible since I do not not solder, but apparently she has someone who will seal the ends of the tube that I will hang from the necklace. I came up with the above piece to hold the ashes and hope that this is what my customer had in mind. We all need a little challenge to get the creative juices flowing. To be continued...

Afghan Jade Necklace

2009-03-30T17:45:00.001-07:00

Well thanks to the help of some kind people on Etsy.com, I was able to get some information on the stones I purchased in Tucson.(see this post) Apparently both the dealers were correct when they told me that it was Afghan Jade, which is a type of serpentine. I was very pleased with the way the first piece of jewelry made with these interesting stones turned out. The smoothness of the stones and earth toned colors seems to be further enhanced by the carnelian center bead and the two kinds of brass findings I used to finish the piece.

I gave this necklace to one of my closest friends for her birthday and she was very pleased. There is nothing like a handmade gift for a special occasion. I look forward to making another piece of jewelry with the remaining stones and will share them here when I do.

Name That Stone!

2009-03-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

I purchased these wonderful matte finished beads from a dealer at the Tucson gem and jewelry show in February . He told me that the green and yellowish stones were jade from Afghanistan. I loved the colors and shapes and the stones were so reasonable, I decided to purchase the strands you see above. Recently , at The Whole Bead Show in Manhattan and saw the very same beads and the dealer told me that the stones were serpentine. If any of my readers out there can identify these stones I would be greatly appreciative. Tomorrow I will feature the lovely Serpentine or Jade necklace I made with these stones.

Marvelous Mineral Oddities

2009-03-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

Amazing shapes and colors! Hand Carved Turquoise Wild West Scene

A Favorite Cartoon Character

An Amazing Arch and Maze

Where Did He Go?

I was fortunate enough to attend the final show at the Tucson Gem show in February with a friend Robyn Hawk who I met through an online jewelry forum. She acted as my personal guide and give me a tour of the wonderful exhibitions of this year's show. The theme was mineral oddities and we marveled at the amazing shapes and stones on display. these photos give just a small sampling of the wonderful exhibits we saw that day.

Paula Radke at the Tucson Gem Show

2009-02-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting the booth of Paula Radke at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show last month. For those of you in love with dichroic glass, not many artists can hold a candle to the beautiful designs and work done by Paula.

Dichroic glass is defined by wikipedia as "glass containing multiple micro-layers of metal oxides which give the glass dichroic optical properties." Wikipedia states that"The main characteristic of dichroic glass is that it has a transmitted colour and a completely different reflected colour..." The color of the glass changes according to wavelenghts that are either reflected or pass through the glass. The results are dazzling.

Spending time in her booth was truly exciting and I walked away with some gorgeous glass that I can't wait to use in my designs. If you haven't seen Paula's work check her website and enjoy!

Turquoise

2009-02-21T13:55:00.000-08:00

Before leaving for Tucson, I had resolved to purchase some turquoise and wanted to buy authentic turquoise ,not the stuff that has been ground and glued together. Fortunately , I read the blog of Robyn Hawk who also participates in the bead on a wire forum and followed her advice to visit the booth of Stephen Mauldin. There, not only did I find some beautiful beads from the Castle Dome and Nacozari mines but Stephen had some great stories to tell as well.

While looking at the beautiful strands of turquoise he had displayed in his booth, I came across one that different from the rest. It caught me eye and I asked the price. He seemed quite surprised that I was holding this strand and explained to me that it had been missing for quite some time and he thought that perhaps it had been stolen. Apparently, this strand came from the Castle Dome mine that was closed in the 70s due to excessive blasting from the copper mines. It is part of a stash of over 3,000 lbs. of Castle Dome turquoise that was sold when the mine closed. Stephen was smart enough to purchase this beautiful turquoise and that is the reason I found this lovely strand. From what I read, Castle Dome is still mining some turquoise, but it is not the same quality of the older turquoise before the mine closed. I haven't decided whether or not I will keep the strand to make something for myself or not. At the present time , I am leaning toward keeping it. Stay tuned to see what I did make with the other strands I purchased. The beads are very similar to sleeping beauty turquoise and are a bright, clear, (little or no matrix) robin's egg blue. Stephen has just opened a website where you will be able to purchase some wonderful things. I know I will be doing just that in the near future!

Tucson Gem and Jewelry Show 2009

2009-02-17T17:29:00.000-08:00

These Venetian Murano glass beads are so beautiful!

These are just a sampling of some of the lovely gemstones I am planning to use in my newest designs. I purchased these stone from Lilly's Bead Box at her tucson booth and you can find her on etsy.

I just returned from my very first visit to Arizona. The purpose of my trip was to attend the Tucson Gem and Jewelry Show to purchase gemstones and gold and silver findings for my handmade jewelry. Today I will write a bit about the show itself and will continue to add photos and information over the next week or so. For those of you who have never been, it is a must see and for those of you who have been , I will offer my insight and personal opinions on what to avoid and what not to miss.

Needless to say,this show is extremely overwhelming and scary for a first time visitor like me. Here is what I learned from my experience:

1. Don't get to the show too late. I arrived after many of the bead shows were already over. Although I may have gotten better bargains at the end of the various shows, I felt that I missed seeing the best of the gemstones,beads and lamp work beads.

2. Be very wary of fakes. There is so much cheating going on. For example, many beaders, including myself, are very fond of Karen Hill Tribe beads. I discovered while I was at the show that some unscrupulous dealers are selling "Karen Hill Tribe" which are not fine silver and some are even silver plate and over lead.

3. Know your stones and ask the dealer questions. If they can't give you an answer or guarantee quality,walk away.

4. Double check totals. Have a calculator with you.

5. Have a budget set in your mind and keep careful records of exactly what you spend each day. It all adds up quickly.

6.Be wary of the vendor that calls you over to his booth and then changes his price because you walk away.

7. Try to purchase items you can't find at local shows or stores

8. Leave time for sightseeing because Tucson has some wonderful attractions.

I will be showing you some awesome photos of my travels in Tucson and also photos of some of the mineral oddities seen at the Main Event show which is held on the last weekend of this amazing 2 week event.

Loving Onyx

2009-02-07T08:35:00.000-08:00

I purchased some stunning black onyx stones while on vacation in Sarasota a few weeks ago and have been busy making jewelry with the stones. The shape and size of these beauties inspired me enough to use almost all of them up in the three one-of-a-kind designs you see in this post. I rarely use all of my stones up like this, preferring to save them for a rainy day, but these stones were begging to be used. My only regret is that I didn't buy more.

If You are in Sarasota - part 2

2009-01-31T07:38:00.000-08:00

If you are visiting Sarasota, Florida don't miss the fabulous museum ,grounds and home of John and Mable Ringling. My last post gives a little information about the Ringlings and their lives. I showed you some photos of the grounds and the exterior of the magnificent Ca d'Zan. (house of John) If those impressed you, the interior of this home is truly incredible. John and Mable had traveled extensively and modeled their home after the beautiful palaces and grand hotels of Venice. I took photos of their bedrooms, living room ,bathrooms and especially the ceilings which are breathtaking. The artist who painted the ceiling depicted the dance styles of the era in the corners. Stained glass windows of different colors were used for some of the windows so that the different colors would reflect on the floors of the mansion. The bathrooms were amazingly modern for their time. You will be happy you spent a day at the Ringling museum to admire these beautiful treasures of our history.

If you Visit Sarasota...

2009-01-27T18:29:00.000-08:00

Don't miss the Ringling Museum and the Ca D'Zan , the 36,000 square foot home of John and Mable Ringling. The mansion of John Ringling, the circus Baron, was built in 1924 for 1.5 million dollars and boasts 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. It was built for John Ringling and his wife by architect Dwight Baum and builder Owen Burns in Venetian Gothic style. In their travels around the world, the Ringlings greatly admired the palaces and hotels of Venice and used photos and postcards to help the architect design this amazing home. The art museum carries john Ringling's amazing art collection including paintings by Rubens, van Dyke, Titian and El Greco.

The grounds of the museum and home are spectacular and feature Mable's rose garden, the secret garden and the circus museums.

The photos I took, can't possibly do justice to this amazing place but will perhaps tempt you to make a trip to visit this wonderful 20 acre waterfront property. Her are some photos of the grounds and exterior. Stay tuned for part 2 to see some of the spectacular rooms in the Ringling mansion.