Sunday, August 28, 2011

August pieces



So, I have been goin' hard this month, cranking out new pieces for Reckless Daughter. I just bought an old school hand drill (totally low tech, but that's kind of my style, in case you didn't know) The drill has opened up a lot of possibilities, simply by making me able to put holes into things that otherwise did not have holes....meaning I can hang them from chains....whoah.

Here's what I've made this month so far. I've been steadily listing them on the Royal Curiosity Etsy store, if any of them entice you enough to make a purchase!


This piece sold almost IMMEDIATELY upon listing. I dont think it was up for more than 30 minutes. Can you blame 'em though? I didnt even want to sell it! The brass part is from an antique serving tray. I added quartz crystals, strips of leather (sourced from the remnants of leather pants I made into cutoffs) and thin chain.




This piece is made from silver colored tubes I salvaged from some dead stock Indian jewelry. I attached them to some black chain, and added black chain fringe. I like how industrial this one turned out.




I've had this blue beaded necklace for a long time. I added copper and brass rods, and lengthened it with some vintage chain. The color is amazing.




This is a hand carved snake bead (I think it's made out of bone....dont know what kind of bone though, probably goat or something...) I put it on a chain with two wire-wrapped quartz points.




I LOVE the beads on this piece. They are brass, from India, and I love the cage-like detail on the focal bead, and the cool shape of the long ones. I attached them to vintage chain using brass wire. The chain was taken from a vintage belt.




This necklace is made from a vintage coro brooch. I ripped of the pin, and mounted on some chain. I knotted tassel hangs down. Kind of mid-century looking.




This was (I think...I'm totally guessing though) a mantilla comb. I clipped off the combs prongs, and filed it down. I then drilled holes into the corners to mount it on stelring chain. The piece is not stamped, but looks/feels like silver to me.




This piece is made from these cool silver spikey beads, black and goldtone chains, and a multi strand necklace. Its got a badass rocker-girl vibe.





A sterling charm bracelet made with tiny sterling silver feathers I got from a cheesy pair of Southwestern earrings. I like cowgirl elements, just not full-on New Mexico vacation jams.




This brass piece I was holding onto until I bought the drill. I drilled two holes, one for the chain, and one for the quartz. I wire-wrapped the quartz directly into the brass piece. I love these sexy art nouveau ladies...romantic and naughty!




This is just a simple horse brooch I drilled, and mounted on a chain.





I haven't amde one of these in a minute....assorted charm necklaces. I kinda like to think of them as talisman necklaces, or totem necklaces. This one has a mother of pearl bullet, a vintage locket, a silver gun pendant, and a vintage key.




These hammered brass pieces were at one point like, 12 pairs of earrings of something. I got all these chintzy brass earrings from this deadstock Indian jewelry (may do a post on that story later) . I added it to silvertone chain. I like how organic the shapes are. It looks really modern and arty.




This wa a sterling silver and amethyst barrette I ripped the machanism off of, and drilled. Its attached to this awesome chain, and hanging from it is a small amethyst drop. I love this one.





I really freakin like this one. In fact, I almost dont want to sell it....maybe I won't even...who knows. Its a sterling silver dragon from Tibet, with a small citrine. I have had that citrine charm since I was 16....and now I am letting it go....



This piece is also kind of Southwestern. The top part came from a bolo tie. I ripped off the back of it, and drilled three holes. I attached the turquoise charm (an orphaned earring) and the thunderbird (another orphaned earring). It hangs from sterling chain.



And another cowboy piece!!! This one has a cool textured silver arrowhead and a turquoise pendant. The chain it hangs from I made by piecing together three stelring silver mens chain link bracelets. I love the hook the arrowhead hangs from, it was the clasp to another necklace.



A simple sterling silver circle with a small quartz pendant, on a sterling silver chain. Elegant simplicity.



AND last but not least, a crazy charm bracelet! These are fun to make. I don't really wear bracelets, so I frequently just forget to make them This one has a lot of cool vintage charms on it, and has a pretty adjustable length.


I made some more piece this week...they'll be posted soon.
Peace out
Maria

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Old Gringo

So...I have not been writing, because I have been EXTREMELY prolific in making jewelry....and gigging on sax. I'm working on photographing all these new August pieces for the next blog, but here's a little diversion for now. I have been on this big cowboy boot kick lately. I wore my grey frye ankle ones the other day, and am craving another pair (or two). I had a pair in college, but they were not the real deal...from Steve Madden, and promptly fell apart. If I could afford it, I would get some hard core hand made ones. Frye is awesome, but if you want some crazy ornate shit, I'd check out Old Gringo. They've only been around since 2000, but they crank out some amazing freaking boots over there in Chula Vista CA. Some are a little too floral for me... but these are ones I really dig...


The black and red...the slight heel...fuck yeah!




This is like the girly cousin of the black ones...




The metallic should be too much, but its used just right.




These are unisex....I like the eagle motif. These are rock and roll all the way....




The classic bird design....



My absolute FAVORITE...the ones I am going to scour the internet until I find them for, I dont know, less than $250 (gotta save up $250 first too...) are a lot simpler than the others...but equally gorgeous and badass

The "Razz". I saw them at Calypso years ago...I love the zipper...the distressing, the faded black...it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine.....

Good boots last forever...if you maintain them. They're expensive, but they last. Like frye boots, and other quality shoes, you get them fixed, you don't replace them. I sometimes think we are too used to disposable wardrobes....
On that note, new jewelry up soon!