Gemstone Lore: Aquamarine for March

As a jewelry artist, I use all sorts of gemstones. I love gemstones. Aquamarine has a soft place in my heart though since it is my sisters birth stone.

Being the patron stone of March isn't the only thing Aquamarine is known for. The light blue stone is the stone of Courage, Serenity, Love and Foresight. It was believed  to keep them safe during sea voyages in olden times. The Romans believed it to be a stone of love and gave it as a gift the morning after weddings. Such a romantic stone.

So how did we get the name Aquamarine? The beautiful blues and greens of this stone reminded people of the sea. Since the Latin word for "Seawater" is Aquamarine, it's a fitting name. The colors of this gemstone range from an almost colorless pale blue or a deep blue aqua to a blue-green and even to teal. If you are wanting jewelry that reminds you of your seaside home, Aquamarine is a great start with it's sea-worthy foamy colors.

I was really wanting to show you a picture of what I made my sister over Christmas. But like a silly person, I forgot to take any pictures before I gave her the earrings! I'll see if I can get them away from her long enough to show you the earrings. I just love them.

I had planned on having this particular post go out in March right around my sis's birthday, but as you can see, I fell a bit behind. Below are two examples of some Aquamarine in my collection. Enjoy!

These beautiful Aquamarine Pearl Drops in Gold were a custom order for Laura a few months back. The Aquamarine and Pearls make them look like sea foam on an ocean wave. 

Blue Aquamarine Gemstone Ring with a Woven Silver-Plated Band

The ring had some matching earrings which have since sold on Etsy. 

*The gemstone history information was gained from Jewels For Me's History, Legend and Lore of Aquamarine and from Bernardine Fine Art Jewelry's Aquamarine - Facts, Information and Description. 

The Wild Side of KC - A Treasury by the KC Etsy Team

Being part of the KC Etsy team, we make treasuries highlighting our team members. This treasury depicts a few beautiful animal items created by members of this wonderful team.

'The Wild Side of Kansas City' by BrieDeneeJewelry

Garden Slug Amigurumi P... cheezombie $4.99	Steampunk Owl Necklace SteamTimeJewel... $38.00	Purple Butterfly Hair C... ArielsBowtique $5.00	Waldorf upcycled bird d... greengoat $23.50
Set of 8 handmade Spri... bbesigns $21.00	Foxy Fox Hat Knit Beani... cottonhills $25.00	Custom Pet Portrait JBArtistry1015 $250.00	New Goldfish - Vintage ... butternutsquas... $10.00
Boston Terrier Chibi-He... MacKomicsStudi... $8.00	Silver Butterfly Pendan... TangoPony $17.99	Large Baby Giraffe - Be... FineArtsGuy $39.00	YOUR PET--Custom Noteca... originalsockdo... $45.00
Hand Embroidered Rooste... heypaul $8.00	Frog Prince on Lily Pad... ZagoraNaturals $4.00	Print Art Birds Fence B... LilyCole $20.00	Plush Star Wars Chewbac... littleoneslove $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Ready for Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival!!!

This is one of my favorite festivals during one of my favorite times of the year! October 8th and 9th, just before Halloween and the Holiday Season. I love the festival foods of funnel cakes, candied apples, and homemade ice cream. 

Artisans from around the United States gather for this festival. Begin your Holiday shopping for friends and family with all sorts of art and craft options. You can make your visit a day trip or a weekend event. Stay at various hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in the area or make it a weekend camping trip with a bit of shopping. Either way, it makes for a fun filled weekend with lots of sights to see with over 650 booths, 30 of which are food, and a Festival Parade on Main Street in Mound City.

Let us know you're coming.

For more information visit the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Website.


Booth Photos

 These photos are from our booth at the Maker Faire at Union Station but they'll still help you find our booth at Sugar Mound. We'll have a canopy of course, but look for the purple. It's a favorite.

These were taken in the afternoon when the sun was coming through the windows. Makes for beautiful, if slightly fuzzy, photos where the jewelry just shines for those patrons stopping by. 

Cat's Pajamas Art Show

Visit the Artists of Eclectics Gallery!

We'll be hosting our annual Halloween Show with various arts and crafts perfect for the Fall season. If you don't find what you're looking for, ask the artists if something can be made custom for you. Be sure to give them time to make your item.

 

Eclectics Gallery

7015 Oak Street

Kansas City, MO

816-361-6643

Summer Rain Etsy Treasury List

A few weeks ago, we finally had a break in the heat in the form of a summer thunder storm. The items below remind me of that Summer Rain.

Moonstone Necklace, Rainbow Moonstone Necklace with Leaf Accent by CircesHouse on Etsy - "Mirkwood" by CircesHouse

 Enchanted rain, antique Gold Art Cameo Pendant with crystals and agate by Ewasaj

 Ozone Handmade Soap - JUMBO SIZED vegan bars made with pure coconut milk - from Arcadia Aromatics by SoapStore

Fine Art Print, Giclee Archival Print, Photomontage, Collage, Painted Photographs, Rain Dance.... by ImagineStudio 

See more Featured Artists in my Summer Rain Treasury List.

Amanda's Garnet Ring

 This little beauty is for Amanda. She ordered a custom ring for her birthday and this is what I created for her. The ring began to develop a life of it's own with weavings, swirls, and small garnet rounds.

 

Art and Craft Fairs List

Over the last few months, we have been working on a list of Art and Craft Fairs in the Kansas City area and surrounding areas. The list is ever-growing, but we've found several promising shows that we'd like to try this year. Of course, we can't go to all as some are over the same weekend, but we have a beginning.

Suggestions and information on the various shows are always welcome. If you know of one, please send it in. We'd love to add it to our list.

June

2nd-5th Old Shawnee Days Shawnee Kansas http://www.oldshawneedays.org/

-          Unknown booth size/price

4^th Liberty Arts Squared – Liberty, MO

-          Apply on Zapp

-          Attendance – 5,000

-          Application Deadline 4/21

-          $75 for booth

-          $25 to be juried

-          Required 5 photos of product

-          Required 1 photos of booth

4^th Handmade in the Heartland Craft Fair – Wichita, KS  (July 2^nd & August 13^th) http://wichita.craigslist.org/eve/2267297669.html

-          10x10 booth

-          $45 (includes 8ft table & 2 chairs

-          All handmade crafts welcome

4^th-5^th Art in the Park – Columbia, MO  http://artinthepark.missouri.org/info.html

-          Closed – no longer receiving applications

-          Attendance – 18,000 ppl

3^rd-5^th Down Town Days….Streets Alive! in Lee’s Summit

-          10x10 booth

-          $250 for a Handcrafted booth

-          Deadline to apply – April 1^st or cost $275

-          Electricity $30 for 110v

-          Tent Rental (if needed) $220

-          Required 5 photos of product

-          Required 1 photos of booth

17^th-19^th 2011 Town Art Show at town Center http://www.townart.org/

-          10x10 booth

-          Required white tent

-          $250-$300 – Booth fee goes to the Parkinson Foundation of the Heartland

-          $30 Jury fee

-          Can get corner booth for $50

-          Deadline to apply – April 1^st

-          Original work only

-          Required 4 color slides of work – label artist name & size of media (can be digital)

-          Required 1 color slide of booth (can be digital)

July

3rd-4th Kansas City Riverfest(firework show) http://kcriverfest.com/ (waiting for updated site)

- 10x10 booth size

- $300 for the booth

August

6^th-7^th Powderhorn Art Fair – Minneanapolis, MN http://www.powderhornartfair.com/

-          Apply on Zapp

-          $210 for 11x11 booth

-          Jury Fee $25

-          Required 4 photos of product – no booth photo required

-          Deadline to apply – May 1^st

-          Art fair profits go toward community programs (teen center, pottery kiln, photo lab)

25th-26th-27 Bonner Springs Tiblow Days http://bonnersprings.org/comm_info10.html

-          Unknown Booth size and price

September

2^nd-4^th Art Show at the Fest, Kansas City Irish Festival 2011 (Labor Day Weekend) www.kcirishfest.com

-          Apply on Zapp

-          $300 for 10x10 booth

-          $25 Jury Fee

-          Deadline to apply – June 1^st

-          Attendance – 100,000

-          4 vender passes w booth (free festival admittance)

-          White tent required – provided w 2 outlets for lighting (300 watts)

-          Required 3 photos of product

-          Required 1 photos of booth

8th-10th Old Settlers Days Olathe, Ks http://www.johnsoncountyoldsettlers.com/

-          Handmade Only

-          10 x 10 booth

-          $150 – includes electricity

9^th-11^th Art Westport http://artwestport.net/

-          Apply on Zapp

-          Exclusively for KC area artists – must live within 40 miles of the downtown KC post office

-          Apply between March 1^st-May 1^st

-          10x10 booth

-          $300

-          No commercial or manufactured work

11^th Lawrence Fall Arts & Crafts Festival http://lawrenceks.org/lprd/specialevents/pdf/fallartsandcrafts2011.pdf

-          10x10 booth

-          $55

-          $20 for electricity

-          No Commercial Jewelry

-          Can rent a table for $10 each

16^th-18^th Mosaics – Missouri Festival for the Arts, 2011

-          Apply on Zapp

-          $225 for 10x10 booth

-          $25 Jury Fee

-          Deadline to apply – May 30^th  

-          Attendance 90,000-100,000

-          Required 4 photos of work

-          Required 1 photo of booth

16^th-18^th Zona Rosa Arts Festival 2011 http://www.zonarosa.com/Events/EventDetails/tabid/3340/ArticleId/2550/8th-Annual-Zona-Rosa-Arts-Festival.aspx

-          Apply on Zapp

-          Jury Fee $25

-          Required 3 photos of work

-          Required 1 photo of booth

-          Deadline to Apply – July 5^th

-          10x10 booth

-          $200 for booth

23^rd-25^th Country club Plaza 79^th Annual Plaza Art Fair http://www.countryclubplaza.com/Events/Plaza-Art-Fair

-          Apply on Zapp

-          Jury Fee $35

-          Required 4 photos of work

-          Required 1 photo of booth

-          Deadline to Apply – May 1^st

-          12x12 booth

-          $100 extra for a corner booth

-          $400 for the booth

October

 9/30-10/2 Longview Art and World Music festival 2011

-          Apply on Zapp

-          $245 for 10x10 booth

-          Jury Fee $25

-          $74 for corner booth

-          Required 4 photos of work

-          Required 1 photo of booth

-          Deadline to Apply – July 20^th  

1^st-2^nd  Weston Mo. Apple Fest http://westonmo.com/visit/main.html

8th-9th (2nd full weekend of October) Sugar Mound http://www.moundcity.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=94&Itemid=163

 - 10x10 booth

- $100

3^rd (22^nd-23^rd) weekend in October – Maple Leaf Festival http://mapleleaffestival.com/index.htm

-          10x10 booth

-          $25 for electricity

-          $100

-          KS sales tax number required

-          Photos of booth required

-          Deadline to apply – June 1^st

-          Handmade only

Joining Eclectics

This has been a busy week. Started off with a Jury meeting with a local artist shop. This works sort of like an interview on both sides. The shop interviews the artist while the artist interviews the shop. Each need to be sure the partnership will work and be lucrative. Overall, we liked each other. Crangrats to Brie'Denee .... now a proud member of Eclectics Gallery! You'll be able to see our jewelry in the shop this May.

For a sneak peak, visit the Gallery next Friday April 15th! Attend the Mum's the Word Mothers Day event:

Cabochons ready to be Wrapped

I love getting new beads and gemstones to work with! I have a handful of the most georgous gemstones from Unconventional Lapidarist, a company that creates designer cabochons with precious gemstones. I picked them up on a trip to Texas this summer. I fell in love with the baby blue glass cabs. I just had to have one. And of course, purple is my favorite color so I had to have a purple and black stripped cab as well. I picked up several more to add to my collection of stones so I have plenty to choose from. 

I have several ideas of what to do with these beautiful gems but time seems to be short. After working all day, coming home and sometimes making dinner, there just aren't that many hours left in the day. But my ideas will continue to last. I just can't wait to do something with them!