Orange Avocado Jewelry

Holiday Collection 2011

2011-10-09T06:48:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for many things in my life: my family, my friends and good health. I have been blessed with many choices in my life. One of those choices is the ability to do what I love to do: watch my kids grow up, share special moments with my husband, and reach for the stars. One of those stars is the ability to create jewelry that is an expression of me. My Orange Avocado Jewelry Christmas 2011 line reflects the choices that we have: keys to open doors to places and experiences that life has to offer us.

These elegant necklaces have been composed of genuine Swarovski Crystals with my handcrafted fine silver (99.9% silver) links and Karen Hill Tribe fine silver vintage keys and fine silver faceted nuggets. They are 34" in length with the ability to wear it long or doubled as a shorter necklace. The faceted fine silver nugget necklace is a stunning pure silver necklace with entwined fine silver handcrafted links and a stunning Swarovski Crystal pendant. The matching bracelet represents the love that I feel for family and friends. Wishing all a beautiful holiday season. Enjoy.

Fall and Winter Collection: Cloud Links

2011-09-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

Nature inspires most of my creations. My Cloud Link Collection represents really what Orange Avocado Jewelry is all about. It is the element of irregularity, the unusual and alittle bit of edge to my jewelry that makes it different from the rest. My Cloud links have been individually made and entwined with one or more links to create a cascading flow of bronze...perfect for fall and the Christmas season. Mixing it up with black and silver agate semi-precious stones, smokey quartz and charcoal swarovski pearls makes a perfect complement to any outfit. Each piece has been handcrafted by me, fired in my kiln for 5 hours and then composed into little works of art for your wrist and neck. Little clouds of jewels; so light and airy, so perfect for you. Enjoy!

Distracted ... Warm winter cowl necks!

2011-09-21T09:13:00.000-07:00

Before I made jewelry, I used to knit. I used to knit ALOT. I loved working with many colors at one time. I would sketch an image on graph paper and transpose those drawings to my sweaters. I would knit everywhere: in the car, in bed, at the movie theatre (crazy I know!). I have dug up my old knitting needles and have started to knit again. My daughter commented to my husband, "mom's knitting again"... as if this were another addiction (well sort of!!).

I am very excited to present to you "Orange Avocado" Accessories. These first pieces are handknit by only me so the quantities will be very limited. I have created beautiful, luxurious and warm winter cowl neck pieces. I have carefully chosen a chunky wool/acrylic blend yarn; wool for warmth and acrylic for body and strength. The yarn is characterized by multiple textures and the pieces are machine washable. The colors are punctuated with little surprise hues and huge funky buttons:

"Citron yellow" mixed with mustards and pinks,
"Maui Blues" with autumn oranges,
"Mocha" with aqua blues, and my favorite
"Mulberry" with coral and lavender hues.

These are not your typical color combinations, but they go beautifully together and "Orange Avocado" is anything by typical.

Stay warm this winter!!

Bring on the Summer!

2011-06-05T19:50:00.001-07:00

I love the natural feel and look of wood. It can take on so many hues and forms. Tiger Ebony Wood is a favorite of mine with its exotic striations; each bead is unique from the next. There is an elegance of this wood that is the new tone of brown for this summer. Alternately, the soft sun-bleached tint of my natural wood jewelry contrasts beautifully against the dark brown of the Tiger Ebony Wood. I wear these pieces with my favorite tank tops and summertime t-shirts. Layer the bracelets; mix the woods. Bring on summer!

Thank you; My friends and My Family

2011-04-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

I like to think that my Orange Avocado Jewelry business is a one man show. I design the jewelry, I make the jewelry, and I market the jewelry. However, after each one of my Spring and Christmas shows, I realize that it is far from that. If it weren't for my friends (Sandra), my family (Debbie, Rayna, Roma, Kim (my mom who couldn't make it this year), and my wonderful daughter (Erin) I wouldn't be able to do it. I ask each time for their help and no one hesitates to leave their very busy lives and help me for a day. And it is a very long day. I'm running on adrenaline; they are running on friendship. So thank you.

My Orange Avocado Jewelry Spring was another great success and I welcome each year old and new faces to my show. Thank you to my loyal fans of Orange Avocado Jewelry. You make it fun for me to do this each day and night!

Silver on the Rise...Feeling It

2011-04-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

I learned my craft of silversmithing from a talented silver and goldsmith about 6 years ago. I took private lessons and slowly learned how to make art out of sheets of sterling silver, bundles of silver wire, and made molten silver out of my silver scraps. That was then; this is now. I just met my teacher a few months ago and she nolonger sells her jewelry actively because she cannot afford the silver at the prices that it is now. She thankfully teaches her craft to others, but she cannot keep up with the rising silver costs. Now that is a shame.

Silver, once at $18.00 an ounce when I began silversmithing, closed at over $46 an ounce yesterday. Although I feel that I have priced my jewelry to reflect the materials plus the labour that I put into the pieces, I must now increase the price of my jewelry to reflect the increase in silver prices. Despite all of this, my prices will only rise approximately %10 to %15 and I will continue to absorb alot of these rising costs. Prices will only increase AFTER my Orange Avocado Spring Show on April 27th, Wednesday. So hopefully this is a temporary phase and silver will become affordable to all that love the art of silversmithing.

Giving Back...

2011-04-08T20:48:00.001-07:00

Glori Meldrum, Founder of the Little Warriors charity organization contacted me back in November 2010 to arrange a meeting with me. I was asked to design a jewelry line for her charity organization. Ideas flew around the room for the next 2 hours as we talked about the organization: education and prevention of child sexual abuse. We talked about Glori: founder of g-squared and trafik interactive. We talked about what I could create: something unique and special to Little Warriors.

So here it is.

I am proud of it. I am proud to be associated with Little Warriors.

I am honored to be connected with Glori Meldrum.

The entire jewelry line can be found on Facebook under "Little Warriors" and soon to be on their website http://www.littlewarriors.ca/ Fifty percent of all sales of this jewelry line will be donated to the organization.

Spring & Summer Collection 2011: Vintage Found Objects

2011-01-15T16:22:00.001-08:00

When I watch my kids at times, I want time to stand still. I wish that I had a snapshot of each special moment. Then the next day happens and we forget. But we do carry momentos: a first doll, an amazing drawing, or just a pair of old glasses.

I have come upon so many beautiful vintage keys, watch faces, keyhole openings: all found objects. I have combed through many vintage shops and gathered a treasure trove of collectible findings. These objects once had a home in a historic printing office, a bank, or a jeweler's bench. Each find is one of a kind and unique.

And now it is time to relive these found objects in beautiful pieces of jewelry combined with my handcrafted pure bronze and fine silver pieces. I largely composed my Spring 2011 Collection around beholding a piece of time gone by in a piece of jewelry. Each piece geniunely unique; each piece representing a little bit of history.

Here is a sneak peek of my Spring & Summer 2011 Collection.

Enjoy.

Fall and Winter Collection: The River Valley

2010-09-04T05:59:00.000-07:00

Running and biking in the Edmonton river valley brings me daily to the ever changing hues of fall: leaves turn a golden yellow and fall upon the different shapes of rocks. Each day the scenery is different; each day the colors are different. It is ever-changing and always evolving.

My current jewelry line highlights how sometimes the most elementary shapes of circles, squares and rectangles complement each other. My fall and winter collection highlights a free flow of layer upon layer, color upon color; always changing. The elegance of Swarovski crystal pearls and crystals highlight the matte glow of each piece of precious metal that I use. Each piece of silver, bronze, gold, and copper element is handcrafted by me. Sometimes imperfect in its solitude, but perfect in their unity.

Enjoy.

Family Necklaces and Bracelets: What's in a Name

2010-04-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Names of our children, a name of a loved one, names of friends and names of endearment; they hold so much meaning and uniqueness to each one of us. They represent an era and a moment in your own history. For each family name necklace or bracelet I make for someone, they tell a story. Sometimes that story is told to me, sometimes it is held secret to one's heart. I have made necklaces for first time moms, grandmothers and daughters. I have made necklaces for four girls graduating from highschool, each possessing a square pendant with the four names of friends that may come and go, but are here now. Each has their own story, each story special and unforgettable.

2010 Collection - Inspired by Kailua, Hawaii

2010-03-12T19:59:00.000-08:00

Every time I travel to see my sister in Hawaii, I revisit many new-found traditions. Mornings begin with runs with my son along roads lined with palm trees, blooming plumeria and birds of paradise. I am collecting shells off the beaches of the North Shore with my daughter. We drive along the mountains shaped by the vertical lava forms of years gone by. It is all that is natural, raw and untouched.

I share my 2010 collection with you sprinkled with finds from Kailua, Hawaii: shiva shells, lava rocks, pyrite…shaped by the sea, sand and by hand. My pure bronze and silver handcrafted elements and my love of semi-precious stones complete many of my pieces of jewelry.
Each piece is natural, raw and unique.
Enjoy.

Kids Up Front: One Heart Bead at a Time

2010-03-08T16:17:00.000-08:00

Childhood memories stand the test of time. Childhood experiences shape the person that he or she is to become. For the last 3 years I have been involved with the Kids Up Front organization and have had the privilege of sharing what I know of jewelry making to a group of children who otherwise do not have opportunities like I did as a child. We call the event "One Heart Bead at a Time". I have been so lucky to share what I know with children from the "Big Sisters, Little Sisters" organization and the "Yellowhead Youth Centre" just to name a couple. The Kids Up Front organization is a non-profit society that collects unused tickets and monetary donations to have children experience things that we take for granted: a hockey game, horse back riding lessons, trips to the zoo...an afternoon of jewelry making. It is only a small thing that I can give back to a world that has given so much to me and my own children. Thank you to Karla & Christine for organizing this each year, and Gail & Diane for sharing this experience with the kids. More information about how you can donate tickets or money can be found at www.kidsupfrontedmonton.com Thank you.

Bronze: The Other Gold

2010-02-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

My discovery of bronze clay has been my inspiration for this last year. Only a few pieces can be kiln fired at a time for 5 hours, which makes this process a time-honored labour of love and excitement. I love burnishing away the first layer of sintered bronze to reveal a beautiful warm golden piece of bronze. But it is what you do with your piece of art that makes it worth it all. Alone it is stunning, alongside fine silver it is beautiful. This piece is just a peek of my upcoming 2010 Spring and Summer Collection. Enjoy.